Where to Stay and Eat
AMADOR (Plymouth, Amador City, Sutter Creek)
FINE DINING- Amador County
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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)
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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)
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LUNCH/BREAKFAST/QUICK BITES- Amador County​​
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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
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LODGING- Amador County
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9372 Main St, Plymouth, CA 95669
- 16 guest room boutique hotel
- Sister property with next door Taste Restaurant
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14202 Old Highway 49, Amador City, CA 95601
- Historic boutique hotel with 6 renovated guest rooms
- Restaurant and bar on site (see above)
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61 Hanford Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
- Gold Country chic, 17-room property in Sutter Creek
- Don't miss breakfast at adjoining Element
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For staying at a vineyard/winery:
at Wilderotter Vineyards
- 5 Suite, Tuscan style Bed & Breakfast
- Winery and Inn recently purchased by Teneral Cellers
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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)
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EL DORADO AREA (Placerville, Diamond Springs, Fair Play)
FINE DINING- El Dorado County
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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)
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2021 Smith Flat Road, Placerville, CA 95667
- Artisanal food in historic setting
- Strong supporter of local farms and wineries
(Not many vegetarian options)
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LUNCH/QUICK BITES/HAPPY HOUR- El Dorodo County
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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)​
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552 Pleasant Valley Road, Diamond Springs, CA 95619
- Wide selection of craft beers and wines
- Upscale, pub-type food
- Hangout for local winemakers
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482 Main Street, Placerville, CA 95667
- Large portion, American-style, lively restaurant
- Nice beer and wine selection
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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
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Great farm stand with locally-grown organic produce:
2731 Jacquier Road, Placerville, CA 95667
- Thursday through Sunday
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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.
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LODGING- El Dorado County
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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!)
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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:
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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
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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
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Vacation Rentals/Inns/B&B's:
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Off Grizzly Flat Road in Fair Play
- 27 acre luxury escape
- 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, private pool
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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)
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6701 Perry Creek Road, Somerset, CA 95684
- Excellent location in heart of Fair Play
- Quiet, secluded, renowned hospitality
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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
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