Best of Utah 2016 

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Best Craft Cocktails
Bar-X
After the remodel a few years back, Bar X became the go-to for craft cocktails in the city—to the point where you can find it listed in many Top 10 lists online. You can get your standard classics like the Sidecar, a French 75 or the always popular Old-Fashioned. But the highly trained staff is always down to whip up something more modern like the Morriconne's Fix or The Edison to wet your whistle in style. (GS)
155 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City, 801-355-2287, Facebook.com/Bar-X
2nd place: Under Current
3rd place: Bodega/The Rest

Best All-Ages Venue
Kilby Court
Having recently celebrated their 17th year in business, it's hard to imagine SLC's concert scene without Kilby Court. The longest running all-ages venue in the state has played host to thousands of shows, giving kids who are just discovering their own taste in music a chance to see it live in a city filled with bar-based venues. There's no question that without its existence or influence, many in our city would never have been able to enjoy a proper intimate concert before the age of 21. (GS)
741 W. Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, KilbyCourt.com
2nd place: The Complex
3rd place: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

Best Dance Club
Area 51
SLC has seen its share of flash-in-the-pan dance clubs come and go over the past two decades, but few have sustained and continued to thrive as long as Area 51. Offering two floors with different vibes, you can go from Top 40 pop to EDM or goth in a moment's notice. Throw in the all-request dance Saturday and an assortment of guest DJs coming through monthly, and every night has something different to offer anyone looking to bust a move. (GS)
451 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City, 801-534-0819, Area51SLC.com
2nd place: Sky SLC
3rd place: Club Jam

Best Dive Bar
Cheers to You
The very definition of a hole in the wall, Cheers to You would be easy to miss passing by Main Street if not for the loud crowds cheering for whatever major game is on the tube. The bar and the booths are all close-quarters, with an East Coast feel and a Cheers mentality, forcing you to not only get to know each other over a drink, but become the best of dive bar buddies. That is, until your team scores over theirs. (GS)
315 S. Main, Salt Lake City, 801-575-6400, CheersToYouSLC.com
2nd place: Twilite Lounge
3rd place: X-Wife's Place

Best Drinks on a Dime
Twilite Lounge
Having been around for nearly 70 years, there's a good chance Twilite Lounge was the place your grandfather went for a cheap cold one after work. With a motif matching that of a '70s lounge, the cash-only bar offers cheap pitchers of whatever ale you and your friends want as you chill over a game of pool or kick back by the fireplace and talk. It's probably one of the last remaining low-key bars left in SLC that won't bust your wallet. (GS)
347 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City, 801-532-9400, TwiliteLounge.com
2nd place: Cheers to You
3rd place: X-Wife's Place

Best Gentleman's Club
Trails
Traditional gentlemen's clubs just don't exist in the land of Zion, but Trails is about as close as you can get. Going the extra mile to make anyone who walks through their doors feel welcome, the club offers food specials throughout the week, and women get in for free. But, of course, the main draw is the show, featuring dancers who are damn skilled on the pole. With a huge space and what seems like a dozen stages and poles, Trails never fails to show everyone a good time. (GS)
921 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City, 801-363-2871, TrailsClub.com
2nd place: The American Bush
3rd place: Southern X-Posure

Best Girl's Night Out
Gracie's
The downtown gastropub has been running strong for more than five years and has been a great place to find acoustic performances and hearty pub fare. But lately the place has been seeing a surge in women turning the place into their kickoff point for a night on the town. It doesn't matter where you might head afterward; Gracie's is the best place to grab a quick drink and a bite to eat while discussing your game plan for the night. (GS)
326 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City, 801-819-7565, GraciesSLC.com
2nd place: Keys on Main
3rd place: The Westerner

Best Karaoke
Tavernacle
The Tavernacle might be best known for its dueling piano shows, but three nights a week the bar becomes one of the biggest karaoke joints in the city. From Sunday-Tuesday you can pop in with your crew of show-stopping singers, toss back a little liquid courage and belt out "Don't Stop Believing" to your heart's content. But if you're not wrapping it up with Bowie and Queen's "Under Pressure," you're not doing the night justice. (GS)
201 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City, 801-519-8900, Tavervacle.com
2nd place: Highlander Club
3rd place: Frankie & Johnnie's Tavern

Best LGBTQ Club
Club Jam
Club Jam has had an impressive track record with Best Of Utah awards, winning in this category for seven years straight—almost every year since it opened. The ownership might have changed, the drinks improved and the music evolved, but Jam changes with the community rather than staying stagnant. The always popular Conference Weekend Party, Pride celebrations and holiday events make sure everyone has a place to be on those special Utah days. (GS)
751 N. Panther Way, Salt Lake City, 801-382-8567, JamSLC.com
2nd place: The Sun Trapp
3rd place: Metro Music Hall (formerly Metro Bar)

