Joseph Smith Memorial Building

In July 2025, we visited the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City. This building has undergone significant upgrades during its existence, and another upgrade has just finished. The architecture, furniture, and other decorations are amazing. Skilled artisans have done significant effort to do the wood and stone carvings, as well as the painting, tile work, and other decorations. The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is a treasured asset of Salt Lake City and well worth the free admission visit.

Such a beautiful, historic building in the heart of Salt Lake City and adjacent to the world famous Temple Square. Highly recommend the Roof Restaurant for a classy meal.

Located at Temple Square, next to the Assembly Hall. Free to tour and lots of friendly helpful people to answer questions. You can pay to park in front of Assembly Hall or you can park across the street at the museum.

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. Reopened June 2025 Validation parking with purchase at the Garden restaurant or else it’s $25 Tip: park at City Creek Center mall for 2hrs free or park at the Conference Center with Validation. Building still under construction so only the Garden restaurant is open from 11am-3pm

It's a beautiful building and has been recently remodeled. The Garden Restaurant has really good food for reasonable prices

Being a huge fan of The Lion House for decades, I've been waiting patiently for word on a reopening. Finally, we were back in the area a few weeks ago, and my husband said it reopened under a new name in the Joseph Smith Building. So, we went for lunch. The building itself has so much history and is beautiful inside and out. It's warm and welcoming, decorated tastefully and comfortably. The restaurant operates out of the building. It was busy and most tables were taken, but there are places to sit outside of the restaurant, in the lobby. If you happen to go, pay attention to the details and photos. It's such a beautiful space.

Quiet place for hosting events with the renovations of temple square. I am sure less people are using this as their reception and dining right now until the Salt Lake Temple reopens. Good food and good service. They were very accommodating for my gluten and dairy free dietary restrictions! Thank you!

Went out here with my son between General Conference sessions. First off, "The Roof" has a fantastic view of Temple square. You can see all the LDS patrons as they exit out the conference center. It was a perfect day for every event taking place. The staff consistently stopped by to ensure we were comfortable and needed anything. The food selection was fantastic. Our waitress knew their selections well and have great recommendations what to get next when I asked. I'm so glad they are open between conference sessions to make it a wonderful experience. Foods and desserts are well worth it.

Formerly known as the Hotel Utah, this elegant structure served as a hotel for more than seventy years.  After the hotel closed, the building became a social center, with the building remodeled and renamed after Joseph Smith,  the founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saints movement. Tip: The original Hotel Utah was built in 1911 The lobby of this building has impressive marble columns and a sweeping staircase which contribute to a striking, majestic look and feel.  The building still has quite a lot of character.  The middle floors contain offices, and downstairs there a genealogy research library where visitors can look up facts about their ancestors.

Located in temple square. This place is very beautiful. Photos do not do this place justice. Definitely worth a trip in your lifetime!

Wonderful place for a wedding reception! My friend had their wedding ceremony and reception here and I was so impressed! I love visiting this building year round but this was my first time attending a wedding! We loved the food for the dinner and I was blown away by the beauty of some of the rooms that I'd never seen before! I can't wait to go back and hopefully attend another event here!

All of these buildings on and around temple square are grand and magnificent, while at the same time being peaceful and humble. It's really hard to explain and you should definitely make time to walk around if you ever get a chance. There are plenty of places to sit and relax here, plenty of places to splurge on a meal (The Roof, The Garden, and The Nauvoo Cafe), and upstairs is a huge legacy theater where they constantly play wholesome and uplifting shows every half an hour, free of charge. The building is only open Monday-Saturday, 9am-9pm. Although it would be a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon, I think it's awesome they allow their employees to spend it with their families and not at work. The bathrooms are always clean, the volunteers are very helpful and willing to show you around or give directions, and the pianist who plays in the lobby is incredible! Take some time to check it out if you're ever in the area. TIPS & TRICKS: * It's directly across the street from City Creek Mall, with 2 hours of free parking then $2 every additionally hour. If you don't mind walking a tiny bit, park there and enjoy the square. * It can be used as a venue too, there are 12 banquet rooms that can be rented out and used for different events.

