12 Amazing Hidden Gems in Salt Lake City, Utah, Only Locals Know About

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Salt Lake City completely threw me for a loop. Beyond temples and ski resorts, I discovered neighborhoods like Sugar House, where I sipped the strongest coffee of my life while locals passionately debated wildflower spots like it was breaking news. And the Marmalade District? Those colorful historic homes led me to galleries where artists actually wanted to chat instead of just selling me stuff.

After weeks exploring this city, I found some of the best places in Salt Lake City that tourists never see. Antelope Island blew my mind with bison roaming wild against the Great Salt Lake backdrop, while the funky shops along 9th and 9th had me digging through vinyl records for hours. These 12 spots proved SLC has evolved into something way cooler and more interesting than its straight-laced reputation ever let on.

Underrated Places to Discover in Salt Lake City

Looking to uncover Salt Lake City’s hidden gems? From the enigmatic sculptures of Gilgal Gardens to the historic charm of the Marmalade District, Utah’s capital offers a plethora of lesser-known destinations waiting to be explored.

Stroll through the artistic avenues of the 9th and 9th neighborhood, savor the unique flavors at The Pearl, a Vietnamese bar known for its delightful dishes, or experience the vibrant energy of Don’t Tell Comedy, a pop-up comedy show in unconventional locations. Explore the tranquil landscapes of the International Peace Gardens, the innovative exhibits at the Leonardo Museum, or the serene beauty of the Red Butte Garden. Whether you’re into art, history, or unique adventures, here are 12 of Salt Lake City’s most underrated destinations!

1. Eccles Theater

• 📍 Location: Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Broadway fans 🎭, architecture lovers 🏛️, night-out seekers 🍸
• 📸 Top Experiences: Catching a Broadway show, sipping cocktails on the Delta Lounge terrace, exploring Main Street at night
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: October to April during the peak performance season 🎶
• 🏨 Where to Stay: The Grand America Hotel – Elegant downtown hotel with spa, dining, and walkable access to the theater

Eccles Theater is where Salt Lake’s culture game seriously steps up. It hosts Broadway productions, concerts, and comedy shows in a space that feels both grand and personal. The interior design mixes clean modern lines with warm lighting, making every performance feel like an event.

Before the show starts, check out the Delta Lounge, a hidden gem on the upper level. It has sweeping city views and craft cocktails, perfect for a chill pre-show hangout. The vibe is classy without being stuffy.

You’ll find the theater right on Main Street, surrounded by light rail stops and local restaurants, so it’s easy to turn the evening into a full downtown night out. Whether you’re here for Hamilton or a lesser-known touring show, Eccles delivers big-city entertainment in a space that feels local and special.

2. Gilgal Gardens

• 📍 Location: East Downtown, Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Sculpture lovers 🗿, photo hunters 📸, weird art fans 🎨
• 📸 Top Experiences: Finding the Joseph Smith sphinx, walking the stone pathways, exploring at golden hour
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: April to October for pleasant weather and ideal lighting 🌤️
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Kimpton Hotel Monaco – Artsy downtown hotel with bold interiors and a short drive to the garden

Nestled behind an average-looking residential street, Gilgal Gardens feels like a secret Salt Lake locals whisper about. Created by Thomas Child, a former Mormon bishop with a love for stone carving and symbolism, the garden features 12 strange sculptures scattered across a quiet park.

One minute you’re looking at a sphinx with Joseph Smith’s head, and the next you’re reading chiseled poetry on giant slabs of granite. It’s both spiritual and slightly bizarre, which makes it more fun to explore than most public gardens.

Locals recommend visiting around sunset when the sculptures take on a warm glow and the garden gets eerily peaceful. It’s a great stop if you’re looking for something totally different. Bring a camera, some curiosity, and an open mind. It’s unlike anything else in the city.

3. Trolley Square

• 📍 Location: Central City, Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Shoppers 🛍️, history buffs 🏛️, local food fans 🍫
• 📸 Top Experiences: Browsing Raunch Records, finding the hidden speakeasy, shopping at Caputo’s Market
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: November to December for cozy indoor events and winter lights ❄️
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Little America Hotel – Affordable and classic hotel near shops and light rail access

Trolley Square blends old-school charm with new-school shops in a way that feels really unique to Salt Lake City. Once home to the city’s trolley system, the brick buildings and original tracks are still in place, giving it a cool, historic vibe that sets it apart from regular malls.

You’ll find small local shops, like Raunch Records for vintage vinyl and Caputo’s Market for artisan chocolates. There’s even a speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden behind an unmarked door that locals love for pre-dinner drinks.

