The Best Coffee Shop in Capitol Hill Salt Lake City: How Sweden Allsop and Brian Raines Created Utah's Late-Night Cold Foam Haven at Sunroom Coffee

There's something magical about stepping into Sunroom Coffee at 9 PM on a Friday night when most of Salt Lake City's coffee shops have long since turned off their espresso machines. The warm glow spills onto the sidewalk at 470 W 200 N, and through those massive windows, you can see students hunched over laptops, friends catching up on oversized couches, and baristas crafting drinks that look more like art than caffeine fuel. "The teddy bear latte was especially fun and comforting, and the cold brew had the perfect balance of smooth and strong," one recent visitor noted, perfectly capturing why this Capitol Hill gem has become the talk of Utah's coffee scene.

This isn't just another coffee shop—it's the late-night sanctuary Salt Lake City didn't know it needed, where Sweden Allsop and Brian Raines have created something that feels simultaneously familiar and revolutionary in Utah's evolving coffee culture.

From Apartment Leasing Hell to Coffee Shop Heaven: Sweden Allsop's Journey

The story of Sunroom Coffee begins in the most unlikely place: a soul-crushing leasing office where Sweden Allsop would "cry in my closet every morning just dreading going to work." Working as a leasing agent in what she describes as "probably the most miserable job I had ever had in my life," Sweden found herself surrounded by negativity, sitting around all day listening to difficult coworkers complain. Every paycheck went straight into savings—not for vacation or luxury, but for freedom.

"I knew I had to do something about it so every paycheck I got, I would put into savings. I wasn't spending any money, I was just going to build up a nest egg so that if and when the time came when I couldn't possibly take my job anymore, I would have the option to quit," Sweden recalls. That nest egg became the foundation for what would become one of Salt Lake City's most beloved coffee destinations.

The transformation wasn't immediate or easy. "The summer that I started Sunroom Coffee was probably the hardest summer of my life. The labor I had to do every single day was endless and miserable," she admits. But this miserable was different—it had purpose. Starting with a mobile operation, Sweden discovered the intoxicating feeling of "how good I feel when I have it set up and my regulars come and I get to be apart of everyone's morning/day."

By September 2021, success meant upgrading to a plain white trailer, selling coffee wherever they could find customers. The journey included dark months when motivation disappeared entirely, but the reborn Sunroom Coffee found its footing serving luxury apartment complexes and real estate events before finally landing its permanent Capitol Hill location.

The Teddy Bear Latte Experience: Why Sunroom Coffee Became Salt Lake's Cold Foam Destination

Step into Sunroom Coffee and you're immediately struck by what customers describe as an "upscaled coffee shop" feeling with "stylish, plushy, comfortable furniture." This isn't accident—it's the result of Sweden and Brian's vision to create something that feels classier than your typical coffee spot while maintaining the warmth that makes people want to linger.

The real magic happens when you order. The Teddy Bear Latte has become something of a local legend, with customers consistently praising its "sweet enough to put a smile on your face" quality. But it's the cold foam creations that have truly set Sunroom apart in Utah's competitive coffee scene. "Their coffee and chai never disappoints and their cold foam is to die for," one regular customer gushes, highlighting why this "cold-foam-forward" approach has made them a destination.

The mui mui matcha deserves special recognition—this lychee and rose creation has converted skeptics into believers. "I've never liked a matcha before trying there's! The barista made me a strawberry, lavender?? one with a delicious cold foam," one TikTok user confessed, perfectly capturing how Sunroom's creative approach to traditional drinks creates unexpected converts.

When you add drinks like the Drops of Sun refresher—described as "a burst of sunshine in a cup"—and seasonal specialties like the Snow Angel (a peppermint white chocolate matcha), you start to understand why customers consistently rate the experience "5/5" for food quality, service, and cleanliness.

