This blog post has been updated for 2022.

When you think of artisanal and crafted food, Sacramento may not be the first city that comes to mind. You may be surprised to learn that while the California capital had been overlooked as a travel destination in the past, the budding foodie scene is actually quite noteworthy and worth a visit. Sacramento has become America's Farm-to-Fork Capital with an emphasis on the region's local food production, consumption and sustainability. What does that mean for us? Fresh food made with fresh ingredients yields delicious meals!

The city of Sacramento makes an ideal weekend escape from San Francisco, and your itinerary should be filled with lots of hearty meals made by Sacramento's young blood restaurant entrepreneurs. The high cost of real estate in San Francisco has made Sacramento a new haven for talented and ambitious restauranteurs, much like the movements in Brooklyn and Austin. I invite you to get in on the forefront of California's newest hotspot and experience the latest and greatest Sacramento has to offer.

Best Trendy Eats in Sacramento

Cafeteria 15L

Cafeteria 15L has been a favorite Midtown gathering spot for Sacramento locals for several years. Their stylish interiors can be described as modern industrial and the fare served is updated American comfort foods. Brunch is very popular with mimosas, cocktails and mocktails. They serve truffle tater tots, need I say more?

Beast + Bounty

After extensive renovations, the new trendy R District opened up several new restaurants and shops in 2019. Among them is the ultra modern Beast + Bounty eatery, which serves very fresh and inventive foods. The interiors are super “Insta-worthy”. Their wood fired pizzas are yummy and the Herbed Green Goddess Little Gem Salad comes with edible flowers - almost too pretty to eat!

Keep scrolling to see photos of our lunch bowls from Beast + Bounty.

Revolution Winery & Kitchen

We enjoyed a delicious afternoon lunch at Revolution Winery & Kitchen during the Sacramento restaurant week Dine Downtown. Located in Midtown on S Street, they have a spacious outdoor patio with tons of greenery and atmosphere.

We ordered the cheese board with brie, Mediterranean salad, rev burgers, and for the dessert the pear shortbread tart and salted caramel brownie sundae. There’s also a Temple Coffee Shop located adjacent to the restaurant for a coffee pick me up after lunch. See photos of our lunch below!

Fieldwork Brewing Company

When my friend came to visit me from San Francisco, she wanted to explore the blooming craft brew scene in Sacramento. At Fieldwork she tried the Cabana Republic Kettle Sour Ale which had cranberry and coconut flavors, and then the Moonbeam Estate Hazy IPA which had notes of citrus and hops.

We ate the herbed baked goat cheese, chopped kale salad and the big egg arugula, ricotta and mozzarella pizza.

Mendocino Farms

This is a popular healthy food chain in Southern California and they recently opened up a location in Sacramento. In the new R District Mendocino Farms serves fresh sandwiches, salads and sides. The decor is also super cute and fun!

Tower Cafe

The Tower Theater is an iconic landmark in Sacramento and we just recently discovered that there’s a lovely garden restaurant right next door called the Tower Cafe. Located in the beautiful neighborhood of William Land Park, they serve an eclectic menu with a mix of American classic food and international dishes. We had fish n’ chips and a cheeseburger.

My favorite part of their menu is the extra long list of desserts and sweets. I had the Ying and Yang chocolate cheesecake with vanilla mousse with chocolate cookie crust. Yum!

Paragary's Midtown

On a sunny and warm day, enjoy the outdoor garden patio seating at Paragary's. This bright and airy spot serves French-California cuisine along with fancy cocktails. Patrons love their weekend brunch!

Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar

This trendy and upscale Vietnamese restaurant is the perfect place to get your Asian food fix. The decor is bright and modern and the food is a work of art. My BFF and I just recently enjoyed the happy hour lunch with beef pho, vegan vermicelli bowl, passionfruit soda and Nitro iced coffee.

Canon

Located in East Sacramento at 34th Street, Canon is a favorite spot for upscale meals. When my best friend came to visit from NYC we enjoyed the weekend brunch with sweet potato cinnamon rolls, ricotta pancakes with apple filling and rosemary powdered sugar and Millionaire's Bacon Toast with bacon jam, millionaire's bacon, tobacco onions, poached egg on brioche.

