Varley: Where Downtown Salt Lake City's Craft Cocktail Scene Finally Got Its Edge

There's a sweet spot in any city's nightlife evolution—that moment when the cocktail bars stop trying so hard to be New York or LA and just become themselves. For downtown Salt Lake City, that moment arrived when Bryan Borreson and Vaughn Carrick of the Realine Group opened Varley at 63 W 100 South, a craft cocktail bar and lounge designed for those seeking high-end cocktail culture without all the pretense.

Walk into Varley on any given Thursday and you'll find downtown executives loosening their ties, convention attendees finally escaping their corporate agendas, and local cocktail enthusiasts who've watched this city's bar scene grow up. One guest summed it up perfectly: "Cocktails were delicious, food was excellent, bartender was skilled, attentive and funny. Varley has a great vibe. Swanky, yet comfortable."

That balance—swanky yet comfortable—is harder to nail than it sounds.

The Story Behind Salt Lake City's Modern Cocktail Destination

Bryan Borreson and Vaughn Carrick founded the Realine Group and have been on the forefront of Salt Lake City's entertainment scene since 2007, playing an integral role in its growth and development. But Varley's origin story is really a pandemic pivot story—one born from necessity that ended up becoming exactly what downtown SLC needed.

When COVID shuttered anything having to do with live music, the owners of Soundwell concert venue suddenly had time on their hands. The cancellation of live events came as a huge blow to Soundwell, but it inspired Carrick and Borreson to launch The Ivy, a new downtown Salt Lake City restaurant, and Varley, its sister bar. They took over the former Caffe Molise/BTG Wine Bar space and spent several months completely remodeling it.

The project wasn't without its challenges. It took Carrick and Borreson 15 months to get the Varley bar license from the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control—a testament to Utah's limited bar license availability. But that wait gave them time to get everything else perfect: the lighting, the sound system, the vibe.

Ivy & Varley represent all of the qualities that the hospitality and entertainment partners have come to look for in their own nights out—an inviting yet upscale atmosphere, a dynamic and consistently executed menu, and a commitment to great customer service. And with their background running Soundwell, one of Salt Lake's premier concert venues, they knew how to create spaces where people actually want to spend time.

The Craft Cocktail Experience at Varley Downtown

The drinks at this craft cocktail bar downtown Salt Lake City are where Varley really shows off. One regular calls the Kestrel their new favorite drink, describing it as "not too sweet, not too strongly citrus. Light citrus and floral flavor—totally refreshing!" It's the kind of cocktail that makes you understand why people use words like "mixology."

The Enso—made with gin, shochu, and thai basil—and the local rye Burnt Honey Old Fashioned are standouts on the cocktail menu. But what sets Varley apart in Salt Lake City's growing craft cocktail scene is the breadth of the program. The bar serves a broad spectrum of craft cocktails with something for every taste: sweet, dry, smoky or brown goods. Whether you're a cocktail connoisseur or someone who just wants a cold craft beer, you'll find your thing here.

A guest on OpenTable noted: "I really enjoyed this place. The waitress we had was great, friendly, prompt, & attentive. The drinks are phenomenal." That consistency matters, especially when you're competing with established names in the downtown cocktail bar scene.

The bar's modern aesthetic comes through in the cocktail presentation too. The decor is a striking blend of what seem like Art Deco and Pop Art movements, and the drinks match that visual energy—Instagram-worthy but never gimmicky.

Food That Actually Competes with the Cocktails

Here's where Varley pulls off something most cocktail bars in Salt Lake City don't: the food isn't an afterthought. Varley conveniently shares the same kitchen as Ivy & Varley, offering an exclusively curated menu designed to pair with the full selection of drink options available.

The Infatuation wrote about a sweet potato soup you can't stop thinking about, along with other dishes like thai coconut curry mussels and a delicious cashew-kimchi bowl. That sweet potato soup comes up repeatedly in reviews—it's become one of those sleeper hits that regulars order every time.

The cashew-kimchi bowl deserves its own paragraph. Made with vegan brussels sprouts kimchi, cremini mushrooms, grilled broccolini, fried rice, house pickles, and yellow curry cashew cream, it's the kind of dish that makes vegetarians feel seen and omnivores order it anyway. You can add grilled chicken, salmon, or shrimp if you're feeling carnivorous.

The burger gets love too—one reviewer called it the "best burger I've tasted in Salt Lake City!" That's high praise in a city where burger snobbery runs deep.

But let's be real for a second: not everything hits. Some reviews mention inconsistent experiences with certain dishes. This is a bar first, restaurant second, and they're honest about that positioning. Come for the craft cocktails, stay for the food that actually pairs well with them.

