TL;DR

Two locations: Downtown Salt Lake City, plus a sister spot nearby.
Unique themes: From lighthouses to gold rush camps and classic suites.
Playful vibe: Think movie set-style decor, quirky and immersive.
Bold interiors: More about what’s inside than the exterior appeal.
Check prices here

Downtown Salt Lake City has two of these cult classics: this hotel and a sister location just a 5-minute drive away.

With four locations between Utah and Idaho, Anniversary Inn has a small army of once-in-a-lifetime rooms for a couple’s getaway or, if you’re brave, a solo adventure.

We’ll start by saying: nobody’s trying to fool anybody. Everything is fake, and it’s okay.

The leaves are fabric, the tree trunks dead, the alligators are not even taxidermied (that’s a joke unless you’re from Wyoming, in which case it’s a serious complaint).

There’s a old movie set quality to it all, almost like Shatner-era Star Trek started filming episodes set on Earth.

The 5th South location doesn’t have quite the same charm from the outside as the Victorian-style building on South Temple, but it’s the kind of place you book for the interior, not the exterior.

This one’s got lighthouses, it’s got the Gold Rush, and some doubles from the other location.

It also seems to have a fair few pretty straightforward beautiful suites, which is good for anyone wanting to dip their toe into the Anniversary Inn waters without making a basement-full-of-imitation-antiquities kind of commitment.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 36 themed suites.
Three styles: Simple decor, immersive murals, or full-on fantasy rooms.
Features: Jetted tubs, TVs, seating areas (comfort varies).
Virtual tour: Explore rooms with the 3D walkthrough.
See each room in detail here

Each room is completely unique, but they seem to follow the general Anniversary Inn trend.

Some suites more or less feel like a normal hotel room with specialized decor. The Zen Garden, for example, simply features a calming accent wall, some sweet wind chimes, and lots of greenery.

Others take the decor a little further. The Meadow is completely decked out in a mountain landscape murals that open up to a a trompe-l’oeil sky ceiling, with a banister made of branches leading up to the TV loft.

The last category is full-scale, immersive camp. The Country Garden suite boasts a bed fully enclosed in a gazebo, with rakes and a wheelbarrow in the corner and the jetted tub tucked into the tile like it’s a koi pond.

Generally, rooms are either King or Queen Suites, with some sort of tub with jets situation and a TV.

Most will also have a seating area. We’d like to advise that the seats will be more or less comfortable depending on the theme.

Have a nose around here…blow your mind:

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Breakfast included: Served in-room, varies daily.
Adults-only: One-bed rooms, private atmosphere.
Add-ons: Rose petals, bath bombs, oils, early check-in.

B&B-style accommodation means breakfast is included. Here it is served to the room. It varies depending on the day, from fruity porridge to pastries to quiche.

Some days it can be a bit lackluster, and you’re not too far from some of Salt Lake City’s best breakfasts, so keep this in mind before filling out the breakfast card.

It’s not a place made for socializing with other guests. Anniversary Inn, adults-only, all rooms only one bed, you work it out.

There are, however, add-ons to be enjoyed in-room, with your special someone (or yourself…we’re really into the idea of a me-cation in the India-themed Palace Suite).

Some of these add-ons correspond to an Anniversary Inn check-in policy that deserves mention.

The default check-in for all except ‘Diamond’ suites is 5pm, which is definitely on the later side.

Most of the add-ons, such as rose petals or bath bombs and massage oil, include an early check-in, and might be worth it.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Central location: Easy access to downtown SLC.
Transport: University Boulevard highway and public transit nearby.
Nearby district: University area with museums and parks.
Day trips: Ski bus links to Park City and mountain resorts.

The location, not bad. It’s quite central, and we’d say the proximity to University Boulevard, a three-lane highway that winds through SLC, is a net positive.

The public transport runs through there, and anyone driving won’t have to worry about getting lost on side streets (not super likely considering it’s a grid city, but we’ve all been there).

Downtown is not far, and the well-loved 9th & 9th.

The closest neighborhood is the University district, home to the Natural History Museum of Utah, the Olympic Cauldron Park, and the school where they filmed High School Musical.

Getting out into the nearby mountains is a bit of a drive, but worth it. In winter, the ski bus will take you towards Park City and other resorts.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Beautiful hotel with very quirky rooms which we loved. Very comfortable and the spa bath was just amazing, the Bridal Veil Falls suite had a lovely rainfall shower….”

“This hotel is amazing. We had just attended the Cowboy Poetry Gathering and I wanted to surprise my husband with a unqiue hotel stay prior to returning home. The Anniversary Inn more than met my expectations! We had the 49er room with a wonderful western theme. This is definitely a romantic hotel for couples. We chose our breakfast items and when we wanted them delivered and then we just stayed in our room relaxed – the spa bath was huge and the water stayed hot the whole time we filled the tub. There were nice touches like sparkling cider provided and bath supplies that you can purchase. The breakfast arrived at our requested time and it was delicious! Free covered parking is provided which was nice because it was snowing when we were there….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”I’m pregnant and there was no shower in the room, bed was too short for me and I’m only 5’1. Staff during check in was sitting on his phone while his coworker was busy with other customers. Did not stay at the facility due to poor experience….”

”I was injured due to bathtub design shower door was screwed down allowing very limited movement. Not in ADA compliance. Put us in the wrong room and then tried to blame us for canceling there reservations. No elevator we were in the top floor. Told us that the hotel was not for old people. Food cold. Staff not helpful when asked for information about local restaurants. When we told them that both of us feel no one asked if we were injured. BTW both of us are in the medical profession and work 40 hour weeks. We resent being referred to as ”old people”…..”

Read all the reviews right here