Beautiful atmosphere, unique drinks, live bands are always top tier! Read about the history of this venue inside the menu! read more

Lake Effect - Ambiance - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

I was looking for a place to eat when I came across a photo of the famous tin can nachos. That picture 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! read more

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Really cool spot in SLC. We went to have a quick bite and drink before going to a club. Drinks are 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. read more

Downtown Salt Lake has a niche of bar/restaurants that offer unique food and cocktail items. No matter what you crave, they have it behind the bar. Whiskey, Tequila, Vodka & more. The drink menu, I think, was over 25 pages... that's way too much, but they did have 12 pages dedicated to a drink that matches zodiac signs to get you engaged/committed. That marketing strategy definitely worked for our party, as 2 people got drinks associated with their zodiac signs. I'm a tequila drinker & yes it was tagged to my zodiac sign, which I thought was cool, but WAY too much was going on with that drink!!. I think it had 12+ ingredients to make the drink.... I went with the Moab Mule, which was a unique twist on a Prickly Pear margarita (with only 6 ingredients). We tried other modern classics and enjoyed the live music playing on the main floor. Downstairs is a different vibe, more sit-down dinner chill speakeasy vibe. Service was "ok," and yes, it took drinks a minute to come out, but I feel that was more about the complexity of many of them. Up front, it accommodates 2, maybe groups of 3, with stylish seating, but near the live music, it offers more traditional seating to accommodate larger groups. This place came up frequently while visiting with our group, and it was definitely one of many fun stops while there. read more

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Staying overnight in Salt Lake City, I kept seeing Lake Effect recommended as a must-visit dinner spot -- and it definitely lived up to the hype. They offer an assortment of tapas, though the portions are much larger than traditional tapas style. I ordered the Mariscos de Coco and it was absolutely delicious -- super flavorful with a generous amount of seafood throughout. The restaurant also had live music playing, but at the perfect volume where it added to the ambiance without taking away from the relaxed bar/lounge atmosphere. Another bonus: it was walkable from my hotel, making it an easy downtown dinner spot. Really cute place in the heart of downtown. If you're in the area, definitely stop by -- you won't be disappointed! read more

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

Over the weekend Lake Effect served up some much needed tasty food and drinks to the hubs and I, post a concert down the road. The hubs had the Birria tacos, and said they were phenomenal. I had the lamb lollipops that were so delish, my hubby ordered a second dish of them for himself. The cocktails are inventive and yummy. The service great, and the ambiance wonderful. The basement dark and romantic, the main floor was more club like with lots of seating and a live band was playing as we headed out for the evening. Lake effect was just what we were looking for. 2026 # 6 read more

Lake Effect - The basement portion of the club. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Ambiance is a vibe. Dark and moody. The tin nachos were okay. They should layer it. Pretty dry at the end. The lake effect burger is good. Don't get the paella Baja style- it was not good. Garlic fries were yummy. Barbacoa Tacos weren't bad either Drinks were good. read more

Lake Effect - Tin can nachos, burger, Barbados tacos, paella, calamari skewers! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Arrived in UT around 1 p.m. and by the time we checked in at the hotel and walked around to find a place to eat, it was around 2 p.m. Glad that this place was open. Inside is nicely decorated, a bit dark, their bar was impressive with shelves full of alcohol. We are a group of 6 and got seated right away. Maybe because it was past lunch time, the place was empty. Under the Tacos section: I had the Braised Beef Barbacoa - Queso Fresco, Avocado, Pico de Gallo. It was flavorful! 3 tacos served with Cilantro Rice, Salsa, & Organic Corn Tortillas (they had me at Organic Corn tortillas). The rest of my group liked their food as well. Their drink menu was very impressive. Unfortunately, it was a work trip and it was lunch time so we skipped the drinks. Staff were friendly. read more

Lake Effect - Braised Beef Barbacoa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

We went on September 2nd at 11 am. The atmosphere is beautiful, and the girl was very friendly. Our waiter was a spectacular guy who served us with great professionalism and truly made our experience super pleasant. The drinks and food were exquisite. I can't wait to go back. read more

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

The absolute best drinks we had hands down in SLC. This is my second time in town and I definitely wanted to come back because of my experience last time. Even though I no longer drink alcohol, they have a solid mocktail menu with zero proof alcohol that is delicious. Shout out to Tommy for the delicious mocktail menu! I visited twice in one day because I HAD to get the lamb lollipops, which are only served in the evening. It was worth the wait! So good that I ordered some togo for my son back at the hotel. So good and must have! I recommend this bar to everyone visiting SLC. read more

