Water Witch is a restaurant in Granary District, Salt Lake City.
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 love it: James Beard 2025 finalist hidden in the Central 9th industrial blocks, easily missed if you don't know the address.
Tip: Bar Nohm Korean izakaya next door shares the same back hallway; weeknights run quieter.
Address: 163 W 900 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
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 love it: Salt Lake's pioneering full-service vegan diner since 1998, easily overlooked among the carnivorous canon.
Tip: All-day breakfast plus beer and wine on the menu; weekend brunch peaks 10:00-12:00.
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 love it: Pastry chef Adalberto Diaz's French-Cuban dessert shop on South Main, the south-side spot most lists miss.
Tip: Closed Mondays; macarons sell out by mid-afternoon on busy weekends.
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 love it: Italian deli and 300+ craft chocolate bar wall hidden behind a market frontage on West 300 South.
Tip: The cheese counter, tinned fish and 300+ craft chocolate selection stretch beyond the sandwich window.
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 love it: Tamara Gibo and Takashi's cocktail bar in a historic post office building most travelers miss.
Tip: Sister room to Takashi sushi next door; weeknights quieter than the downtown weekend rush.
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 love it: Hidden-entrance speakeasy below Bodega on South Main, accessed through a hidden door behind the bar.
Tip: Reservation-only; book through the operator's site and arrive at Bodega above to enter.
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 love it: Bar X's sister beer hall next door, often overlooked behind the cocktail-bar frontage.
Tip: Communal tables encourage strangers to share; Utah-leaning craft draft list anchors the room.
