{"id":195471,"date":"2026-04-01T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/?p=195471"},"modified":"2026-04-01T17:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T23:00:10","slug":"underground-at-the-social-mocktails-meals-music-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slugmag.com\/community\/underground-at-the-social-mocktails-meals-music-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Underground at the Social: Mocktails, Meals, Music and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you wander down University Avenue in Provo Town Square, you might catch sight of a sign pointing you through a door. Go down a flight of stairs and along a straight hallway, then turn left. You\u2019ll find yourself at The Social, an underground mocktail bar full of cozy nooks to relax in with a drink and a meal. Art by local artists hangs on the wall over a grand piano while people cluster around tables and sofas. When you walk in, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll earn yourself a warm welcome from the owner of The Social<\/a>,<\/em> Patrick Walmsley<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Patrick
When you walk into The Social, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll earn yourself a warm welcome from the owner, Patrick Walmsley. Photo: Gilbert Cisneros<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOur niche is a little bit unique in terms of the space, the types of food, the pricing and just trying to offer an interesting environment for locals and visitors,\u201d Walmsley says. The space itself is both welcoming and open, with stone walls and natural wood from the building\u2019s 1880s foundation. \u201cThe rock and the wood and the natural elements \u2015 you just can\u2019t replicate that,\u201d Walmsley says. \u201cWhen people get down there, they love it. Downstairs creates a good vibe, but it\u2019s hard because you\u2019re just not visible.\u201d As a result, people tend to find The Social <\/em>by word of mouth rather than by wandering in. Now you\u2019re in on the word of mouth. Congratulations!<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everyone who\u2019s working there now or has worked there has a drink that they created that\u2019s on the menu\u201d<\/h4>\n

Situated near BYU and UVU, The Social <\/em>gets a lot of student business, so one of Walmsley\u2019s main goals is to make sure it\u2019s an affordable place for food. A majority of the students don\u2019t drink, so the bar is mocktail-focused. The drink menu is one of The Social<\/em>\u2019s main attractions \u2015 there\u2019s even a secret menu where customers can roll dice for a drink. The mocktails themselves are a collaborative and creative effort among the staff. <\/em>\u201cI think everyone who\u2019s working there now or has worked there has a drink that they created that\u2019s on the menu,\u201d Walmsley says.<\/p>\n

The Social <\/em>added alcohol options to its mix at the start of 2025, and now the mocktails are easily converted to cocktails (and vice versa). The alcohol stays in the back so the bar can be open to those under 21. \u201cThe hotels refer people over because there\u2019s not a lot of places you can get a drink in Provo,\u201d Walmsley says. \u201cVisitors really enjoy the unique atmosphere, and the fact that they can grab a drink with their food is a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n