An Ode to Sacramento

Personal Sacramento Guide + Personal News

It has been 6 years since we moved to Sacramento, and I feel like it’s just the last year or so where it has come to feel like home. The city has grown on us, and we're grateful for our village, as well as our neighborhood gems.

Sacramento was not a “coup de coeur” for us, but rather a slow burn. We made a very practical decision when we moved here — a combination of affordability at the time and proximity to family, which was the heart of our decision when we relocated from San Francisco in 2019.

It took some time to fall in love with the city, and in some ways, I feel like that has been the best part of our move here — we’re constantly feeling more rooted than ever as each year goes by. And I’ll give the same answer I give to someone in person when asked, “So what’s it like to live in Sacramento?”

My response is always the same: it’s our community, proximity to endless day trips, and the slow-going of the city that has won us over and keeps us here. It’s livable, and everyone we’ve met is invested in staying in the community — a refreshing contrast to our previous SF life.

So, as we celebrate 6 years in the city, I am excited to share that we have purchased a new home and are moving this week, not too far from our current Sacramento home (goodbye to our Mindful Maison!). This new chapter has been nearly 2 years in the making, cementing that we will be here for the foreseeable future (I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say after 2 escrows not working out, we’re beaming with gratitude to have landed this one).

our new home

We have several projects ahead of us with the new home, but unlike our current home, we will be taking our time. If the renovations of our current home taught us anything, it’s that the creative journey takes a lot of time to unfold and comes to light more clearly once you’re in the space.

(And yes, I will be sharing ALL the design things on Unpacked, so be sure to subscribe!).

With lots of joy in this season of change, setting our roots deeper into this city, I’m excited to share this post. A very easy-going, to-the-point guide to Sacramento — our coffee shops, restaurants, and shops we love.

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*There are two parts to this — a practical listicle + a rapid-fire questionnaire at the bottom!

EATS

Betty Winebar, for neighborhood wine bar + pasta/salad
Coconut on T, for Thai
Southside Super, for Korean
Kru, for sushi
Binchoyaki, for izakaya
Casa East Sac, for American classics
Masullo, for thin pizza
Pizzasaurus Rex, for thicker pizza
Franquette, for brunch/French food
Centro’s, for Mexican
Fixins Soul Food, for fried chicken
Canon, for upscale
Localis, for upscale prix fixe
Majka, for Italian
Pangea, for pub fare
Camp Cove, for an Aussie breakfast
Echo & Rig, for elevated Steakhouse
Urban Roots, for BBQ
Holy Spirits, for handrolls
Vibe Health Bar, for juices/smoothies
Selland’s, for easy with the family or group
Hanoi 36 Streets, for Vietnamese

Faria, for bakery goods/bread
MoonBelly Bakery, for baked goods
Marie’s Donuts, for donuts
Gunther’s, for ice cream
Osaka-ya, for Japanese shaved ice
Better Half Bagel, for our best bagels in town

COFFEE/DRINKS

Temple, for coffee
Offbeat, for matcha
Camellia, for coffee + breakfast sandwiches
Scorpio, for specialty coffee
The Mill, for coffee
Chloé Cà Phê, for matcha

Ro Sham Beaux, for later hour wine bar
Alma, for natural wine
SacYard Community Tap House, for the brewery
Oak Park Brewing Co., for the brewery
Frank Bar, for a speakeasy-style bar
The Snug, for drinks
The Roost, for a speakeasy-style bar

SHOP

Superette, for curated housewares + grocer
Jam Baby, for curated baby/kids things
Refill Madness, for refilling home products
East Village Books, for books and gifts
Co-op, for our local grocery store
Oto's Marketplace, for a Japanese grocer
Sunh Fish, for fresh seafood
Propagate, for home plants
Public Land, for all things cactus
Green Acres, for outdoor plants/nursery

THINGS TO DO/Personal Favs

Crocker Art Museum, for art
Midtown Farmers’ Market, every Saturday in Midtown
Asha Urban Bath, for spa + soak
Menno, for head/scalp treatments
American River Trail, for walking or biking along the river
Land Park, for a picnic spot
Curtis Park, for a stroll
SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center, for theatre
SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, for kids
Stoney's Rockin Rodeo, for line dancing

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SACRAMENTO RAPID-FIRE Q&A

Where would you go for a last-minute date night?
If I had to pick a countertop bar, we normally go to Kru or Canon. For something walk-in, lowkey, Holy Spirits, or Betty. Franquette for lunch dates.

What’s your favorite happy hour?
Centro’s, always.

What about pizza?
I go back and forth between Masullo’s and Pizzasaurus Rex.

What's your favorite Matcha in the city?
Currently, it's the double Matcha at Offbeat.

If you had to stay in a hotel, which would you choose?
The Kimpton Sawyer. The rooftop pool and the rooms here have great views of the city.

Where would you go for a stroll?
I love walking through the Fab 40s in East Sacramento, we usually pick up a coffee at Temple on H St. Otherwise, we go walk along the river on the trail from Sacramento State. Curtis Park is also our local neighborhood favorite.

Where do you meet friends for coffee?
My go-to spot is always the Temple on H. Love their back patio here.

What's your favorite wine bar to go to?
For later hours, Ro Sham Beaux, I love their snack menu. The new natural Wine bar called Alma has a great list too.

Where would you meet friends for lunch?
The go-to spot to meet a friend for lunch is either Casa East Sac or Betty Winebar.

What's your favorite takeout?
I have 3. The first is Happy Takeout for Chinese, it's good and easy with a group. The second is Bombay for Indian food; their tikka masala is amazing. And then I’ve been ordering spring rolls from Buddha Bowls on DoorDash — the spring roll with the crunch in it is SO good!

Which restaurant do you want to try next?
The Butterscotch Den, Chu Mai, Omakase Por Favor, Allora, and Bambina’s Pizza!