Best Bars in Salt Lake City
Forget the stereotypes — SLC has a seriously impressive cocktail culture. From innovative craft bars to neighborhood dives, there's a great drink waiting for you.
Bar X
$$One of SLC's most beloved cocktail bars with an intimate setting, expertly crafted drinks, and a retro speakeasy vibe. Often cited as the best bar in Utah.
Craft cocktail institutionPurgatory
$$A moody, dimly lit cocktail lounge known for its creative seasonal menu and exceptional bartender craft. Ideal for a date or a sophisticated night out.
Seasonal cocktail menuQuarters Arcade Bar
$Retro arcade games meet full bar service at this fun spot popular with 30-somethings. Great for groups, with free-to-play classics and cold beer.
Arcade bar with free gamesThe Rest
$$Tucked beneath Gourmandise Bakery, this subterranean bar serves innovative cocktails in an intimate setting. A hidden gem beloved by locals.
Underground hidden gemGreenhouse Effect
$A plant-filled neighborhood bar with natural wines, craft beer, and a relaxed, inclusive vibe. One of the best spots in Sugar House for drinks.
Natural wine & inclusive vibeProhibition
$$A speakeasy-inspired bar with an extensive list of classic and prohibition-era cocktails. Live jazz on weekends makes this a memorable night out.
Live jazz & classic cocktailsSLC's Thriving Bar Scene
Salt Lake City's bar scene often surprises first-time visitors. Despite Utah's conservative reputation, SLC has cultivated a genuine craft cocktail culture, driven in part by bartenders who take their work seriously and a growing population of young professionals who demand quality.
The major relaxation of Utah liquor laws in 2019 — eliminating the old private club requirement — opened the floodgates. Today, Bar X and Purgatory compete with the best cocktail bars in Denver or Portland. The "Zion Curtain" separating bartenders from diners is mostly gone, and the overall experience is simply normal.
One genuinely distinctive aspect: SLC's large non-drinking population (members of the LDS church) has pushed many bars to develop exceptional non-alcoholic programs. If you don't drink, you won't feel left out.