Salt Lake City

Introduction

Mormon Temple Spires, Salt Lake City, Utah

© jengelman

Salt Lake City is the capital and largest city in Utah, with over 2.2 million inhabitants living in the metropolitan area. The city itself has almost 200,000 inhabitants. Internationally, the city was the focus of attention during the 2002 Winter Olympics and has been getting more and more popular since then with foreign visitors as well.

Neighbourhoods

Notable neighborhoods in Salt Lake City include Downtown, the financial core and home to Temple Square (a two-block complex that includes the LDS church headquarters, the Salt Lake Temple, and various other sites related to Mormon history and culture); Central City, a mostly residential area from approximately 400 South to 900 South; Sugar House, a commercial/residential district in the southeastern corner of the city, known for its funky shops; The Avenues, a historical neighborhood with many old buildings, northeast of downtown; University, the area around the sprawling University of Utah campus and the adjacent Research Park, VA Medical Center, and Fort Douglas; Federal Heights, a small, affluent neighborhood in the hills east of The Avenues and north of the University; East Bench or Foothill, a residential neighborhood between 900 South and I-80, bisected by the major arterial road Foothill Boulevard; Capitol Hill, an affluent sloping district north of downtown, topped by the Utah State Capitol building; the Marmalade District, a quirky area immediately west of Capitol Hill with some unusual architecture and decor; Rose Park, a residential neighborhood northwest of downtown, near the airport; and Glendale, a heavily Hispanic residential district and home to the International Peace Gardens, at the southern end of the westside. The benches refer to a handful of residential, upper-class communities along the slopes of the Wasatch Mountains on the east side of the valley, and to a lesser extent on the Traverse Mountains at the southern end of the valley and the Oquirrh Mountains on the western side. The predominant economic divide in the Salt Lake Valley is between the eastern and western halves, with the east side traditionally being more affluent and conservative.

The Wasatch Front is the urban strip located along the western edge of the Wasatch Mountain Range. It comprises everything from approximately Brigham City in the north to Santaquin in the south, anchored by the cities of Ogden in the northern half, Provo-Orem in the south, and the Salt Lake Valley dividing the two. The vast majority of Utah's population lives in this region. Significant suburbs of Salt Lake City include Sandy in the southern Salt Lake Valley, Murray and Midvale in the center of the valley, and South Salt Lake and Millcreek on the southern border of Salt Lake City proper. The western portion of the valley has some very large suburbs such as West Valley City, West Jordan, and South Jordan. Holladay and Cottonwood Heights are smaller towns in the east benches.

Sights and Activities

Temple Square

Located on the north end of downtown, Temple Square is the most visited tourist site in Utah. Among its buildings are the LDS Church headquarters, a Church History Museum, a Family History Library, gardens, and restaurants. Entry to the temple itself requires church membership and a permit called a "temple recommend", but most other areas are open to anyone.

Temple Square is staffed with church missionaries to help show you around the grounds; languages from all over the world are represented. There are two visitor centers – one in the northwest corner and another near the middle of the south edge – both with several exhibits and video presentations introducing outsiders to the Mormon faith. Free tours are conducted from the airport for connecting passengers on at least a two-hour layover, once an hour every afternoon (weather permitting).

Just west of the temple is the Tabernacle, a domed, oval-shaped building currently home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The tabernacle is open to the public for guided tours, organ recitals, Thursday rehearsals, and Sunday "Music and the Spoken Word" choir performances. On the southwest corner of Temple Square is a Gothic Revival building simply called the Assembly Hall. It is open to tourists for self-guided visits and hosts concerts on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30pm. The LDS Conference Center, across the street on the northern side of the square, is an architectural point of interest with carefully-groomed roof gardens and a series of waterfalls on the exterior of the building. Tours are available. The majority of the Church Office Building is off-limits to tourists (including the 26th floor observation deck overlooking the city as of 2015).

The southeast corner of Temple Square is home to a handful of historic buildings, among them the Beehive House, a former residence of city founder Brigham Young (open for free guided tours 9AM–9PM daily), the Lion House, a restaurant that also at one point was a residence of Brigham Young, and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, a former hotel which now holds a number of meeting and dining facilities, a theater showing free church-produced films, and public computers for genealogical research. The 10th floor has two observation areas overlooking the city, which are open to the public.

The busiest times at Temple Square are the first weekend of April and the first weekend of October, when thousands of visitors from all over the world attend the church's General Conference meetings. December is also a popular time to visit for the extravagant Christmas light set-up that covers the square every year.

