25 Best Restaurants in Downtown Salt Lake City

Downtown Salt Lake City is a hot spot for great restaurants. From spectacular sushi to well-prepared pizza or incredibly tasty tacos, the options are seemingly endless. After decades of eating and writing in Salt Lake City, we’ve put together a guide to the very best restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City.

Our recent update to the best restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City aims to feature establishments of nearly all cuisines and price points, which range from casual takeout to upscale fine dining. Feast your eyes on 26 of our favorites, perfect for anyone craving good food or suffering from borborygmus (the stomach grumbles). Happy eating!

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25. Bambara

Nestled in one of downtown Salt Lake’s upscale hotels, Bambara serves a variety of high-end American dishes. On this particular menu, you’ll find ambrosial lobster ravioli, filet of beef, and even roasted Maine scallops. This is a great restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City for a nice evening out, lunch with your colleague, or simply an excuse to eat delicious entrees in a beautiful setting. Not a bad way to start off our guide to the best restaurants in downtown SLC.

24. Spitz

Calling all lovers of Mediterranean street food because Spitz is next on our guide for the best restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City. You can always count on Spitz for delicious and full-bodied doner wraps, bowls, or loaded fries. There are a lot of popular menu items but the best in our honest opinion are their street cart fries with both sweet potato fries and “the works.” Be prepared to become addicted (especially if you love garlic as much as we do).

23. Monarca

Traditional Mexican cuisine inside a modern contemporary setting? Sounds like Monarca is up next on our guide to the best downtown Salt Lake City restaurants. Located on the main floor of the Gallivan Center, Monarca is constantly updating and creating delicious menu items with their chef, and we’ll never complain about the results. Most recently, we are loving their enchiladas suizas, ceviche, and (prepare yourself) octopus tacos. So whether you’re visiting for date night, a business lunch, or girls night out, definitely make Monarca your next stop.

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22. The Rose Establishment

The Rose Establishment serves some of the best brunch in downtown Salt Lake City, especially if you’re looking for something a bit on the lighter side. A hidden little eatery between the Gateway and Pioneer Park, this downtown restaurant is subtle yet memorable. Their avocado tartine is something we dream of, made with smashed avocado topped with candied lemon chips, olive oil drizzle, and fleur de sel served on Eva’s Bakery 5-seed bread. Make sure you also dive into the Standard, made with two herbed potato cakes, two soft-cooked eggs, and pork belly bacon with house-smoked tomato jam.

21. Matteo Ristorante Italiano

Matteo Ristorante Italiano is the newest Italian restaurant on the block, and we can’t stop dreaming about it. The menu features classic American dishes passed down through family generations, full of heart flavor, and comfort. To start off your meal, you don’t want to skip out on the bread service. Fluffy focaccia, perfect salty olives, and tangy garlic butter make this a special starter to kick-start your meal. For special occasions, the ultra-tender filet mignon featuring a cacio e pepe ravioli on top is a meal worth splurging for. Other menu standouts include the lasagna al ragu, burrata starter, and the tagliatelle bolognese.

20. The Copper Onion

If you’ve been following us for a while, it won’t surprise you to see The Copper Onion up next on our guide for the best restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City. Three words: wagyu beef stroganoff. Picture house-made pappardelle, melt-in-your-mouth beef, mushrooms, and creamy creme fraiche topped with chives. For this and their signature burger, we recommend a visit to The Copper Onion while dining in downtown Salt Lake City.

19. Laurel Brasserie

It may not be breakfast at Tiffany’s but Laurel Brasserie comes pretty close and is definitely one of the best restaurants in downtown Salt Lake City. Located in the Grand America hotel, Laurel offers a fun, effortless, and unique dining experience as well as flavors and fresh foods that will warm your soul. Their pumpkin spice tartlet served with maple labneh, frisee, and sage powder will always have a special place in our hearts. We also recommend ordering their pistachio pesto potato gnocchi or their roasted chicken bowl. Their arancini starter is also a repeated favorite if you’re a fan of rice, mozzarella, and parmesan (isn’t everyone?).

