came here for the Christmas pop up after coming for the halloween pop up a few months ago. both were really fun! the menu has a lot of themed cocktails that were all good. we also ordered a variety of food and it was all good. the artichoke dip was my favorite. make sure you have a reservation if you plan on going during one of the pop ups. you'll need it! read more

Varley - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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The ambience is unbeatable! We visited during their "Powder room" theme and it's like you're transported to the slopes! The drinks were reasonably priced (15$) and the presentation is on point! Varley shares a kitchen with Ivy & Varley next door so you can snag a few small bites whilst you're enjoying your drinks! read more

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Drinks were interesting, on the smaller side and a bit pricey. Would have liked to see a balance between sweet and non-sweet drinks (all but one of the specialty drinks are sweet.) Old fashioned champagne coupes, while cute and nostalgic, are a poor choice for serving champagne to showcase taste and flavor of champagne. read more

Varley - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Beautiful, calm ambiance, incredible service and one of the best tasting drinks I've ever had. I wish I could remember what it was. It's been a few years since I've been to SLC, but I still remember this place and that drink. Candied lemon peels or ginger (can't remember) , simple syrup, a penicillin with an Islay Scotch floated on top. I ordered plenty of them to never forget the experience, however these are the only ingredients I can remember. read more

I love the Varley and have always had great experiences here! To start, I love the vibe. I love that it's darker lighting and the music. I dig it. I order the same thing every time because I love it so much. The salmon and hummus. They are usually pretty fast at drinks and food, which is great because I like going before Jazz games or other events. If there is an event going on in the area parking can be a little harder to find, but City Creek is right there and easy to park at. read more

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I wandered into Varley after attending a conference at the Salt Palace. It's just a few steps away! Such a cool tropical atmosphere and very friendly staff. I had the Cabernet and two plates - the Brussels sprouts (YUM) and the orzo salad (also yum!!!) loved the experience and hope to be back in town to visit again. read more

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They did not have my order in their system. I need my money back! Horrible customer service. Waited 20 mins for the manager. The worst!

This was my first time at Varley and it will not be my last. (On weekends, I would highly recommend you make a reservation in advance.) I was thoroughly impressed with every second of my experience. We were greeted at the door, seated immediately, and our waiter came over to introduce himself and get our drink orders started. The vibe is great (our group did joke about how dark it was but we just went with it) and the live DJ was a nice touch. Our group felt very taken care of throughout the evening and the food hit the spot. I forgot to take photos of the appetizers and our drinks, so I'll have to go back so I can snap some photos of the diverse menu. My favorites from the night were the lavender-crusted goats cheese, the Brussel sprouts, and the wagyu burger. read more

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Had dinner on the patio here last week. It's a GREAT patio! It was just super hot that day and there are no fans to circulate air. If they could get some fans and the get the fountain going, I think it would be SLC's most perfect patio. The food was unique and yummy. The flavor on the Brussels was great, but they could use a bit more paring. The curry sauce on the mussels was so great! Not sure how I feel about the kale Caesar. Dressing was good, but all that kale was a bit much. Drink menu is great too! My friend's non-alcoholic "mocktail" was actually my favorite. Server was great. He knew it was hot so kept the water coming. read more

Varley - Kale Caesar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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I wasn't sure what to expect when my friend suggest we meet at Varley for dinner & drinks. It's in a very inconspicuous location, you'll almost miss it if you're not looking for it. But once you get inside you're quickly immersed into the energy of the place. Service was great, were checked on regularly and they were very friendly. Drinks and food were really good, though in my excitement I completely forgot to take photos of either. One of the dishes we tried was the octopus and it was delicious! I'll definitely be back. read more

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I made a reservation for Friday night but when we arrived, it was completely dead inside except for two couples scattered around the room. A very bougie interior but the design was classy and comfortable. We enjoyed everything we ordered which included the coconut curry mussel appetizer, the sweet potato gnocchi, and their salmon dish. Everything was fresh and warm when it came out. I docked Varley a star since portions are small for the price. We'll be back again for Varley and to try Ivy & Varley next door. read more

Varley - Sweet Potato Gnocchi -- small portion but tasty! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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A lot of fun! Christmas theme, good food, good choice of great drinks and love the decorations.

