Sacramento guide · Updated Oct 2026

Midtown Sacramento Bar Crawl

Midtown's grid makes it easy to hit six bars without moving the car. This route starts early at a brewery taproom, works through the Handle District and up to K Street for dancing, and ends with a slice. If you'd rather stay near R Street and downtown, there's a shorter option at the bottom.

Best forGroups and birthdays on a Friday or Saturday night
WhereMidtown, Handle District, K Street, R Street
Budget$$

5:30 PM
Stop 1: Start at a brewery taproom

Start here because Fieldwork closes at 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Next stop is about a 4-minute walk.

Fieldwork Brewing Co.

Brewery taproom · Handle District / Midtown · $$

A brewery taproom with indoor and outdoor seating and a long list of house beers. It's a low-key place to get the group together before the night gets loud.

Tip Open noon to 10 PM Fri, 11 AM to 10 PM Sat. Eat something here.

1809 Capitol Ave, Sacramento Details & what’s on Website
6:45 PM
Stop 2: Pool and a cheap drink

Walk up to L Street, about 4 minutes. After this, Kupros is about 4 minutes east.

The Mercantile Saloon

Dive bar · Handle District / Midtown · $

A long-running Midtown saloon with pool tables and a mostly LGBTQ crowd of regulars. Drinks are strong and the room doesn't try to be anything it isn't.

Tip Opens at 3 PM weekdays, 2 PM weekends.

1928 L St, Sacramento Details & what’s on
7:45 PM
Stop 3: Cocktails in a craftsman house

A short walk east on L to 21st Street, about 4 minutes. LowBrau is a few minutes north toward K Street.

Kupros Craft House

Cocktail bar · Midtown · $$

Craft cocktails, a solid beer list and bar food in a two-story 1910 craftsman house. It's the calmest stop on the route, so it's a good place to sit down for a round.

1217 21st St, Sacramento Details & what’s on
8:45 PM
Stop 4: Beer hall

A few minutes' walk. Badlands is a short walk from here on K Street.

LowBrau

Beer hall · Midtown · $$

A Midtown beer hall with long communal tables and room for a big group. Local bar crawls still use it as a stop, including a Halloween crawl in 2026.

Details & what’s on
10 PM
Stop 5: Dance floor

Head to K Street between 20th and 21st. Golden Bear is about 6 minutes east on K.

Badlands

Dance club (LGBTQ) · Midtown / K Street · $$

One of Midtown's longest-running dance bars, with DJs and themed nights. If your group wants to dance, this is where to do it.

Tip Weekday doors are later (around 9 PM). Check their calendar for theme nights.

2003 K St, Sacramento Details & what’s on Website
11:15 PM
Stop 6: Neighborhood bar on K

Walk east on K to 24th, about 6 minutes. From here, Pieces is about 10 minutes south and west.

The Golden Bear

Neighborhood bar / live music · Midtown / K Street · $$

A front bar and a back bar, with craft cocktails, whiskey specials and local bands several nights a week. It has been on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Tip Check their Instagram (@goldenbear916) for that night's band.

2326 K St, Sacramento Details & what’s on Website
12:30 AM
Stop 7: Late-night slice

End with pizza. Walk south on 21st past Capitol, about 10 minutes from Golden Bear.

Pieces Pizza by the Slice

Late-night pizza · Midtown · $

Big slices with a lot of topping combos, including vegan and gluten-free options. It stays open until about 2:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Tip Cash only. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

1309 21st St, Sacramento Details & what’s on
7 PM
Shorter option: R Street and downtown

For a three-stop night closer to downtown. Shady Lady to Bottle & Barlow is about a 6-minute walk west on R. Darling Aviary is about 20 minutes north on foot, or a quick rideshare.

Shady Lady Saloon

Cocktail bar · R Street · $$

A saloon-style cocktail bar on the R Street corridor. It's a good first stop if you want a proper cocktail.

Tip Opens 9 AM on weekends for brunch.

1409 R St, Sacramento Details & what’s on

Bottle & Barlow

Cocktail bar · R Street · $$

A cocktail bar a few blocks down R Street with a laid-back crowd. It's an easy second stop.

Tip Generally open Tuesday through Sunday evenings.

1120 R St, Sacramento Details & what’s on

Darling Aviary

Rooftop bar · Downtown / K Street · $$

A bird-themed bar with a ground-floor lounge and a rooftop terrace looking out at the skyline and Golden 1 Center. DJs play on weekends.

Tip Open until 1:30 AM Friday and Saturday.

712 K St, Sacramento Details & what’s on Website

Questions people ask

What time do bars close in Sacramento?

California law stops alcohol sales at 2 AM, so most Midtown bars do last call around 1:30 AM. Some places, like Pieces Pizza, keep serving food until about 2:30 AM on weekends.

Is Midtown Sacramento walkable for a bar crawl?

Yes. Midtown is on a flat street grid, and every stop on this route is within about 10 minutes of the next. The longest walk is the last one, from K Street down to the pizza place.

Are there rooftop bars near Midtown Sacramento?

The closest ones are downtown: Darling Aviary (712 K St), Revival at the Sawyer (500 J St) and Clayton Club at the Hyatt Centric (1122 7th St). From Midtown, they're a short rideshare away.