Look at these fun people out having fun. And their little dog Toto too! You remember fun, right? You could be these people (dog optional). Photo by Natalie Simpson/Beehive Photography
We get it. You haven’t been north of 33rd South in a while (or maybe not even that far). Understandably. It’s reasonable to assume the construction will never end and to stay clear of the hard-hat-required zones. But apart from poor Sugar House, there seems to be a lull in the jackhammers—an eye of the storm before whatever comes next for the Salt Palace starts up—and for now, at least, the results of all those torn-up roads, one-lane diversions and orange cones are coming into focus.
Behold the Nine Line.
The Nine Line passes through old warehouses turned cafés, neighborhood bars with bike racks out front, public art, indie retail and some of the city’s most walkable and bikeable pockets stitched together by a protected east–west corridor. It’s nice because pedestrians and faster wheeled vehicles have separate lanes, which keeps strolling walkers out of the way of speedier travelers. The line starts in the east at 9th & 9th below the Whale and continues through Central Ninth and all the way out to the Jordan River Trail. The “meat” of the path is between 1100 East and 400 West, where the trail passes The Water Witch and runs through 9th & 9th, Central Ninth and the rapidly changing Granary District edge.
1100 East to 500 East
9th & 9th → Liberty Wells
This stretch is the most residential and walkable part of the route, defined by independent retail, cafés, neighborhood institutions and, of course, Liberty Park.
Coffee + Casual Stops (East to West)
Normal Ice Cream (169 E. 900 South, normal.club) — A playful ice cream shop with a devoted fan following, known for inventive flavors and soft-serve textures that shift seasonally. Expect a line.
Cahoots Cards & Gifts (878 E. 900 South, cahootscards.com) — A bright, LGBTQ+ forward gift shop packed with clever cards, ribald humor and small, giftable objects. There’s an adults-only section in the back that sells, well, things adults might want.
The Stockist (875 E. 900 South, thestockistshop.com) — This trend-importing boutique blends home goods, apparel, books and objects d’art.
Hip & Humble (908 E. 900 South, hipandhumble.com) — A polished lifestyle shop focused on candles, bath goods and understated home décor. It leans modern mountain aesthetic without feeling overly curated.
Salt & Honey Market (926 E. 900 South, saltandhoneymarket.com) — A collective retail space showcasing Utah makers, artists and small-batch goods. It functions like a rotating gallery of local craft culture.
Loki Coffee (325 E. 900 South, lokicoffeeco.com) — A modern specialty coffee shop with a clean, design-forward interior and a dialed-up espresso program.
Randy’s Records (157 E. 900 South, randysrecords.com) — The most important music shop in the region. It’s a place stuck in time—specifically the 1970s—with brown wood paneling and wall-to-wall records. Randy’s also sells used stereo equipment and audio accessories.
Recommended Food + Drinks (East to West)
Pago (878 S. 900 East, pagoslc.com) — One of the first-wave Utah restaurants to truly walk its talk on local sourcing. Scott Evans’ Pago remains a solid recommendation for its wine list and seasonal menu.
East Liberty Tap House (850 E. 900 South, eastlibertytaphouse.com) — A casual beer-forward gastropub with a wide tap list and easygoing neighborhood energy. It’s especially good for groups splitting plates after a long walk or ride.
Tulie Bakery (863 E. 700 South, tuliebakery.com) — A French-inspired bakery known for croissants, tarts and one of the best pastry programs in the city. It’s a slight detour north (about two blocks), but a worthwhile morning add-on.
500 East to 400 West
Central Ninth → Granary Edge
This is where the Nine Line becomes more urban and industrial: breweries, murals, adaptive reuse buildings and denser food and drink options.
Coffee + Casual Stops (East to West)
Goat Head (702 S. 300 East, slcgoathead.com) — A café-bistro hybrid serving strong coffee alongside full brunch and lunch plates. It’s a good mid-route reset point when you want something more substantial than espresso alone.
Blue Copper Coffee Room (179 W. 900 South, bluecopperslc.com) — One of Salt Lake’s respected specialty coffee operations, with a minimalist bike-friendly space.
Restaurants (East to West)
Mina Ristorante Siciliano (439 E. 900 South, minaslc.com) — A Sicilian-focused offshoot of Mateo’s Ristorante Italiano known for handmade pasta and coastal Italian flavors.
Bar Nohm (165 E. 900 South, barnohm.com) — A moody Japanese-inspired restaurant emphasizing small plates and cocktails, crafted by the cocktail wizards at Water Witch. The atmosphere shifts from daytime corridor energy into something more intimate at night.
Laziz Kitchen (912 S. Jefferson St., lazizkitchen.com) — Lebanese-inspired cuisine with bright herb-forward dishes and one of the best patios in Central Ninth. It’s a reliable lunch or early dinner stop with plenty of vegetarian options.
Central 9th Market (368 S. 200 West, central9thmarket.com) — A hybrid neighborhood market, wine shop and sandwich counter. Use it as a picnic supply stop or a quick casual lunch.
Beer + Cocktails (East to West)
Water Witch (163 W. 900 South, waterwitchbar.com) — This James Beard-nominated cocktail bar still retains the cocktail crown in SLC. A true neighborhood bar, deliberately small, it is a place to see and be seen in the crowd jockeying for the attention of its mixologists. You can order small bites from the connected, equally hip restaurant, Bar Nohm.
Fisher Brewing Co. (320 W. 800 South, fisherbeer.com) — A tap room rooted in Salt Lake’s brewing history, which goes back further than you think. It’s strong on lagers and easy-drinking styles with the easiest-going patio in Salt Lake.
TF Brewing (936 S. 300 West, tfbrewing.com) — These guys are making the best beer in town. They are emphatically followers of the German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) and craft beers in the western brewing tradition. One of Utah’s buzziest restaurants, Cosmica, is across the street (as is Trails strip club).
Additional Browsing
Capital City Antique Mall (959 S. West Temple, capitalcityantiquemall.com) — A sprawling antique warehouse filled with vintage furniture, Western Americana and collectibles. It’s best experienced with time to wander rather than a quick visit.
Editor’s Picks (from East to West)
Coffee Garden → Pago → The Stockist → Cahoots → Salt & Honey → Hip & Humble → Randy’s Records → Loki Coffee → Normal Ice Cream → Goat Head → Laziz Kitchen → Blue Copper Coffee Room → Water Witch → Fisher Brewing → TF Brewing