Other Sights and Activities

• Utah State Capitol, 350 N State St (just north of downtown), ☎ +1 801-538-3074. M–F 7:00am–8:00pm, Sa Su 8:00am–6:00pm. The grand state capitol building is prominently displayed on the mountainside, in a lovely park overlooking Downtown. The grounds include a reflecting pond and several memorials. Inside are large open areas and monumental architecture. On weekdays, guided tours are available at no charge on the hour. All publicly accessible areas are free.
• Salt Lake City and County Building, 451 S State St, ☎ +1 801-533-0858. Seat of the city government since the 1890s, and in times past was also the seat of county government and even the state capitol building for 20 years. The halls are lined with onyx on each of four lavishly decorated floors. A clock tower rises 78 metres above ground level in the middle of the building and is topped by a statue of Columbia. Portraits of former mayors line the third floor corridor between the mayor's office in the south wing and the city council chamber in the north wing. On the fourth floor is an exhibit dedicated to the 2002 Winter Olympics

Events and Festivals

Holidays

• New Year’s Eve - The US celebrates the outgoing of the old year and incoming of the New Year quite dramatically. Every state boasts its own parties to ring in the New Year, but none is more extravagant than New York’s Time Square, which sees people overflowing into the neighboring restaurants, bars, parks, beaches, and neighborhoods.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. and sometimes referred to as MLK Day) is an American federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King's birthday, January 15. The holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The earliest Monday for this holiday is January 15 and the latest is January 21. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.
• St Patrick’s Day - March 17 celebrates the US’s large Irish population. Many cities around the country boast boisterous parades and Irish-themed parties, especially New York and Chicago, where the river is dyed green. Be wary of the drunkenness that dominates as this is definitely a party-day.
• Memorial Day - Memorial Day is an important holiday throughout the United States, but not for crazy festivities. Parades commemorating wartime heroes are often held and the day is also the ‘unofficial’ start of summer. Most visitors follow the crowds to parks and beaches, which are capped off with informal BBQs.
• Independence Day - Also known as the Fourth of July, Independence Day celebrates the US’s break from the British during the 18th century. Barbecues, street parties, beach trips, and weekend getaways are commonplace to appreciate freedom.
• Labor Day is a public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws, and well-being of the country. It is the Monday of the long weekend known as Labor Day Weekend. It is recognized as a federal holiday. Beginning in the late 19th century, as the trade union and labor movements grew, trade unionists proposed that a day be set aside to celebrate labor.
• Halloween - Halloween is a fun holiday on October 31 for all generations to dress up in costumes and relive their youth. Children walk around the neighborhood trick-or-treating for candy, while adults attend parties. Other seasonal events include haunted houses, pumpkin farms and carving, and corn mazes.
• Thanksgiving - On the fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving is held in almost every home in the US. Tourists will have a hard time finding anything to do as the country essentially shuts down in observation. A typical Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie commemorating the original Pilgrim’s feast at Plymouth Rock.
• Christmas - On December 25, Christians celebrate Christmas as the pinnacle of their calendar by attending church and opening gifts from Santa Claus. Almost everything shuts down to promote family togetherness. The northern regions hope to experience a “white Christmas,” with trees and festive lights blanketed by snow.

Sport

• Super Bowl Sunday - the world’s most watched sporting event and one of the highest grossing TV days of the year, Superbowl Sunday is a spectacular extravaganza. Held the first Sunday in February, the Superbowl is the final playoff game between the NFL’s top two teams. The venue rotates every year around America, yet the local parties seem to remain. Pubs, bars and restaurants are great places to enjoy the Superbowl or locals throw their own parties with different variations of betting.
• The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in North America, contested since 1903 between the American League (AL) champion team and the National League (NL) champion team. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff, and the winning team is awarded the Commissioner's Trophy. As the series is played during the fall season in North America, it is sometimes referred to as the Fall Classic.

Weather

Salt Lake City has a moderately continental climate with relatively dry conditions throughout the year. Summers last from June to early September with especially July and August seeing high average daytime temperatures of more than 30 °C. May/June and September/early October are much better and equally good given the fact that it's almost completely dry during these months and there is a lot of sunshine. Average precipitation is just over 400 mm and snow is possible from November to April, with most of it falling from December to mid-March. Temperatures during winter are slightly above zero during the day and below zero at night, though higher up the mountains temperatures drop significantly and snowfall is much higher.

