Metropolitan
If Salt Lake had celebs, they'd hang out at Metropolitan, where the culinary craftsmanship is so good and the flavors so sparkling they merit comparison with big-city restaurants in California. The sexy concrete-and-velvet dining room complements the chef's artistry. You can always order small plates from the bistro menu while swilling martinis at the bar.
Tracy Aviary
The Tracy Aviary is one of the nations oldest and largest bird parks and will delight all lovers of the feathered kind. Winged residents include the lurid scarlet ibis, the bald and golden eagles and huge Andean condor. The kids can make some fine feathered friends by feeding the ducks, colourful lories and parrots.
Olympic Legacy Cauldron Park
The Olympic Legacy Cauldron Park has giant panels detailing the games; check out the heavy-handed but heartfelt film with artificial fog and booming sound effects. It's screened from to Monday to Saturday.
Cup of Joe
Acoustic music and Saturday poetry slams take place at this coffeehouse hangout in an old brick warehouse. There's internet access too, so it's a good place to settle into for a while, read the paper and watch the world go by.
Salt Lake Roasting Company
The Salt Lake Roasting Company has been roasting its own beans since 1981, and the coffee is premium java - strong, aromatic and flavourful. Food-wise, take your pick from the range of salads, sandwiches and pastries to accompany your coffee as you relax in this airy, open, two-storey space.
Port O' Call
If it's liquor you're after, Port O' Call is a large, full-service bar spread across four floors and housed in a fabulous 1912 building. It's great for a quiet one during the day, but at night crowds really pack it in for DJs and bands.
Salt Lake City Public Library
Salt Lake City Main Public Library is a spectacular new building with four-story glass walls and a rooftop garden. Inside you'll find a huge collection of books and magazines(including a vast number of zines), a special teen zone named 'Canteena' and some of SLC's coolest shops. For readers who like words with pictures there is an impressive graphic novel selection.
University of Utah
The university contains two interesting museums and an arboretum. The fine Utah Museum of Natural History features gems and stones, dinosaur bones, a butterfly collection and more. The new, architecturally-intriguing Utah Museum of Fine Arts has a broad permanent collection and hosts changing exhibits in the Great Hall.
Pioneer Memorial Museum
You'll find plenty of museums and monuments in Utah run by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, but the Pioneer Memorial Museum is the organisation's best. Four floors and 38 rooms are crammed with carefully labelled and well displayed historical memorabilia, painstakingly and proudly collected by the good sisters.
Squatter's Pub Brewery
Squatter's Pub has a great range of microbrews to choose from; try the smooth Vienna Lager or their lighter St Provo Girl. If you're after something a bit heavier then Captain Bastard's Oatmeal Stout may be the one for you... And they're not just about beer either - there's a memorable menu too, if you're not too tiddly that is.
One World Cafe
The revolution will be sliding scale: welcome to this organic cafeteria where there's no set menu and pay-what-you-wish (or can) prices, and diners decide the portion sizes of the quasi-hippie meat or vegetarian entrees. Purists can show up to volunteer an hour in exchange for a meal. The food is mainly vegetarian, changes daily and is always satisfying.