5 Hot Spots to Warm Up: Park City Fun!
So, maybe Utah isn’t what immediately comes to mind when you think about a happening nightlife and fun aprés ski beverages. While Utah does have its fair share of interesting liquor laws, this is Park City, home of Sundance Film Festival and Deer Valley as well.
This influx of money and culture has resulted in some excellent restaurants and bars with a wide range of both tastes and price ranges. While it’s definitely not a party till dawn kind of town, there’s plenty of excellent options. Here are five great ones to get you started.
- High West Distillery. A veritable Park City institution, no visit is complete without hitting this beautiful distillery, especially if you’re a whiskey lover. It has the extra distinction of being the only ski in/out distillery in the world. They serve a full menu as well.
- Canyons Umbrella Bar. At the bottom of what was once Canyons Mountain, this is an excellent place to go with kids. They have roving jugglers and balloon animal artists as well as an excellent beer selection and reasonably priced food. What more can a parent want?
- St Regis Hotel. This high-end resort at Deer Valley offers guests free gourmet hot chocolate in the afternoon. The J&G Grill has excellent food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there’s free champagne after the daily champagne sabering exhibition. The resort also has a hot tub and a heated pool and nightly S’mores over the fire downstairs.
- Viking Yurt. This is an experience for sure. Take a sleigh ride up and then enjoy a traditional Norwegian multi-course meal in a cozy, yet elegant yurt. Beverages come in Viking goblets!
- Wasatch Brewery. Founded by a Midwestern transplant in the late 80s, this is the oldest microbrewery in Utah. They offer brewpub fare and an excellent selection of handcrafted brews, including the Polygamy Porter, a nod to Utah’s most famous residents.
Here’s a brief overview of Utah’s unique alcohol laws:
- They measure alcohol content by weight, unlike everywhere else where it’s measured by volume. So, the 3.2% ABW beer is actually 4% ABV.
- Beer sold in grocery stores or on draft is always 3.2%. Beer sold in bottles at restaurants, bars, or in the state-owned liquor stores is usually stronger.
- Mixed drinks can only contain 1.5 oz of the main liquor, but you can order shots on the side.
- State-owned liquor stores close on Sundays.
- You must purchase food with your alcohol at most bars and restaurants.
While you won’t find a hardcore party scene, you will find a wide variety of high-quality restaurants and bars. Just check our Park City section on our site to save money on your vacation and enjoy more of what Park City has to offer.this winter!