Insighter Guide

T H E BAYO U
6 minute walk $$ Just a few blocks away from Grand America hotel you’ll
find Salt Lake’s best comfort food, the largest selection of beers in Utah and if it’s a
weekend, live music. If I were you, I’d get a side of sweet potato fries with the Gumbolaya
(yep, that’s jambalaya smothered in gumbo). Other menu highlights include the Muffaletta
and the Bayou Burger. And here’s my fair warning: this is not heart-healthy grub.
RAMEN
TOSH’S
10 minute drive $ This place might be located in a strip mall, but don’t be put
Th
Fo
off by the lack of curb appeal. Salt Lakers flock here because Tosh is pretty much a broth
Jedi. I usually kick my meal off with some Tokyo wings before moving on to Tonkatsu or
Karai ramen. And a word to the wise—go early because there will be a line out the door
anytime after 7:00 p.m.
THE COPPER ONION
12 minute walk $$$ Four words: get
the ricotta dumplings. Or the beef stroganoff. Or anything on the menu, really. This foodie
favorite sources all their ingredients locally and the classy-casual ambience will make you
feel cooler than you actually are. And if you want to make a night of it, pop into the
Broadway theatre right next door to catch a movie.
THE DODO
13 minute drive $$
My family has frequented this Sugarhouse bistro nearly every weekend for 20 years and
the ever-popular smoked turkey sandwich has never let me down. I can always count on
the Dodo’s atmosphere and consistently great food to make my night. Plus, Chef Ramon’s
extensive dessert menu is worth loosening your belt for. Don’t leave without trying the
blueberry sour cream pie.
PENNY ANN’S CAFE
8 minute drive $ This family-run
diner is a legend among Salt Lake natives, and while they’re famous for their fluffy sour
cream pancakes, I recommend the PAC BAM Waffle. Penny Ann’s chefs use their
meal-makin’ magic to soak bacon in maple syrup before mixing it right into the waffle
batter. The result? The most buttery, golden brown deliciousness you can handle. Oh, and
The
Foodie
did I mention that breakfast is served all day? Move over McDonald’s.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
LUCKY 13
7 minute drive $$
TA K A S H I
8 minute walk $$$
RED IGUANA
EVA
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9 minute drive $$
8 minute walk $$
The Libation
Lover
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COPPER COMMON
12 minute walk
$$
Sometime last year the owners of The
Copper Onion decided to open Copper Common right next door and as a result, we all
won. Clean, dark, upscale ambiance with seating inside and out, Copper Common
serves up the best cocktail in Utah. If you’re lucky enough for Mo to be working, just tell
her your favorite spirit, a few other palate descriptors and then watch her work. The
DOJ recently filed antitrust case against the burger because it really isn’t fair to the
competition.
BAR-X & BEER BAR
15 minute walk $$$ Owned by Ty Burrell from
Modern Family, these side-by-side establishments offer the perfect libation
juxtaposition. Beer Bar is an order-up-front, picnic-table-rocking, single-room hangout
spot that’s great for group conversation. Bar-X on the other hand, is Salt Lake’s first true
mixology locale and it features an incredibly cool speakeasy nestled in the back. Bar-X
HONORABLE MENTIONS
is always busy and each drink is crafted with care, so don’t be in a hurry to order your
drink.
BODEGA
RED DOOR
6 minute walk $$
5 minute drive $$
BEER HIVE PUB
7 minute drive $$
POWDER (PARK CITY)
35 minute drive $$$
WHISKEY STREET
8 minute walk $$$
On top of the impressive whiskey
selection and knowledgeable bartenders, Whiskey Street features true antique
absinthe fountains anchored to the long galley-style bar, which makes it the place to
enjoy a traditional cold-water sugar cube pour. If you go for the whiskey, definitely go
early to avoid crowds—this place gets busy on weekends.
