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A wave of new restaurants are opening in Salt Lake County this spring.

Here are the openings we're most excited about.

🥟 Argentina's Café: Empanada-focused eateries are multiplying across Salt Lake City, and this newcomer is part of the trend.

🍕 Bricks Corner: The Detroit-style pizzeria is expanding, with a second location set to open in West Valley City this May.

🍴 Nomad Eatery: The restaurant is leaving its Salt Lake City spot and relocating to Daybreak next month.

🥗 Sweetgreen: The Los Angeles-based chain is making its Utah debut with a  location in Sugar House. An opening date hasn't been announced.

🌮 Taste of Red Iguana: A casual version of one of Salt Lake City's most storied Mexican restaurants is opening a new Daybreak outpost this spring after closing its City Creek location.

Coming in 2027: Uchi, led by James Beard Award–winning chef Tyson Cole, plans to open a massive restaurant in the up-and-coming Granary District, Gastronomic reports.

Five new restaurants opening in Salt Lake County

A wave of new restaurants are opening in Salt Lake County this spring, from a

Mecklenburg County, City of Charlotte, restaurants opening

A wave of new restaurants are opening in Salt Lake County this spring.<ul><li>Here are the openings we&#x27;re most excited about.</li></ul>

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Food and Drink

Near-record temps are speeding up mosquito season, pushing its arrival about a month earlier than usual, mosquito control officials told Axios.

Why it matters: The bites are an itchy nuisance and you shouldn't need to cover up when the weather's this nice.

Driving the news: Mosquito traps set in wetlands near the airport last week detected 200 mosquitoes of a species not regularly seen until the end of April, said Ary Faraji, executive director of the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District.

He said this is "by far the earliest" mosquito season he's seen in his 12 years at the abatement district, calling it potentially historic.

State of play: Typically, activity isn't recorded until mid-April to early-May, but the timeline is being pushed earlier due to climate change, Faraji told Axios.

The season has also been extended, running through the end of October in several recent years.

Threat level: The longer season could complicate control efforts and impact the way disease spreads, per Faraji.

Reality check: Early season mosquitoes aren't harmful beyond the annoying itching. Diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) don't typically show up in mosquitoes until between mid-July and September, said Michelle Rehbein, an education specialist with the abatement district.

There are easy precautions you can take, she told Axios, like checking your property weekly for standing water — buckets and children's toys — and using EPA-approved insect repellent.

Wearing long sleeves and pants can also help.

Between the lines: It's too soon to tell if mosquitos showing up earlier could prolong exposure to WNV, Faraji said.

Last year's first human case of WNV in Salt Lake County was reported in mid-August.

How it works: As cold-blooded insects, mosquitoes thrive in warm weather, Faraji said.

As it warms up, eggs hatch more quickly and larvae develop faster.

Because mosquitoes are drawn to standing water, west side residents may see the worst of mosquito season as snowmelt flows down.

Kim's thought bubble: After enjoying some cocktails on the patio for my birthday earlier this month, I woke up the next morning with FOUR mosquito bites.

If you attract mosquitoes like me and you plan to spend most of your time outdoors, carry tiny bottles of repellant. You won't regret it.

Mosquitoes are back — and it's only March

The bites are an itchy nuisance and you shouldn't need to cover up when the weather's this nice.

Illustration of a repeating pattern of mosquitos.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Near-record temps" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/04/utah-snow-march-skiing-drought" data-vars-content-id="6f8e534b-4c86-4c01-a049-6fa32ff1bd5d" data-vars-headline="Mosquitoes are back — and it&#x27;s only March" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/03/04/utah-snow-march-skiing-drought" target="_self">Near-record temps</a> are speeding up mosquito season, pushing its arrival about a month earlier than usual, mosquito control officials told Axios.Why it matters: The bites are an itchy nuisance and you shouldn&#x27;t need to cover up when the weather&#x27;s this nice.

Two Salt Lake City chefs were named Utah's only finalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards.

State of play: Felt Bar & Eatery's Travis Herbert and Urban Hill's Nick Zocco are finalists for best chef in the Mountain region, which includes Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

This marks Herbert's first nomination since joining Felt, which opened in 2024. 

Meanwhile, Zocco, who is no stranger to the spotlight, was a finalist in 2024 and a semifinalist last year. Perhaps the third time's the charm?

Catch up quick: Eight Utah chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists in January, including The Pearl's Tommy Nguyen for best chef, the Japanese-Italian fusion concept Junah for best new restaurant, and Post Office Place for outstanding bar.

What we're watching: Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 15. 

Salt Lake City chefs named James Beard finalists

Eight Utah chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists in January, but only two Salt Lake City chefs made it to the next round.

