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Van Ryder

3.6 (233 reviews)
Open 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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Galentine's Sweet Board - $32 for stale Trader Joe's items and two warm globs of cream cheese that were advertised as "cheesecake bites."
Haley B.

If you want anything more than a drink and a view, do not go here. Definitely don't go here for food. I've eaten here 3 times and never enjoyed my meals. The Southwest Salad is Applebee's quality for triple the price. I will not be back again. The hostesses aren't great at their jobs. Every time I've gone I've had a reservation, and every time there is an issue on their end. Most recently, they sat me and 2 friends before our 4th person arrived. When she arrived 5 minutes later, she gave them my name (which the reservation was under) and they said I hadn't arrived and went to seat her at a completely different table. My breaking point was when my friends and I ordered the Sweets Board off of their galentines menu. It was $32, and it said it included 4 different treats: fudge, cheesecake bites, cookies, and red velvet cupcakes. The picture I took is EXACTLY how it looked when the waiter set it down. We hadn't even touched it. The cookies were so hard you couldn't even bite them, and the "cheesecake bites" were literally just warm globs of cream cheese with sprinkles. The cupcakes are from Trader Joe's for like $5. I know because I went to a TJs right before this. We asked the waiter if it was a mistake, and even he seemed shocked by how bad it looked. Most of it was just inedible junk. I simply could NOT believe they charged $32 for a messy plate of stale Trader Joe's food. Absolutely abysmal. The waiter asked the chef about it and apparently that's "how the chef designed it." I would be embarrassed to serve this to my own friends even in my home for a chill movie night. For $32 at a specialized event at an "upscale" restaurant to serve this is almost too crazy to believe. Do NOT eat here.

Shakira M.

While on a weekend getaway, my friend and I decided to check out this spot. With a western meets sleek ambiance, Van Ryder delivers. The views on the rooftop were amazing. We ordered the calamari and the Tuna Tartare which were both tasty. For my drink, I ordered the high desert bloom which was very refreshing. Service was great. Glad we had the opportunity to check out this spot.

Cassie C.

Great views, great vibes! I was staying at the Courtyard Marriott a block away and wanted to come here for a nice cocktail and rooftop sunset views - and it didn't disappoint in either fronts! Beautiful space with a small bar, tables, a fireplace, and a nice decent size outdoor space with tables and fire pits too. Service was great and I enjoyed both my drinks. I ended up ordering the nachos to go so I could lazily enjoy them back in my hotel room, and though I still enjoyed them I'm sure they're even better fresh. I will definitely be back here next time I'm in town for work again!

Lindsey S.

Very chic rooftop bar. The music was on point and the drinks were delicious. I ordered the cookie skillet and it was SO GOOD Also ordered the Parmesan fries which were also yummy. Service was good and they were quick to get orders out. The only thing that was annoying was the amount of reserved seating. Also noting there were TONS of open seats that were supposedly reserved yet no one was sitting there for the hour and half we were there. It was frustrating that on a busy weekend there wasn't even first come first serve. The lack of actual space to hang made the whole experience mid. Will try again in the summer tho. Hopefully with a better experience!

Expresso martini
Jenni T.

For the luv of sunsets, I'm there for it. Van Ryder is 21+ & on the rooftop. Valet out front near STK or find metered street parking. Take the elevator up. Recommend a res if you want outdoor seating for the views, but they do take walk-ins. Staff's country-style outfits are superrrr cute. Diggin it. Our server was super friendly and attentive. Cocktails & food were mediocre, but the view w/live music makes it worth it. Great spot for drinks & small bites before a night out.

Audra M.

This venue is staffed with some of the best bartenders, and the views are amazing. It was great to order some local beers while also slipping to the outdoor space to watch the gorgeous sunset.

Diem A.

We were here for 2 special events. The rooftop views of the skyline and mountains at Van Ryder are stunning. The décor is sleek and modern. The staff had limited English, which made communication a bit tricky at times. The omelet station for breakfast was delicious! Some of the fried food was cold and hard but that was expected for a buffet. The dinner buffet was great though. The atmosphere and the view make it worth a visit.

Courtney K.

Not sure why this place has such low ratings, but I was there almost right when they opened, so maybe my experience was different. I was in town for a conference and sought out a place where I could see the mountains. This place has an incredible view! The service was really friendly and my cocktail was delicious. I didn't try the food, but the menu looked really good. I enjoyed it and would go back!

Sweet potato and avocado
Melissa G.

