I love, love this bar for many reasons, but the number one reason is because of Heidi. Â She's such a sweetie and does a great job mixing drinks. Â The crowd is usually mixed, but it's okay because everyone is there to just have a great time. Â I personally, have never had issues with anyone there. Â Great selection in music, there's tvs in the front and back room. Â Pool tables that sometimes people turn into ping pong tables, shuffle board, darts, all sorts of activities. Â Total gem. :)
Review Source:I don't know why I haven't been coming here more often. Â Hilltop is easily my favorite East Sacramento bar.
Does it look like a dump from the outside? Absolutely. Â But you'd be mistaken if you thought it was equally run down inside. Â The bar is really nice and has plenty to offer, all at dive bar prices. Â They have about 6 TVs in the bar, which are always showing sports when I've been there. Â Throw in a few well-maintained pool tables and a dart board, and I'm sold!
Honestly, the drinks are good and cheap, the place is a good crowd on weekends but is also a nice mellow place to chill with a beer and some buddies on a weeknight.
This place is chill. Though, any bar is going to be chill when you decide to drink 2 pints and play pool (and darts) at Noon on a Tuesday.
The bar staff were very friendly and made for good conversation with my friend and I. They had Lost Coast's Downtown Brown on tap, which is an automatic thumbs-up from me. Plus, each pint was only $4.
The pool tables were only 75 cents to play and the darts were fun as well.
Can't comment on the night crowd, so I'll reserve one star for when I go back at night to confirm that everything holds up with more people.
Definitely will go back!
My first time at Hilltop Tavern this past weekend for the Albie rib cook off. Delicious food and plenty of fun all for a great cause. Congrats to the winners! Rocky and his wife were lovely people. Had no idea PorkItUp would be there, nice suprise. Love the ir energy and their food is always DELISH!!! The beans were well seasoned and absolutely yummy, went back for seconds. The ribs were just SINFUL! Good job guys, well deserved:)
Review Source:I was a judge in the rib cook-off this weekend. What a great place! I had one of the best times with the patrons from the Hilltop. The staff is off tha hook! Rebecca gave us TCE . (Total Customer Expereince). This is great place to hang, watch a game and meet new friends. A pure 10 on the drinking scale in SAC.
Good Job
I've only ever been to this bar during the day, so I'm not really sure how hopping it gets nor what the scene is like, but the bartenders were friendly. Â They have pool, table tennis, shuffle board & darts. Â I think there was even a video game or two. Â There is parking in the back, but it's pretty limited. Â I was there for a work event, so we had fun playing various games, watching various games, and just hanging out.
Review Source:Shuffle board, darts, pool, most awesome bartenders, and the most diverse crowd I've seen in a long time. Bike on over and dig the community-like vibe this place has built. I was there recently and had a blast as the bar gave a surprise bday party for one of the bartenders, thrown by another bartender: Madmen theme, complete with lil masks of the cast, epic decorations, and cupcakes adorned with candy cigs. No, this is not an everyday thing of course, but gives you an idea of how much of a good times place this is. Check it out for sure.
Review Source:My mates and I showed up at this bar around 1:00 AM on saturday night/sunday morning (cinco de mayo) After welcoming us in their bar and serving us about 9 drinks (1 round including pitchers, and mixed beverages) they promptly kicked us out of the bar (about 10 minutes later) without even letting us finish our drinks. As we were sitting their attempting to finish our drinks, they had a few fat bouncers surrounding us, drooling and sneering at us to finish our drinks. As we continued to do so, they shouted "LAST SIP" as we all still had alcohol in our cups. My buddy continued to drink his drink and they violently ripped the drink out of his hand and escourted my friend out of the bar. Meanwhile they let about 8 other people continue drinking at the bar. When asked why those folks could stay, they claimed they were all staff members of the bar, and that they were all getting rides home from the security.
I told them what a poor display of service this was and that they would be hearing from me on yelp and google reviews, so here it is. This place is truly a joke.
had a really bad experience here. Â we were late comers one night; we went to the bar and got drinks, they didnt warn us that it was last call and theyd be closing soon, so we got 1 round of beers, and we just started drinking them, when they came over and said that we needed to hurry up and drink our beers, so we complyed and started bounding them. Â the whole time the bouncer was hovering over us and then said last sip.....wtf? Â we were almost done anyway, and he ripped the beer out of my friends hand and pushed us out of the bar....
