Guidebook for Salt Lake City
Food Scene
This is one of our favorites. Always super yummy. NY Times "13 Hours" recommended.
30 locals recommend
Himalayan Kitchen
360 State StThis is one of our favorites. Always super yummy. NY Times "13 Hours" recommended.
Best Delivery Chinese, and great in-restaurant dining (free delivery to our address).
9 locals recommend
J. Wong's Thai & Chinese Bistro
163 W 200 SBest Delivery Chinese, and great in-restaurant dining (free delivery to our address).
We also love this locally owned coffee shop - this one is strictly drive through though.
19 locals recommend
Java Jo's
401 1st Ave NWe also love this locally owned coffee shop - this one is strictly drive through though.
We eat here often. There is also a bar attached "The Bank" which has a great vibe.
20 locals recommend
Bambara
202 S Main StWe eat here often. There is also a bar attached "The Bank" which has a great vibe.
This is one of the restaurants in town, and is definitely one of our favorites! Start just around the corner at the UnderCurrent Bar and try the "Siren" - my favorite cocktail
66 locals recommend
Current Fish and Oyster
279 E 300 SThis is one of the restaurants in town, and is definitely one of our favorites! Start just around the corner at the UnderCurrent Bar and try the "Siren" - my favorite cocktail
Best Fast Slice of pizza in Salt Lake. Try the Potato-Bacon. Right on State Street. Fun Vibe!
18 locals recommend
Pie Hole
344 S State StBest Fast Slice of pizza in Salt Lake. Try the Potato-Bacon. Right on State Street. Fun Vibe!
Three Pines Coffee
165 S Main StBest Cup of Coffee in Utah. These guys are artisans.
Wanna eat really yummy healthy food? Look no further than pulp. Great coffee right across from them at Three Pines too.
Pulp Lifestyle Kitchen Downtown
49 E Gallivan AveWanna eat really yummy healthy food? Look no further than pulp. Great coffee right across from them at Three Pines too.
You'll find us here for lunch or dinner weekly. Note that it is a bar though (no kids allowed in Utah)
63 locals recommend
White Horse Spirits & Kitchen
325 S Main StYou'll find us here for lunch or dinner weekly. Note that it is a bar though (no kids allowed in Utah)
Best Sushi in Salt Lake City. Be prepared for a wait (but it is worth it). I recommend getting your name on the list then going next door to "Post Office Place" for a drink and appetizer (same owner as Takashi)
156 locals recommend
Takashi
18 W Market StBest Sushi in Salt Lake City. Be prepared for a wait (but it is worth it). I recommend getting your name on the list then going next door to "Post Office Place" for a drink and appetizer (same owner as Takashi)
Red Iguana is a pretty popular location for tourists and locals alike. The mexican food is authentic and solid. I know the owners well. Pro Tip: Skip "The Red Iguana" and go to "Red Iguana 2" which always has shorter lines/waits.
71 locals recommend
Red Iguana 2
866 W S Temple StRed Iguana is a pretty popular location for tourists and locals alike. The mexican food is authentic and solid. I know the owners well. Pro Tip: Skip "The Red Iguana" and go to "Red Iguana 2" which always has shorter lines/waits.
This is the best Dim Sum in Salt Lake. I eat here weekly either in restaurant or take out through Door Dash.
8 locals recommend
Dim Sum House
1158 S State StThis is the best Dim Sum in Salt Lake. I eat here weekly either in restaurant or take out through Door Dash.
This is the hippest place in town to grab a coffee and work on your laptop.
9 locals recommend
The People's Coffee
177 E 200 SThis is the hippest place in town to grab a coffee and work on your laptop.
The Ramen Bar
319 S Main StBest Ramen in Salt Lake. Very reasonably priced.
I love this little hipster restaurant. The food is fantastic and it has a great vibe.
