What is the “Best?” It’s a subjective term after all. But we know it when we see it. Each year, we create an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list to tickle your intellect, fill your belly, spark your imagination and inspire ideas for exploring the place where you live. We reflect on the talk of the town—newsmakers and civic upheavals—that inspired both cheers and jeers. We pile it all together into an always-incomplete list dubbed Best of the Beehive.
And of course, part of our annual “Best of the Beehive” is the tradition of hearing from you, the readers. From old favorites to new upstarts, from Logan to St. George to everywhere in between, our readers voted on who was their personal Best of the Beehive. Find the results below!
Best Brunch
#1 Flanker #2 Mar Muntanya
Best Seafood
#1 Freshies
Best Sports Bar
#1 Flanker
Best Pasta
#1 Matteo #2 Osteria Amore
Best Deli
#1 Feldman’s #2 Caputo’s
Best Sushi
#1 Takashi #2 Itto #3 Aker
Best Mexican
#1 Red Iguana
Best Burger
#1 Seven Brothers #2 Lucky 13
Best Chinese
#1 Empire Chinese
Best Tacos
#1 Roctaco #2 Santos Tacos
Best Spa
#1 Kura Dor
Best Coffee
#1 Loki
Best Toffee
#1 Cache Toffee #2 V Chocolates
Best Park
#1 Layton Park
Best Mediterranean
#1 Spitz #2 Manoli’s #3 Mazza
Best Non-Profit
#1 Equality Utah
Best Farm-to-Table
#1 Hell’s Backbone #2 Table X
Best Steak House
#1 STK #2 Ruth’s Chris
Best Distillery
#1 Sugar House Distillery
Best Brewery
#1 Squatter’s #2 Red Rock
Best Cidery
#1 Thieves Guild #2 Second Summit
Best Live Music Venue
#1 The Depot
Best Art Gallery
#1 Urban Arts Gallery
Best Museum
#1 Natural History Museum of Utah #2 Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Find all of this year’s Best of the Beehive coverage, and more “Bests” from past issues. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
What is the “Best?” It’s a subjective term after all. But we know it when we see it. Each year, we create an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list to tickle your intellect, fill your belly, spark your imagination and inspire ideas for exploring the place where you live. We reflect on the talk of the town—newsmakers and civic upheavals—that inspired both cheers and jeers. We pile it all together into an always-incomplete list dubbed Best of the Beehive. Here we present our top picks for making the most of Utah’s wild, wonderful outdoors.
Best of the Beehive Outdoors (It’s What We Do)
Best place for ghost stories (with a side of bats)
Lava Tubes in Snow Canyon, St. George
Shimmy into the below-ground caves in Snow Canyon and you’ll not only escape the heat, you’ll be able to tell your friends tales of Bloody Mary, The Big Toe and The Hitchhiker in perfect darkness even in the middle of the afternoon. A bat may even flap around you just for good measure. Bring a headlamp to climb in and out. 1002 Snow Canyon Dr., Ivins stateparks.utah.gov
Best biggest mural in Utah
Astra Tower
In May 2025, the Astra Tower, a stylish new apartment development in SLC (aren’t they all so ‘stylish’?), unveiled what its developers are touting as the largest mural in Utah. The 14,000-sf, still-to-be-named original commission adorns the luxury apartment building’s west side. Salt Lake City-based muralists Joseph Toney (who is also a member of the Protect Our Winters Creative Alliance) and internationally acclaimed muralist and Salt Lake City native, Miles Toland collaborated on the massive project. 89 E. 200 South, SLC astraslc.com
Best mountain peak named Ben (but not named after a guy named Ben)
Ben Lomond
This towering, pyramid-shaped peak in North Ogden is the inspiration for Paramount Pictures’ logo (the founder grew up near Ogden and is said to have drawn it up on a napkin). But saying the mountain’s name correctly is a litmus test. If you call it “Mount Ben Lomond,” “Ben Lomond Mountain,” or “Ben Lomond Peak,” you’re clearly not an Ogdenite. Long ago, a Scottish-born settler named the peak after a mountain she left behind in the old country, and “ben” is a Scottish prefix that means “mount.”
Best place to drink straight from a tree
Stump Spring, North Ogden, Utah
A 1930s burger joint thought it might be fun to drag a giant cottonwood stump to the front of its store. Using nearby well water, a craftsman was hired to fashion a drinking fountain running through it with a sign that read “Good water, isn’t it? Try our hamburgers.” The restaurant ultimately failed, but the life-giving stump remained and became a residential treasure. So when it began rotting away in the 1990s, Boy Scouts raised funds to recreate the stump and revive Stump Spring. 2641 N. 400 East, North Ogden
Best ski resort for non-skiers
Snowbird
With 2,500 acres of skiable terrain, deep powder and challenging slopes reign supreme at Snowbird Ski Resort. But the resort offers plenty of consolation prizes if you’re not into skiing. The Cliff Spa’s heated decks, rooftop pool and menu of majestic treatments welcome weary travellers of the ski and sans-ski variety. Plus, with the Aerial Tram to the Mountain Coaster and a bevy of hiking/biking trails all summer…who needs skis anyway? 9385 Snowbird Center Dr., Snowbird snowbird.com
Best place to roll in natural bling
Glitter Mountain
Ok, Ok, it’s just over the border from St. George, so it’s technically in Arizona—but Southern Utahns and spring breakers swarm this old gypsum-covered roadside attraction. Dotted with tiny crystals that create a glittering blanket across the ruddy reddish mounds, folks can snag some bling or simply take in the sparkle when the sun hits just right. Feller Stone of Veyo, Utah holds the mining claim and sells the selenite as “Utah Ice,” but we’re guessing they make the bulk of their profits from letting you and yours play at mining. So, by all means, snap those postable pics, bring some hammers and take home shiny momentos–but plan to pay a (small) fee for the privilege. 1 Glitter Mountain Road, Littlefield, Ariz. fellerstone.com/glitter-mountain
Best way to see a sandbagger win a race
Ogden Marathon
If you’ve ever run a race, you know that guy. Amidst a sea of techy-stretchy running gear, muscle tape and energy chews, here comes Mr “I-couldn’t-give-a-damn.” He’s wearing jean cutoffs, tube socks and the free T-shirt he scored from the credit union. But when that starting gun fires at the heart of the Wasatch, range, he shoots off like a pistol, and you think, “Pace yourself, new guy.” You inch along the South Fork of the Ogden River, no new guy. You circumnavigate Pineview Reservoir, still no sign of him. You stop for a few heaves yourself as you descend Ogden Canyon and enter Historic 25th Street. That’s when you see him casually strutting with his medal…and you realize: he’s not a newbie, he’s a sandbagger—and he’s just bagged first place. (Annually in May),ogdenmarathon.com
Best place to indulge your Star Wars obsession
OutpostX
Tatooine meets Black Rock City at this off-the-grid sanctuary. Thirty minutes west of Cedar City, OutpostX is a 100-acre desert playa with private ‘caves’, a Star Wars-style Cantina, sand cruisers and spa areas. You can even rent a wardrobe and cosplay as one of OutpostX’s 20 fictional inhabitants—our favorite is “Sonic Grandma,” the oldest known person in the galaxy with skills as a disc jockey. outpost-x.com
Best spot to meet bird nerds. (You know you are.)
