Coldest Beer & Bar Guide 2012 

Page 6 of 13

The Urban Lounge
41.2°
The near-nightly selection of touring and local bands at The Urban Lounge is as diverse as it gets in Salt Lake City, and so are the things bands say about the venue on social media. They might comment on the paintings of John Stockton and Karl Malone by the door done by local Andrew Sato or the new-and-improved sound equipment. They might mention the abundance of Lev bottles consumed here each night or brag about their high score on Ms. Pac Man—as Stephen Malkmus of legendary ’90s rock band Pavement did. You can try to beat his score next time you catch a killer band. 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City, TheUrbanLoungeSLC.com

The Wine Cellar
37.9°
Walter “Mitch” Mitchell built bombs in the military, so he runs a clean, orderly place where lonely beer-nursing is verboten—Mitch’ll introduce you to new friends if he sees you doin’ that because “nobody is alone here.” The décor is the coolest and most unusual we’ve found, with everything from plush Tiggers to a cigar-box guitar and a sword collection—one for every year the Cellar has been open. Music is the main event—you should check out ace singer-songwriter Danny Weldon and old-school funkers Controversy. The Wine Cellar is open Thursday to Saturday; try the catfish. 2550 Washington Blvd., Ogden, 801-399-3600, WineCellarOgden.com

The Woodshed
40.8°
Now that it has cornhole in the spacious back patio, The Woodshed claims to have everything you need in a bar, but is perhaps best known for the live music that runs the gamut of genres. The most popular night might be Reggae Night Thursdays, but The Woodshed is packed all week long. You might be drawn to the photo booth or free video games, including Ms. Pac-Man, or a spot to share a quiet drink—this can also be the place for that until 8 or 9 p.m.; then it gets crazy. 60 E. 800 South, Salt Lake City, 801-364-0805

Nightclub, DJ & Dancing

Area 51
41.5°
A mainstay in SLC’s club scene, Area 51 is the place for alternative-, goth- and industrial-themed nights, where you can dress as crazy as you like and dance the night away. With a drink list that can only be called extensive—there are more than 100 specialty concoctions—your tastebuds will never be bored. Come for the famous Fetish Ball—held on the final Saturday night of every month, always themed—and behold fetish demonstrations, vendors and the most interesting people-watching you’ll ever encounter. 451 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City, 801-534-0819, Facebook.com/ClubArea51SLC

Bogey’s Social Club & Grill
36.1°
Bogey’s is on top of its game. The massive sports bar in Clearfield has everything from televised contests of athletic feats and contests to White Trash and Superhero parties. It’s also known for the balls-out Mardi Gras celebrations—there’s even a huge King chair just for the occasion. There’s Texas Hold ‘Em four nights a week, pool, darts, bingo, live music and food prepared by—get this—a real “executive chef” in a French Quarter dining area. This upscale VIP joint also provides a free shuttle. 22 E. 200 South, Clearfield, 801-773-9385, BogeysClub.com

Broadway Bar & Grill
43.0°
If you’ve got the hankerin’ for a wild night in Tooele, then cure that with a stop at the Broadway Bar & Grill. Only a short walk from historic Main Street, this club is the locals’ late-night party spot. On the weekends, the dance floor is packed with people getting lost in the sound of the DJs and live bands, and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, patrons can belt out all of their favorite karaoke jams. While you’re there, try the Red Devil shot (raspberry vodka, vanilla liquor, pomegranate liquor and cranberry juice). 104 N. Broadway, Tooele, 435-843-0456

The Circle Lounge
40.9°
The covered patio and club-chic interior at The Circle Lounge are packed on Friday and Saturday nights with a well-dressed clientele who come to shake it to house, hip-hop and trance DJs. The savvy crowd can also take advantage of a full sushi bar between songs. The club is a great pick during the week, as well, with a performance every other Wednesday by local jazz dynamos The Joshua Payne Orchestra. 328 S. State, Salt Lake City, 801-531-5400

Club Allure
36.7°
Club Allure, located next to Interstate 15 in Sandy, offers what you wish you could find in all other clubs. Ready for the list? Go: Convenient, free parking. A 15,000-square-foot club with an interactive lit-up dance floor. Karaoke on the weekends (and Wednesdays). DJ Chrismo mixing up top 40 music and videos on 180-inch screens. Five bars serving inexpensive drinks, including PBR on tap. Reasonable cover charge (guys $5; ladies free). Kitchen open until 11 p.m., with daily lunch specials. A 4,000-square-foot beach-themed patio with fire pits and covered seating. Now you know why this bar hosts up to 1,000 souls on a weekend night. 8925 S. Harrison St. (255 West), Sandy, 801-566-7979, AllureSLC.com

