Travel Guides

Where to Eat in Salt Lake City – My First Visit to the City

If you’re trying to figure out where to eat in Salt Lake City, I’m sharing the places I visited during my trip and my honest thoughts on each one. This isn’t a list of the “best restaurants” or a ranked guide, just a real account of where I ended up eating and what I’d recommend based on my experience. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or passing through, I hope this helps you decide where to eat in Salt Lake City with a little less guesswork.


☀️ Breakfast & Brunch Spots I Tried

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day so I’m happy to share some of these great places in SLC with you!

Eva’s Bakery

I visited Eva’s because it is an iconic French-style café that appeared on every blog I read before arriving in SLC. Although I had high expectations for Eva’s, I was not at all disappointed. The coffee was fantastic, the breakfast was mouth-watering, and the whole restaurant was a vibe.

The Park Café

The Park Cafe was one of the last places I visited on my trip, and I’m so glad I squeezed it in. It’s located right across from Liberty Park, which is a beautiful space, and I highly recommend a walk around the pond after you eat. The Park Cafe is a classic diner-style breakfast spot with great portion sizes, welcoming staff, and excellent food. I ordered the Michigan Hash and very much enjoyed it.

Bonus note: The house-made jam here is incredible. Do not miss out on it!

Eggsburgh

I stayed at the Peery Hotel during my visit to Salt Lake City, and Eggsburgh is attached to the hotel, so I had to try it out. It’s a very welcoming space with lots of sunlight and bright yellow decor. The menu is impressive, with a mix of healthy, hearty, and super sweet breakfast options. I ordered the strawberry pancakes with the glazes (sweet cream and sweet strawberry) on the side. I was really glad to have gotten those on the side because both were too sweet for me to eat. The pancakes were delicious, though, and the strawberries were fresh!

Sunroom Coffee

A beautiful, sun-filled café with minimal decor and a calming vibe. While it’s primarily a coffee shop, they also have a great selection of bagels, pastries, muffins, and merch. I came here for a slow morning to get some work done and really enjoyed how peaceful the space felt. It’s attached to an impressive coworking space called SLX Work Club. If you’re looking for a trendy spot for remote work, I’d highly advise checking it out. It has ALL the ameneties you could want in SLC.

Hub & Spoke Diner

Hub & Spoke is a little out of the downtown area, but if you’re visiting the Botanical Gardens or the Natural History Museum, this is a great stop. There are indoor and outdoor seating spaces, and the staff was very welcoming. The menu was full, and there were so many options I wanted to try. I settled on biscuits and gravy, which did not at all disappoint. In addition to food, Hub & Spoke had some great brunch drink options!

Atomic Biscuit

Usually, when I travel, I have a rule to only visit local spots and avoid all chain restaurants, but the menu at Atomic Biscuit won me over. While I was waiting in line, I was looking at all the tables around me to see what they ordered, and the portion sizes were HUGE. I opted for a smaller menu item and got the fried french toast and fruit cup. Although I wasn’t a big fan of the fried french toast, it was exactly as it should be. This was a cute place with indoor and outdoor seating, but it was very busy and not a great space for working.

The Rose Establishment

I stopped by The Rose Establishment for breakfast right as they opened, and there was already a small group waiting outside—a good sign. The lobby is airy, light, and welcoming, with plenty of seating and a relaxed vibe. I ordered the avocado 9–5 sandwich and a sunset lemonade, which ended up being one of the best lemonades I’ve ever had. The café is intentionally tech-free (no guest Wi-Fi), so it’s not the spot to set up your laptop—but it’s perfect for a quiet breakfast, solo visit, or catching up with a friend. I loved the atmosphere and would happily return for brunch.