The space changes with the seasons, hosting everything from summer concerts to holiday markets. It’s a good spot to wander without an agenda and discover local flavor without fighting big shopping center crowds. If you want a chill, character-filled alternative to typical downtown spots, this is it.

4. Ken Sanders Rare Books

• 📍 Location: Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Bookworms 📚, vintage lovers 🧳, history buffs 🏺
• 📸 Top Experiences: Browsing first editions, exploring the Utah section, attending a poetry reading
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: Weekends for occasional events and relaxed browsing ☕
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Evo Hotel – Creative boutique hotel with industrial-chic rooms and a short walk from the shop

Walking into Ken Sanders Rare Books feels like time-traveling through stories, paper, and ink. This bookshop is basically a maze of shelves packed with first editions, out-of-print gems, maps, postcards, and handwritten notes from decades past.

The owner, Ken Sanders, is a Salt Lake legend who’s always happy to share a story or guide you toward a rare find. The space is cozy, a little chaotic in the best way, and smells like old books and wood floors. If you love dusty corners and literary treasure hunts, you’ll feel right at home.

Look for the Utah section if you’re into local history or wilderness adventure books. On weekends, you might catch an author event or spontaneous poetry reading. This place is less about buying and more about exploring. You’ll probably stay longer than planned.

5. The Sun Tunnels

• 📍 Location: Great Basin Desert, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Land art fans 🌀, road trippers 🚙, stargazers ✨
• 📸 Top Experiences: Visiting during solstice, photographing the tunnels at sunrise, exploring the salt flats
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: June or December for solstice alignment or spring for mild weather 🌅
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites – Comfortable overnight stop in West Wendover before or after the drive

The Sun Tunnels are one of Utah’s wildest artistic surprises. Created by artist Nancy Holt, this land art piece sits deep in the desert and consists of four massive concrete cylinders that align perfectly with the rising and setting sun during the solstices.

The trip from Salt Lake City takes about four hours, and once you leave the pavement, you’re off-roading through a remote stretch of the Great Basin. No signs, no fences, just wide-open land and sky. Cell service disappears fast, so download maps and come prepared.

Each tunnel has holes drilled to represent star constellations, so when the sun or moon hits just right, it’s like standing in a sculpture made of light. It’s haunting, beautiful, and totally worth the long drive if you’re into weird, meaningful art and desert silence.

6. Central Ninth Market

• 📍 Location: Central Ninth, Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Foodies 🍽️, casual hangouts ☕, local vibes 🧑‍🍳
• 📸 Top Experiences: Eating at Laziz Kitchen, sipping espresso at Blue Copper Coffee, shopping the community garden
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: Thursday to Saturday evenings when most vendors are open 🌆
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Hyatt House Salt Lake City – Modern extended-stay hotel near downtown and TRAX access

Central Ninth Market is a small but vibrant food hub tucked into one of Salt Lake’s coolest up-and-coming neighborhoods. It’s where locals go when they want great food, chill vibes, and a quick break from the usual downtown crowd.

Anchored by Laziz Kitchen, known for its Lebanese comfort food, the market also features Blue Copper Coffee, a go-to spot for strong espresso and friendly baristas. The layout is compact and community-focused, with plenty of outdoor seating and regular evening crowds.

Right next door, the local garden supplies produce to some of the businesses, making the whole place feel connected and grounded. There’s pretty much something for everyone in this market. If you’re into casual dining and want a taste of Salt Lake’s creative energy, this is the spot to hit.

7. Memory Grove Park

• 📍 Location: City Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Nature lovers 🌳, dog walkers 🐕, quiet strolls 🧘
• 📸 Top Experiences: Walking along City Creek, photographing fall colors, exploring military memorials
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: October for fall foliage or spring for green trails 🍂
• 🏨 Where to Stay: The Ellerbeck Bed & Breakfast – Historic mansion stay within walking distance of the park

Memory Grove Park is the perfect spot to hit pause without actually leaving the city. Just a few blocks from downtown, this hidden park blends manicured lawns with forested trails, historic memorials, and the sound of City Creek flowing beside you.

Locals come here to read under shady trees, walk their dogs off-leash in the upper areas, or hike further into City Creek Canyon for a nature fix. In the fall, the trees explode with color, and the contrast against downtown’s skyline makes it a top photo spot.

There’s a peaceful, reflective vibe here thanks to the memorials scattered throughout the park, but it never feels heavy. It’s a quick escape that doesn’t require planning or a long drive—just show up, slow down, and enjoy a quiet corner of Salt Lake most visitors completely overlook.

