5 Best Hotels in Sacramento, Sacramento and the Gold Country

Wake up to the sound of geese taking flight along the river when you book a stay in one of Sacramento's most unusual and historic relics, a restored riverboat hotel permanently moored on Old Sacramento's waterfront. These rooms are small even by cruise-ship standards: ceilings are low, floors uneven, and bathrooms are minuscule (as you'd expect from early-20th-century lodging). Although less charming than might be expected, the accommodations are cozy and furnished with antiques, and are often decent for the price. Two restaurants, live music on weekends, and a theater are all on board. The staff is helpful and friendly.

The guest rooms in this six-story Hilton Tapestry Collection boutique property win points for their expansive windows, contemporary style, smartly designed bathrooms, and works by local artists. All rooms have built-in desks and 55-inch HDTVs with app-streaming capability, but they don't have microwaves (though some have small refrigerators). The on-site Cafe Bernardo serves above-average food (also available through room service), and the energetic bartenders at the Four Palms bar fashion delectable craft cocktails.

The architects of this courtly hotel, which opened with a splash in 2023, incorporated the redbrick Romanesque Revival–style facade of the 1928 structure that preceded it. Done in contemporary style with soft brown and powder blue accents that defer to exposed brick evoking the past, the guest rooms and suites have dedicated sitting areas and bathrooms with ultramodern fixtures. All the studio and one-bedroom suites have full kitchens and sofa beds, making them a viable option for larger groups. Standard rooms have microwaves and small refrigerators. The accommodations range in size from 306 to 607 square feet, but even the smaller ones make efficient use of their space. The room rate includes a well-stocked breakfast buffet, and the Historic Star Lounge serves lunch, dinner, and cocktails (happy hour 3–6).

Soft shades of brown and gray and furniture milled from California oak lend this full-service hotel's spacious rooms and suites a haute-rustic feel. Convenient to the Downtown Commons (DOCO) shopping and entertainment complex, Golden 1 Center arena, the Capitol, and Old Sacramento attractions, the hotel pleases business and leisure travelers with up-to-date electronics, deluxe bath products, and in-room yoga mats and spa treatments. On-site facilities include the third-floor pool and Revival bar, a steak house, and the independently run 25,000-square-foot Punch Bowl Social, with a bar and restaurant, bowling, billiards, darts, and other diversions.

This boutique hotel within the historic 1926 Cal Western Life building is dapper and refined, with marble stairs, striped wallpaper, and plush velvet chairs, lending the place a Roaring '20s charm. It's a favorite overnight roost among visiting politicians, business leaders, and celebs. Request a room on a higher floor—the view of Downtown Sacramento is impressive. The upscale-contemporary Grange Restaurant & Bar draws plenty of locals in addition to hotel guests.