Best of Utah 2018 | An ode to the people, places, products and services that make life the Beehive State exceptional. | Best of Utah | Salt Lake City
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    Page 13 of 13

    click to enlarge JOSH SCHEUERMAN
    • Josh Scheuerman

    Best Bar/Club Menu

    Whiskey Street
    This downtown staple combines the elegance of an old-school speakeasy with the eccentricity of a modern bar, mixing inspired appetizers (bourbon-bacon caramel popcorn, to-die-for deviled eggs, short rib polenta poutine) with sandwiches (pork belly cuban, tasso chicken club) and sophisticated entrées (rosemary lamb chops, NY steak au poivre). It's all a tribute to the Rotisserie Inn, which served classic Italian and French fare in this space from 1915-1974.
    323 S. Main, 801-433-1371, whiskeystreet.com
    2. Lake Effect
    3. Prohibition

    Best Bar/Club Patio
    The Green Pig Pub
    Looking for a rooftop deck with sweeping views of the Wasatch Range and the Romanesque Salt Lake City and County Building? Look no farther than The Green Pig Pub, nestled in a historic building near Exchange Place. Sightlines of Gallivan Center make the 3,000-square-foot patio even more desirable during the summer, but live music and DJs turn it into a destination any time the sun's out.
    31 E. 400 South, 801-532-7441, thegreenpigpub.com 2. The Hog Wallow Pub
    3. Gracie's

    Best Beer Selection
    The Bayou
    No matter what beer you're dreaming of, The Bayou probably has it. A menu stuffed to the gills with more than 500 international selections goes hand-in-hand with Cajun food and intimate jazz—but for beer lovers, this is heaven on earth. Handwritten descriptions add a quirky touch to those special beers from near and far, while the Bayou app gives connected connoisseurs a real-time look at the menu.
    645 S. State, 801-961-8400, utahbayou.com
    2. Beerhive
    3. Beer Bar

    click to enlarge DARBY DOYLE
    • Darby Doyle

    Best Craft Cocktails

    Lake Effect
    Claiming the largest spirit selection in the state, Lake Effect excels at forward-thinking creations that push mixology to its limits. Infusing drinks with everything from peppers to nectar while making inspired use of herbs, syrups and bitters, Lake Effect's original cocktails reflect the Latin spin found on the food menu. Order something new and feel like a craft cocktail rock star in Lake Effect's "Rabbit Hole" basement lounge.
    155 W. 200 South, 801-285-6494, lakeeffectslc.com
    2. Bar X
    3. Prohibition

    Best Dance Club
    Sky
    With more than 12,000 square feet of danceable space spread across three floors, Sky combines a premium sound system with high-tech lighting for the best dance club experience in Salt Lake City. Owner Ken Dinsmore drew inspiration from Burning Man's communal energy to breathe new life into Utah's nightlife, creating space for VIPs (20 reserved suites) and all-night partiers dancing under the stars of Sky's retractable roof. 149 W. Pierpont Ave., 801-833-8714, skyslc.com
    2. Area 51
    3. The Westerner

    click to enlarge JOSH SCHEUERMAN
    • Josh Scheuerman

    Best Dive Bar

    Johnny's on Second
    Johnny's is as no-nonsense as it gets, a comfortable, inexpensive staple on 200 South's bar row. Low-key and inviting, Johnny's books local bands on the weekends while the pool table and televised sports dominate every day in between. Claim your cozy corner and drink without pretense or distraction, saving a bundle on your shockingly cheap tab and making a few new no-bullshit friends in the process. 165 E. 200 South, 801-746-3334, johnnysonsecond.com
    2. Cheer's to You
    3. Duffy's Tavern

    Best Gentlemen's Club
    Trails
    A must-see men's club on the West Coast circuit, Trails has all the pomp and circumstance of a high-end strip joint combined with two full-service bars and a restaurant offering lunch and dinner. Conveniently located off Interstate 15, it's a favorite with travelers and locals alike, boasting service with a smile and the sexiest of Trails Girls. You might not find true love, but you will find good, clean adult entertainment.
    921 S. 300 West, 801-363-2871, trailsmensclub.com
    2. American Bush
    3. Southern Exposure

    Best Karaoke
    Highlander Club
    This comfortable little club is off the beaten downtown path, but the trip south is worth it. Wood-grained chairs and tables evoke a classic neighborhood bar atmosphere, but once karaoke starts each night at 9, the focus is on the music. Warm up in a private sound booth so you hit the stage confidently; in between songs, maintain your energy with specials from the Highlander's rotating kitchen menu.
    6194 S. Highland Drive, 801-277-8251, highlanderutah.com
    2. Piper Down
    3. Tavernacle

    Best Late-Night Bar Grub
    Proper Burger
    Proper Burger provides the perfect antidote to a night on the town. Pick from beef, black bean and sweet potato or vegan patties, then dress it up with a cornucopia of strange sauces, toppings and sides. Best of all, you can make your burger dreams come true until 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday—and wash it all down with a fresh draft from Proper Brewing next door.
    865 S. Main, 801-906-8604, properburgerslc.com
    2. Whiskey Street
    3. Piper Down

    JOHN TAYLOR
    • John Taylor

    Best LGBTQ Bar/Club
    The Sun Trapp
    This neighborhood joint might look like any other bar, but the people at The Sun Trapp are the best. You'll find a cadre of friendly mixologists slinging strong concoctions, while the welcoming regulars won't waste a second before they chat you up. Regular fundraising events reinforce the community spirit of the place. And they advocate wearing white after Labor Day—our kind of watering hole.
    102 S. 600 West, 385-235-6786, suntrapp.com
    2. Club Try-Angles
    3. Metro