🍔 Casual Lunches & Midday Bites

Proper Burger & Brewery

Proper is one business operating in two buildings side by side. One is a brewery and one is a restaurant. I visited the brewery building but still ordered from the restaurant. They have the same kitchen and menu, and will bring your order over to the brewery building if you order from that building. I ordered the Bacon Proper, and it was very good. The coolest part of the brewery is that there is excellent entertainment. They had skeeball, a pool table, a Pac-Man machine, shuffleboard, and more! If visiting with friends, this would be a good spot to spend a couple of hours.

Cluck Truck

When visiting Fisher Brewery, Cluck Truck, a chicken-focused food truck, was parked outside and getting a lot of attention! I wasn’t ready to eat yet, but I checked out their menu and immediately knew that’s what I wanted for dinner. The people waiting around the truck were talking about how good it was. I came back that evening to place my order and was very satisfied with the Grilled Chicken Bowl! Some locals told me there is also a brick-and-mortar spot inside HallPass at the Gateway too.

The Pie Pizzeria

This place has old-school Pizza Hut vibes. Bring the whole kids’ soccer team after a game vibes. However, I don’t know that I’d revisit this place. I ordered a pepperoni calzone, basic. I got the cheesiest calzone I’ve ever eaten. There were just bricks of cheese in this thing. Although it was well done, cooked as it should have been, the amount of cheese made me almost sick. I didn’t even eat my leftovers because I knew it wouldn’t bode well in my stomach.

There is a cool rooftop balcony with a fireplace that adds to the ambiance, but it was well-visited, not the cleanest, and a bit rundown. The view, though, was a treat.


🌇 Dinner Spots I Visited

The Copper Onion

This was one of the most recommended spots before my trip, so I came in with high expectations. I made a reservation (as advised), but on a Thursday evening, there was still plenty of open seating. I ordered the Steak Frites—the steak was cooked beautifully, but the fries were way too salty and over-seasoned, which threw off the whole dish. Since it’s a simple plate with just two components, both really need to shine. I was also not impressed with the outside seating options. The patio felt more hectic than relaxing. It’s right on a busy downtown street next to a movie theater, with constant traffic (both vehicles and pedestrians) and noise—not exactly the calm dinner vibe I was hoping for. Although I didn’t have a bad experience, I’d probably not revisit the Copper Onion if I were in SLC again in the future.

White Horse

White Horse has earned its place on my Where to Eat in Salt Lake City list! The restaurant and bar are beautiful. I’ve never seen a rolling library ladder at a bar before, but I enjoyed watching the bartenders use it to grab different liquors from the giant wall of bottles while I sat at the bar.

I ordered a Tainted Love cocktail and the Clam Carbonara (images below). Both were perfectly crafted. I had not a single complaint. The bartender was welcoming, professional, and the entire experience was impressive. The restaurant was very busy and loud, but still felt private and small. I would absolutely visit again when in SLC.

Red Iguana

Most cities have that iconic restaurant that has been around for decades and family generations after generations have dined there – for Salt Lake City, that’s the Red Iguana. Since 1965, the Cardenas’ family has been in the restaurant business serving up delicious mexican food. Unfortunately, I forgot my ID when I visited, so I didn’t get to try one of their famous margaritas, but I did enjoy a delicious, fully packed quesadilla. The Red Iguana should absolutely be on your Where to Eat in Salt Lake City list.

Gracie’s

Gracie’s was just across the parking lot from The Peery Hotel, where I stayed, so I wandered over after hearing live music coming from the patio. The space is huge, with multiple rooms, a large bar area, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. When I visited, there was a trivia night happening inside and a live band playing outside, which gave the whole place a lively, upbeat vibe. I grabbed a seat on the patio and enjoyed the view with my meal. It’s not fancy, but it’s fun, laid-back, and works just as well solo as it would with a group. I’d definitely go back.

Final Thoughts

This list is just a snapshot of where to eat in Salt Lake City based on my own trip. I know there are so many more restaurants to try, but I hope this gives you a starting point if you’re visiting and want honest thoughts on real meals. I had no trouble finding restaurants that served up whatever I was craving. The options are plenty in SLC!

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