Because Salt Lake is a medium-sized city, there’s nightlife to be had, yet having it is still relatively inexpensive and hassle-free. The majority of our favorite establishments are a 10-minute rideshare from the cute neighborhoods where most residents choose to live. It is easy to meet up after work or throw together last minute weekend plans.
If you have one night to spend out in the city, we recommend hitting the stretch of Main Street between 300 and 400 south, where you can bar hop some classy joints with great cocktails that will also appeal to your inner foodie. The block is home to Eva’s (excellent tapas), Whiskey Street and its sophisticated sister restaurant White House (impressive liquor selections-- especially at the former-- with elevated pub food and good brunches), London Belle (elegant during the day and develops a club vibe at night), Bodega (it has an awesome speakeasy in the basement… shhh, don’t tell!) and Alibi (a small, sunlit cocktail bar with green foliage hanging from the ceiling, which is a peaceful place for empanadas during the day and turns into a sweaty dance floor after dark). This block is also a short walking distance from Gracie’s, which is less fancy but has a big outdoor area, a dance floor and frequent live music. It is also walking distance to Quarters Arcade Bar, which is not fancy at all, but is a ton of fun with no dancing required.
More of a beer person? We’ll make sure to show you our favorite dives when you get here, but for now let’s talk about the twenty one and counting respectable craft breweries and gastropubs in Salt Lake. We have some disagreement about which ones to prioritize on a short visit, which I guess is a good problem to have! Templin Brewery (an inviting, aesthetically pleasing taproom with a tasty selection) and Proper Brewery (a fun, relaxed space with skeeball, pool and shuffleboard) are both close to downtown and great for larger groups. Our residency’s certified beer judge recommends Salt Fire for IPAs and Uinta for selection. Alternatively, you can go to Craft in Sugar House, where they have 36 taps of all Utah beers (full disclosure, one of our residents’ partners works there). Some of our residents do trivia at Craft and they almost always take second, so maybe you can help us clinch the top spot!
If you have a mixed crowd, it might be worthwhile to check out Bar-X and Beer Bar. They are Salt Lake fixtures sharing a building. The former is a swanky cocktail bar with a prohibition-era feel and hand-crafted cocktails, and the latter is a casual space with 140+ beers on their menu and yummy brats. You can bring the food and drinks from one side to the other, so everybody can get what they want.