There are brewpubs, and then there are institutions. Squatters Pub Brewery, tucked into a handsome brick building in downtown Salt Lake City, has been pouring locally crafted beer and feeding hungry locals since 1989 — making it one of the oldest and most beloved craft breweries in the entire state of Utah. If you haven’t made the pilgrimage yet, consider this your formal invitation.
The moment you push open the door on West Broadway, you feel it: the warm hum of a room that has been well-loved for decades. The exposed brick, the worn wooden bar, the amber glow of pint glasses lined up and ready — it all adds up to a place that feels genuinely lived-in rather than manufactured for Instagram. Squatters doesn’t try to be trendy. It simply is, and that confidence is its own kind of charm.
Start with a flight of beers and let the bartenders walk you through what’s on tap. The Full Suspension Pale Ale is a perennial crowd-pleaser — crisp, citrusy, and approachable enough to win over anyone who claims they don’t like craft beer. The Chasing Tail Golden Ale is another favorite, light and smooth with just enough character to hold your attention. Seasonals rotate throughout the year, so there’s always a reason to come back. In the colder months, keep an eye out for their richer, malt-forward offerings that pair beautifully with the kind of cold Utah night that makes you grateful for an indoor barstool.
The food menu is far more serious than your average brewpub spread. The kitchen leans into hearty, satisfying American fare done with care. The burgers are genuinely excellent — properly seasoned, cooked to order, and served with fries that disappear faster than you’d like to admit. The green chile pork stew has built a quiet, loyal following over the years, and for good reason. It’s the kind of dish that tastes like someone’s grandmother figured out the recipe and the restaurant was smart enough to put it on the menu permanently.
Beyond the food and drink, Squatters carries a certain civic pride that’s hard to manufacture. This is a place that grew up alongside Salt Lake City’s evolving food and drink culture. It helped prove, back when Utah’s liquor laws were even more complicated than they are today, that a world-class brewing scene could take root here. That pioneering spirit still runs through the place.
The location on West Broadway puts you squarely in the middle of downtown, close to the Capitol Theatre, the Eccles Theater, and a dozen other reasons to make a night of it. Grab dinner before a show, or settle in after and let the evening stretch out over another pint. Either way, Squatters rewards the unhurried visitor.
Whether you’re a craft beer devotee or simply someone who appreciates a well-made meal in a room with real history, Squatters Pub Brewery delivers the kind of evening that makes you feel like a local — even if you only just arrived.
