Laura’s guidebook
Food scene
Wonderful restaurant in the Dimond, which is a long walk (1 mile) or a short drive away! An Oakland favorite with incredible food, great cocktails and coffee, and great ambience.
21 lokale inwoners raden aan
Grand Lake Kitchen - Dimond
2042 MacArthur BlvdWonderful restaurant in the Dimond, which is a long walk (1 mile) or a short drive away! An Oakland favorite with incredible food, great cocktails and coffee, and great ambience.
Awesome selection of beers on tap, fantastic bottle room, and delicious food. Kid-friendly (but even more fun without them).
40 lokale inwoners raden aan
Degrees Plato Tap Room Bottle Shop & Kitchen
4251 MacArthur BlvdAwesome selection of beers on tap, fantastic bottle room, and delicious food. Kid-friendly (but even more fun without them).
Favorite local spot for breakfast and lunch. Ask them to do their eggs Benedict but with their biscuits instead of English muffins. SO GOOD!!!
101 lokale inwoners raden aan
Sequoia Diner
3719 MacArthur BlvdFavorite local spot for breakfast and lunch. Ask them to do their eggs Benedict but with their biscuits instead of English muffins. SO GOOD!!!
Shaan Indian Cuisine
3434 Fruitvale AveOur go-to Indian food takeout spot. They deliver through Grub Hub.
You don't have to be in Oakland long before you hear about its taco trucks. Everyone has their favorite. We've tried most of them over the years and this one is hands down our favorite--but specifically for the carnitas burrito (from the truck on the left, the one closest to International Blvd). Still the best carnitas burrito we've ever had! And if you're in Oakland and eat meat, the taco truck is something you must experience!
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Taqueria Sinaloa
2138 International BlvdYou don't have to be in Oakland long before you hear about its taco trucks. Everyone has their favorite. We've tried most of them over the years and this one is hands down our favorite--but specifically for the carnitas burrito (from the truck on the left, the one closest to International Blvd). Still the best carnitas burrito we've ever had! And if you're in Oakland and eat meat, the taco truck is something you must experience!
This Spanish tapas place has incredible, imaginative food, wonderful cocktails, an outstanding Spanish wine list, and a funky, fun ambience. We've tried most everything on the menu, and have loved it all. Awesome place for a date or to meet friends.
50 lokale inwoners raden aan
Duende
468 19th StThis Spanish tapas place has incredible, imaginative food, wonderful cocktails, an outstanding Spanish wine list, and a funky, fun ambience. We've tried most everything on the menu, and have loved it all. Awesome place for a date or to meet friends.
This place never disappoints. The food is outstanding, the wine list is top notch, and the cocktails are great too. It's a bit of a splurge, but wonderful for a date night or a special night out with friends.
NOTE: Next door Southie (owned by the same people) is also a more casual, low-key option--but equally as delicious! In 15 years, we've never been disappointed by either of these places.
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Wood Tavern
6317 College AveThis place never disappoints. The food is outstanding, the wine list is top notch, and the cocktails are great too. It's a bit of a splurge, but wonderful for a date night or a special night out with friends.
NOTE: Next door Southie (owned by the same people) is also a more casual, low-key option--but equally as delicious! In 15 years, we've never been disappointed by either of these places.
Wonderful coffee shop with excellent food, artisan coffee, friendly service, and my favorite vanilla latte in town. Lots of nice tables to sit and work. One corner of the coffee shop has an area for kids to play, with a couch and a few kid toys.
51 lokale inwoners raden aan
Hive
2139 MacArthur BlvdWonderful coffee shop with excellent food, artisan coffee, friendly service, and my favorite vanilla latte in town. Lots of nice tables to sit and work. One corner of the coffee shop has an area for kids to play, with a couch and a few kid toys.
The long-time Laurel coffee shop has good coffee, great food, and a cozy ambience. It's a short drive or a long-ish walk from our place. You can find free street parking in the neighborhoods a block off of MacArthur.
50 lokale inwoners raden aan
World Ground Cafe
3726 MacArthur BlvdThe long-time Laurel coffee shop has good coffee, great food, and a cozy ambience. It's a short drive or a long-ish walk from our place. You can find free street parking in the neighborhoods a block off of MacArthur.
Grocery Store
Great grocery store, especially for produce, high quality meats and cheese, and a decent selection of beer and wine.
230 lokale inwoners raden aan
Farmer Joe's Marketplace
3501 MacArthur BlvdGreat grocery store, especially for produce, high quality meats and cheese, and a decent selection of beer and wine.
