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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.