31 Best Restaurants in Park City and the Wasatch Back, Park City and the Southern Wasatch

Chef Arturo Flores will delight you with tantalizing dishes such as duck breast enchiladas, tortilla soup (his grandmother's recipe), a giant ahi tuna taco, or melt-off-the-bone spareribs in this upscale Southwestern restaurant. Order a house-made margarita (try the serrano margarita for an extra kick), and enjoy the cozy and intimate feel of this popular eatery. Star-shape lanterns illuminate the Mission-style terra-cotta tiles of this restaurant where the service is excellent and the menu is inspired. 

After a day of playing in the snow, Empire Canyon Lodge's Fireside Dining is the perfect way to warm up as you eat in the timber-framed lodge surrounded by several stone fireplaces. You'll feel like a medieval lord as you go from fireplace to fireplace to be served hearty fare like veal stew, elk, or a slice of perfectly roasted lamb cooked over a spit. Feast in old-European style for hours and savor the raclette cheese melted by the fire paired with bread and charcuterie with house-made pickles, basil jam, and fig mustard. Wrap up the night with a dessert fondue of green apples dipped in white chocolate sauce made with Grand Marnier.

This breakfast and lunch hot spot offers up nourishing dishes that look and taste like works of art. The restaurant manages to pull in flavors from all over the globe while using Utah-sourced ingredients with an Aussie twist, a nod to the owners' roots. Yes, they serve Vegemite on toast topped with ripe avocados, but also Moroccan baked eggs with goat curd and dukkah (a spicy mix of pepper, hazelnuts, coriander, sesame seeds, and cumin) as well as fried chicken with apple and jalapeño slaw. Breakfast is served all day. Their coffee is not to be missed and especially their outstanding iced coffee, served Aussie style (with ice cream).

It may seem a bit out of place in the land-locked mountains of Utah, but this casual restaurant started as a food truck run by East Coast natives, then became so popular that a brick-and-mortar location opened in 2016. Lobsters are flown in fresh daily, and the lobster roll is now nationally recognized as the "World's Best Lobster Roll" after taking home the win at a competition in Portland, Maine, in 2017.

Handle was voted Best Restaurant in Park City in 2017 thanks to chef Briar Handly's inventive American dishes. Small plates make it easy to try everything, and you'll want to with dishes like buffalo cauliflower, smoked trout sausage, and the chef's famous fried chicken. The creative and knowledgeable bar staff will surprise you with inspired handcrafted cocktails. Save room for inventive, delectable desserts like the Handle Bar, made with local maple ice cream dipped in milk chocolate and topped with a brown butter crumble.

Started in 2017 by Brooks Kirchheimer, when he returned to his Park City hometown, this local favorite quickly became a hangout for those in search of comfort food and community. Built with floor-to-ceiling windows inside a modernized industrial space, the restaurant has plenty of elbow room, and the natural lighting and white-tiled open kitchen give the place a distinctive communal vibe. Locals love the H and H Burger with pimento cheese and served with a side of salt and pepper fries. 

Touted as the only ski-in, ski-out distillery in the world, High West Saloon sits at the base of Park City Mountain's Town Lift, serving hearty American fare with a locally focused menu that changes seasonally and delicious, handcrafted cocktails using the distillery's own whiskey and vodka. This lively restaurant and bar, housed in a historical home and livery, is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Head out to the distillery's newest location at Blue Sky Ranch, just outside of town, for a full distillery tour, lunch, and Sunday brunch.

Experience a rush of senses when you visit this fixture in Park City's culinary scene opened in 2015 by Robbie Stout and Anna Seear. Smell just-baked brownies with toasted Peruvian cocoa nibs and watch through an observation window as cocoa beans go into the factory's roll mill as a thick gritty paste, then come out smooth and flaky. Sample different chocolates, then take home a finished bar of smooth Old-World chocolate. Ritual makes small-batch chocolate by gently roasting single-source cocoa beans from sustainable farms around the world. The café's outdoor deck is a great place to feel alpine breezes while you drink a cup of sipping chocolate from your choice of regions: Madagascar, Peru, Ecuador, or Belize.

With two warehouse loft rooms, exposed wood beams, sleek furnishings, and original art, this award-winning restaurant feels like a big-city supper club where chef-owner Seth Adams pairs imaginative fresh food with a world-class wine list in this elegant—but ski-town relaxed—atmosphere. The menu changes seasonally, but look out for the braised buffalo short rib, pan-roasted tomahawk pork chop, or signature macadamia-nut-crusted Alaskan halibut.

