Finca, a spanish tapas bar in Sugar House, lays claim to Scott Gardner, the best mixologist in Salt Lake City according to the local authority, Salt Lake Magazine. Known for his connection with cocktails from a bygone era, Scott serves up a few complex pre-prohibition-era classics like the Clover Club (gin, lemon juice, house grenadine and an egg white) or a simple shot of a Van Winkle 12-year. But don't limit him to what's on the menu.

When you need a quick bite before heading to the Eccles Theater, stop by Finca Pintxos for rounds of tapas and Spanish wine. They have the usual suspects like pan con tomate and patatas bravas, but we recommend kicking things off with the wood-roasted mushrooms or cauliflower. The best small plate is the shrimp swimming in a broth made of brandy and garlic, which is so good you’d happily jump into an actual ocean of it.

There's Korean and Japanese-inspired bites at Nohm, Spanish tapas at Finca, and even Taiwanese, Ethiopian, and Polynesian cuisines to be found. But perhaps most surprising is the sheer volume of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Salt Lake City. Veg-heads are covered for breakfast at Vertical Diner, lunches at Bud's Sandwich Shop, dinner at Zest, and even dessert at the “anti-dairy” Monkeywrench.

In true Female Foodie fashion, this guide is written and ranked by restaurant quality (that means the food!), but at Finca you can have your cake and eat it too because not only is their Spanish menu laced with delectable things to eat, but their patio is truly one of the most beautiful in Salt Lake City. The gates and entire outdoor dining area are adorned with ivy and green plants galore, which makes this outdoor dining experience one of the best in town. Order the croquetas or Spanish tortilla for appetizers, the Moroccan lamb skewers for our favorite tapa, and never leave Finca without indulging in an order (or two) of their life-changing, homemade cinnamon sugar churros with a chocolate dipping sauce that’s simply to die for.

Restaurateur Scott Evans and his team at Finca Pintxos Bar will host a special Valentine’s Day Dinner with beverage pairings on February 14th, priced at $50/food; $40/wine, plus tax and 20% gratuity. Pintxos for the table include ajo bianco, peppadew, and tortilla Española paired with a Basque Gin Tonic, followed by a choice of Tapas de Vegetales: ensalada naranja, patatas bravas, coliflor, or tosta de setas, paired with Barbara Fores ‘Abria’t’ ‘21. A tapas de mariscos y tapas de carne course will be a choice of gambas or vieras paired with Ca N’ Estruc Blanc ‘22 or cerdo or fabada paired with Pasanau ‘Ceps Nous’ ‘19.

Finca is Salt Lake’s flagbearer for Spanish tapas, which may well be the ideal late night food. After all, it’s the ultimate small plate meal, easy to share, and easy to order more if appetites are larger. There are more than two dozen choices at Finca, from Fideos (toasted noodles clams, chorizo, crispy artichokes, sherry cream, lemon) to Piquillo’s (braised beef, stuffed in piquillo peppers), Pato (duck breast, fresh figs, black pepper honey, pistachio-mint pistou) to Camote (harrisa glazed yams, cardamom yogurt, pickled candied walnuts), not to mention a deep list of Spanish wines.

Here’s a neighborly look at how to approach the artistic and culinary developments of the city: Ninth and 9th was the first pocket of SLC to offer such amenities as an art-house film center and eating venues within walking distance, such as Pago (whose sommelier started his own line of natural wines — edgier cousins of conventional wine), or its sister restaurant Finca, with a gorgeous sherry-based cocktail menu and Spanish food. Mazza boasts sumptuous fixtures, mosaics and flavors straight from Lebanon.

We are honored to be included in this year’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards,” says Scott Evans, Founder and President of Pago Restaurant Group that has two restaurants, Pago and Finca, on the list. “In years past, we were surprised to see so few independently owned and operated restaurants on the list, and we wanted to help represent those independent restaurants that are a big part of the wine community and continue to celebrate the growing wine interest in Utah.

When you need a quick bite before heading to the Eccles Theater, stop by Finca Pintxos for rounds of tapas and Spanish wine. They have the usual suspects like pan con tomate and patatas bravas, but you’ll want to kick things off with the wood-roasted mushrooms or cauliflower. The best small plate is the shrimp swimming in a broth made of brandy and garlic, which is so good you’d happily jump into an actual ocean of it.

Finca: What was once Trestle Tavern (and, before that, Fresco), is now officially home to Finca, and this patio is more than ripe for small plates and a good glass of wine. Ivy-lined and well-lit, Scott Evans and Co. made a conscious decision to keep all the charm of the previous restaurant when they updated. As a result, the outdoor space is the perfect accoutrement to your romantic dinner.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of traveling across international borders, then let this Spanish haven fill in the blanks for you. They use local farms and artisans throughout Utah to take their creations to the next level. But along with their extraordinary menu, you’ll find an enticing bar filled with some of the best and most balanced cocktails in town.

From the dramatic dark floral wallpaper to the Spanish-inspired menu, Finca sets the scene for an evening of amor (pictured above). The elegant, moody space features two private dining rooms; Jerez seats 24 and Rioja seats 32. The full restaurant and bar can also be rented for larger parties of about 200 guests.

Foodies will fall in love with Finca’s moody and flowery aesthetic!. The leather-backed chairs, a beautiful bar, and curtained booths take you into another century. Take photos of a table loaded down with Spanish tapas, or pose with a craft cocktail in hand.

Finca serves excellent Spanish food in Salt Lake City serving pintxos and tapas. Start with the tosta de boquerone (toast with white anchovies), Jamon Serrano, or the patatas bravas. Other signature dishes include croquetas or the Moroccan lamb skewers.

Finca is an absolutely beautiful restaurant with multiple dining spaces that feel glamorous and romantic, providing that gorgeous glow for a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception.

A post shared by Salt Plate City | Lala & Ryan (@saltplatecity) on Jul 2, 2020 at 3:30pm PDT. Neighborhood: 15th & 15th. Address: 1513 S 1500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84105

For a more peaceful dining experience, head to Finca for an evening of exquisite Spanish tapas and an exclusive Spanish wine list in a stylish setting.

They can have the same complexity as a main course, just a smaller size," said Scott Evans, owner of Finca and Pago, both of which serve small plates.