City Weekly Best of Utah 2019
Best of Utah 2019: Libations & Bars
46 reader-voted winners in libations & bars, from the City Weekly Best of Utah 2019 poll.
Ask Ave: What won Best of Utah 2019 for Libations & Bars
- Best Actual Dive Bar to See Live SetsABG's in Provo
ABG's—short for the delightfully Victorian A. Beauford Gifford's Libation Emporium—is as divey as dive bars get, and for me at least, calls to mind what dive bars that doubled as venues…
- Best Bar MenuWhite Horse
Just 10 or 15 years ago, downtown Salt Lake's food and bar scene was decrepit and sparse. Today, Main Street's nightlife renaissance has taken shape with the help of places like White… — Runners-up: Ice Haüs, Gracie's
- Best Bar PatioGracie's
Gracie's has long been heralded as one of Utah's best bars, much of it due to their intimate and welcoming pair of patios. The upstairs patio is private with spectacular views of the… — Runners-up: Green Pig, Hog Wallow Pub
- Best Bar to Always Hear Good MusicAlibi Bar & Place
Alibi seems to be something of a home base for all of the best record spinners in SLC. I've never been into the bar when something infectious and foreign to me wasn't spinning in the…
- Best Bar to Catch an Experimental Lounge SetTwilite Lounge
Although vintage signs label it "Smoker's Paradise," Twilite is more-so a music-lover's, being the best place to indulge in unpretentious, rough-around-the-edges, welcoming, innovative and…
- Best Bar to Find Refuge From the Mormons on NFL SundaysThe Green Pig Pub
There are few things more fulfilling in Salt Lake City than donning an NFL jersey, biking past all the churchgoers and joining your fellow sinners at The Green Pig Pub on Sunday mornings…
- Best Barber ShopRay's Barber Shop
With two different locations and more than 45 barbers, Ray's Barber Shop is sure to get you looking sharp. Ray's offers cuts for all as well as beard trimming, razor lineup and the classic… — Runners-up: Jed's, Liberty Wells
- Best Bars to Actually Listen to Jazz, or Ignore it (Quietly) for BoozeLake Effect
Upon journeying down the steps to Lake Effect's basement bar, Rabbit Hole, for the first time, I called out to my bartender friend DuJuan Mitchell, who quickly shushed me. This was how I…
- Best Beer MissionaryEpic Brewing Co.
Spreading the love of Utah suds throughout the world is no easy task, but Epic Brewing Co. seems to be up to the challenge. After starting up Utah's only strong beer brewery in Utah, Epic's…
- Best Beer SelectionThe Bayou
Over the last decade, Utah's craft beer scene has seen a hockey stick spike in popularity. There's only one place where you can sample just about every brand offered by Utah's 30-plus… — Runners-up: Beerhive, Beer Bar
- Best Bizarre Beer ConcoctionsFirkin Fridays at the Bayou
What the firk is a firkin? It's a small beer cask that holds about 7 gallons of suds. That in and of itself isn't too impressive, it's what's going on inside the barrel that brings the fun…
- Best Brew PubSquatters Pub
Just like the Best of Utah, Squatters is turning the ripe age of 30 this year. Their secret to success? Not resting on their laurels and always finding room for innovation (their Hop Rising… — Runners-up: Red Rock Brewing Co., Wasatch Brewery
- Best BreweryFisher Brewing Co.
Building on the legacy of the OG A. Fisher Brewing Co., and following a 50 year hiatus, Fisher Brewing Co. has emerged as a sudsy phoenix rising. Their Granary District brewhouse is the… — Runners-up: Kiitos Brewing, Uinta Brewing Co.
