Before Park City became the home of world-class mountain resorts, the Sundance Film Festival and a venue for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, it was a mining town. It was discovered in 1868 by soldiers stationed in Salt Lake City hunting for silver. It’s 35 minutes away from Salt Lake City and sits 7,000 feet above sea level in the Wasatch Mountains. These days, visitors don’t have to dig at all to uncover the treasures Park City has to offer.
Blind Dog
Our top recommendation for visitors, the Blind Dog(pictured above) is a Park City institution. Owners Penn and Derrick Kinsey set the stage with a list of “rules” on the menu. The first: “it is imperative that you maintain a sense of humor.” The food includes jet-fresh seafood, the classic Dreamloaf and the best mac-n-cheese we’ve ever had.
Riverhorse
The Riverhorse on Main boasts the DiRoNA Award, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Rating, and the AAA four diamond award. Ask to sit in the absolutely stunning atrium or on the patio for views of Main Street, framed exquisitely by the mountains. Then, enjoy the scallops and lobster tail or the restaurant’s signature macadamia nut-crusted halibut. If the seasonal menu includes gnocchi, order it.
Riverhorse Provisions
This quaint post is a specialty market, deli, and coffee shop, and features “gourmet on the go.” Breakfast is served all day, and there are plenty of delicious lunch options (we’re looking at you, Braised Pork Belly BLT) to enjoy, too.
Sammy’s Bistro Sammy’s started as a booth at the Park Silly Sunday Market (and has expanded to its current space in the Prospector district. We’re particular fans of the Chivito Club Sandwich, because how can you go wrong with pork tenderloin layered with bacon, fried eggs, lettuce and tomato on a hoagie roll?
Freshies Lobster Co.Freshies Lobster has been serving fresh Maine lobster here since 2009. Like Sammy’s, Freshies started at the Park Silly Market, expanded to a cafe in Park City and plans to open an SLC location soon.
To Drink: Booze
High West Distillery High West(pictured above) is the world’s only ski-in distillery, snugged at the base of the Town Lift, and loaded to the gills with mountain west character. Utah’s first legal whiskey distillery since 1870 also makes vodka. Educational tours of the distilling operation are also available.
No Name Saloon
Come for the drinks, stay for the food (by which we mean the buffalo burger), and revel in the scene, which will be packed with locals, visitors and memorabilia. Pro tip: be sure to enjoy a cocktail on the heated rooftop bar for a bird’s eye view of Main Street.
Downstairs
A cross between a nightclub, a lounge, and performance space, Downstairs regularly books famous musicians, bands, celebrity acts, and DJs. Another great dance spot is just a bit up Main Street - The Spur has it all: breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and dancing.
To Drink: Brews
Atticus Coffee, Books & Teahouse
The coffee and bookshop is a relaxed, eclectic mix of classic books, the best journals and cards to be found in town, and really cool (seriously!) Atticus-branded products. Atticus offers 65 varieties of direct-sourced loose leaf teas to choose from and uses Millcreek Coffee Roasters’ beans and local Wasatch bagels and baked goods. Our favorite treat is the Boo Radley bar.
Hugo Coffee
Friendly service, a dogs-are-welcome atmosphere and small-batch roasted beans make Hugo Coffee one of the most popular spots in Kimball Junction, right off if I-80. Grab a nitrogen-infused cold brew coffee while you’re there.
Pink Elephant Coffee Pink Elephant(pictured above) sources single-origin green coffee beans, roasts them in small batches and makes them into drinks with meticulous attention to detail. You then get to sip them out of most adorable, energizing blue mugs. A portion of Pink Elephant Coffee sales goes to preserving and protecting wildlife and open lands in the west.
Townshend’s Park City Tea Townshend's is a place where you can bring a book or your laptop, set up camp, and pour yourself steaming cup after steaming cup to enjoy. Most days of the week you’ll find various experts and artists teaching classes and holding discussions, but there are little nooks for some solitude, too. This one is a hidden gem we hope you have time to enjoy.
To Shop
Historic Main Street
If you do nothing else in Park City, take a stroll up and down Main Street. Boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, spas, jewelers and specialty shops make up the more than 200 unique businesses lining the street.
Dolly’s Bookstore
No trip to Main Street is complete without a stop in Dolly’s Bookstore, an independent staple of the Historic Park City Main Street for more than 30 years. There’s a children’s section packed with books and toys, and at least one cat stalking around the store.
Flight Boutique
High-fashion items for any budget can be found here, along with the most adorable children’s clothing (called Flight Littles) to be found in town.
Cake Boutique
This Main Street boutique carries lines like Rag & Bone, Elizabeth and James and Citizens of Humanity. The focus here is modern—but not too trendy. Come here for classic items and premium denim.Gorsuch Gorsuch is a relatively new addition on Main Street. The fine luxury ski and fashion store offers super-high-end ski wear, home decor and furniture, and a unique and frequently sparkly collection of apparel.
Tanger Outlets
You’ll find more than 65 brand name outlet stores here, including Brooks Brothers, J Crew and Polo. Other favorites include Old Navy, Nike, and Gap. If you’re in the mood to shop hop, we recommend coming as soon as it opens to find a good parking spot.
