Oct 17, 2024 • 5 min read
16.10.2024 - 17:42 / matadornetwork.com
From the rooftop pool deck of the Kimpton Sawyer in Sacramento’s Downtown Commons (DOCO) mall, I gazed down at a crowd of hyped-up circus fans buzzing around Golden 1 Center. Home to the Sacramento Kings basketball team, the arena also hosts concerts and special events like the Greatest Show on Earth, which happened to be in town during my visit.
In contrast to the frenetic scene below me, the Sawyer’s rooftop was an oasis of calm. Chaise lounges and daybeds rimmed the large pool where a few folks were enjoying an evening dip. Others, like me, were content to watch downtown’s high-rises glow as sunset infused the sky with soft orange light.
Photo: Courtesy of Kimpton Sawyer
It was toasty when I arrived at the Sawyer that afternoon. But the warm September temps were no match for the hotel’s cool factor. In the lobby, soaring glass walls, a calming neutral color palette, lots of plants, and clusters of intimate seating areas created a chill atmosphere. The hotel’s daily social hour was in full swing — guests chatted over drinks while a young musician played acoustic covers of indie hits. After checking in, I joined the social hour crew, quenching my thirst with a refreshing pink concoction of grapefruit juice and grenadine.
I headed up to my room where more of the Sawyer’s relaxed urban elegance awaited. The gray, slate blue, and tan color scheme complemented streamlined blonde wood furniture, while a sleek gold floor lamp and side table added a touch of glam. With its upholstered headboard and crisp white linens, the king-size platform bed was a dreamy spot to sleep (and wake up to a morning espresso, thanks to the in-room Nespresso machine). I was also happy to find an endangered species rarely seen in hotels anymore: a mini-bar. (I may have had a midnight rendezvous with a bag of gummy bears.) But the room’s star attraction was in the bathroom: a deep soaking tub perched next to a separate shower.
Photo: Courtesy of Kimpton Sawyer
The Sawyer opened in 2017 with 140 standard rooms, 75 premier rooms, and 35 suites. Situated in 10 stories of a 16-floor building that also includes 45 residential units, the hotel has several ballrooms and suites to accommodate weddings, business meetings, and other gatherings. Rates vary depending on the season. In slower months, a standard king starts at around $275 per night while a one-bedroom suite goes for about $440.
Next door to the rooftop pool on the third floor is a well-equipped gym with 24-hour access, but you can also combine outdoor exercise and sightseeing using Sawyer’s complimentary bikes.
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As dusk settled over DOCO that evening, I settled at a table in Revival, the hotel’s vibey rooftop lounge that
Oct 17, 2024 • 5 min read
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Oct 16, 2024 • 8 min read
Dorey Poder and Damir Konjicija didn’t have a vision for their wedding, because they didn’t think they’d be lucky enough to have one: Damir fled war in Bosnia as a child and grew up in a refugee camp in the Czech Republic, and then the southern United States (Kentucky), while Dorey was raised in a very conservative town in California. “We didn’t know if we would ever get married in our lifetime, so when the time actually came, we looked at each other like, do we want to have a wedding? Or is this just an ‘us’ thing?” says Dorey of the brief consideration to get hitched at city hall.
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