Eccles Wildlife Education Center at Farmington Bay
Over 12 million birds, representing over 330 species, are year-round or migratory inhabitants of Great Salt Lake-adjacent habitats. Whether you’re a bona fide birder or just bought your first set of binoculars, a visit to Farmington Bay’s Eccles Wildlife Education Center will undoubtedly put a dent in your life-list. The center also hosts free wildlife-viewing and photography events, along with monthly Birding with Buddies trail walks with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ biologists and bird-ID experts. wildlife.utah.gov
Find all of this year’s Best of the Beehive coverage, and more “Bests” from past issues. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
What is the “Best?” It’s a subjective term after all. But we know it when we see it. Each year, we create an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list to tickle your intellect, fill your belly, spark your imagination and inspire ideas for exploring the place where you live. We reflect on the talk of the town—newsmakers and civic upheavals—that inspired both cheers and jeers. We pile it all together into an always-incomplete list dubbed Best of the Beehive. Here we present the things that make our state so endearingly eccentric—because let’s face it, Utah is weird!
Best Place to See Pioneer-era Knick-Knacks
Pioneer Memorial Museum
Bottles filled with teeth, a collection of rattlesnake rattles, Victorian hair art…pioneers collected it all. They may have been known for many things: resourcefulness, resilience, iron wills and frostbite, but who knew they were as quirky as we are? The museum, operated by The Daughters of Utah Pioneers, hosts a large collection of pioneer artifacts. (Including a two-headed taxidermied lamb. No. We aren’t kidding.) 300 N. Main St., SLC dupinternational.org. Photo courtesy of Visit Utah.
Best Place to Freak Out Your Friends
Lilly E. Gray’s Grave Marker, Salt Lake Cemetery
You’ll have to hunt through 130,00 graves in the state’s largest cemetery to find it, but Lilly E. Gray, born in 1881, might have the spookiest epithet we’ve ever seen. Inscribed under her name are the words, “Victim of the Beast 666.” Say what? Some say her husband, serving time in prison when she died, had the marker made as a sick joke. If not, we seriously need to get to the bottom of this. 200 N. E Street, SLC (Plot X, Block 1, Lot 169, Grave- 4, East)
Best Place to See a Half-Submerged House
Thistle Ghost Town
For almost 80 years, this little town, created by the railroad company, gave serious Old West vibes. Thistle modernized: telephone poles and asphalt roads grew around the old bank, schoolhouse, restaurant, general store and dance hall. But in 1983, a massive mudslide damned the Provo River, swelling into a lake that overtook the little town. Its 650 residents fled, leaving a ghost town with quirky remnants, like a half-submerged home. UT highway 89, about 13 minutes up Spanish Fork Canyon. Photography by Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement | Marriot Library
Best Place for Whale Watching (in Utah)
Ninth & Ninth
It’s a gigantic, multicolored, breaching whale sculpture in a traffic circle (“Out of the Blue,” by Stephen Kesler). Sheesh. But if you’re the type of person who likes to duck under the police tape or run towards a house fire, post a selfie with Mr. Controversy. You’ll unleash a bevy of crisis-reactions—the rage-faced emoji might become your new best friend. Who knows, maybe the anti-whale neighbors will place a symbolic garden gnome in your yard with a sign reading: “Whales belong in the ocean.” 900 S. 1100 East, SLC. Photo by Logan Sorenson.
Find all of this year’s Best of the Beehive coverage, and more “Bests” from past issues. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
What is the “Best?” It’s a subjective term after all. But we know it when we see it. Each year, we create an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list to tickle your intellect, fill your belly, spark your imagination and inspire ideas for exploring the place where you live. We reflect on the talk of the town—newsmakers and civic upheavals—that inspired both cheers and jeers. We pile it all together into an always-incomplete list dubbed Best of the Beehive. Here we present our favorite goofs, gaffs and overall fun in Utah.
Best place to practice your Cat pose with an adoptable kitty
Tinker’s Cat Café
Now offering Cats and Yoga specialty classes, feline lovers can drink ‘cat-puccinos’ and buy cat bow ties, all while nuzzling kitties who need a furrever home. Working with Salt Lake County Animal Services, Tinker’s Cat Café is a meetup (complete with scratching posts and jingle toys) for potential cat owners and adoptees. If you’re not looking for a pet, Tinker’s invites you to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of adorable cats. Reservations are required for the lounge and classes but anyone can stop in to enjoy bakery sweets or sip on ‘camomeow’ tea. 302 E. 900 South, SLC tinkerscatcafe.com
Best place to get a selfie with a Sphinx (with the face of Joseph Smith)
Gilgal Garden
Thirty years ago, the most dare-worthy spot in Salt Lake was a private backyard sanctuary sandwiched between Hire’s Big H and the Wonderbread factory. Hopping the fence, teens wandered in terrified fascination around eccentric sculptures ranging from an obelisk to a freaky-tall birdhouse to biblical stone slabs to, creepiest of all, a sphinx sculpture with the face of Mormon founder Joseph Smith. It turns out that the real mastermind behind the garden wasn’t a devil-worshipper as teens thought, but a sculptor named Thomas Battersby Child. A Mormon bishop, local businessman and stonemason who liked musing on the relationship between his religion and the ancient world, Child’s eccentric sculpture garden is now on public display. 749 E. 500 South, SLC gilgalgarden.org
Best Place to Nail a Jumping-Selfie
East High School
Wanna hunt down Sharpay’s pink locker (still there) or step into the actual gymnasium/sanctuary where The Wildcats sang “Getcha Head in the Game” (while dribbling basketballs)? Neither do we. But hundreds of people do. Every. Single. Day. While East High School allows self-guided interior tours (after school hours), the spot garnering the most attention from High School Musical fans is just outside the front doors. Watching a gaggle of fans try for that perfect jumping-selfie in front of the school? We might pay to watch that. 840 S. 1300 East, SLC
Best place to follow in Olivia Rodrigo’s footsteps
The “I love you, Say it Back” Mural
Provo-based Lonely Ghost streetwear isn’t housed on 9th South in Salt Lake City, but one of their famous taglines is. “I love you, say it back,” a phrase covering the back of many a teen’s hoodies these days, is essentially a commentary on the human condition (i.e., our vulnerability and the need for reciprocity). Now etched on a wall in big, bold letters, the phrase that “started it all” according to Lonely Ghost, serves as a backdrop for many a selfie, including one posted by celebrity Olivia Rodrigo. 774 E. 800 South, SLC
Find all of this year’s Best of the Beehive coverage, and more “Bests” from past issues. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
What is the “Best?” It’s a subjective term after all. But we know it when we see it. Each year, we create an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list to tickle your intellect, fill your belly, spark your imagination and inspire ideas for exploring the place where you live. We reflect on the talk of the town—newsmakers and civic upheavals—that inspired both cheers and jeers. We pile it all together into an always-incomplete list dubbed Best of the Beehive. Here we present some mouth-watering highlights that just might encourage you to get out, eat and drink!
