Bar Fly ACME BAR IS AN ESCAPIST’S PARADISE

A spirited island paradise that took over the former Campfire Lounge has shaken up Sugar House’s bar scene and awakened the imagination of Utah drinkers

BY AVREY EVANS

WHEN SAM MILLER AND MIKEY ED -

WARDS came to Salt Lake a few years back, they had a vision for a new kind of nightlife experience. Using their combined experience working in tiki bars in San Francisco and Paris, the pair set out to enlighten Utah drinkers of their vanilla ways. Of course, we weren’t completely blind to the ways of tiki cocktails, but our notions of overlysweet libations with Red Dye 40 were in dire need of an update. Miller and Edwards began hosting an educational series at Caputo’s called “Island Time,” which invited guests to learn tiki recipes and history. Apart from their classes, the duo could also be found slinging Frozen Daiquiris and Mai Tais at Water Witch. Sipping their tropical creations, the city embraced an island state of mind with open arms—but we wanted more.

In October of 2022, Miller and Edwards jumped at the chance to purchase the former Campfire Lounge in Sugar House. Partnering up with Water Witch’s Sean Neves and Scott Gardner, the group’s tropical vision began to take shape. “When we saw the space, we knew it was a cool funky building with good bones,” Miller recalls. “If you squint, you would see that it could be an immersive space that just needed some love and TLC.” With the holidays fast-approaching, the team sprung into action and wrapped the space head-to-toe in Christmas lights and ordered as much rum as their shelves would hold. The sudden flurry of activity caught a lot of attention, and Utahns’ curiosity peaked as the rundown watering hole turned into a full-blown Christmas fantasy. “Season’s Drinkings” was here. “I think it was way more successful than any of us imagined it would be,” says Miller. “We opened the doors with 100 people in line and they kept coming non-stop.”

“Season’s Drinkings” could not have been a better introduction for ACME, but what was next? Following their holiday takeover, Miller and Edwards once again converted the space into an ephemeral concept called Suckerfish. Featuring sea creature decor, tropical sips and a small selection of bites by Nohm’s chef David Chon, the bar continued to satiate our growing penchant for tiki. At its core, Miller wants ACME to be a neighborhood tiki bar that gives guests an immersive experience. “The main ethos of Tiki is escapism, transporting you to another place and helping you forget what’s going on in the real world.” The ACME group extends that same promise of escapism to industry members, who are invited to step outside of their normal day-to-day routine and host takeovers at ACME. “Bartender exchanges were really something I wanted to bring to Salt Lake to elevate the bar culture here,” Miller explains. ACME will remain an escapist’s paradise, but bargoers will soon have to bid adieu to the incandescent decor and lingering remnants of log cabin guise. A major renovation will take place sometime late May into June, and the owners have tall design orders. Starting with the 2,500 square foot patio, the ACME group wants to immerse guests in a modern tiki lounge. “We’re going to build each area into its own feeling and vibe,” Miller explains. “Entering the main bar will be our big tropical escape with palapa thatched roofs, fog machines, fire shows—sensory overload.” In the bar’s side room, guests will be transported to a darker, more demonic side of island life. “Think, ‘catacombs in France.’” Another important design detail, the bar won’t be relying on appropriated pacific islander culture to get the message of tiki across. “You don’t need to display carvings of a Polynesian or Maori deity to make it a tiki bar,” Edwards adds. “We want to bring Tiki into the modern lens and focus on the main ethos of Tiki—escapism.”

The renovation won’t be a small feat, but out of the ashes will no-doubt rise a welcome piece of island paradise.

If You Go

AC

225 W. 200 South, SLC, 385-7229600. ac-hotels.marriott.com. The Eurostyled hotel has a chic lobby bar and a secret menu of drinks inspired by movies filmed in Utah, like Dumb and Dumber and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Acme Bar Co.– 837 E. 2100 South, 801-467-3325. acmebarcompany.com

The Sugar House neighborhood now has a high-concept, pop-up, seasonal cocktail bar. While the theme and menus are ever-evolving, it is always a good time with tiki-centric drinks.

The Aerie –9320 Cliff Lodge Dr. Ste. 88, Snowbird Resort, 801-933-2160. snowbird.com. Floor-to-ceiling windows mean drinkers can marvel at nature’s handiwork while feasting from the sushi bar. The menu is global with live music some nights.