I picked Varley for a business dinner based on the Yelp reviews and location to the hotel we were staying at. While I had heard it was hard to find a table, Monday's apparently are very light. We were seated at the window box table which gave us great privacy. The restaurant is neighbors to the Ivy and Varley restaurant and also borders another venue featuring men in drag. Some of those folks visited the restaurant while we were there as well. We started off with their signature cocktails which were excellent. The menu isn't too extensive with many small plates for sharing. We started with the mussels in a nice tomato based cream sauce. We also shared the Brussels Sprouts which were awesome. My main entree was the featured fish which was a salmon. The others in the party ordered the gnocchi which they said was excellent. Service was very good. Very quiet and relaxing. read more

I stopped by for a couple drinks as I continue my bar hopping in downtown Salt Lake City. This is a small bar that's quite intimate and I was drawn to this place based on the nice decor I saw in pictures. Too bad I came here when it was dimly lit inside but their walls have some nice art. This bar gives a lounge-y vibe and is good for small intimate settings and also large gatherings. Even though there is a long bar counter top there are only about 7 bar seats. My first drink was the pineapple daiquiri ($11) which was sweet and had big pineapple flavors. You can really taste all the ingredients in the drink from the lime tartness and the Campari bitterness. It's like a modern tiki style drink. My second drink was the tangerine lime sour ($10) which was more tart than I expected from both the tangerine and the lime. For a cocktail bar I expected more than six options. I was hoping for a larger selection to choose from and the ones that I had were just okay. read more

Varley - Pineapple daiquiri ($11) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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So let me start by saying I like Varley but the experience and the options are WAY better at IVY. I know the staff is the same and so is the owners however I just felt that the experience was more expensive and the portions were way smaller! I would probably not return just because Ivy is the same and better but next door read more

Varley - Varley interior - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Made reservations on OpenTable and the place was empty when we arrived. Shortly after it had filled up and service didn't miss a beat. The Ivy shares the same kitchen with Varley and there are some similarities and some differences. I preferred the food at Varley more than next door (Ivy). Service was attentive and it was more relaxed atmosphere and didn't feel rushed. Everything was great especially the charcuterie board and the asparagus. For sure will be back! read more

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Cool, clubby vibes! There's a DJ booth and a beautiful bar that anchors the space. Banquettes and cocktail tables surround the side walls and all face the bar. I can imagine Varley will be a fun club/lounge at some point. For now, definitely come for the food. We sampled the chorizo fried rice, mussels, burrata and beets, and the NY strip. Everything was really tasty. As you'd expect, the cocktail menu is extensive and creative. We tried the matinee, a specialty of the house, and their versions of an old fashioned and espresso martini. The bartender even accommodated our request for a hot toddy. We were celebrating a birthday and our server brought out a dessert with a sparkler! We were dazzled!!! We had a great experience and hope to return during our next stop in SLC. read more

Varley - Bar Area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

My hell.....THE best Thai curry mussels I have ever had! The charturie board was amazing. The broccolini was to die for. The best beet hummus ever. Wish they had a better selection of specialty cocktails. read more

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Visited 03/04/2023 after a trip to Bad Caddy. I just ordered the charcuterie board and some dessert. Both were delicious! read more

Varley - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Varley is a craft cocktail type of lounge with really beautiful seating and modern booths. I love the greenery in the corners and the lighting here. DJ Bo York was playing some amazing R&B on Saturday night that really set the mood perfectly for my friends and I. Reservations are recommended, but last night we got lucky and arrived as a group was leaving so we didn't have to sit at the bar for very long. The bartender recommended the Midnight Margarita with sesame and pineapple and it was delicious. The presentation was beautiful and it had a nice color. Although we weren't hungry, we had to try the Thai Coconut Curry Mussels and they were absolutely amazing. It was so rich and delicious with the right amount of spice. I loved soaking up the sauce with the naan type of bread that accompanied the juicy mussels. I'm definitely going to return for more of these! read more

Varley - Thai Coconut Curry Mussels - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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This was a lovely cocktail bar situated in downtown Salt Lake. It had a lovely ambiance and the bar was beautiful to me. I ordered a cocktail and charcuterie board and was pleased by the presentation as well as the taste. They have an assortment of cocktails to choose from and I'm sure if you request something they can make that for you too! read more