WHY would they have even served us then if they were no going to give us 10 mins to drink them......
wont be back
sooooooo rude
Cool neighborhood hangout. Â The bartender was very friendly and let us taste her suggested beer before we bought one. Â Big TVs, 2 pool tables, and a shuffleboard table. Â The tables are all close together so be prepared to get cozy with your neighbors and be in peoples' way constantly! Â It has a cool, laid-back vibe, nothing special. Â
One downside though: no food. Â Although my friend who is regular there brings her own and they don't seem to mind!
You'd have to be a total joker or maybe just a jackass not to like this place.
From some of the commentary, I expected it to be a cross between Monkey Bar and the bar from Roadhouse, i.e. a complete dive where you have to worry about getting stabbed. That's why I was pleasantly surprised to find a completely clean, open space with an awesome game room that includes shuffleboard, pool, darts and even a video golf game.
Add free pretzel sticks, a large selection of draft and bottle beer, a great jukebox, and friendly bartenders and you've got a classic neighborhood watering hole that also attracts a younger crowd. In fact, I'd say it's stretching the definition to even call this a dive bar.
Again, I'm not sure what's wrong with some of these people, but don't let the bad reviews scare you. Hilltop Tavern is a great place to hang.
Well, the category says it all, this is definitely a dive bar. My friend and I checked out this place on a Saturday at 8:30 and the place was empty. The bartender was nice and the bathroom clean and uh, eh, that is about it. We stayed for an hour and the joint never attracted more people. Not much to say here other than I would suggest driving a little further up or down Folsom Blvd for better places.
Review Source:Put these guys on my bike pub crawl list and no one wanted to leave! The darts and pool tables had my whole cruising gang occupied and having lots of fun, I'm sure not to mention the drinks and pretzels. Bartender was super friendly to everyone in our group too!
They also have some fun vintage marijuana posters so I brought one I had from the 70's. Hopefully, they add it to their already cool collection.
Bottom line--Great, local place to chill for an adult beverage.
The best thing about Hilltop Tavern is that Socal's Tavern is down the street. Â You have not missed a thing if you have not been there.
My first impression of this place was not good and the couple of times that I have gone back have only made it worse.
The place is a dump with really bad, overworked bartenders. Â You could die of thirst before you get a drink in that place.
Every time I have gone there, I could not wait to leave. Â There is something about the place that makes me feel very uncomfortable. Â There is nothing warm or friendly about the place. Â
Worst bar in Sacramento.
I took my nephew in for his 21st birthday. He asked if he could have a free drink since it was his birthday, and the bartender said sure! I totally was not expecting that he could get a free drink, but that was pretty awesome. AND to top it off, he actually let our whole party (there was 5 of us) have our first round free! I'm not sure if he had intended on doing that, but I'm not one to refuse free drinks.
I don't know if it was a holiday thing, but there was food there and for $4 you could get your grub on. My sis got a plate for my nephew because she swore that he needed something to "pad his stomach." Ha, she acted like it was his first night drinking.
The ping pong tables are freaking awesome!! Everyone playing on them was pretty awful except the 2 guys in my group. And man, the game started to get pretty heated! Don't get between drunk men and their ping pong. Just saying.
Came here this past Wednesday for the weekly UYE. Â Very cool bartender and great drink prices. Â Not a lot to complain about here. Â There are a couple of pool tables and a steel tip dart board from what I remember. Â :) Â
The overall crowd was laid back and the atmosphere was fun and welcoming. Â I'll be back to check it out again!
My boyfriend works at REI and boy, do REI employees love Hilltop Tavern. I went to a going away party for one of his co-workers this last weekend and the whole game area was completely filled with friends. It was pretty awesome. This experience deserved four stars.
The last time I went there was not so awesome. It was also for a going away party  of an REI employee and the bar was not prepared to have any kind of gathering. I'm not sure if they were originally aware of how many people would be in attendance, but they ran of of cups to serve drinks and the wait was unbelievable. Two stars.
Well, my gut gave in and went back and I have to say, it's quite a different scene on a Saturday night than on a Sunday/Weekday day. (I can't remember now which day it was exactly.)
The bartenders were OK. Not chatty, which is great for some folks but I prefer a bit of chat with my cocktails.
I think our group almost got into a scuffle over shuffle board, but the doubles I had were not paying attention to anything but the loveliness of a perfect night where my closest friends and I were all just ... happy.
Good times, good times.
Hilltop might make it into our rotation again, but I doubt it will be a regular spot, though they do have ping pong. And I somehow ended up with a ping pong ball in my purse and I didn't even play! Mysteries of the world.
I worked here at the beginning of June and the ambiance mimics those of a real dive bar. It is, however, located in the prestine East Sac. The place is OK inside. Good place to get sh*t face for cheap. They have one pool table, one shuffle board, and a juke box.
The place isn't too big. Seems like everyone there are regulars and the bartender knows everyone by name and I like that.
This is by far my favorite bar in Sacramento. Â I love the relaxed feel of it and the mix of crowd. Â Definitely alot of locals and usuals! Â The prices for drinks are good, there is pool, Wii and darts. Â Also a good jukebox with a HUGE selection to pick from.
It's an amazing neighborhood bar!
This is a fun little place to hang out, have a few beers with some friends. Â They have 2 amply spaced pool tables and a Wii. Â The Wii is an awesome gadget when you are pounding beers. Â I really only have a couple of knocks on the place. Â First of no pitchers?? Â If you're bar is primarily a beer place, you've got to have pitchers. Â It's like a Vegas night club saying no bottle service. Â My second beef is the jukebox. What happened to 25 cents a song? Â Have those days just passed me by? Â Perhaps I am being cheap, but 13 credits for $5 and charging 2 credits for some of the songs is overkill, don't you think? Â I can buy a song online and keep it for 99 cents.
Other than those two little things, I really liked everything else about the place I will be dropping fools at Wii Bowling again soon.
This bar is one of my favorites in Sacramento. It is hard to relax here, but I like it anyway.
First off, the clientele is pretty laid back and easy going. Except on one occasion trying to park when some frat boy fool ran out of a stretch SUV limousine with blow up doll (read: BYPASS). But most of the time the crowd is pretty cool and just rowdy enough.
The drinks are delicious and my favorite bartender is Mariah. I found out last night that I'm strong enough to lift her off the ground. In other words, I was pretty wasted there last night. I hope she isn't annoyed with me but I don't drink vodka.
Go to this bar it is good for you, except for the occasional blow up doll sighting.
Thank you, Yelp.
It was the overwhelming positive reviews from your most superlative critics and otherwise happy drunkards that led me to Hilltop. Here, I found a comfortable, up-tempo drinkery with commonly-priced, cold pints, two tables of pool, dart boards and Wii on a HD flatscreen.
My belly, and the bellies of my friends, found plenty of space at the bar before we decided to grab a table in one corner of the billiards area. The other side has long, upholstered bench seating with tables, perfect for large groups.
The crowd this night--July 4th--was college-aged, energetic and loud in a fun way. Still, we had no trouble conversing over our Newcastles, Bud Lites and rum drinks.
I'd like to come back during the week when, apparently, one will find the neighborhood's familiar faces. I can see why. If I lived here, Hilltop would be my bar.
I used to work at the "top". I was a bigger customer than employee. I moved away. Not a day goes by when I don't think about sitting there at the bar with any or all of the regulars. It's a welcoming place.
Some of the regulars complain that the prices went up since the change in ownership a few years back. I say, "quit yer bitchin!". Try getting a drink in el lay for under 5 bucks.
The epitamy of neighborhood bar!
If you've never been- I recomend getting there around 5pm on a weekday. So many wonderful characters!
Hilltop is a solid 3, 3 1/2 star kinda place.
Its a basic little dive in East Sac, and should you find yourself in the hood, it is a perfectly reasonable place to get a reasonable drink.
Prices are typical for this kinda place -- $4 pints, etc.
They've got two pool tables and two dart boards (proper darts, not electronic-)
The jukebox has one of those interweb selections, so its got plenty of tunes.
Its a bar that can be fun when its dead, but downright annoying when the wrong 4 wannabe gangstas keep playing the same shitty hip hop, or a group of annoying co-ed are celebrating their BFF's birthday at a pitch one previously thought only dogs could hear.
Bartenders are rad, and remember you after only a few go's, and the bathroom is clean.
Sad face for only one women's stall... but its not much of an issue cause I've never really seen this place packed yet.
Rumored to be the highest-grossing jukebox in Sacramento. Â All music uncensored and the bartenders will add music for you, if you hang out there enough and if you ask them politely. Â
The bar is under new ownership with Donna Nolan. Â Congrats for putting the Hilltop back on the map. Â Oh yeah, she is not to cool to hang out in her own place! Â Yes, she frequents! Â Â
There are two distinct crowds that cruise the Top. Â The end-of-a-long-day hard workers of the community and and the 9-close crowd that is kind of "fabulous" and new school. Â Congrats to Donna and staff (Shannon and Becca) for working that balance to take care of both types of people. Â If you come early, be ready to rub elbows with the regulars. Not that that is a bad thing Â
The drinks are stiff and cheap. Service comes at you as you come at the service. Â So be nice...(do not throw things). Â The walls are littered with musical events, there are real dart boards, and 2 pool tables with more than enough room to play. Â
Depending on the night, you could run in to the Wild Turkey or Jack Daniels girls, giving away drinks and t-shirts. The bar is usually running a drink special when they are here, or even when they are not, there is almost always a new concoction that the bartender can whip up for you!