Alibi Bar & Place – 369 S. Main St., SLC, 385-259-0616. alibislc.com. Located along SLC’s bar line on Main Street, Alibi has a sleek, hip vibe and is generally filled with happy hipsters, especially when they have theme nights.

Back Door On Edison–152

E. 200 South, SLC, 385-267-1161. backdoorslc.com. This watering hole from the owners of Laziz Kitchen serves Lebaneseinspired bar bites and has a promising cocktail menu. Try the Oaxacan Old Fashioned along with the dip sampler.

Bar X–155 E. 200 South, SLC, 801355-2287. barxslc.com. This was the vanguard of Salt Lake’s new cocktail movement, serving classic drinks and creative inventions behind the best electric sign in the city.

Beer Bar–161 E. 200 South, SLC, 385-259-0905. beerbarslc.com. Ty Burrell, star of ABC’s small-screen hit Modern Family, co-owns Beer Bar, which is right next to Bar X. It’s noisy, there’s no table service, but there are 140+ brews to choose from, plus 13 kinds of wurst.

The Bayou– 645 S. State St., SLC, 801-961-8400. utahbayou.com. This is Beervana, with 260 bottled beers and 32 on draft. The kitchen turns out artichoke pizza and deep-fried Cornish game hens.

Beerhive Pub –128 S. Main St., SLC, 801-364-4268. @beerhive_pub More than 200 beers —domestic, imported and local—with a long ice rail to keep the brew cold, the way Americans like ’em, are the outstanding features of this cozy downtown pub.

The Black Sheep Bar & Grill–1400 S. Foothill Drive #166, SLC, 801-877-9350; 1520 W. 9000 South Ste. C, West Jordan, 801-566-2561. theblacksheepbarandgrills.com. A friendly neighborhood sports bar with a homemade American menu, 14 TVs and events almost nightly. It’s a fun place to hang with friends or cheer on your favorite team.

BTG Wine Bar– 404 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-359-2814. btgwinebar.com

BTG stands for “By the Glass” and though BTG serves craft cocktails, specialty beer and good food, the pièces de résistance are the more than 50 wines by the glass. Order a tasting portion or a full glass.

Casot Wine + Work–1508 S. 1500 East, SLC. 801-441-2873. casotwinework.com. In a town with a dearth of neighborhood bars and bars that want to be neighborhood bars but for a lack of location in an actual neighborhood, Casot is the real deal. Located in the established 15th and 15th hood, this small wine bar is a welcome addition featuring a Spanish forward list from Pago’s Scott Evans.

Contribution Cocktail

Lounge –170 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-596-1234. For an escape from the hustle of downtown, pop into the Salt Lake City Hyatt Regency hotel’s cocktail lounge, to enjoy a small bite or a drink from the thoughtful cocktail menu.

Copper Common–

111 E. Broadway #190, SLC, 801-355-0543. coppercommon.com. Copper Common is a real bar—that means you don’t actually have to order food if you don’t want to. But on the other hand, why wouldn’t you want to? This bar has a real chef.

The Cotton Bottom–2820 E. 6200 South, Holladay, 801-849-8847. thecottonbottom.com. Remember when this was a ski bum’s town? The garlic burger and a beer is what you order.

Craft By Proper–1053 E. 2100 South, SLC, 385-242-7186. craftbyproper. com. Another offering from Proper Brewing, Craft is a beer snob’s dream, serving up local-only beers. You can check their rotating “On Tap” list to see if they’re pouring your favorite, and the glass coolers behind the bar are stocked full of canned and bottled options.

Dick n’ Dixie’s – 479 E. 300 South, SLC, 801-994-6919. @dickndixies. The classic corner beer bar where cronies of all kinds gather regularly to watch sports, talk politics and generally gossip about the city and nothing in particular.

East Liberty Tap House – 850 E. 900 South, SLC, 801441-2845. eastlibertytaphouse.com. Half a dozen beers on draft and 20 or more by the bottle, and the rotation changes constantly. The menu does clever takes on bar food classics.

Eight Settlers

Distillery–7321 Canyon Centre Pkwy., Cottonwood Heights, 385-9004315. eightsettlersdistillery.com. The distillery is entrenched in and inspired by the history of the Cottonwood Heights area and so are the spirits. Take home a bottle from the store or stay and enjoy a taste of the past at the themed, on-site restaurant.

Flanker– 6 N. Rio Grande, The Gateway, SLC, 801-683-7070. flankerslc.com. A little bit sports bar, a little bit nightclub and a little bit entertainment venue, with a parlor and bowling alley, private karaoke rooms and a golf simulator.

Franklin Avenue –231 S. Edison Street, SLC, 385-831-7560. franklinaveslc.com. A swanky restaurant and bar by the minds of Bourbon Group. The food is multicultural fusion with roots in modern American. Housemade pasta, seasonal veggies and Asian-inspired dishes are served alongside a diverse cocktail menu—and a wall-to-wall selection of whiskies.

High West Saloon–703 Park Ave., Park City, 435-649-8300. highwest.com. The bartenders at Utah’s award-winning distillery concoct different cocktail menus for every season focusing on High West’s spirits, although the bar stocks other alcohol.

Hive 435 Taphouse – 61 W. St. George Blvd, St. George, 435-6198435. hive435taphouse.com. Providing a service to the St. George nightlife scene, Hive 435 also serves up live entertainment, gourmet pizza, sandwiches and favorite cocktails.

Ice Haus –7 E. 4800 South, Murray, 801-266-2127. icehausbar.com

Ice Haus has everything you need from a neighborhood bar and a purveyor of German cuisine: a wide selection of pub fare and plenty of seating in the beer-hall inspired location. The menu has a strong number of vegan options.

Lake Effect –155 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-532-2068. lakeeffectslc. com. An eclectic bar and lounge with a fine wine list and full menu. Live music many nights; open until 1 a.m.

Post Office Place –16 W. Market St., SLC, 801-519-9595. popslc. com. Post Office offers craft cocktails, multicultural small plates and the largest selection of Japanese whisky in the state. Ask for a “special delivery” if you’re up for a boozy adventure.

Quarters Arcade Bar– 5 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-477-7047; 1045 E. 2100 South, SLC. quartersslc.com

Nostalgic for all those Gen Xers and gamer geeks, Quarters features retro gaming pinball and a game called Killer Queen. Drink a sling—or order a La Croix with a shot poured into the can.

Rabbit Hole –155 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-532-2068. lakeeffectslc.com

Downstairs in Lake Effect, the gaslit Rabbit Hole takes you to a different time, especially on Wednesday nights which are devoted to jazz. The Rabbit is a real listening room—you don’t talk over or under the music. This rare respect and a top notch bar makes this a very unusual hare.

Garage

1199 N. Beck St., SLC, 801-521-3904. garageonbeck.com

Everyone compares it to an Austin bar. Live music, good food and the rockingest patio in town. Try the Chihuahua, a chile-heated riff on a margarita.

The Gibson Lounge

555 S. Main St., SLC, 801-258-6000. grandamerica.com. Grand America’s inimitable style is translated into a cushy but unstuffy bar, the antithesis of the current hipster style. You can actually wear a cocktail dress to this cocktail bar.

Good Grammar– 69 E. Gallivan Ave., SLC, 385-415-5002. goodgrammar.bar. The crowds playing Jenga on the patio, the decor, full of pop celebs and heroes, and a soundtrack of eclectic old- and alt-rock, makes a space that bridges old and young imbibers.

Gracie’s – 326 S. West Temple, SLC, 801-819-7565. graciesslc.com

Play pool, throw darts, listen to live music, kill beer and time on the patio and upstairs deck. Plus, Gracie’s is a gastropub.

Green Pig– 31 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-532-7441. thegreenpigpub.com

Green Pig is a pub of a different color. The owners use eco-friendly materials and sustainable kitchen practices. The menu star is the chili verde nachos with big pork chunks and cheese.

Laurel Brasserie & Bar–555 S. Main St., SLC, 801-258-6708. laurelslc.com. Laurel Brasserie & Bar’s food focuses on classic European cuisine with an American approach. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the real star is the Happy Hour menu with items like Pumpkin Arancini and The Smokey Paloma cocktail.

Oyster Bar– 48 W. Market St., SLC, 801-322-4668. marketstreetgrill. com. The nightlife side of Market Street seafood restaurant, the Oyster Bar has an is a place to begin or end an evening, with an award-winning martini and a dozen oysters—half price on Mondays.

The Pearl–917 S. 200 West, SLC. @thepearlslc. The Pearl is a hip space serving craft cocktails and Vietnamese street food, conceived by the same minds behind Alibi Bar. The menu has items like banh mi sandwiches, caramel pork belly and chicken pho.

The Pines– 837 S. Main St., SLC, 801-906-8418. @thepines.slc. From the owners of Dick N’ Dixie’s, The Pines is an elevated neighborhood bar with a cool interior and even cooler bartenders. Stop by to taste their solid range of brews, or visit the bar on a weekend for a new wave discotheque.

Scion Cider Bar–916 Jefferson St., SLC. scionciderbar.com. Cider has often taken a back seat to its more prevalent siblings, wine and beer, but not at Scion. It’s another soon-to-be favorite bar in the Central Ninth with a wide variety of 20 hard ciders on tap.

Seabird Bar & Vinyl

Room–7 S. Rio Grande, The Gateway, SLC, 801-456-1223. seabirdutah. com. Great little locally owned bar in the Gateway with great views, a fun little patio, friendly bartenders and more style than the place can hold.

The Rest and Bodega – 331 S. Main St., SLC, 801-532-4452. bodegaslc.com. The neon sign says “Bodega;” drink a beer in the phone booth–sized front or head downstairs to the The Rest. Order a cocktail, settle into the apparently bomb-proof booklined library, or take a booth and sit at the bar.

The Shooting Star–7350 E. 200 South, Huntsville, 801-745-2002. shooting-starsaloon.business.site. More than a century old, this is gen-you-wine Old West. The walls are adorned with moose heads and a stuffed St. Bernard. Good luck finishing your Star Burger.

Varley– 63 W. 100 South, SLC, 801203-4124. varleyslc.com. A craft cocktail bar and lounge situated right next to its companion restaurant The Ivy. The modern aesthetic pairs well with a classic cocktail and conversation.

The Vault bambara-slc.com/the-vault. A quintessential hotel bar, with big windows overlooking pedestrian traffic. Special cocktails may be themed to what’s on stage across the street at Capitol Theatre.

202 S. Main St., SLC, 801-363-5454.

Wakara Bar– 480 Wakara Way, SLC, 801-581-1000. One of the few bars on the west bench, Wakara serves craft cocktails and hosts live music, trivia nights, liquor education and even, occasionally, drag queens.

Water Witch–163 W. 900 South, SLC, 801-462-0967. waterwitchbar.com. Three of Utah’s leading bartenders join forces in this charming tiny bar. Whether you want a classic drink, a draft or glass of wine, or a cocktail custom-designed to your taste, this is the place to belly up.

Whiskey Street – 323 S. Main St., SLC, 801-433-1371. whiskeystreet. com. This stretch of Main was once dubbed “Whiskey Street” because it was lined with so many pubs and bars. A 42-foot-long cherry wood bar encourages you to bend the elbow.

Why KiKi– 69 W. 100 South, SLC, 801-641-6115. whykikibar.com

A tropical beach-themed club to get away at with a fruity drink in a tiki glass (or bowl!) or shake it on the dance floor. Don’t miss Taco Tuesday or the regular drag shows.

Zest Kitchen & Bar–275 S. 200 West, SLC, 801-433-0589. zestslc.com. Zest offers hand-crafted fresh juice cocktails with the same emphasis on local and organic ingredients as the food—try an original concoction like the Straw-bubbly Lavender Martini.

Beers & Brews

Bohemian Brewery–94 E. 7200 South, Midvale, 801-566-5474. bohemianbrewery.com. Enjoy the lagers beloved by Bohemian’s owners’ Czech forebears, following the ancient Reinheitsgbot or German Purity Law.

Bewilder Brewing– 445 S. 400 West, SLC, 385-528-3840. bewilderbrewing.com. In a building decked out with an awesome Trent Call mural, Bewilder Brewing set up shop next to the bygone nightclub Area 51. Try the house-made sausages and a beer list that skews toward traditional German styles.