Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City in Utah [In-depth Hotel Review]

The author was traveling as an invited guest of Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City and expenses were covered by the hotel. All opinions are the author’s own and the hotel had no input in any part of this review.

I recently visited Salt Lake City, Utah, for the first time in June 2023. I always thought of it as a winter destination, and since I am not into winter sports or winter in general, it was never really on my travel radar.

So when I got an invitation to check out Salt Lake City in the summer, I jumped at the chance to explore it — without snow. From dining and shopping to festivals and hiking, I was surprised by how much there was to do in the area.

I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, a new downtown hotel that opened in October of 2022. Between the excellent location, impressive dining spots, access to the convention center, and dedication to celebrating the natural beauty surrounding it, Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City really felt embedded within the city.

In this review, I’ll take you on a tour of the hotel and all of the amenities it offers.

Location

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City is a thoughtfully-designed hotel that fully embraces its location. With 700 guest rooms, 60,000 square feet of meeting space (including the largest hotel ballroom in the city), and direct access to the Salt Palace Convention Center, this hotel is quickly becoming an integral part of downtown.

Transportation

After landing at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) I took an Uber to the hotel. The quick 12-minute trip cost ~$20.

Hot Tip:

You can use your Uber Cash credit from The Platinum Card^® from American Express or American Express^® Gold Card to cover the cost of your ride from the airport to the hotel (enrollment required). With the Amex Platinum card, you’ll get up to $200 Uber Cash credit ($15 per month and $35 in December), and up to $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account.

Local Activities

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City is close to lots of outdoor activities, including Red Butte Canyon, the Great Salt Lake, and the Wasatch Mountains. There are 7 ski resorts within a 35-minute drive and it’s within a day’s drive of 12 national parks. The closest ones, Capital Reef National Park, Great Basin National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Arches National Park, are all less than a 4-hour drive.

The Gallivan Center, just a 5-minute walk from the hotel, hosts outdoor concerts and events throughout the summer, while the Salt Lake City Farmer’s Market, open Saturday mornings from June to October, is located in Pioneer Park, just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

Bottom Line:

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City is centrally located downtown near shops, restaurants, and activities. Multiple ski resorts and national parks are within easy driving distance of the hotel.

Booking

A base-level room at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City ranges from ~$200 to ~$500 per night. As a Hyatt Category 3 hotel, you’ll pay 9,000 (off-peak), 12,000 (standard), or 15,000 (peak) World of Hyatt points per night.

Since the price in points is so low, you’ll often get solid value booking the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City using World of Hyatt points. This hotel would also be a good option for a Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate.

To me, this hotel seems like a steal at a Category 3 so I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see it move to a Category 4 during Hyatt’s yearly category changes, which usually happen in the spring.

Hot Tip:

Short on points? Check out our guide to the best ways to earn World of Hyatt points for some ideas.

If you’re not using points for your stay, be sure to use a credit card that earns extra points on Hyatt purchases. The World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card both earn 4x points per dollar spent at participating Hyatt hotels. If you stay at Hyatt locations often, it’s a great idea to have at least 1 of these in your wallet.

Check-In and Lobby

Walking into the lobby at Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, I first noticed how spacious and modern it felt. Before you even get to the check-in desk, there are multi-function spaces for working or relaxing.

There were also cozy armchairs, bookshelves, and even a fireplace — a perfect spot to meet friends or grab a bite to eat from the grab-and-go market.

After arriving at the hotel from the airport around noon, I was able to check in right away. I was traveling on a group press trip, so any elite benefits I may have been entitled to as a World of Hyatt Explorist member (like a room upgrade) didn’t apply.

Artwork

The hotel’s collection of artwork is inspired by the natural beauty surrounding Salt Lake City and the city itself. Modern interpretations of mountains, snow, and even honeycomb (Utah is known as the Beehive State) are found throughout the hotel.

One of the most striking pieces in the hotel’s art collection is found along the lobby’s side wall. These mirrored honeycomb shapes catch the light differently as you move around them, giving the illusion of movement.

During a tour of the hotel, Jarrod Finley, Director of Sales & Marketing, explained that these pieces were made by a family in Ukraine. They were commissioned before the war started. The hotel kept in contact with the family, who was eager to keep the contract, as the income was desperately needed.

No detail was spared in the design of the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City. Even the bookends in the lobby’s sitting area are a beautiful interpretation of honeycomb, a nod to Utah’s nickname of the Beehive State.

One of the more whimsical pieces of art was a collection of deer sculptures covered in a cable-knit sweater texture hung high on various walls in the lobby and at the doors between the hotel and the convention center.

Amenities

Regency Club

The Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City has an amenity that has become harder and harder to find these days — an open club lounge! The Regency Club at Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City is open daily for continental breakfast from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and snacks from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The space itself, a semi-round room, has floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of downtown Salt Lake City.

Globalists get automatic access to the Regency Lounge as part of the breakfast benefit. You can also access the lounge by using a Club Access Award (part of the Milestone Benefits of the World of Hyatt program), or by booking a Club Access room.

Fitness Center

The sixth-floor fitness center is fully-stocked so that you can get a great workout 24 hours a day. It’s located on the curved-edge side of the building with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of downtown Salt Lake City.

There were treadmills, elliptical machines, and Peloton bikes lined up facing the windows.

The room also had weight machines, free weights, and yoga mats.

Rooftop Pool

The heated rooftop pool at Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City is on the hotel’s sixth floor next to the outdoor patio at Mar | Muntanya.

