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    Tower Cafe

    4.1 (5.5k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Tower Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    TOWER CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Tower Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    My Sister 3/6/26
    Marcia R.

    We really like this Resturant Tower Cafe We all gather after JABA was done. A big Bowling Tournament Japanese American Bowling Assocation it always in March always some State this time Sacramento. Our family in big in bowling To celebrate seeing family at this beautiful cool Resturant we enjoy the cool vibe here is so cute Inside and the patio too is very full of plants and Inviting We met for brunch and the service was great To drinks and food with the French Toast & breakfast dishes & Pozole we were happy the enjoy a good meal together Inside is a very large bar and bakery counter With amazing desserts I love the artwork

    Madame Cristo
    Jacob M.

    Tower Cafe is one of the pillars of Sacramento, a longtime fixture in the city's zeitgeist. People understandably love it. It's been years since I've been, mainly because of the long wait times and no reservations on weekends. As a planner, I gravitate toward places where I can make a reservation. However, it was a special occasion, so we committed to it on a holiday weekend. The wait was estimated at 1.5 hours for a party of 7, but it ended up being closer to 40 minutes, which honestly wasn't bad at all. The patio and waiting area are gorgeous and make the wait worth it on a beautiful day. Great shade from the trees, solid service, and a really nice ambiance overall. The menu is massive with a little bit of everything and huge portions, so it's quite hard to decide. I settled on the Madame Cristo because it sounded decadent and somewhere between lunch and breakfast, which felt perfect for brunch. And decadent it was. The cheesy ham and béchamel blended into this super rich, fatty bite balanced by the French toast it was sandwiched between. The eggs on top were almost overkill, but still a welcome addition for some protein. The chipotle raspberry jam was surprisingly good too, almost like a smoky raspberry salsa that added sweetness and helped cut through some of the richness. The potatoes were standard and nothing to write home about. It was definitely a lot, but pretty good and exactly what you expect from a brunch spot like this. I'm not going to say the food is mind-blowing, but it's solid and they have unique dishes, great vibes, and something for everyone to enjoy. Nice to see that Tower Cafe is still doing well after all these years and remains a great place to celebrate special occasions.

    Lin L.

    A long standing local favorite brunch place!! Located near the Tower Theatre. This place gets crowded quick, come as early as 8am to avoid the long line!! Their famous French toast is to die for!! I totally recommended this! MUST TRY!! It is melted in your mouth! I have never have such a marshmallow-ish French toast in my life!! Life changing brunch!! The cafe is beautifully decorated inside with garden style patio with water fountain. The service was fast with unlimited coffee!! Price: decent Restrooms: several , clean Parking: free in their complex

    Bobbi A.

    Historic spot alert! The Tower Theatre has stood in this location for decades, and it's always nice to see historic spaces thoughtfully reimagined--this portion now houses a truly lovely restaurant. The decor is absolutely stunning. We opted for outdoor seating and were surrounded by waterfalls and lush greenery, creating a peaceful, garden-like atmosphere that felt both quiet and intimate. If you have allergies, indoor seating may be the better choice, but the outdoor ambience is undeniably beautiful. Service was warm and welcoming, adding to the relaxed vibe. I also appreciate that they offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it an easy choice no matter the time of day. As for the food, the All-American burger was decent but lacked the bold flavor I was hoping for. That said, the fried portobello mushrooms, guacamole, beverages, and puff pastry were definite highlights and well worth ordering. Prices lean a bit on the higher side, but the generous portions and standout ambience help justify the cost. Overall, a memorable dining experience set within a historic landmark--perfect for those who enjoy great atmosphere with their meal.

    Mariam T.

    I am taken back at the beauty of this place. The decor is gorgeous. It's located in a super cute corner with lots of plants, fountain, a theatre, and decent parking. Inside has decoration from around the world. It was so fun pointing out egypt, mexico, thailand, and many more. We came here with our daughter and they had high chairs for babies which is great. We ordered thai steak salad, montecristo, and grassy green drinks -- literally the best drink I've had! They are lightly sweet, we ordered 3 each! Lastly, we went for the banana cream pie and it was memorable. Its a perfect crust and banana custard whip goodness. We met the nice lady that makes all the desserts in house. The staff here felt like family, and we can't wait until we get a chance to come back.

    Jessica L.

