Sacramento has become a town known for its food and drink scene. As the birthplace of the White Linen cocktail and home to a thriving craft beer scene, our grown-up Gold Rush town has a watering hole for every palette.
If you’re a devoted cocktail connoisseur, you may already be familiar with a few local favorite bars. Try shaking things up with your next drink. These 12 local Sacramento bars provide a truly unique experience.
12 One-of-A-Kind Places to Eat & Drink in Sacramento, California
#1: Pair A Brew With Your New ‘Do
Bottle & Barlow is an innovative barbershop and bar combo serving up your favorite old-fashioned cocktails paired with a haircut, bear trim, or shave. Feel like a drink, hold the haircut? You can swing by for events throughout the week, like King Trivia on Mondays or Whiskey Wednesdays.
#2: Soak in the Waterfront View
Edgewater Eatery is just a short jaunt outside of Sacramento in Woodland, California. Enjoy a terrific view of the serene lake while you dine on BBQ prepared over an open flame grill or in their in-house smoker. Pair your protein with a cocktail served with Block Ice.
#3: Grill Your Own Retro Luxe Meal
With a vibe as warm and welcoming as the name would imply, The Butterscotch Den in Sacramento is a steakhouse bringing back 70’s flair. Step into a golden era of self-serve grills and freezer martinis. Enjoy live music as you bask in the retro vibes into the wee hours - Butterscotch Den is open until 2 AM. You can also look forward to every 3rd Thursday of the month where DJ Abs and his turntables grace the space with grooves all through the night.
#4: Custom Drinks With ’20s Speakeasy Appeal
At this unforgettable Sacramento speakeasy, the adventure starts at the door. You’ll enter The Roost from a hidden door tucked away inside an unassuming closet within Bawk! Chicken + Bar, and enter a luxurious bar with an extensive selection. All of their creative and classic cocktails are winners, but for a real adventure, ask for the “dealer’s choice” and let their talented bartenders surprise you.
#5: Discover This Secret, Members-Only Pub
Trophy Club is an exclusive, members-only experience that’s only occasionally accessible if you know where the entrance lies. After making it through the top-secret entrance, their lucky patrons will enjoy light bites and an extensive spirits list paired with our clear ice. You can also sign up for their memberships ($95/yr or $19/mo) and get access to priority booking, unlimited mini golf, 20 oz. pour upgrades on ALL 16 oz. pours, and so much more!
#6: Take to the Sky With Clayton Club
Clayton Club is a swanky rooftop bar located on the rooftop of the Hyatt in Downtown Sacramento. They offer vintage cocktails that pay homage to the Jazz musicians who once played at this same venue, including Louis Armstorng, Billie Holiday, and Cab Calloway. Sip as you enjoy breathtaking views of the Sacramento skyline.
#7: Get A Birds-Eye View of Downtown
Take flight at Darling Aviary. This rooftop bar is modeled on a Victorian-era exotic bird enclosure. Downstairs the indoor bar offers an eclectic, avian vibe with wall-mounted tree branches and a life-sized bird cage. Upstairs, enjoy views of Sacramento landmarks like the Golden 1 Center from the rooftop patio.
#8: A Tranquil Rooftop Lounge
Another breezy rooftop bar, Revival, is situated atop Sacramento’s Kimpton Sawyer Hotel. Guests enjoy tranquil, poolside views of the Downtown skyline while enjoying live music. Treat yourself to a night out with unique events like Tiki Night Thursdays or Vinyl Night Sundays.
#9: Split a Punch Bowl While You Bowl
Punch Bowl Social has become a local staple for group gatherings. Part bar, part arcade, you can pick up a classic punch or cocktail (complete with our clear ice) and enjoy their wealth of games and arcade. They’ve got bowling, billiards, karaoke, darts, corn hole, shuffleboard, bocce ball, and even giant versions of Scrabble, Connect 4, and Jenga.
#10: A Laid-Back Bar With A Greenhouse’s Soul
If you’re a cocktail-lover with a green thumb, Green Room in East Sac is for you. This laid-back bar gets its fun and refreshing atmosphere from an abundance of charming plants that fill the space.
#11: A Cabin in the Woods Right on 21st St.
Fit with a rustic and inviting charm, The Cabin is a great place to unwind after any long day. With a ceiling full of patterned wood logs, antler decor galore, and great drinks to finish it off, you’ll be cozy in no time. They have tons of events and deals all throughout the week, so no matter what day you pick, there will be something going on.
Let’s grab some cozy cocktails.
#12: Dive into Dive Bar
If you’re looking for a place to dance the night away, have great drinks, and watch some mermaids, this is your spot. You heard us right, every night, you can sip on your favorite cocktail and gaze at Dive Bar’s 40 ft. long mermaid aquarium performing tricks and shows all through the night.
Looking for a new spot to enjoy your next favorite meal, cocktail, or mocktail? A bounty of our favorite Sacramento-area restaurants, including many of those listed above, now carry Block Ice! Discover other local watering holes that offer our clear craft ice.
Photo Credit: The Butterscotch Den
This blog was updated in January 2024 to include up-to-date information. It was originally published in 2022.