The pricing reflects the premium experience, with some 12-oz drinks reaching $11-12, but as one customer noted: "We still think Sunroom is a great stop—especially if budget isn't a big concern. If you're looking for cozy vibes, good matcha, and some of the best donuts around, you'll enjoy this place!"

Capitol Hill's Late-Night Coffee Culture Revolution

What truly sets Sunroom Coffee apart in Salt Lake City's coffee landscape is their commitment to extended hours that serve the community's actual needs. While most coffee shops close by 6 PM, Sunroom stays open until 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on weekends—making them one of the latest-closing coffee shops in Salt Lake City.

This isn't just about convenience; it's about understanding that coffee culture doesn't stop at dinner time. Students need study spaces that don't close at 3 PM. Friends want to catch up over lattes at 9 PM. Remote workers appreciate having a quality coffee option for evening sessions. The team at Sunroom recognized this gap in Capitol Hill's offerings and filled it brilliantly.

The location itself tells a story about Salt Lake City's evolving urban landscape. Situated in the Salt Lake Crossing development near the North Temple TRAX station, Sunroom represents the kind of neighborhood coffee culture that makes Capitol Hill increasingly attractive to young professionals and students. "The place was busy, people parked up to the bar working on laptops and others mingling around the room on the plush furniture or cushioned stools and tables," one visitor observed, capturing the dynamic energy that defines this space.

The partnership with local businesses like Chubby Baker (whose donuts are available at Sunroom) demonstrates their commitment to supporting Utah's broader food ecosystem. They've also maintained relationships with apartment complexes throughout the valley, serving coffee at Hardware Apartments and 4th West Apartments, proving their versatility and community focus.

Planning Your Visit to Sunroom Coffee

Sunroom Coffee is located at 470 W 200 N, Suite 100, in Salt Lake City's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The extended hours (7 AM-10 PM Sunday-Thursday, 7 AM-midnight Friday-Saturday) make it one of the few quality coffee options for evening visits in the city.

Parking can be challenging in this busy area—"You'll want to walk, take TRAX, or grab a rideshare. If you do drive, be careful where you park or you might get towed," advises one regular visitor. The proximity to the North Temple TRAX station makes public transit a convenient option.

For first-time visitors, the Teddy Bear Latte remains the signature drink to try, while adventurous drinkers should explore the seasonal matcha offerings. The mui mui matcha with lychee and rose has achieved cult status among regulars. Coffee purists will appreciate their cold brew, which customers describe as having "the perfect balance of smooth and strong."

The best times to visit are weekday mornings for a quieter experience or weekend evenings to soak in the full energy of what customers call "Salt Lake City's 'it' coffee shop." The spacious layout accommodates both solo laptop warriors and groups of friends, though seating can become limited during peak hours.

Follow them on Instagram @sunroomcoffee to stay updated on seasonal drinks and special offerings that keep the menu fresh and exciting.

The Bright Future of Utah's Coffee Scene

Sunroom Coffee represents something essential about Salt Lake City's evolving food and beverage culture: the willingness to take risks, serve underserved niches, and create experiences that feel both professionally polished and genuinely welcoming. Sweden Allsop's journey from corporate misery to coffee shop success isn't just inspiring—it's a blueprint for how passionate entrepreneurs can identify gaps in their community and fill them with something meaningful.

The fact that "there's been like a constant line since we've been opened" and that they're already thinking about expansion speaks to both the quality of their execution and the hunger in Salt Lake City for coffee experiences that go beyond the standard morning rush model. In a city where coffee culture continues to evolve rapidly, Sunroom Coffee has positioned itself not just as a neighborhood amenity, but as a destination worth the trip from anywhere in the valley.

Whether you're a Capitol Hill resident looking for your new regular spot, a student needing late-night study fuel, or a coffee enthusiast curious about Utah's most creative cold foam creations, Sunroom Coffee delivers an experience that justifies every bit of the buzz. In a coffee scene full of excellent options, they've managed to carve out something distinctly their own—and distinctly Salt Lake City.