Getting There

By Plane

Salt Lake City International Airport (IATA: SLC, ICAO: KSLC, FAA LID: SLC) is the major airport in Utah and is located several miles west of downtown Salt Lake City. It handles over 20 million passengers a year, mainly by domestic flights though there are still quite a few international connections.

By Train

The California Zephyr, operated by Amtrak, travels between Chicago and Emeryville (San Francisco), stopping en route in Salt Lake City.

By Car

Salt Lake City is served by two interstate freeways: Interstate 80 connects to eastern and western destinations all the way from coast to coast, and Interstate 15, though viewed as a commuter freeway by locals, extends to both the Canadian and Mexican borders. Northern destinations accessible directly from I-15 consist mostly of small towns in eastern Idaho and western Montana. Southern destinations on I-15 include much larger cities such as Las Vegas and San Diego. I-80 provides a direct connection from Salt Lake to several major American cities, though all are hundreds of miles away. Across the 500-mile-wide Great Basin, I-80 serves Reno, Sacramento, and San Francisco. East of Salt Lake, I-80 connects to most of the larger towns in Wyoming and increasingly metropolitan cities further east, as far away as the greater New York City area.

By Bus

• Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 15 (San Bernardino-Las Vegas-St George-Salt Lake City) some variations of the route continues to Los Angeles, San Diego or Long Beach from San Bernardino; 80 (Salt Lake City-Reno-San Francisco & Salt Lake City-Laramie-Cheyenne-Denver) on two separate routes; 84 (Portland-Boise-Salt Lake City) and US Hwy 40 (Salt Lake City-Denver). Passengers transfer in Boise, Denver, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Portland and San Bernardino to get to other destinations.
• Salt Lake Express, Salt Lake City International Airport (Load in the Passenger Drop off Lane (Middle Lane): Terminal 2 Door 11 for Delta & Skywest (Delta Connection). Terminal 1 Door 5 for all other airlines. Call and pre-arrange for pick-up or drop-off at the Ogden Airport.), ☎ +1 208 656-8824. Travels mainly along I-15 Corridor between Las Vegas, St George, Salt Lake City, Pocatello, Butte and Great Falls, Montana. They also have additional routes across Idaho between Boise and Pocatello. From Idaho Falls they go to West Yellowstone, Montana, and to Jackson, Wyoming, via Rexburg. From St George there is another route to Zion National Park and to Marble Canyon & Page in northern Arizona.
• TUFESA Bus Lines, 152 State St, Orem, ☎ +1 801 822-0844. Tufesa travels primarily on Interstate 10/15 (Los Angeles-Ontario, CA-Las Vegas-St George-Orem). Passengers transfer in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Ontario to continue to other cities in the U.S. or Mexico.
• Utah Transit Authority (UTA), ☎ +1 801-743-3882. Operates the local commuter buses, which can bring you into the city from anywhere on the Wasatch Front.

Getting Around

By Car

Most of the Salt Lake Valley uses a consistent street grid radiating out from the southeast corner of Temple Square, downtown. Major streets run precisely east-to-west or north-to-south. Addresses are coordinates within the grid, and streets represent intervals of 100 in each direction. For example, the street five blocks east of the grid's center is called 500 East (commonly called '5th East' in spoken conversation) and 19 blocks south is 1900 South (or 19th South). This means that the cardinal directions mentioned in street names do not represent a direction you can drive on that street, and if the direction designation is the only difference between two street names, they are two completely different streets, unlike the common street naming system where North Main and South Main would be two halves of a contiguous road. Some streets will have both a name and a number designation; 300 South and Broadway are equally valid names for the same street, and the major thoroughfare of State Street is technically also 100 East. 100 North and 100 West are better known as North Temple and West Temple, as they border the northern and western edges of Temple Square. The only streets without number designations are the two streets that divide the quadrants of the grid: South Temple splits the northern and southern halves of the grid, while east and west addresses are measured from Main Street (formerly East Temple). Building addresses are numbered based on their position between the 100-interval streets at either end of the block: 629 South 1500 West would be between 6th South and 7th South on 15th West.

Streets are an eighth of a mile apart downtown, but become more irregularly spaced as you move farther from the city center. Suburbs outside of the Salt Lake Valley often have their own grid systems modeled after Salt Lake's, but don't expect them to be well integrated with neighboring towns – a road may change numbers without warning as you cross an invisible local boundary. The Avenues neighborhood in the northeast corner of Salt Lake City also has its own street grid independent of the rest of the valley. This grid consists of east/west avenues numbered 1 though 18 (1st Avenue is the farthest south) and north/south streets lettered A through U (A Street is the farthest west).

