guide to SLC

tomorrow we are off to home sweet salt lake city for the holidays!

to celebrate this, i made a little guide to salt lake city.

it includes some of our very favorite places to eat + things to do!

we will be taking full advantage of these while we're home to visit,

and hope you'll save them to check out if you're a salt laker or a visitor! xo

• the well-traveled wife's 
guide to salt lake city •

{restaurants}

Citris Grill
2991 East 3300 South | Salt Lake City, UT 84109
(801) 466-1202
probably our very very favorite place...the neighborhood squeeze! this is our default place 
to eat in salt lake city, and it's just a cozy little place with the best food. our favorites 
are: the southwest chicken wrap, cobb salad, and #2 pizza. it's also always fun to try 
the "grilled cheese of the day" with corn chowder soup. live music on thursday nights!

The Dodo

1355 East 2100 South | Salt Lake City, UT 84105 (801) 486-2473 a classic salt lake spot famous for the smoked turkey sandwich with house-made bbq dipping  sauce. {amazing..get it with swiss cheese}. their tollhouse pie is also a must.

Porcupine Grill
3690 Fort Union Boulevard | Salt Lake City, UT 84121
(801) 942-5555
same owners as the dodo, but a different feel right at the base of the ski resort canyons. 
you truly can't go wrong at porcupine. we love the thai chicken pizza, any pasta, the 
nachos, and the unbelievable chicken noodle soup with their baci rolls...best we've ever had!

Stoneground

249 East 400 South | Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 364-1368 right across from the downtown library in a second-story loft, this restaurant is always fun  to go out to, and the food is fabulous. all of their pasta dishes are top-notch, they have  their own homemade balsamic vinaigrette, and the tiramisu is a perfect end to any meal there.

Settebello
260 South 200 West | Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 322-3556
authentic italian pizza that will knock your socks off. we always love coming here.
*it can be crowded on the weekends, so walk next store and try red rock brewery if so.
**they just opened a gelato shop next to the restaurant..amazing!

Sawadee Thai Restaurant
754 East South Temple | Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801) 328-8424
we are constantly on the search for the best pad thai anywhere we go, and this is still 
the one to beat. enough said. the curry is also great here, and the atmosphere is 
so nice. you won't be disappointed here.

Cucina Toscana
307 West Pierpont Avenue | Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801) 328-3463
we love italian food, & this place won the job of catering our wedding. celebs dine here with 
they come to salt lake, and it's some of the best food you can find in the city! the ravioli 
is a must. go for a special occasion, since it's pricey. bon appetito!

Maxwell's

357 South Main Street | Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 328-0304

you know this place is good, because oftentimes you'll see NBA players eating here downtown..
great food and fun classed- up sports bar atmosphere...get the fat boy pizza!

Cafe Rio
Multiple Locations | Salt Lake City, UT 
this place may be americanized mexican, but it's the best americanized mexican you can 
dream of. secret tortilla recipes + the best sweet pork you've ever tried = amazing food. 
our favorite is the pork salad on whole wheat with black beans. try their specials
and their tres leches..along with some mint limeade. we dream about this food 
now that we live away from it! 

Cafe Trio
680 South 900 East | Salt Lake City, UT 84102 
801.533.8746
another great spot...love the feel of this restaurant, and the food matches the setting.
great italian food with a flair, and the flatbread is the best way to start the meal!

Em's Restaurant
271 Center Street | Salt Lake City, UT 84103
(801) 596-0566
this restaurant has a great name, don't you think? :)
we love this charming little spot with great, unique gourmet food, right up by the capitol.
we even met phil dunphy here once, so what's not to like? {pricier}

Root's Cafe
3474 South 2300 East | Salt Lake City, UT 84109

(801) 277-6499

healthy, fresh, organic, natural food. what could be better?
we love the juice bar, quinoa of the day, the wraps, salads, etc. 
you always feel good after eating here!

Red Iguana
736 West North Temple | Salt Lake City, UT 84116
(801) 322-1489
this is one of the most popular authentic mexican joints in town. it has incredible reviews, and people love it! we are not big fans of the spicy food, so we get combo plates with less spice..but there are plenty of options for all ends of the mexican food spectrum!