Best mouthful of the South
Big South food truck
From Ogden to the UC (that’d be Utah County) to their home base on Main Street in South SLC, Big South’s dishing up generous portions of perfectly prepared soul food favorites like smoked oxtails, saucy BBQ wings, Mississippi pot roast and the hands-down best fried catfish you can get. All with your pick of two tasty traditional sides. I always get the smoked mac ’n’ cheese and collards, but you do you, sugar. instagram.com/bigsouthslc
Best Place to give a nod to a Buck—with a Bud
The Shooting Star Saloon
It’s worth a trip to Huntsville, to check out the Shooting Star Saloon, Utah’s oldest continuously-operating bar. For kicks, ask to be seated at “The Buck Booth,” where the head of the world’s largest St. Bernard looms in all its taxidermic glory overhead. Or you can eat burgers beneath thousands of dollar bills plastered to the ceiling, imagining the structure when it served first as a trading post, and later as a bar that somehow survived Prohibition. 7350 E. 200 South, Huntsville shootingstarsaloon.shop
Best St. George pie pitstop
Croshaw’s Gourmet Pies
Looking to feed your pie hankering? For St. George residents, it’s a no-brainer. Sold by the slice, as a mini or full-size pie, the endless offerings range from coconut, apple and rhubarb to lemon cream cheese, berry, banana and dozens of other paradise-filled pastries. Oh, and don’t forget about the savory pies. Nothing says cozy like a chicken or beef pot pie–even if it is100-plus degrees outside. To get the full experience, perhaps you’ll want to crank up the air-conditioning before digging in. 175 W. 900 South, St. George croshawspies.net
Best place to impress your dinner date
Omakase nights at Post Office Place
Omasake translates to “I leave it up to you,” and at Post Office Place, you’re in good hands. Takashi Chef Brice Okubo, Post Office Head Chef Brenden Kawakami and Takashi Gibo himself have curated a fifteen-course culinary journey, with dishes ranging from contemporary Japanese nigiri to experimental global cuisine. The menu changes each month and is only available on Wednesday nights, with seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets drop a week before the new month and sell out quickly. 16 W. Market St., SLC popslc.com
Best spot to take your paradoxically pickiest and most indecisive friend
Sugar House Station
Food halls are finally catching on in SLC. Case in point: Restaurateur Scott Evans revamped the Sugar House space formerly occupied by Kimi’s and turned it into the best kind of 21+ choose-your-own-adventure. Order cocktails featuring local booze (Waterpocket, Sugar House Distillery), wine from Casot, or java from Publik. Evans called “Avengers, assemble!” and resuscitated Birdhouse, Cannella’s and Greek Tyrant by Aristo (the name tracks)—along with other classics. 2155 S. Highland Dr., SLC sugarhousestation.com
Best unsung hero of the business lunch
Bewilder Brewing
Taking a work group out for lunch can be a struggle. The logistics of parking, seating a big group and negotiating separate checks are a huge pain. A delicious solution? Bewilder Brewing. Order at the counter, get a big table, enjoy a satisfying meal, delicious brew (HR, what?) and convivial atmosphere. Also, get that pretzel stack to share. 445 S. 400 West, SLC bewilderbrewing.com
Best Place to eat fluffy pancakes
Doki Doki
Iced Ichigo drinks, crepe cakes and cloud pancakes—it’s no wonder that some of Doki Doki’s Japanese-inspired desserts are even reserved by the slice. Bonus: the restaurant’s fish-shaped taiyaki waffles are perfect on sundaes, and those animal-faced cream puffs also make yummy, showstopping toppers. When Doki Doki shared fears over social media about possibly closing its doors this past winter, the city went bananas. Lines formed down the street and around the block with a pleading, ‘don’t go’ look in our eyes. Doki Doki remains, thank goodness, the most delicious Japanese dessert house in town. 249 E. 400 South, SLC dokidessert.com
Best Sunday Dinner ritual
Sunday Pho at The Pearl
Chef Tommy Nguyen labors over his authentic pho broth for six hours before serving it up every Sunday during soup season until it sells out (which it always does). Choose your protein and add-ons, like pork belly, spam and fresh ginger, and let the warming dish fill your soul. 917 S. 200 West, SLC thepearlslc.com
The best place to spend $125 on a grilled cheese sando
Chute Eleven in Deer Valley
No, it’s not a typo. The grilled cheese at Deer Valley’s newest apres lounge is 100-percent-for-real priced at a whopping $125 and decadently filled with a butter-poached lobster tail, royal ossetra caviar and Rocky Mountain sky cheese. Pair it with a glass of bubbles and sweeping views of the surrounding ski hills. 9200 Marscac Ave., Park City deervalley.com
Find all of this year’s Best of the Beehive coverage, and more “Bests” from past issues. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
What is the “Best?” It’s a subjective term after all. But we know it when we see it. Each year, we create an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list to tickle your intellect, fill your belly, spark your imagination and inspire ideas for exploring the place where you live. We reflect on the talk of the town—newsmakers and civic upheavals—that inspired both cheers and jeers. We pile it all together into an always-incomplete list dubbed Best of the Beehive. Here we present some of our standout stops for shopping in Utah
Best place to support local makers
Salt & Honey Market
With 250 rotating local vendors, you’re bound to find something special when visiting Salt & Honey Market. The Collective Makers Market has three locations in the city, each filled to the brim with vintage wares, handcrafted beauty products, artisanal ceramics and much more. The shops are often curated to fit the season, making holiday shopping a breeze. 926 E. 900 South, SLC saltandhoneymarket.com
Best place to shop without shame
Lovebound Library
Among the treasures of local businesses in the Maven district, Lovebound Library is a woman-owned bookstore specializing in romance. From steamy fantasy novels to heart-tugging tales of queer love, this bookshop celebrates the genre loud and proud. 145 E. 900 South, SLC loveboundlibraryslc.com
Best place to shop for kitschy gifts in a former public swimming pool
Rainbow Gardens
Once a hotel with private mineral baths in the late 1800s, the establishment added a ballroom and indoor pool to elevate it into a natural hot springs resort. Since the 1970s, however, this edifice at the mouth of Ogden Canyon has been revamped into a restaurant and store. Instead of filling in the empty indoor pool, however, stairs and Astroturf were added, and the pit remains as a below-ground, weird shopping experience in which patrons can hunt for crafts and knick-knacks while descending into the belly of the beast. 1851 Valley Dr., Ogdenrainbowgardens.com
Best place to make a sentimental gift
Katie Waltman Boutique Charm Bar
Charm Braclelts are back in a big way. Step up your personalized collection at Katie Waltman’s charm bar. This Sugar House boutique offers a delightful selection of high-quality charms and chains, perfect for a sentimental gift. 2108 E. 1300 South, SLC katiewaltman.com
Best way to enhance your summer glow
Seshin Korean Scrub Spa
Utah’s dry Climate can wreak havoc on your skin. Give your largest organ a reboot with a sesh at Seshin Korean Scrub Spa. Skin-prep starts with a treatment in the infrared sauna. Next is a luxurious head-to-toe rubdown leaving you soft as a baby’s bottom. The treatment ends with a super hydrating massage before you’re sent on your way. 233 Highland Dr., Holladay seshinkoreanscrubspa.glossgenius.com
Best Place to Wonder, “Are the Owners For Real?”
