Amador City: Buffalo Chips Emporium; restaurant review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country 

Buffalo Chips Emporium  

14175 Hwy. 49, (209) 267-0570.  B-L W-Sun; $.  No cards. 

Some folks buy just a simple cone at Buffalo Chips Emporium and then sit outside on one of the weathered benches to leisurely watch the busy world drive by.  Others prefer to sit inside what was once the town's Wells Fargo Bank and indulge in a fancy fountain item.  Breakfast includes omelettes; lunch brings on sandwiches and burgers; and the house specialty is homemade pie.  Many of the antique decorations are for sale.

Buffalo Chips Emporium in Amador City, California

sign at Buffalo Chips Emporium in Amador City, California

candy counter at Buffalo Chips Emporium in Amador City, California

More things to do in Amador City.

More things to do in nearby Sutter Creek.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.
 
More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Amador City: Andrae’s Bakery (CLOSED); restaurant review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

Andrae’s Bakery  

CLOSED  14141 Old Hwy. 49, Amador City, (209) 267-1352.  Thur-Sun 7:30am-4pm. 

Hand-shaped, unsliced organic breads are made from scratch daily at Andrae’s Bakery.  A dense multigrain seeded loaf with a tinge of licorice from fennel seeds is my personal favorite.  Pastries include a variety of delicious scones and cookies (the crunchy chocolate nib cookies are very popular) as well as a Basque pound cake studded with walnuts and dusted with powdered sugar.  Also look for housemade crackers and tortilla chips, premade sandwiches, and a selection of craft beers from around the world, Amador County wines, and cheeses.  This is the place to pick up perfect picnic fare and edible souvenirs.
 

Andrae’s Bakery in Amador City, California

pastry case in Andrae’s Bakery in Amador City, California

deli case in Andrae’s Bakery in Amador City, California

More things to do in Amador City.

More things to do in nearby Sutter Creek.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.
 
More ideas for exploring Northern California.
 
images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Amador City: Imperial Hotel & Restaurant + Amador City Cemetery; hotel review + things to do

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country 

Imperial Hotel & Restaurant  

14202 Old Hwy. 49, (209) 267-9172.  9 rooms; $$-$$$.  Some gas fireplace stoves.  Breakfast; restaurant.  Pets ok in 1 room. 

This beautifully restored historic brick building opened as a hotel in 1879, closed in 1927, then reopened in 1988.  Outside the Imperial Hotel & Restaurant features iron doors and shutters, and the attractively decorated, high-ceilinged interior conveys a touch of artistic flair with contemporary art, colorful fabrics, and an assortment of antiques.  A secluded stone patio provides a restful garden retreat, and the upstairs balcony provides a spectacular view of the quiet road through town and the surrounding hills.  At night you can hear croaking frogs across the street in Amador Creek (pronounced in these parts “crick”).  Six guest rooms are in this building, and three suites with canopy beds, whirlpool tubs, and gas fireplaces are in a 1930s garden cottage that was once home to the Keystone Mine superintendent (the cottage is over yonder, down through Pig Turd Alley, and up God’s Hill). 

Off the lobby, the cozy restaurant offers a brief, eclectic menu of delicious Mediterranean-style fare and mostly local wines.  The dining room is particularly lovely, with exposed original brick walls and often a rose on every white-cloth-covered table.  Adjacent, the completely restored old-time Oasis Bar features antique barstools, original gaslights, and creaky floors and is especially inviting for an after-dinner drink.

Behind the hotel, the Amador City Cemetery dates back to the town’s beginning.  A marked self-guided tour is available.

exterior of Imperial Hotel in Amador City, California

guest room in Imperial Hotel in Amador City, California

dining room/restaurant in Imperial Hotel in Amador City, California

Oasis Bar in Imperial Hotel in Amador City, California

More things to do in Amador City.

More things to do in nearby Sutter Creek.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.
 
More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Introduction to Amador City + shop; things to do

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country 

INTRODUCTION TO AMADOR CITY

A Little Background

With a population of under 200, Amador City is the smallest incorporated city in the state.  Basically it is a quiet crook in the road lined with a collection of interesting antiques shops, boutiques, and food shops situated inside atmospheric historical buildings—some with their original brick walls and iron doors.

Main Street in Amador City, California

Shops:

●Bellflower Home and Garden Store  

10787 Water St., (209) 267-1985. 

Crammed to the rafters with a mix of charming and garish garden items, the Bellflower Home and Garden Store sprawls through two buildings and an adjoining yard.  You’re bound to find something you didn’t know you needed. 

Bellflower Home and Garden Store in Amador City, California

●Little City Studio & Gallery  

14180 Main St. (Old Hwy. 49), (209) 267-9257.  F-Sun 10-5. 

Located inside a building featuring the original brick walls, this is a working textile studio and gallery.  Little City Studio & Gallery features woven and hand-knitted items, fabric collage, and quilts, plus art, jewelry, and more--all made by local artists and craftspeople.  Rugs and scarves can be made to order.  New and gently worn clothing are also available.  It is a big bonus that prices are reasonable.

Little City Studio & Gallery in Amador City, California

●Victorian Closet  

(209) 267-5250. 

On the other side of the vintage brick wall dividing this very old building, the charming Victorian Closet shop is filled with vintage laces, dresses, buttons and bows, and even doll wardrobe cases in perfect condition. 

Victorian Closet in Amador City, California

●Meyer’s Antiques  

In Pig Turd Alley/Main St. 

In the well-located, well-curated Meyer’s Antiques shop, you’ll find vintage slot machines, arcade games, game-related antiques such as ivory chips, saloon items, and more. 

Meyer's Antiques in Pig Turd Alley in Amador City, California

More things to do in Amador City.

More things to do in nearby Sutter Creek. 

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers