Salt Lake City packs five-diamond luxury, ski-town charm, and family-friendly convenience into one walkable downtown grid, which is exactly why picking “the best hotel” here depends entirely on who you’re traveling with. This guide breaks down the best hotels in Salt Lake City by the way real travelers actually search: overall favorites, family and kid-friendly stays, boutique picks, and options at every budget, from under-$150 basics to five-star splurges.
Quick Answer: Best Hotels in Salt Lake City at a Glance
| Category | Hotel | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Grand America Hotel | Only true 5-star property downtown, 4.7-star rating |
| Best Luxury | Grand America Hotel | 10 acres of grounds, spa, three restaurants |
| Best Boutique | Kimpton Hotel Monaco | Vintage design, pet-friendly, downtown core |
| Best Family-Friendly | Grand America Hotel | JouJou toy store, two pools, spacious suites |
| Best Kid-Friendly | Little America Hotel | Indoor + outdoor pools, gift shop, huge grounds |
| Best Budget | evo Hotel Salt Lake | Under $200/night, Granary District warehouse vibe |
Best Hotels in Salt Lake City Overall
1. Grand America Hotel
Ask locals or search “best hotel Salt Lake City” and this name comes up first every time. It’s one of only two 5-star hotels in the city, sitting on 10 manicured acres just minutes from downtown and the airport. Guests consistently praise the marble bathrooms, oversized rooms, and genuinely attentive service. With a 4.7-star rating across more than 9,000 reviews, it’s the rare luxury hotel that also works for families.
2. Little America Hotel
Little America has been a Salt Lake City institution for decades, and it earns its reputation with old-school hospitality, sprawling gardens, and genuinely good food; the Sunday brunch is award-winning. It has both indoor and outdoor pools, a spa with sauna, and rooms that lean classic rather than trendy. At $124–200 a night with 9,000+ reviews averaging 4.4 stars, it’s the best value-for-quality pick downtown.
3. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City
Housed in a converted 1920s bank building, the Monaco is Salt Lake City’s most photographed lobby: antique furniture, rich carpeting, and hand-painted details throughout. It’s pet-friendly, has a 24-hour gym, and the in-house Bambara restaurant is one of downtown’s best. Locals on Reddit and elsewhere consistently name it their top boutique pick, and reviewers rate it 4.4 stars across nearly 1,900 reviews.
4. Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown
A sleek, design-forward property with one of the only rooftop pools in the city and a strong dining program that pulls in guests who aren’t even staying overnight. Reviewers single out the food and service as standouts. It’s a good middle ground between the Grand America’s formality and the Monaco’s quirkiness: modern, plush, and centrally located near Temple Square.
5. Asher Adams, Autograph Collection
The newest name on this list, Asher Adams occupies a converted 1910s rail depot and has quickly become a favorite for its design and food scene guests rate it 4.6 stars and call the “vibe,” food, and design “1st class.” It’s a strong pick for travelers who want a design hotel without the boutique-hotel price tag creep.
Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Salt Lake City
Family-friendly means space, location, and amenities that work for every age in the group, not just a pool.
1. Grand America Hotel
Yes, it’s luxury, but it also happens to be the most family-loaded hotel downtown. Kids get their own wonderland at JouJou, an in-house toy store with vintage and modern toys and Roald Dahl-style decor, plus sweet treats from La Bonne Vie. Between the indoor and outdoor pools, oversized rooms with sitting areas, and 24-hour room service, parents get the luxury and kids get the fun.
2. Little America Hotel
Little America’s biggest family advantage is space, both in the rooms and on the grounds. Families get two pools, a hot tub, a general store for snacks, and an in-house gift shop kids gravitate toward. The buffet breakfast and casual cafe mean picky eaters are covered without a restaurant reservation, and it’s a short drive from the airport.
3. Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek
This one wins on location: it’s steps from City Creek Center, a massive shopping and dining complex families can wander for hours, plus easy access to Temple Square and the Salt Palace. Larger rooms include seating areas and balconies with downtown views, and the common areas are set up for groups to spread out and relax between excursions.
4. Doubletree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City
Apartment-style suites make this a smart pick for longer family stays, with separate seating areas, in-room dining space, and enough room that nobody’s tripping over luggage. It also stores ski and snowboard gear, so it doubles as a solid base for winter family trips, and the on-site restaurant has a to-go breakfast option for early mornings.
Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Salt Lake City
These properties go further than “family-friendly” with amenities built specifically to entertain younger kids.
1. Grand America Hotel
JouJou toy store alone puts this hotel in a category of its own for kids; it’s less a hotel gift shop and more a destination. Combine that with two pools and a sweets shop, and this is the single best kid-focused stay in the city, luxury price tag notwithstanding.
2. Little America Hotel
Kids get their own indoor and outdoor pools to choose from, plus a hotel gift and boutique shop and a general store stocked with snacks and sundries. The sprawling gardens also give younger kids room to burn off energy that a typical downtown hotel simply doesn’t have.
3. Courtyard by Marriott Salt Lake City Downtown
An indoor pool and hot tub cover rainy or snowy days, and there’s a terrace with a barbecue area for a change of pace from restaurant dining. Rooms with sofa beds mean kids get their own space rather than sharing a bed with parents, and it’s pet-friendly if the family travels with a dog.
4. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Salt Lake City Downtown
Family suites here are genuinely roomy, with a mini-fridge and microwave in every room, useful for warming up kid snacks or storing milk. The indoor pool and hot tub, plus a free airport shuttle, make this a low-hassle choice for families flying in with young kids.
