24 Best Nightlife in Salt Lake City, Utah

At the forefront of south Salt Lake's burgeoning spirits and craft brewing scene, this acclaimed small-batch gin and vodka producer has a stylish, post-industrial bar where you can sample expertly crafted cocktails and nibble on tasty apps and sandwiches. Serious enthusiasts might want to book one of Beehive's occasional behind-the-scenes tours.

Opened in 2017 by a group of beer lovers that includes the great-great-grandson of the owner of the original Fisher Brewing, which flourished from the late 1800s to 1967, this lively taproom in the Granary District produces some of the finest beers in the city. Have a seat on the dog-friendly patio. Rotating food trucks dispense tasty fare.

Grab a table in this handsome, brick-walled tap room and try some of the finest and most distinctive craft ales in the city, such as a crisp Sauvin Blanc Brut IPA produced with hops and Chardonnay grapes and a roasty Black Sesame Stout. The kitchen is known for its Thai-style and chipotle-honey wings.

One of the state's first craft cider producers, Mountain West uses local ingredients—prickly pear puree and a wide variety of apples—to create its crisp and refreshing concoctions. In the cheerful tap room and sunny garden, where live bands often perform, you can sample the ciders along with local beers and spirits. It's on a quiet block in the Marmalade District, next door to the popular Red Rock Brewery.

Although Ostia Amore is a full-service restaurant serving very good Italian fare, its bar is also one of the best spots near the University of Utah and the Avenues for a glass of wine—the selection is impressive, and the setting warm and inviting. On warm nights, sip and eat on the sidewalk patio.

Above a ski- and board-rental shop at the mouth of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, this lively pub offers a huge menu of hearty dishes, cocktails, and craft beers. Inside the large A-frame chalet-like building, you'll find bright polished wood floors and trim and a friendly vibe.

The handsome gastropub in Alta's swanky Snowpine Lodge has big windows and an inviting terrace overlooking the slopes and plush leather seats and rustic stone columns. Upscale but easygoing, it's a terrific spot for a glass of wine or local IPA and light dining (from noon until evening) on tasty bar fare, such as kale Caesar salads, pickle-brined fried chicken, and New Haven–style white clam pizza.

This chic, contemporary cocktail bar opened in summer 2022 in the buzzy Granary District/Central 9th neighborhood and has quickly become a trendy go-to for artfully crafted drinks and Vietnamese street food—lemongrass pork skewers and crispy fish-sauce wings. On warm days, snag a seat on the patio to enjoy your ice-cold ca phe, a robust concoction of Averna amaro liqueur, Vietnamese coffee, chicory, and spices. Check the bar's Instagram page for details.

This intimate, minimalist space on the west edge of downtown received a James Beard nomination for its exemplary farm-to-cocktail scene. Creative drinks using fresh herbs and extracts and artisan spirits are served with a flourish in colorful vessels.

Part-owned by Modern Family star and SLC native Ty Burrell, this trendy cocktail lounge with cozy banquette seating stands out for its extensive selection of spirits and Prohibition Era–inspired cocktails. Next door, sister establishment Beer Bar is a great place to sample local brews.

Set in an atmospheric vintage brick downtown building with a lively patio out front, this hive of hops enthusiasts stocks perhaps the most exhaustive selection of craft beer in the city, with about two dozen IPAs alone.

This rustic log cabin–inspired brewery near Cottonwood Canyon specializes in Eastern European beers, including crisp Czech pilsners and Bavarian weissbiers. Try to snag a seat by the towering stone fireplace

Close to downtown hotels and attractions, this classy, expansive lounge (in the same historic building as the excellent Italian restaurant Caffè Molise) offers plenty of comfy seating and one of the most impressive lists of wines—by the glass and the bottle—in town. Flights are a good way to try a few different sips, and there's a nice menu of tapas and rich desserts (consider the dark-chocolate cake), too.

Once an auto garage in an industrial area north of Capitol Hill, this rollicking tavern draws a diverse crowd to its big patio for live rock, blues, and the like. The kitchen turns out tasty comfort food—think chicken or vegan wings with habanero-molasses "sludge" or burgers topped with candied jalapeños and crispy bacon. There's a popular Sunday brunch, too.

Opened in 2022 in the lively Central 9th corridor, this big, beautifully designed LGBTQ+ club has a huge stage and dance floor, a game room with darts and pool tables, a patio, and a pretty substantial food menu, too—and yes, milk and cookies is one of the dessert options. Theme nights include karaoke Sunday and country-western Wednesday.

A mix of LGBTQ+ folks, musicians, artists, and hipsters converge at this inclusive, mod-industrial tavern on the south side of downtown, which has a spacious enclosed patio strung with twinkly lights and a menu of decadent, internationally inflected bar bites, from pork belly bao to K-pop fries smothered in braised beef, kimchi, and gyochu mayo. The eclectic music's on point, and Purgatory frequently hosts parties, drag shows, and other festivities.

This friendly newcomer to the Granary District's hip Central 9th strip offers a vast selection of ciders from all over the world, with about 20 available on tap and many others sold in bottles and cans. Scion also produces its own small-batch ciders, and the staff is incredibly knowledgeable—if you're new to cider sipping, they'll steer you in the right direction. Wine, beer, cider cocktails, and cheese and charcuterie plates are offered, too.

Arguably Utah's most famous microbrewery, Squatters' flagship downtown pub is lined with well-deserved awards from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. The pub has friendly staff and an easygoing, casual vibe, although it can get crowded on weekends and when there are conventions in town.

Martinis are a specialty at this cosmopolitan bar with an attractive sidewalk seating, but you'll find plenty of other intriguing elixirs.

This stylish downtown lounge stands out for its well-crafted cocktails, like the Pearly Gates, with gin, citrus, bergamot, activated charcoal, and egg white. There's a nice selection of apps, salads, and sandwiches, too.

Dueling pianos (Wednesday through Saturday) and karaoke (Sunday to Tuesday) make for a festive atmosphere in this bar just east of downtown. The musicians only play requests, and if you don't like the current song, you can pay $1 to change it. The Quorum of the Queens drag brunch on Sunday is always a crowd-pleaser.