Southern comfort dishes with a sophisticated twist are lovingly crafted at this warm and inviting restaurant started by veteran Park City chef Matt Harris, formerly at J&G Grill and the St. Regis Bar. Favorite dishes include out-of-this-world flaky buttermilk biscuits with honey butter and their take on beef & barley: Niman Ranch beef with barley risotto. But you may also find deviled eggs, buttered heirloom carrots, or fritters on the menu. The global wine list is full of possibilities. Locals love the weekend brunch, especially the chicken and biscuit with black pepper gravy and an egg sunny side up.

Suitably named as this restaurant is the highest year-round restaurant in Park City, Apex is also at the top of its class for dining and service. For dinner, it transforms into a mountainside steak house. Diners will find more than a half-dozen cuts of beef from which to choose, all certified Black Angus and broiled on an ultrahot grill.

A local favorite, this establishment carries an eclectic menu that marries a surf-and-turf concept beautifully; the owners ship in fresh seafood daily (which is perhaps why their crab cakes are in such high demand), and charbroiled filet mignon are perfectly cooked to your liking. The sushi bar is always packed, especially during happy hour, which runs daily 5–6 pm, offering half-price select sushi and appetizers. Arrive a little early to order a glass of vino at the lively bar. When visiting in summer, make sure to grab a seat in the popular outdoor patio.

This Main Street staple has delighted guests since the mid-1990s with a modern Italian menu in an airy café with the best patio in town. The restaurant serves well-prepared pasta and seafood dishes using only fresh ingredients for lunch and dinner. Good picks include the veal Bolognese with pappardelle pasta or herb-breaded Utah trout with citrus butter.

An extension of the ski resort's famous culinary offerings, this gourmet grocery/café serves breakfast, lunch, and early dinner, and features menu items ranging from the famous Deer Valley turkey chili to shrimp tacos to a chicken tandoori wrap, and everything in between. The expansive outdoor deck provides waterfront alfresco dining and views of the ski resort. Stop in for a casual lunch after a hike, après-ski, or even to grab a gourmet picnic-to-go for a concert or a carrot cake cupcake for the road.

For quick and hearty traditional Mexican food, this popular place is perfect. Favorites are camarones a la diabla (spicy shrimp), chiles rellenos, and fish tacos. The smothered burritos are large enough to feed two, and there's plenty of Corona and Dos Equis to cool off even the spiciest items. The low-key atmosphere is part of the charm, and the salsa bar provides some of the best flavor in town.

At this lively establishment, dishes are cooked over an open flame, and antique leather chairs look out onto the open kitchen. Serving so-called heirloom American cuisine, the restaurant's seasonal, locally sourced menu changes frequently. Chef-owner John Murcko is no stranger to the Park City dining scene, as many of his local restaurants earned culinary fame in the past three decades, but Firewood is his first solo venture. The downstairs bar is not to be missed, with an industrial feel and a unique bar top finished with hundreds of nickels.

Beloved chef Zane Holmquist is the culinary king behind the restaurants within Stein Eriksen Lodge. Holmquist's inventive and soulful dishes are as much of a staple here as the wood trim, crisp white linens, crystal glasses, and fresh-cut flowers. In the summer, request a table on the deck for stunning sunset views. Try the juicy Stein's Burger, fresh halibut, or hearty wild game chili with buffalo, elk, and wild boar, and don't miss the amazing desserts. A wine cellar with more than 10,000 bottles that incorporates every major wine-growing region in the world is managed by the team of sommeliers, who can suggest the perfect pairing. Private wine seminars and tastings are available, too. You'll be tempted to make an all-day affair out of the famous Sunday brunch.

Heavy floor tiles, rustic bricks, and exposed timbers lend a warm, rustic farmhouse feel to this romantic spot. The menu offers appetizers, such as a grape-and-Gorgonzola salad with roasted walnuts, and hearty entrées, like Roman-style chicken, osso bucco, and horseradish-encrusted salmon.

