Franklin Ave: Best Cocktail Bars Salt Lake City Meet Downtown's Award-Winning Historic Restaurant

Walk down Edison Street on any given evening and you'll notice something. There's a building glowing with warm light, its century-old brick facade somehow looking both historic and impossibly modern. Through the windows you can see people laughing, glasses clinking, the kind of scene that makes you want to abandon whatever plans you had and just... go inside. That's Franklin Ave Cocktails & Kitchen, and it's Salt Lake Magazine's 2025 Best Restaurant winner for a reason that becomes obvious the moment you step through those doors.

The basement level alone tells you everything you need to know about what Matt Crandall and the Bourbon Group accomplished here. The space features art on every surface, exposed historic brickwork, and leather-trimmed bar seats that give the whole place a speakeasy vibe that doesn't feel forced or theme-park fake. One guest put it perfectly: "Delicious food, amazing service, and fun music! Came here for a work dinner and we all had a really great time. I think every single dish we had was delicious so I recommend them all."

How a fourth-generation restaurant kid created Salt Lake's most compelling dining destination

Matt Crandall didn't set out to revolutionize downtown Salt Lake City's cocktail and dining scene. But when you grow up in a family that's been in the restaurant business since 1959, certain things are probably inevitable. His grandfather opened the family's first restaurant that year, and Crandall grew up "weeding the grass and picking up cigarette butts in the parking lot, to washing dishes and learning the flow of the kitchen." His family opened both Hires Big H in 1959 and Litza Pizza in 1965, establishments that are still family-owned today.

But it was a five-year stint at Spencer's steakhouse and his culinary training at the Western Culinary Institute that really shaped Crandall's approach to food. When his high school friend Jason LeCates approached him in 2013 about joining the Bourbon Group as executive chef, Crandall brought something different to Salt Lake's bar scene. "We were pretty much the first bar in Salt Lake City to focus on the food as much as the beverages," LeCates said about bringing Crandall into Whiskey Street.

After the success of Bourbon House, Whiskey Street, and White Horse Spirits & Kitchen, Franklin Ave became Crandall's chance to push even further. He confides, "I didn't want to tie myself down with a strict menu concept. I wanted to explore more flavors, more dishes I personally love to eat." Think of Franklin Ave as White Horse's younger sibling that decided to skip college and travel the world instead. It's an American brasserie burnished by wanderlust, pulling inspiration from Japan, Thailand, Spain, Italy, and the Mediterranean.

The best cocktail bars Salt Lake City has to offer meet serious culinary chops

Here's what sets Franklin Ave apart from every other craft cocktail bar downtown: the establishment prides itself on being a haven for amaro and whiskey enthusiasts, with a commitment to crafting exceptional cocktails complemented by a fantastic scratch kitchen. You're not choosing between good drinks or good food. You get both, which feels revolutionary in a city where bars often treat their kitchens as afterthoughts.

The cocktail program deserves its own paragraph. With three separate bars spread across two levels, the drink selection runs deep. The Glass Cage of Emotion—made with Laphroaig 10-year Scotch, banana liqueur, creme de cacao, and sea salt—sounds like it shouldn't work on paper but absolutely does. One reviewer noted, "Great cocktail menu (I'm not sure I've ever seen a menu with three mezcal cocktails to choose from!)" They also offer seasonal mocktails for those who want the experience without the alcohol, though remember this is a 21-and-over establishment.

Now let's talk about the food, because this is where Franklin Ave really separates itself from the pack of downtown Salt Lake City restaurants. The mushroom beignets have achieved near-legendary status. These battered and fried intermountain mushrooms come with a green goddess-style homemade dressing and frisee, transforming what's usually a sweet dish into something savory and completely addictive. As one converted guest exclaimed, "GTFOH!!! I don't even like mushrooms, and I ate two of those mushroom beignets. Absolutely delicious."

The snap peas deserve their own fan club. Crandall took a couple of visits to nudge one food writer into ordering these, but he's glad he relented. The sweet greens are plated with a flurry of fresno chiles and an herbaceous storm of fresh mint and Thai basil. A couple dollops of chili crisp bring bite, crushed cashews add texture, and underneath is a rich coconut cream that ties the whole thing together. It was his favorite plateful of vegetables for 2022, and it's easy to see why.

But the wagyu burger is what keeps people coming back. Using Snake River Farms wagyu beef, it's a swooningly simple thing that sidesteps the trap of topping after ludicrous topping. One reviewer declared it "top three in town. No arguments, I won't hear them. You're wrong." The meat speaks for itself, and when you've got wagyu that good, why would you bury it under a mountain of unnecessary ingredients? One customer confirmed, "My friend ate every last bit of her burger and said it was also perfectly cooked and a very good portion size as well. The fries were crispy and seasoned so well too."

The pappardelle bolognese showcases Crandall's house-made pasta skills. Made with wagyu beef, veal, pork, and Grana Padano, this isn't your average red sauce situation. Every entree is a banger, like the hearty wagyu burger, roasted chicken, and pappardelle bolognese.

Don't sleep on the deviled eggs either. They come with duck cracklings and hot sauce, and one reviewer noted they're "the perfect portion! You could eat it in one bite and the crispy on top was a delicious touch!"