Varley - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

We popped in to Varley on a Saturday night around 945pm and scored a table for 6. I'd seen the great Yelp reviews and the vibe was on par with my expectation. It took about 10 min after being seated for the server to take our order, some of the group was getting antsy but it looked like they only had one server for the whole place, so lets give them a pass on that. We ordered a couple small appies and a round of drinks and enjoyed the vibe...but after awhile, our thirst grew strong and the group was getting antsy once again. It took a HOT MINUTE for the drinks and food to finally arrive. Thankfully, everything was DELICIOUS. The Hanky Panky (a unique mix of fernet and gin), their take on a Paloma, the Desert Phoenix, and the Sugar and Spice - everyone loved their cocktails. The food was also fantastic - the beet hummus and bread that came with it was so flavorful, nothing like your hum drum hummus. The olives were excellent - and the pickled onions that came with them were too. And the fries - OH, the fries!!! They were so crispy - absolutely perfectly cooked. All in all - phenomenal food and drinks with very slow service. They may be understaffed but if they get a second bartender and server, this place is 6 stars! I Their menu is here: https://www.varleyslc.com/eatanddrink#menu=food PS The cell service AND the wifi are both awful here. Peep the menu beforehand. read more

Varley is a small cocktail bar in a minimalist space downtown. My friend and I knew nothing about it when we happened to walk by and wandered in to get a drink. Varley is a small cocktail bar in a minimalist downtown space. My friend and I knew nothing about it when we happened to walk by and wandered in to get a drink. We were asked if we had a reservation, and we did not. But they did have a table available and seated us there. The ambience is very chic-low lighting (that flashed throughout the night-low and then lower, then back to low), lo-fi chill music and upscale menu items. I appreciated that the music wasn't too loud-so we were able to carry on a conversation without having to yell. As I looked around, I saw that most of the patrons were young twenty-somethings and they all could have just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Beautiful people everywhere. My friend and I were a bit out of our element, but were welcomed anyway. The food menu is small, but adequate for a place like this. We enjoyed a charcuterie and a couple glasses of wine. Service was laid back-they are not in a rush to get you in and out; this is a place they expect you to hang around awhile in. If you're looking for a place to catch up with friends over some cocktails, this would be a strong recommendation. read more

Let's start with the positive. The food is damn good here. My gnocchi was perfectly cooked - pillowy and rich - and what I thought would be a side dish - Brussels Sprouts, almost stole the show. Both were amazing and I would come back to SLC for those dishes alone. I had two bourbon drinks and they were very very good. The interior is a little dark but there is ample seating and even tables in the windows. But I knocked off a star because 1) they lost our reservation & 2) the service was slow and I had to ask for someone come and take our orders. One of my party didn't get their side dish as well. Service is tough these days I know, but this seemed beyond normal issues. read more

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Food was not my ideal selection, cocktail menu was good. Overall service was average and ambience just there. Place to go for drinks and socialize, yes for sure. That's about it read more

Varley has such a fun atmosphere! Inside and outside are both wonderful to sit at. Their drinks are yummy too

We walked in after the kitchen closed. Starved. Asked the bartender Nick/Cody if they had anything that wouldn't mess up the kitchen. He brought us mixed nuts which is the coolest gesture. Then we got two drinks midnight Margarita and ther their house old fashioned. Presentation is very nice. Great pour and the service is what seals the deal on a 5 star experience. Definitely will comeback for a intimate evening. read more

Varley - Midnight Margarita $11 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Celebrating our cousins birthday at Varley! We all grabbed a drink and we loved all the drinks! It tasted so gooood! Our server was above and beyond and tended to us! The vibes were great! There was a DJ in the bar (DJ Bo York), definitely a vibe! You get to chill or dance depending on your mood. Would definitely come again. read more

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This place deserves every star of my 5-star review. The atmosphere, drinks, and food are all on point. I came here for the first time for a friends birthday, and we probably had 25+ in our group. The food was amazing, the service was great, and they did a great job catering to our party. I will for sure be taking a date here since the food was great and the ambiance is great for a solid date night. Please give this place a shot! It's brand new, and make a reservation. They're thriving through a covid opening! read more

