As I continue to be on the quest for a quality donut shop, "Marie's Donuts" has got to be one of…read morethe most recognizable, historic, and well-known places in all of Sacramento. Ever since opening back in 1957 (when Elvis, penny loafers, and peak Chevy Bel-Air were at the peak of their popularity), the original owner Hugo Argento named this donut shop after his wife, Marie. Even though their marriage didn't last long, this business has withstood the test of time. Located directly at 21st Ave/Freeport Blvd and directly next door to the wildly popular "Freeport Bakery", this place is situated smack dab in between Land Park & Curtis Park.
Keep in mind that I have been to Marie's Donuts on numerous occasions dating back to when I first made Sacramento my home back in 2001. However, I haven't been here for several years and decided to pay a visit on the morning of Sunday 10/25/2026 at around 8:55am. The business itself does have a small dedicated parking lot; however, it is quite small and can fill up on any given day. There is free street parking readily available as I parked only a block away from the building itself.
To those regulars, there is no actual indoor area and no seating. Meaning that every order is taken at the window. The selection here is vast as they carry a wide assortment of plain, old-fashioned, frosted, glazed, jelly-filled, maple chocolate bars, whipped cream-filled, cinnamon rolls, bear claws, eclairs, apple fritters, various muffins, donut holes, and much more. One interesting part of the ordering process is that the employees are all behind a glass window. However, they knew exactly what type of donuts we wanted. My guess is that there are tiny speakers integrated where they could hear the customers from the other side. Either way, they got everything right.
We ended up buying a dozen which were priced very reasonable at only $16.50 for a wide variety. We got a mix of glazed, powdered donut holes, a maple bar, and other various donuts. And everything was placed neatly inside of a pink/white striped box. The employees were very sweet, attentive, and quick as the line moved quickly. Even with at least 8 customers ahead of us, the whole wait in line, order, and payment process took around five minutes. Keep in mind that if you spend less than $5.00 (and you are using a card), there is a fee. However, they do accept tap-to-pay and of course, cash.
All in all, whether it's for a taste of nostalgia, "Marie's Donuts" is absolutely the real deal and as good as it gets. Not only is this one of Sacramento's most beloved spots for a sweet treat but their donuts (and everything else) are absolutely delicious, fresh, and made with love. I also wanted to add that they offer very generous hours of operation being open Tuesday through Sunday from 10pm-4pm while being closed from 4-10pm. Keep in mind that they are closed on Monday. And finally, to those that live on the north side of town, they have a 2nd location on Watt Ave/Don Julio Blvd in North Highlands. With amazing donuts, prime location, excellent service, and very reasonable prices, Marie's Donuts receives a perfect five-star rating.