Lake Effect - Charcuterie plate with crostini, fruit, cheese, meats, and some fruit spread. Yum!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

We had a great experience for our first visit. We went on a Sunday afternoon, so it wasn't super busy. This whole place is a vibe! The decor is fantastic!! The booths are comfortable and private. The bar area is impressive. They have a very large drink menu. And creative cocktails. The food was great!! We ordered the beerbatter fried fish tacos and the braised beef barbacoa tacos. The only thing is the rice was really dry, but everything else about the food was flavorful. And the jalapeño cheddar biscuit was both fluffy and crisp and was so good! Service was good. Our server checked on us often, was quick to refill our water, and was friendly. They had live music -- and my only complaint is that it was super loud which made it hard to have a conversation. Love the live music aspect, it just needed to be a little quieter. Overall, a great experience and we will definitely be back. read more

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Parking wasn't hard to find for us since we parked nearby at a lot. Came on a Saturday and was seated right away downstairs. I liked the vibe. Downstairs was cool and moody. They have tables but also places to lounge. We ordered some drinks. While they were good it was little weak on the alcohol. Little expensive imo We got come appetizers Shrimp ceviche - 3/5- good but lacked flavor on my opinion. It was missing something Chips and guac- addictive 5/5 I got bison burger and it was really good. You wouldn't know it was bison. The fries were also really good Friend got steak and said it was good too. We didn't know but they have three levels- 3rd level upstairs is a small dance floor. And the bathrooms are insanely pretty check out - on 3rd floor Make sure to check the band fee. We saw it in our ticket and thought it was weird there was no band or dj when we were there. Waiter removed it. read more

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We had a business trip and ate dinner at Lake effect. The food was delicious and the ambience of this restaurant is gorgeous.. We were seated immediately, and our servers waited on us throughout the night . I had the lollipop lamb chops . If I'm ever back in Salt Lake, I will be coming back just for those. read more

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Cool vibe for sure. Three floors to this place. The main floor has a massive bar area, seating for diners, and a small stage are for live bands. It's way bigger than you think just from looking in from the outside. After 7pm it really starts to pickup and get busy. We sat downstairs in the rabbit hole - a dimly lit, moody themed room. Ide say around 1500 sq ft or so. Marble tables and cozy bench seating. The top floor is more of the nightclub room. Dance floor and bar: We went up there just to explore and the girls wanted to check out the female bathroom. I guess it's pretty sheik and worth the visit? I wouldn't know cuz I'm a guy. There was no one really up here outside of the security. The food was okay. Overpriced in my opinion. I split the NY steak for $52. Not the best steak, def not for $52. The drink menu is where this place excels in. They have an extensive bar menu. I got the high west campfire bourbon - super good if you like peaty/smokey flavor. The mixed drinks are pretty weak. Hardly any alcohol. There are tons of other places ide go for food, but ide recommend experiencing the ambiance at least once. read more

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Had two solid visits to Lake Effect while in SLC for a week. The pros: excellent vibes, with a beautiful, vintage-feeling, cool bar area (complete with old library-style ladders for the bartenders to reach bottles on the high shelves), a variety of seating (including what I can best describe as throne shaped chairs and booths), tasty tapas, and so many inventive cocktails (almost too many; there's a menu with so many pages it has a table of contents!). The drinks were expertly made and all delicious; I recommend trying some of their signature drinks or specialties (like the "Queen of Hearts" I tried), since it is worth trying something different. They also had live music starting at 6 PM which was great fun. A few cons: while the tapas were all excellent (especially the lamb, lollipops and croquettes), the entrée options are quite limited, and I found my burger to be just OK (and fairly pricey). Service was also just OK; the first time, our server was friendly, but not super attentive, and the second time, our server seemed a little annoyed to be working the table. Still, it is definitely worth checking out if you're in Salt Lake, especially for a drink or snack. read more

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This place is awesome for any city! This place has 3 floors... Let me explain. The build out is beautiful and I mean beautiful. They did not cheap out anywhere. The main floor is super high ceilings, beautiful bar and live music with good food and drinks! Downstairs has this dark, historic, sexy, jazz bar lounge and is a totally different vibe. Upstairs is like a party almost... Let's call it Vegas meets beauty - ok I hate Vegas - but if it were awesome... LOL! This place is a must! Period! Go, relax or party and have an awesome time! read more

