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Making the Most of Sacramento

citizen-hotel

The Citizen Hotel sits amidst many of Sacramento’s most iconic gathering spots, cultural landmarks, and under-appreciated food scene (America’s farm to fork capital!) This brief guide, while not quite on par with the New York Times “36 hours in…”, will get you oriented nicely for our “Policy Walk” on Thursday afternoon and any other extracurricular activities you may engage in during your time in our state’s capital.

One basic info bit to orient the reader – downtown Sacramento is a grid – numbered streets run north to south and the east/west streets are lettered. One exception – Capitol Avenue, which runs west-east and is parallel to and in between L and N Streets.

Need coffee? Try any one of these cafés…homegrown in Sacramento, recently rated as #1 on MatadorNetwork.com’s list of best coffee cities…in the world!

  • La Bou (kitty corner across Chavez Park from The Citizen-900 9th Street and 1122 11th Street)
  • Temple Roasters (1010 9th Street)
  • Insight (1014 10th Street)

Want to see and be seen? Pick up your policy ally at the Capitol (10th/L Streets) CTA (1118 10th Street), CFA (980 9th Street), ACSA (1029 J Street), CTC (1900 Capitol Avenue), CDE (1430 N Street) or send an Uber for someone from CSBA (3251 Beacon, West Sac) and then head to….

  • Frank Fat’s at 806 L Street – serves Chinese food and is a regular hang out for legislators, lobbyists, and governors
  • Ambrosia Café at 1030 K Street – meet your favorite lobbyist here
  • Café Bernardo at 2726 Capitol Avenue – for a quick but delicious bite between sessions
  • Golden 1 Center on L between 5th and 7th

Drinks and Dinner

  • Ella’s (1131 K Street):  one of several restaurants from Sacramento’s premiere food family (Paragary), famous for excellent happy hour cocktails and oysters
  • Mayahuel (1200 K Street): also known as Tequila Museo….need we say more?
  • Mother Café (1023 K Steet): delicious and creative vegetarian fare
  • Empress Tavern (1013 K Street-below the cinema): Mother Café’s opposite, specializing in meat!
  • The Grange (The Citizen Hotel’s acclaimed restaurant)
  • Any number of restaurants in Sacramento’s Mid-town neighborhood (H – Q Streets, 15th to 28th Streets) including: Lucca’s, Block Butcher, Waterboy, Mulvaney’s, Esquire Grill, Magpie Café, Shoki Ramen House, Hot Italian, and so many more!

Culture and Enlightenment

  • Crocker Art Museum (216 O Street)
  • California History Museum (1020 O Street)
  • Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament (1017 11th Street)
  • Old Sacramento (head due west along the Capitol Mall, when you get to the Golden Bridge, head north)
  • La Raza Galeria (2700 Front Street, in Old Sac)
  • CA State Railroad Museum (125 I Street, in Old Sac)

Need Exercise? Take it all in with a lap (1.06 miles) or more around Capitol Mall Park