The Weekender: Where To Eat, Drink, Play and Stay in Sacramento
Sacramento may not get as much love as some of its other NorCal counterparts like SF or Sonoma, but there’s really a TON going on in the food scene here that’s absolutely worth a visit. It’s the heart of California’s agricultural community, which results in some incredible farm-to-table fare and a vibrant creative community, both in the food space and beyond. There’s an energy in Sacramento that reminds me of San Francisco 10 years ago, before it became such a prohibitive place to live for blossoming crafters and food entrepreneurs without major backing. Here are some of my favorite spots to visit during a weekender in California’s state capital, utilizing the Hilton Garden Inn — who’s utilizing ingredients from the local farm-to-fork movement on their menus — as my home base.
EAT
Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse
The vibe at this Sacramento craft brewery is somewhere between Denmark’s Mikeller Brewery and my personal favorite BBQ joint in LA, Bludso’s Bar & Que. They have an extensive tap list and legit some of the best smoked meats I’ve ever had. Do not sleep on their housemate smoked pork sausage, the brisket, or the sides of mac ‘n cheese.
https://www.urbanrootsbrewing.com
Mayahuel
If you’re into agave-based spirits like I am, then you’ll def want to check out this tequila museum, which also happens to serve some seriously delicious green pozole. I’m usually a fan of the red version of this soul-warming Mexican hangover cure, but their version may have converted me. Be sure to order their spicy watermelon mezcal marg. It’s a must, especially when the weather is warm.
http://tequilamuseo.com
Andy’s Candy Apothecary
This family-owned candy shop in Downtown Sac is a playground for sweets-lovers, with an incredible variety of treats on offer. The Hilton Garden Inn in Sacramento actually sells their wares in its grab-and-go shop, so you can bring some home for friends. (If they can make it home, that is. #planesnacks.)
https://www.andyscandystore.com
DRINK
The Shady Lady Saloon
I’m not above telling you that the name alone drew me into this craft cocktail bar, which also has some incredible swing-era live music on weekend nights. The vibe is unrivaled here if you’re into Old World New Orleans style spots. I didn’t get to try any of the grub on offer (did someone say corn fritters and shrimp po boys?), but they did make and excellent Vieux Carres and French 75s.
https://www.shadyladybar.com
Temple Coffee Roasters
Small-batch coffee is really having a moment in Sac, and this local roaster knocks it out of the park with their sustainably sourced coffees. They have plenty of milk-alts for those abstaining from animal-based proteins, and the shop is a perfect place to post up to work. It’s really the ideal spot whether you’re looking for a place to plug in or unplug.
https://templecoffee.com
Bogle Winery
What started out as an experimental crop is now the eleventh largest winery in the country, but the bucolic nature of the tasting room, set amongst the redwood trees, shows that the Bogle family never left their humble roots. Do a tasting, then grab a bottle to enjoy with a self-packed picnic on their charming grounds, which have plenty of tables that look out over the vineyards.
https://boglewinery.com
PLAY
Dave’s Farm
Over at Vierra farms, farmer Dave is growing some really unique produce, including super sweet melons, incredible yellow corn, and of course around the fall season, pumpkins. His patch is incredible, but what really got me were the warm, freshly fried cider donuts, and the fact that he sells pints of craft beer. He also does farm-to-table dinners each Friday, and during the fall season there’s a petting zoo, games, and horseback rides. It’s really a win-win for adults and kids!
https://www.vierrafarms.com
Wide Open Walls Mural Tour
I’m always a huge fan of getting to check out muralism wherever I go (see some of Melbourne’s iconic scene in the video here), so naturally I wanted to do a walking tour with Wide Open Walls. It was such a great way to see some of the history of the area, all while walking off some of the weekend’s tasty treats.
https://www.wideopenwalls.com
STAY
Hilton Garden Inn
The HGI was a great home base to explore Sacramento during the annual Farm-to-Fork Festival. The hotel even did a cool farm-to-table dinner to showcase showcase its customized menu with locally-sourced ingredients that feature local offerings, like the epic cheese and local honey spread above, or a really great citrus salmon bowl with whole grains. They’ve got all the comforts of home (fully loaded gym, a nice pool for swimming laps, plenty of outlets in-room for all my tech, and let’s not forget those warm freshly baked Welcome Bites cookies every afternoon) and a bar that serves handcrafted cocktails like Judy’s Garden Gin (created by Judy Greer herself!, in addition to some really great local offerings like the aforementioned Bogle wines, as well as Track 7’s microbrews.
https://www.hilton.com/
*This post has been sponsored by Hilton Garden Inn.