The places in Salt Lake City the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.

Off the beaten plate

Manoli's ★ 4.6

$$ GreekNinth And Ninth

Manoli's on Harvey Milk Boulevard, the Greek small-plates room from chef Manoli Katsanevas since 2015, is the Greek mezze destination locals send guests.

Why locals goGreek small plates with seasonal local ingredients on a Harvey Milk Boulevard corner most tourists miss.

TipClosed Mondays; the room is small, reservations help on weekend nights and brunch.

Water Witch ★ 4.8

$$ Cocktail barGranary District

Water Witch on West 900 South, Sean Neves, Scott Gardner and Matt Pfohl's Central 9th cocktail bar, was a 2025 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Bar.

Why locals goJames Beard 2025 finalist hidden in the Central 9th industrial blocks, easily missed if you don't know the address.

TipBar Nohm Korean izakaya next door shares the same back hallway; weeknights run quieter.

Vertical Diner ★ 4.4

$$ VeganCentral City

Vertical Diner on 900 South, Salt Lake's pioneering full-service vegan diner since 1998 (current address from 2019), runs plant-based comfort food all day.

Why locals goSalt Lake's pioneering full-service vegan diner since 1998, easily overlooked among the carnivorous canon.

TipAll-day breakfast plus beer and wine on the menu; weekend brunch peaks 10:00-12:00.

Fillings and Emulsions ★ 4.4

$$ BakeryCentral City

Fillings and Emulsions on South Main, pastry chef Adalberto Diaz's French-Cuban dessert shop, runs macarons, entremets and viennoiserie south of downtown.

Why locals goPastry chef Adalberto Diaz's French-Cuban dessert shop on South Main, the south-side spot most lists miss.

TipClosed Mondays; macarons sell out by mid-afternoon on busy weekends.

Caputo's Market and Deli ★ 4.7

$$ ItalianDowntown

Caputo's Market and Deli on West 300 South, Tony Caputo's Italian deli and market since 1997, runs the largest craft chocolate selection in the country.

Why locals goItalian deli and 300+ craft chocolate bar wall hidden behind a market frontage on West 300 South.

TipThe cheese counter, tinned fish and 300+ craft chocolate selection stretch beyond the sandwich window.

Post Office Place ★ 4.6

$$ Cocktail barDowntown

Post Office Place on West Market Street next to Takashi, Tamara Gibo and Takashi's cocktail bar in the historic post office building, runs craft pours.

Why locals goTamara Gibo and Takashi's cocktail bar in a historic post office building most travelers miss.

TipSister room to Takashi sushi next door; weeknights quieter than the downtown weekend rush.

The Rest ★ 4.5

$$ Cocktail barDowntown

The Rest beneath Bodega on South Main Street, downtown's hidden-entrance speakeasy, runs reservation-only craft cocktails in a windowless room nightly.

Why locals goHidden-entrance speakeasy below Bodega on South Main, accessed through a hidden door behind the bar.

TipReservation-only; book through the operator's site and arrive at Bodega above to enter.

The Beer Bar ★ 4.4

$$ GermanDowntown

The Beer Bar on East 200 South, Bar X's sister beer hall co-owned with actor Ty Burrell, runs Utah-leaning craft draft list and chef-driven bratwurst.

Why locals goBar X's sister beer hall next door, often overlooked behind the cocktail-bar frontage.

TipCommunal tables encourage strangers to share; Utah-leaning craft draft list anchors the room.

Hidden gems: tours, tastings and classes in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City: Local Food Walking Tour★ 4.7 (5)

Guided tour · 2 hours

Salt Lake City: Local Food Walking Tour

This Salt Lake City food walking tour takes you into the heart of downtown where you’ll learn about the area, architecture, and history while tasting food at some of t...

from$150 Check dates

See all 73 bookable experiences in Salt Lake City

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