Your Family Still Matters—Paintball, Food Storage & Violins
Need we say more than the voluminous moniker of this shop conveys? If your family still matters, this dead-serious store hopes to quell your anxieties with a rather odd assortment of supplies. Owners say they specialize in equipping folks for “life’s unpredictable moments,” according to the Facebook page. You may be laughing now, but if you ever find yourself stuck in a bunker during the apocalypse, you’d better hope to high heaven you have food storage, plenty of paintball pellets, and a violin, obviously. 175 W. 900 South, Saint George bereadyfoods.com
Best browsing for vintage goods with a view
BCC Flea Market
This funky outdoor market at Brighton Resort is a perfect destination after getting your hike on, but is certainly a destination all on its own when temps in the valley get steamy. Best yet, it’s held on Sundays. 8304 S. Brighton Loop Rd., Brighton bccflea.com
Best place to find that thing you didn’t know you needed (like a samurai sword)
NPS Store
Exploring the eclectic merch at the NPS Store is its own kind of fun—if not for treasure hunting, then at least for some laughs. You’ll find yourself perusing a mix of surplus, misdirected, unclaimed or sometimes even damaged products, so don’t even think about bringing a shopping list…in NPS land, random inventory reigns supreme. Baby Ugg boots, Sun Bum sunscreen, fresh bananas and a 24-pack of Coke Zero were a few of my shopping wins. Hard pass on the (with-tags) clearly-worn wedding dress—it must have been a hot, humid wedding day— a tub of expired mayo, or the unboxed inflatable table-and-chairs set. 1600 Empire Rd., SLC npsstore.com
Find all of this year’s Best of the Beehive coverage, and more “Bests” from past issues. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
Each year, we award our Wasatch Faults to public figures, newsmaking events and the dubious achievements that empower our schadenfreude, face palms and outbursts of “WTF?” But amid the jeers, we also offer a few cheers—bright spots of pleasantry and civility that help cut the acid in our stomachs.
Faves
The Lobby Bar at Asher Adams Hotel
Stepping into the soaring-ceilinged lobby of the Asher Adams Hotel harkens back to a time when travel equaled luxury, at least for first-class passengers of the late Gilded Age, and even a short excursion was a grand adventure for most folks. In this glam example of adaptive reuse, the historic Union Pacific Depot’s original details and decorative elements literally shine. Bonus: The cocktails and food are as outstanding as the atmosphere. 2 N. 400 West, SLC asheradamshotel.com
Elevate Utah PAC’s effort to answer the question “What the fresh hell just happened?!” in Utah politics
Feeling overwhelmed by the steaming mess of state politics? Check out the Elevate Utah PAC social media feeds for info and inspo. Armed with a whiteboard, fluffy Lav mic and a Costco haul of Post-it notes, Gabi Finlayson and Jackie Morgan cover day-to-day legislative drama in relatable terms. Their takes are smart, deep, fierce and wickedly funny. And they present immediate, actionable ways for anyone to get involved and work for change. They’re giving this jaded Gen Xer hope, one disgruntled eye roll at a time. elevateutahpac.com
Faults
Vail: “She doesn’t even go here.”
Here’s a good lesson for other ski resorts: If your patrollers go on strike, don’t pass it off as “limited impact” to guests and plug in a puny “patrol support team” during the busy holiday weeks around Christmas and New Year’s. Attempting to keep the resort open amidst failed contract negotiations with the patrollers’ union (who demanded a living wage and benefits), Vail Resorts butchered the holiday ski experience for 13 days with three-hour lift lines, limited terrain and questionable safety conditions (understandably upsetting hundreds of guests and pass holders). One striker, standing at the foot of the mountain, held up a sign which said it best: “If we’re down here, who’s up there?”
Drive baby drive (Senate Bill 195)
This year, the Utah Legislature voted to sharply curtail Salt Lake City’s planning authority over its streets. The reason for this power grab? Hippie ideas like speed bumps, bike lanes, lighted crosswalks and other traffic calming measures, which, in survey after survey, are welcomed by the majority of Salt Lake residents. The capital city of Utah effectively has to run any changes through the Utah Department of Transportation. UDOT already controls two major arteries in SLC: State Street and 700 East, which are designated state highways. But now that oversight extends to all SLC streets.
The decades-long Sugar House overhaul
The price for progress was too great for Sugar House favorites like Pizza Volta and Kimi’s Chop & Oyster House. With multiple construction projects going on at once (Sugar House Crossing development, Sugar House Business District, Sugar Alley development, Sugar House Streetcar S-line, roadway reconstruction, 2100 South Sewer Expansion, 1100 East Improvement Project), the area has been trapped in a construction mire for almost two decades. Small businesses have been boxed in, pushed out and impacted from all sides. (Hardly) to the rescue: a whopping $3,000 per small-business grant from the city meant to mitigate the effects. Most small businesses say it’s not nearly enough.
BAD air + Bad politics
Rollbacks on air pollution regulation by the Trump administration couldn’t have come at a worse time for Provo, which recently ranked among the worst U.S. cities by the American Lung Association for ozone pollution. Applauded by Trump’s EPA, Utah gave polluters and billionaires a big WIN by lowering emissions goalposts. (Because, c’mon, yacht fuel ain’t cheap.) The LOSERS:? Everyone else breathing in the respiratory irritant responsible for giving our lungs a lifelong sunburn.
