SACRAMENTO

Savor a capital day in Midtown, featuring stellar coffee, flame-kissed kebabs and Thai street food

Sacramento has long been known to Bay Area denizens as the sleepy state capital, perhaps a stop en route to Lake Tahoe. But that line of thinking is seriously misguided. Sacramento has emerged over the last decade with an exciting and diverse dining scene flanked by charming, tree-lined streets with blessedly easy parking. With so many Bay Area residents moving to Sacramento during the pandemic, you probably have a friend to visit.

For this guide, we’re focusing on Midtown, the vibrant 2-squaremile district just east of downtown that’s full of trendy restaurants, hip boutiques, art galleries and Craftsman homes. While we nod to older favorites, the emphasis is on the best of what’s come to the neighborhood over the past couple of years. There are seasonal pastries, modern Persian eats, Thai street food snacks and a mini boom in natural wine bars to look forward to. The coffee and beer scenes are also particularly strong here. While we have some specific recommendations, you should feel empowered to wander into any nearby cafe or brewery for a spontaneous pit stop.

Admittedly, we don’t always stick to Midtown’s precise borders on a map, veering a little west and east while ensuring that the itinerary remains walkable. That said, you could also snag a Jump e-bike for a faster way to get around — the streets here are flat, well paved and almost always have bike lanes.

We have options for morning, afternoon, night and late night. If you linger in Sacramento longer, consider checking out the city’s dense Little Saigon neighborhood along Stockton Boulevard (Quan Nem Ninh Hoa is a great place to start), or wander farther east to check out the mansions from the hit movie “Lady Bird” and stop at adorable, vegetable-centric newcomer Joon Market.

Andri Tambunan / Special to The Chronicle Shoppers buy flowers at the Midtown Farmers’ Market in Sacramento.