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

By Public Transport

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA), +1 801-743-3882, operates an extensive network of bus lines that collectively reach the entire Wasatch Front, with especially comprehensive service in and around Salt Lake City. Almost all light rail stations in the valley are connected to bus routes. Only a select handful of important routes operate at night or on Sundays and holidays, and even nighttime routes usually end service around midnight or 1AM. Extra bus lines run during the winter, serving four ski resorts in the canyons east of the city, in the Wasatch Mountains. One-way fares are $2.50, or a day pass, valid on both buses and light rail, is $6.25.

UTA's light rail system, TRAX, connects many of Salt Lake City's most popular tourist destinations, including Temple Square, Downtown, the University of Utah, and the airport. There are three lines, designated by the colors blue, red, and green. The Blue Line begins in Downtown at the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub (the bus and train station) and serves Vivint Smart Home Arena and Temple Square before turning onto Main Street, where it heads south through the City Creek shopping center, past the Gallivan Plaza, and eventually toward Murray, Sandy, and Draper. The Green Line begins at the airport, heads east down North Temple Street and meets up with the Blue Line at the Arena, then runs alongside the Blue Line until South Salt Lake, where it splits off and heads into West Valley City. The Red Line serves the University of Utah campus on the east bench, then heads west to Downtown where it shares a few transfer stations with both the Blue and Green lines. The Red Line shares track with the Blue Line as far south as Murray, then splits southwest into West Jordan and terminates in the Daybreak neighborhood of South Jordan. There is also a streetcar line, the S-Line, which connects the Central Pointe light rail station in South Salt Lake to the Sugar House neighborhood. Fares for TRAX are the same as for buses: $2.50 one-way, $5 round-trip, $6.25 for the intermodal day pass.

Most of downtown is in a free fare zone where you can use buses and light rail without a pass. (Full fare applies if you ride even one stop past the zone.)

By Foot

Much of Downtown and its immediate areas can be explored on foot, though expect to take the occassional bus or light rail.

By Bike

Salt Lake City has routes and trails through and around the city for cyclists of any age. Riding on the sidewalk is legal everywhere but the central blocks of downtown; sidewalks are wide and pedestrians are sparse enough to navigate around. State law mandates that cyclists signal audibly when overtaking a pedestrian on the sidewalk. Quite a few of the city's major attractions are accessible via bicycle, and it is quick and easy to get out to the university or the zoo on a bike.

Many major streets have bicycle lanes and signs reminding motorists to share the road, but a lot of streets had these bike lanes added without widening the roadway, and thus leave cyclists without much buffer space between them and car traffic. It may be easiest to use residential side streets if one is available a block or two away. The wide streets in the city center don't help cyclists, as the extra lanes are all for cars and just make it trickier to cross the street on a bike.

There are a handful of off-road paths and mountain biking trails. The path following the banks of the Jordan River south of I-80 is well developed, but a bit desolate in some parts. City Creek Canyon is open to cyclists on select days.

Bicycles are allowed on UTA buses and trains, including both TRAX and FrontRunner. All bus lines have bike racks except para-transit and ski routes, and bike lockers can be rented from UTA at several FrontRunner stations. The Intermodal Hub downtown includes a Bike Transit Center with rental bicycles and a repair shop.

GREENbike has a bike sharing program with stations throughout downtown, for $5/24 hours.

Eat

While not known as a hotbed of culinary innovation, there is one delicacy that originates from Utah: fry sauce, a condiment made by mixing ketchup and mayonnaise, sometimes with seasonings depending on the recipe, and eaten on French fries, onion rings, etc. Fry sauce was created decades ago by the local fast food chain Arctic Circle and can now be found in burger joints throughout Utah and in portions of neighboring states. Even national chain restaurants usually have fry sauce at their Utah locations, and many give it out as the default condiment at the drive-thru if you don't ask for something specific.

