Michael & Heather’s Oakland Guidebook
Neighborhoods
Here are our favorite neighborhoods we spend the most time in.
A sweet neighborhood of California bungalows in the lower Oakland Hills, Glenview feels more like a quiet Rockridge with a couple good restaurants and well-manicured gardens. The main strip of Park Boulevard is pretty much where anything happens now and where it happened then: More than a century ago, the now bustling street was a path where redwoods traveled to get from where they were felled to the lumberyard. The elementary school is Art Deco, built in 1927; and the local breakfast joint serves dishes like eggs (and grits!) till 3:30 p.m. on the weekends.
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Glenview
A sweet neighborhood of California bungalows in the lower Oakland Hills, Glenview feels more like a quiet Rockridge with a couple good restaurants and well-manicured gardens. The main strip of Park Boulevard is pretty much where anything happens now and where it happened then: More than a century ago, the now bustling street was a path where redwoods traveled to get from where they were felled to the lumberyard. The elementary school is Art Deco, built in 1927; and the local breakfast joint serves dishes like eggs (and grits!) till 3:30 p.m. on the weekends.
Jack London is full of cool restaurants, breweries, a farmers market on Saturday. You can take the ferry here to San Francisco. I would recommend checking out the breweries and walking around. Get a drink at the historic First and Last Chance Saloon.
Location. Location. Location. That’s Jack London’s selling point. It’s got Bay views, the call of seabirds, and the ferry as public transit. Enjoy the peace of the waterfront, or head a few paces onshore and down European styled walkways to a booming bar and restaurant scene, including The Fat Lady Opens a New Window. , The Night Light and BBQ joint Everett & Jones Opens a New Window. . Music can be heard almost every night of the week at Yoshi’s Opens a New Window. , the famed spot in the Bay Area for jazz and dinner. Tucked within these modern-day diversions and loft-style living are serious old-school stops. California’s second oldest bar, Heinold’s First and Last Saloon Opens a New Window. , opened in 1883 and is still lit by gas (author Jack London wrote here). Or just look for the writer’s Yukon cabin—a replica built from the original boards.
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Jack London District
Jack London is full of cool restaurants, breweries, a farmers market on Saturday. You can take the ferry here to San Francisco. I would recommend checking out the breweries and walking around. Get a drink at the historic First and Last Chance Saloon.
Location. Location. Location. That’s Jack London’s selling point. It’s got Bay views, the call of seabirds, and the ferry as public transit. Enjoy the peace of the waterfront, or head a few paces onshore and down European styled walkways to a booming bar and restaurant scene, including The Fat Lady Opens a New Window. , The Night Light and BBQ joint Everett & Jones Opens a New Window. . Music can be heard almost every night of the week at Yoshi’s Opens a New Window. , the famed spot in the Bay Area for jazz and dinner. Tucked within these modern-day diversions and loft-style living are serious old-school stops. California’s second oldest bar, Heinold’s First and Last Saloon Opens a New Window. , opened in 1883 and is still lit by gas (author Jack London wrote here). Or just look for the writer’s Yukon cabin—a replica built from the original boards.
Lots of new restaurants and bars. Some boutique shopping. Lots of people watching. A little something of everything. Just a mile or so away from our place.
This neighborhood has that Saturday-by-the-lake relaxed vibe. Shopping, eating, drinking, movies, Grand Lake has it all. Looking for the hustle and bustle on a sunny weekend day? You can find it all in this sunny neighborhood next to Lake Merritt. The only thing that can steal the thunder from the glittery water is Grand Lake Theater, a 1926 masterpiece that literally lights up the neighborhood. Oakland’s largest indie bookstore, Walden Pond Books, just around the corner, carries works by regional authors.
The 3.1-mile Lake Merritt can be walked, jogged, padded, peddled or gondola-ed. Looking for a lakeside guide? The audio historic tour, “Once upon a time, happily ever after Opens a New Window. ,” can be downloaded online, starting at the Rotary Nature Center.
Splash Pad Park (redone by famed landscape architect Walter Hood) is not only the spot for the weekly farmers market, but is also the location of its kid-friendly fountain and playground.
Swing by the 1930s-era Morcom Rose Garden Opens a New Window. , where you’ll find seven acres and 5,000 rose bushes of blooming bliss, thanks to the care of tie-dye bearing volunteers called Deadheaders.
Feeling peckish? Swing by Arizmendi Bakery or Colonial Donuts to treat your sweet tooth to something irresistible.