Downstairs
38.8°
An intimate Vegas-style martini-bar-cum-DJ-venue, owned by That ‘70s Show star Danny Masterson (who occasionally moonlights at the club as DJ Mom Jeans), Downstairs is a chic gathering of nooks and sofas with a fireplace and wood décor to add to the upscale lounge charm. With a well-stocked bar, including classics such as mai tais and kamikazes, Downstairs is a bar that prizes its cool, laid-back vibe as much as its polished selection of vinyl spinners and roster of nationally touring DJs. 625 Main, Park City, 435-615-7200, DownstairsPC.com

Good Spirits
37.9°
All alone on a long stretch of 3300 South between SLC and West Valley City, Good Spirits is definitely a stalwart bar—and when you step inside this repurposed burger shop, it might seem like 1972 (more clubs should really utilize a tinsel curtain). Good Spirits features the usual good-times suspects of karaoke and games (poker on Sundays), as well as some tasty bar chow. 999 W. 3500 South, Salt Lake City, 801-263-0411

Habits
41.2°
Habits prides itself on looking great, from providing a clean environment to dressing to kill on Friday and Saturday nights (yes, they enforce the dress code). The recessed dance floor, presided over by DJ Scotty B, is cool and unusual—a boogie pit, if you will. It pairs well with the sound system, and it’s a good place to burn off the delicious calories from Habit’s full menu of steaks, sushi, burgers and appetizers. There’s poker on Mondays and pool all the time—and a great many locals convene here for sports, too. 832 E. 3900 South, Salt Lake City, 801-268-2228, ClubHabits.com

The Hotel Bar & Nightclub/Club Elevate
40.9°
Give your heart a break and let the three floors and 32,000 square feet of earth-shaking bass do the blood circulating for you at the Hotel, a swanky dance club born out of a restored Salt Lake City landmark. The Lobby, Elevate, The Ballroom, The Opium Lounge and The Game Room offer different strokes for different folks. Theme nights are held weekly, pool is free in The Game Room and you can watch the gyrating masses from above while smoking a hookah in The Ballroom. 155 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City, 801-478-4310, TheHotelElevate.com

Karamba
43.3°
Karamba is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights—and all they want to do is dance. In fact, stainless-steel stools outnumber tables so that patrons can make the most of the expansive floor and easily access the three full bars. Alas, there is no draft beer, but each station has coolers stocked with frosty bottles. The music, both live and DJ’ed, is typically Latin sounds like salsa and cumbia, but hip-hop owns Friday nights. Sunday is gay “Pachanga” night, and the club splits in two with spicy rhythm on one side and thug beats on the other. 1049 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City, 801-637-5170

Metro Bar
47.0°
Metro earned its reputation for fun by serving up strong drinks and throwing great dance parties. Home of one the longest-running all-request nights (Dance Evolution every Thursday) and LGBT-friendly Fusion Saturdays, Metro Bar is one of the few spots in Salt Lake City that will not only play just about any song of your liking (even Justin Bieber) but also serve you a cocktail to enjoy it with that has some heft to it. If dancing’ ain’t your thing, then check out Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School on the first Monday of the month. 540 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City, 801-652-6543, MetroBarSLC.com

One Nightclub/Lounge
35.4°
Want Vegas glam but on a Utah budget? Then head to One, a downtown nightclub that focuses on creating a unique experience. The “flair” bartenders are some of the best in the state. They juggle, blow whistles and perform choreographed dances. One is full of specialty evenings with hookah and salsa instruction on Thursdays, Stereo-Fridays and Cake on Saturdays, featuring lots of color with mash and house music. 180 W. 400 South, Salt Lake City, 801-979-0966, Facebook.com/OneSLC

Scallywags
39.8°
The former Saints & Sinners is now a “pirate bar” (we’re not sure what it means, either), but Scallywags is still a full-throttle dance-party club that rages in more square footage than first meets the eye. From the dance floor and VIP hookah lounge downstairs to the pool and foosball tables, stripper poles and State Street-view patio upstairs, the only thing missing here is Cap’n Jack Sparrow. 3040 S. State, Salt Lake City, 801-604-0869

Southern X-Posure
43.0°
Technically, this is still the O-Town location of Utah’s largest chain of adult clubs. Thing about that is, Ogden’s mayor is still cleanin’ up the town, so he put the kibosh on exotic dancers. That means this particular Southern X is just a “party bar” and will soon undergo a remodel and name change. Details are premature, but we’re told the drinks will stay “super cheap” and ladies get in free. There’s a lot of potential for this large room, especially as a live-music venue—we’re just sayin’. 1847 Wall Ave., Ogden, 801-394-4757