    We loved our brunch here! This restaurant is an experience. Very eclectic and funky decor inside. You can't make a reservation so be prepared. We waited 45 min on a Saturday for brunch. We liked our Madame Cristo and Thai steak! 2 of us split it and we are petite girls that can definitely eat, but both dishes were too much for us, we probably could have split one. I'm not complaining tho! I also had the Mexican macchiato which was described as like a caramel latte. I asked for it to be less sweet and it came perfect. I recommend this place!

    Patio foundation
    Cecilia Z.

    We went to brunch on a Sunday so there was a little wait but now I know why! This place is delicious! I am still dreaming of the honey milk latte! The French connection dish hit the spot! The bread and the bacon were so fresh and the mimosas were amazing! And did I mention the latte was to die for! The Oaxaca mole had the perfect flavoring. There is a lot of decor in the restaurant! Every where you turn there is something to look at. There is only 1 bathroom so the line can get long. With how busy they are our server was always on the floor and filling the water and coffee. We will definitely be back!

    Huevos Rancheros Cod Sandwich
    Nemrah A.

    I've lived in Sacramento almost all my life and I've been to the Tower Cafe only a handful of times. The last time I went was over a decade ago. I decided to re-visit it when some friends came to visit me as I feel like this restaurant is so iconically Sacramento! The restaurant itself is amazing from nice greenery outside to multicultural decorations in every inch inside the restaurant. You can spend a while here just looking at the decorations and never be bored. It's honestly one of my favorite things about this restaurant. The waitress we had this time was attentive and would check up on us frequently. I also love they have so many options for vegetarian and vegans. We ordered the huevos rancheros and the cod sandwich. Both were good but I would say the cod sandwich was the best out of the two. Definitely would come back for that. If you are around the Sacramento area for just a small time I would recommend coming here!

    Tower theaters
    Scott M.

    What a great experience / meal... walk in from the parking lot, to see beautiful water fountains, and lots of plats, as well beautiful flowers. I guess it depends what season you go for the blooms. a really cool theater , a cigar shop, and then Tower Cafe. Totally recommend to get reservations, but there not always needed. I went the other day and waiting just a few mins. The Atmosphere is amazing, well sitting outside that is. I dont think iver ever sat inside, its just amazeballs outside with all the life, and sounds of water. MY meal was excellent and worth the price. Prices are not terrible, but they are not cheap either, I guess right in the middle, I think the wedge salad was $17 ish, the burgers run around $18 to $21 if I remember right... But all in all, For the Atmosphere and food, its well worth it.

    Two eggs, Cajun sausage, and a petite slice of French toast.
    Shawna D.

    I love Tower Café, they have the best French toast ever!! With the French toast I ordered the delicious Cajun sausage and eggs over easy. Everything was so good. My BF ordered the Panko crusted cod, it was delicious and the portions were more than we could eat. Service was excellent outside under the beautiful tree cover. Make sure you sit outside when you come to Tower Café, it's so pretty!

    Migas!
    Jon H.

    What an outstanding spot! This place defies categorization. Certainly a lot of Mexican cuisine influence, but so much more. This place typically has a line, so reservations are recommended. Excellent craft cocktails, very eclectic menu, and even more eclectic interior experience. We were here in the cold weather, such as it is for Sacramento, but they have a patio that I think would be a great dining experience at the right time of year. Our brunch was full of excellent food, outstanding, cocktails, very good service, and an overall great experience. I look forward to trying this place again.

    M. W.

    Went here with family for brunch on a weekday before my flight out. There's so much to choose from their menu. Food was great and decent portions. The outdoor seating was gorgeous. I'd come back here again on my next visit.

    Santa Fe Salmon
    Melissa S.

    My husband had the: The Borracho Burger Our half pound burger topped with our Borracho BBQ sauce (mango, jalapeno and bourbon), jack cheese, crispy onions, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. He thought it was really good. It totally hit the spot. I tried it the next day and really enjoyed the quarter I had. It was still moist and juicy. It had great flavor and the crispy onions were no longer crispy, but they were still good. I had the: Chile Rellenos Two large Pasilla chilies filled with Monterey jack cheese, pine nuts, currants, and cilantro, rolled in panko and deep fried until crispy and golden. Served with house-made salsa, sour cream, red rice and pinto beans. My husband ordered this last week and I tried it and it was so good that I ordered it this time for myself. I loved the deep fried crispy shell on the Chilies. It was so tasty and inside it was so cheesy. I enjoyed the bite/crunch of the pine nuts. The green rice was really tasty, I'm not sure why it says red rice as it was green both times we got it and the pinto beans were good too. The dish had a tiny kick to it which was good and made it more flavorful. We also had dessert this time. We had the yin yang cake. It was really good. It's chocolate mousse on the bottom with a chocolate crust. On top is a white chocolate mousse. The whole thing is really well done. I love getting dessert, but it's hard as the meals are so filling. I end up over the top full like this time, but I wasn't going to forgo dessert. I wish they stayed open later so you could get a bit or dessert after the movie got out. We thankfully got out of work early so we could get to the 4:15 showing giving us time afterwards to get a bite. We don't usually get out of work till 5 so that was a stretch of us to ask for time off from work. Parking is great. The Tower twins have a shared private parking lot so there is plenty of parking.