The increasingly misnamed Ballpark District
This Summer, the Salt Lake Bees, the minor league baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, threw out the first pitch at a new park, located in South Jordan. Meanwhile, the future of the ballpark, the namesake of the “Ballpark District,” is uncertain. There has been a ballpark on this land since 1928. For now, the University of Utah baseball team is playing its season there, but otherwise the stands will be empty, the gates closed and the organ silent. We’re told it will become something else. What that “something else” is, no one can exactly say. Why not a ballpark?
Find all of this year’s Best of the Beehive coverage, and more “Bests” from past issues. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
It’s almost time for our annual Best of the Beehive Issue! This year, we’re once again asking our readers to vote for their favorite restaurants, bars, businesses and more.
Once again Utah has been named No. 1in U.S. News & World Report‘s annual rankings of the best states. But for those of us who have been living and loving this place, that’s not news. This year, for our annual celebration of the people, places and things that make Utah transplendent, we decided to go beyond U.S. News & World Report’s dry data collection and piles of stats and share the actual reasons Utah is No. 1. What makes a place a special place is the people, the things they create and the places they play. Of course, there are too many reasons to list. We had to stop somewhere so we settled on a mere 75+ of our favorite things to eat, see and do from around the state and share the stories of the people who make it all possible. Consider this your guide for the next year to find new experiences and share the love.
Reason No. 01 Community Building
Our Fave: Missy Greis of Publik Overheard on the East Liberty Tap Room patio: “Well, if it isn’t the mayor of 9th and 9th?” someone hollered at the oncoming approach of Missy Greis, the owner of Publik Coffee, a recently remodeled anchor of the ever-changing 9th and 9th Neighborhood. “Come see us!” She hollers back. “We have a real kitchen now!” And continued on her dog-walking survey of the hood. Missy’s business is coffee but her mission is creating spaces that build community. 931 E. 900 South, SLC; 975 S. West Temple, SLC; 502 E. 3rd Ave., SLC; 210 S. University St., SLC; publikcoffee.com—JP
Missy Gries of Publik. Photo credit Austin Diamond
Reason No. 02 Pickleball Mecca
Our Fave: Professional Pickleball Association: Selkirk Red Rock Open Utah is home to some of the world’s top pickleball players: Callie Jo Smith, Allyce Jones, Tyler Loong, and more. It’s ranked the third-best state for pickleball in the U.S. based on the number of courts, coaching, teams and tournaments. Picklers and pro tournaments, such as the Selkirk Red Rock Open, love St. George for its year-round sunny courts complete with panoramic red rock vistas. Utah Tech University (located in St. George) just won the U.S. Collegiate Pickleball Championships in January, besides which, Utah boasts four college clubs ranking within the top 10. Yeah, we’re nuts about pickleball. ppatour.com—HH
Reason No. 03 Hounds on Holiday
Our Fave: Best Friends Roadhouse & Mercantile Designed for pets and their people, Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is a first-of-its-kind, pet-centric hotel. With 40 airy rooms complete with cozy beds for all, the hotel is situated along trails in beautiful Kanab, offering endless exploration with your furry friend. Take advantage of the dog park with a seasonal splash pad or volunteer at the animal sanctuary. 30 N. 300 West, Kanab, bestfriendsroadhouse.org—HH
Image courtesy of Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile
Reason No. 04 Walkable Main Streets
Our Fave: 25th Street (+ Ogden Farmers Market) Ogden’s Historic 25th Street made USA Today’s list of best main streets this past spring. It’s easy to see why. The street is near Ogden Amphitheater, the home of Ogden Twilight concerts, and offers spots to eat, drink and shop year-round. We love it most during the Ogden Farmers Market. Vendors range from beekeepers to the mushroom guy. Musicians perform and there’s a down-to-earth, friendly vibe, Saturdays from May to September. farmersmarketogden.com—JW
Photo courtesy of Visitogden.com
Reason No. 05 The Wasatch Backcountry
Our Fave: Chuting Gallery, Andrew McLean, 1998 Utah’s snow really is the greatest on Earth. The Wasatch Range is one of the snowiest ski regions in America with a unique climate that churns out low-density fluff known as “cold smoke” powder. Factor in high elevation and low humidity and you’ve got a skier’s dream. Those willing to go off the beaten path are rewarded with first tracks, mindblowing pow and endless photo ops–but it’s not for the faint of heart nor the inexperienced. Neither is Andrew McLean’s guidebook Chuting Gallery, often considered to be the ski-mountaineering bible of the Wasatch. With 90 descents that include many ice climbing and climbing ascents, finishing every line in the book is a feat many skiers take a lifetime to complete. Pick it up while you get outfitted at Skimo, 2477 Fort Union Blvd., Cottonwood Heights. straightchuter.com—HH
Spencer Glende ascends Mount Superior at first light. Photo credit Harland Hayes
Reason No. 06 Haute Morning Buns
Our Fave: Tulie Bakery Suppose you want to feel like a chic and modern Parisian for a day. In that case, Tulie boasts that understated-cool French bakery vibe that will make you want to do the Times’ crossword puzzle or read Proust while ripping off morsels of a perfectly crisped morning bun, sipping a sexy espresso or devouring a slice of olive oil cake. This assumes, of course, that you’ve made it to either Salt Lake location before 10 a.m. Any later, and we can’t guarantee you’ll see even a crumb of morning bun. The olive oil cake doesn’t stick around for long, either. 863 E. 700 South, SLC; 1510 S. 1500 East, SLC; tuliebakery.com—HH
Reason No. 07 The Hills Are Alive
Our Fave: Tuacahn Outdoor Ampitheatre With a red rock backdrop and an overhead curtain of stars, Tuacahn Outdoor Amphitheatre hosts a season of musicals and concerts from early summer through late fall. The 2024 season includes Disney’s Frozen, Anastasia and Jersey Boys. Tickets range from $55-$158. 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, tuacahn.org—HH
Tuacahn’s production of Mary Poppins. Photo courtesy of Tuacahn Outdoor Ampitheatre
Reason No. 08 Indie Bookstores Abound
Our Fave: Lovebound Library As an annual billion-dollar-plus industry—making it the highest-earning genre of fiction—romance isn’t relegated to the bottom shelf of the airport Hudson News or a back corner of a big box bookstore. Proudly-swathed-in-pink Maven District’s newcomer Lovebound Library is proving that you absolutely can judge a book by its seductive cover. Demonstrating the great diversity of the realm of romance, the pint-sized store has shelves packed with young adult fiction, LGBTQ+ authors and characters, urban fantasy, local writers, historical swashbucklers and all the spicy stories topping the “best of” charts. We love to see it. 145 E. 900 South, SLC, Instagram @loveboundlibrary—DD
Reason No. 09 Wildlife is a HUUUUUUUGE Deal
Our Fave: Utah Wildlife Walls Combining a passion for wildlife conservation and public art, the Utah Wildlife Federation and artist Chris Peterson aim to paint monumental fish and wildlife murals in each of the Beehive State’s 29 counties. Starting in 2022 with the installation of a 120-foot Bonneville cutthroat trout mural at The Neighborhood Hive in Sugar House, the Utah Wildlife Walls project has also recently unveiled murals of a golden eagle in Midvale and colorful Colorado River cutthroat trout in Vernal. Keep your eyes peeled for murals being unveiled this summer, including a desert tortoise planned in St. George, another huge cutthroat trout in Logan, and a bunch of critters—bison, pronghorn and burrowing owls, oh my!—at Antelope Island. celebrateutahwildlife.org; Instagram: @utahwildlifewalls—DD
“Colorado River Cutthroat Trout” in Vernal is one of the Utah Wildlife Walls. Photo credit Chris Peterson/ Utah Wildlife Federation
Reason No. 10 Pub Quiz Master Mastery
Our Fave: Bryton Sampson at Dick ‘n’ Dixies Every week pubs around town present extremely competitive Quiz Nights. One of the most popular (and most serious) is hosted on Wednesdays at Dick ’n’ Dixies by Bryton Sampson. He’s funny. He’s real smart. And, best of all, he writes his own questions customized for the regular teams at Dix. “These guys come to play,” he says. “I make up the hardest rounds and think ‘No way anyone is going to get this.’” Most nights the winning team is within one point of the second-place finishers and there are often ties. Get a (no more than six-member) team together, come thirsty and come early. The bar fills up fast. Dick ’n’ Dixies, Wednesdays at 7 p.m., 479 E. 300 South, SLC—JP
Bryton Sampson at Dick ‘n’ Dixies. Photo credit Adam Finkle.