5 minute drive
$
POPLAR STREET PUB
At the other end of the spectrum from Whiskey Street, Poplar
Street Pub is a hipster dive bar at the west end of central downtown. While my
nondescript haircut and flip flops can make me feel out of place, I always find a friendly
and diverse crowd. With a few bars and a backroom with pool tables, Poplar Street Pub
is a good spot for those just looking for a drink after marathon of breakout sessions and
keynote speakers.
OP ROCKWELL
45 minute drive
$$
Park City’s main street
is dotted with numerous bars, but at the top of the street you’ll find OP Rockwell, a
newcomer establishment that’s made a well-deserved name for itself. This new age
speakeasy and live music hall always features a great musical lineup and phenomenal
bartenders. If you’re looking for incredible ambiance and even better craft cocktails to
wrap up your Summit ski day, OP Rockwell is your spot.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
BEANS & BREW
ALCHEMY COFFEE
10 minute walk $
8 minute drive $
T H E R O S E E S TA B L I S H M E N T
S A LT L A K E R O A S T I N G C O .
COFFEE GARDEN
8 minute drive $
5 minute drive $$
10 minute walk $
On any given Saturday you can find me at The Coffee
Garden with an Americano in one hand a book in the other. This local coffee shop, located in the
The
Coffee
Aficionado
heart of Salt Lake’s 9th and 9th district, is attached to Eborn bookstore. Just close your eyes and
imagine the smell of freshly ground coffee mixed with the scent of vintage books—that’s the
olfactory ecstasy of the Coffee Garden. Their top-rated brews live up to the hype and the expert
baristas can handle even the most complicated orders.
PUBLIK COFFEE ROASTERS
5
minute drive $ The glass-enclosed roastery is usually the first thing visitors notice when they
visit this local coffee Mecca, and it’s where the experts at Publik sort, roast, grind, brew, slurp,
and scrutinize each of their small-batch creations. Publik’s roasters know every trick of the trade,
so I never hesitate to try something new every time I go. The two-level coffee house also offers
a modern wood, aluminum, and concrete interior that in my mind, helps Publik earn it’s place as
the coolest coffee spot in Salt Lake.
LA BARBA
4 minute drive $$
I first tried La Barba
coffee at the Salt Lake Farmer’s Market and I have been hooked ever since. In the colder months,
I’ll head over to their permanent location and instead of ordering my favorite drink—the La Barba
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cold-brew—I’ll put in for a hot latte that I can sip on while I wait for the made-to-order churros.
Trust me on this—order the churros. But, if you’re not a churros fan, La Barba offers a bevy of
delicious pastries that will have you drooling at the mere sight.
$
N O S TA L G I A
6 minute drive
Located on a quieter street off of Main, Nostalgia is where I come to sit back, decompress,
and catch up on emails. It’s a low-key and comfortable place that’s always filled with
coffee-lovers buried in a book or their laptops. Nostalgia has the friendliest staff and the best
breakfast crepes. With creaky wooden floors, plush couches, bookshelves, and an open
atmosphere, this place is a peaceful delight.
CAFFE D’BOLLA
10 minute walk $$ My boba
tea-obsessed roommate, Caroline, introduced me to Caffe D’Bolla, but since I’m not a huge boba
man myself, I ordered the espresso and quickly discovered the best coffee I have ever tasted.
Anywhere. Coming here felt like I was entering the realm of true espresso aficionados, which
was confirmed after listening to the owner explain the history behind his coffee. Ask any Salt
Laker on the street—they are bound to name Caffe D’Bolla as the best coffee in town.
CITY CREEK CENTER
12 minute walk $-$$$
Located right downtown, City Creek Center features many of
the brand name stores and restaurants you’d expect to find in most metropolitan shopping centers—but with a
retractable roof and a creek running through its center this indoor-outdoor mall offers a unique mix of upscale
ambience and Utah’s signature outdoor vibe. In addition to stores like Nordstrom, H&M, and West Elm, you can
also find Albion Fit and Pop’n Sweets — popular companies that started in Utah and now have flagship stores
here. Whenever my wife and I visit City Creek, she heads straight for Madewell or Anthropologie and I head over
to Footlocker to check out their collection of rare sneakers that other stores don’t carry. And even if you aren’t in
the mood for shopping, City Creek is the perfect place to escape the cold winter air and grab a bite to eat.