For brunch lovers, the Brussels sprouts have a dedicated following. One guest discovered "hints of fig hidden in the dish that we didn't find until we got to the bottom but the added sweetness with the caramelization was such a nice touch. The bacon bits were PERFECT topping too."

A historic 1891 building on Edison Street with stories to tell

The building itself has a past that would make a great HBO series. According to the Salt Lake Herald, this building at 231 South on what was then known as Franklin Avenue was originally built around 1891 for the short-lived Franklin Avenue Variety Theatre. The theatre was more famous for the secret door on the third floor above the stage than any performance. The door led to an adjoining saloon and small "wine rooms" where men and women enjoyed themselves and were waited on by illegal liquor dispensers.

Franklin Avenue, as Edison Street was once called, was considered a tenderloin district—one of the only places African Americans were welcome in 1890s Salt Lake City. The newspapers sometimes referred to the street as "Darktown" because of this. By the turn of the century, city leaders decided to clean up the area's reputation. In 1906, they paved the street and changed the name to Edison Street as part of a wider effort to encourage gentrification.

But here's the thing: the colorful history never really left. The Bourbon Group's renovation respected the building's bones while creating something that feels both contemporary and timeless. The upstairs bar features newly minted wooden paneling that only climbs halfway up the original wooden beams. It's a little bit of modern, a little bit of history, exactly the kind of design choice that shows someone actually cared about what they were creating.

Why Salt Lake Magazine crowned Franklin Ave 2025's best restaurant

The recognition didn't come out of nowhere. Salt Lake Magazine noted that Franklin's flexibility is borne of Chef Matt Crandall's open-ended menu. "It's his fourth outing for the Bourbon Group and his best effort to date. Crandall's menu is a canny mix of New American alongside chicly executed bar food. An elementary burger is easily one of the best you'll taste. The atmosphere is buzzy without being overbearing, and the location on Edison off the beaten path still makes the 21+ business feel like an insider secret."

That last bit about feeling like an insider secret? That's real. Edison Street isn't Main Street. It's quieter, less crowded, more sophisticated. You can actually have a conversation here without shouting. The two-level layout means you can find the vibe you want—upstairs for a more refined dinner, downstairs basement for speakeasy vibes, or grab a barstool at one of three bars and watch the mixologists work.

One out-of-town visitor captured it perfectly: "The best restaurant in Salt Lake City!! So good that we had to have dinner there TWICE and returned for lunch before our flight back to New York! Cannot wait to go back to Franklin Ave next time I visit Utah."

Downtown Salt Lake City's most exciting dining corridor

Franklin Ave sits at the heart of Edison Street's ongoing transformation. What was once a somewhat neglected mid-block alley is now home to some of downtown's most exciting food and drink destinations. When the Bourbon Group first leased Whiskey Street nearby, "Main Street was pretty depressed. We were the first group to come in and grab a dilapidated building complete with pigeons and give the area a shot again." Now there are about 17 establishments where there used to be five.

Franklin Ave joined neighbors like Copper Common and ROCTACO in reimagining what this part of downtown could be. It's walking distance from hotels, the convention center, and cultural venues, but it doesn't feel touristy. It feels like a neighborhood spot for people who know good food and cocktails when they taste them.

Planning your visit to Franklin Ave Cocktails & Kitchen

Address: 231 S Edison St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Hours: Open daily from 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM (that late-night kitchen is clutch when you're craving something substantial after 10 PM)

What to order: Start with the mushroom beignets or snap peas, get the wagyu burger as your main (seriously, just do it), and if you're there for brunch, the Brussels sprouts are non-negotiable. Don't skip dessert—their ever-changing raspado currently features maple cinnamon-caramel ice cream, apple cider syrup, and spiced apples.

Parking: Street parking on Edison or paid parking around the corner. The Regency garage is nearby.

Pro tips: Make a reservation if you want to dine upstairs. The basement fills up and can get loud when busy, but the energy is part of the experience. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Remember, this is 21+ only, so leave the kids at home.

Follow them: @franklinaveslc on Instagram for menu updates, specials, and the kind of food photography that'll make you immediately change your dinner plans.

Franklin Ave represents something bigger than just another restaurant opening in downtown Salt Lake City. It's proof that you can honor history while creating something entirely new. That you can run a bar that takes both its cocktails and its cuisine seriously. That sometimes the best cocktail bars aren't trying to be everything to everyone—they're creating a specific experience for people who appreciate craft and quality.

After-work drinks? Kick back with a plate of the coconut and chile crisp spiked snap peas. Hangover-curing brunch? Duck confit chilaquiles will soothe any ills. Date night? The atmosphere delivers without trying too hard. Just want a damn good burger and a whiskey? They've got you covered.

Matt Crandall and the Bourbon Group didn't just restore a 133-year-old building. They created a place that feels essential to downtown Salt Lake City's dining landscape, the kind of spot that makes you proud to be from here. In a city that's often defined by what it's not, Franklin Ave confidently shows what Utah's food scene can be when talented people stop playing it safe.

That building on Edison Street is glowing for a reason. Time to find out for yourself.