• Aristos, 224 South 1300 East, ☎ +1 801-581-0888, e-mail: [email protected]. Traditional and contemporary, farm-to-table Greek cuisine. $40–60.
• Bambara, 202 S Main St (Inside the Hotel Monaco), ☎ +1 801-363-5454. M–Th 7AM–10PM, F 7AM–10:30PM, Sa 8AM–11AM 5:30PM–10:30PM, Su 8AM–2PM 5:30PM–9PM. Upscale dining in the New American style, with eclectic décor and top-notch service. Has gluten-free menus for lunch and dinner hours. $25–50.
• Blue Plate Diner, 2041 S 2100 E, ☎ +1 801-463-1151. 7AM–9PM daily. Funky décor and fixtures collected from historical restaurants whenever one closes in the neighborhood. Serves breakfast all day, and, unlike most diners, Blue Plate has plenty of vegetarian options. Expect crowds and noise on weekend mornings.
• Brewvies, 677 S 200 W, ☎ +1 801-322-3891. Cinema pub with two movie screens and a lineup of mostly recent releases. Menu consists of things like pizza, burgers, nachos, and chicken tenders; drinks are mostly beer, including many local brews. Food bought at Brewvies can be eaten in the theater areas.
• Bucket O' Crawfish, 1980 West 3500 South, Suite #104, West Valley City, ☎ +1 801-419-0900. Louisiana-inspired sauces with a West Coast Asian twist. $10–25.
• Cafe Trio, 680 S 900 E. Hours vary by season and day of the week, but always at least 11AM–9PM. Pizza, flatbread, paninis, and pastas with cocktails and wine.
• Cannella's, 204 E 500 S, ☎ +1 801-355-8518. M–Th 11AM–10PM, F Sa 11AM–11PM. Fine Italian dining in a cozy atmosphere. Offers a full bar with plenty of wines. $15–30.
• Cedars of Lebanon, 152 E 200 S, ☎ +1 801-364-4096. Serves Lebanese and Moroccan food; has belly dancers on Friday and Saturday nights.
• City Cakes & Cafe, 1000 South Main St., ☎ +1 801-359-2239, e-mail: [email protected]. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-4PM. Delicious vegan bakery and cafe, with friendly staff. $5.
• The Copper Onion, 111 E. Broadway, Suite 170, ☎ +1 801-355-3282, e-mail: [email protected]. An American restaurant. Food sourcing is local and sustainable whenever possible. $30-50.
• Faustina, 370 E 900 S, ☎ +1 801-746-4441. $20-40.
• Forage, 454 East 300 South, ☎ +1 801-708-7834, e-mail: [email protected]. Dinner consists of a multi-course tasting menu. Dinner generally lasts 2.5 hours. $89.
• Hong Kong Tea House and Restaurant, 565 W 200 S, ☎ +1 801-531-7010. Tu–F 11AM–9:30PM Sa Su 10AM–9:30PM. Serves excellent Chinese food. Instead of ordering individual meals, the entire party orders appetizers.
• Ichiban Sushi, 336 S 400 E, ☎ +1 801-532-7522. M–Th 5PM–10PM, F Sa 5PM–11PM. Sushi and tofu in a former Lutheran church.
• Indochine Vietnamese Bistro, 230 South 1300 East, ☎ +1 801-582-0896. Vietnamese cuisine.
• The Kathmandu, 212 S. 700 E., ☎ +1 801-355-0454, e-mail: [email protected]. Nepali and Indian cuisine. $15–30.
• Log Haven, 6451 E. Millcreek Canyon Rd (Located in a historic 1920s cabin in picturesque Millcreek Canyon.), ☎ +1 801-272-8255, e-mail: [email protected]. New American cuisine. $25–60.
• Market Street Grill, 48 W Market Street (340 S), ☎ +1 801-322-4668. Breakfast: M–F 6:30AM–11AM, Sa 8AM–12PM; Su Brunch (special menu): 9AM–3PM; Lunch: M–F 11AM–2PM, Sa 11:30AM–3PM; Dinner: M–Th 5PM–9PM, F 5PM–9:30PM, Sa 4PM–9:30PM, Su 4PM–9PM. Long menu with an emphasis on seafood, but plenty of options for all times of day.
• Mazza (two locations). 912 E 900 S: M–Sa 11AM–3PM 5PM–10PM; 1515 S 1500 E: M–Th 11AM–9PM F Sa 11AM–10PM. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
• Moochie's Meatballs & More, 232 E 800 S, ☎ +1 801-596-1350. M–Sa 10:30AM–8:30PM. Sandwich joint specializing in Philly cheesesteaks and meatball subs. $8–15.
• Pago, 878 S. 900 E., ☎ +1 801-532-0777, e-mail: [email protected]. Fine eclectic dining built around a farm-to-table ethos. Make your reservation online. $20–60.
• The Paris — Bistro and Zinc Bar, 1500 South (Emerson) 1500 East, ☎ +1 801-486-5585, e-mail: [email protected]. French cuisine. $20–50.
• The Pie Pizzeria, 1320 E 200 S (next to the University), ☎ +1 801-582-5700. M-Th 11AM-1AM, F Sa 11AM-3AM, Su noon-11PM. Two locations around the corner from each other: one for take-out only and then a dine-in location in a dark but cozy basement with twenty years worth of graffiti covering the walls. Best known for their giant, thickly loaded pizzas, but they also serve salads, sub sandwiches, and beer. $6-20.
• The Red Iguana, 736 W North Temple, ☎ +1 801-322-1489. M–Th 11AM–10PM, F 11AM–11PM, Sa 10AM–11PM, Su 10AM–9PM. Award-winning Mexican restaurant with a menu based on old family recipes. Popular and crowded enough that they have a second location less than two blocks away (866 W South Temple, +1 801-214-6050) and an express version called Taste of Red Iguana a mile east on the State Street side of the City Creek Center mall. $10–20.
• Red Rock Brewing Company, 254 S 200 W, ☎ +1 801-521-7446. Su–Th 11AM–11PM, F Sa 11AM–midnight. Downtown brewpub popular for their seafood dishes from Almond Crusted Trout to simple fish and chips. More focus on the food than you might expect from a place that calls itself a brewery. $10–25.
• Rodízio Grill, 600 South 700 East 2nd Floor (Located in Trolley Square.), ☎ +1 801-220-0500. Brazilian churrascaria. $27.
• Ruth's Diner, 4160 Emigration Canyon Rd (in Emigration Canyon, about two miles east of Hogle Zoo and This is the Place), ☎ +1 801-582-5807. 8AM–10PM daily. Open since 1930, Ruth's features a unique mountain setting and creekside patio seating. The diner is famous for its large "mile high" biscuits. Sunday brunch tends to be very busy.
• Siegfried's Delicatessen, 20 W 200 S, ☎ +1 801-355-3891. Authentic German deli in the heart of downtown. $5–15.
• Spencer's for Steaks and Chops, 255 S West Temple (northeast corner of the Hilton), ☎ +1 801-238-4748. Lunch: 11AM–2PM; Dinner: 5PM–11PM. Upscale steak restaurant. Voted "best steakhouse" by Salt Lake Magazine eight years in a row.
• Squatter's, 147 W Broadway, ☎ +1 801-363-2739. M–Th 11AM–midnight, F 11AM–1AM, Sa 10AM–1AM, Su 10AM–midnight. Tasty local brewpub with a nice patio.
• Training Table. Specializing in gourmet hamburgers and sandwiches with several locations in the Salt Lake Valley. You place your order using a telephone at your table and they buzz you when your food is ready.
• Texas de Brazil, 50 S. Main St. Suite 168 (Located in City Creek Center.), ☎ +1 385-232-8070. Brazilian churrascaria. $43.
• Himalayan kitchen, 360 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Delicious Momos and Nepali/Indian curries.

