Salt Lake City, UtahDowntown
The Grand America Hotel
Olympic granite palace
Downtown   Salt Lake City, Utah
Opened
2001
Price
$$$
Rated for
Luxe Wellness ClassicOutside the door
Olympic granite palace
Built to host international dignitaries, this monumental white-granite landmark brings classic European palace scale to downtown Salt Lake City.
What it’s good at
Notable
Salt Lake's lone Five-Diamond address pairs step-out balconies with a babysitter concierge.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler and AFAR.
Adorned with layered drapery, ornate woodwork, and velvet upholstered desk chairs, the spacious guest rooms feel presidential.
“Public outdoor spaces include an immaculately manicured courtyard garden with a central fountain, a pretty-as-can-be terrace café serving house-made breads, and an outsize pool lined with loungers, all against a backdrop of classic white granite.”
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
South Main Street sits right outside, and the light rail connects directly to Temple Square and City Creek Center.
The rooms
Rooms feature handcrafted cherrywood furniture and Italian marble bathrooms, with many opening onto step-out balconies.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
The indoor lap pool looks out toward the Wasatch Mountains, and a seasonal Mediterranean pool opens in the courtyard.
The spa
The multi-level spa houses 18 treatment rooms, including couples suites fitted with multi-jet showers, and a full-service salon.
The gym and sauna
A cedar sauna glows with an amber Himalayan salt wall, and the adjacent fitness center hosts weekend sound baths.
Restaurant
Laurel Brasserie & Bar
Curved red banquettes fill the dining room, and a circular brass bar serves cocktails mixed with local spirits.
At the table
The Gibson Lounge serves craft cocktails beneath vintage sketches, and the Lobby Lounge hosts live jazz four nights a week.
How it began
Founder Earl Holding shipped Vermont granite to Spain for specialized cutting before opening the hotel for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.