Where to Stay and Eat
AMADOR (Plymouth, Amador City, Sutter Creek)
FINE DINING- Amador County
9402 Main Street, Plymouth (209) 245-3463
- Best dining experience in the Foothills
- Reservations strongly suggested, walk-ins welcome at the bar
(both are fun and very different experiences)
Imperial Hotel Restaurant and Bar
14202 Old Highway 49, Amador City 95601
- Excellent food and service in renovated Gold Rush era hotel
- We would love to see a wider selection of local wines
(someone please tell them than Lodi is not local)
LUNCH/BREAKFAST/QUICK BITES- Amador County
14141 Old Highway 49, Amador City 95601
- Excellent food and microbrews, co-owned with Imperial Hotel
- Good selection of Vegan, Vegetarian, GF options
(about as good as you will find in the Foothills, anyway)
14179 Main Street, Amador City, CA 95601
- Ultra-local, delicious lunches and small bites
- A few local wines, but would love to see more
(And we'll forgive them for the saying it is okay to put ice
in your wine... it isn't)
74 Main Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
- Diner-style breakfast, wraps, sandwiches
- Wholesome, authentic, and unassuming
(A nice place to kick back and relax for a bit)
61 Hanford Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
- Breakfast/Dinner restaurant for Hanford House Inn
- Great weekend breakfast spot
(Dinner looks good, too, but we haven't tried it yet)
9659 Main Street, Plymouth, CA 95669
- Taproom for locally handcrafted beers
- Food provided by one of Amador's amazing food trucks
(Love all these brews, but the Dirty Blonde is chef's kiss)
For eating at an Amador winery, our pick is:
13200 Shenandoah Valley Road, Plymouth, CA 95669
- Saturdays and Sundays, 12-3:30
- Reservations highly recommended
LODGING- Amador County
9372 Main St, Plymouth, CA 95669
- 16 guest room boutique hotel
- Sister property with next door Taste Restaurant
14202 Old Highway 49, Amador City, CA 95601
- Historic boutique hotel with 6 renovated guest rooms
- Restaurant and bar on site (see above)
61 Hanford Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
- Gold Country chic, 17-room property in Sutter Creek
- Don't miss breakfast at adjoining Element
For staying at a vineyard/winery:
at Wilderotter Vineyards
- 5 Suite, Tuscan style Bed & Breakfast
- Winery and Inn recently purchased by Teneral Cellers
For the budget/adventurous traveler:
- Recently remodeled, Gold Rush era hotel
- Reputed to be haunted, certainly has that feel
(in Jackson, 10 minute drive to Sutter Creek,
20 minute drive to Shenandoah Valley)
EL DORADO AREA (Placerville, Diamond Springs, Fair Play)
FINE DINING- El Dorado County
4242 Fowler Lane, Diamond Springs, CA 95619
- Delicious, gourmet French food in casual setting
- Restauranteur Christian Masse from South of France
- Great choice for dinner, lunch, or to-go
(Coq au Vin and Cassoulet are to die for)
The Independent Restaurant and Bar
629 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
- Nice, American Fusion restaurant on Placerville's Main St.
- Good selection of El Dorado County wines
(Excellent steaks, not many vegetarian options)
2021 Smith Flat Road, Placerville, CA 95667
- Artisanal food in historic setting
- Strong supporter of local farms and wineries
(Not many vegetarian options)
LUNCH/QUICK BITES/HAPPY HOUR- El Dorodo County
451 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
- One of California's most famous sandwich shops
- Arguably the best specialty sandwiches on the planet
- Grab and go for a winery picnic
(Love the Falafel Sandwich and the Smoked Oyster and Bacon)
325 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
- Local favorite for two decades
- Strong supporter of local farms
- Best selection of El Dorado wines on the planet
(The go-to sit down lunch spot on Main Street)
552 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, CA 95619
- Wide selection of craft beers and wines
- Upscale, pub-type food
- Hangout for local winemakers
1772 Pleasant Valley Road, Placerville, CA 95667
- Fresh, wood-fired pizzas, paninis, Italian dishes
- Vegetarian and Gluten Free options
482 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
- Large portion, American-style, lively restaurant
- Nice beer and wine selection
For lunch at an El Dorado winery, our pick is:
2750 Jacquier Rd, Placerville, CA 95667
- Lunches prepared by chef Yutaro Tachibe
- Reservations highly recommended
Great farm stand with locally-grown organic produce:
2731 Jacquier Road, Placerville, CA 95667
- Thursday through Sunday
Please note that there are very few dining options in
the Pleasant Valley and Fair Play regions aside from
special offerings at some of the wineries.
LODGING- El Dorado County
As we like to say: The best hotels in El Dorado County are in Amador County
For hotel stays, we suggest making Amador your lodging base and driving to El Dorado
(psst Wannabe Hoteliers: there's a huge opportunity for you in Placerville!)
Vacation rentals and inns (see below) are the best ways to go in El Dorado,
but if you must book a hotel in Placerville, here are some options:
300 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
- Old, historic, and clean but a bit rickety in a kind of charming way
- Great location on Main St, and most definitely haunted
Best Western Plus Placerville Inn
6850 Green Leaf Drive, Placerville, CA 95667
- exactly what you would expect from a Best Western on the highway
- nothing interesting within walking distance
Vacation Rentals/Inns/B&B's:
Off Grizzly Flat Road in Fair Play
- 27 acre luxury escape
- 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, private pool
8320 Stoney Creek Road, Somerset, CA 95684
- 6 room Bed and Breakfast near Fair Play wineries
- Note: we have not stayed here (but we've heard
good things from reliable sources)
6701 Perry Creek Road, Somerset, CA 95684
- Excellent location in heart of Fair Play
- Quiet, secluded, renowned hospitality
For the outdoorsy adventurers, camping at a winery:
Conduit Winery's Camp at Gold Dust Vineyards
- Tent, RV, or Glamp on a 6-acre organic vineyard
- Beautiful views atop Slug Gulch Ridge
- Taste Conduit's natural wines and ciders