"A great cocktail bar with food that can go toe-to-toe with their drinks isn’t all that surprising these days, but how many times will you find one serving a sweet potato soup you can’t stop thinking about? That—and other dishes like thai coconut curry mussels and a delicious cashew-kimchi bowl—make Ivy & Varley stand out. Sip on the Enso with gin, shochu, and thai basil, or try the local rye Burnt Honey Old Fashioned while you wait for your snacks to arrive. Located near the Salt Palace Convention Center, this is the place to unwind after a boring conference on accounting software. If you value your hearing, snag an early reservation before the DJ starts playing at 8:30pm on weekends." - Jenny Willden