Sacramento is full of “ultra-chic” bars that sometimes feel too sophisticated, not to mention expensive, for the average college student.

On the opposite end, there are also plenty of sketchy dive bars that often make you question your safety late at night.

If you’re looking for something in between, then The Golden Bear at 2326 K St. is one of your best bets.

The Golden Bear is one of those places that you might miss if you’re not really looking. Located in midtown, The Golden Bear is a mix between a gorgeous Victorian house (the kind familiar to downtown Sacramento) and an old-school tavern.

There are no fancy lit signs outside the bar to strike your eye, so when you’re looking for Golden Bear, make sure you’re looking hard.

Once you parallel park your car on those infamously hard-to-park-in parking spots, you will approach the bar and be greeted by a man ready to look at your I.D.

There is no cover charge for Golden Bear, so your night could possibly be a relatively cheap one.

If you haven’t already done so, now would be the perfect time to designate a sober driver.

Once inside, the decor is simple but classic. White lights are strung around the overhangs and a flat screen T.V sits beside rows of liquor.

The Golden Bear’s casual setting creates the perfect atmosphere for a diverse crowd of patrons. Even Chico State students make their way to the bear for a night of fun and drinking.

Though the inside of Golden Bear is usually crowded, most of the people congregate to the front and back patios of the bar. In the winter both patios have heat lamps to keep people from freezing.

To quench your thirst at a faster rate, The Golden Bear offers two bars, one inside and the other on the back patio.

The drink prices are about average as a Red Bull and Vodka costs $5, a Long Island is $6.50, a New Castle beer is $4 and a vodka tonic is $3. Other beers such as Heineken and Fat Tire are $4 as well.

The fabulous part about Golden Bear is that it doubles as a restaurant and a bar. If you’re one of those people that feels like a snack late at night after you’ve had a bit to drink, you can order a variety of appetizers to quiet the growling of your stomach.

However, most are not eating on a Friday night at Golden Bear. Most are socializing, laughing, ordering rounds for their friends and listening to great tunes of the eighties such as Duran Duran, Madonna, and Bon Jovi.

In addition, the bartenders are nice and accommodating. They were more than willing to turn on the heat lamps as soon we said we were cold. They seemed quite happy to interact with us and were friendly in general.

The major down side of The Golden Bear is that it can get a bit crowded. Smoking is allowed on the patios and I witnessed more than one episode of people running into other people’s lit cigarettes. What a drag.

Overall, I have really enjoyed The Golden Bar both times I’ve been. The crowd is interesting, the drink prices are reasonable and the bartenders are friendly.

If you’re looking for something casual yet entertaining to do in midtown, visit The Golden Bear for a night of fun you won’t want to end.

Rating: 4 Stars

All of Chelsea’s dining and nightlife reviews are held to this rating system:

1 Star: Stay at home.

2 Stars: Not worth the gas money.

3 Stars: If there’s nothing else to do –

4 Stars: Better than most.

5 Stars: Proves that Sacramento is more than just a cowtown.