18. White Horse

No downtown Salt Lake City restaurant guide would be complete without White Horse Spirits & Kitchen. As a relaxed and locally sourced establishment, White Horse serves memorable small plates and entrees that you will write home about. Our very favorite menu items are the hamachi crudo, crispy fried brussels sprouts, duck breast (served with Utah sour cherries), and spaghetti & clams.

17. Roctaco

Roctaco, the taco place that has it all and is next on our guide to the best downtown SLC eats! Feast your eyes on rad tacos that feature our very favorite street food flavors from around the world. From Korean kalbi short ribs to chicken tikka masala, Roctaco has incredibly unique offerings that are fun to experience. We’re huge fans of the Angry Bird served with spicy tinga chicken, corn poblano salsa, tomatillo, and queso fresco. We also love Jimmy Churri and Uncle Al. Honestly, to really experience the menu to its fullest, you may want to get one of everything.

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16. Laan Na Thai (Temporarily closed)

For delectable street food, head to Laan Na Thai the next time you’re exploring downtown Salt Lake City eats. With only 3-4 seats inside their small dining establishment, we recommend their sidewalk seating, eating in the car, or across the street at Pioneer Park. No matter where you settle down to enjoy these Thai classics, we guarantee that you will enjoy them. Be sure to order their drunken noodles, curry dumplings, or pineapple fried rice. All are cooked to perfection, incredibly flavorful, and will leave you wishing you had more room in your stomach. We love the simplicity of Laan Na Thai and consider it one of the best Thai restaurants in Salt Lake City.

15. Eva

Eva is 100% the spot for you if you’re looking for the best small plates restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City. Say hello to a hip, cozy vibe and delicious late-night eats! We have yet to try something we don’t like here but some of our very favorites include the Brussels sprouts, grilled asparagus, cheese and meat board, as well as their spinach and potato gnocchi. Grab a couple of your favorite people and get ready to have a great time with even better food.

14. Red Iguana

If you are an SLC local you need no true introduction to Red Iguana, another favorite restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City. Unquestionably the best Mexican food you can get in Utah’s capital, don’t be surprised by the wait out the door always. You’re here for the puntas de filete a la nortena, the tacos a la iguana, and the chile verde. Need great Mexican food but shorter lines? You can always check out Red Iguana 2 if you’re in a time crunch.

13. Yoko Ramen

One of the best spots for ramen just happens to be located in downtown Salt Lake City. Yoko Ramen is overflowing with insanely good options, but our favorite bowl is the pork ramen, made with tonkotsu-shoyu (pork broth) and chashu (Japanese pork belly). The flavor is a memorable combination of umami, rich, and salty and will have you visiting weekly if you’re in the area. Hungry for more? Dive into their delectable pork gyoza or any of their rotating specials.

12. Thani Bowl

Thani Bowl is a unique Thai restaurant and is not only one of the best Thai restaurants in town but one of the best restaurants overall. Thani Bowl has wonderful familiar Thai dishes, but their specialty is authentic noodle dishes. The Bangkok Boat is a comforting soup featuring an addictive pork broth, rice noodles, brisket that falls apart, and juicy meatballs. We also love the creamy curry soup called Chiang Mai Hi and their yellow curry. If you are looking to try a new Thai dish you need to try this cozy restaurant.

11. Arempas

A Venezuelan restaurant that we love here at Female Foodie, Arempas is a true delight. If you’ve never been before, we recommend starting with an arepa, which is a delicious sandwich that features Venezuela’s national corn-based bread and is filled with a variety of meats and vegetables. The pabellon arepa and pulled pork arepa are incredible, and you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of their creamy avocado and garlic sauces on the side. The empanadas and guava and cheese tequeños are also some of our favorite dishes around. No matter what you get at Arempas, it is sure to be a hit.

10. Sapa

You won’t be able to visit downtown Salt Lake City and pass up on Sapa, a real contender as one of SLC’s best sushi spots. This gem of a Japanese restaurant has everything you want in a great restaurant: warm ambiance, friendly service, and absolutely out-of-this-world delicious sushi. The goal here is to try as many different rolls as you can comfortably manage, including the UFO, Lowrider, Cyprus, and Kamikaze rolls. Low-priced and eclectic, Sapa is the obvious option for everyone exploring the downtown Salt Lake City scene. 

