Park City After Dark: 2019 Edition

Night life means different things to different people. I’d venture to guess that most of my readers, like me, aren’t nightly bar hounds. In fact, it took me over 10 years to step foot into the No Name Saloon, as I moved to Park City with a 2 and 3 year old and there were no late nights on Main Street for me.

But we all like to let loose every now and again.

So which venues make up the best of the best for Park City nightlife? I used a combination of sources for the results below, including The Park Record, “Ask Park City”, my own experience as well as polling friends, family and colleagues.

Popular Bars

No Name Saloon

This classic Park City bar seems to top every Park City night life list there is. But if you haven’t been to this iconic saloon in a decade or more, you must see what’s changed. They’ve extended it back and up for a much larger space and a great rooftop patio – a rarity in Park City.

High West Distillery: The New Classic

It’s hard to believe High West has been in business since 2006. It still seems so new, yet has become a fast icon of our little town. It has grown from a 250 gallon still and saloon in the old livery stable and garage you see today, to a world-renowned distiller with 4 locations. In the winter, it’s difficult to get in for dinner, but the bar is always open!

The Boneyard & Wine Dive

Located in what was once proposed to be the new Bonanza Park district (which received heavy opposition and is a whole separate story), Boneyard is close to town, yet off Main. The best part about Boneyard is they really seem to have it all: wood fired grills, rooftop patio, a great wine and beer list and plenty of big screens to watch the games. Boneyard is truly a Park City “locals” venue.

Low Key Bars

Firewood

You may better know this bar as Cisero’s but that Italian standby is no more. While the restaurant upstairs is virtually unrecognizable, the bar downstairs may give you a familiar feeling, but with a new twist. The dance floor you may recall from Cisero’s is now a private event space, and the main bar is an intimate space that is never overly crowded.

Versante Hearth + Bar

The newly renovated restaurant in the Park City Peaks hotel has gotten a lot of buzz around town since it opened. Serving local craft beers, wines and cocktails, this hip place has anything but a hotel bar feel.

The Brass Tag

Another hotel bar that offers a lot is The Brass Tag in Lower Deer Valley. The food is all done in a brick oven (but offers much more than pizza) and seating is ample. There is a fully stocked bar as well as bar snacks and delicious desserts.

Bars with Live Music or Dancing

The Spur

This is another standard Park City hangout that tops most people’s lists. If you haven’t been there in awhile, you may not know that in 2016 they completed a large expansion. Rather than walking down the narrow hallway to get to the bar, you now enter right on Main Street. Similar to No Name, there’s a front bar, an upstairs bar with a small rooftop, and a lower back bar where some of the best live music in town can be seen. Truly something for everyone. The upstairs bar has disappearing glass doors and in the summer, you feel like you are outdoors even if you are sitting at the indoor bar.

O.P. Rockwell

When you step foot in this venue, you are taken back in time to sophisticated cocktail lounges of yore. The live music lineup is always on point, and so is the cocktail mixologists’ attire. They also offer private event space and new this year for those seeking office space is the Rockwell Room.

Downstairs

For more of a serious party/dance/club scene, Downstairs seems to be the place. Their lineup varies, but it’s typical to see a DJ on the calendar. I got a kick out of the nightly pics section on their website. Private events are also offered.

Shows

Egyptian Theater Company

Nightlife doesn’t have to mean bars, but the Egyptian Theater serves some alcohol, so it is the best of both worlds. This has been the location of live theater on Main Street since 1899, with a 1926 renovation. Today, acts vary from nostalgic bands and modern acts, as well as stand up comedy, broadway shows and local theater. A Park City bucket list item that should be checked off again and again! Although it took me over 10 years to get to No Name Saloon, I have been taking my kids to Egyptian Theater shows since they were pretty young. Most recently, the entire family enjoyed “The Addams Family” musical.

Park City Institute

With its winter home in Park City High School’s Eccles Theater and its new summer home in City Park, this is an old standby of Park City. The Park City Institute has brought high quality acts to town for over 20 years. It was recently announced that they are in some financial trouble. We hope to see this great Park City nonprofit succeed.

Park City Film Series

Dinner and a movie is a great way to spend a night out in Park City, and the Park City Film Series does the hard work for you. This is another nonprofit organization and I am constantly impressed with their feature, documentary, world and local cinematic selections that will keep you thinking about them for days and weeks to come. This is another venue that took me years to experience, but I’m glad I did. It’s a true Park City treasure and very local.

Fun & Games for All

Jupiter Bowl

A favorite of kids young and old, Jupiter Bowl is “22,000 square feet of fun” under one roof. Some of the best bowling alley food I’ve ever eaten can be found here, as can a fully stocked bar. Video games, a billiards lounge and “luxury bowling” make this a great night life destination for any age.

Daly’s Pub

Speaking of bowling, Daly’s Pub & Rec in the Montage Deer Valley is a much smaller choice for family friendly night life. You’ll find bowling, video games, dart boards shuffleboard and a photo booth to keep you entertained. A reasonably priced (relatively speaking) menu that happens to be delicious keeps this at the top of the list.

Sleigh Rides & Snowshoes

Okay, so this isn’t a single business, per se. But there are many guide services in town which offer fun evening activities that keep with Park City’s innate love of the great outdoors. Sleigh rides to dinner and guided snowshoe tours to dinner or s’mores are three that come to mind.