After Hours Enjoyment: Exploring Park City’s Nightlife

Park City, Utah. The little town thirty miles north of Salt Lake City boasts world-class ski resorts and plays host to the prestigious annual Sundance Film Festival, but there’s more to Park City than that. Residents and visitors enjoy a wealth of after-dark amusements, as well. The lively Main Street corridor offers a range of eateries and entertainment venues a stroll away from hotels and vacation condos.

Delightful After-Dark Dining and Dancing

501 on Main

Spend a day on the slopes, and you’re bound to work up a healthy appetite. Stash your ski gear and head to 501 on Main. Sitting squarely in Park City’s Historic District, 501 offers an extensive array of dinner dishes and desserts. If you’re up for a sensational steak, go for a Main Street Tenderloin. Served with caramelized onions and sautéed shiitake mushrooms, your Angus steak is done to perfection. The chef’s menu includes a number of yummy vegan options, including a spicy veggie curry presented in a potato crisp basket. The family friendly restaurant is open ’til 9 p.m. nightly.

The Spur Bar & Grill

If you want to mingle with a merry mix of locals, celebrities and ski bums, get thee to The Spur Bar & Grill at 350 Main Street in the Historic District. This is the place where local residents bring visiting friends for good eats, great drinks and lively conversation. The joint can get crowded, but that’s part of the fun. Show up with a bevy of your best friends, or meet new friends here. The Spur presents a marvelous mix of live musical acts every Wednesday through Sunday night, and they stay open ’til 1 a.m.

Egyptian Theater

If you’re in Park City for the Sundance Film Festival, be sure to catch a midnight showing at this elegant old movie house. Of course, festival films are not the only reason to visit this historical venue. The Egyptian also presents plays and musical performances throughout the year. Ready to laugh until your sides ache? You’re in luck, because the Egyptian Theater also happens to be the most uproarious comedy club in town. Check the venue website for midnight movie schedules. The theater stays open to 10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night.

Rock and Reilly’s Irish Pub

Get your Irish on until the wee small hours at this perennially favorite pub. There are plenty of stories about the long-ago founder of the Prohibition era pub. Half of them are true, but they’re all fun to hear told by a mustachioed barkeep at this lively nightspot. Tuck into a tasty plate of whiskey short ribs, or order up a pile of Irish sliders made with local grass fed beef. After sunset, do a bit of celebrity spotting by the fireplace in the Library Lounge.

Park City was founded as a silver mining town. There isn’t much mining going on these days, but the nightlife here still sparkles. Plan to wear a sweater, even on summer evenings. The town’s 7,000 foot elevation promises chilly nights year ’round and very snowy winters.

Eva Duran has worked as a travel guide for many years and likes to share her insights on topics like where to head in Park City when the lights come on. She is a regular contributor for several online travel guides and resources.