11 locals recommend
SLC Eatery
1017 South Main StreetI love this little hipster restaurant. The food is fantastic and it has a great vibe.
Cucina
1026 2nd AveWe LOVE this little restaurant. Food is superb and good wine.
Este Pizzeria - Downtown
156 E 200 SEssentials
Downtown Grocery Store. Great selection of cheeses, award winning bakery. They also stock many local items. Only 10 minutes walk from our house.
162 locals recommend
Harmons Grocery Store
135 E 100 SDowntown Grocery Store. Great selection of cheeses, award winning bakery. They also stock many local items. Only 10 minutes walk from our house.
Remember, you can only buy wine, liquor (and high alcohol beer) at State run liquor/wine stores. This one is the closest.
15 locals recommend
Utah State Wine Store
255 S 300 ERemember, you can only buy wine, liquor (and high alcohol beer) at State run liquor/wine stores. This one is the closest.
This is the drycleaner we use. They can do a 1 day turn around usually.
6 locals recommend
Henries Dry Cleaners
This is the drycleaner we use. They can do a 1 day turn around usually.
This is easy walking distance from the home, there is a State Liquor Store below it (only place you can get wine/liquor in UT)
Smith's
This is easy walking distance from the home, there is a State Liquor Store below it (only place you can get wine/liquor in UT)
Parks & Nature
This is a great place to hike or bike, as well as to take a dog for a walk. It is a very short walk from our home, and offers a quick escape from the city.
152 locals recommend
Memory Grove Park
300 N Canyon RdThis is a great place to hike or bike, as well as to take a dog for a walk. It is a very short walk from our home, and offers a quick escape from the city.
There are several access points for this trail that gives spectacular views of the valley. It's a favorite for locals.
64 locals recommend
Bonneville Shoreline Trail
There are several access points for this trail that gives spectacular views of the valley. It's a favorite for locals.
This is Salt Lake City's "Central Park". The Tracy Aviary is located here (a gorgeous park of gardens and well-cared-for-winged-friends. It is also not far from the 9th and 9th neighborhood with several great pubs and restaurants.
353 locals recommend
Liberty Park
600 Harvey Milk BoulevardThis is Salt Lake City's "Central Park". The Tracy Aviary is located here (a gorgeous park of gardens and well-cared-for-winged-friends. It is also not far from the 9th and 9th neighborhood with several great pubs and restaurants.
These gorgeously tended Gardens require a payment for entrace, but are well worth the trip and a must visit for any local. You'll find a variety of flowers, trees, plants and other life with paved trails and plenty of spots for a picnic.
229 locals recommend
Red Butte Garden
300 Wakara WayThese gorgeously tended Gardens require a payment for entrace, but are well worth the trip and a must visit for any local. You'll find a variety of flowers, trees, plants and other life with paved trails and plenty of spots for a picnic.
This Canyon has both hiking and biking options and is only about a mile away from the house. Within 15 minutes, you feel like you are completely away from the city. It is one of the treasures of living in Downtown SLC. Walk to the city, walk into the mountains, all within about 30 minutes!
70 locals recommend
City Creek Canyon
City Creek Canyon RoadThis Canyon has both hiking and biking options and is only about a mile away from the house. Within 15 minutes, you feel like you are completely away from the city. It is one of the treasures of living in Downtown SLC. Walk to the city, walk into the mountains, all within about 30 minutes!
This is a nice park attached to the large Salt Lake Cemetery which is a historic and interesting place to wander. It has a great playground for kids.
9 locals recommend
Lindsey Gardens Park
426 M StThis is a nice park attached to the large Salt Lake Cemetery which is a historic and interesting place to wander. It has a great playground for kids.
Everything Else
This is where most major conventions are held in Salt Lake City
119 locals recommend
Salt Palace Convention Center
90 S W Temple StThis is where most major conventions are held in Salt Lake City
Entertainment & Activities
Independent Movies Play Here. Sundance Film Festival Location.