    Thai steak and eggs

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    Page 3 of 139

    Tower Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Tower Cafe

    Is it kid friendly?

    Yes, it's very kid friendly. They are also pet friendly with outside dining.

    Do they have misters on the patio?

    I didn't see any

    Do they allow dogs at patio seating?

    No. We tried to bring our dog there for outdoor seating last year and they said no dogs.

    Do they take reservations?

    Not on weekends. They consider Friday a weekend day also, so essentially, no reservations on Fri, Sat or Sun.

    How do you make a reservation?

    They don't take reservations.

    Do they offer bottomless mimosas with brunch?

    No they don't

    Do they take reservations?

    No advance reservations. You show up and, if a table's not available immediately, they take your name and phone number and text you when they're ready.

    I've called numerous times too and you cannot leave a message either . It says mailbox full?

    That's the only downside for this amazing place - it's super busy! You have to head over there and put your party on the list. Trust me, it's worth the wait!

    Do they ever answer the phone? I've tried to place to-go order and all I get is a continuous busy signal. For weeks. Curious is anyone ever gets their call answered.

    When we went there a couple of weeks ago I heard the hostess say they were having quite some difficulty with their phone line for a while now. Not sure if it's been repaired since then. They also seem super busy during brunch hours, especially on… Read more

    Are dogs allowed?

    I called last month and was told me dogs were not allowed inside or outside.

    Is this place allergy friendly?

    They have the presence (or not) of many major allergens listed on their menu for each food item (but I'm pretty sure they weren't all there, just some). Wheat and milk are definitely on there, I can't remember which of the others are.

    Do they stop serving their famous French toast after a certain time?

    Weekdays until 11am and weekends until 3pm

    Is this establishment wheelchair accessible?

    Yes

    Is breakfast served all day?

    no, its not

    Do they have there regular desserts back?

    Yes, they have all of the classics: Napoleon, whole cakes, etc in the glass display case next to the bar!

    Are they open?

    They moved the opening date to June 2021

    When will Tower cafe reopen?

    July 12, 2021!!!

    Is it true this place is permanently closing?

    No On their website they say temporarily closing with that it's been open for 30 years in fact I was there the day it opened and I was doing massage on People💗

    Is the restaurant closed permanently?

    No...just temporary because of the COVID19

    What's the average wait on a Sunday at noon for 2?

    I would say like 15-20 minutes if you just say you don't care if it's inside or outside

    View All 37 Questions

    The Porch

    The Porch

    3.7
    (2.1k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Went on a Saturday for brunch with three other people and when I asked the wait time, the host took…read moreawhile to seat us, even though I said we were ok with outside. At the end, we ended up seating outside and all the time wasted could have been to help other people. Our server was friendly, but since we were outside she would take awhile to come outside. The meatloaf was a big plate and my husband could not finish it. He did say it was a bit salty. The shrimp and grits were great (would recommend). My son's chicken tenders were great as well and looked homemade and not like it came from a frozen bag. There is paid parking around the area. It was a 60 degree day but with jackets on, the weather felt amazing. When we had stepped into the restaurant it had felt too stuffy, so I am glad we got to seat outside.

