A Night Out In Sacramento's Midtown
It's a great feeling to be able to live in a neighborhood where you can visit some of your favorite bars within less than a mile. Maybe your favorite bar is a dive with strong drinks or a great beer list. Perhaps the bar for you is the one with tantalizing bar bites. Maybe the recipe for a great night out includes watching a local band perform while sipping adult beverages. Well, this list includes all of the above all within stumbling distance of each other.
Kupros Bistro
1217 21st St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 440-0401
www.kuprosbistro.com
In the grand scheme of things, Kupros is still in its infancy as a bar and restaurant. Aesthetically, Kupros is certainly one of a kind as the eatery looks like a house. Truthfully if you miss the tiny sign out front, you might pass it by. Kupros has a great bar, a really cool upstairs and a good sized patio on the second level. Recently Kupros decided to re-brand itself as a home for lovers of craft beer. The growing selection of beer is impressive and the bar is certainly in a good spot, right around the corner from Waterboy and Rubicon. Kupros has the potential to be one of Sacramento's leaders in drinking and dining if it stays on track. All signs lead to it doing just that. With a new executive chef (Chris Lotta) at the helm, Sacramento is looking forward to what new tasty treats might be on the horizon.
Rubicon Brewing Company
2004 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 448-7032
www.rubiconbrewing.comRubicon Brewing is on this list for obvious reasons. Rubicon Brewing Company has great food and better beer. For many loyal patrons, RBC is THE neighborhood bar. In all sincerity, it may very well be the closest thing midtown Sacramento has to Cheers. Sacramentans love to support local businesses and this brewery has been pleasing crowds for years. You can even find some of its beers in other local bars and some stores in town. The menu at RBC carries a lot more weight than basic pub food as well.
Skybox Grill & Bar
2110 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 441-4151
www.skyboxgrillsac.com
Skybox is the "new" sports bar that sits in the spot formerly known as MVP Sports Bar. As MVP, the bar was less than mediocre. Drinks were always decent but food and service left much to be desired. One of the old MVP partners is no longer involved but the ownership remains otherwise unchanged. There haven't been many visual changes but the bar looked fine as it was. The good news is the old ways of thinking are gone and great changes have taken place internally. Menu changes, new drinks and specials along with a fresh attitude from the staff are quickly making this a hot neighborhood spot. On a Sunday, you'll be lucky to find a seat to watch the games so show up early. Televisions are just about everywhere you turn your head so chances are you won't miss a thing.
Related: Best Bars For Groups In Sacramento
The Distillery
2107 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 443-8815
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Distillery
The Distillery is a true neighborhood joint. This is one of those bars that doesn't look like much from the outside but has killer deals and potent cocktails. Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., it sells full prime rib dinners for $13.95 which come with soup and salad. Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, the bar gives away free finger sandwiches. Miller High Life is just $2 per pint every night of the week. Every Monday night between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., there is also a menu of low-priced food items available for bar patrons.
The Press Club
2030 P St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 444-7914
www.facebook.com/thepressclub
The Press Club is that place you always walk by with the crowd outside and usually a line to get in when there is a show. This bar is known as a venue for local musicians to come and play for the masses. Press has themed nights like 90s night and Pop 40 Dance night. While The Press Club does not have a website, it is great at keeping its Facebook page info updated. Press's FB page currently sits at almost 6,000 likes and is the best way to get upcoming show information outside of calling or showing up at the door. This bar has also been known to make a good stiff cocktail which no one hates.
Related: Best Bars For Foodies in Sacramento
As a hospitality professional Andy Soto has worked every facet of the industry. He currently leads the team at Spectrum Restaurant Consulting. He started writing a hospitality blog in 2009 and restaurant writing for Sacramento Press in 2010. In 2011 Andy became a Sacramento Restaurant Examiner for Examiner.com. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