Cool vibe and great live music. The server was painstakingly slow when you sit at the tables but fine at the bar and the drinks were top shelf. read more

Lake Effect - Snowed Inn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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We were leaving the next day on the Canyon Spirit train to Denver and had an enjoyable evening and the food and drinks were wonderful! Ellie was attentive and the team assisting her were timely. Our Old Fashioneds were perfection and everyone enjoyed their meals. Shout out to the live music. She had a great voice and the music was not too loud and we were able to carry on in a normal tone. Pretty cool place for dinner. read more

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

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Brian and his yo yo are top tier! As an added plus Frank gave us clown noses which will be a family joke forever. The Vespar martini Brian made - 10/10. Cannot leve this review without mentioning Avery! We will come back to spend all our disposable income because of these great people! Give them a raise BOSS read more

Amazing drinks and the best environment for a good night out! We came on a Wednesday and they had a DJ! Super impressed with the bartenders! The menu is HUGE! How they memorize it... is beyond meee! read more

Lake Effect - Peaches for me with mezcal (left) Bartender special: mezcal + fruity - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Lake Effect was fun, each level has its own vibe, sort of a choose-your-own-adventure establishment. I went to the basement for the live jazz, and enjoyed the atmosphere. The energy picked up more than I was expecting for a jazz band, and there was some dancing near the small stage, but the dim lighting and cozy seating definitely felt like a jazz club. My old fashioned was pretty good, and the bartender was very on top of things throughout my time there. It's a fun spot with something for most, I'd go back to try another level next time! read more

Unbelievable! Hands down the best Nachos I have ever eaten in my life! All the food and drinks at this place are absolutely amazing and 100% worth every minute! Our servers every time we went here were all super friendly and helpful with great recommendations on drinks and food. The restaurant is amazing inside. The ambiance is spectacular. 100% must go here! read more

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Lake Effect is an outstanding spot that delivers on every level. The drink selection is impressive, offering a wide range of creative cocktails, quality spirits, and options that cater to just about any taste. The food menu is equally strong, with flavorful dishes that pair perfectly with the bar experience. The service truly stands out--attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable without ever feeling overbearing. The staff clearly take pride in creating a great atmosphere and making guests feel welcome. The nachos are an absolute highlight and easily some of the best around. Generous portions, perfectly balanced toppings, and incredible flavor make them a must-order item. Lake Effect provides a high-quality dining and drink experience that makes it easy to recommend and even easier to return to. read more

My gf and I stumbled upon this place, as it was near our hotel. Super cute spot for food and drinks! The bar itself was beautiful, spanning across the back half of the restaurant. The drinks were great, they had good pours and tasted great too! And the potato flautas had the most amazing crunch. Service was quick and friendly, we appreciated being checked on quite a bit. Would recommend read more

Super cool place. I don't know SLC well, but I am willing to bet that this is the place where the cool kids go. Skyler was the best server on the planet and the nachos were epic ! read more

Lake Effect - Yes. I know. These are not the nachos. But they still rocked. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

I would fully suggest this place the vibe. It's amazing along with the cocktails and appetizers. read more

Lake Effect - I got the Wagyu skewers because Brian suggested them. He also made me this lovely dirty martini gave me four olives. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Nothing beats the Lake Effect nachos. Again, I repeat: NOTHING BEATS THE LAKE EFFECT NACHOS. These are the ultimate crowd pleaser, ESPECIALLY after including in LE delicious drinks. This bar has some of the best bar food in the city. My other favorite dish is the shrimp tacos. They are so good, I crave them. Love the food but stay for the nightlife. This place is always bumping on the weekends, you won't be disappointed you tried. read more

Lake Effect - Shrimp tacos, fries, and the chicken nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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A very enjoyable evening at Lake Effect last night enjoying the live entertainment provided by Lianna Jean who has just the most amazing voice! We had a couple of delicious cocktails, which never disappoint. Their cocktail selection and craftsmanship is top notch! The Wagyu skewer was slightly overdone (listed as medium rare) but the flavors were still delicious so we weren't too disappointed! We will definitely be back because this spot has the best vibe :) read more