    Brunch today was at The Porch which is a Southern brunch right in Midtown Sacramento. The staff was…read morewarm and welcoming. We were seated outside which was lovely, especially given the weather and the slight breeze. I appreciate that they offer an option for reservations. Many brunch places do not do those nowadays, which I hate. Every brunch requires a coffee. I appreciate that they do lattes here, rather than just hot or iced coffees. They had some unique syrups, such as bourbon caramel and praline. The syrups were on the more subtle side, which some people prefer. I am not one of those people, but it was a good latte for a breakfast/ brunch spot. I wish there was more ice tho.  The skillet cornbread with sharp cheddar, creamed corn & garlic, honey butter & house made seasonal jam on the side was a great starter dish. I enjoyed the garlic and cheese. The temperature/ toastiness of this was yummy.  We couldn't decide between the cornbread and the sticky bun, so the only obvious solution was to order both. The topping of the sticky bun was delicious. It was almost pecan pie adjacent.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Porch salad
    Porch salad
    Grilled Brie

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    Grilled Brie
    Old Soul

    Old Soul

    4.1
    (1k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    AMAZING!!! I'm a barista and I really love to go to coffee shops and get know other Baristas. Also…read moreto have a place where I'm not working and enjoy the ambiance. Old Soul at 1716 L is like home to me. It's the place I always want to be when I'm not living the craziest life possible. I'm OBSESSED with their kieche and as annoying as I'm sure it is I always have to ask if mushrooms are in it because of allergies. Not one staff member ever makes me feel bad about asking. Want to give a couple shout outs to the stellar team if I don't mention your name your still so great! Reese, probably one of (the coolest humans you'll ever meet) remembered me from my second entrance in the building and always makes the best coffee. They go above and beyond in customer service asking about my acting and hobbies. Always pleasant and working hard. Tiff is an absolute gem and has gone above and beyond by remaking my order when it was accidentally taken by the wrong customer immediately. She is kind and welcoming at every visit. Overall I don't have a lot of places I feel comfortable being. Old Soul is one of them and has a special place in my heart. Thanks for always making me feel seen, serving amazing food, and helping me stay alive with a great coffee no matter what the drink or season.

    What's the point of offering online ordering if employees refuse to make the order until the…read morecustomer personally reminds them? I waited over 30 minutes for two drinks that took roughly three minutes to prepare. The employee only started making them after I asked whether my order was ready. Her explanation was that they don't make online orders until customers show up because some people never come, or because ice might melt. That's not how mobile ordering works. The entire reason people order ahead is so the drinks are ready when they arrive. Instead, my order was apparently ignored while I stood there waiting with no communication whatsoever. If customers are expected to announce themselves before their order will even be started, that should be clearly stated when ordering. Otherwise, this is just wasting people's time and defeating the purpose of the service entirely. Extremely frustrating experience.

    Photos
    They roast their own beans.  Amazing coffee shop: a hidden gem.  Photo by Monterey Films LLC
    They roast their own beans. Amazing coffee shop: a hidden gem. Photo by Monterey Films LLC
    White cheddar bacon scone
    White cheddar bacon scone
    Pumpkin Spice Latte

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    Pumpkin Spice Latte
    Zebra Club

    Zebra Club

    3.5
    (359 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $

    I finally stopped into Zebra Club at 9:30am on a Saturday to catch up with a big group of people…read more The bar was already hopping, and it looked like there was a previous group hanging out after watching early morning sports on the TVs. I ordered a Guinness and we moved to the back area as our group grew too large to have at the small front tables. They have breakfast and lunch available and had an impressive menu for what I thought was just a bar. We asked our server what she recommended and she said the waffle fries and French toast are great. While we passed on the French Toast (this time- I'm more of a savory breakfast person) we did get waffle fries ($7) and their Zebra Special ($15.50) that comes with two eggs, meat (ham, bacon or sausage), hash browns, and choice of toast. We paid a little extra to get a biscuit with gravy instead of toast. We also ordered jello shots for the group and it was very fun having morning jello shots with breakfast. They have a lot of televisions here and seem to serve as a watch party destination for a lot of sports fans. They also have an outdoor area, which is great for groups, but we also noticed that the small of people smoking wafted into the inner dining area from outside which was a drawback for me. The staff here was so nice and attentive and we had so much fun with our group here. Would highly recommend checking them out.

    The stars are to only represent the food and the cook Mike. I've heard so much about the tacos that…read morewe decided to stop in for Father's Day. Well, the meat was cold and it seemed like all that was done was fry the tortilla. We explained the food was cold and instead of ensuring the meat was warm, Mike stuck the food in the microwave - with the lettuce, tomato, and cheese! Now the server, Shana, gets 5 stars. She was understanding and apologized when we said the meat was cold AND after it was put into the microwave. I feel like Shana knows customer service.

    Photos
    Zebra Club
    Bar on a kings game night.
    Bar on a kings game night.
    Bar with 7 or more tvs.

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    Bar with 7 or more tvs.

    Tower Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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