Park City, Utah, is a world-class ski destination offering 9,000 acres of skiable terrain. Skiers and snowboarders all over the West Coast flock to this small town, which is just 40 minutes southeast of Salt Lake City.
After a long day on the slopes, skiers expect a good meal, so Park City has also become known for its food scene. Local chefs have built restaurant empires, while high-end resorts feature dining that combines great views and excellent food. But the dining opportunities go beyond just restaurants. In this town that caters to an affluent crowd, chefs and hoteliers are continually creating unique and memorable meals. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or just want a really romantic date night, Park City delivers.
Here are eight fantastic and unique dining experiences to consider on your next trip to Park City, listed in no particular order.
1. Go For A Sleigh Ride
For a romantic winter date night or special family gathering, take a short sleigh ride up the snowy slopes of the Park City Mountain Resort to the rustic Snowed Inn Lodge. You’ll be tucked under warm blankets while a cowboy navigates the sleigh uphill. Inside the lodge, you’ll find a fire crackling and live music playing. Look out the windows for lovely mountain views, and maybe even a snowfall. Your three-course meal will include a starter, generous main course with sides, and a brownie with ice cream for dessert. Wine and beer are available for purchase. At the conclusion of the evening, you’ll be whisked back down the hill in the sleigh.
This adventure is well suited for a multigenerational gathering, since children of all ages can be accommodated. Reservations are required. If you’re visiting during the holidays, be sure to make reservations far in advance. Though the sleigh ride is short, it can be very cold, so dress accordingly.
2. Have Dinner In A Yurt
Instead of taking a sleigh ride to a lodge, you can opt to take one to a yurt. This time, the sleigh is pulled uphill for 1,800 feet along a snowy trail that concludes at The Viking Yurt. Joy and Geir Vik came up with the idea for the experience and opened the yurt in 1999. Inside this unique structure, you’ll see a baby grand piano. Throughout the evening, guests enjoy music performed by a concert pianist.
This 3.5-hour experience includes a six-course gourmet dinner. You’ll begin the evening with a cup of hot glogg, a traditional Nordic beverage, followed by soup, salad, an entree, a cheese course, and dessert. Beer, wine, and cocktails are available for purchase. Just one seating is available each evening and is limited to 40 guests.
This is a pricey experience and not one suitable for children. However, it is a wonderful option for couples seeking a romantic evening out. Reservations are required. If you can’t make it for dinner, but do want to see the yurt, try coming for lunch instead.
3. Enjoy Fireside Dining
Large, open fireplaces always make a room feel cozier. But at Fireside Dining, they aren’t just for ambience — they are where much of your meal will be cooked. You’ll enjoy four courses served from stone fireplaces high up in the mountains of Deer Valley, just above Park City. The dining room features large windows that provide lovely views of the surrounding mountains.
The meal begins with warm raclette cheese served with cured meats and freshly baked baguettes. Then you’ll choose from several entrees, like veal and mushroom stew, roast leg of lamb, and beef short ribs. The perfect winter dessert of fondue concludes the dining experience. Beer, wine, and cocktails are available for purchase. Come hungry, since this is an all-you-can-eat meal.
To make your dining experience even better, arrange for a horse-drawn sleigh ride before or after your meal.
While this is a pricey experience, the setting is casual and very family friendly.
4. Sample Seafood On The Slopes
You may not expect excellent seafood high up in the mountains, but that’s exactly what you’ll get at Rime Seafood and Raw Bar. Located in a refurbished cabin at the top of the Jordanelle ski run, Rime is the first-ever slopeside raw bar. And since it’s also a ski-in, ski-out establishment, you can enjoy a meal of fresh seafood at any time during your day of skiing. If you don’t ski, or just want to visit the restaurant, you can purchase a foot passenger lift ticket.
Chef Matt Harris’s menu features dishes like a Connecticut-style lobster roll, chopped salad with lobster, and chopped ahi tartare. If you need to warm up, try the clam chowder. Pop in between 2 and 3 p.m. to enjoy the oyster happy hour with gorgeous views of the Jordanelle Reservoir below.
Rime Raw Bar operates seasonally, and its hours of operation are limited, so be sure to check the website for the most up-to-date information.
5. Dine Outdoors Amidst Mountain Scenery
Many of Park City’s fantastic dining experiences take place during the winter. But since this is a year-round destination, it’s important to point out that the Glitretind Restaurant in the Stein Eriksen Lodge offers award-winning summertime al fresco dining. Take a seat on their wooden terrace and admire the surrounding forested mountain slopes. Summer days bring hundreds of mountain bikers to this area, but at night, it’s a quiet oasis.
Chefs Zane Holmquist and Jonathon Miller create seasonal menus that feature local and sustainable ingredients. The Stein Eriksen Lodge is home to a wine collection of 18,000 bottles worth over 1.5 million dollars. So if you enjoy wine, be sure to ask your server for recommendations.
The lodge is named for the famed Nordic skier Stein Eriksen, who lived for many years in Park City. As a tribute to him, the chefs sometimes include Swedish meatballs on the menu. Definitely order them if they’re available.
6. Have A Drink Fireside
Maybe you’re not in the mood for a whole meal, but you want an exceptional location for a drink. Head to the St. Regis Bar in Deer Valley for great views and memorable cocktails. During the winter, you can ski up to this bar, but at other times of year, you’ll need to take the funicular from the parking lot.
It’s said that the Bloody Mary was invented at the St. Regis in New York, so this hotel chain takes the drink really seriously. Be sure to try their version of the drink with wasabi foam, rimmed with black lava salt, and accompanied by a pipette of spice so that you can customize the heat of your beverage. If Bloody Marys aren’t your thing, try an Apple Crisp made with Black Feather Whiskey, hot apple cider, and cinnamon.
If the weather permits, head outside, grab a seat by the fireplace, and appreciate the views of the surrounding mountains. While the drinks are the main attraction, the food is also excellent. Try the steak frites, the desert mountain cheeseburger, or the black truffle pizza.
The bar is restricted to guests 21 and over. This place can get very busy during the ski season, but a visit during the off-season shouldn’t be too crowded.
7. Savor A Locally Sourced, Wood-Fired Dinner
The name of this restaurant says it all: Firewood. Every dish is cooked over a wood fire. Whether you order the lamb loin, halibut, or pork chop, it’ll be expertly prepared over fire. It was Chef John Murcko’s vision to focus on the most primitive form of cooking and combine it with locally sourced ingredients. Even the cocktail menu is inspired by the wood-fired theme. The Fireline, a deep, purple, smoky concoction, includes tequila, mezcal, curacao, hibiscus syrup, lemon juice, and citrus ash.
Located in a historic building on Park City’s Main Street, Firewood features decor that’s almost stark, with reclaimed bricks and timers. Guests can watch their food being prepared through the large bank of windows dividing the seating area and kitchen.
This relative newcomer to Park City has become wildly popular. Be sure to make reservations in advance.
8. Combine Mines And Wines
Park City has a long history of silver mining dating back to 1868, and from those days come great stories. The Fox School of Wine weaves those tales into a unique 3-hour wine-tasting experience. Perfectly paired snacks are provided along the way.
Guests will enjoy five stops throughout Park City, including the Ontario Mine, the Miner’s Hospital, and the Red Light District. The guide will share the significance of each of these places in the city’s history. The executive sommelier, Kirsten Fox, has selected a variety of wines, including a Napa pinot noir, Oregon rose, and French Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Much of this tour takes place outdoors, so dress appropriately. Guests must be at least 21 years of age.