Best Bars and Breweries in Moab, Utah
Moab has a way of making you thirsty. Maybe it’s the red dust in your teeth after a ride on Slickrock, the heat that lingers after hiking Arches National Park, or the cool rush from paddling the Colorado River. Whatever your day looks like here, it usually ends the same way grinning, sunburned, and ready for a cold drink.
This is your complete local guide to the best bars and breweries in Moab, Utah. Where to go, what to order, and how to enjoy them like someone who actually lives here.
At a Glance
Best for: Post-hike beers, riverside happy hours, local brews, and smoky BBQ plates
Vibe: Friendly, unpretentious, adventure-worn crowd
Don’t Miss: Dead Horse Amber at Moab Brewery, lavender cocktails at Birdy’s, and live blues at The Blu Pig
Good to Know: Utah’s beer laws cap most draft beers at 5 % ABV—so brewers focus on flavor, not firepower
Best Time: Spring and fall evenings, when the light hits the cliffs and patios glow
Why Drinks After the Trail Taste Better in Moab
Moab’s bars and breweries are where the day unclenches—dust settles, shoulders drop, and the first cold sip rewires you from canyon mode back to human. The menus here are built for trail legs and river appetites: crisp lagers, balanced Utah session ales, smoky proteins, bright citrus cocktails, and patios that look straight at the cliffs. That combination is why an ordinary pint feels extraordinary in this town.
Trail to Table Insight: Order water with your first round and eat early; desert thirst is sneaky and the 5–7 pm window fills fast.
What to Expect
Most of Moab’s watering holes double as restaurants. You’ll find smoked brisket, burgers dripping with local sauce, and wood-fired pizza that can silence a hiker’s hunger in two bites. Patios dominate, and almost all of them face red rock. When the sun drops behind the cliffs and your glass catches the last light, you’ll understand why locals never rush dinner.
The Best Bars and Breweries in Moab, Utah
Here’s where locals actually go when the trails are done and the stars come out.
1. Moab Brewery
Where: 686 S Main St
Order: Dead Horse Amber, Johnny’s IPA, Brewmaster Burger
Moab’s original brewpub pairs a deep tap list with hearty plates and a lively patio. They also pour cocktails made with Moab Distillery spirits from the same address.
Trail to Table Insight: Ask for a taster flight before you commit—your palate changes after a long, hot hike.
2. Proper Brewing Co. – Moab
Where: 1393 US-191 (north end of town)
Order: Proper Beer lager, seasonal gose or pale, Proper Burger
A clean, modern taproom with 20 taps and burger-shop comfort food that hits after big miles.
Trail to Table Insight: Pair a salty burger with a lager if you’ve been on the river all day.
3. Woody’s Tavern
Where: 221 S Main St
Order: Classic lager, wings, nachos
Moab’s classic dive—pool tables, live music on weekends, and a no-frills good time.
Trail to Table Insight: Go late after the dinner rush—you’ll meet guides and climbers swapping beta.
4. The Blu Pig & Blu Bar
Where: 811 S Main St
Order: Brisket Plate, local drafts, Smoked Old Fashioned
Part BBQ joint, part blues bar. The smell of hickory smoke mixes with guitar riffs almost every night.
Trail to Table Insight: Sit on the patio for golden hour; guitars + canyon light = peak Moab.
5. Birdy’s Finer Diner
Where: 989 N Hwy 191
Order: House cocktail, Wagyu burger, burrata starter
A mid-century-modern “finer diner” with a legit bar program—great for cleaning up a bit after dusty adventures.
Trail to Table Insight: Book a later table and linger; the room glows warm against the desert dusk.
6. Josie Wyatt’s Grille (at Hoodoo Moab)
Where: 111 N 100 W
Order: Prime rib, truffle fries, bourbon cocktail
Moab’s refined side—modern steakhouse atmosphere and a lively bar. Perfect for celebrating a big canyon day.
Trail to Table Insight: Bourbon + red meat after Canyonlands = flawless finish.
7. Zax Restaurant & Watering Hole
Where: 96 S Main St
Order: Draft beer flight, BBQ chicken pizza, salad bar
A downtown staple mixing family-friendly meals with a solid tap list and rooftop seating.
