BTG Wine Bar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Wine Bar Built Around the Glass

BTG stands for "By The Glass," and that premise shapes everything at this downtown Salt Lake City bar. With over 75 wines available by the glass — pours starting at just two ounces — the format invites exploration rather than commitment, whether you're a first-time wine drinker or the kind of person who orders Barolo at the bar without blinking.

Wine Spectator recognized BTG with its Award of Excellence, a distinction that reflects the seriousness of the list without the stuffiness that often comes with it. The bar has earned a reputation, in its own words, as "a grown-up place to relax" — welcoming to novices and wine enthusiasts in equal measure.

The Space

BTG occupies a historic building in downtown Salt Lake City, two blocks south of the Salt Palace convention center. The Eagle Building has housed many different businesses over the past century, and an original antique awning still marks the entrance on 400 South. Inside, banquettes and tables on the main floor handle everything from larger groups to quiet, intimate evenings. There's also an alfresco patio for outdoor dining, and the full bar remains an option for anyone who wants to pull up a stool.

The room accommodates private functions, tastings, and banquets — the kind of flexibility that makes it useful well beyond a casual evening out.

Food, Wine, and Events

The menu pairs small bites and entrees with the wine list, which spans sparkling, red, white, dessert wines, and curated wine flights. Cocktails and beer round out the offerings for those who want something beyond the grape.

BTG regularly hosts wine pairing dinners that bring winemakers and producers directly to the table. Past events have featured chef Fred Moesinger — co-owner and executive chef of both BTG and the neighboring Caffe Molise — crafting multi-course Italian-influenced menus designed around specific bottles and producers. These dinners tend to sell out quickly, with limited seating and a format that mixes education with a genuinely good meal.

For a city not always associated with serious wine culture, BTG makes a strong case. Cin cin.