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8. The Urban Arts Gallery

• 📍 Location: The Gateway, Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Street art lovers 🎨, indie creatives 🧢, gallery hoppers 🖼️
• 📸 Top Experiences: Seeing rotating exhibits, browsing local zines, checking out First Friday events
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: First Fridays for live art and fresh exhibits 🎤
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Radisson Hotel Downtown – Stylish and central with easy access to The Gateway

The Urban Arts Gallery is not your typical quiet art space. It’s loud, expressive, and fully focused on local voices. Run by Utah Arts Alliance, this gallery highlights rotating exhibits that spotlight street art, skate culture, social justice themes, and emerging local creatives.

Each visit feels different. One month you might find murals made from spray paint and denim scraps, and the next it’s photography mixed with protest art. The space invites interaction and conversation, not just admiration from a distance.

Located in The Gateway, a revitalized shopping and arts district, the gallery plays a key role in Salt Lake’s creative scene. Events like First Fridays turn the space into a community hub with DJs, food trucks, and live painting. If you want to see what the city’s younger generation is creating and caring about, this is where it’s happening.

9. Mestizo Coffeehouse

• 📍 Location: Westside, Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Community builders 🧉, artists 🎭, coffee lovers ☕
• 📸 Top Experiences: Sipping local brews, attending poetry nights, viewing rotating art walls
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: Saturday mornings or during community events 🎤
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City – Contemporary high-rise stay close to downtown and TRAX

Mestizo Coffeehouse is more than just a place to get caffeine, it’s a community anchor on Salt Lake’s west side. This locally owned café is part espresso bar, part art gallery, and part meeting space for grassroots events and creatives.

The walls are always covered in art from BIPOC and underrepresented voices, often tied to social themes or local stories. On weekends, the place fills with neighborhood regulars chatting over cold brew or preparing for an open mic session or cultural event.

It’s the kind of space where conversations spill over between tables and local organizers plan their next steps over coffee. If you’re looking for a quiet chain café, this isn’t it. Mestizo is where culture, activism, and espresso all come together. You’ll leave feeling like you saw a real slice of Salt Lake’s local life.

10. Antelope Island State Park

• 📍 Location: Great Salt Lake, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Wildlife watchers 🦬, stargazers 🌌, scenic drives 🚗
• 📸 Top Experiences: Spotting bison, floating in the Great Salt Lake, hiking Frary Peak
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: September to November for cooler weather and fewer bugs 🍁
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Hampton Inn Layton – Simple and comfortable base just 30 minutes from the park

Despite being one of the largest islands in the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island still flies under the radar for many visitors. Locals know it as one of the best spots near Salt Lake City to get wide-open views, close wildlife encounters, and epic sunsets.

The island is home to a free-roaming herd of American bison, often spotted near the road or wandering across open fields. You might also see pronghorn antelope, coyotes, and tons of birdlife. The hiking here is surprisingly rewarding, with trails like Frary Peak offering panoramic views of the lake and beyond.

It’s also a designated Dark Sky Park, so bring a blanket and stick around after sunset for incredible stargazing. With easy access from the mainland and very little traffic, Antelope Island makes for an ideal low-key day trip full of nature and peace.

11. Neff’s Canyon

• 📍 Location: East Millcreek, Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Hikers 🥾, dog owners 🐾, nature lovers 🌲
• 📸 Top Experiences: Hiking to the meadow overlook, spotting wildflowers, enjoying peaceful trails
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to October for clear trails and blooming wildflowers 🌼
• 🏨 Where to Stay: SpringHill Suites Cottonwood – Quiet and modern hotel near trailheads and local eats

Tucked away at the edge of East Millcreek, Neff’s Canyon offers a peaceful and often overlooked alternative to the more crowded Wasatch trails. Locals love it for early morning hikes, scenic dog walks, and wildflower-spotting in the spring and summer.

The hike starts at a small residential trailhead and quickly opens up to forested paths that lead to sweeping views of the Salt Lake Valley. The trail is moderately steep but manageable for most, and the shade keeps it cool during warmer months.

Because it isn’t as well-known as neighboring canyons, you’ll often find stretches of solitude, especially on weekdays. Whether you’re training for bigger hikes or just want a nature escape without the crowd, Neff’s Canyon is a solid go-to for those who prefer quiet paths and fewer trail runners.

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12. Urban Flea Market

• 📍 Location: Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
• 🏆 Best For: Vintage collectors 🧥, bargain hunters 💸, Sunday browsers 🧺
• 📸 Top Experiences: Finding rare vinyl, scoring handmade jewelry, grabbing local street food
• 📅 Best Time to Visit: Second Sunday of each month, March through October 🛍️
• 🏨 Where to Stay: Peery Hotel – Historic downtown hotel close to the market and dining scene

Once a month, Urban Flea Market transforms a downtown parking lot into one of the city’s most eclectic shopping spots. Dozens of vendors set up tables filled with everything from antique furniture and vintage T-shirts to handmade crafts and rare vinyl.

