an experience like no other
Step through the hidden door and into a world of adventure, mystery, and unforgettable entertainment.
Each seating at Hawthorne’s Hideout is hosted by a lively and charismatic guide who serves as your master of ceremonies for the evening. This energetic host sets the pace of the experience—welcoming guests, unveiling hidden secrets, and drawing everyone into the unfolding story of the legendary explorer Elias Hawthorne.
The experience is highly interactive, blending themed performance, guest participation, and spontaneous surprises. The room itself is alive—with state-of-the-art lighting effects and stunning animatronics designed by the world-renowned artists at Garner Holt Productions, known for their work at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
As the adventure plays out, guests can order from a menu of eclectic Polynesian-inspired gourmet cuisine and handcrafted themed cocktails made at the showstopping centerpiece of the room: a bar carved from a 3-inch-thick slab of claro black walnut, reclaimed from a fallen tree in Northern California. Every detail of the space is curated to create an experience that blurs the line between dinner, theater, and immersive storytelling.
No two nights are the same—and with secrets hidden throughout the room, it pays to keep your eyes (and your curiosity) open.
how to find hawthorne’s hideout
Hawthorne’s Hideout is located behind a hidden passageway in the once-forgotten catacomb level of Stage Nine Entertainment Store in the historic Old Sacramento Waterfront, located at 102 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. To access Hawthorne’s Hideout, descend the spiral staircase into the Underground Vault of Stage Nine. From there you will be directed to the Hideout. An elevator is also available. Reservations are always required to enter Hawthorne’s Hideout.
Seating
Hawthorne’s Hideout is not your typical bar or restaurant. This is an immersive dining and cocktail experience set in an intimate, explorer-themed speakeasy. Seating is unconventional: instead of standard tables, guests may select from 21 individually themed seats (with each having its own fascinating backstory). Seats are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis and the space is designed to encourage mingling and shared enjoyment of the entertainment. While we do our best to seat groups together, you may be seated next to other guests.
Please note: The experience includes flashing lights and loud sound effects. It may not be suitable for guests with light or sound sensitivities.
Parking
Parking in the Old Sacramento Waterfront area can vary depending on season and events. Metered street parking is available throughout the district and the meters accept credit/debit cards or you may use the Sacramento ParkMobile app. Public parking structures are also available and typically require pre-payment to enter (cash or credit/debit cards). We recommend arriving early to allow time for parking and walking to the Hideout. Late arrivals are highly discouraged and can result in a non-refundable cancellation of your reservation.
Hawthorne’s Hideout is created by the masterminds at Stage 9 Exhibits and Stage Nine Entertainment Store.
Dearest Explorer,
It is with great excitement, and a touch of scholarly glee, that I am extending to you this personal invitation to Hawthorne’s Hideout; the most extraordinary discovery in my long years of Hawthornian study.
Hidden for over a century beneath the historic What Cheer House, this forgotten chamber, part expedition lounge, part culinary archive,was once the private retreat and archive of the great adventurer Elias Hawthorne. Within its walls lie journals weathered by soaking jungle rains, exotic spices carried across vast oceans, and relics of epic voyages that spanned time and continents alike.
Now, for the first time since 1923, the doors of the Hideout have reopened. And you, dear guest, are invited to step across the threshold.
When you enter Hawthorne’s Hideout, you are not simply visiting a bar or a dining room, you are embarking on a private expedition. Your excursion will be guided by none other than myself, Professor Cornelius Crumb, steward of Hawthorne’s legacy and your devoted host for the evening. I will recount tales lost to time, decipher the meaning of every artifact, and lead you through a journey drawn directly from Elias Hawthorne’s recovered field journals.
But no true expedition is complete without refreshment. At your side throughout the evening will be your own private bartender, a skilled practitioner of liquid alchemy, ready to conjure Elias’s legendary cocktails crafted from notes spanning his travels across the globe.
Your table may also be set with appetizers inspired by his global adventures, curated from notes we unearthed in the spice-stained margins of his travel journals. Each dish is a chapter that tells the story of Elias’ life through the recipes he cherished.
This is more than a meal. It is a resurrection.
So I ask, are you ready to dine at the edge of the map? The fire is lit. The tales are prepared. The spirits are waiting.
Welcome to the Hideout.
Let your voyage begin.
Yours in discovery,
Professor Cornelius Crumb
Head Curator, What Cheer House Historical Society
Est. 1924