Fort Sutter Hotel, part of Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is named after a nearby historic landmark: a white fort built by Swiss immigrant John Sutter in the 1840s. Originally called New Helvetia (New Switzerland), it stood as the first European colonial outpost in California’s Central Valley.
Sutter’s Fort (c) Lucy Woods
The hotel is situated in Sacramento’s Midtown, a vibrant neighbourhood with many bars, restaurants and an excellent weekend farmer’s market.
As a nod to Midtown’s urban, artsy vibe, the lobby and public spaces showcase works by local artists. The lobby is large and welcoming, with chic (but comfy!) furniture. There is also a snack corner selling a selection of nibbles and beverages, along with branded candles and tote bags.
Lobby at Fort Sutter Hotel (c) Lucy Woods
The front desk was notably friendly and helpful throughout our stay, even offering to store our bicycles securely overnight – this is not a given in our experience of travelling in California.
There is a good-sized gym along with boardroom facilities, but no pool.
One important thing to note is that Fort Sutter Hotel does not have its own parking. However, there is a secure parking lot next door – it cost us $28 to park for the weekend (Friday night to Sunday afternoon). Street parking is also available.
Who For
Anyone who wants a central location close to landmarks, museums and other attractions. The hotel bar was lively and bustling on a Friday night, so if you enjoy a tipple this is an excellent place to stay. Checkout is at noon, which is welcome if you are nursing a hangover!
Accommodation
This is a boutique hotel with 105 rooms including several Premium options (we stayed in the Corner King). These include accessible rooms which offer both mobility and hearing-accessible features.
Each floor is dedicated to a different local artist – I had a snoop on several of the levels and was impressed by the variety.
Artwork by Kim Squaglia (c) Lucy Woods
Artwork by Raphael Delgado (c) Lucy Woods
The rooms are spacious and minimalist, with large, comfortable beds and plenty of storage space. Subtle design touches including further artworks by local artists complement the whitewashed interior. Our room had plenty of natural light thanks to multiple large windows.
Our Corner King room for the weekend (c) Lucy Woods
Amenities include a large, flatscreen TV, LavAzza coffee machine, dressing gowns (only available with the premium options), and the usual bathroom goodies. This included refillable MALIN + GOETZ shampoo, conditioner and shower gel – much better than the tiny plastic bottles (a personal bugbear of mine).
Food and drink
The excellent Cafe Bernado, which serves breakfast from 7am along with lunch and dinner, offers a seasonal “farm-to-fork” menu. Like the rest of the hotel, the café is light and open, and has a patio for outdoor dining.
We sampled the evening menu and were genuinely delighted with our meal. The Tagliatelle with asparagus, burrata, crispy breadcrumbs, was heavenly, and had a kick of chilli which set it apart from the usual pasta fare.
Grilled flat iron steak (c) Lucy Woods
Other options include a selection of sandwiches, burgers, pizettas and entrées. I had the grilled flat iron steak with asparagus and shiitake mushroom fried rice, which was also delicious. The restaurant also has an excellent selection of wines at reasonable prices (from $10 a glass).
Four Palms bar (c) Lucy Woods
The hotel also has a bar, Four Palms, which serves a selection of Cafe Bernado favourites and exclusive bar snacks. It is worth adding that although the bar was lively on Friday and Saturday night, our room was blissfully quiet.
How much?
Room rates start from $209 per night. Rates for the Corner King start at $250 per night.
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What’s nearby
Fort Sutter Hotel is next door to The Sofia Center for the Arts, home of the new B Street Theatre. It is also walking distance from the impressive State Capitol Building, the seat of the California state government. If you choose to walk (it takes about 30 minutes), you will also pass Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, which is worth a visit.
California State Capitol Building (c) Andrew Moss
There are many options for dining, bars and nightclubs, all within a 10-minute walk from the hotel. We enjoyed some excellent cocktails at The Jungle Bird tiki bar. The area around the hotel is well-lit and felt very safe.
Also read: Travel Guide: a weekend stay in Sacramento
Verdict
Our stay at Fort Sutter Hotel was pleasant and comfortable, but what elevated it to excellent was the delicious meal we had at Cafe Bernardo. The location is also perfect.