Illustration of a trophy wearing a chef's hat

Two Salt Lake City chefs were named Utah&#x27;s only <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="finalists" data-vars-click-url="https://cdn.sanity.io/files/2t27tguw/production/53d711ce233eef6c35b584fe60977dfdd1962282.pdf" data-vars-content-id="c1197452-e2a0-42ec-b1c0-d8c36fc395ff" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City chefs named James Beard finalists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cdn.sanity.io/files/2t27tguw/production/53d711ce233eef6c35b584fe60977dfdd1962282.pdf" target="_blank">finalists</a> for the 2026 James Beard Awards.State of play: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Felt Bar &amp; Eatery" data-vars-click-url="https://feltslc.com/" data-vars-content-id="c1197452-e2a0-42ec-b1c0-d8c36fc395ff" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City chefs named James Beard finalists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://feltslc.com/" target="_blank">Felt Bar &amp; Eatery</a>&#x27;s Travis Herbert and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Urban Hill" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/12/16/urban-hill-salt-lake-city-fine-dining-opens" data-vars-content-id="c1197452-e2a0-42ec-b1c0-d8c36fc395ff" data-vars-headline="Salt Lake City chefs named James Beard finalists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2022/12/16/urban-hill-salt-lake-city-fine-dining-opens" target="_self">Urban Hill</a>&#x27;s Nick Zocco are finalists for best chef in the Mountain region, which includes Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

A new towering art installation in Salt Lake City is aiming to bring much-needed awareness to the Great Salt Lake's decline.

State of play: Standing roughly three stories tall, "A Symphony of Disappearing Sounds for the Great Salt Lake" features an elevated sphere at Memory Grove that represents the shrinking lake. 

The work was created by environmentally conscious artist Olafur Eliasson, known for his large-scale displays around the world.

Grammy-winning producer Koreless crafted the art installation's sounds, which are made up of more than 150 recordings of animals and other living organisms at the lake, from migratory birds to brine flies.

If you go: The free 30-minute art show debuted last week and runs nightly at 9pm through Saturday. 

Expect a crowd: Organizers estimate around 1,800 people have attended each night so far.

The big picture: Utah is facing a challenging water year after the state's snowpack hit a record low in February — levels not seen since the 1980s.

Between the lines: The display is the result of a $1 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to Salt Lake City to fund temporary public art installations to bring awareness to the lake. 

The bottom line: "Data and science don't always reach hearts and minds," Felicia Baca, executive director of the Salt Lake City Arts Council, told Axios. She added that she hopes the growing attention around the lake will spur meaningful action to save it.

"A Symphony of Disappearing Sounds for the Great Salt Lake"

$1 million Bloomberg Philanthropies donation

See this Great Salt Lake-inspired art display before it's gone

An elevated sphere at Memory Grove represents the shrinking lake.

Night in a park: a large illuminated globe on stilts glows blue and purple with white network lines. Crowd sits on blankets while a domed, lit building rises on a hill in the background.

An elevated sphere at Memory Grove represents the shrinking lake. Photo: Courtesy of Kim Raff/Salt Lake City Arts Council

A new towering art installation in Salt Lake City is aiming to bring much-needed awareness to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Great Salt Lake&#x27;s decline" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/02/25/trump-great-salt-lake-pipeline-conservation" data-vars-content-id="ee57be6c-eb2d-42b5-a198-2a6f04bfd5c4" data-vars-headline="See this Great Salt Lake-inspired art display before it&#x27;s gone" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/02/25/trump-great-salt-lake-pipeline-conservation" target="_self">Great Salt Lake&#x27;s decline</a>.State of play: Standing roughly three stories tall, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;A Symphony of Disappearing Sounds for the Great Salt Lake&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://wakegsl.org/events/olafur-eliasson/" data-vars-content-id="ee57be6c-eb2d-42b5-a198-2a6f04bfd5c4" data-vars-headline="See this Great Salt Lake-inspired art display before it&#x27;s gone" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wakegsl.org/events/olafur-eliasson/" target="_blank">&quot;A Symphony of Disappearing Sounds for the Great Salt Lake&quot;</a> features an elevated sphere at Memory Grove that represents the shrinking lake.

Things to Do

Here's what's happening in and around Salt Lake City this weekend.

🛍️ Asher Adams market: Salt Lake Sideaways is highlighting more than 16 local vendors setting up shop inside the historic Union Pacific Depot.

🐰 Bunny Hop Breakfast: Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is throwing its annual Mini Pancake House breakfast. Access to the rest of the museum is included. Tickets.

🎨 Festival of Colors: The Hindu festival returns to the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork this weekend, celebrating the arrival of spring.

SLC weekend events: Bunny hop, Festival of Colors, train station market

The Hindu festival returns to the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork this weekend.

Illustration of a cassette tape with the tape unspooling to spell weekend. 

A cassette tape unraveled to say "weekend."

Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s happening in and around Salt Lake City this weekend.

Kim Bojórquez

Featured stories

See this Great Salt Lake-inspired art display before it's gone

Salt Lake City chefs named James Beard finalists

Five new restaurants opening in Salt Lake County

Mosquitoes are back — and it's only March

SLC weekend events: Bunny hop, Festival of Colors, train station market