- Best Brewery That Puts the Happy in Happy ValleyStrap Tank Brewing
With nearly 90% of its residents adhering to the state's predominant faith, it almost seems like a fool's game to open up a brewery in Utah County. Luckily, the masterminds behind Strap…
- Best Craft CocktailsWater Witch
Hip, minimalist, retro and innovative. All apt words to describe the neighborhood bar Water Witch, operated by barmen Matthew Pfohl, Scott Gardner and Sean Neves. The trio's shelves are… — Runners-up: Lake Effect, Bar X
- Best DistilleryHigh West
After drawing parallels between distilling and the fermentation process, biochemist David Perkins got a boozy lightbulb over his head—and backed by his wife, Jane—packed up, moved to Park… — Runners-up: Ogden's Own Distillery, Dented Brick Distillery
- Best Dive BarJohnny's on Second
Johnny Dale, the proprietor of Johnny's on Second, emphasizes daily fun and entertainment. He offers patrons a myriad of activities—rounds of pool, Thursday Texas Hold 'em games, and sports… — Runners-up: Twilite Lounge, Duffy's Tavern
- Best Drink DealThe Pie Pizzeria
Two words: Dollar PBR. Yes of course, the pizza here is awesome, and it's a rad place to hang out (even when it's totally packed and there's 10 kids clambering around stuffing their faces…
- Best Environmentally Friendly BeersUinta Brewing Co.
Beer, in general, is a pretty environmentally friendly way to make a living. From grain to glass the process of making beer takes little from the environment that it doesn't give back in…
- Best Hard CiderMountain West
The cheese stands alone in this category. One sip of Mountain West's Ruby or Desolation Prickly Pear hard ciders, and it's easy to see why they're the undisputed champs. Made using…
- Best LGBTQ+ BarThe Sun Trapp
The LGBTQ+ community in Utah is vibrant, growing and thriving. Places like The Sun Trapp attest to that spirit by promoting a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ and all others who enjoy a… — Runners-up: Tri-Angles, Metro Music Hall
- Best Local BeerKiitos Coffee Cream Ale
It's impressive to see the growth of Utah's craft beer scene and Beehive-bred brewers' presence during the Utah Beer Festival's 10 years (and running), so in true Oprah spirit, if you are… — Runners-up: Red Rock's Elephino, Wasatch Apricot Hefeweizen
- Best Locals-Only Beer GardenCraft by Proper
It wasn't always easy to find a great craft beer in Salt Lake City. You really had to dig through dozens of bar menus to find the right pint. Nowadays, you can't walk into a pub without…
- Best Lunchtime CocktailMojito at Black Sheep Café
Not all of us will find ourselves at the tail end of a two-day PTA convention questioning our life choices. But if you do, and you're also an SLC native, you'll likely be wondering where…
- Best Mustachioed PubHandleBar
The sign out front has a caricature wearing a bike hat and sporting an oversized mustache. His eyes are actually bicycle wheels. "Now serving thirsty cyclists and anyone who appreciates a…
- Best Neighborhood BarA Bar Named Sue
The Johnny Cash-inspired A Bar Named Sue is chock-full of free activities such as billiards, darts, poker tours, video games and live music that welcomes regulars and newcomers alike. That… — Runners-up: Dick 'N Dixies, East Liberty Tap House
- Best New BarAlibi
The compact Alibi is nestled in a nook along Main Street, and as such, the vibes change with the crowd—it can be predominantly hipster or mellow, older folk or youthful, or a hodgepodge all… — Runners-up: HandleBar, Legends Southtown
- Best New Pub Crawl DistrictSugar House/Ballpark Neighborhoods
The brewery business is booming. Don't blink because if you do, there might be another brewery opening shop in the Sugar House and Ballpark neighborhoods. What makes this even more…
- Best Non-Downtown BarHog Wallow Pub
Situated at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon and secluded in the pine trees, Hog Wallow is the perfect watering hole to get away from life's noise and hubub. The Hog is also an exceptional… — Runners-up: A Bar Named Sue, Ice Haüs
- Best Ogden BarFunk 'n' Dive
Longtime friends and partners Dave Morris and Bridget Gordon have been in the Utah bar industry for decades with portfolios including Piper Down, Ice Haüs and Green Pig, to name a few… — Runners-up: Alleged, Brewskis
