Before & After Meetups: The Main Street Line
Salt Lake City's downtown Main Street corridor has everything a tech meetup night needs — specialty coffee steps from Gallivan Plaza, inventive tacos and refined New American dining, and a cocktail scene that punches well above its weight.
Welcome to Before & After Meetups — a new series where we map out your entire meetup night, from the first pour to the last round. Every spot in each guide is walkable from the others, so you never have to move your car.
Before: Coffee & Pre-Meetup
You've got a couple hours before the meetup starts. Here's where to post up.
Three Pines Coffee — 165 S Main St
A minimalist specialty coffee shop bordering Gallivan Plaza, opened by two Salt Lakers who cut their teeth in the LA specialty coffee scene. Heart Roasters beans, expert espresso, and a no-tipping model where baristas earn real wages.
- Vibe: Minimalist, intentional, neighborhood gem
- Good for: Focused pre-meetup work sessions, small group conversations
- Don't miss: The espresso drinks featuring Heart Roasters beans
Cupla Coffee — 77 W 200 S
A locally-roasted coffee and brunch spot steps from the Salt Palace Convention Center and Temple Square. Free WiFi, plentiful seating, extra outlets for marathon laptop sessions, and a full brunch food menu with breakfast burritos and warm cinnamon rolls.
- Vibe: Bright, spacious, work-friendly
- Good for: Longer pre-meetup work sessions, groups who need food with their coffee
- Don't miss: The warm cinnamon rolls and the free WiFi with ample outlets
The Meetup
Downtown SLC is home to Utah's tech meetup epicenter. Kiln at The Gateway hosts Silicon Slopes panels and startup events in their 150-seat theater. SLC Tech Startups runs monthly happy hours downtown. The Salt Palace Convention Center and venues along Main Street regularly host developer meetups, AI/ML groups, and design community gatherings.
After: Dinner
The meetup's over and the conversation's still going. Keep it moving.
Taqueria 27 — 149 E 200 S
Locally and veteran-owned, Taqueria 27 reimagines Mexican cuisine with unexpected ingredients like duck confit and pork belly tacos. Everything is made from scratch. The daily rotation — taco of the day, guacamole of the day, cocktail of the day — means every visit is different.
- Vibe: Inventive, lively, tequila-forward
- Price: $$
- Good for: Groups of 4-8 ordering a spread of tacos and sharing guacamole
- Don't miss: The guacamole of the day and the churro donuts
The Copper Onion — 111 E Broadway (300 S)
A downtown SLC institution with a menu designed to explore and share. Ricotta dumplings with lemon, sage, and brown butter have been on the menu since day one for good reason. Sausages and burgers are ground daily, bread is baked in house, and ice cream is made from scratch.
- Vibe: Upscale-casual, polished, modern American
- Price: $$$
- Good for: Post-meetup groups of 4-8, team celebrations, impressing visiting colleagues
- Don't miss: The ricotta dumplings — they're legendary
- Reserve ahead: Recommended, especially for groups of 6+
After: Nightcaps
Not ready to call it? Neither are these spots.
Beerhive Pub — 128 S Main St
A Main Street institution for craft beer lovers with 24 rotating taps pouring mostly Utah-brewed beers. The ice-cold bar top keeps your pint perfectly chilled. Monday drafts are $3, making it the cheapest quality pour downtown.
- Vibe: Casual beer hall, no-frills, local hangout
- Price: $
- Good for: The whole crew after dinner, extended post-meetup hangs, budget-friendly rounds
- Don't miss: The ice bar top and the $3 Monday draft special
White Horse — 325 S Main St
A 21+ modern American brasserie that reopened in January 2026 after a fire. The cocktail program features signature creations like the bourbon-infused Peach Smash, plus 10+ full-strength ciders on tap, an extensive wine list, and daily oysters flown in fresh.
- Vibe: Sophisticated brasserie, craft cocktail-forward, polished
- Price: $$$
- Good for: Impressing out-of-town colleagues, a proper nightcap with 2-6 people
- Don't miss: The craft cocktail menu and the French Onion Soup
The Walking Route
Here's how the night flows on foot:
1. 3:00 PM — Post up at Three Pines Coffee on Main Street or Cupla Coffee near the Salt Palace with your laptop
2. 5:30 PM — Walk to your meetup venue — Kiln at The Gateway, a Main Street event space, or the Salt Palace are all within 10 minutes
3. 8:00 PM — Meetup wraps, walk to Taqueria 27 for inventive tacos (5 min) or The Copper Onion on Broadway for a refined dinner (7 min)
4. 9:30 PM — Stroll to Beerhive Pub for casual craft beers (3 min) or White Horse for cocktails and oysters (2 min south on Main)
Total walking distance for the entire night: under a mile.
Before & After Meetups is a series by TechMeetups. Next up: Sugar House Stroll — 2100 South coffee shops, eclectic eats, and brewery hopping through SLC's coziest neighborhood.