    Best Liquor Selection
    Whiskey Street
    Whiskey Street opened in 2013 with 130 varieties of its namesake liquor—since then, it's nearly quadrupled that total. The extensive menu includes a whiskey pairing for each food item, and bartenders have mastered the fine art of combining classic cocktails with seasonal twists. All mules follow the original 1941 recipe from Cock 'n' Bull Pub, while a devotion to new spirits spotlights limited-release bourbons and other delicacies.
    323 S. Main, 801-433-1371, whiskeystreet.com
    2. Lake Effect
    3. White Horse

    Best Live Music Bar/Club
    Urban Lounge
    With daily concerts covering everything from indie rock and hip-hop, to electro-pop and country, no national touring band comes through Salt Lake City without making a stop at The Urban Lounge. Local bands consider a headlining gig here a rite of passage, too. And why not? The sound is perfect, the stage is visible from anywhere in the club, you can dance or relax, and even sold-out shows feel intimate. 241 S. 500 East, 801-746-0557, theurbanloungeslc.com
    2. The Royal
    3. State Room

    Best Neighborhood Bar
    A Bar Named Sue
    Johnny Cash reigns supreme at A Bar Named Sue, and you get the feeling The Man in Black would love the well-stocked jukebox, cheap drinks, locals-only vibe and free pool. Both locations of the Sue have all the modern trappings, too: weekly poker, bingo and trivia with hefty cash jackpots, NFL Sunday Ticket and live rock bands on the weekends. Mouth-watering food is always on the menu, too. 3928 S. Highland Drive, 801-274-5578 & 8136 S. State, Midvale, 801-566-3222, abarnamedsue.net
    2. Legends Sports Pub
    3. The Break

    click to enlarge JOSH SCHEUERMAN
    • Josh Scheuerman

    Best New Bar/Club

    Quarters Arcade Bar
    Salt Lake City's first arcade bar was a happy accident for co-owners Katy Willis and Michael Eccleston, who originally planned to open a speakeasy. But everybody digs retro arcade games, classic pinball machines and old-school console gaming—Dungeons & Dragons fans will love the custom-built table, too. Located in the old Club Manhattan space, nostalgia reigns at Quarters, along with craft cocktails and a robust beer list.
    5 E. 400 South, 707-769-4495, quartersslc.com
    2. HandleBar
    3. Post Office Place

    Best Non-Downtown Bar/Club
    The Ice Haüs
    Beer, brats and booze—what more do we need? At The Ice Haüs in Murray, these staples rule the roost, but rave reviews pour in for the peripherals, as well. Regulars love the Philly cheesesteak and poutine , thankfully served until midnight. Entertainment fans love the eclectic weekend music and comedy lineup. And who doesn't cherish The Ice Haüs' irreverent perspective and bawdy Facebook posts? 7 E. 4800 South, 801-266-2127, icehausbar.com
    2. Prohibition
    3. The Royal

    Best Ogden Bar
    Alleged
    Creatively circumventing the state's 1½-ounce pour law takes guts. Celebrating your downtown Ogden building's former life as a whorehouse takes balls. Cohesively incorporating three different floors into one business takes moxie. Transforming Ogden into a nationally recognized destination takes heart, which is exactly what Alleged owner Jared Allen has shown in spades as he's built this bar's brand in concert with the world-class Ogden Twilight Series.
    201 25th St., 801-990-0692, alleged25th.com
    2. Funk N Dive
    3. Brewskis

    click to enlarge RAY HOWZE
    • Ray Howze

    Best Trivia Night

    Piper Down Pub
    Trivia options abound in Utah, but if you're looking for the best, Piper Down has you covered. Geeks Who Drink is a staple two nights a week (Wednesdays and Sundays), while special events take place throughout the year. Whether it's the Quiz for a Cause fundraiser or special-themed nights based on Stranger Things, Parks and Recreation, The Office and Harry Potter, trivia junkies know this is the place to be.
    1492 S. State, 801-468-1492, piperdownpub.com
    2. Lucky 13
    3. Green Pig

    Best Park City Bar/Club
    No Name Saloon
    Want to enjoy Park City without joining the 1 percent? Spend a day at No Name Saloon, nestled on the heart of Main but a world away from the nouveau riche "ski bum" hordes. Rickety odds and ends line the walls, but a sprawling rooftop patio and rapid-fire service at two bars makes this institution feel more down-home than derelict. Instead, regular folks hold court here—rare for PC.
    447 Main, 435-649-6667, nonamesaloon.net
    2. The Downstairs
    3. Park City Live

    click to enlarge COURTESY PHOTO
    • Courtesy Photo

    Best Sports Bar

    Legends Sports Pub
    That rarest of Utah creatures, Legends Sports Pub is both a restaurant and a bar—kids are even allowed in when accompanied by an adult. Chicken wings, nachos, burgers and pizza dominate the menu, but pleasant surprises also abound: healthy salads, breakfast burritos and even gluten-free options. If there's a game on, Legends will air it, making this the perfect destination for every sports fan. 677 S. 200 West, 801-355-3598, whylegends.com
    2. Lumpy's
    3. Fiddler's Elbow

    Best Salt Lake Bar/Club
    Gracie's
    With a variety of multi-level seating options, Gracie's covers all the bases. Some nights jump with jazz and bluegrass; on weekends, brunch lovers rejoice. Shoot pool inside or read a book on the patio. Tease your taste buds with a curry burger or visit the old country with pomodoro alla tagliatelle. The choice is yours—some call it an identity crisis; others, the best kind of choose-your-own-adventure. 326 S. West Temple, 801-819-7565, graciesslc.com
    2. Bourbon House
    3. Lucky 13

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