Caffe Niche 
779 E. 300 S. | Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
(801) 433-3380
YUM!!!!! this is the perfect lunch spot. it is a darling restaurant with the most amazing and unique food which is all locally grown. we always get the new specials since 
they have never failed to impress us!

Cucina Deli
1026 East 2nd Avenue | Salt Lake City, UT 84103
(801) 322-3055
one of our most common stops for a quick dinner/ treat. we have so many good memories
here, since we would come here all the time when we were first dating! it's right by the U campus in the avenues, and i can't get anything there other than thepesto cranberry pasta because it is my very favorite. love the bread pudding too!

Faustina
454 East Broadway | Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 746-4441
classy italian spot with lighter pastas and great atmosphere..
we've always had amazing service eating here.

Chow Truck
Various Locations
SLC's most popular food truck! you can look online to see where it will be, but it's 
worth finding to experience the yummy asian food.

Ruth's Diner
4160 Emigration Canyon Road | Salt Lake City, UT 84108
(801) 582-5807
a classic roadside diner up emigration canyon..our favorite thing is to bike up the canyon 
to have breakfast here {including their amazing scones}, but it's a fun setting for dinner too! 

Les Madeline's Bakery 
216 East 500 South |  Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 355-2294
simply heavenly..we loved meeting here for little lunch dates back in college. 
the pastries are to die for, and all lunch items are great.

Cafe Terigo 
424 Main Street | Park City, UT 84060
(435) 645-9555
we're obsessed with this park city restaurant.. so classy with incredible food! plus, it's a perfect 
excuse to go to one of the best places in utah: park city {my hometown}. only 20 minutes from SLC, this restaurant {and town} is a winner. we love the salmon!

The Robin's Nest 
311 South Main Street | Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 466-6378
some of the very best sandwiches and bread you can find. the chicken salad 
sandwich is our go-to.

Red Butte Cafe

1414 S Foothill Dr | Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (801) 581-9498

very healthy and gourmet food. the fajitas are always a good order, along with 

the french onion soup and the southwest chicken salad. great desserts as well!

Market Street Grill

48 Market Street | Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 322-4668 an SLC classic with the best seafood you can find in the city. we love the clam chowder, salmon, caramel ice cream, and especially the raspberry almond torte...and chocolate  cake..and fruit tart..and sabayon.. their desserts are the best in the west!

Beehive Tea Room

12 West Broadway | Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 328-4700 vintage, CHARMING cafe with the best lunch items and all different flavors of hot chocolate. safe to say this is one of my favorite places in slc! they have all different little couches & chairs to sit and sip in.

Bruges Waffles & Frites
336 West Broadway | Salt Lake City, UT 84101  
(801) 363-4444
you haven't had a true belgian waffle recipe until you go to belgium, or to this little shop 
run by a belgian man. pierre is the owner, and he is the best. he makes you feel like you're in europe! they make carmelized waffles, and you can choose between vanilla or cinnamon. they are good any way you like. our favorite is to top them with creme fraiche and strawberries or peaches {when they're in season}.
the frites and all of the dipping sauces are also great! give it a try.

Vosen's Bread Paradise
249 West 200 South | Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 322-2424
authentic european bakery. mainly german, but has italian and french items as well. 
it's in a darling old house downtown and well-worth visiting.

Gourmandise

250 S 300 E | Salt Lake City, UT
(801) 328-3330

is it obvious yet how much we/ i love french places? this is also a gem and you can't 
go wrong with your order!

Hatch Family Chocolates

376 8th Avenue | Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (801) 532-4912 this place had been made famous from being on TV, and it lives up to the hype. if you're a dark chocolate fan, go get the hot chocolate..you won't be disappointed!

Mini's Cupcakes
14 East 800 South | Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 363-0608
every city guide has to have at least one good cupcake shop.. i think all cupcakes are 
overrated, but this place is darling and actually has some cute cupcake flavors (including 
a "breakfast at tiffany's") that can make cute gifts or treats for a party.