Best Live Music Club
The Depot
The Depot might not be the first spot on your list for an average night out, but when a band you love rolls through their doors, it's always a memorable show. Two floors with stocked bars, great seating and a killer sound system make the venue a must-play for national acts looking to take on SLC in style, with an atmosphere that feels like old-school Chicago concert halls. The only complaint? They need more shows! (GS)
400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, 801-355-5522, DepotSLC.com
2nd place: The Urban Lounge
3rd place: The State Room

Best Ogden Club
Alleged
Adding to the revitalization movement on historic 25th Street, Alleged took over the once home of the infamous Rose Room Brothel and turned it into a badass club. They're only open three days a week, but have an amazing rooftop patio and some of the best mixed drinks in the city. If you're a local nightlife hound, this is the club you need to be seen at, the bar you need to dance at and, in true Ogden fashion, the bar you need to get kicked out of at least once. (GS)
201 25th St., Ogden, 801-900-0692, Alleged25th.com
2nd place: Funk 'n' Dive Bar
3rd place: Brewski's

Best Open-Mic
Wiseguys
The vast majority of open-mic nights for comedians are spread across the city in unorthodox venues that often get changed or canceled last-minute. But the one constant among the mix is Wednesday nights at Wiseguys. This single night alone has given nearly every local comedian you've ever heard of a chance on a professional stage to get their start and hone their craft. That's a hell of an achievement for an open-mic night. (GS)
194 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City, 801-532-5233; 269 25th St., Ogden, 801-622-5588, WiseguysComedy.com
2nd place: Greenhouse Effect Coffee & Crepes
3rd place: The Royal

Best Park City Club
Park City Live
You could line up a dozen venues and bars all along Park City's Main Street, but none of them would compare to the constant success of Park City Live. A mainstay for amazing live shows during Sundance, the premiere concert venue for Summit County is a go-to for up-and-coming DJs, and a damn fine place to snag a drink and meet new friends between acts. (GS)
427 Main, Park City, 435-649-9123, ParkCityLive.net
2nd place: Downstairs
3rd place: No Name Saloon

Best Pool Bar
X-Wife's Place
Pool halls in SLC are nearly nonexistent these days, but X-Wife's Place has made sure to keep the tables warm and the balls rolling for anyone looking to play. It's one of the few places where you'll find people who still know the rules to Kelly and Rotation, aren't afraid to temp trick-shots on the 9-Ball, and aren't just hanging around to shark you out of cash. It's a fun room and a fair one, but expect to get beat by the best who pop in for a night. (GS)
465 S. 700 East, Salt Lake City, 801-532-1954
2nd place: Johnny's on Second
3rd place: A Bar Named Sue

Best Sports Bar
Lumpy's
It doesn't matter the time of day, the sport you love or team you root for; Lumpy's has you covered as the single best spot to watch every sporting event in the world. They've got dozens of TVs showing everything from NBA to FIFA to MMA with great pub food and an excellent selection of beer to keep you fueled throughout the game. But if you truly want to experience Lumpy's at their finest, hit the bar during a Utes game and watch the fandom go insane on every touchdown. (GS)
145 Pierpont Ave., Salt Lake City, 801-883-8714; 3000 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, 801-484-5597, LumpysBar.com
2nd place: Bout Time Pub & Grub
3rd place: Legends Sports Grill

Best Theme Night
'80s Night, Area 51
Taking over the top floor every Thursday night, Area 51 goes back three decades and throws on some of the coolest and most interesting dance hits from the '80s. Unlike other clubs that might stick to the massive pop hits of the decade, Area goes for the deep cuts and takes chances mixing INXS with Tears For Fears, or playing a mashup of The Cure with Depeche Mode. It just proves when it comes to theme nights, sometimes taking musical risks helps you stand above the rest. (GS)
451 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City, 801-534-0819, Area51SLC.com
2nd place: Cosplay Karaoke, Frankie & Johnnie's Tavern
3rd place: Spazmatics, Liquid Joe's

Best Utah Valley Club
The Madison
The Madison often gets overlooked because of the other venues that surround it, but make no mistake—it's the premiere dance club for Provo nightlife. The place goes all out to bring in local DJs both established and rising, and to give those who can't trek up north every weekend a taste of what we're enjoying. The club is proof that not only is there a party scene in conservative Utah County, but it's thriving. (GS)
295 W. Center St., Provo, 801-375-9000, Facebook.com/TheMadisonNightClub
2nd place: ABG's Libation Emporium
3rd place: Velour Live Music Gallery

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