FICE
5 minute drive $$ If you want to know where the cool kids shop, head over to Fice and let the locals take care
of you. Fice is a Salt Lake original that specializes in men’s streetwear and sportswear. It’s also where I buy a good
chunk of my wardrobe. At Fice, you can find progressive brands like 10 Deep, Black Scale, HUF, and The Hundreds,
but they also carry the best offerings from Nike, Stance, Vans, and other sportswear staples. The people that
work at Fice are down-to-earth, helpful and always give me great recommendations for things to do and places
to eat in Salt Lake. I also love their hip hop playlists, the local art they rotate through the store and the convenient
downtown location.
DECADES
5 minute walk $$ Whether you’re a fan of thrifting or you’re on the hunt for
that one vintage gem, Decades is your spot. Located just east of the Grand American Hotel, this place is less like
your neighborhood Goodwill and more like a vintage store you’d find on San Francisco’s Haight Street—which
means you’re guaranteed to find high-quality, lightly-used vintage items that you won’t find in most thrift stores.
My wife, Carlee, can spend hours in Decades sifting through their old band tees, vintage coats and retro
accessories. And since it’s just a stone's throw away from Summit happenings, it’ll be easy to squeeze in a visit
before you head home.
PARK CITY MAIN STREET
40 minute drive $-$$$
When my wife and I want to
get out of Provo on the weekend, we head to Park City Main Street to cruise the unique shops. Carlee loves to hit
up Flight, which offers casual and dressy apparel with a youthful vibe. She can’t get enough of their soft WILDFOX
sweatshirts with funny sayings on them like “I heart vacation” or “In memory of when I slept in.” But her favorite
Park City store is Cake Boutique which offers contemporary designer clothing (I’m a fan of Cake because they’ve
got a nice sitting area for my son and I). Before you leave Main Street, be sure to stop by Prospect, a small
millennial boutique that offers both men’s and women’s apparel. Prospect is more affordable than most of Park
City’s other shops and they carry brands like Brixton, RVCA, Poler, and more. They also have a one-chair barber
shop in the back, so if you call ahead, you can get a fresh cut or straight razor shave.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
SUGARHOUSE DISTRICT
9TH & 9TH DISTRICT
P A R K C I T Y ’ S TA N G E R O U T L E T S
The
Shopaholic
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T
S
Sightseer
The
Sightseer
HONORABLE MENTIONS
C AT H E D R A L O F T H E M A D E L E I N E
5 minute drive
U TA H S TA T E C A P I T O L B U I L D I N G
7 minute drive
GILGAL SCULPTURE GARDEN
HOGLE ZOO
7 minute drive
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14 minute drive
U TA H O LY M P I C P A R K
35 minute drive $-$$$ Take it from a native Southerner, skiing is not
for everyone. So if you’re up in Park City for Summit Ski Day, or you’ve decided to stick around for
the weekend but don’t want to hit the slopes, there are still countless ways to enjoy Utah’s
incredible snow. One of my favorite spots is Park City’s Olympic Park where you’ll find ice skating,
curling, bobsledding, ziplining—and get this—extreme tubing. While ice skating and curling are
pretty affordable, be prepared to fork over a bit more money for the bobsledding. And if you’re
really not into the whole snow sport thing, Olympic Park also offers historic tours.
HISTORIC MAIN STREET
40 minute drive
PARK CITY’S
During the Sundance Film Festival in January,
celebrities and film enthusiasts crowd the shops, restaurants, and galleries that line Park City’s
Historic Main Street. And while it’s always fun to catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars, Main Street
has a lot to offer any time of year. I like to grab a bite to eat, take a stroll, and soak in the Park City
vibe—it’s a pretty similar feel to Jackson, WY or Aspen, CO. I’ll usually pop into the Meyer Gallery,
Bret Webster Images, or Fatali Gallery, and I never leave without browsing the hundreds of crazy
socks at Sock City.