86 locals recommend
Broadway Centre Cinemas, operated by Salt Lake Film Society
300 SouthIndependent Movies Play Here. Sundance Film Festival Location.
This is where to go for mainstream Hollywood movies. There are several restaurants in the same area
62 locals recommend
Megaplex Theatres at The Gateway
400 W 200 SThis is where to go for mainstream Hollywood movies. There are several restaurants in the same area
Eccles Theater
131 S Main StTouring Broadway Shows and other spectacular events
Great spot to take younger kids in downtown SLC at the Gateway Mall.
59 locals recommend
Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
444 W 100 SGreat spot to take younger kids in downtown SLC at the Gateway Mall.
This place is remarkable. Gorgeous gardens and wonderful exhibits. We visit here several times per year. Also inside Utah's "Central Park" (Liberty Park) which offers some great hanging out.
136 locals recommend
Tracy Aviary & Botanical Gardens
589 E 1300 SThis place is remarkable. Gorgeous gardens and wonderful exhibits. We visit here several times per year. Also inside Utah's "Central Park" (Liberty Park) which offers some great hanging out.
Hogle Zoo
2600 Sunnyside Ave SGreat Zoo for families
This only runs on Saturdays throughout the summer, but is a great market with both food and craft items.
44 locals recommend
Downtown Farmers Market
300 W 300 SThis only runs on Saturdays throughout the summer, but is a great market with both food and craft items.
Brewvies Cinema Pub
677 South 200 WestThe only movie theater in UT that serves alcohol. 21+ only
Arts & Culture
Salt Lake Acting Company
168 W 500 NThis is one of our favorite local acting companies.
This museum curates some very interesting contemporary art. Usually with a Utah-twist.
62 locals recommend
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
20 S W TempleThis museum curates some very interesting contemporary art. Usually with a Utah-twist.
The permanent and rotating collections of this museum really showcase a lot of interesting Utah and international art
84 locals recommend
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
410 Campus Center DrThe permanent and rotating collections of this museum really showcase a lot of interesting Utah and international art
I love the dinosaur exhibits (most from Utah!) as well as great explanations of the Utah landscape and history.
281 locals recommend
Natural History Museum of Utah
301 Wakara WayI love the dinosaur exhibits (most from Utah!) as well as great explanations of the Utah landscape and history.
We have a fantastic symphony, and a great opera. You can't go wrong with either of these.
37 locals recommend
Utah Symphony
123 W S TempleWe have a fantastic symphony, and a great opera. You can't go wrong with either of these.
Sightseeing
You can't visit Salt Lake City and not tour the Mormon Temple Square. This, and the LDS Conference Center are literally 5 minutes walk away.
621 locals recommend
Temple Square
50 N West TempleYou can't visit Salt Lake City and not tour the Mormon Temple Square. This, and the LDS Conference Center are literally 5 minutes walk away.
This is a pretty short, somewhat steep hike, and a great view of Salt Lake and the valley. You could make it a longer expedition and just walk up from the house, or there is parking at the trailhead not too far away.
27 locals recommend
Ensign Peak Trailhead
Ensign Peak TrailThis is a pretty short, somewhat steep hike, and a great view of Salt Lake and the valley. You could make it a longer expedition and just walk up from the house, or there is parking at the trailhead not too far away.
Gilgal Gardens
749 E 500 SThis quirky weird little sculpture park is a must visit.
This outdoor sculpture is about 2 hours away, and requires some off-roading. But if you are into massive outdoor sculptures, and want to kill two birds and visit the Great Salt Lake (or kill three birds and also visit the Golden Spike National Monument) then this should be on your must-see list.
39 locals recommend
Spiral Jetty
This outdoor sculpture is about 2 hours away, and requires some off-roading. But if you are into massive outdoor sculptures, and want to kill two birds and visit the Great Salt Lake (or kill three birds and also visit the Golden Spike National Monument) then this should be on your must-see list.