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9. Caputo’s

Downtown Salt Lake City wouldn’t be the same without Caputo’s Market & Deli. While Caputo’s might be best known for its imported olive oils, state-of-the-art cheese, and a treasure trove of chocolates, it’s also a deli serving up fine Italian and Southern European foods. Order the Caputo for the house favorite sandwich – with mortadella, salami, prosciutto, provolone, lettuce, tomato, olive oil, and balsamic. Oh, and getting one of their sea salt chocolate chip cookies is non-negotiable.

8. Pago on Main

Tucked in the heart of Main St. is Pago on Main, a chef-driven establishment that has quickly grown into a downtown Salt Lake City institution. Pago on Main serves some of the best brunch in the city and features some of those tried and true originals we’ve always loved at Pago 9th & 9th. Our regular brunch orders include the burrata, croque madame, and french toast. The lunch and dinner menus rotate seasonally but our favorites include the strawberries and beets or the Pago burger made with bacon, cheddar, pickled onion, arugula, and black garlic aioli.

7. Pretty Bird

What do you get when you combine a mile-high homemade bun, house-made slaw and pickles, and the most glorious fried chicken? One of Pretty Bird’s phenomenal sandwiches is the answer; we simply cannot get enough! The chicken is definitely the star of the show at this downtown Salt Lake City restaurant, but the house sauce is no sleeper either. Pair the two in a sandwich, nuggets, or tenders and you’re on your way to a tasty protein-filled journey.

6. Current Fish & Oyster

Current blows us away with their ambiance, decor, and high-quality food, obviously making them an easy choice for downtown Salt Lake City dining. This gorgeous restaurant is one of the city’s best spots for fresh seafood. Whether it’s from the west coast or back east, their fish is flown in fresh every. single. day. You’re here for the calamari, smoked fish dip, oysters, and pan-roasted sea scallops. No matter who you dine with, Current will keep you coming back for more.

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5. HSL

HSL is one of the very best places you can eat in downtown Salt Lake City for amazing food and an extraordinary ambiance. You’ll want to order most (if not all) of the small plates, so make sure to come with a good friend or significant other to sample a little bit of everything. We’ve always loved the buttermilk biscuit, General Tso’s cauliflower, the fried chicken, and the HSL burger. And if your timing is spot on, you can indulge in the caramel pudding, topped with crispy sweet Chex streusel and straight magic.

4. Oquirrh

Oquirrh quickly rose to the top of the downtown Salt Lake City dining scene as it’s one of the best restaurants in town. Owned and operated by a husband and wife duo, Oquirrh is welcoming, sophisticated, and nostalgic. Their ever-rotating menus and specials keep us on our toes but every dish hits the spot. If you’re lucky to spot them on the menu, try the milk braised potatoes, lasagna bolognese, or the heart-warming chicken pot pie.

3. Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana

Another favorite downtown SLC restaurant is Settebello, the best pizza you can get in the entire city. Nothing quite beats the light, Napoli-style crust, slightly charred, with crushed tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and flavorful basil. While every pizza hits the spot, we will always order the Margherita or diavola whether we’re visiting for lunch, dinner, or a mid-afternoon snack. We guarantee you’ll be dreaming about this pizza until the next time you get to eat it!

2. Takashi

Home to the best sushi in Utah and within walking distance of most downtown Salt Lake City streets is Takashi. We could eat at Takashi every week and never get sick of it. This sushi spot is intimate, inviting, and offers an array of Japanese dishes that we just can’t say no to. You’ll find us ordering the calamari, gyoza, nigiri sampler, sunshine roll, naked roll, and crunchy ebi roll. Gear up for a wait but a meal that’s well worth it. Pro-tip: get to the doors 15-20 minutes before they open to ensure a shorter wait time.

1. Valter’s Osteria

Our top pick for downtown Salt Lake City restaurants (and for multiple SLC guides) is Valter’s Osteria. Welcome to Italian cuisine at its finest, sprinkled with incredible service and a beautiful dining setting. Enjoying a meal for two is a splurge, but you’ll always remember your dining experience. You’re here for the chopped agnelli salad, tutta pasta di valter (past sampler), lasagna (Valter’s family recipe), butternut squash & sage ravioli, pizza carne, and the chicken piccata. Leave room for the lemon gelato served with local honey and salt for dessert—it’s an absolute must!