Trail to Table Insight: Rooftop tables are prime for people-watching and canyon-glow photos.
8. Miguel’s Baja Grill (Tequila Bar)
Where: 51 N Main St
Order: Jalapeño margarita, carne asada tacos, Baja shrimp
Bright Baja flavors and scratch margaritas that taste like vacation.
Trail to Table Insight: The jalapeño margarita hits the spicy-refreshing sweet spot after a river day.
9. Thai Bella Wine Bar & Lounge
Where: 218 N 100 W
Order: Thai basil martini or crisp white wine with coconut curry
Cozy, candlelit, and perfect for date night.
Trail to Table Insight: Pair spice with floral—try a semi-dry Riesling with anything coconut.
10. Sunset Grill
Where: 900 N Main St (on the hill)
Order: Moab Mule, prime rib, chocolate mousse pie
Hilltop icon with panoramic views and a classic cocktail list.
Trail to Table Insight: Reserve for sunset; the whole valley turns gold while you eat.
11. Rooted Vine Wine Bar
Where: 137 N Main St
Order: Curated wine flights, artisan cheese board
Moab’s newest dedicated wine bar—elevated yet easygoing, perfect for pre-dinner sipping.
Trail to Table Insight: Start here if you want a quieter pace before the dinner rush.
12. Castle Creek Winery (Tasting Room at Red Cliffs Lodge)
Where: Mile 14 on UT-128, ≈ 25 min drive along the Colorado River
Order: Local wine tasting flight
Take a scenic drive along the river for wine with a view—the ultimate golden-hour detour.
Trail to Table Insight: Pair it with an afternoon Fisher Towers hike for a true river-road loop.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) are patio perfection. Summer evenings buzz but stay hot; winter is calm and quick to seat. Midweek around 6 p.m. is when locals surface—guides, climbers, and bikers swapping stories.
Pairing Adventures: From Trail to Tap
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After Hiking: Explore HikingMoab.com for trails like Delicate Arch or Fisher Towers, then cool off with a pint at Moab Brewery.
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After Canyoneering: Fresh from a rappel on CanyoneeringMoab.com? Celebrate with BBQ and blues at The Blu Pig.
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After Rafting: RaftingMoab.com trips end perfectly with a lager at Proper Brewing or a margarita at Miguel’s.
Trail to Table Insight: Time dinner with sunset—the cliffs add seasoning you can’t get from salt.
FAQs
How many breweries are in Moab?
Two main ones—Moab Brewery and Proper Brewing Co.—plus Moab Distillery spirits and local wine options.
Do Moab bars serve cocktails and wine?
Yes. Josie Wyatt’s, Birdy’s, Thai Bella, Rooted Vine, and Sunset Grill all have curated cocktail or wine lists.
When do bars close?
Most serve until midnight or 1 a.m., though off-season hours vary.
Are bars family-friendly?
Moab Brewery, Zax, and The Blu Pig welcome families earlier in the evening.
Can you drink outside?
Open containers aren’t allowed in public, but nearly every venue has an outdoor patio.
What’s the best time of year for brewery hopping?
Spring and fall evenings—cool temps, golden light, and fewer crowds.
Raise a Glass to Red Rock Country
Moab doesn’t do nightlife like anywhere else. There’s no velvet rope or flashing neonlights. Just warm patios, canyon silhouettes, and glasses clinking beneath desert stars. Every bar and brewery here carries a piece of the landscape: the color of sandstone in an amber ale, the campfire smoke echoing in a bourbon Old Fashioned, the sparkle of the Colorado reflected in a chilled wine glass.
Whether you’re celebrating a big hike, a first rappel, or simply another sunset in red rock country, these local spots remind you why food and drink taste better after adventure.
So, raise a glass, toast the trail behind you, and plan tomorrow’s adventures over a second round.
If you’re hungry for more, dive into EATING MOAB for restaurant guides, or plan your next outing with HIKING MOAB, drop into adventure CANYONEERING MOAB, or hit the river RAFTING MOAB.