Imperial Hotel, Amador City, CA

This wonderful little hotel was included on our recent marathon Amador County site inspection trip. I have known of the Imperial for many years and have dined and stayed here several times. It was a must-see so I could share with the other Vixens. Charming, intimate, full of history, quaint, and lovely are perfect descriptive works for the Imperial Hotel. Amador City was a bustling Gold Rush town in the late 1870’s.  This two-story brick and stone imposing structure was built on the bend of a wagon road, which is now Historic Highway 49. From the front balcony, the views of Amador City are wonderful, with metal-roofed shops lining both sides of the street and the hillside in the distance.  Two beautifully appointed rooms lead out to the balcony where wine or morning coffee may be enjoyed.

Small intimate weddings or parties may be held on the lovely back flagstone patio of the Imperial.  An elevated level with  focal stone wall could be a perfect backdrop for the ceremony, or angled toward a sweet bubbling fountain.  Planter flowers and overhanging tree branches add to the loveliness of the patio. Strands of market lights or paper lanterns could also add to the ambiance of this space.  Probably the best head count for the patio area would be about 50 guests; ideal for an “encore marriage” or even an elopement.  Following the ceremony and passed appetizers on the patio, move your guests into the warm, romantic and elegant dining room.  The food at the Imperial is wonderful; the Chef takes pride in featuring organic, locally grown produce, fresh meats and sustainably harvested fish and seafood.  And because the Imperial Hotel is located in the middle of the Amador County wine region, the wine pairings with dinner are terrific.  We happen to know that often times the fantastically talented Ingrid Frasier (Amador County pastry chef ) prepares many of the desserts, as well as can be retained to create a masterpiece of a wedding cake.  Once dinner is completed, move into the fun after-hours Oasis Bar.  I love this bar! It has antique bar stools, old gaslights, a huge mirrored back bar, and a fully stocked alcohol bar as well as serving a large variety of California wines, and especially wines from the Shenandoah Valley wine region.

The Imperial Hotel has six  beautifully decorated rooms  in the main building and three suites in a nearby garden cottage overlooking the town.  The Imperial is a perfect destination location for weddings or other social events.  And not to sound too much like a tour guide, but your guests will love a weekend filled with wine tasting, visiting the Jackson Rancheria Casino, exploring antique shops in Amador City or  Sutter Creek, or even taking in a gold mine or  Black Chasm Caverns tour.  It’s also a lovely spot to just relax while reading a book on that lovely balcony.

~ Vixen Lora