'Appy' Hour in Salt Lake City

After a long day of Meeting sessions, you may look forward to going to happy hour and grabbing a few alcoholic beverages at discounted rates with colleagues. In Utah, however, any promotion of discounted beer and liquor is prohibited. While you may not find a traditional happy hour here, several places offer 'appy' hours with discounted appetizers and food. Here are my two favorite spots in Salt Lake City:

Laurel Brasserie & Bar

Laurel Brasserie & Bar is a restaurant located in The Grand America Hotel, a sight worth checking out itself. Built for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the hotel is an exquisite, European-style establishment housed in one of the most beautiful buildings in Salt Lake City in my opinion. In addition to the restaurant, there are retail shops, a toy boutique, afternoon tea services, and a cocktail bar. While the hotel may appear too opulent to offer budget meals, the appy hour at Laurel Brasserie & Bar is both affordable and divine.

Appy hour is offered daily from 3 - 5pm. The grilled Utah peach and burrata salad is my favorite on the menu at only $9. They also offer a bacon cheeseburger for $11 and a roasted turkey sandwich for $9, so you will not leave hungry.

• Distance from Convention Center: 20-minute walk through downtown Salt Lake City
• Average appy hour meal price: $6 - 11

Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Tsunami is a popular sushi spot with five locations across Utah. The options they have are amazing and as a vegetarian I love the large selection of unique vegetarian sushi rolls. Appy hour is offered Tuesday to Friday from 2:30 - 4pm. A chicken teriyaki rice bowl is only $8 and a sushi roll can go for as low as $5.

The location closest to the Salt Palace Convention Center — Tsunami on 9th — is in one my favorite neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, called 9th and 9th. After grabbing food at Tsunami, you can walk to shops, a great gelato place with quirky décor and unique flavors called Dolcetti Gelato, and my favorite boba spot, Xing Fu Tang. 9th and 9th is about a 10-minute drive, however Ubers are typically affordable in Salt Lake City. I looked up the price of an Uber from the Convention Center to Tsunami while writing this blog, and my current estimated price is $8. You can also take a Salt Lake City bus, which is only $2.50 one way.

• Distance from Convention Center: 10-minute drive or 25-minute bus ride
• Average appy hour meal price: $5 - 13