Champagne and duck fat fries for $25? We tried happy hour at this Sacramento bar
Near the entrance to Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center is a small, elegant bar with bubbles and small bites.
Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar, 615 David J. Stern Walk, Suite 105, in Sacramento’s Downtown Commons, has a simple glass-fronted exterior with small circular tables under a large orange umbrella.
Inside, customers can settle at small tables or take seats at a long, white marble bar in front of a wall of large refrigerators stocked with chilled bottles.
Business owner Raymond James Irwin, a Sacramento native, said opening the DoCo bar was a spiritual calling.
The former opera singer said he found his love for hospitality while studying classical voice performance and participating in summer music festivals throughout Europe and Canada.
In 2018, with the support of his friends and a lot of prayer, he opened his own business focused on his favorite drink.
“There’s 48 million bubbles in every bottle of champagne,” Irwin told The Sacramento Bee. “There’s six atmospheric bars of pressure. It’s something that’s wanting to be popped, to be announced, to be enjoyed, to be celebrated. I want people to feel joy, excitement, warmth and comfort.”
A Sacramento Bee reader recommended that I try Fizz Champagne and Bubbles Bar’s happy hour as part of The Bee’s On a Budget series, a reader-driven series focused on finding fun and affordable ways to connect with the community.
I brought along fellow reporter Camilia Pedrosa to see how far we could stretch $25.
Here’s what we discovered:
What is Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar in Sacramento like?
I visited Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar, which is tucked between Haagen-Dazs ice cream store and Estelle Bakery & Patisserie in the Downtown Commons shopping center, on a Friday evening.
I made a reservation through the bar’s website to snag a table for happy hour.
Happy hour runs 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and runs from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday.
Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar was relatively empty when I arrived for my 8 p.m. reservation, but larger parties began to trickle into the Sacramento bar as the evening went on.
The establishment is designed to be a comfortable place to gather.
The main menu includes sliders, salads, caviar and an artisan charcuterie and cheese board, while the happy hour menu is focused on appetizers such as french fries and crab cakes.
However, the extensive drink menu is where Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar truly shines. It features a selection of wines, cocktails and non-alcoholic spirits, as well as flights and Champagne by the bottle.
Irwin said the mission of his business is to create a Champagne and sparkling wine revolution.
“That revolution is getting people in the mindset of, ‘I can drink this whenever the fizz I want,’ ” Irwin said. “That’s what we try to do at Fizz, is give people the permission to just enjoy it and make it their everyday beverage.”
Irwin describes most people as “Champagne curious,” but because sparkling wine is often associated with special occasions, people often don’t give themselves permission to enjoy the bubbly drink regularly.
Irwin recommends that newcomers try flights to discover different flavors.
His favorites include the Charles Heidsieck brut reserve, due to its complexity, quality, price, and history, and Krug Champagne.
There are no allocated parking spots for the bar, but there’s parking available on the street and at nearby parking garages.
What I got for $25 at DoCo bar
I spent a total of $18 before tip and tax at Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar.
I ordered a glass of French sparkling blanc de blanc glass from the happy hour menu for $10, along with a side of duck fat fries. The fries cost $8 during happy hour rather than $16 as usual.
As the bartender delicately poured the sparkling wine into my glass, the drink bubbled delightfully.
The taste was light and sweet. I couldn’t help but smile and sip it slowly to prolong the absolutely lovely experience.
As someone who’s only tasted cheap bubbly in mimosas, I finally understood why this kind of alcohol is associated with celebrations.
The duck fat fries were seasoned with truffle salt and served with a Champagne aioli. They were crisp, tender and savory, a fun treat.
Here’s what Camila had to say about her experience:
“Good drinks and good vibes stayed flowing throughout the evening. The space was chic, but didn’t take itself so seriously that having fun would be scoffed at. Though we arrived when traffic was slow, once the bar began filling up with couples and other groups the mood settled into a relaxed, convivial space.”
“A $10 glass of bubbly and $4-a-pop happy hour oysters were a delicious way to spend an evening.”
Is Fizz Champagne’s happy hour menu affordable?
Yes, depending on what you order.
Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar offers seven drink options for happy hour, including French sparkling blanc de blanc, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.
Each drink is priced at $10 a glass.
Prices for individual plates range from $4 to $13.
During our visit, there were four food items on the bar’s happy hour menu:
▪ A three-ounce crab cake with black garlic aioli for $13
▪ Herbed chevre and chorizo tartine for $12
▪ Duck fat fries with Champagne aioli for $8
▪ Oysters in the half shell with raspberry mignonette sauce for $4 each
While my total was well within my $25 budget, I was tempted to order additional glasses of sparkling wine to learn more about the drink.
Whether you visit the bar during happy hour or regular business hours, be prepared to spend more than $25. You’ll want to experience this chic spot has to offer.
This story was originally published May 31, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
