In Sacramento for March Madness? Here’s your ultimate guide to food, drinks and fun

It’s March Madness and this weekend, Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center will host tournaments for the annual college sports event.

Sixty eight Division I men’s basketball teams are competing to extend their college seasons, and eight games are coming to Sacramento for the first and second rounds starting Thursday.

If your friends or family are coming in to watch, or you’re visiting the city for the first time for the games, here’s what you can do in the city for the weekend.

Places to eat in Sacramento

The Sacramento region is home to a variety of top restaurants, including Michelin-star status grubs, like The Kitchen at 2225 Hurley Way.

But if you’re looking to find less expensive eats or have a craving for old-school Italian bolognese, Mexican tapas or barbecued Vietnamese pork, Sacramento has the best spots for you.

• SEE MORE: The Sacramento Bee’s 50 best restaurants of 2022: Where to eat around the region

If you have time outside of the game but don’t want to venture too far outside of downtown, come to Sacramento’s midtown area. Deemed the “hottest culinary district,” by The Bee, midtown offers everything from Mediterranean at Maydoon to Californian at Paragary’s.

• SEE MORE: Midtown Sacramento’s 8 best restaurants: Where to eat in the city’s hottest culinary district

New businesses are always cropping up, bringing a new flare to town — fusing Mexican influences and sushi — or adding flavor to the city’s restaurant roster. This includes Jang Su Korean Tofu & BBQ, a recently opened Korean eatery; T&5 Bakery Cafe, a Hong Kong-inspired cafe; and Bakemono Sushi in Folsom.

• SEE MORE: Sushi, doughnuts, burritos: These 18 new restaurants just opened around Sacramento
  
  

Bars and other drinks in Sacramento

The Kings might not be playing this weekend, but considering their current winning streak, you can cheers to a King-inspired drink for some good luck at the NCAA.

A handful of bars and breweries across the city are serving drinks featuring “The Beam,” an unofficial Kings mascot that shoots skyward from Golden 1 Center as a purple beam when the team wins. Bike Dog Brewing at 2568 Industrial Blvd. and 915 Broadway has an IPA called “Beam Team.” And Tiger Restaurant & Lounge at 722 K St. has a Beam cocktail made with Branson Cognac V.S. Phantom, a cognac brand partnered with the Kings, butterfly pea powder and edible glitter.

• SEE MORE: Taste the Beam: Celebrate the Sacramento Kings’ success with laser-themed beer and cocktails

The region’s also known for its wine, which happen to be affordable, too.

• SEE MORE: These are the 6 best — and affordable — wine regions in the Sacramento area

If you’re in the mood for something non-alcoholic, you can find unique mocktails around the city. Most recently, a mocktail pop-up called Teetotalist is holding down 830 K St. with virgin IPAs and booze-free wine.

• SEE MORE: Soberly delicious: How mocktails and nonalcoholic drinks are sweeping Sacramento bars

Sacramento entertainment and events

After getting your taste for the city, enjoy some of its entertainment districts and events.

Home to Golden 1 Center, the Downtown Commons — or DOCO — offers shopping, more eats and things to do. This includes a Macy’s, bar with games, a Century Theatres and Urban Outfitters.

If you need to do some serious shopping, you can find more stores at Arden Fair Mall, about 5 miles from downtown, or at the Westfield Galleria at Roseville, about 22 miles from downtown.

There’s also some weekend events in the city, including a St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Stroll Pub Crawl on Friday and a beer garden and live music at Malt & Mash on Saturday.

Have other ideas on what out-of-towners can do in Sacramento? Let us know in the form below.

This story was originally published March 14, 2023 at 5:00 AM.