16 Best Restaurants in Downtown and Central City, Salt Lake City

More than living up to its promise of farm-to-table freshness, this welcoming, microscopic, chef-driven neighborhood bistro capitalizes on local artisan farmers, with big and small plates anchored around simple ingredients like radishes, beets, or mountain stream trout. There's plenty to satisfy big appetites, too, such as bavette steak with duck fat potatoes, and fettuccine with braised hen, sofrito, pistachio, chile, and lemon. You can also dine at a second downtown location at 341 S. Main Street, which serves lunch on weekdays.

Visitors are sometimes taken aback to find stunningly authentic, richly flavorful house-made moles, chile verde, carnitas, and other self-described "killer Mexican" dishes in Salt Lake City, and especially in a rambling old yellow-brick building on the other side of I–15 from Downtown. But the lines out the door attest to the longstanding adoration of the Red Iguana, which in addition to doling out great food also serves first-rate premium margaritas, good Mexican beers, and delicious and free salsa and chips. If the crowds have you feeling blue, try the satellite outpost, Red Iguana 2, which is just two blocks away and has many more tables.

You'll often see chef-owner Takashi Gibo behind the sushi bar at this hip and lively Japanese restaurant across from the Gallivan Center. Takashi is known for sublime, melt-in-your mouth sushi as well as a slew of izakaya-style treats, like miso-grilled eggplant, baked marinated sablefish, and shiitake lamb shank in Japanese yellow curry. The list of specialty sushi rolls is long and never lacks for inspiration—try the one topped with escolar, sliced strawberry, spicy sauce, and fresh chilies, with toasted almonds and eel sauce on the outside. The full-service bar serves crisp sake and fine martinis.

Celebrated chef-owner Ryan Lowder brings joy with the basics—artful salads, house-made pastas, and charcuterie—and then dazzles with mouthwatering locally sourced dishes, from Cast Iron Mary's Chicken to rainbow trout with charred lemon and Greek yogurt. Stop in at this chic modern downtown bistro before or after a film, gallery tour, or live theater on Salt Lake's Broadway. The youthful Lowder studied with some of the nation's most famous chefs before bringing his own brand of sophisticated American cuisine to his hometown.

In an ornate former bank lobby adjacent to swanky Hotel Monaco, the city's most esteemed hotel restaurant is as notable for its setting as for its exceptional food. The kitchen crafts big plates of seasonally sourced modern American fare, including seared elk loin with berry compote, sea scallops with corn and cannellini beans, and fillet of beef with duck-fat potatoes and truffle aioli. A marble-fronted exhibition kitchen, big windows framed in fanciful hammered metal swirls, and a definite "buzz" make Bambara a hot spot even after many years. You can also dine in the bar, or simply enjoy a cocktail while cozied up in a velvet-lined booth.

In this comfortable, modern dining room with clean lines and a great location near Trolley Square and 9th and 9th, you might whet your appetite with a selection of cheeses or flatbread, but save room for balsamic-drizzled stone-fired pizzas, hearty baked pastas, and roasted half chicken, all of which vie for attention at this chatter-filled Italian eatery. You'll want to linger for the crème brûlée, flavored martinis, and espresso.

Whether for a flavor-packed snack or a hearty meal, head to this bustling hole-in-the-wall café near the Salt Lake City and County Building for some of the best fried chicken in the city—this Indian-spiced treat is available with veggie curry and rice, hummus and pitas, or in a salad. You'll find plenty of other tasty Indian and Middle Eastern dishes here, too, including falafel wraps, chicken shawarma, vegetable samosas, and masala chai. Alcohol isn't served.

Skip the overpriced breakfast at your downtown hotel and make a beeline for this enchanting Parisian-inspired boulangerie with tiled walls, marble café tables, and sidewalk seating out front. Start the day with beet-avocado toast, stuffed French toast oozing with lemon cream cheese and blueberry compote, or a fruit tart or almond croissant. The espresso and cold brew are first-rate, too.

Downtown's largest restaurant patio—with its tranquil reflecting pool, canopy of ornamental trees, and eye-catching murals—is an idyllic setting for boozy weekend brunch with friends, dinner and drinks before a show at nearby Abravanel Hall, or a late-night snack between dance clubs. The reasonably priced contemporary American food is consistently good, too, from the braised Wagyu beef Benedict with truffle Mornay sauce at brunch to ahi tuna tartare and cashew-kimchi bowls for dinner. There's a comfy indoor dining area, too, but it's the outdoor space that makes Ivy & Varley special.

Named for a historic restaurant district in Ho Chi Minh City, this unassuming eatery south of downtown re-creates the cuisine of southern Vietnam. The menu ranges from traditional basics, like beef-brisket pho and stir-fried crispy egg noodles, to more creative fare, such as walnut shrimp in a creamy white sauce, salt-baked calamari, and a massive hot pot that's perfect for groups of two to four. Portions are huge and service is impeccable.

There may be no better place in the valley to order a monstrous burger (with intriguing toppings like hickory-smoked pastrami or peanut butter and bacon, plus house-baked buns) and wash it down with a local beer or a shot of whiskey. At this rollicking tavern near Smith's Ballpark baseball stadium, bacon lovers drool over the house-made slices on many signature burgers, but it's hard to resist Fungus Amongus, a burger with mushrooms sautéed in red wine and garlic, topped with Swiss cheese. Dozens of beers and whiskeys are served, including several from Park City's High West distillery.

From early morning to well into the evening, a selection of fine teas and espresso drinks, big breakfasts, and healthful entrées draw regulars to this café and its serene patio courtyard, and also to adjacent New Age bookstore and gift shop, the Golden Braid. The menu leans toward vegetarian and seafood selections, such as multigrain waffles and eggs Benedict Florentine in the morning and sesame-blackened ahi with sticky rice and peanut stir-fry with udon noodles later in the day. There's a nice wine selection, too.

Since 1981 the Roasting Company has sourced, bought, imported, roasted, and sold dozens of varieties of coffees. Great pastries, desserts, light breakfast and lunch fare, free Wi-Fi, and friendly, knowledgeable staff make this a Salt Lake institution. You'll detect the distinctive aroma of their coffee in the lobby of the public library, where there's a satellite location.

Two ambitious restaurateurs set out to re-create authentic, ultrathin-crust pizza from Naples using an oven, flour, cheese, and other ingredients shipped from the Old Country. The popular result of this undertaking is Settebello Pizzeria, which draws raves for its blistered-crust pies with simple, top-quality toppings, like crusted tomatoes, artichokes, and pancetta, and a few nontraditional options, like jalapeño marmalade and slow-cooked brisket.

You'll find more than 200 microbrews, both bottled and on tap, at this lively, often crowded Louisiana-inflected bar and restaurant on the south side of downtown. The menu offers plenty of Cajun specialties, such as crawfish étouffée and blackened catfish sandwiches, along with more regionally American grub like fried chicken and pizza. Live music, pool tables, and a casual, high-energy buzz make this a fun place to hang out for a while. You must be over 21 to enter.

Drop by this long-running café with a wall of windows facing the leafy trees of Liberty Park for a leisurely breakfast or lunch before strolling amid the greenery or visiting Tracy Aviary & Botanical Garden. Specialties include vegan hash with grilled potatoes and avocado, the bacon-and-egg-filled pancake sandwich, and a variety of burgers. Portions are formidable, too.