Red Iguana
Order A combination platter with mole negro and mole verde plus a pomegranate margarita.
Red Iguana on West North Temple, the Cardenas family's Mexican room since 1985 and Utah's most awarded restaurant, runs the state's defining moles.
The restaurants worth the trip in Salt Lake City: bistros, neo-classics, neighbourhood favourites, and the rooms locals book first.
Our picks in Salt Lake City
20 places
Takashi
- ★ 4.9
- Japanese Sushi
- $$$
- Downtown
Order Omakase at the sushi bar; the menu's signature rolls plus sashimi for the table.
Takashi on Market Street, chef-owner Takashi Gibo's downtown sushi room since 2004, runs Salt Lake's defining omakase at the bar plus a full Japanese menu.
HSL
- ★ 4.7
- New American
- $$$
- Downtown
Order Whichever wood-fired vegetable preparation the kitchen leads with plus a family-style entree to share.
HSL on East 200 South, chef-owner Briar Handly's downtown wood-fire-driven New American room, runs seasonal New American cooking from a multi-time James.
Book food experiences in Salt Lake City
Pago
Order Whatever the kitchen is featuring from local farms plus a glass off the by-the-glass wine program.
Pago on 900 East, Scott Evans' 45-seat farm-to-table flagship in 9th and 9th since 2009, codified Salt Lake's seasonal local-ingredient tier.
The Copper Onion
- ★ 4.6
- New American Gastropub
- $$$
- Downtown
Order The Copper Onion burger plus a house-made pasta dish from the rotating menu.
The Copper Onion on East Broadway, chef-owner Ryan Lowder's New American room since 2010, anchors downtown's gastropub tier with seasonal scratch cooking.
Stoneground Italian Kitchen
Order A wood-fired pizza plus a house-made pasta for the table.
Stoneground Italian Kitchen on East 400 South, chef Paulie O'Connor's downtown room since 2000, runs wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta with an Italian.
Manoli's
- ★ 4.6
- Greek
- $$
- 9th and 9th
Order Halloumi with black olive honey, dolmathes, spanakopita and a Greek pour off the list.
Manoli's on Harvey Milk Boulevard, chef-owner Manoli Katsanevas' Greek small-plates room since 2015, reinterprets Greek mezze with seasonal local ingredients.
Finca
- ★ 4.6
- Spanish Tapas
- $$$
- 15th and 15th
Order A spread of tapas plus the paella for the table; pair with sherry by the glass.
Finca on 1500 East at 15th and 15th, Scott Evans' Spanish tapas room reopened in its new home, runs scratch tapas and a Spanish wine list on the ivy patio.
East Liberty Tap House
Order The house burger plus whichever Utah craft beer is leading the rotating tap list.
East Liberty Tap House on 900 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group neighborhood tavern since 2014, runs an updated bar menu with selected Utah craft beer.
Crown Burgers
Order The Crown burger with pastrami plus fry sauce and a gyro on the side.
Crown Burgers on East 200 South, the Katsanevas family's burger institution since 1978, popularized Salt Lake's pastrami burger at its Greek-American counter.
Where to stay in Salt Lake City
A sample of Salt Lake City hotels from our booking partner, who list 90,721 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square
Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square is in the heart of Salt Lake City, within a 5-minute walk of Family ...
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Hampton Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport
Located in Salt Lake City, Hampton Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport is in the business district, within ...
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Ramada by Wyndham Salt Lake City Airport Hotel
When you stay at Ramada by Wyndham Salt Lake City Airport Hotel in Salt Lake City, you'll be near the airpo...
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Fairfield Inn By Marriott Salt Lake City South
Located in Salt Lake City, Fairfield Inn By Marriott Salt Lake City South is in the business district, with...
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Compare for next weekend: Holidu in Salt Lake City from USD 112/night · Expedia in Salt Lake City
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Pretty Bird Hot Chicken
- ★ 4.5
- Hot Chicken
- $
- Downtown
Order Hot chicken sandwich at the heat level of your choice plus a side of slaw.
Pretty Bird Hot Chicken on Regent Street, chef Viet Pham's Nashville-style downtown fast-casual since 2018, anchors Utah's chef-driven hot chicken movement.
Pat's Barbecue
- ★ 4.6
- American Bbq
- $$
- Granary District
Order A brisket plate with burnt ends if it's a Friday plus a side of pit beans.
Pat's Barbecue on Commonwealth Avenue south of downtown, the Texas-style smokehouse founded by pitmaster Pat Barber and serving Salt Lake since 2004.
Cucina Wine Bar
Order A wine flight off the selected list plus rotating small plates from the seasonal evening menu.
Cucina Wine Bar on 2nd Avenue in the Avenues, Dean Pierose's upscale deli turned New American wine bar, runs gourmet deli by day and small plates from 17:00.
Vertical Diner
- ★ 4.4
- Vegan
- $$
- Central City
Order The ranch burger or biscuits and gravy with a side of spicy fries.
Vertical Diner on 900 South, Salt Lake's longest-running full-service vegan diner since 2007 (current address from 2019), runs plant-based comfort food all.
Mark of the Beastro
- ★ 4.3
- Vegan
- $$
- Central City
Order The vegan burger plus fried pickles and a breakfast plate from the all-day menu.
Mark of the Beastro on South State Street, the vegan bistro inside The Beehive music venue, runs plant-based diner classics in a live-music-venue room.
Zest Kitchen and Bar
- ★ 4.3
- Vegetarian
- $$
- Downtown
Order A plant-based main plus a hand-crafted cocktail off the seasonal list.
Zest Kitchen and Bar on South 200 West, the plant-based and 100 percent gluten-free room since 2012, runs vegetarian small plates with a cocktail program.
Emigration Cafe
- ★ 4.3
- Cafe
- $$
- 9th and 9th
Order A breakfast plate in the morning or a seasonal sandwich at lunch with an espresso drink.
Emigration Cafe on 1300 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group all-day cafe in Yalecrest, runs breakfast, sandwiches and salads through the afternoon hours.
Caputo's Market and Deli
- ★ 4.7
- Italian Deli
- $$
- Downtown
Order The Old School sandwich and a craft chocolate bar from the 300+ bar wall.
Caputo's Market and Deli on West 300 South, Tony Caputo's Italian deli and market since 1997, runs the largest craft chocolate selection in the country.
Red Iguana 2
Order Whichever mole the original flagship is celebrating that week plus a margarita at the bar.
Red Iguana 2 on West South Temple, the larger sibling of the Cardenas family flagship, runs the same award-winning moles in a bigger room with a full bar.
Casot
- ★ 4.5
- Wine Bar
- $$$
- 15th and 15th
Order A natural wine flight off the rotating list and a small plate from the Spanish-leaning kitchen.
Casot on 1500 East next to Finca, the Pago Group's wine and craft cocktail bar at 15th and 15th, runs natural wine flights and chef-driven small plates.
Nothing matches.