Varley - Burger (maybe my new favorite in SLC) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Been here twice now, I could have sworn I wrote a review already but it must have been in my head! Husband and I had a night out in late December 2020 and really loved the ambiance here. The drinks were great and the food was amazing! I recall having the pork rillette appetizer, some gnocchi, and we also split a hamburger which was amazingly good. I'm not sure any of it could have been better! We made reservations for dinner last week at The Ivy (which hadn't opened yet the last time we came). We had about 30 minutes to kill beforehand so stopped in to Varley for some cocktails. Again they were great, and we also ordered the marinated chickpeas appetizer which was super delicious also. This will be one of our favorite spots from now on! read more

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Great new spot!! Felt like a grown up/big city cocktail bar in little Salt Lake!! Was surprised that their selection of signature cocktails were so small and they had more wines than anything. Loved that they served food until midnight and our server, Cody was amazing! Very attentive and helpful! And the Dj was on fire with the music! read more

What a spectacular new bar! This block has been needing something to liven it up for a while & I'm so glad that Varley has opened. They were doing all proper Covid procedures. The hostess properly took our temperatures and masks were required to be worn on all patrons and employees; hand sanitizer was also provided throughout the venue. The food and drinks were incredible! The Midnight Margarita was too good to only have one and the Thai Coconut Curry Mussels, Sautéed Broccolini, Chorizo Fried Rice and NC BBQ Pork Rillettes were some of the best shareable plates I have tasted in some time. We heard the burger was delicious as well, but were too full to try- sothat's on our list for next time. The music was great throughout the night and the service was spot on. I can't wait to come back! read more

Short Review: 5 Star from start to finish. Order anything and you will be happy and in love. Great Bang for the Buck, flavors, vibes, and Covid practices. Walking into Varley felt good, almost as if I had returned home from being away for years. An impossible thought because this was the opening night, but it gives that vibe. The look of this place is incredible! Cozy yet classy, warm but with an edge, simple yet beautiful. I can honestly say that I have not been into a cocktail bar that looked and felt like this. I just want to go back. The staff was perfectly on par. The waitress knew her stuff, she was attentive, helpful, and just happy to be there. I really respected that. If we had a question that she did not know, she would return in seconds with an answer that you would think she took a course at the university on the subject. We had two shareable and two solo dishes. Starting us off was the NC BBQ Pork Rillette. Three fresh, doled up pork sliders that leave you wanting more. The Caroline Vinegar sauce on this alone I want to bottle up and pour into a tub to swim in later. Where did this come from? Wow. The vinegar pared with the Brussel sprouts slaw in a glorious fashion. I would expect every dynamic duo to look at this and give a thumbs up. This is a must-order. The flavor was subtle yet slapping my lips as the little pickled peppers came into play. I could FEEL the taste, something I thought impossible. To complement this sharable, a beautiful bright red Grilled Beet Hummus made its way to the table. For a second I was taken back to the meals they served in Neverland... those bright colored dishes that made you want to reach through the TV and devour. This dish took me there. The bright red color of the beets felt really good on my eyes. I LOVED the beet flavor with the diced cucumbers on top, the whole thing sleeping soundly on a grilled Scallion Roti Bread. Yum. Although this was a starter, I returned to it several times throughout the main course. I ordered the Classic Americana Burger. Two Smashed Beef Patties with traditional fixings. The taste of this bad boy blew my mind. It was not a new taste, just one that I rarely experience in a restaurant, let alone a cocktail bar. I am convinced this burger is now the best-kept secret in Salt Lake City. If you are not familiar with the Maillard reaction, read up on it. A smashed patty is a party where all are invited and all have a part. The flavor is not burned out, the char does not overtake the rest of the experience, each ingredient makes its way to the front stage at just the right moments. I love the bun, not sure what kind it was but it didn't really matter. It contained and had a satisfying crunch, two things that have to be involved with a good burger. In short, this is a rad burger. It comes with a delicious pile of fries that somehow have a first crunch but feel soft. They have nailed the crispy/fresh ratio on these fries. I would imagine that they will have to fight off some pesk that is after their secret formula for the fry sauce. I know there is something else in there besides Mayo and Ketchup... maybe scallions? Garlic? Whatever it is, it is working really well. My lovely girlfriend ordered the Grilled Pear and Goat Cheese Salad with added Grilled Chicken. She usually cannot handle the punch of the goat cheese so she swapped that out with one of the other 2 options they provided. Manchego Cheese. I watched her face as she began the journey. Pure joy. Honestly, PURE JOY. "I literally have not had a better salad." They do not mess around when it comes to their salads. Calling it a salad almost demeans it. The grilled chicken was resting on top, almost challenging us to try to eat it all. This is not one of those salads that place a few pieces of the bonus protein on top and calls it good, this is a treasure of ingredients liberally poured on. I had to have what she was having. The Grilled Chicken was juicy, full of flavor, and fresh. SO FRESH. The greens, grilled pears, arugula... So fresh. I kept asking her what kind of dressing was there because it didn't taste like a vinaigrette to me. It has such a sweet, almost sugary flavor on there. I am guessing the Pear-balsamic has something to do with it. Candied Walnuts adding a satisfying crunch, Grilled Pears keep things interesting, you would think they created a new species of salad here that is begging to be had by all. I want to take loved ones here and watch them eat. We had lovely crafted mojito with fresh mint resting on top, I am not a drinker but from the happy and smiling faces around us, they know what they are doing. If the food is this good, surely the cocktails will blow your mind. I wish badly that we had room for dessert, next time. Such a great bang for you buck, 5 out 5, 10 out 10, 20 stars, whatever you want to call it. From the decor to the beautifully built drinks, It's just really really good. I see this becoming a downtown staple, we will be back. read more

