Utah’s bar ecosystem has seen plenty of growth over the past decade. This exciting period of evolution is thanks to several different factors—new talent looking to prove itself, passionate locals who believe in the community, and plenty of thirsty patrons who see Utah’s potential on the national field.
It was, is and will always be an uphill battle because of the state’s often restrictive liquor laws. But Utah’s growing presence in the national bar scene is a testament to the scrappy locals who have built a nightlife oasis in the middle of a legislative desert.
Among this gallery of enthusiastic local bar owners are Sean Neves and Scott Gardner, who founded Water Witch (163 W. 900 South) with bartender Matthew Pfohl in 2016. And this year, our friends at the Witch were among the finalists for Outstanding Bar at the prestigious James Beard Awards—a huge deal for anyone in the hospitality industry.
The James Beard Foundation seeks out and celebrates the country’s best restaurants, bars, bakeries and food media. And while Water Witch ultimately lost the top prize to the Chicago bar Kumiko, its inclusion as a finalist marked a historic first for Beehive State watering holes…