Discover Salt Lake
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Set against a backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City is a vibrant, welcoming city that offers something for everyone.
There are thousands of interesting places, sights, and curiosities waiting to be explored. From a top-shelf performing arts scene, to award-winning dining, craft beer, and distilling culture, and the surprising-to-most fact that Salt Lake is reported as having one of the highest LGBTQ populations in the nation, you’ll get a sense of how this Old West town has become a forward-thinking, and burgeoning urban hub with more than 120 languages spoken.
In addition, check out the arts and culture scene, shop til you drop, take in some pro sports, research your family history, or get your nature fix in the mountains. Salt Lake also happens to be the perfect place to plan a trip to the nearby national parks.
With so much to see and do in Salt Lake, scroll down for insider tips and fun facts!
Things to do:
We’ve got some insider tips for your visit to Salt Lake City thanks to Visit Salt Lake
- Salt Lake’s Connect Pass is an all-in-one ticket that includes local museums and attractions with many of them being located downtown.
- The Salt Lake Brewery Tour Mobile Pass, gives you $5 to spend at 13 of local microbreweries near downtown, and the cost starts at $15!
- Museums: Two of the city’s favorite museums are the Natural History Museum and The Leonardo.
- Restaurants: Squatters Brewpub is a local favorite and walking distance from the Convention Center. Known for their beer, this gastropub is a fun place to meet and there is something on the menu for everybody. If you’re craving Japanese, Takashi and Sapa are local and visitor favorites! If you are looking for incredible Italian food and don’t want to splurge on Valter’s, I would definitely suggest Caffè Molise in their new location downtown. Find more restaurant suggestions in Salt Lake City.
- Bars: There are plenty of awesome bars to stop at downtown. A local favorite is the Beer Bar, it’s very central and also has brats and frites to snack on. On Main Street, there are three bars located right next to each other that all have American fare and extensive libation offerings. White Horse, Whiskey Street and London Belle are all great options if you are looking for a lively bar scene with equally exciting food. Green Pig, Beerhive, and Gracies are always reliable options for a good time!
- Salt Lake has plenty of hiking trails and mountain biking located in close proximity to Downtown.
- Check out the events happening while you’re in Salt Lake City updated regularly!
12 things you didn’t know about Salt Lake City
- The first non-Indian to settle in Utah were the Mormon pioneers on July 24th 1847. The 24th of July is called Pioneer Day and is an official state holiday!
- The average depth of the Great Salt Lake is 13 feet.
- Utah is the only state where every county contains some part of a national forest.
- Utahans eat twice the amount of lime green Jell-O as the rest of the population. A popular way to consume the sweet treat in Utah is to add shredded carrots to the mix.
- SLC was the last link of the First Transcontinental Telegraph (between Carson City, NV and Omaha, Neb.) - 1861.
- In 1869, the nation’s first transcontinental railroad was completed in Promontory, Utah. Construction on the project began in Sacramento to the west and in Omaha to the east and took seven years to build.
- The traffic light was invented by Lester F. Wire, an SLC cop, in 1912.
- The first Kentucky Fried Chicken was opened in South Salt Lake (1952).
- SLC’s Family History Library is the largest genealogical library in the world.
- SLC is home to Loftus Novelty, the country’s largest manufacturer of rubber chickens. True story.
- SLC has not elected a Republican mayor since 1972.
- SLC is the only U.S. capital with three words in its name.
Credit: Visit Salt Lake https://www.visitsaltlake.com
Top Choices in Dining and Entertainment near Hilton Salt Lake City Center
Higher End Eating Establishments
- Takashi – Fantastic award winning sushi
- Café Molise – Italian offerings in brand new redesigned historical building
- White Horse Spirits and Kitchen – Upscale gastro-pub offering great cocktails along with a raw bar and new American flare
- London Belle – Great place to meet for a drink and nosh, creative cocktails and interesting menu
- The Rest – A speakeasy type of vibe you enter through what appears to be a “Bodega” and then you are ushered through a secret door to a fun trendy culinary experience
- Fireside on Regent Street - Stylish eatery attached to the Eccles Theater with a seasonal New American menu & open kitchen
Casual eating Establishments
Fast Casual Eating Establishments
- Spitz – Mediterranean street food
- Padeli’s Street Greek – Fast casual Greek Food – Salt Lake City has quite a thriving Greek population
- Pretty Bird Chicken – This is a restaurant with a quasi-famous pedigree; Viet Pham, the chef was a contestant on the Food Network Star season 6 and was the best new chef award winner from the Food and Wine magazine – he opened this fast casual Nashville chicken joint to such acclaim, and it is well deserved, the chicken sandwiches are fantastic!
Other Nearby Activities – Because there are more things to do besides eat in Salt Lake City!
- Eccles Theater – Located right behind us it is now considered Utah’s premier theater.
- Capital Theater – One of the most historical theaters and is home to Ballet West and Utah Opera
- Abravanel Hall – Home of the Utah Symphony
- Gallivan Center Events – A wonderful gathering place in the spring, summer and fall and host to many free events
- Downtown Alliance – Great information about Downtown Salt Lake City
- Utah Ale Trail – This company plans Utah brewery tours, great resource for maps and ideas about this
- Golden Axe – Bar and restaurant with axe throwing
- High West Distillery – Whiskey Distillery located near Park City in Wanship, UT