Sweet Tooth Fairy
1334 Foothill Drive | Salt Lake City, UT 84108
(801) 582-9703
another darling sweets shop where you can find the cutest and yummiest treats!

Ruby Snap Cookies
770 South 300 West  Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 834-6111

here you can find the most unique flavors of cookies with cute names.

definitely worth dropping by! we love the audrey cookie: made with almond

dough, cranberries & white chocolate.

...other favorites worth mentioning...

• Noodles & co. -just a pasta chain, but we're obsessed with pesto cavatappi on whole grain noodles.
• Zupas- husband's favorite spot for a quick lunch..soup, pasta, sandwiches, desserts.
• Copper Onion-unique and pretty good, but not our very favorite. people love it though! 
• Blue Lemon- great spot right downtown across from the temple. .we love all the salads.
• Pizzeria Limone-fun unique flavors of pizza!
• Hagermann's Bakehouse Cafe- best turkey pomodoro sandwich downtown..get a cookie too!
• Millcreek Cafe- great breakfast
• Eggs in the City- very fun breakfast spot
• Lone Star- best tacos

{Sights}

Temple Square:

beautiful always, especially with the lights at christmastime or the gorgeous flowers 

in the springtime. you can visit the temple visitors center, see the conference 

center across the street, and just stroll and enjoy the grounds. the temple is

one of the most stunning buildings you'll ever see!

City Creek Center:

right off temple square, this new and updated mall/restaurant area is one of the

nicest places in SLC. stroll the shops with a creek running through the middle,

and get some food at one of the many options there.

Broadway Theatre:

this theatre is always showing unique documentaries

and movies from film festivals that you wouldn't find at a regular theatre.

State Capitol Building:

one of my very favorite buildings in the city! the capitol sits up on the hill

and bears resemblance to our national capitol. visitors can go inside

anytime, and the grounds and inside are beautiful. i used to work there

at the legislature and later in the governor's office, so it is near and dear to my heart.

Ski Resorts

even if you don't ski, at least go visit the gorgeous resorts: alta, snowbird, brighton, solitude, park city, deer valley, the canyons, etc. our favorite is alta.

Capitol Theatre

there is always some fun show playing here, and it's a great historic 

building to see broadway shows/ballets/ musicals at. 

Pioneer Theater

our favorite theater in town..we didn't miss a show when we were in college

and living on campus right by it! check out the shows and go to one!

Millcreek Canyon

i grew up literally around the corner from the mouth of this canyon,

so it is my very favorite. it has amazing hikes, campgrounds, and

a peaceful road to run. also great for cross country skiing in the winter.

Jazz Games

if you're a sports fan, go to energy solutions arena to watch our utah jazz!

Trolley Square

this is a fun shopping/dining area converted from old trolley carbarns

into the fun place it is today. fun to stroll around..there are chain stores 

as well as unique little boutiques that are worth checking out.

Gallivan Center

you can ice skate here in the winter, or go to great concerts in the summer!

Downtown Farmers Market

we love the farmers market at pioneer park in the summertime..

Utah Museum of Fine Art

this really is a fun place to go on a date. the building is beautiful, and they

have some great collections, as well as interesting exhibits always coming through.

Olympic Park

if interested, you can always go by rice-eccles stadium to see the olympic park

and see the torch that held the olympic flame, as well as the site of the

opening and closing ceremonies from the 2002 winter olympics.

9th and 9th

the cutest local shopping/eating area. go park and walk around! don't miss thai garden,

dolcetti gelato, children's hour book store & boutique, or hip & humble.

Park City

my hometown! park city is the best, and everyone who goes there falls in love with it.

it's a darling ski town 30 minutes from downtown salt lake, and there is a lot to do 

there..good eating, skiing, art galleries, and shopping. don't miss main street!

{home of the sundance film festival and the 2002 winter olympics.}

i could keep going and going, but that's all for now.

i'm sure we will be adding to this list and remembering lots of other favorites,

but this is a start. if you know SLC, comment with any other tips!

XOXO

the well-traveled wife