Java Cow has long been a staple on Main Street. Stop in for a panini, a caffeine pick-me-up, or delicious ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you are looking for a place to grab a burger and delicious craft beer while your kids enjoy house-made mac-and-cheese, this roadhouse (formerly Squatters) is the spot. With a sleek and bustling brewpub vibe, it's a great place for either an evening out or a quick stop after a spin on your mountain bike to enjoy truffle fries and share a pint of pale ale.

Plenty of purple-hue touches—velvet upholstered booths, hand-painted scrims, and Western murals—brighten the 1898 brick building that was once the local telegraph office. "Fancy cowboy" cuisine includes such dishes as grilled veal meat loaf with poblano peppers and pine nuts or the lime-grilled black tiger shrimp. In summer, eat on the back deck under the charming bistro lights.

The Wagyu hot rock, volcano sushi roll (tuna, wasabi, pineapple, jalapeño, and cilantro), and shabu-shabu (Japanese hot pot) are all favorites at this trendy eatery. If you are thirsty for something alcoholic, go for a Ginger Snap sake martini (saketini) in the red-hue dining room.

The team at The Farm relentlessly seeks new, fresh, and unique ingredients to infuse into memorable meals in the restaurant's open kitchen. Seasonal menus always spotlight items from the region's sustainable farms, including root vegetables, truffles, berries, and meat. Located in Canyons Village, The Farm is just steps from the slopes on the back side of the Grand Summit Hotel. The darker and cozier lounge features a wine cellar that displays many of its 450-plus varieties of domestic and imported wines.

Don your Scandinavian sweater for a brisk sleigh ride (pulled by a snowcat rather than reindeer) through wintery pines up to this Nordic hut, built in a mountainous enclave in Park City Mountain Resort. After a hot cup of glogg, tuck into a European-style feast, featuring six hearty courses that might feature braised short ribs, lobster soup, and a traditional cheese course. Warmed by a wood-burning stove and the soft light of solar-powered lanterns, you may find yourself raising a pewter goblet to toast your fellow diners and the pianist.

The brainchild of chef/owner Adam Ross, this hot spot serves comfort food such as pork chops, cheesy short-rib sandwiches, and Utah trout hash. Dedicated to locally sourced and seasonal fare, Twisted Fern offers dinner daily in a welcoming atmosphere.

Located in the newly remodeled Park City Peaks Hotel, Versante has become a favorite among locals. The welcoming, casual atmosphere paired with menu favorites such as flatbread pizzas, hearty pastas, and specialty cocktails is hard to beat. The restaurant opens at 4 pm daily, making it a great option for après-ski. In the warmer months, enjoy a local craft beer on the patio and lawn area outside. 

In a part of town where fast food reigns, Vessel Kitchen has a sustainable and healthy menu without sacrificing the fast-casual environment and reasonable prices. Here, you'll find hearty grain bowls, proteins such as braised beef and pork confit, and seasonal vegetables for sides. The high-quality ingredients are sourced locally from farms and purveyors across Utah.

This restaurant instantly transports you to Shanghai in the 1930s, with art deco decor and Asian artifacts from around the world. Start your evening with a sake martini shaken table-side, then ask your server about starters that span the continent, from steamed Chinese buns to tom kha gai, a delicious chicken-and-lemongrass soup from Thailand. Delve into the subcontinent with sweet-and-savory Madras chicken, or stay closer to your comfort zone with a porcini filet mignon. As with many Park City restaurants, summer is a great time to savor Wahso as prices drop and getting a table is easier.

It's hard to believe it's been more than 30 years since Wasatch became Park City's first brewery in the post-Prohibition era back in 1986. At the top of Main Street, this pub stays on top of its game with celebrated beers and down-to-earth yet elevated pub food. Sidle up to the bar for a mug of Polygamy Porter and a burger, or cozy up with the entire family in a booth. The menu is a step above regular pub food, with items such as house-made coconut shrimp, a buffalo burger with a Cajun remoulade sauce, and a side of tater tots (both sweet potato and regular) instead of your typical fries. Top it all off with a Brigham's root-beer float. In summer, grab an outside table for people-watching.

Don't overlook Windy Ridge because of its industrial park neighborhood—the dining room is warm and inviting, and the baked goods are delicious. Lighter appetites might fancy the homemade chicken noodle soup and a Southwest salad, or if you've spent the day skiing or biking, tackle the meat loaf or a rack of smoked ribs. It's well worth the short trip from Main Street for this affordable menu. Just be sure to save room for a pastry or two from the neighboring Bakery at Windy Ridge.