Camden Spit & Larder

Last year I attended a Dine Downtown media event and we got to sample all kinds of eats from Camden Spit & Larder’s London inspired menu. We feasted on leek soup with truffle cream, slider appetizers, Camden Scotch egg, breaded rock cod and spit roast chicken. This is definitely a more upscale place so it’s a great option to celebrate something special.

South

New modern takes and twists on classic Southern food. This casual eatery is counter-serve and cute as button with accents of Southern charm. Located in Southside Park which is sandwiched between Downton and Upper Land Park neighborhoods.

Shake Shack

Back when I lived in New York City, Shake Shack was all the rage and people would wait in long lines for one of their famous burgers with fries and a milkshake. Fast forward 10 years and now you can stroll down R Street in Midtown to the Ice Blocks complex and get your fix.

Lowbrau

This trendy German brewpub specializes in all kinds of beers and sausages. They also serve lighter options such as salads and a vegan menu. They’re located in Sacramento’s Gay Distirct in Midtown known as Lavender Heights and the streets outside are literally painted with rainbows.

Dumpling House

Dumpling House just recently opened up on J Street in Midtown and it's already a hit. Dumplings are one of those hard to find Pan Asian foods and they're so good! This spot is very casual and mostly to-go (they may allow sit down dinning after the pandemic ends).

Centro Cocina

This long-standing restaurant is a Mexican staple in Sacramento. I love their nighttime ambiance with twinkle lights, light up Mexican lanterns and vibrant colors - it’s a great date night spot! The food is fresh and upscale Mexican with traditional foods like mole and ceviche.

Curry Up Now

I first heard of the popular Indian street food chain when we lived in San Francisco. They just recently opened up a Sacramento location in the R District Ice Blocks complex. They have a large vegetarian and vegan menu and all their foods are bursting with spice and flavor.

Milk Money Donuts

This sweet shop sells donuts, ice cream, ice cream sandwiches and milkshakes. They’re conveniently located right in the Ice Block R District so you can walk over and enjoy a treat after your lunch. The Milk Money Signature Donut is my favorite!

Mural inside Goodside Coffee in the Mansion Flats area of Midtown.

Hook & Ladder

This Midtown industrial-chic space serves modern American food. They are especially known for “Jenga style” block foods such a fritters, French toast and tater tots. Scroll down through the images to see what I mean.

OBO' Italian Table & Bar

I love the bright and airy ambiance at Obo with big glass windows, it's a great place to enjoy a sunny day. The food is fresh Italian with lots of seafood and vegetables. They also have a large selection of cocktails, wine, beer and desserts.

Hawks Public House

When we first moved to Sacramento I was pregnant with my daughter and I wanted a nice spot to enjoy alcohol-free mocktails. Hawks was recommended to me and they went above and beyond to make us fancy virgin drinks (see the top images). Their is food is delicious and you’ll be enjoying their very sophisticated atmosphere.

Gunther's Ice Cream

There are so many fun flavors to choose from, my favorites so far are the purple Taro and the oh so creamy Lemon Custard. If you've seen the hit film Lady Bird then you may recognize this spot from it's cameo in the movie.

See my guide to the best ice cream you can find in Sacramento!

Leatherby’s Ice Cream Shop and Diner

The only big downfall of Gunther’s Ice Cream is that the location is very small with limited seating (and it gets very crowded). At Leatherby’s there’s ample space in their large restaurant and you can order classic diner foods like burgers and hot dogs. This family creamery also has fun seasonal ice cream flavors.

Local Roots Food Tours

If you like your food with a side of history you can take the Local Roots Food Tour through Downtown Sacramento. See the city by foot and sample delicious food along the way. They also offer a Sutter District Food Tour too.

SacTown Bites Food Tour

SacTown Bites is another food tour company that leads you through Midtown and shows your tastebuds a great time. This 3 hour food tour gives you the opportunity to sit and enjoy the food at most of your stops, and you have the option to sip some booze too.

Best Beverage Spots in Sacramento

Temple Coffee

Temple is a local coffee house chain and there probably the most popular spots in Sacramento. They serve ethically sourced and crafted coffee drinks and pastries.

Insight Coffee Roasters

This spacious downtown coffee house serves Chico Chai, kombucha on tap and specialty coffee.

Sun & Soil Juice Company

I used to work for a company in Midtown and my employer would order Sun & Soil Juice for the office every week. Needless to say we would get super pumped for it! Their cold pressed juices and smoothies are so fresh and they also serve super healthy food in their cafe.

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