When you can't find what you need at Farmer Joe's, Safeway is right up the street for the rest.
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Safeway
3550 Fruitvale AveWhen you can't find what you need at Farmer Joe's, Safeway is right up the street for the rest.
This little grocery store is just a few blocks from our house. It's a little expensive for regular grocery items (like produce, meat, and dairy), but great for bulk items. There is a big section with bulk items in bins (stuff like flour, sugar, oats, rice, spices, teas, etc.) and also a place to get fresh peanut butter and honey. They're also a great spot if you need some sort of specialty health item like vitamins or probiotics.
26 lokale inwoners raden aan
The Food Mill
3033 MacArthur BlvdThis little grocery store is just a few blocks from our house. It's a little expensive for regular grocery items (like produce, meat, and dairy), but great for bulk items. There is a big section with bulk items in bins (stuff like flour, sugar, oats, rice, spices, teas, etc.) and also a place to get fresh peanut butter and honey. They're also a great spot if you need some sort of specialty health item like vitamins or probiotics.
Park
More commonly known as "Jordan Park" by locals, this is a wonderful playground, especially for young children. Neighbors leave cast off toys of all kinds, including bikes, scooters, tricycles, play cars, etc. and there is both a toddler and "big kid" playground, swings for babies and big kids, a playing field, a basketball hoop, and a nice grassy meadow that is great to sit on with a picnic blanket.
Note that there is no bathroom here, so have your kids go before you leave the house (or, if you're desperate, kids will sometimes pee in the trees at the edge of the park).
The walk to the park along the creek trail to get there is lovely. Coming from our house, go down Madeline, take Laurel up the hill, take a right on Wisconsin, a left on Rettig (which turns into the creek trail), and then a right on Jordan.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.7984389,-122.2025516/Avenue+Terrace+Playground,+Oakland,+CA+94602/@37.7975444,-122.2015845,16z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m6!3m4!1m2!1d-122.1969239!2d37.8002302!3s0x808f86356e4624d9:0xd57190ddf44d3101!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f86347058d443:0x11f8f4a7bca36ecb!2m2!1d-122.1921649!2d37.8004125!3e2
Avenue Terrace Playground
3380 Jordan RdMore commonly known as "Jordan Park" by locals, this is a wonderful playground, especially for young children. Neighbors leave cast off toys of all kinds, including bikes, scooters, tricycles, play cars, etc. and there is both a toddler and "big kid" playground, swings for babies and big kids, a playing field, a basketball hoop, and a nice grassy meadow that is great to sit on with a picnic blanket.
Note that there is no bathroom here, so have your kids go before you leave the house (or, if you're desperate, kids will sometimes pee in the trees at the edge of the park).
The walk to the park along the creek trail to get there is lovely. Coming from our house, go down Madeline, take Laurel up the hill, take a right on Wisconsin, a left on Rettig (which turns into the creek trail), and then a right on Jordan.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/37.7984389,-122.2025516/Avenue+Terrace+Playground,+Oakland,+CA+94602/@37.7975444,-122.2015845,16z/data=!4m15!4m14!1m6!3m4!1m2!1d-122.1969239!2d37.8002302!3s0x808f86356e4624d9:0xd57190ddf44d3101!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x808f86347058d443:0x11f8f4a7bca36ecb!2m2!1d-122.1921649!2d37.8004125!3e2
This wonderful trail at Joaquin Miller Park is a short (5-7 min.) drive up the hill from our house. If you stay on the Sequoia Bay trail, you can run or take a leisurely walk on dirt trails through beautiful redwoods, glimpse gorgeous views of the bay, and hike or run for many miles. Joaquin Miller is also adjacent to Redwood Regional Park, which also has great hiking trails. Nearby Roberts Regional Park has a swimming pool and an awesome playground for kids. The parks in the Oakland hills are one of Oakland's great gems! Be sure to check them out!
Sequoia Bayview Trail
Sequoia Bayview TrailThis wonderful trail at Joaquin Miller Park is a short (5-7 min.) drive up the hill from our house. If you stay on the Sequoia Bay trail, you can run or take a leisurely walk on dirt trails through beautiful redwoods, glimpse gorgeous views of the bay, and hike or run for many miles. Joaquin Miller is also adjacent to Redwood Regional Park, which also has great hiking trails. Nearby Roberts Regional Park has a swimming pool and an awesome playground for kids. The parks in the Oakland hills are one of Oakland's great gems! Be sure to check them out!