The downtown area is the heart of Sacramento, offering everything from incredible farm-to-table eateries and specialty boutiques to historic homes and the California state capitol. Restaurant offerings include everything from the James Beard award-winning Frank Fat’s, a traditional family-owned Chinese American eatery where political and business leaders meet, to the more modern Ella dining room and bar, which boasts a seasonal French-influenced menu. This region boasts the new downtown commons (DOCO), a two-level mixed-use entertainment and shopping complex that contains the Golden1 center, the home of the Sacramento Kings. Near upscale hotels and an IMAX theater, the safe credit union convention and performing arts district contains a renovated convention and performing arts center. Downtown is the bustling metropolitan hub of the region.

On the western side of downtown is the old Sacramento waterfront with historic buildings, wood-plank sidewalks, museums, and the Sacramento river. The California state railroad museum draws tourists and school groups alike with its impressive collection of historical exhibits. The nearby Crocker art museum and California automobile museum provide visitors with hours of uniquely Californian cultural interest and history.