Fodor's Expert Review Imperial Hotel

A judicious 2023 makeover broadened the appeal of one-block Amador City's 1879 redbrick hotel without sacrificing the throwback feel of the guest rooms, two with balconies overlooking town. A wooden staircase leads directly from the lobby bar to three second-floor rooms with king beds, three with queens, and all with exposed brick walls and painstakingly sanded original floors. The bathrooms, equipped with period-sensitive fixtures, are stocked with high-quality products. As with the hotel, renovations to the restaurant preserved a sense of the past, with the updated farm-to-fork cuisine providing contemporary travelers additional incentive to book here. A nearby hilltop cottage contains three larger suites. Rates are higher for these, but good views and a quieter setting compensate.