Reason No. 11 Red Rock Zen
Our Fave: Snow Canyon State Park Snow Canyon State Park offers folks a serious recharge. Known to be a climber’s, biker’s and hiker’s paradise, the sunny, well-marked (and mostly flat) trails lead to towering red rock formations and bleached canyon walls. We’re intoxicated by this desert tableau awash with hues from stark white to every variation of pink and red. Nearby resorts like Red Mountain Resort, Black Desert Resort and Sentierre Resort specialize in world-class amenities, wellness and relaxation. We love doing as much—or as little—as we want, from spa treatments and massages to yoga and guided hikes in Snow Canyon. After the sun sets, don’t forget to take in the desert sky’s brilliant blanket of stars. 275 Red Mountain Cir., Ivins, redmountainresort.com; 1500 East Black Desert Dr., Ivins, blackdesertresort.com; 800 Tuacahn Dr., Shivwits, sentierre.com—HH
Reason No. 12 Local Distillers
Our Fave: Beehive Distilling A not-so-hidden secret of the spirits industry: most of the corn used in U.S. whiskey production comes from a handful of states, all at least a time zone or two east of Utah. Not so for local booze monger Beehive Distilling, where lead distiller Chris Barlow sources heritage corn varieties—Hopi blue corn in the mash bill of their rye whiskey, and Oaxacan green corn in their upcoming 4-year bourbon release—grown near Bear River City and Monroe. Last year those Utah farmers harvested about 28,000 pounds of distillery-dedicated corn. If conditions cooperate, there’s even more in the ground right now destined for milling, fermenting, distilling and bottling by the fine folks at Beehive Distilling in 2025. Cheers to that! 2245 S. West Temple, SLC and most Utah state liquor and wine stores. beehivedistilling.com—DD
Reason No. 13 Gluten-Free Slices
Our Fave: Lucky Slice Pizza You can find gluten-free pizza almost anywhere, but not all are safe for folks with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Many “fast” GF pizzas are unfortunately cross-contaminated by the surfaces they’re made on or the hands that make them. That being said, it would suck for a pie to cost as much as your last stop for gas. Thankfully, there’s Lucky Slice. Celiac people we know report no problems, and a scrumptious 14-inch one-topping is less than $18. Resistant to gluten’s evil? Try the Dough Puppies, fried dough balls tossed with butter, Parmesan, garlic and herbs. 207 25th Street, Ogden (also located in Clearfield and Logan), 801-627-2229, theluckyslice.com—JW
Photo courtesy of Lucky Slice Pizza
Reason No. 14 The Running of Things
Our Fave: The Smith’s Produce Run The Washington Nationals have the “Running of the Presidents” and here, we have the running of a tomato, a banana, a carrot, a corn and either a bunch of grapes (or an eggplant—no one knows). Behold! We give you the “Smith’s Produce Run.” Between the second and third innings, fans plucked from the crowd are suited up as produce and run full-speed around the field. It is often the case that one of our veggies falls (“Carrot is down!) as they cross the visiting pitcher’s bullpen. We love this whole absurd thing. So much. milb.com/salt-lake—JP
Reason No. 15 Local Podcasts
Our Fave: Let’s Go Eat Drink SLC At some point (we imagine) X-96s Bill Allred turned to Utah’s favorite “Wine Guy,” Jimmy Santangelo (Wine Academy of Utah) and said, “Hey Jimmy wanna make a podcast?” and Jimmy said, “Why not?” Thus, Let’s Go Eat Drink SLC was born. The wandering boozy show is ostensibly about food and wine but predictably ranges all over the map. The magic is in the blend here. Jimmy’s wise guy East Coast accent pairs beautifully with Allred’s sonorous tones. And we know these guys have opinions. Find it wherever you listen and on YouTube @LetsGoEatandDrink—JP
The cast of Let’s Go Eat Drink SLC. Photo courtesy of Dawson Dow.
Reason No. 16 Ghost Towns are Real Here
Our Fave: Silver Reef Today, little remains of the once-bustling mining town of Silver Reef near St. George. Established by a Nevada prospector who discovered a vein of silver in sandstone, by 1879, 2,000 people called Silver Reef their home. With a mile-long Main Street filled with businesses including a Wells Fargo office, the Rice Building, and the Cosmopolitan Restaurant, miners and Mormons coalesced. When the price of silver dropped, mines closed, and people moved on. But foundation remnants and the graveyard (where many miners on the wrong end of a shootout are purported to rest) remain. 1903 Wells Fargo Rd. Leeds, silverreef.org—HH
The historic Wells Fargo building in Silver Reef. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress
Reason No. 17 Specialty Markets
Our Fave: The Fox Market For Tom and Cara Fox, there’s something irresistible about the lively buzz and welcoming ambiance of European markets and cafes, so they decided to create something equally delightful in the heart of Holladay with the Fox Market. Tom and Cara—principals of The Fox Group, a premiere home builder and interior design firm—transformed the former Meier’s Chicken shop into a neighborhood haven, “a little European oasis that celebrates local crafts, people and purveyors,” Cara says. Fox Market, 4708 S. Holladay Blvd., Holladay, thefoxshop.co—BM
Cara Fox of the Fox Market. Photo credit Megan Turley.