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For a cocktail bar the drinks were unremarkable. I had the tombstone which was good, but a glorified whisky sour. I followed with a Montserrat Old Fashion, which I took as their take on a Rum old fashion....sounded great, but missed the mark. I was in the mood for a steak so I ordered the stacked filet. Cooked perfectly, the whole dish was overpowered by the kale/celery mash accompaniment. The stack of onion rings had no flavor and only added presentation value. The only saving grace was having good cocktails at their sister restarting next door. read more

Varley - Filet stack - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

To all my east coast transplants: this is the closest thing to a NYC bar I've gone to in SLC. It has the same vibe but without the prices. I would definitely recommend making a reservation as it seems like a lot of large groups of men decide to go there and take up 10 years to pay their check and leave. Drinks were GREAT but would not recommend the charcuterie. Blue cheese on a fancy cheese board doesn't sit right with me haha read more

Varley - Beet humus, charcuterie board, Margherita. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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A fantastic expérience midday and evening. Tonight's review highlights the stellar dinner experience. We were served exceptionally by Allyson. Drinks flowed timely and orders were on point. Conversations in our business circle flourished. The food plated well, presented well and taste was abundantly satisfying. Quinoa beet salad with pistachios blended harmoniously. Bison steak served medium with collard greens and spicy carrots brought a fusion flair to an idyllic experience. In a time when dining out is to be valued more, trust this place to set the stage for happy memories read more

Food was delicious. We got here for early dinner on Sunday and felt like we had the place to ourselves. Drinks were kind of hit or miss. I liked the black sesame drink but the pink drink (I forgot the exact name) and their martini are very underwhelming. Would recommend friends to check out this place. read more

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Would have been 5 stars but my friends weren't enamored with the cocktails. A trendy dark ambience with an LA vibe in a Salt Lake City Restaurant was a fun enjoyable and tasty experience. Good service and nice decor and location. read more

Varley - Varley exterior building sign - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Made a reservation day off and it showed plenty of available tables. When we arrived, there were parties lingering, which tends to happen - but 40 Minutes later we still were not sat. They sat us, a party of 4, at the bar, which is definitely not ideal - but we were headed to an event so we made it work. The cocktails were lacking any flavor, the bartender never once engaged with us (I don't think she looked up once). The food wasn't good either. Definitely do not recommend and won't be back! read more

I have to update my review and agree with Matthew, this place is not clean. Not only are the tables sticky but the Edison bulbs have dust on them like the place hasn't been cleaned since opened. Too bad. I liked this place but it's the ugly stepsister of ivy with smaller menu and smaller venue. They still have the curry mussels so 2 stars. Boo read more