One of the great things about Salt Lake City is that we have some wonderful bars, and we’re getting more options all the time. So if you’re having a rough work week and need to get out in the afternoon or evening, you have a lot of delicious choices.

There are too many spots to cover in one blog post, but here are some of the best of the best places to relax and get a drink and some tasty food.

Purgatory

Purgatory’s sleek hipster vibe combined with its delicious food and drinks make this a must-stop. It’s always crowded because it’s that good. Try the Good Morning Vietnam (vodka, lemongrass, and lime) or the hibiscus mule. For food, try the curry loco moco (burger, curry gravy, fried egg, and cotija) or the pork belly nigiri.

Purgatory also has lawn games (including cornhole) and frequent live music to keep the atmosphere interesting. You never know what you’ll find at Purgatory!

Tuesday–Friday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. | Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

62 E 700 S

Whiskey Street

Downtown Salt Lake’s Whiskey Street offers rustic dining and drinking at its best. Before it was Main Street, this stretch of road was designated Whiskey Street by none other than Brigham Young. Unsurprisingly, this is the place to go for a huge selection of whiskey, plus wines and other drinks. For food, try the polenta poutine (polenta fries and short rib), the parmesan truffle fries, or the pork belly cuban sandwich.

Each day from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

323 S. Main Street

Post Office Place

This cool, urban drink spot is sophisticated and refreshing after a long day. The servers are very knowledgeable about all the drinks and the pairings that go best with them Some of the many interesting drink combos include Whats the Dill? (sea gin, elderflower, lime, dill) and All the Feels (rum, matcha, and lime). The food is Peruvian-Asian fusion, and everyone raves about the hamachi ceviche and fantastic tuna tartare. You also can’t go wrong with the beef haru make!

Monday–Saturday, 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

16 W Market Street

Kiitos Brewing

Kiitos Brewing is a warm, cozy place where everyone is encouraged to celebrate friends, family, and our planet. Brews change, but current offerings include watermelon seltzer, coconut stout, vanilla nut cream ale, and a fruit milkshake ale. While there’s no food here, you can order food from Rico Foods nearby.

Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m to midnight | Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

608 West 700 South

Porcupine Pub & Grill

Porcupine Pub & Grill was opened to give athletes and outdoor enthusiasts a place to relax, enjoy delicious food, and meet other like-minded people. The ahi spring roll is a popular food choice, as is the Thai chicken pasta and the fish and chips. All the drinks are good, but they have an especially lovely selection of beers.

Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. | Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

258 S 1300 E

Gracie’s

Gracie’s is a quaint little bar in downtown Salt Lake. The best part might be the outdoor view of everything that’s going on downtown (well, at least when it’s not the dead of winter outside). Gracie’s live music is wonderful, too. Enjoy what Gracie’s calls “Salt Lake’s best scotch” or their extensive list of wines. As for food, try the ribs or the agave buffalo wings.

Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. | Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

326 SW Temple

Keys on Main

Keys on Main, complete with a dueling piano bar (two grand pianos!) is the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail with live music. There’s a cover charge for getting in for the music on Fridays and Saturdays, but it’s well worth the $5 cost. Enjoy the craft beer on tap and the inventive cocktails.

Tuesday–Saturday, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

242 Main Street

Punch Bowl Social

Punch Bowl Social is an “eat-drink-play” bar at the Gateway. You can eat a sandwich, have a drink, and play a game with your friends at the same time. The atmosphere is comfortable with eclectic decor, self-described as “dirty modern.” Everyone recommends the cauliflower nachos or green chorizo fries .All the drinks are good, but most especially recommend the unique cocktail combinations.

Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. | Sunday, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

6 N Rio Grande Street

Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Sugar House serves upscale casual food made from the freshest possible ingredients. In fact, Tsunami flies in fresh seafood from around the world daily to make its delicious sushi, which is all made in house. They have a full liquor list, but we highly recommend something from its excellent sake selection to enhance your meal. They also have an extensive list of wine and other spirits.

Monday–Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m | Sunday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

2223 S Highland Drive

Water Witch

Water Witch is just your friendly neighborhood bar. Everything in the bar was loving handcrafted by local artisans, and the decor is somewhat eclectic, to say the least. They have some rare spirits, and the  award-winning owner and bartenders offer plenty of interesting flavor combinations.Word on the street is that they’ll make something unique for you if you tell them what you like.

Tuesday–Sunday, 12 p.m. to 2 a.m.

163 W 900 S

Ice Haus

Ice Haus is in a cool German bar with a traditional pub atmosphere.They have an awesome patio and fun live music. Vegans and vegetarians will love their delicious options, including fantastic vegan ranch. If you’re more of a carnivore, try the Chicago dog and cajun fries or the house bacon burger. For munchies, try the sweet potato tots with cinnamon butter. And if you’re looking for an adult version of a kid favorite, try the orange creamsicle cocktail.

Each day from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

7 E 4800th Se

Golden Axe

Want to do some axe throwing when you go out for a drink? You can do just that at Golden Axe. Sinking a golden axe into the bullseye is an unforgettable experience. They also have a full-service bar and kitchen with a wide-range of beer and cocktails. Try the Wheel of Pain (tequila, grapefruit juice, lime) or Fathers Sword (bourbon, coco rum, vanilla). They also have snacks, including pizza, charcuterie board, loaded fries, and fried cheese curds.

Monday–Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Saturday, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

145 Pierpont ave

White Horse

White Horse is a modern American Brasserie, with a large selection of alcohol. Choose Bar Roulette and they’ll make something for you. Or choose something from the huge whiskey selection. The blackberry sour beer is also a crowd favorite. DON’T leave without trying the crispy fried Brussels sprouts, even if you think you don’t like Brussels sprouts.

Each day from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

If you have a favorite bar in Salt Lake that I missed, leave me a comment so I can check it out, too!