Best Champagne Brunch Spots In Sacramento
Whether it's an upcoming holiday like Easter or just a chance to get family members together, a Sunday Champagne brunch is an ideal way to celebrate. Throw out the traditional idea of Champagne brunch fare and try a historic hotel where you can arrive on your boat, take a Champagne cruise down the Delta, or sample unique twists on traditional brunch favorites like French Toast and Eggs Benedict. From innovative and unexpected brunch items to a cruise on the Sacramento River, here are five very different Champagne brunches that are sure to make your special occasion even more memorable.
Hours: Sat and Sun -- 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Lunch items -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
While the Champagne is not free-flowing at the Tower Cafe, the brunch is one of the most beloved in Sacramento. Its weekend brunch is a combination of some breakfast and lunch favorites, along with a few items only available on the weekend. Be sure to come with a few friends so you can try all the Tower Cafe brunch specialties. A must is the Famous French Toast, a secret recipe where the bread is dipped in custard. For a unique twist on it, try the Madame Cristo, which is the Famous French Toast stuffed with sliced ham and Swiss cheese then topped with two eggs and chipotle-raspberry jam. One more is the Eggs Tower, two poached eggs and Canadian bacon served on toasted house-made focaccia bread and topped with hollandaise sauce.
Capitol Garage
1500 K St.
Sacramento, CA
(916) 444-3633
www.capitolgarage.com
Hours: Weekends -- 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capitol Garage is quickly moving up the ranks as one of the best brunches in Sacramento. To start, unlimited Champagne Mimosas, coffee, or orange juice for $6.95 (with an entree purchase of $9.95 or more) catch your attention right away.
Narrowing down the options on the overwhelming brunch menu might prove to be difficult. A fan of eggs Benedict? Here, you can choose between four different types. Some house specialties include country hash or crab hash, a new brunch burrito, Monte Cristo, and something fun and tropical -- Fiji French Toast. Fiji French Toast is topped with rum flamed mangoes and toasted coconut, served with maple syrup, powdered sugar and cinnamon.
Related: Top Breakfast Cocktails in Sacramento
Red Hawk Casino
Waterfall Buffet
1 Red Hawk Pky
Placerville, CA
(530) 677-7000
www.redhawkcasino.com
Hours: Sunday -- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If Vegas style casino brunches are your thing, head up the 50 freeway and check out the Waterfall Buffet at the Red Hawk Casino. The restaurants at the Red Hawk Casino have been consistently rated number one amongst local Sacramento area casinos.
While mimosas are a separate charge, the Waterfall Buffet Brunch is worthy of the drive and extra charge for the breakfast bubbly. The sprawling buffet offers every food station imaginable, with a lot of ethnic cuisines represented. Omelets are made to order and there is even a special seafood bar with fresh oysters, crab legs, smoked salmon, ahi salad and more.
Ryde Hotel
14340 Highway 160
Walnut Grove, CA 95690
(916) 776-1318
www.rydehotel.com
Hours: Sundays 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Head down Highway 160 to the sleepy town of Walnut Grove and enjoy one of the best Champagne brunches in the greater Sacramento area. Ryde Hotel is a favorite among locals, but also attracts a number of travelers passing through the area. One of the most fun things about brunch at the Ryde Hotel -- there are not too many brunches you can reach with your houseboat or yacht.
With bottomless Champagne and favorites like biscuits and gravy or strawberry French toast, the Ryde Hotel is a hot spot on the Delta. You can choose from the buffet menu for $20 per person, or go with a la carte options that range from $8 - $12.
Related: Best Wine Bars in the Sacramento Area
Hornblower Cruises and Yachts
1206 Front St.
Old Sacramento, CA
(916) 446-1185
www.hornblower.com
Hours: Sunday 11 a.m. departure (boarding begins at 10:45 a.m.)
If you don't have your own boat to bring to the Ryde Hotel for Sunday brunch, consider an alternate option that still allows you to check out the Sacramento Delta. Hornblower Cruises offers a Champagne Sunday Brunch that includes a two-hour yacht cruise, a buffet featuring seasonal foods, free flowing sparkling wine, orange juice, coffee and tea.
Every Sunday, Hornblower has a Champagne Brunch cruise departing from Old Sacramento at 11 a.m., but you need to be ready to board by 10:45 a.m., otherwise everyone might be raising their glass to you, but you'll still be on the dock. Also, be sure to dress up a bit as Hornblower requests dressy casual attire. Please keep your river attire, including flip flops, shorts, tank tops, and halter tops at home.
Erin De Santiago is a freelance travel and food/wine writer and photographer from Sacramento, California. She is a regional membership coordinator for the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and writes for a number of publications in addition to publishing her own blogs. She has traveled to over 40 countries on five continents in search of the best food and wine around the globe. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
