Dining Information
Downtown Salt Lake City has a wide variety of dining venues, from mouthwatering steak to fast food. Many restaurants are within walking distance of the Plaza Hotel or accessible via lightrail (TRAX). The information below provides a handful of details. For a complete list of options by cuisine or location, go to visitsaltlake.com.
The Closest, Quickest Food Available
JB’s Restaurant is located on the Plaza property. They offer a breakfast buffet, and a soup and salad bar for lunch and dinner, in addition to menu items. This is convenience at its best.
Inside the Family History Library: For those who really don’t wish to quit researching but absolutely must find something to eat….you will find a small vending area on the first floor of the library which offers a variety of frozen and packaged foods, the daily newspapers, a change machine, two microwaves and handy things like plastic forks and napkins. You may purchase something there or bring your own. Obviously, no library materials are allowed inside the eating area, and no food is allowed outside the eating area.
Store it in your Room: One of the advantages of staying at the Plaza is the microwave ovens and refrigerators in every room.
City Creek Center
A few years ago Salt Lake City unveiled the results of a bold renovation. Downtown Rising literally tore down two full blocks of all but the most historical buildings and rebuilt the area from the ground up. The new mixed-used development includes shopping, dining, entertainment, beautiful pathways, fountains, and the restored creek that originally wound its way through that area.
Dining: City Creek begins just southeast of the Plaza Hotel. There are a variety of restaurants located throughout the property, from the yummy Blue Lemon to Johnny Rockets or The Cheesecake Factory.
Food Court: If you enjoy a walk, it is only two and one-half blocks to the City Creek food court, located on the east side of the center. If you prefer to ride, take any TRAX line Southbound (actually travels east toward the mountains when you board) to the next stop (City Center); this will place you nearest the east entrance of the City Creek food court.
Dining at Temple Square
Temple Square Hospitality offers a variety of restaurants within a few blocks of the Plaza. The Nauvoo Cafe ($) is located on the corner of South Temple and Main in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, just one block east of the Plaza and offers quick cafeteria-style/food-to-go dining. On the top floor of that same building, The Garden Restaurant ($$) and The Roof Restaurant ($$$) provide great views along with great food. The Garden is more casual with American Cuisine. The Roof accurately describes itself as “Utah’s premier gourmet dining buffet.”
Just east of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, you will find the Lion House and Beehive House. Turn left on the small path just before you reach the Lion House to find the Lion House Pantry, which features “home-style fare.”
More information about each of the four restaurants mentioned above are available online.
LDS Church Office Building
The cafeteria in the LDS Church Office Building is available to all Family History Library visitors. You may pick up a dining pass at the Family History Library welcome desk. From there, head east through Temple Square and continue out the east gate to the tall office tower to your left. Alternately, you can head north to North Temple and then east to the building. Either way, it is about 1.5 blocks; the address is 50 East North Temple. As you enter the lobby, a hostess should be available to provide directions to the cafeteria, which serves both lunch and dinner for fairly reasonable prices. If you have time, ask about taking the elevator to the 26th floor observation decks for a beautiful view of the city.
The Gateway
A little over one-half mile southwest of The Plaza Hotel is The Gateway–an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment area. The Gateway offers a wide variety of dining venues from Applebee’s to the Rumbi Island Grill. You will find a Japanese sushi bar, a Pub & Grub, and even a Brazilian Grill. A complete listing, along with detailed maps of both levels, may be found on their website.
Food Court: The Canyon Creek Cafes Food Court is located directly west of the Planetarium off
100 South. There you will find several fast food options such as Orange Julius, Subway, and Taco Time.
To get to the Gateway, walk west on South Temple to 400 West and turn left. Or board the Northbound Blue TRAX line (actually headed west when you board) at the Temple Square Station directly in front of the hotel and exit at the Planetarium Station (2nd stop).