A half hour drive from El Dorado Hills, on winding roads through rolling hills dotted with barns and oak trees, you’ll find Amador City, a delightful little town off historic Highway 49. Established in 1915, Amador City boasts the title “the smallest city in California.”
Imperial Hotel
Start your day with brunch at the newly remodeled Imperial Hotel (14202 Hwy 49, AC). The restaurant serves dishes made with ingredients from local vendors as well as herbs and vegetables from the on-site chef’s garden. Try the Underdog Mushroom Frittata or the Almond Waffles with berries. The Handle Bar serves up elegant and delicious cocktails.
After brunch, browse through the local one-of-a-kind shops:
Bellflower Home and Garden (10787 Water Street, AC) for a large collection of home and garden decor.
Dreamy Whites (14183 Main Street, AC) a french antiques shop filled with items sourced from markets and antique shops in France.
The Victorian Closet (14176 Main Street, AC) is part museum part antiques shop, and has been going strong for 48+ years. Look for the vintage and antique lace, garments, and other treasures.
3 Fishes Studios (14196 Hwy 49, Suite 3, AC) the well known artist duo, Eric Rewitzer and Annie Galvin, relocated their San Francisco studio to Amador City a few years ago. Eric’s woodcut prints and Annie’s collages and acrylic paintings fill the light-filled space, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of their pup, Woody.
Amador Whitney Museum
Make your way over to the Amador Whitney Museum (14170 Old Rte 49, AC) which holds a wonderful repository of artifacts documenting the role of women during the Gold Rush as well as the experiences of the women who have lived in the Mother Lode through today,
Next door, you’ll find Holgate Hill Winery (14204 Main Street, AC) where Rob Holgate will welcome you with a broad smile and a generous pour of the current wines.
If beer is more your style, walk up a few steps to Break Even Beermakers Beergarden (14141 Old Rte 49, AC) and finish up with small bites at their Kitchen across Main Street.
Other places of note:
End of Nowhere winery and restaurant (14204 Main Street, AC)
Binz Wine Lounge (14167 Main Street, AC)
Wind your way back to reality, taking care as you navigate Latrobe Road into El Dorado Hills and beyond---the multiple blind corners can catch you unawares!