There were plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, and you could order food and drinks poolside. Towels, cold water, and sunscreen were available for all guests.

Dog-Friendly

If you’re traveling with a pet you’ll be happy to know that the Hyatt Regency in Salt Lake City is a dog-friendly hotel. There’s a non-refundable cleaning fee of $150 for up to 6 nights or $300 for stays of 7 nights or longer.

Dogs weighing up to 50 pounds are permitted. There’s a maximum of 2 dogs per room as long as the combined weight of the dogs is 75 pounds or less.

1 King Bed City View Room

I stayed in a 1 King Bed City View room at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City during my 2-night trip. The room’s muted tones and contemporary design combined to make a cozy and calm space perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring the city.

The comfortable king-sized bed in my room had fresh white sheets and 4 squishy pillows, so I slept very well during my stay.

Each side of the bed had plenty of plugs and USB outlets, along with a reading lamp.

Next to the bed, there was a small but very functional workspace. Since it was right next to the nightstand, all of those plugs were easily accessible.

There was a couch and a small coffee table in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered nice views of downtown Salt Lake and the Wasatch Mountains.

At the entrance of the room, there was an open-concept built-in closet unit that also housed the minibar area. The integrated luggage rack was a nice touch that made this area super functional.

Behind the doors, there was more storage space as well as an iron and ironing board.

There was also a minifridge, a safe, and a coffee maker.

One of my criticisms of the hotel is something that I’ve found at quite a few Hyatt hotels recently — powdered coffee creamer instead of actual coffee creamer. It may be something that most people don’t care about, but I have become very picky about in-room coffee setups at hotels, so it’s a huge pet peeve for me.

The minifridge had complimentary water bottles for World of Hyatt members. I have found that many hotels don’t proactively offer this even though it’s a benefit of Hyatt elite status, so it was a nice touch that water was available without having to ask for it.

Bathroom

The bathroom was simple yet clean, functional, and modern.

The large stand-up shower had a feature that I often don’t even see in even very high-end hotels — controls that can be accessed without having to use go-go-Gadget arms. They were placed opposite the shower heads so you could easily turn on the water and adjust the temperature without getting wet. Brilliant!

The full-sized containers of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were from Pharmacopia, a brand commonly used in Hyatt Regency hotels.

There were plenty of extra towels as well as a make-up mirror and hairdryer under the sink.

Dining

Mar | Muntanya

Mar | Muntanya is the signature restaurant at Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City. Located on the sixth floor, with a delightful outdoor patio (complete with dining globes), it’s a popular dining spot for locals and hotel guests alike.

There’s also a chic indoor seating area and a bar at Mar | Muntanya.

Chef Tyson Peterson has crafted a unique menu of small plates that marries the flavors of Northern Spain with a Salt Lake City vibe for a menu that’s truly unique.

One of my favorite dishes was Chef Tyson’s take on a Utah favorite — funeral potatoes. He’s reimagined this popular dish as Funeral Croquettas and they were delicious.

Let’s not forget about dessert. Chef Tyson treated us to a tasting of multiple sweet treats. The Basque Cheesecake was particularly delicious.

Mar | Muntanya Hours and Menus:

• Brunch: Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Lunch: Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Cocktail Hour: Wednesday to Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Salt Republic

The Salt Republic is a contemporary and inviting space located just off the hotel’s lobby.

With an open-concept kitchen and a focus on local ingredients, The Salt Republic serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

We enjoyed a tasting menu with some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, including funeral potatoes, short ribs, and organic roast chicken. It was all incredibly tasty and even though none of us were still hungry, we tried multiple desserts that were both elegant and whimsical.

The Salt Republic Menus and Hours:

• Breakfast: Daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• Lunch: Daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dinner: Daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Contribution Cocktail Lounge

Before heading to dinner at Mar | Muntanya on my first night in Salt Lake City, our group headed to Contribution Cocktail Lounge for drinks and appetizers.

Located on the ground level just off of the hotel’s lobby, Contribution Cocktail Lounge takes advantage of the building’s curved design with dramatic (and high) floor-to-ceiling windows.

Contribution Cocktail Lounge is open daily for drinks and snacks from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.

We enjoyed both the charcuterie and veggie boards along with some pre-dinner cocktails.

In addition to an extensive list of wines, beers, spirits, and cocktails, there was a dedicated spirit-free cocktail section, which I especially appreciated since I don’t drink alcohol.

The Market

The Market is a grab-and-go spot located in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. it’s a great spot for a quick meal or snack throughout the day.

There was a variety of food items available, including prepackaged salads and sandwiches, fruit, snacks, desserts, and beverages.

One of the really cool things about The Market is that in addition to food, it sold a variety of locally-made snacks and souvenirs. I was able to grab some stickers for my daughter (her preferred souvenir from my trips) in addition to a quick lunch and some snacks.

In-Room Dining

In-room dining was available through The Market from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. You could order through a convenient QR code in the room or through the World of Hyatt app.

Bottom Line:

There are 3 dining locations at Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City — Mar | Muntanya, The Salt Republic, and Celebration Cocktail Lounge — plus The Market, which sold grab-and-go items.

Final Thoughts

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City is an integral part of the city’s vibrant downtown area. It’s centrally located, making it a convenient home base for exploring all Salt Lake City has to offer. In addition to modern guestrooms, the hotel has multiple dining locations, a spacious lobby featuring work areas and a grab-and-go market, lots of conference and meeting spaces, a fitness center, a Regency Club, and a beautiful rooftop pool with mountain views.