It’s not your typical craft fair. This place leans into funky, secondhand, and unexpected. One booth might have taxidermy and old cameras, while the next sells 90s streetwear or hand-painted planters. Prices range from cheap finds to collector-worthy gems.

Live music and food trucks round out the experience, making it feel more like a festival than a shopping trip. Locals recommend arriving early for the best finds, or later in the day if you want deals and a chill crowd. It’s an easy Sunday hangout that always delivers something random and cool.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Hidden Gems in Salt Lake City

Are you looking for more information about where to go in Salt Lake City? Here are some common questions (and answers) I get asked a lot about Salt Lake City’s coolest attractions.

What is unique about Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City uniquely marries urban life with unparalleled access to the outdoors. It’s a city where you can attend a world-class ballet performance and, within minutes, find yourself hiking in pristine mountain trails. Its history as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also lends it a distinctive architectural and cultural landscape. Add to this the numerous hidden gems and local hotspots, and you have a city that’s brimming with diverse experiences.

Where are the best hidden gems in Salt Lake City?

While the city has its renowned attractions, some of its best experiences lie in hidden corners. The King’s English Bookshop, for instance, is a literary paradise tucked away in a quaint neighborhood. Neff’s Canyon offers serene hiking trails away from the usual tourist routes. For those looking to dive into local culture, the Urban Flea Market is a treasure trove of vintage finds and unique crafts.

What are the coolest things to do in Salt Lake City that aren’t touristy?

Dive into the local art scene at Mestizo Coffeehouse, where walls are adorned with works from local artists. Explore the enigmatic sculptures at Gilgal Sculpture Garden, each telling a unique story. Or, if you’re a foodie, skip the main drags and head to local favorites like Red Iguana or Bruges Waffles & Frites for a taste of Salt Lake’s culinary diversity.

Are there beautiful places in Salt Lake City that are off the beaten path?

Definitely! Beyond the well-trodden paths, spots like Antelope Island offer a tranquil escape with unparalleled views of the Great Salt Lake. Neff’s Canyon, with its dense foliage and cascading streams, is a hiker’s dream. And for those looking for urban beauty, the lesser-known streets and alleys of the city are adorned with murals and street art that captivate the eye.

What are some secret spots in Salt Lake City for nature lovers?

For a serene nature experience, Neff’s Canyon is a must-visit with its lush trails and panoramic views. Antelope Island, while known, still offers pockets of tranquility and a chance to see bison roaming freely. Additionally, spots like Big Cottonwood Canyon, though popular, have lesser-known trails that lead to serene waterfalls and vistas.

Where can I find the best things to do in Salt Lake City, UT, that locals love?

Salt Lake City is brimming with local hotspots that offer authentic experiences away from the typical tourist trails. Here are some favorites:

• Urban Flea Market: Dive into this eclectic mix of vintage and modern finds, where every item tells a story.
• Mestizo Coffeehouse: A hub for local art and flavors, this spot is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant culture.
• Bar X: A trendy bar with a retro vibe, known for its crafted cocktails and lively atmosphere.
• The Rest: Hidden beneath a burger joint, this speakeasy-style bar offers curated drinks in a cozy, intimate setting.
• Red Iguana: A must-visit for foodies, this place serves some of the best Mexican dishes in town.
• Bruges Waffles & Frites: Indulge in authentic Belgian waffles and fries, a local favorite for a reason.
• The King’s English Bookshop: A literary haven nestled in a charming neighborhood, perfect for book lovers.

Engaging with residents and exploring the city’s neighborhoods will undoubtedly lead to more hidden gems and beloved local spots.

Are there free things to do in Salt Lake City that are worth visiting?

Certainly! The Gilgal Sculpture Garden is a unique spot that’s free to the public, offering a mix of art and history. Liberty Park, with its expansive green spaces and pond, is a favorite among locals for picnics and leisurely strolls. Additionally, the city often hosts free events, from art walks to music festivals, that showcase its vibrant cultural scene.

Concluding Salt Lake City’s Hidden Gems

Salt Lake City offers more than meets the eye. Beyond its iconic landmarks, a treasure trove of surprises awaits. From tranquil nature spots like Neff’s Canyon to the lively atmosphere of the Urban Flea Market, there’s a diverse range of hidden gems in Salt Lake City ready for exploration.

This city stands out with its seamless blend of vintage vibes and modern flair. Nature enthusiasts, art lovers, and those seeking unique experiences will find something special here.

So, when deciding what to do in Salt Lake City, think beyond the usual. Dive deep, explore with enthusiasm, and let Salt Lake City’s lesser-known spots captivate you. After all, the most memorable adventures often await off the main roads.