Water Witch SLC Named James Beard Finalist for Outstanding Bar

Once a hidden gem in Salt Lake’s Central 9th neighborhood, Water Witch has earned national recognition as a James Beard Award finalist in the Outstanding Bar category—putting Utah’s evolving cocktail scene on the map.

Ted Scheffler

April 11, 2025

Congratulations to the folks at Water Witch – the locals’ favorite bar has moved to the finals of the James Beard Awards in the Outstanding Bar category. Fellow finalist nominees include Kumiko (Chicago, IL), Scotch Lodge (Portland, OR), The Lovers Bar at Friday Saturday Sunday (Philadelphia, PA), and Wolf Tree (White River Junction, VT).

It wasn’t that long ago that Utah had private clubs to drink in. We sure have come a long way! Who’d have thought 20 years ago that a Utah bar would earn national recognition by a prestigious organization like the James Beard Foundation. Certainly not me.

One of Utah’s first craft cocktail destinations, Water Witch was created in 2016 by partners Sean Neves, Scott Gardner and Matt Pfohl, bringing vitality to the then barely existent Central 9th neighborhood. In 2023, Water Witch teamed with David Chon and his restaurant Nohm to create Bar Nohm, a now coveted dining and drink destination in SLC.

The winner for Outstanding Bar will be announced on June 16th at the James Beard Awards gala.

Food & Drink, Sips, Utah Bites, Utah Stories, Wine, Spirits and Beer

Ted Scheffler

Originally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine, and travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, music, and reading, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers. Ted is also the author of the Utah Bites newsletter, which is published in partnership with Utah Stories. Before moving to Utah, Ted lived in New York City, and numerous states in the US, as well as in various countries overseas, Spain, Japan, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. He earned a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from the Graduate Faculty of The New School for Social Research.