Drink

The state of Utah has a reputation for unusual and frustrating laws regulating the sale of alcoholic beverages. This reputation was well earned as recently as the late 2000s, but the state has made a series of reforms since then and the situation isn't as bad as you may have heard: you no longer have to sign up for a club membership just to enter a bar, for example. Beer sold in grocery stores and convenience stores is a bit weaker than in other states: 3.2% alcohol by weight (4% by volume). This is also the maximum alcohol content for bars with beer-only licenses, or "taverns"; stronger beer is regulated as if it were a hard liquor.
An establishment with a restaurant liquor license is not allowed to serve alcohol to you unless you signal an intention to order food as well. A special law had to be passed so patrons could order their drinks before they finish looking at the menu. Mixed drinks sold in restaurants are limited to 1.5 ounces of any one spirit plus up to one ounce of additional liquors (and any amount of non-alcoholic additions). Bars and restaurants alike can only serve beer between 10AM and 1AM; wine and cocktails are limited to noon through 1AM. Retail sales of wine, spirits, and "heavy beer" (over 3.2% alcohol by weight) are limited to dedicated liquor stores. In more populous areas, these are mostly a chain of government-owned outlets called the State Liquor and Wine Store. Locations downtown include one at 205 W 400 S (+1 801-533-5901) and one at 255 S 300 E (+1 801-533-6444). The wine prices vary significantly, but the store must sell the wine for at least 67% above cost (beer 75% above cost) plus state taxes. You cannot buy wine openers at the wine stores, so bring your own or be prepared to buy one somewhere else. The selection of wine is fairly large, but the selection of spirits is quite small and centered around "premium" spirits. There is also no case discount available.

