Our Family’s Favorite Locally Owned Spots in Downtown Salina, KS

Blue Sky is one of those places that just has the right energy. Whether we’re grabbing dinner after a long day of showings or catching up with friends on the weekend, it never disappoints. The craft beer lineup is great, the food is solid, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want from a local brewery — relaxed, genuine, and full of familiar faces.

It’s the kind of place where you walk in as a customer and leave feeling like a regular. If you’re new to Salina and want to get a feel for the community, this is a great first stop.

Martinelli’s is our go-to for a real sit-down dinner. There’s something about it that just feels like an occasion — the kind of restaurant you take out-of-town guests to when you want to show them Salina at its best. The Italian food is genuinely good, portions are generous, and the service always makes you feel looked after.

Amber and I have had more than a few date nights here over the years, and Keith has declared it his favorite place to celebrate anything. It’s that kind of restaurant.

When we really want to celebrate — a big closing, a birthday, an anniversary — Barolo Grille is where we go. It’s the kind of restaurant that feels special without being stuffy. The menu is thoughtfully put together, the wine list is excellent, and the whole experience reminds you that you don’t have to drive to a big city for a truly great dinner.

We love that Salina has a place like this. It’s a real gem, and one of the first places we mention when people ask us what they’ll miss least about city living after moving here — because the answer is nothing.

Seraphim Bread is our Saturday morning ritual. There is nothing quite like walking in and being hit with the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries. Everything is made with real care — you can taste the difference. Amber is a particular fan of their morning pastries, and honestly we’ve never left disappointed.

It’s also just a warm, welcoming place — the kind of small business that makes a community feel like a community. We’re proud to have it in Salina.

Red Fern Booksellers is one of those places that reminds you why independently owned businesses matter. It’s carefully curated, genuinely inviting, and the kind of shop where you always leave with something you didn’t know you needed. Supporting a store like this feels good — because you know your dollars are staying in Salina.

While you’re there, take a moment to step outside and look around. The building itself is a piece of Salina’s art scene — the exterior murals are striking, and the sculptures along the sidewalk are worth slowing down for. It’s a little pocket of culture right in the heart of downtown that a lot of people walk past without realizing what they’re seeing.

One of the things that surprises people when they first visit downtown Salina is how much public art there is woven into the streetscape. The murals on the buildings are bold and full of character, and the sculptures along the sidewalks make a simple walk feel like a stroll through an open-air gallery.

We always point this out to buyers who are relocating — it’s a signal of a city that invests in itself and takes pride in its identity. When a community makes space for art, it says something about the kind of place it is to live. Salina gets that right.