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Area 51
Category: Nightlife Dance Clubs Dance Clubs [Edit]
451 S 400 WSalt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 534-0819
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 9 pm - 2 am
- Music:
- DJ, Live, Music Videos
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ages Allowed:
- 18+
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
7 reviews for Area 51
7 reviews in English
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Review from Maggie T.
Lindon, UT
7/28/2011
(I've only been here on Thursday nights--80's night!)
I've been coming to this place for the past four years... yeah, it's awesome.
A vast variety of (80's) music, great dancers and awesome people. I mean, if they're there then that means they like 80's music which makes anyone a WINNER! by default.
If you're looking to step back in time and avoid the typical "club" guys for a night, this is your place.
Please---DRESS UP, DAMMIT! If you don't, you'll look like a douche-tool-bag. Which is way worse than a regular douchebag.
Oh and the DJ is super cute too. Hehe. -
Review from Dan R.
UK12/28/2011
Even though it's inexpensive to enter, and the drinks are cheap, and it's open late (which is surprising for Salt Lake City), this is possibly the dingiest place I have ever had the pleasure to drink or "club" at. The divide between under 21s and over 21s is apparent, and there for law, but the inability to bring your drink to the dance floor is somewhat irritating. I've never drank at a place which looks that run down before. The outdoor area to smoke is sufficient for a drunken night, though.
They do hold different themed nights, if you're in to that thing!
Could definitely be worse, if you're looking for a cheap drink, a relatively okay night, then feel free to go. -
Review from Kelie H.
10/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Not my scene at all, though I totally thought it would be. I was really, rally disappointed.
We were at another club listening to some DJ sets and got bored and went off in search of a new place and decided to finally give Area 51 a shot. We'd heard lots of good things, so off we went.
It was supposed to be 80s night, but I saw no evidence of the 80s in decor, dress, or choice of music. In fact, some karaoke was going on and we got excited. We love karaoke. We put in our slips with some songs and sat on a comfy couch to wait for our turns. There were maybe 8 other people in the entire place. Over and hour went by and the same guy sang at least 3 times by then and we were never called up so we took the cue that we were unwanted and called it a night.
Probably won't go back. -
Review from Danielle H.
North Salt Lake, UT
2/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Definatly a different interesting scene... ladies if you use the restroom up stairs in the bar you need to know the toilet does flush, just not the way you'd expect. The toilet doesn't have a lid on the back. In the tank there is a white plastic gizmo which you pull up to flush but if I go here again I think I'll just wear a diaper!
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Review from Manuel R.
Salt Lake City, UT
6/23/2010
Like Apryl G. I am extremely biased towards this club.
I originally hated Area when I began going there in 1998, just couldn't deal with the kids.
Then slowly, as with anybody else that goes there, or rather sort of like how Salt Lake City and Utah creeps up on you, I began to enjoy going there.
The music, the variety of people, the staff all combined made the place an enjoyable experience. I went there EVERY NIGHT IT WAS OPEN.
I went there so much I actually got hired there. Even as an employee, I couldn't get enough of the place.
Over time, the club has gotten run down, and it's not as packed as it used to be (wall to wall people) but the club and the owner has done a lot to keep up the decor and fix some of the glaring problems the club had (parking lot, the patios, roof leaking and swamp coolers) and even added some nice new features (ability to turn some nights downstairs into 21 and over only, and a new smoking patio downstairs), and with the end of Sanctuary (a sister club to Area 51) adopted Fetish Night (THE premier night to see a sub-culture of Salt Lake you probably didn't even know existed).
For me the reason I keep going is the staff who are both professional and friendly, the variety of drink you can have made for you, and the dancing.
My night on Saturday usually begins with a jaunt upstairs to listen to DJ Jeremiah play some early night mood music to stretch my muscles too, then after an hour and a half of that, I go downstairs to hang out with friends and dance to one of few fully dedicated Gothic/Industrial clubs in Salt Lake City. That's right, other clubs my have similar nights, but only Area 51 has a downstairs dedicated to it (and if you don't know what I mean don't worry, just come check it out and don't be afraid).
Three to four DJ's are at your disposal downstairs, with DJ Evil K and DJ Viking being my favorites, with not one but two dance floors on Saturday nights, one in the bar and the regular dance floor.
I'm there usually every Saturday downstairs dancing to the church of music and physical movement.
Honestly though, don't be put off by it's gruff exterior and it's gruff interior, don't be afraid of the downstairs crowd, instead come and check out a place where you can be you without judgment, listen to some alternative, 80's, 90's, techno, dance and pop all under one roof.
The drink are great, the staff is awesome and the music is loud and you'll have a good time, just leave preconceived notions at the door. -
Review from coby f.
Salt Lake City, UT
11/20/2009
Being a young 14 year old spooky kid in Salt Lake certainly wasn't easy, Sanctuary (now downstairs of Area 51 Thursdays and Saturdays) certainly was a delightful resource for a sense of community beyond just superficial night club life...
Now 23 (its no easier ;)) in Salt Lake City, Area 51 is the regular hang out when I don't really have any plans, but still want to go out, and be with friends in a mutual location. Their staff is extremely friendly (so long as your not an; asshole, douche bag, arrogant, slut, bitch...), and I have yet to have any real issues/drama (other than of course the usual club drama bullshit my friends and I AVOID for sure!). Their staff is friendly, and respectful, the DJ's really do want everyone to have a wonderful time, and take requests, and actually spin them if they got the track requested. The drinks are fair in price and comparable to other dive/mid-class club. I really like hanging here because; I can just be who I is with no real facade to have to put on, its usually not too crowded, they are the venue for Salt Lake's own 'Dark Arts Festival', and the downstair crowd is mostly just no bullshit.
The downsides (according to this writer) Fetish Night (too crowded with ICP Juggalos/ettes, posers, weird voyeurs, kids playing dress up, lousy make-up application, terrible dressers i.e. ugly costumes, a shitty attempt towards fetish themes...), parking can be difficult, be weary of 'No Parking' signs, they ticket heavy in this area.
80's night used to be much fun, I didn't 'dress up' all eighties, just enjoyed the music with friends, now its WAAAYYYY too scenster 18-20 year old douche bags who approach it all wrong! Its seems that the same eighties song are spun each week (of course to please clientele.).
I'm a regular there, who sees upsides and downsides. The fact that the DJ's actually spin music I like and enjoy is the main reason I keep coming back.Listed in: My list of regular haunts...
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Review from Nichole S.
Ogden, UT
4/2/2008
Went to the fetish ball last saturday night. I have to give it to Area because Utah has the worst night life ever but this club was pretty awsome. Lots of people showed up for the ball all dressed up. It how ever didn't get to crowded that you couldn't move.