5. Hyatt House Salt Lake City Downtown
Suites with full kitchen and dining areas mean parents can cook a kid-friendly meal instead of eating out every night, and there’s a pool for downtime. It’s pet-friendly too, so the whole family, four-legged members included, is covered.
Best Boutique Hotels in Salt Lake City
1. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City
The most recognizable boutique name in the city: a converted bank building with regal, antique-heavy decor, a 24-hour gym, and craft cocktails at The Vault. It’s pet-friendly and the closest thing Salt Lake City has to a “grand European hotel” experience downtown.
2. evo Hotel Salt Lake
A stylish warehouse conversion in the Granary District built around its shared spaces think red brick, leather, and local art rather than a cookie-cutter lobby. At 48 rooms and under $200 a night, it’s ideal for adventure-minded travelers who’d rather hang out in a buzzing common area than a corporate lobby, and it’s family- and pet-friendly.
3. Asher Adams, Autograph Collection
Built inside a historic 1910s rail depot, this is the newest boutique entrant and already one of the most talked-about, with a 4.6-star rating and reviewers raving about the design and food. It splits the difference between boutique character and full-service polish.
4. Ellerbeck Bed and Breakfast
An 1890s mansion turned six-room B&B in the historic Avenues neighborhood, this is the most intimate stay on the list, with original architectural details, antiques, and a cozy, adults-focused atmosphere. It’s the pick for couples who want history and quiet over hotel amenities.
5. The Anniversary Inn (5th South & South Temple locations)
Known for elaborately themed suites, think fantasy, adventure, and romance-themed rooms rather than standard hotel decor, the Anniversary Inn’s two downtown locations are built for special-occasion stays rather than typical sightseeing trips. It’s a distinctly different boutique experience from the Monaco or evo, aimed squarely at couples celebrating something.
Best Budget Hotels in Salt Lake City
1. evo Hotel Salt Lake
Under $200 a night with genuine boutique styling, this is the best value-to-style ratio in the city. It’s in the up-and-coming Granary District, a short ride from downtown, and its common areas mean you’re not sacrificing atmosphere for a lower rate.
2. Hyatt Place Salt Lake City Downtown / The Gateway
A 3-star hotel that overperforms for the price: spacious rooms, a hot tub, an on-site American restaurant, and a location right in the heart of downtown near The Gateway shopping district. Pet-friendly with an additional fee, and parking is available on-site.
3. Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City
Despite the “Regency” name, this one prices as a budget-to-mid-range option while still delivering an outdoor pool, three on-site restaurants, and a reception staff fluent in four languages. It’s an easy walk to most downtown attractions and pet-friendly for an added fee.
4. Hilton Salt Lake City Center
A reliable, well-located chain option that regularly runs discounted rates, with guests specifically calling out the on-site Trofi and Spencer’s Steakhouse restaurants as standouts. It’s a safe, no-surprises choice for travelers who just need a clean, central room without a boutique price tag.
Best Luxury Hotels in Salt Lake City
1. Grand America Hotel
The undisputed luxury leader in Salt Lake City and one of only two 5-star hotels in the city. Ten acres of grounds, a full spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and three restaurants covering American and European cuisine. At a 4.7-star average across 9,000+ reviews, it’s rarely dethroned in any “best of” list, including this one.
2. Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown
A design-driven luxury property with a rooftop pool, a rarity downtown and a dining program strong enough to draw non-guests. It’s the pick for travelers who want five-star polish with a more contemporary, less traditional feel than the Grand America.
3. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City
Boutique in scale but luxury in execution, with antique furnishings, a 24-hour gym, and craft cocktails at The Vault. It’s consistently the name locals recommend when asked for the best downtown stay, luxury or otherwise.
4. Little America Hotel
Understated luxury with genuinely large grounds, two pools, and a spa, plus a Sunday brunch with an award-winning reputation. It trades trendiness for old-school comfort and space, which is exactly what some luxury travelers are after.
5. Asher Adams, Autograph Collection
The newest luxury contender, built inside a converted historic rail depot with a 4.6-star average and consistent praise for its design and food program. It’s the freshest option on this list for travelers who’ve already done the Grand America and Little America.
Where to Stay in Salt Lake City: A Quick Neighborhood Note
Nearly every hotel on this list sits within a 10–15 minute walk of Temple Square, which functions as downtown’s center of gravity; most attractions, City Creek Center, and the Salt Palace Convention Center radiate out from there. The Granary District (home to evo Hotel) is a slightly more industrial, up-and-coming pocket just south of downtown, good for travelers who want a shorter walk to a lower price. The Avenues, where Ellerbeck B&B sits, is a quieter, historic residential neighborhood best suited to travelers prioritizing charm over walkability to nightlife.
What is the nicest hotel in Salt Lake City?
The Grand America Hotel is widely considered the nicest, as one of only two 5-star hotels in the city, with a 4.7-star average across more than 9,000 reviews.
What is the best area to stay in Salt Lake City?
Downtown, within walking distance of Temple Square and City Creek Center, works for most visitors since it puts shopping, dining, and major attractions within a 10–15 minute walk of nearly every hotel on this list.
Is it better to stay in Salt Lake City or Park City?
Salt Lake City is the better base for city sightseeing, dining variety, and budget flexibility; Park City is better if skiing or resort amenities are the main priority, since it sits closer to the slopes but at a higher average price point.