Such a beautiful building. The second you walk through the circling doors you walk into the sound of beautiful piano music and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The Joseph Smith Statue in the lobby had me in awe with the detail of it. I wish I had more time to really go over every bit of the memorial. The volunteer we talked to when we arrived was the sweetest lady, asked where we were from, welcomed us and even asked where we were from. I really could feel the love with her smile and welcoming voice.

This is a beautiful building and architecture to take a look at. Worth stopping by for a look.

My daughter is having her wedding reception here in the Wasatch room on the top floor, which is my favorite. Chris, our wedding planner, was so easy to work with. She took all the time we needed to help us choose linens, the menu, etc. She was very helpful. The food here is delicious. And the views from The Roof restaurant--wow. We had lunch at the nauvoo cafe which was quick and yummy. Classy building with beautiful architecture, stained glass ceiling, and interesting rooms.

If you ever need a play to take a break from work, I'd recommend sitting in the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial building. It is a beautiful building and often you can find someone playing the piano in the lobby. Around Christmas, there are often choirs from around the Valley that sing in the lobby, filling it with music. There are also a couple restaurants at the top of the building and some places where you can get a great view of Temple Square. It is fun to look down and see all of the flowerbeds in the spring - fall, and the Christmas lights in the winter.

I've visited this landmark in Salt Lake many times. It's undergone a lot of changes over the years, and many different types of events are held there. My grandparents used to be volunteer tour guides here back in the day! I see it's closed during Covid, but I think it's a worthwhile tourist site once things open up again.

My husband and I had our wedding luncheon here and it was a great experience. Mercedes was super helpful and got all the details planned out very easily. There was a good variety of linens and place settings to choose from. They gave us a beautiful bridal room where I could change into my dress for all the photos. That was particularly useful! My bridesmaids had a safe place that locked for them to leave their things. The food was delicious and everything went according to plan. Of all the things I stressed about on my wedding day, our luncheon was something I knew I didn't have to worry about. I would recommend to any bride!

Love this building! First of all, the restaurants! Love the fresh sandwiches of Nauvoo Cafe. And recently I ate at The Garden Restaurant, 10th floor! Oh so yummy! Also located on the 10th floor is The Roof Restaurant. It's a higher end buffet style restaurant that serves dinner. But the view from the 10th floor is excellent. Check out the reviews here on Yelp. Also what's totally awesome is the movie Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration in the Legacy Theater. It's a movie for non-members and members of the church that's a must see if you're visiting the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. If you plan to attend the movie, make sure you have the full hour to watch the movie! I believe I saw that there is a family history section located on the same floor as the Legacy Theater. That might be something worth checking out too. A must see! In the lobby on the first floor, there's usually a pianist playing. There are plenty of seats to relax from a long walk around Temple Square and enjoy to sounds of the piano! Parking around this area is either at metered parking or there is a pay lot located northwest of the Temple Square or the underground parking pay lot at the Conference Center. Regardless, the price for parking is only a minor fee. To visit this fantastic building and surrounding sights is worth the little parking fee.

Well, I think the place is gorgeous. About as grand as an entry as you could ever hope for, that front lobby with the mezzanine is pretty inspiring. Every so often you catch a choral group here and the echoed acoustics are hauntingly gorgeous. It's hard to break it all down, because the place is actually pretty big. There's a theater downstairs, lots of rooms for rent near the bottom, and two restaurants on the top. I won't go in to much detail on the restaurants as they have their own pages here on Yelp, but you have The Garden, whose recently revamped menu is the more affordable of the two places. And then there's The Roof, billed as a gourmet buffet. I've eaten at The Roof on a couple of occasions, and can pretty much attest that the view from there (or presumably The Garden, to an only slightly lesser extent) is unparalleled. You peer across at Temple Square. Around the holidays, the lights are astounding. The Nauvoo Cafe is on the main floor on the west side, and is simpler fare. Mostly salads and sandwiches and better suited to people looking for a quick bite to eat. Back downstairs you've got the Legacy Theater. This movie theater shows only one movie, and since the Theater was built (the building was renovated in the '90s from the old Hotel Utah) there have only been three movies shown there, each one about LDS church that owns the building. Joseph Smith was the founder of the church and the building is named is his honor. Downstairs also houses a genealogical research library where guests can look up their ancestors. Adjacent to the east is a parking garage, and you can access it by going westbound on South Temple and turning down into it after passing The Lion House. The middle floors are offices. I've never been there, not even sure what kind of offices are there. But they're there. It's a terrific building with lots of character. It was sad to see Hotel Utah go, but the massive renovations that took place (the 10-story building was lifted up as a new foundation was placed below it) helped save the building and repurpose it. Worth checking out if you're touring downtown SLC and want to head inside for the movie, a tour, or a bite to eat.

This is an incredible building. If you visit here you must go up to the top an eat at the restaurant. The food was delicious and the service was exceptional. Ask for a seat by the window and you can look out on Temple Square. We got some great pictures out of the window. There are many other things in this building but, we did not have the time to explore them.

I've been meaning to do a review here for awhile. This is such a beautiful building and the views from it are spectacular. The architecture is extraordinary. Their are places to eat here. Their is a movie theater called Legacy. They show free movies to the public. Their is a section of the building used for family search, family history research. It is such a great place to visit.

We didn't do a lot of looking around in this building, but what we did & saw was great. We saw the Christmas lights from the top floor of the building. It was the first night they lit up so it was crowded up there. On the ground floor there was a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the room under the Chandelier that almost made it look like a giant tree topper. Beautiful building.

Absolutely breath taking. My family decided to accompany our nana to church. It was my first time seeing this place and my jaw literally dropped. The different meeting rooms had great views, furniture, and chandeliers. I can't imagine how their church functions are like. The chapel us quite exquisite and the staircase is beautifully designed. I can not wait to try the pot pies they serve during the week!

This place is amazing! I am here visiting a friend who works on this building! It is gorgeous! The architecture and art work is unbelievable, truly stunning. This is a must see if you are visiting Salt Lake City! If you are interested in family history this is the place to come. There are experts available to help with any questions or to help you on your search for your ancestors! Great movie available to watch as well. This amazing place needs to be on your list of places to visit!

This place is massive and you don't have to be a mormon to enter!! My aunt brought me here to peruse around. Take the elevator to the 10th floor and get a beautiful view on both the East observation room and he west. They also have several restaurants in here. We were just out for the view and to roam around this historic building. Talk to an attendant. They are full of info!

This place is nice! I didn't go inside the building but the surroundings were nice. It's in a great location. Temple square & city creek center are nearby. It's a great spot for a nice stroll on sunny days.

Beautiful place inside. Enjoyed walking around in here and taking pictures from the top floor. The restrooms look really nice too. Will have to come back in the future and eat here. A+

A beautiful building perfect for events (personal or business). There are phenomenal views from every floor overlooking the entire city and the infamous 'Temple Square'. I attended a luncheon and the food was amazing (even the vegan dishes). 'The Garden Restaurant' can also be found in this building if you are looking for a quieter restaurant with great views and good food. The building used to be a famous hotel that was always overfilled with guests that they had to build another building as an extension.

This place is awesome! We have never done a tour but been here for some wedding receptions. The venue is always clean and elegant. There is also a great view of the temple from the tenth floor. There is a parking garage underneath with plenty of parking. The food served here is great and the whole building has a great reverence and ambiance about it. I would totally recommend having a reception here. I have heard it can be pretty expensive though.

