{"id":262172,"date":"2026-04-11T04:03:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T04:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262172\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T04:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T04:03:13","slug":"brunch-beer-and-community-at-the-golden-bear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/262172\/","title":{"rendered":"Brunch, beer and community at The Golden Bear"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shortly after I started at The Sacramento Bee in December, I cornered Sean Timberlake, our food and drink reporter. I needed a list of brunch recommendations.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s not uncommon for me to go out to new restaurants by myself, there\u2019s something deeply romantic to me about trying out a new place for brunch, book in hand and The Sacramento Bee mobile app<\/a> open to scroll through after I\u2019ve gotten my food.<\/p>\n

Timberlake provided a whole host of options: Abuela\u2019s<\/a>, Sapha Kafae (which I had a life-changing oliang), Morning Fork, Sunnyside, Magpie<\/a>, Nopalitos Southwestern Cafe<\/a> and \u2014 far more off-handedly \u2014 The Golden Bear.<\/p>\n

\"The The Golden Bear has been bringing community together with a sense of humor since 2004. One of the staff mentioned in years past, the bar ran a Rolling Rock beer special for Easter weekend. LAUREN CHAPMAN lchapman@sacbee.com <\/p>\n

When I realized I\u2019d parked next to the midtown mainstay, at 2326 K St., after Easter morning celebrations, I decided to pop inside. I\u2019m not much of a mimosa drinker myself, but any place that offers bottomless brunch mimosas waves a giant green flag my way.<\/p>\n

I grabbed a spot on the front patio under lazily spinning fans on the light blue painted ceiling, surrounded by chatter. A gathering of old friends wedged into one corner. A couple making their way through the aforementioned bottomless mimosas. A large tight-knit group exchanging gossip and pop culture reviews while tasting the entire brunch menu.<\/p>\n

I ordered a local draft hefeweizen ($7) and the breakfast pizza ($19), which features garlic oil and fluffy curds of scrambled eggs on top of mozzarella cheese.<\/p>\n

\"The The Golden Bear\u2019s breakfast pizza piles fluffy scrambled eggs on top of a crispy thin crust with green onions, bacon and mozzarella. LAUREN CHAPMAN lchapman@sacbee.com <\/p>\n

My leftovers from the pizza was my breakfast for two additional days. And the hefeweizen was perfect for the sunny late morning, though it\u2019s availability on tap had ended when I returned this week \u2014 for research. During my research excursion, I had a pint of Societe Brewing\u2019s amber ale The Debutante ($7) on tap.<\/p>\n

The brunch menu includes a wide variety of options, including the eatery\u2019s kimchi and miso Morning Rice ($16), an open-faced breakfast burger ($20) and the Sunrise Sando ($18) with fried hash browns, ham, scrambled eggs and aioli on focaccia.<\/p>\n

The Golden Bear brings community together with a sense of humor. One of the staff mentioned in years past, the bar ran a Rolling Rock beer special for Easter weekend.<\/p>\n

The spot runs a regular book club and posts skits on its Instagram<\/a> and Facebook accounts<\/a>. Most of the videos are gentle teasing about the idiosyncrasies of working at a bar<\/a> or retreads of other viral videos.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a spot that doesn\u2019t deign to take itself too seriously. Which, I have to imagine, is why Sean said I\u2019d enjoy it.<\/p>\n

The Golden Bear<\/p>\n

Address: 2326 K St., midtown<\/p>\n

Hours: Kitchen is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Bar is open 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.<\/p>\n

Phone: 916-441-2242<\/p>\n

Website: goldenbear916.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Vegetarian options: A decent smattering of options throughout their menu, including happy hour and brunch<\/p>\n

Loading\u2026<\/p>\n

Openings & Closings<\/p>\n

Beloved East Sacramento pasty shop, Pasty Shack, is set to close its doors<\/a> after 74 years.<\/p>\n

The University of Beer is set to close its Folsom location<\/a>. Its replacement has already been announced.<\/p>\n

Folsom is also getting a new cafe. Capy Cafe opens its doors Saturday, April 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Temple Roasters is opening its ninth location<\/a> and its first in Fair Oaks.<\/p>\n

After turbulent waters, Black Sails Coffee to open<\/a> Saturday, April 11 in Oak Park.<\/p>\n

Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Lauren Chapman<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n

Lauren Chapman is The Sacramento Bee\u2019s service journalism editor. Based in Sacramento, she rejoined The Bee in 2025 after first interning in 2014. She spent the last decade covering state government in Indiana, winning national recognition for her work building civic literacy resources and tools.\u00a0\n <\/p>\n