New Tenant on Old Sac Waterfront
A familiar Midtown gathering place is headed for Sacramento’s riverfront. Der Biergarten, known for its relaxed outdoor setting at 24th and K streets, plans to open a second location at the former Rio City Cafe site in Old Sacramento—one of the most prominent and long‑vacant restaurant spaces along the city’s waterfront.
The move represents more than a routine expansion. It marks a meaningful step forward for a stretch of riverfront that has struggled to regain momentum since Rio City Cafe closed in 2024 after structural problems with the public river deck forced the restaurant to shut down. For many Sacramentans, the closure left a visible gap along the promenade and renewed questions about how the city would reactivate its most scenic dining location.
Plans call for a summer 2026 opening. The Midtown location will remain in operation, while the new riverfront venue is expected to build on the same formula that has made the original popular: communal tables, a casual outdoor atmosphere and approachable European beer‑hall fare. At the waterfront site, however, the concept will take advantage of larger patios, lawn seating and expansive views of the Sacramento River—features that could help reestablish the location as a destination gathering place.
Der Biergarten will not be the only tenant. The property is being repositioned as a multi‑restaurant riverfront destination, with a second dining concept reportedly planned for the remaining space. That approach reflects a broader shift in how city leaders and property managers are thinking about Old Sacramento’s west edge—not simply as a tourist corridor, but as a place that can attract local residents as well.
Timing also matters. Activity across the river at Sutter Health Park, including the arrival of the Oakland Athletics for their interim seasons in West Sacramento, is expected to increase regional attention on the river corridor. City officials hope that momentum will carry across the river and encourage renewed investment on the Sacramento side of the waterfront.
For Old Sacramento, the reopening of this site carries symbolic weight. Riverfront restaurants have long helped define the district’s identity, yet infrastructure challenges and changing visitor patterns have made sustained operations difficult in recent years. Bringing new tenants to one of the district’s signature locations signals confidence that the riverfront can once again support active, everyday use—not just occasional tourism.
If the project succeeds, it could help reshape expectations for how Sacramento’s waterfront functions. Rather than serving primarily as a seasonal attraction, the former Rio City Cafe site may return as a year‑round gathering place for residents, cyclists and visitors alike. After several quiet years along this stretch of the promenade, that would be a welcome change for the city’s most visible riverfront address.
