Ready to explore a new city? Get your work done while enjoying all that Salt Lake City has to offer. ... [+]
It’s no secret that the urge to live in Utah is growing – and fast. Last year alone, almost 35,000 Americans migrated to Utah – 10,000 more than in 2020 and the most since 2005. The real secret is why.
Even before COVID-19 hit, millennials and young Gen Xers had begun swapping their busy city lives for affordable suburban adventures with the opportunity to buy a house. The pandemic’s spike in remote work only catalyzed this movement.
From July 2020 to July 2021, housing units grew faster in Utah than in any other state. Aside from its real estate value, a solid job market also drew people to Utah, which, with a current unemployment rate 1.5% below the national average, continues to do well. Then, statistics aside, there’s the fact that the state is just downright gorgeous.
Of all the counties in Utah, it’s not difficult to understand why Tooele and Utah counties — roughly 30 minutes from Salt Lake City — are two of the state’s fastest growers. With the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere and a booming city with a mountain backdrop, there’s really nothing you can’t find in Salt Lake.
Whether you’re drawn to the city for its breathtaking hikes in the summer or thrilling ski trips in the winter, there’s no doubt Salt Lake City is the ideal location for an active explorer looking to connect with nature — all without sacrificing the city culture and nightlife they know and love.
But if you’re not looking to relocate just yet, there’s good news: 85% of managers predict teams with remote workers will become the new norm. In other words, you don’t have to move to Salt Lake City to get a good taste of what the city has to offer.
When your legs are tired from hiking, just take out your laptop and start your workday. And since any alluring city in the United States wouldn’t be complete without a great cup of coffee, here are some of the best coffee shops to check out while you get to work.
Food: A stuffed breakfast croissant is a great way to kickstart your day
Coffee: Ice cream lattes make summer heat worth it
Vibe: Lots of natural sunlight creates a great place to get work done.
WiFi: Yes
Whether you’re looking for a drink that’s hot or cold or if you just want something to snack on, Rawbean Coffee will satisfy any craving. They even have dog biscuits for your furry friend. Get your breakfast staples like yogurt and granola bowls and breakfast burritos made from fresh local ingredients. Try a drink off their specialty menu; each month it has a theme.
Food: Homemade crepes all the way
Coffee: Try the Van Halen
Vibe: The cozy atmosphere will get your creative juices flowing day or night
WiFi: Yes
With comfy, oversized couches and rustic wooden tables, Nostalgia Café is Downtown’s go-to hipster coffee shop. It’s not uncommon to see people studying or playing board games here, creating the perfect warm atmosphere to get some work done or people watch. Open until 9 p.m., Nostalgia Café is a particularly good place for some late-night writing or creative work.
Food: You can’t go wrong with a chocolate croissant
Coffee: One of the best mochas in Salt Lake City!
Vibe: Eclectic with slices of the local art scene
WiFi: Yes
Aside from a good cup of coffee, The People’s Coffee is designed to give visitors a taste of local culture. With walls covered in photos of local artists and artwork, this coffee shop delivers a rich ambience with a creative presence. Explore the area and you’ll find more artwork right around the corner. No, really — this coffee shop is just a 15 minute walk from Utah’s Contemporary Museum of Art.
Food: Spice it up with an empanada
Coffee: Explore the world through gourmet coffee
Vibe: Walls decorated with maps create a modern library vibe
WiFi: Yes
A visit to Salt Lake Roasting Co. is a must for any coffee connoisseur passing through the area. Over the past forty years, this place has turned brewing the perfect cup of coffee into a science. Offering freshly roasted coffee anywhere from Latin America to Africa, Salt Lake Roasting Co. gives you the opportunity to explore flavors from all over the world — all from just a spacious coffee shop in Salt Lake City. Even better, the owner only buys coffee beans from farms that compensate their workers fairly. Buying a cup of coffee here not only tastes great but feels good too.
Food: Support a young local business by ordering a runty bundt!
Coffee: Check out the horchata latte
Vibe: Boujee but feels like home
WiFi: Yes
Whether you want to sit upstairs or downstairs, enjoy the outdoors or stay inside, Roots Coffee Utah has you covered. It’s the perfect place to open your laptop and crank out a long days’ worth of work, moving from outdoor couches to petite indoor benches when you need a change in scenery. Small coffee shops can make your mind feel trapped after an hour or two, but here you get access to what feels like an entire house just by purchasing a single cup of coffee. Plus, named the 2022 best coffee shop in Salt Lake City’s, the drinks taste pretty good too.