• The Bayou, 645 S State St, ☎ +1 801-961-8400. M 11AM–midnight, Tu-F 11AM–1AM, Sa 5PM–1AM, Su 5PM–midnight. A beer lover's paradise with over 300 different beers from all over the world, about 30 of them on tap. The food menu features Cajun and Creole dishes like Jambalaya Pizza, Alligator Cheesecake, and Blackened Catfish Salad. Live music after 9PM on most Friday and Saturday nights.
• Fiddlers Elbow, 1063 E 2100 S, ☎ +1 801-463-9393. M–Th 11AM–11PM, F 11AM–midnight, Sa 9AM–midnight, Su 9AM–10PM. Sugarhouse sports bar that takes on a laid-back bar & grill atmosphere between games. Standard American food: burgers, pizza, etc.
• Gracie's, 326 S West Temple, ☎ +1 801-819-7565. M–Sa 11AM–2AM, Su 10AM–2AM. Stylish two-story gastropub popular with the younger crowd. Has a patio on each floor and beautiful views of both downtown and the mountains. Live music most nights, not just on weekends. Must be 21 or older. $10–30.
• The Woodshed, 60 W 800 S, ☎ +1 801-364-0805. 5PM–2AM daily. The Woodshed is a friendly, fun neighborhood dive with a touch of class and good spirits. Featuring live local music and karaoke and comfortable atmosphere with a large outdoor patio. Smoker friendly with a firepit for the winter and a backyard for the summer nights filled with live music and great times.

Sleep

• Anniversary Inn, Two locations in Salt Lake City: 678 East South Temple and 460 South 1000 East, toll-free: +1-800-324-4152. Themed rooms (e.g., train car, Phantom of the Opera, country garden) make this a unique, fun, and slightly offbeat option. $199.
• Carlton Hotel Inn & Suites, 140 E South Temple, ☎ +1 801-355-3418, toll-free: +1-800-633-3500. Near Temple Square and City Creek Center. Hotel exterior is beautiful — hotel interior is functional, but a bit like a 1980s office.
• DoubleTree Suites, 110 W 600 S, ☎ +1 801-359-7800. From $135.
• Grand America Hotel, 555 S Main St, ☎ +1 801-258-6000, toll-free: +1-800-304-8696. A landmark high-rise on the south end of downtown, intended to be "the best hotel ever built". The five-diamond hotel features a lovely courtyard and some of the most elaborate chandeliers and mirrors in the world. $180–330.
• Haxton Manor, 943 East South Temple, ☎ +1 801-363-4646, toll-free: +1-877-930-4646, e-mail: [email protected]. A luxurious boutique hotel with "a little bit of England right here in Salt Lake City." This is probably one of the most beautiful boutique experiences in the city. Highly recommended. $120–200.
• Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 S West Temple, ☎ +1 801-328-2000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.
• Hotel Monaco, 15 W 200 S, ☎ +1 801-595-0000, toll-free: +1-800-805-1801. An elegant Kimpton hotel in the historic Continental Bank Building high rise. The rooms aren't large, but they are luxurious and cozy. Can be a cheaper option on weekends when it isn't in high demand among business travelers. From $109.
• Hyatt Place, 55 N 400 W (next to The Gateway mall), ☎ +1 801-456-6300.
• Inn on the Hill, 225 North State St, ☎ +1 801-328-1466, e-mail: [email protected]. This 11,000 square foot, 1906 Renaissance Revival style mansion is one of the grandest on Salt Lake's Capitol Hill. The mansion was turned into a lovely boutique hotel in 1998 and restored to its original grandeur in 2004. $150–235.
• Little America Hotel, 500 S Main St, ☎ +1 801-596-5700, toll-free: +1-800-281-7899. $95–200.
• Marriott City Center, 220 S State St (by the Gallivan Plaza), ☎ +1 801-961-8700. From $99.
• Marriott Downtown at City Creek, 75 S West Temple (across the street from the Salt Palace Convention Center and adjacent to the City Creek Center mall), ☎ +1 801-531-0800. From $99.
• Marriott University Park, 480 Wakara Way, ☎ +1 801-581-1000.
• Metropolitan Inn, 524 S West Temple, ☎ +1 801-531-7100, e-mail: [email protected].
• Microtel Inn & Suites Airport, 61 N Tommy Tompson Rd, ☎ +1 801-236-2800. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.
• Off-Broadway Studios, 316 S 400 E (a block east and around the corner to the north from the Library TRAX stop), ☎ +1 801-487-2729, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Suites with kitchens. Golf clubs and bikes available to borrow. Discounts for booking multiple units at once, up to six total. Advance booking required. $90–130 for a single-unit booking.
• Peery Hotel, 110 W Broadway (corner of West Temple (100 W) and Broadway (300 S)), ☎ +1 801-521-4300, toll-free: +1-800-331-0073, e-mail: [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. An upscale boutique hotel. Large windows offer nice views of the mountains, the valley, and the city vibe. $79–139.
• Plaza Hotel, 122 W South Temple (across the street from Temple Square), ☎ +1 801-322-5057, toll-free: +1-800-366-3684, e-mail: [email protected]. The dated exterior looks like Soviet architecture, but the rooms are pleasant, clean and smoke free. Complimentary airport shuttle for individuals. $75–125.
• Radisson, 215 W South Temple, ☎ +1 801-531-7500, toll-free: +1-800-967-9033.
• Red Lion, 161 W 600 S, ☎ +1 801-521-7373. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. $90–105.
• Sheraton Hotel, 150 W 500 S, ☎ +1 801-401-2000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon.
• SpringHill Suites Salt Lake City Airport, 4955 Wiley Post Way, ☎ +1 801-532-6633.
• University Guest House & Conference Center, 110 South Fort Douglas Blvd., ☎ +1 801-587-1000, toll-free: +1-888-416-4075. At Fort Douglas on the University of Utah campus. $120–220.
• Wildflowers Bed and Breakfast, 936 East 1700 South, ☎ +1 801-466-0600, toll-free: +1-800-569-0009. This bed and breakfast, a fully renovated Victorian-era home built in 1891, is located in Salt Lake's Sugarhouse neighborhood. $90–125.
• The Avenues Hostel, 107 North F St, ☎ +1 801-359-3855, toll-free: +1-877-467-8351, e-mail: [email protected]. From $23.
• Camelot Inn & Hostel, 165 W 800 S, ☎ +1 801-688-6196. 18 or older, no convicted felons. Beds from $18–23 per night for one person, $34 per night for two.
• Utah International Hostel, 50 South 800 W, ☎ +1 801-359-4525.