Reason No. 18 Trails for All
Our Fave: Dirt Path Do-gooder-John Knoblock If you like to pedal or hike the Bonneville Shoreline Trail along Mt. Olympus, north of I-80 or between Grandeur Peak and Millcreek Canyon, then you largely have John Knoblock, chair of Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee and Trails Utah board chair, to thank. Knoblock has volunteered thousands of hours, over 20-plus years, to keeping an eye on zoning changes and working with private property owners and public stakeholders to move this beloved project toward its lofty goal: a 250-mile trail stretching along the Wasatch Range foothills from Logan to Nephi. “If you keep pushing something long enough, eventually, you’ll outlast the people resisting it,” he says. bonnevilleshorelinetrail.org, trailsutah.org—MF
Reason No. 19 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
Our Fave: Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company Dance thrives in the Beehive State, thanks in part to early Mormon Pioneer settlers who believed performing was a saintly pastime–divinely interconnected with the mind and spirit. Today, Utah boasts a top-tier ballet company, (Ballet West) the nation’s first repertory dance company, (Repertory Dance Theater), a pioneering modern dance company (Ririe-Woodbury), the first school of ballet at an American University, (University of Utah) the world’s largest ballroom dance program (BYU) not to mention multiple powerhouse studios. It’s a serious hot spot. 138 W. Broadway, SLC, ririewoodbury.com—HH
Liturgies by Alwin Nikolais. Photo credit Fred Hayes.
Reason No. 20 Creative Cocktails
Our Fave: Bijan Ghai at Urban Hill Bijan, a Utah native, has called the Salt Lake City service industry home for over a decade. He has found his vibe at Urban Hill. Bijan is an urbane presence who appoints himself with gentlemanly calm and gliding service. His presentation is studied and understated. He has taken the bar program at Urban Hill and made it just as much a reason to visit as the food on the plate. Urban Hill, 510 S. 300 West, SLC, urban-hill.com—JP
Bijan Ghai of Urban Hill. Photo credit Adam Finkle.
Reason No. 21 A River Runs Through It
Our Fave: Cataract Canyon Whitewater rafting in Utah involves snaking your way through towering sandstone walls along two of the West’s mightiest rivers: the Green or Colorado. Going with an outfitter is a blast, and getting a permit to go on your own raft is once in a lifetime. Of course, you need lots of experience before heading down those bad boys on your own. Trust us, you don’t want to end up flipped over in “Satan’s Gut” along the Cataract Canyon route in a section fittingly named “Purgatory.” Some of our favorites include Cataract Canyon (through Canyonlands National Park), Gates of Ladore in Dinosaur National Monument, Westwater Canyon, Desolation Canyon and daily sections in Moab. If you’re a novice, go with Moab’s Western River Expeditions or Colorado River and Trail Expeditions (CRATE) for Grand Canyon expeditions that range from three to 14 days. CRATE, 5058 S. Commerce Dr., SLC, crateinc.com; Western River Expeditions, 7258 Racquet Club Dr., SLC, westernriver.com—HH
Salt Lake magazine’s Chelsea Rushton running through Cataract Canyon’s infamous Big Drop Two.
Reason No. 22 A Little Bit of Peruvian Heaven
Our Fave: VIVA Chicken This vibrant, quick-serve Peruvian rotisserie joint in St. George has become wildly popular with good reason. Specializing in Pollo a la Brasa, its street-style, charcoal-fire chicken and salads are flavorful, as is our fave: the Quinoa Stuffed Avocado filled with shredded chicken, quinoa and topped with red pepper rocoto mayo and balsamic vinaigrette. Don’t forget to pair your order with authentic sauce offerings: yellow and mild Aji Amarillo, medium-heat green Huacatay or red and hot Rocoto. The only thing missing from VIVA Chicken? A Salt Lake location. 1183 E. 100 South, St. George, vivachicken.com—HH
Andina Power Salad from VIVA Chicken. Photo courtesy of VIVA Chicken.
Reason No. 23 What’s Not to Love About Pie?
Our Fave: Veyo Pies Among the many things to do and see along the Dammeron Valley’s Gunlock Loop (a 45-mile roadway running north of St. George along Gunlock Road and Highway 18) is a particularly mouth-watering diversion: Veyo Pies. There, more than 19 pie varieties are whipped up daily, from traditional apple, cherry and blueberry to the house-specialty Veyo Volcano, a cream pie with chocolate, butterscotch and real whipped cream. When you go, be prepared to wait; lines regularly run out the door, especially on the weekends. 24 S. Main St., Veyo, veyopies.com—MF
Reason No. 24 Geology Rocks
Our Fave: The Utah Department of Natural Resources Map & Bookstore If you think rocks, or geologic maps of rocks, are art—and we absolutely do — check out the Utah Department of Natural Resources map and bookstore. They’ve got everything you need to plan your close-to-home or off-the-grid trip with our state’s fabulous geology, rockhounding, bird-watching and wildlife spotting in mind. Books, maps, trail guides and more, if you want it, they’ve either got it or can get it for you. They can even print out a customized map of your favorite place on the fly. While there, pick up their annual wall calendar packed with stunning photography of Utah’s gorgeous geologic features. 1594 W. North Temple, SLC, utahmapstore.com—DD
Reason No. 25 Swing Dancing
Our Fave: Historic Elite Hall, Hyrum Big band, swing dance and jazz aficionados take note: Utah’s dance scene is better than ever. From “hangar hops”—1940s-themed pop-up events hosted in historic aircraft hangars—to dance clubs statewide, your TikTok algorithm isn’t the only cue that swing dance of all kinds is alive and well. And for those who want to recreate what a true jive and jitterbug event looked and even felt like, check out the 1915 historic Elite Hall hosting hopping (literally) events on the ballroom’s original spring-loaded dance floor. It’s one of the few still in existence in the U.S. Even if you’re not quite up to 1990s-era Vince Vaughn moves, the second-floor mezzanine encircling the dance floor gives lookie-loos a prime spot to enjoy the music and tap their toes. 50 W. Main Street, Hyrum, elitehall.org—DD
Reason No. 26 Upcycling Fashion
Our Fave: D’fifth Rose, The Garment Clinic D’fifth Rose is run by Daisy Camarena who grew up in Peru and worked in Europe, where she learned custom tailoring and fashion design. She does alterations, but one of her specialties is refashioning heirloom fabrics into new things. Say you have your grandmother’s Valentino? You can’t possibly throw it away! Daisy can make you a new dress with modern lines that you could actually wear, or turn that gorgeous fabric into a decorative throw pillow. Either way, she creates something to remember grandma (and avoid the guilt of throwing out her dress.) 2343 E. 3300 South, Millcreek, dfifthrose.com—JP
Garment Clinic. Photo credit TheRose.com
Reason No. 27 Accessible Art
Our Fave: Utah State University Spoiler: We’re all in for art of all kinds. For museums, for sculpture, for interactive installations, you can see, hear and touch. More of it, all of it, wherever we can find it. Fortunately for the denizens of Utah’s northern reaches and those who travel there, there’s plenty of it all in one place: the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. Sited squarely on the Utah State University campus, this gorgeous contemporary art museum houses a phenomenal collection featuring a preponderance of women, Western U.S. and Indigenous artists. While on campus, take a self-directed sculpture walk (with an accompanying audio tour) to round out the day. 650 N. 1100 East, Logan, usu.edu/artmuseum—DD
Reason No. 28 Pretty in Pink
Our Fave: Sand Hollow State Park Rent a boat or a jet ski, or hike around the emerald pools in the pinky-orange bathtub that is Sand Hollow State Park in Hurricane, Utah. Count on warm waters from May through October, where taking a dip on a hot Southern Utah day feels glorious. Pull out the paddleboard or kayak the waters surrounding dazzling red rock formations. Stillwater fishing, as are ATV rides on its 15,000 acres of dunes and trails, are also popular. 3351 Sand Hollow Rd., Hurricane, stateparks.utah.gov—HH
Sand Hollow State Park. Photo courtesy of Utah Division of State Parks.
