Entry No. 9 — the Salt Lake City file — filed under: speakeasy
The Rest (beneath Bodega)
You walk into what looks like a hot-dog counter called Bodega, and it is one — but through a phone-booth-sized space at the back, a staircase drops you into a subterranean hunting-lodge den lined with taxidermy, Victorian portraits, skulls, and shelves of books, with a bar program built around house-made bitters and small plates.
The story
From the sidewalk on Main Street, 331 South Main presents itself as Bodega: a casual tavern and hot-dog counter styled like an offbeat convenience storefront. You can order a hot dog up top and no one will question it, but the main operation sits directly under your feet. Slip past the counter to the back wall and you'll find a portal barely larger than a phone booth, concealing a staircase that drops straight into the basement.
Step off the bottom stair and the fluorescent street-level energy vanishes into a subterranean hunting-lodge den. The room is lined with Victorian portraits, mounted taxidermy, skulls, and floor-to-ceiling shelves of books. Behind the dark wood bar, the cocktail program revolves around house-made bitters and craft builds, complemented by a kitchen churning out small plates into the dimly lit, book-lined space.
What it's like
Walk into Bodega, ignore the temptation to stop at the counter, and make your way through the small back entryway down into the dark. Downstairs operates strictly by reservation, so attempting to walk in unannounced on a weekend night will leave you stuck upstairs. Book ahead, grab a casual hot dog at the counter first for the contrast, then head downstairs for craft drinks in a room that feels like a Victorian collector's private study.
The move: Grab a Bodega hot dog up top for the bit, then descend for a reservation-only tasting of craft cocktails in the book-lined library room downstairs.
- 📍 Downtown Salt Lake City
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 331 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Sayonara — Walk a block down Main Street to trade the taxidermy-and-books basement for a neon-lit Tokyo izakaya lined with anime prints.
- Repeal — Head two blocks north to continue a subterranean bar crawl in the basement of the historic Walker Center.
- The Rabbit Hole at Lake Effect — Head three blocks west to compare hunting-lodge darkness with a 1940s beatnik basement speakeasy.
Good to know
How do you access The Rest?
You enter through Bodega at 331 S Main Street, pass through a phone-booth-sized portal in the back, and take the staircase down into the basement.
Do I need a reservation to get downstairs?
Yes, seating in the subterranean bar and dining space requires a reservation.
What kind of food and drinks are served downstairs?
The Rest serves craft cocktails made with house-made bitters alongside creative small plates in a sit-down dining room.
What is the difference between Bodega and The Rest?
Bodega is the street-level tavern and hot-dog spot, while The Rest is the hidden, reservation-only speakeasy and restaurant located beneath it.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: saltlakemagazine.com · Official site · archive.sltrib.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20