Winter is here which means many gatherings with family and friends and holiday celebrations! If you are looking to get away from it all, don’t fret cause you’re only steps away from a local winter wonderland. Weather you’re a Sacramento native or visiting relatives for the holidays here is your winter guide to downtown.
Old Sacramento – Known for signature shops and its old time feel, Old Sacramento is a great place to eat shop and wander about the boardwalk streets
- During the holidays Old Sacramento transforms into a winter wonderland filled with gleaming lights and celebration. One of the main nighttime attractions is Theatre of Lights. Every Thursday – Sunday throughout the season, a symphony of lights, sounds and visual effects will take the audience back to a time when the beloved poem The Night Before Christmas was first introduced in Sacramento in 1857.
- Learn about Sacramento’s sinful history by reserving your spot on the Speakeasy Tour, where visitors and locals learn about the past, present and future of Downtown. DSP tour takes you on a guided tour through Old Sacramento’s underground watering holes. Along the way, you’ll learn fascinating tidbits about the people and events that shaped the City’s early history as one of the ‘wettest cities in the union’ during this pivotal era in American history. Enjoy prohibition-era themed cocktails (or simply your favorite drink) available for purchase at each participating tour stop. For more information or to make a reservation call 916.442.8575.
- See Sacramento from a different perspective. Step aboard the Hornblower and enjoy a one-hour narrated history cruise. Learn about the first days of the Gold Rush to present.
- Afros, bacon, books, magic tricks, flamingos and mullets, Evangeline’s has specialized in gifts of all kinds since 1974. Find wacky gifts perfect for that holiday white elephant gift exchange.
- Shopping for a gift for the chef of the family? Chef’s Mercantile has every kitchen tool you need to create your own culinary masterpiece at home.
All in the Family – The holidays are all about family time. Whether your family is big or small there is something for all to enjoy downtown.
- Westfield Downtown Ice Rink is 7,000 sq. ft. of winter fun. Open 7 days a week through January 16, the Ice Rink is located in the heart of Downtown Sacramento at St. Rose of Lima Park at 7th & K streets, the rink is the perfect holiday experience for people of all ages.
- If nostalgia is what you seek, and the only way you can get the kids to sit still for longer than an hour, take the family to the Crest Theatre where they play holiday classics throughout December. Watch holiday films like Miracle on 34th Street amid the theatre’s classic architecture of the late 1940’s.
- The holidays would not be complete without the Sacramento Ballet’s presentation of The Nutcracker. Follow Clara’s magical journey through the sparkling Snowflake Forest, the delicious Kingdom of the Sweets, and be awed by the radiant elegance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It’s the perfect holiday treat for the whole family to share.
Tasty Touring - Our local chefs have got some serious “chops”. If you prefer farm to table dinning, a white tablecloth 5-course meal or gourmet gastro pub grub, fuel your epicurean palate with this eclectic array of eateries.
- If caffeine is an accessory to your morning routine try a lavish cup of coffee at downtown’s newest coffee joint Broadacre Ltd Coffeebar. From lavender lattés to fresh pour over cups o’ java, you can get your caffeine fix any way you like it.
- Brunch is a popular ritual for the weekend warriors of Downtown. Try these unconventional options like Capitol Garage (rated one of the to 50 Brunches in the country by Open Table users), Fox & Goose and Pizza Rock. From Olallieberry Scones with Devonshire cream to pizzas topped with vine ripened tomato sauce, country potatoes, mozzarella, Wisconsin cheddar, burrata, natural casing sausage, pepperoni, scrambled eggs and pepper flakes, this isn’t your average run of the mill brunch.
- Are you a Food Network fan? Downtown hosts a hot dinning spot that made an appearance on Diner, Drive is & Dives. If you jive on funky bar grub stop by The Golden Bear where they serve up lunch with panache.
- Curious to discover where local chefs snag their local ingredients to create signature dishes? Take a Local Roots food tour and discover authentic tastings and cultural experiences all throughout downtown. The tours are always changing due to the seasonality of locally grown food.
- If you are in to locally grown and seasonal food, there are a handful of amazing seasonal eateries including The Grange at the Citizen hotel, Mulvaney’s B&L, and Restaurant Thir13en. Their menus change every day depending on what is fresh and in season boasting big and complex flavors derived from simple, fresh ingredients.
Where the wild things are – Downtown is the central hub for nightlife alive with outdoor patios, bars and galleries, explore outside your box cause you never know what’s around the block!
In search of nightlife sophistication? District 30, Social, The Park and MIX Downtown is the place to see and be seen. Each venue is a hop, skip and a jump away from each other. These venues often host a slue of holiday events featuring top area DJ’s and wicked holiday themes so you can boogie on down with style.
For a change of pace, take a walk down K Street to Marilyn’s on K and sing your heart out at live band karaoke every Thursday night. This unsuspecting bar is below street level and is always packed with American idol hopefuls and people who just like to sing for the heck of it.
Planning that ugly sweater holiday pub-crawl? Make a pit stop by these classic pubs and bars that offer a warm atmosphere with a stiff drink. Start in the heart of Downtown at de Vere’s Irish Pub. Knock back a pint of Guiness or sip on their wide selection of whiskey. Wander into Fanny Ann’s Saloon, where they have been serving up Old Sacramento’s finest beer since 1972. Take a quick stumble over to the Backdoor Lounge. They have been mixing up cocktails for 43 years and is the second longest-running open business in Old Sacramento after the Firehouse Restaurant.
Artesianal cocktails are the current trend in libation creations. These restaurants and lounges are the masters of the art of the cocktail that also offer a multitude of regional beers. Stop by Mayahuel where they specialize in top shelf margaritas, house-made sangria and mojito’s. Ella’s Dining Room & Bar brings the flavors of the season to a cocktail with their Gold Rush cocktail which is a mix of bourbon, PX sherry, lemon, honey syrup and bitters
