Eating & Sleeping
Sonora 1
5 Diamondback Grill &
Wine Bar Californian $$
(%209-532-6661; http://www.thediamondbackgrill.
com; 93 S Washington St; mains $9-12; h11am-
9pm Mon-Thu, to 9:30pm Fri & Sat, to 8pm Sun)
With exposed-brick walls and a long wooden
bar, this contemporary cafe crafts sandwiches,
salads, burgers and six daily specials.
4 Gunn House B&B $
(%209-532-3421; http://www.gunnhousehotel.com;
286 S Washington St; r incl breakfast $79-115;
aWsc) A frilly, floral alternative to cookie-
cutter chain hotels, with cozy rooms that feature
period decor. Rocking chairs on wide porches
overlook downtown’s historic main drag.
Columbia 2
4 City & Fallon Hotels Historic Hotel $$
(%209-532-1470/1472; http://www.briggshospitalityllc.
com; 22768 Main St & 11175 Washington St; r incl
breakfast $80-150; aW) Hunt Gold Rush–
era ghosts at these restored, but still rustic
hotels (some shared bathrooms). City Hotel’s
atmospheric What Cheer saloon, hung with oil
paintings of ‘soiled doves’ and striped wallpaper,
serves casual pub-grub dinners.
Volcano 4
4 Volcano Union Inn Historic Hotel $$
(%209-296-7711; http://www.volcanounion.com;
21375 Consolation St; r incl breakfast $109-139;
aiW) Of four lovingly updated rooms with
crooked floors and flat-screen TVs, two come
with street-facing balconies. Open Friday through
Monday, the Union Pub has a wine-country menu,
(mains $12 to $23) dartboards and live music.
Sutter Creek 5
4 Hanford House Inn B&B $$
(%209-267-0747; http://www.hanfordhouse.
com; 61 Hanford St; d incl breakfast $99-259;
iWc#) Nod off on platform beds in
contemporary rooms or fireplace cottage
suites. Chef-prepared breakfasts are harvested
from the inn’s garden, while evening brings out
cheese-and-wine pairings.Amador County Wine Country 6
5 Tas te Californian $$$
(%209-245-3463; http://www.restauranttaste.com;
9402 Main St, Plymouth; shared plates $8-16,
mains $21-42; h11:30am-2pm Sat & Sun,
plus 5pm-9pm Thu-Mon; v) Top-notch wines
meld with artfully presented California fusion
cooking. Pull on the oversized fork-shaped
door handle and step inside the wine bar.
Reservations recommended.Placerville 7
5 Cozmic Cafe Cafe $
(www.ourcoz.com; 594 Main St; mains $6-10;
h7am-6pm Tue & Wed, to 8pm or later Thu-Sun;
Wvc) With tables set in an underground
mine shaft, this hippie-dippy spot’s healthy
menu is backed by fresh-fruit smoothies,
organic coffee and tea. Live music most
weekends.Around Nevada City 9
5 Ike’s Quarter
Cafe Creole, Californian $$
(www.ikesquartercafe.com; 401 Commercial St,
Nevada City; mains $8-22; h8am-3pm Mon,
Wed & Thu, to 8pm Fri & Sat; c) Gigantic brunch
plates are dished up on a N’awlins-style garden
patio. Try the miners’ classic ‘Hangtown Fry’ –
cornmeal-crusted oysters, bacon, caramelized
onions and spinach.4 Broad Street Inn Inn $$
(%530-265-2239; http://www.broadstreetinn.com;
517 E Broad St, Nevada City; r $110-120; aW)
Forget about fussy B&Bs. This refreshingly
simple, six-room Victorian inn has modern,
brightly furnished rooms and sociable garden
patios with fire pits and porch swings.CENTRAL.CALIFORNIA.21
.HIGHWAY 49 THROUGH GOLD COUNTRY