I actually really enjoyed coming here before a show at the nearby Delta Center. Note that I didn't make the reservations, I was a guest on a double date! But also know that Van Ryder isn't obvious from street level - you actually need to know where you're going: in the building, down a hallway and make a right to the elevators. Once there: gorgeous! Go at sunset like we did. There are outdoor rooftop options, the bar but also lounge areas - a few by a cozy fire. The four of us had drinks - Old Fashioned and coconut margaritas were had; and split our order tapas style and was delicious. Pork belly with frites was a hit alongside the roasted sweet potatoes and avocado was so yummy! Great service. I'd love to come back again not only for the ambiance, but to try more bites off the menu. A must try in SLC (and reminds me of California's rooftop eateries)!

Espresso Martini

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20 days ago

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

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9 months ago

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6 months ago

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4 days ago

Drinks were amazing but Sammy was better! Would recommend to anyone, even in this heat. Hard to find a rooftop like this in salt lake!

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1 year ago

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4 days ago

The atmosphere here is unbeatable but the service is better. Sammy really took care of us like family, she is the best

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8 months ago

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9 months ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

I went on a date here and got some onion rings and now I crave them everyday i fucking love this place

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

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Review Highlights - Van Ryder

Drinks are even better, especially when Matty is your waiter!

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Tailgate Tavern

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4.7
(7 reviews)
5.0 mi

Great little dive bar vibes. Considering the location, I was kind of expecting a seedy, unwelcoming…read moreplace with a bunch of old racist dudes as the regular clientele, with the classic rude bartender that ignores you. But I wanted a drink and was willing to take the risk, and I'm glad I did, because it was nothing like I imagined. Bartender was friendly and helpful. There was a decent amount of people watching the soccer game on tv, we were all cheering for Colombia, but then they lost, so most of them cleared out. Vibe kinda died after that. But nonetheless I had a great time, and I was pleasantly surprised by the friendly atmosphere. Plus 6$ mules and .50 cent pool is hard to beat. I guess they serve food but I don't know how good it is. Only downside is that's there's just one toilet, luckily I didn't have to wait to use it while I was there.

Little dive bar. Big fun! I needed to take the edge off from work and found this gem on Yelp! It's…read moreone of the closest bars by my house and it was open late on a Sunday! Drinks are cheap and so are their Hennessy shots at $7 each! Plenty of seating available, but everyone seems to congregate at the bar. I soon found that the bartender is such a hoot and so friendly! There's a couple of pool tables. The bathrooms are a little "shocking." I was looking for the women's restroom and when the lights automatically turned on, I saw lots of 70s models posing nude. So this is what regular bodies look like before the surgery era! The men's restroom was more classy with people smoking cigars.

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Tailgate Tavern
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Prohibition

Prohibition

4.0
(924 reviews)
8.8 mi
$$

This was such a fun place for date night with my hubby! The venue is so fun, the entertainment…read moreexciting albeit I wish it was longer than 25 minutes as I really enjoyed it! I want to come work here! The food was really good, and really expensive! Our bill was $145 for the two of us. Our server Jaxson was really knowledgeable on the menu, and really friendly. I don't think there's a bad seat in the house as all the burlesque dancers move around the space. Be prepared with some ones to tip them, but they also take Venmo. I'd love to come back!

Am I the only guy who gets weirded out when going to a burlesque show, with their spouse also…read morepresent? "Don't worry honey, it's okay to look, and also throw money at the half-naked women! I promise you won't get in trouble!" Uh-huh. ;) Alright, I digress. Awkwardness aside, Prohibition is a really great place to enjoy a classy dinner, where the meat is served on a place AND on stage, and the cheesecake comes with the price of admission! Speaking of admission, as my wife and I were guests, being shepherded along by our friend, I cannot recall exactly what the "cover charge" was (not much, if I remember correctly...less than $20 for two?), and if reservations are *required*, I cannot say for certain, but I would say they are *recommended* at the very least, because our showtime was packed. Anyway, once paid, you are escorted through a secret bookcase door (SLC residents sure do love their speakeasies, don't they?), and into the dining hall and saloon, where you're soon to have your socks knocked off...well, someone's clothes are coming off, anyway! We were given a table that I dismissively thought was tucked away pretty far in the back and out of the way, but it ended up being one of the best seats in the house, as the table where the performers gathered, prepped, and returned to was just adjacent to us, so we were about as up close and personal as you can get, without getting yourselves arrested. Each of the dancers brought their own style, flair, and wardrobe to their performances, which were spirited and energetic, and a touch racy, without devolving into outright debauchery. It may be an (18+? 21+?) venue, but alcohol restrictions aside, I wouldn't hesitate to take older, more mature teens to a show with similar content. We ordered a smattering of smaller dishes, as we weren't particularly hungry, but the Mishima Wagyu tacos were fantastic (as you would expect), as was the Fedora Fin (Za'atar-crusted ahi tuna), and all of our cocktails. As the show is timed event with multiple performances per night, both food and bev are fired out of the kitchen/bar faster than the bullets from a Tommy Gun, but with far better accuracy. The whole operation here was honestly very impressive, from start to finish. Coming from a progressive city like Portland, it's always struck me a little odd that places that, by reputation, strike you as more conservative end up having some of the best, most wild entertainment venues, that you only wish you had back home. Prohibition is one of these places that I would rather see in my downtown, instead of the litany of seedy strip joints pushing for maximum titilation, but with only a fraction of the class and sophistication. Prohibition is good, clean fun, masquerading as something illicit, which is the heart of what makes it work so well.

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Bourbon & Blues - Tuesday
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Water Witch

Water Witch

4.2
(170 reviews)
1.2 mi
$$

Good drinks! Good vibe!…read more Stopped here for drinks on a Saturday night and the place was popping! We had a group of five and we were lucky to score some stool/bar seating right up front. The prices were very reasonable! Drafts were $7 and some cocktails were $11. The bartenders were super friendly and polite and talented! I really enjoyed watching them prepare five drinks at once without loosing a beat! The music was also great! They were rocking early 2000s jams. I ordered their penecilin cocktail which had ginger, honey, coconut and lemon with whiskey and it was delicious!! Everyone else enjoyed their drinks and we had a great time!

I wanted to love this place because they were a 2025 finalist (top 5) by the James Beard Foundation…read morefor outstanding bar. In full transparency it has been 2-3 years since my first and last visit to Water Witch. I noticed this in my drafts and thought I should complete my review. That said, I think I hyped this place up in my head too much before my visit because of the James Beard nod. So when it didn't quite hit the mark for me, I was disappointed. It's quite an intimate bar. By that I mean small space inside. The main bar has seating of course and there are a few seating areas directly behind the barstool area. There is a small walkway that separates the bar and the seating area. So the seating area is looking straight forward at the bartenders and the backs of people on barstools. I felt like the people behind me were staring into my soul lol, but that's a me problem ha. It's a modern design and beautifully decorated. I had two drinks. One from the menu and one that I told the bartender what I liked and disliked. He then made a drink based upon my taste. In my opinion it tasted similar to the one from the menu, which was disappointing because I was hoping for something different. There was one bartender that evening and one bar back, so even with the few people at the bar (I'd say 6-7 including me and a guest) and the 4 people seated behind us. It took some time to get his attention and order a drink. Which is part of the reason I only had two drinks. I would probably give this place another try since it's been some time since I've been there. As I always like to say. Stop in and judge for yourself.

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Good vibe
Good vibe
Water Witch
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Lake Effect

Lake Effect

4.0
(804 reviews)
0.2 mi
$$

I was looking for a place to eat when I came across a photo of the famous tin can nachos. That…read morepicture alone convinced me I had to give them a try. I ordered the steak nachos. At $29 with the steak, they're definitely on the pricier side, but the portion size helps justify the cost. The serving is massive--I could easily see two or even three people sharing it as a meal. By the time I finished, it honestly looked like I had barely made a dent in it. The steak was incredibly tender and packed with flavor, and every bite was loaded with toppings. The staff was also very friendly and welcoming. I stopped by during an off-peak time, so it wasn't very busy, which made for a relaxed experience. One thing that really stood out was their Guinness. As someone who appreciates a proper pour, I have to give them credit--they know exactly what they're doing. Too many places rush it, but here you can tell they take pride in serving it the right way. Their drink selection is also extensive. Whether you're a beer fan or looking to try a unique cocktail, there's no shortage of great options. I'd definitely come back, especially with a group to help tackle those nachos!

Really cool spot in SLC. We went to have a quick bite and drink before going to a club. Drinks…read moreare excellent and they have an impressive selection of cocktails. The food was good, we had the potato empanada and the wagyu skewers. Both were tasty and prepared well. There was live music that was really good and we enjoyed the people they had booked. There is a cool speak easy down stairs and a dance floor upstairs (we didn't see that). Overall, the place is really cool. I will concur that our minimal encounter with staff was less that stellar. Not sure why there were all the security guys mean mugging ayerone. Recommend this place for a drink and some grub.

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The will baxter band playing in the Rabbit Hole.
The will baxter band playing in the Rabbit Hole.
Tin can nachos
Tin can nachos
Inside bar. A vibe!

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Inside bar. A vibe!

Van Ryder - bars - Updated July 2026

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