Beneath the picturesque streets of Park City, you’ll find an eclectic, underground collection of basement bars and lounges, each offering a unique escape into night-time revelry. From the rustic charm of Western-style wine bars to the sleek sophistication of upscale lounges, Park City’s lower-level locales cater to every taste, ensuring that locals, tourists, and nightlife lovers can find their perfect spot to unwind, socialize, and savor our mountain town’s distinctive après scene all year round.
Shabu
This Asian-fusion restaurant debuted on Main Street in February 2004, offering a unique dining experience that has withstood the test of time, recently celebrating its 20-year anniversary. The eatery, owned by chef Robert Valaika and his brother Kevin, who is the general manager, relocated in 2010 across the street from its original location in the former Park City Mall. The basement bastion leads curious diners down to an enchanting dining room and sake bar where each corner is adorned with artwork from local artists. The menu is crafted around Robert’s learnings from Japanese master, Nobu Matsuhisa, in Aspen, CO.
“I had worked in sushi bars for twelve years before opening Shabu. I enjoyed Asian fusion cuisine myself, taking South American ingredients and incorporating them into Japanese food and that led me to do it on Main Street,” Robert explains. “We settled for the basement when we had to move, and it really did bode well for us, especially in rent prices. People already knew who we were and loved our food. It was an easy transition. We have a New York City vibe now.”
Old Town Cellars (oTc)
After reopening in fall 2023 following a destructive flood, Old Town Cellars features a chic space sporting a hand-crafted wood bar where guests can sip a wine flight while nibbling on a selection of cheese or chocolates.
“We source from premiere West Coast vineyards and blend and bottle our oTc wines right in the heart of Park City,” says founder and owner Stephen McKay. “Our sleek, reimagined oTc Bar and Lounge, with a sommelier-crafted wine list, locally brewed beer, and premium spirits, is the ideal place to land after a day on the mountain. Private tastings in The Vault, our 19th century silver mining lounge, connect guests to the deep roots of our community that keeps finding new ways to flourish.”
Fletchers Library Lounge
This downstairs haunt, fashioned after the movie Clue, is a great spot for après cocktails and towers of seafood from the raw bar menu, aptly named the Tower Hour, due to its availability from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the lounge. Tower offerings include snow crab, classic shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, grilled lobster tails, and tuna poke. All items can be ordered individually or in the three-tier tower style. The Library Lounge is closed to the public during the summer but is available for private gatherings and special occasions.
“We will be open for ten years next winter, and the partners and I felt the need for a loungy, sexy bar, so we came up with the Library Lounge,” says Scott Boberek, chef/partner. “There is plaid on the walls, books, dark hardwoods, and comfortable seating. After receiving feedback from our clientele, we decided to have the same menu as Fletchers. It does have a separate liquor license, so no one under 21 is allowed. We have a DJ on the weekends during the winter and a line out the door nightly.”
Nickle Bar, Firewood
The Nickel Bar, housed beneath the glow of Firewood restaurant, is named for the shimmering nickel-plated countertop. Step up and select from an array of meticulously crafted cocktails or wander through a wine list that boasts both depth and diversity. Complement your libation with a culinary treat from the New American menu. The ambiance aims to capture both sophistication and a touch of the wild spirit with industrial rustic treasures throughout the space, each a nod to Park City’s storied mining past.
“With Park City’s heritage, we really wanted to feel the vibe of the industrial era, so we collected these unique pieces. Some came from an old blacksmith shop selling off some of the original pieces and we found some other pieces that related to Park City that I felt worked with the mining heritage that we have here,” says John Murcko, executive chef. “When I was a kid, a building in Detroit had a penny floor in the bathrooms and I always loved it. I felt like the nickels fell right into place with the bar top and the era of Park City when this place was a bar. We really wanted to embrace that history.”
Premiere Park City
The former OP Rockwell space has been reimagined into a new destination for cocktail enthusiasts and social gatherings. Guests are welcomed by a cordial door attendant, setting the tone for an exclusive experience. The venue transitions from a laid-back cocktail lounge during quieter periods to a vibrant event space, both equally committed to the art of mixology. One of the lounge’s standout offerings, the espresso martini flight, tempts patrons with an array of flavors, including raspberry white chocolate, salted caramel, and dark chocolate hazelnut, alongside an assortment of smoked cocktails nestled inside a whimsical treasure chest that is opened tableside. Complementing the drinks are Latin-inspired tapas, with crowd-pleasers like birria sliders accompanied by a lemongrass consommé and a classic grilled cheese paired with rich tomato bisque.
General Manager Anthony Hebert explains, “We are a higher-end lounge with mixology; we are focused on hand-crafted cocktails using premium ingredients with really cool, fun, Instagram-able activations for the drinks.”
Saddle up for Cowboy Karaoke on Thursdays while live local music is featured on Fridays as the energy increases with a pulse-pounding DJ set on Saturdays.
Alpine Distilling Social Aid & Pleasure Club
Thanks to the minds behind Alpine Distilling, the Social Aid & Pleasure Club offers a chic and spacious escape into a world of refined flavors and convivial relaxation. This subterranean bar and lounge promises an evening of adventure for guests. For spirit enthusiasts, the venue’s micro-distillery hosts events such as the Gin Experience, where you become the artisan to distill your bespoke bottle of gin.
“The Alpine Distilling Social Aid & Pleasure Club serves as the extension of our living room for the main distillery,” Sara Sergent, co-owner and Alpine’s Master Botanical Distiller suggests. “As active members of our community, we embrace our responsibility for Social Aid and contribute space, time, and other resources to local entities.”