- Best Out-of-the-Way Beer and a BiteRay's Tavern in Green River
If you're travelling through southeastern Utah and need a bite, look no further than Ray's Tavern off of Interstate 70 in Green River. The quaint local pub offers typical bar fare with…
- Best Park City BarThe Cabin
After five years, The Cabin is moving on up—on Park City's Main Street, that is. Now occupying the space of the former Rock and Reilly's, The Cabin resides in a renovated 6,000 square foot… — Runners-up: No Name Saloon, The Spur
- Best Piece of Public ArtSpiral Jetty
Even when it was hidden from view by the Great Salt Lake, it was comforting to know that it was there. Robert Smithson's celebrated 1970 work of land art in Box Elder County remains a… — Runners-up: Mural Fest Murals, Harvey Milk Mural
- Best Place to Drink and Catch the GameDick 'N Dixie's
Whether it's the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, the Utes or whatever team you happen to be cheering for, Dick 'N Dixie's cozy corner bar can be just the place to saddle up. For its size, the…
- Best Place to Drink on the Cheap on a WeekdayO'Shucks Bar & Grill
Who says drinking on weekdays is inappropriate? You don't have to just be a weekend warrior to enjoy downtown. Tuesdays at O'Shucks is where it's at. Think $3 goblets (known as schooners)…
- Best Place to Get Into a Bar FightQuarters Arcade Bar
If you're itching to get some aggression out, but you don't want to actually break a bottle over someone's head, then 801 Bar Fights at Quarters Arcade Bar is for you. On the third Thursday…
- Best Place to Get to Know Your Bartender/BouncerJohnny's On Second
Ah, Johnny's. This joint is a general first stop with friends, even a meet-up spot for dates and a solid start to any bar crawl. Boasting a dive-bar atmosphere—and dive-bar drink prices…
- Best Place to Get Your Cocktail OnThe Rest
Ever had an aviator? Or a proper old-fashioned? Or do you just crave a mint julep or sazerac? Make sure you get a reservation at The Rest. It's a speakeasy, but it's now probably Salt…
- Best Pub to Pay it ForwardThe Buy a Beer Board at RoHa Brewing Project
As you walk into the pub located at the RoHa Brewing Project you can't help but notice the rainbow peppered board at the back of the bar. It's been there since Day 1; names and brief…
- Best Public Golf CourseBonneville
With plentiful views of the Salt Lake Valley, Bonneville Golf Course is situated in one of the best spots around to play 18 holes. Located on the East Bench above Foothill Drive, Bonneville… — Runners-up: Mountain Dell, Eagle Wood
- Best Republican LegislatorRep. Paul Ray
The Clearfield Republican deserves props for teaming up with two sex workers to introduce a state bill in the most recent legislative session providing immunity from prosecution when those…
- Best Salt Lake City BarGreen Pig
Rooftop patio. More than a dozen TV screens for watching sports. Trivia nights. What's not to love about Green Pig? Their menu includes a delectable smoked buffalo chicken salad, prepared… — Runners-up: Gracie's, Piper Down
- Best Sports BarLegends
There's much to be excited about Utah sports. The Utes football team is a constant threat, while the Utah Jazz made big splashes adding Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanović. Utahns take their… — Runners-up: Big Willie's, The Break
- Best Taste of the Grill in Your CocktailTraeger Smoked Simple Syrup
Utah-based Traeger is perhaps best-known for its wood pellet grills—an innovative backyard system for grilling, roasting, smoking and more—plus a variety of ready-made sauces. But what if…
- Best Tireless Seeker of Public OfficeShireen Ghorbani
More a force of nature than a person, Shireen Ghorbani ran for office three consecutive times after realizing she was mad as hell, and she wasn't going to take it any more. After she lost…
- Best Wine ListBTG Wine Bar
After years across from the Salt Palace, BTG Wine Bar is settling into their new location in the Eagle Building on 400 South. Patrons can still sample all 75 of their wines (in 2 ounce… — Runners-up: La Caille, Current Fish and Oyster
Best of Utah is a City Weekly readers' poll. Results are reproduced here with permission; the full write-ups are at City Weekly.