Work

Utah has traditionally had a low unemployment rate compared to the nation as a whole; unfortunately, wages are also below average and have not kept up well with the rising cost of living.

As in the rest of the United States, an assortment of national, state, and local anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from firing employees based on factors like race, nationality, and religion. Protection on the basis of sexual orientation varies between municipalities, but discrimination of this type is no more common in Salt Lake County than anywhere else in the country.

Learn

• The University of Utah
• Brigham Young University
• Western Governors University
• Westminster College of Salt Lake City
• Salt Lake City Community College

Keep Connected

Internet

There is a very small internet bar/cafe culture in the USA. Even then most of the internet bars/cafes tend be located in major urban centers. Accessible WiFi networks, however, are common. The most generally useful WiFi spots are in coffee shops, fast-food chains, and bookshops, but also restaurants and hotels more and more have a network to connect on. Some of them might require you to buy something and you might need a password too, especially in hotels.

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

The general emergency phone number is 911. The USA has a great landline phone system that is easy to use. The country code for the U.S. is +1. The rest of the telephone number consists of 10 digits: a 3-digit area code, and a 7-digit number. Any small grocery store or pharmacy has pre paid domestic or international phone cards. These phone cards are very cheap and offer good rates. The once ubiquitous pay phone is now much harder to find. Likely locations include in or near stores and restaurants, and near bus stops. The cellphone network in the states is slowly getting better but is still not as good when compared to other western countries. Cell phones tend to operate using different frequencies (850 MHz and 1900 MHz) from those used elsewhere in the world (2100 MHz). This used to prevent most foreign phones from working in America. Phones must be tri- or quad-band to work in the U.S. Fortunately, technology has meant that most phones should now be able to pick up one of the U.S. networks. Prepaid phones and top-up cards can be purchased at mobile phone boutiques and at many discount, electronics, office supply and convenience stores. A very basic handset with some credit can be had for under $40.

Post

The US Postal Service is a very good and well priced mail system. There are post offices in every small and large town for sending packages internationally or domestically. Although some might keep longer hours, most are open at least between 9:00am and 5:00pm. If wanting to send a letter or postcard it is best just to leave it in a blue mail box with the proper postage. First-class international airmail postcards and letters (up 28.5 grams) cost $1.10. There are also private postal services like FedEx, UPS, TNT and DHL, which might be better value sometimes and are generally very quick and reliable too.

External Links

• Official Governmental Website
• Official Tourism Website