N AT U R A L H I S T O R Y M U S E U M
15 minute drive $$
An architectural
beauty in and of itself, Utah’s Natural History Museum is tucked into the foothills of Salt Lake’s
east side. The $13 admission gives you access to all of the masterfully crafted exhibits that
highlight paleontology, anthropology, botany, and more. Be sure to check out the reconstructed
skeletons of dinosaurs unearthed around the Salt Lake area (you really can’t miss them), and the
precious gems exhibit. And, if you find yourself spending a few more hours than you anticipated,
the museum’s restaurant has exceptional food.
TEMPLE SQUARE
5 minute drive
In the
middle of downtown Salt Lake, you’ll find Historic Temple Square, home to a 10-acre spread of
beautiful gardens, the Salt Lake Temple, the historic Mormon Tabernacle and Assembly Hall, and
HONORABL
two visitors centers. Temple Square is a great place to take a peaceful walk, and if you have time,
stop by one of the visitor centers to learn about the history of Salt Lake City and the Mormon
C AT H E D R A
church. I also recommend popping into the family history library where professional genealogists
U TA H S TA T
can help you learn about your family history, free of charge.
GILGAL SC
HOGLE ZOO
SKIING & SNOWSHOEING
~45 minute drive
$$-$$$
Your Summit pass includes a full day of skiing at Park City
Mountain Resort but if you’re craving a little more of the greatest snow on earth, Utah has 13 other ski resorts—and you
really can’t go wrong with any of them. I suggest heading to Snowbird where you’ll find a wide variety of downhill terrain and,
if you’d rather experience the magnificence of Utah’s mountains without strapping on skis, take a scenic tram ride to the
11,000-foot peak and grab a cup of coffee while you enjoy the view from the brand new lodge. Though I’m an avid downhill
skier, I also love experiencing Utah’s backwoods on cross-country skis or snowshoes. For an entirely different snow
experience, head out into the quiet beauty of Utah’s snow-covered forests at Solitude Nordic Center or Sundance Nordic
Center. Both venues rent cross-country and snowshoe equipment, giving you the chance to work off all that rich Summit
food before you head home.
M I DWAY I C E CAST L E S
50 minute drive $
My girls and I visit the Midway ice castles
every year so we can have our very own Frozen experience as we stroll through a series of handmade, glistening ice caverns,
caves, and sculptures. The castles are two and three stories high and they’re especially magical at night when colored lights
in and around the ice are projected onto the sculptures. Whether you go during the day or night, be sure to wear warm
clothes and sturdy shoes.
WINTER WALKS & HIKES
Located on the northeast end of downtown, Memory Grove Park
offers easy strolling paths with beautiful views of the Salt Lake Valley. And if you want to get a little more adventurous,
Several hiking trails spur off Memory Grove’s main path. My family also loves to visit Red Butte Garden and Arboretum— it’s
the perfect spot for a winter walk through gardens filled with mature trees that cover winding pathways. My kids especially
love exploring the ice-covered ponds and frozen streams.
SNOW TUBING
~25 minute drive $$
Experience what I
like to call “luxury sledding” at one of Utah’s lift-served tubing parks. Both Gorgoza Park and Soldier Hollow give you the thrill
of sledding without the peskiness of hill climbing. My kids love to race each other down the parallel tracks or tie their tubes
together and slide down as one big group. Just bring your snow gear and they’ll provide the tubes and uphill transportation.
You can also purchase food at both venues.
B R Y C E C A N Y O N N AT I O N A L PA R K
~4 hour drive
$
Utah is home to
five incredible national parks, but the local undisputed winter favorite is Bryce Canyon National Park. I love to explore the
snowcapped red rock hoodoos on snowshoes but you can also enjoy the park on cross-country skis, snowshoes, or from
the comfort of your heated car. When we head to Bryce, we always stay at Ruby’s Inn. It’s the closest hotel to the park and
they offer convenient cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals, sleigh rides, horseback rides through the park, and ice
skating right next to the hotel.
The
Outdoor Enthusiast
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