This is such a beautiful building to check out while you are visiting Salt Lake City. Wonderful restaurants on the top floor, and charming decor and architecture throughout, as well as the artwork. I really enjoyed visiting here and learning more about the history of the city. I would highly recommend visitingif you are in the area and be sure to check out one of the restaurants at the top, the view cannot be beat at night.

I watched the Joseph Smith movie here in a huge theater that smelled somewhat odd. The building is beautiful. It's in a beautiful location, and the people working there are also very kind. The restaurants up top, serving delicious buffet style food, and down below any questions about the building, church history, the area, or teachings will be happily answered, sometimes with more information than you actually requested. I guess for the most part I rate this 5 stars because this is Salt Lake and this is probably one of the main reasons you're coming here, and it lives up to the hype.

This place is beautiful! Our family took photos in the lobby and then we went up to the Roof Restaurant that is inside of the is building. It had an amazing view of the temple grounds. I wouldn't recommend the Roof to vegetarians. It's a meat eaters heaven. In the winter time the have a giant tree in the lobby. It is really perfect lighting for family pictures. It always smells so good in this building. The artwork is lovely and it's worth the time it takes to stroll around.

Love this building!! So beautiful. The free movie there is awesome and moving.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is a throwback to the early 1900s. Everything is so nice when you walk in with a lot of the same styles from when it was originally built. It's one of the few places in Salt Lake that you truly feel that ritzy elegant feeling all around you. The views from the 10th floor are spectacular. The Wasatch room is a great place for a wedding dinner. Their food is probably only 4 stars though. No matter how many times I've visited jsmb, I am still always amazed at the beauty of the building and surroundings. If you are near Temple square, this is also a must see!

All Utahns should take a look inside the Joseph Smith Building if they can. It is opened to the public and used to be a beautiful hotel that 3 President's and many famous singers have stayed at. The staff are polite and informative on the history. We wandered around taking photos of the beautiful chandeliers and foyer and then headed up to the viewing area outside the restaurants for sunset views over temple square. A great place to have a look around if you like architecture and history.

Let Lia Peterson plan your event!!! She is a firecracker!! Full of positive energy and life!! she is extremely organized and will make all your worries disappear!! She is the best and will make your evening a dream come true!

Our server at the Garden Room was the bright spot, a very nice guy. I had a Steak dinner. The steak was tasty, but there was a vegetable, Kale I think, that was burned crisp. I could not identify exactly what this was, but it was awful! It was like eating cindered kale leaves, dark black, crisp and crunchy. Completely unpalatable. I was astonished a fine restaurant would serve something so inedible. The view from 10 stories up was magnificent, however.

I was here for a conference. The meeting rooms were spacious and had great views from the ninth floor of the city. The lobby was beautifully decorated in a style of an era long gone by. Worth the visit if you are in the area.

After pictures and what was sure to be a long day, me and the boys were looking to fuel up. We started with some delicious salad with ranch and cheese, and I was blown away. Great taste and a very artistic design. After that I was delighted to find that the main course was chicken cordon bleu, complimented by some rich steamed asparagus. I was pleasured beyond expectations as I partook. No complaints there. However, dessert was a whole different matter. As the cake made its way to the table my mouth began to salivate. The beautiful chocolate cake was placed in front of me and I prepared myself to divec in. While the taste did not disappoint I was astounded to see how poorly designed the cake was. As I sought to take just a small bite the creamy inside splattered across my plate. I went back for a second bite and the same thing happened creating a mess on my plate. As I inspected the cake I began to realize how poor of a choice it was to put the cream near the bottom of the cake. Due to its placement the cream would take the full weight of the cake as I tried to take a bite and would be forced outward. Had the cream been placed near the top of the cake the problem would have been avoided and the taste and look of the cake would be the same. I however leave now and will forever be haunted, forever wondering why the cake was designed so poorly. Coming out of JSB I was flying high, commoderity was built with the cooking staff and I know their brothers for life. It was confidence building experience and I will be back.