- nice atmosphere for a semi dive bar
- friendly bartender
- $3.50 beer in a bottle = cheap in these days standards
- matches that say "Hilltop" on them!
- bowl of pretzels= great, but I won't eat them
- clean bathroom considering the bar. beats most dive bar bathrooms
- large enough space for the yelp event!
- downfall: I had no cash and they only take credit if it's over $10. There is an ATM inside but of course it charges astronomical fees. Oh well....
The new & improved Hilltop rocks!
Under new ownership, this joint has turned into a respectable neighborhood watering hole without compromising the finer points of dive bar atmosphere. The original slightly deco bar has been revamped and improved upon with pool tables and new juke box. Live bands sans cover are just a bonus.
Great place to enjoy cheap cocktails with friends or a date.
Talk about a hole in the wall, and I liked it, I climbed right in! Â Its not about the place its about what you do while you are there and who you go with. I definetly managed to have a good time. Â The drinks are cheap, REALLY cheap. Â 2 red headed sluts only came out to $10.50 that is a steal !!! Â Try and go to the park and order 2 of those and get change back from a $20, ya right! Â This place is very well.... roomy I guess because there is hardly anyone here, except it did manage to pick up around 12 when a few college people or younger people came through the door for a drink, but they were mainly in and out I would say. Â This place also has pool tabels here and darts. Â So do expect to see lots of tiva sandlas, drunk men dancing around, people who ride their bikes here, men with long hair, leathers vests, and people wearing looney toon shirts (my kind of crowd). Â
 This place gets an extra star for the sweet Johnny Cash picture they have hanging over the pool tabel of him flipping off the camera.
Things I liked about Hilltop:
-VERY laid back environment, good dive
-VERY cheap drinks
-Jukebox is pretty up to date yet maintains the classics
-Bathroom was clean, but small (one toilet)
-Hooks under the bar to hang your purse if needed
-VERY cheap drinks
-Gets a nice mixed crowd...college students, ultimate pool/darts players....creepy old guys
-Everyone gets VIP parking, there are no other things open around it late at night so the street is dead, I think the bike rack was more full that the street
-oh and cheap drinks!!
I like the hilltop ....old and new
 First the old..It was a grimy, old rowdy bar with cheap drinks .One of my visits there , I was talking to a good ol boy about  chevys and telling jokes until I noticed that he had a swastika welded on bumper on his truck........
Damn
And the new...I brought the Lightrail Pubcrawling Brigade to the new Hilltop and had a great time there
dead to me
the hilltop was awesome when it was a dive bar and you risked getting hit upside the head with a pint glass for beating someone in phony darts on any given weeknight. Â i made the greatest pool shot of my life in this bar and watched a 40+ year old prostitute fill her vagina with purple skittles. Â if they went and took a dump on my memories by trying to polish this turd, i may shank someone's mother.
JCTSFR: pending
Here's a fun fact for you to chew on:
Hilltop Tavern is located at the highest elevation in the city of Sacramento. Â
Feel free to use it to impress your friends, family and complete strangers because I know you're going to steal it anyway.
The owners have done a pretty good job of cleaning this up from how it used to be. Â A good place to grab a drink (or 10).
A while back, this was much more than a dive, it was a downright dangerous dive. In those days I've witnessed two bar brawls break out, was told about a third involving a friend, and read about one in which the loser later shot the other guy with a shotgun. Then there's the bartender who got the place initially shut down by getting popped not once, not twice but three times for serving to the same very obviously underage girl.
Well times have changed. The new owners have a fresh ABC permit, spent months in upgrading the interior, updating the drink choices, and making the place a lot different than it was.
And different, it definitely is. Gone are the old rowdies and mean drunks who cause most of the issues. And while the locals from the neighborhood can still be found, a lot more "upscale" crowd has been moving in since it's grand opening.
Considering the past history, this is not a bad thing, at least in terms of no one is getting stomped in the bar or parking lot. The prices are a bit higher, but livable. If you're going back to mid-town after shopping at TJ's, it's a decent place to grab a weekend drink.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