Reason No. 29 Alternative Routes
Our Fave: Benjamin Wood of Sweet Streets Benjamin Wood is a board member of Sweet Streets, a non-profit that advocates for people-first design. “For decades now, we’ve been building cities for cars and not for people,” he says. But things are changing. Wood believes we have hit the high-water mark for our community’s overreliance on cars. His organization, Sweet Streets, works with planners to slow speed limits, consider bikes and pedestrians in construction and, well, make things sweeter and safer to help people out of their cars. sweetstreetsslc.org—JP
Benjamin Wood with Sweet Streets. Photo credit Adam Finkle.
Reason No. 30 We Remember our Past (Even When It’s Hard)
Our Fave: Topaz Museum During World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, resulting in the incarceration of West Coast Japanese residents—about two-thirds natural-born American citizens—in 10 inland relocation centers. The Topaz War Relocation Center near Delta, Utah, was one. Residents lived and went to school, work and church on the dusty land surrounded by barbed wire for about three years. The Topaz Museum features a massive collection of relics and stories from those who lived there, a strong reminder to question any talk broadly painting a single nationality or race as the enemy. 55 W. Main Street, Delta, 435-864-2514, topazmuseum.org—JW
Honorees chosen by contributing writers: Darby Doyle, Heather Hayes, Jaime Winston, Melissa Fields, Brad Mee and Jeremy Pugh.
Once again Utah has been named No. 1in U.S. News & World Report‘s annual rankings of the best states. But for those of us who have been living and loving this place, that’s not news. This year, for our annual celebration of the people, places and things that make Utah transplendent, we decided to go beyond U.S. News & World Report’s dry data collection and piles of stats and share the actual reasons Utah is No. 1. What makes a place a special place is the people, the things they create and the places they play. Of course, there are too many reasons to list. We had to stop somewhere so we settled on a mere 75+ of our favorite things to eat, see and do from around the state and share the stories of the people who make it all possible.
And of course, part of our annual “Best of the Beehive” is the tradition of hearing from you, the readers. From old favorites to new upstarts, from Logan to St. George to everywhere in between, our readers voted on who was their personal Best of the Beehive. Find the results below!
Best food truck #1: Cluck Truck
Best Brunch #1: Flanker #2: Pig and a jelly jar
Best Seafood #1: Market Street #2: Current
Best Sports Bar #1 Flanker #2 The Break
Best Rooftop Bar #1 Green Pig #2 Grid City
Best Pasta #1 Matteo #2 Sicilia Mia
Lucky 13 burger.
Best Burger #1 Lucky 13 #2 C9 Market
Best Chinese Food #1 Hong Kong Tea House #2 New Golden Dragon
Best Deli #1 Feldman’s #2 Caputo’s #3 C9
Best Mexican Food #1. Red Iguana #2 La Casa Del Tamal
Red Iguana menu items
Best Pizza #1 The Pie #2 Slackwater #3 Brick’s Corner
Caputo’s owner Matt Caputo
Best Specialty Market #1 Caputo’s #2 C9
Best Boutique #1 Children’s Hour #2 Boozetique
Best Toffee #1 Cache Toffee
Best Cookie #1 Ruby Snap
Best Coffee Roaster #1 King’s Peak Coffee
Best ‘Staycation’ #1 Snowpine Lodge
Snowpine Lodge
Best Dessert #1 Normal Ice Cream #2 Pie Fight
Best Bakery #1 Tulie #2 Eva’s
Flanker’s Tiki Cocktail.
Best Nightclub #1 Flanker #2 London Belle
Best Brewery #1 TF Brewery #2 HK Brewing Collective
Best Distillery #1 Alpine Distilling #2 High West Distilling #3 HK Brewing Collective
Best Cocktail Menu #1 Post Office Place #2 Lake Effect #3 Sugarhouse
Best Late Night Menu #1 Felt
Best Beer List #1 Slackwater #2 The Bayou
Best Food Hall #1 Hallpass #2 Woodbine #3 The Local
Best Drag Brunch #1 WhyKiki #2 HK Brewing
Best Themed Bar #1 ACME
Best Wine Bar #1 Casot
Best pedicure or spa #1 CoCo Art Spa
Best New Resort #1 Black Desert Ivins
Best Cidery #1 Scion
Elisabeth Omeleski and Rio Connely of Scion
Best Utah Artist #1 Shalee Cooper
Best Art Instillation/sculpture/mural #1 The Whale
Best Historic Building #1 Union Station Ogden #2 City County Building
Best Karaoke #1 The Local
Best Live Music Venue #1 Red Butte Garden
Best Art Gallery #1 Modern West
Best Museum #1 NHMU #2 OCA
Best Theatre #1 Pioneer Theatre #2 Eccles
Best First Date Venue #1 Hogle Zoo
Best Place to take the kids #1 Clark Planetarium #2 Hogle Zoo
Best New Business #1 Lovebound Library #2 Xia Bao Bao
Best Apres-Ski #1 Apres Chalet at Goldener Hirsch #2 Sticky Wicket
Best Podcast #1 Let’s Go Eat and Drink Show
Best Yoga #1 Yoga Six #2 Centered City
Best Tourist Trap #1 Temple Square
Best Place to Thrift #1 NameDroppers
Namedroppers owner Tiffany Colaizzi
Best Salon #1 Sego Lily #2 Soulstice #3 CoCo Art Spa
Best Non-Profit #1 Alliance Community Service #2 First Step House
Best Bookstore #1 King’s English Bookshop #2 Weller’s Books