Lake Effect - wagyu skewer - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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I wish I had better things to say about this place. The decor is really nice, but the table we were at was uneven and kept rocking. Our server was inattentive and after we had ordered two tapas he came over and asked if we were ready to go, while I was holding the menu. We order two more tapas to share and he neglected to tell us that one we had a choice of meat or mushrooms. We would have preferred the mushroom (and the dish had a v next to it which made us assume it was vegetarian without any accommodation's to the dish). It was a Thursday night so very loud with the live music. Food was good, although the characterize had some mushy grapes on it. read more

Lake Effect - Nachos, beans on the side - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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We had so much fun eating here and listening to the live music. The food was delicious and the artwork surrounding us was so nice to look at! The prices are competitive- a bit spendy, but we left happy, so it was worth it! Our server was so polite and just quirky enough to keep us entertained. I loved my cocktails and hubby, of course, loved his beers! read more

Lake Effect - Good tacos! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

I've been a few times. Big space with a huge creative menu. Friendly staff. Live music last time I visited. With that said, I've never really liked any of the cocktails I've had. They seem to match flavor wise the description. Perhaps it's just me. read more

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Did someone say speakeasy? I am checking it out. This spot is dark shabby chic. The countertops are concrete. Whoever decorated this; I need you at my house. I started civilized with the charcuterie board. Then I dove right into the lobster and shrimp skewers. Then I got this huge bottomless salad of arugula, feta and grapes. Everything was so fresh and delicious. I was there on a Tuesday night and they had live music. Fantastic atmosphere and wonderful food items. read more

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

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The Sunday brunch food was amazing! The live music made it even better! Service was stellar and the mimosas were delicious and lovely! Ambiance is moody, elegant and old world! Started the day off dancing! Every detail, Yasssss! read more

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This bar is always a great place to come and grab some great drinks, good food, and enjoy live music with friends or family. Thanks Lake Effect! read more

This was a block from my hotel. Great cocktails, live music and tremendous food. I wasn't expecting the size of the charcuterie board. Probably best for 2-4 people. No, I didnt eat the whole thing. Lol read more

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

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It's a beautiful restaurant, very classy and rustic! Service was excellent and I enjoyed the drink selections. They used lavender in my cocktail and I absolutely loved it. I had the lamb popsicles, and my friend had the Wagyu We just had tapas and enjoyed our time before going to a show! read more

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You can't really go wrong with Lake Effect. No matter the day or time, if they're open you'll be taken care of. Even their "late night" menu is well prepared and delicious. (I'll admit I would pay big money to have one of their amazing charcuterie boards on the late night menu...but I'll survive.) It's such a cozy feeling place even on the days it's packed and busy. You can find the right vibe for your needs anywhere. read more

Lake Effect - Snowed Inn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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This place is amazing. The best food, great ambiance, and I don't drink but the cocktails look incredible. The owners are awesome and the service is always friendly. read more

I will start by saying the vibe at Lake Effect is amazing. Our group of six stopped in for a drink while visiting Salt Lake City, and the atmosphere was fun and energetic. We paid cash for our first round of drinks, found a table behind the bar, and spent our time simply enjoying each other's company. When last call was announced, we went to order one final drink. At that point, a male bartender--who was not the bartender who had originally served us--approached us and refused service. He accused our group of leaving only a $2 tip on a $90 tab for five Bud Lights, stating that they work for tips and were not going to serve us. The problem was that this was clearly not our tab. Our group had ordered mixed drinks and one Bud Light, not five Bud Lights. We had also tipped cash, and it was certainly more than $2. Even if someone leaves a small tip, it was shocking to be denied service and publicly confronted over it. What made the situation even more frustrating was that the accusation was directed at the wrong group. We were not intoxicated, disruptive, or causing any issues. We were simply trying to order one last drink before leaving. I've never experienced treatment like this in the hospitality industry. It completely changed the tone of what had otherwise been a great night and left our group feeling embarrassed and unwelcome. The one bright spot was the bouncer, who was professional and apologetic on behalf of the bartender. Unfortunately, that was not enough to overcome the negative experience we had at the end of the evening. read more

I forgot to take pictures of the drinks I got but loved the bartenders and each drink! Truly staff was so nice and helpful and you could tell they enjoyed their job. We got the trashcan nachos and holy cow they were huge but really good would go back 10/10 read more

Lake Effect - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah