Entry No. 22 — the Salt Lake City file — filed under: immersive-theme
Sayonara
Décor was brought over directly from Japan to build a Tokyo izakaya inside a Salt Lake storefront: neon shop signs, an entire wall of anime prints, enclosed booths lit in neon, and projected anime scenes on the walls, poured alongside Japanese microbrews and cocktails rather than the usual American bar menu.
The story
State Street isn't usually where you go to lose your sense of geography, but step into Suite 150 and the downtown grid dissolves immediately. The space was constructed using interior materials and decor shipped directly from Japan, replicating the tight, neon-drenched footprint of a Tokyo izakaya right inside a Salt Lake storefront.
Instead of standard sports bar screens or generic booth seating, the interior is framed with glowing Japanese shop signage, a dense wall of anime prints, and secluded booth nooks washed in electric neon. Anime scenes project continuously onto the walls while the bar pours highballs, sake, Japanese microbrews, and custom cocktails alongside a menu of small bites and ramen.
What it's like
You'll need a valid 21+ ID at the door before stepping into the neon gloom. Go early in the evening Tuesday through Sunday if you intend to secure one of the enclosed booth nooks before the post-dinner crowd fills the room. Once settled inside, order a Japanese highball or microbrew alongside a bowl of ramen, sit back under the flickering anime projections, and forget that State Street is sitting right outside.
The move: Claim one of the enclosed neon booths, order a round of Japanese microbrews, and let the projected anime on the walls run while you work through the small-plates menu.
- 📍 Downtown Salt Lake City
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 324 S State St Suite 150, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Rest (beneath Bodega) — Follow up Tokyo neon by stepping through a hot-dog counter's phone booth into a subterranean cocktail den just a block away.
- Repeal — Trade the glow of Japanese street signs for a 1920s jazz lounge hidden in the Walker Center basement two blocks over.
- Brewvies Cinema Pub — Pair Japanese highballs and projected anime with a late-night cult film and a pitcher down State Street at this 21+ movie house.
Good to know
Where is Sayonara located?
It is located at 324 S State St, Suite 150, in downtown Salt Lake City.
Is there an age restriction?
Yes, Sayonara is strictly a 21-and-over venue.
What are the hours of operation?
Sayonara is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM, and closed on Mondays.
What kind of food and drink can I order?
The bar serves Japanese microbrews, sake, highballs, spirits, and cocktails, alongside Japanese ramen and assorted bar bites.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · saltlakemagazine.com · Instagram · Yelp
last checked: 2026-07-20