Downtown Salt Lake City's 21+ Cocktail Lounge Scene

Varley is a 21+ establishment, which changes the entire energy. In a state where many venues cater to all ages, having an adults-only space creates a different vibe—more refined, more focused on conversation and cocktails rather than accommodating families.

Located near the Salt Palace Convention Center, this is the place to unwind after a boring conference on accounting software. That proximity to the convention center makes Varley a natural gathering spot for business travelers and downtown professionals. The bar opens at 4 PM daily, perfect timing for after-work drinks or early dinner before evening plans.

To accentuate the vibrant atmosphere, Varley features live music from local musicians and DJ's. If you value your hearing, snag an early reservation before the DJ starts playing at 8:30pm on weekends. That's insider knowledge—the kind of detail that separates tourists from people who actually know the scene.

The hours work for late-night crowds too. Varley is open Monday through Wednesday until midnight, Thursday through Saturday until 1 AM, and Sunday until midnight. For a city that sometimes feels like it rolls up the sidewalks at 10 PM, having a sophisticated late-night option downtown matters.

Part of Salt Lake City's Hospitality Renaissance

Understanding Varley means understanding the Realine Group's larger vision for downtown Salt Lake City. In 2018, after a decade-long run with Elevate Nightclub, Borreson and Carrick shifted directions with the space and transformed it into Soundwell—one of Salt Lake's premier concert and event venues of its size. That pivot from nightclub to music venue showed their ability to read what the city actually needed.

The same instinct guided the creation of Ivy & Varley. Ivy & Varley provide two of the most unforgettable dining experiences in the city featuring downtown SLC's largest outdoor patio, a contemporary and ingredient-led menu from acclaimed Executive Chef Bobby McFarland, and a thorough attention to detail in both ambiance and guest experience.

This isn't just about opening bars and restaurants. Borreson and Carrick also run Live Nite Events and produce music festivals like Reggae Rise Up. They're building an interconnected hospitality ecosystem in downtown SLC, and Varley is the cocktail-focused piece of that puzzle.

Planning Your Visit to Varley Salt Lake City

Address: 63 W 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Hours:

• Monday-Wednesday: 4 PM - 12 AM
• Thursday-Saturday: 4 PM - 1 AM
• Sunday: 4 PM - 12 AM

What to Order: Start with the Kestrel or Burnt Honey Old Fashioned if you're there for cocktails. Don't skip the sweet potato soup if it's on the menu. The cashew-kimchi bowl is a sleeper hit that works as a shareable or entree.

Best Time to Visit: Mondays are quiet and easy to get a reservation, perfect for business dinners or conversations you actually want to hear. Weekends get louder after 8:30 PM when the DJ starts—great for the party crowd, less ideal for intimate dates. Thursday and Friday evenings hit that sweet spot of energetic without overwhelming.

Know Before You Go: This is strictly 21+. Reservations are available by calling (801) 203-4124. Street parking on 100 South is limited; arrive early or use nearby parking structures. The bar shares space with Ivy next door, so if Varley is packed, you have options.

Follow: Instagram @ivyandvarley for cocktail specials, seasonal menu updates, and their occasional themed events like the Fright Club Halloween experience.

Why Varley Matters to Salt Lake City's Food Scene

Salt Lake City's cocktail culture has evolved dramatically over the past decade. What used to be a handful of hotel bars and beer-focused spots has grown into a legitimate craft cocktail scene with multiple James Beard-nominated establishments and bars that could hold their own in any major city.

Varley's contribution to that evolution isn't about being the loudest or most decorated. As one local put it: "Have lived in Salt Lake City for most my life and the restaurant scene has been pretty blah up until now. Varley is definitely helping with that, it's now one of my favorite restaurants in SLC."

That's the real story here. Not another concept imported from the coasts, but downtown executives and music venue owners who looked around their own city and said: this is what we'd want. Varley maintains the same modern aesthetic with a little added edge, the perfect setting to share in drinks and dialogue for both the most discernible of cocktail connoisseurs and those simply seeking a cold craft beer or pour on the rocks.

In a craft cocktail bar scene that sometimes takes itself too seriously, Varley offers something harder to find than rare bourbon: genuine hospitality with edge. The kind of place where you can order the most complex cocktail on the menu or just ask for a beer, and either way, you belong.

Ready to experience Salt Lake City's most approachable upscale cocktail bar? Varley is located at 63 W 100 South in downtown Salt Lake City. Call (801) 203-4124 for reservations or visit ivyandvarley.com for current hours and menus. Follow @ivyandvarley on Instagram for cocktail specials and events.