Thirsty after all that touring? Grab a pint at Heart and Dagger Opens a New Window. , the areas’ divey lakeside saloon. The outdoor patio is a destination in itself.
Looking for something a little fancy? Check out Penrose, Boot & Shoe Service, Shakewell, or Camino for one of Oakland's fine dining experiences.
22 lokale inwoners raden aan
Grand Lake
Lots of new restaurants and bars. Some boutique shopping. Lots of people watching. A little something of everything. Just a mile or so away from our place.
This neighborhood has that Saturday-by-the-lake relaxed vibe. Shopping, eating, drinking, movies, Grand Lake has it all. Looking for the hustle and bustle on a sunny weekend day? You can find it all in this sunny neighborhood next to Lake Merritt. The only thing that can steal the thunder from the glittery water is Grand Lake Theater, a 1926 masterpiece that literally lights up the neighborhood. Oakland’s largest indie bookstore, Walden Pond Books, just around the corner, carries works by regional authors.
The 3.1-mile Lake Merritt can be walked, jogged, padded, peddled or gondola-ed. Looking for a lakeside guide? The audio historic tour, “Once upon a time, happily ever after Opens a New Window. ,” can be downloaded online, starting at the Rotary Nature Center.
Splash Pad Park (redone by famed landscape architect Walter Hood) is not only the spot for the weekly farmers market, but is also the location of its kid-friendly fountain and playground.
Swing by the 1930s-era Morcom Rose Garden Opens a New Window. , where you’ll find seven acres and 5,000 rose bushes of blooming bliss, thanks to the care of tie-dye bearing volunteers called Deadheaders.
Feeling peckish? Swing by Arizmendi Bakery or Colonial Donuts to treat your sweet tooth to something irresistible.
Thirsty after all that touring? Grab a pint at Heart and Dagger Opens a New Window. , the areas’ divey lakeside saloon. The outdoor patio is a destination in itself.
Looking for something a little fancy? Check out Penrose, Boot & Shoe Service, Shakewell, or Camino for one of Oakland's fine dining experiences.
A mix of history, art, music and architecture and grit, Downtown is really cool.
49 lokale inwoners raden aan
Downtown Oakland
A mix of history, art, music and architecture and grit, Downtown is really cool.
While it certainly ignited the food scene here, early origins of Temescal stretch farther back to the days of horses (the original stables—now renovated into shops). Immigrants populated Temescal as did artists from California College of the Arts lured by the lower cost of living and bungalows. It draws the young, hip and former pop-up business. Storefronts along tree-shaded Telegraph and Shattuck are mostly new-gen dedicated to the art of one thing, whether that’s mac n’ cheese, bagels, craft beers, pizza, or doughnuts. That’s how this neighborhood rolls.
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Temescal
While it certainly ignited the food scene here, early origins of Temescal stretch farther back to the days of horses (the original stables—now renovated into shops). Immigrants populated Temescal as did artists from California College of the Arts lured by the lower cost of living and bungalows. It draws the young, hip and former pop-up business. Storefronts along tree-shaded Telegraph and Shattuck are mostly new-gen dedicated to the art of one thing, whether that’s mac n’ cheese, bagels, craft beers, pizza, or doughnuts. That’s how this neighborhood rolls.
Food scene
Here our our favorite places to eat in Oakland! We love food.
Great hipster place a short walk away. Great food and craft cocktails.
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Grand Lake Kitchen - Dimond
2042 MacArthur BlvdGreat hipster place a short walk away. Great food and craft cocktails.
Marzano Restaurant And Bar
4214 Park BoulevardAmazing pizza. Just really delicious.
Good solid local sushi joint. Small but tasty.
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Sushi Park | Japanese Restaurant
4209 Park BlvdGood solid local sushi joint. Small but tasty.
This place is an Oakland staple. Want amazing bbq paired with some local wines and beers? Go here. The outdoor patio is usually full of colorful characters.
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Stay Gold Deli
2635 San Pablo AveThis place is an Oakland staple. Want amazing bbq paired with some local wines and beers? Go here. The outdoor patio is usually full of colorful characters.
Great pizza. Known for their deep dish. We always get the thin. The crust is amazing.
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The Star on Grand
3425 Grand AveGreat pizza. Known for their deep dish. We always get the thin. The crust is amazing.
Delicious natural wine shop with a cool vibe.
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Ordinaire Wine Shop & Wine Bar
3354 Grand AveDelicious natural wine shop with a cool vibe.
Best Laotian food we've ever ate. Little family owned spot you'd never find on your own. Get the Champa Sampler. It is everything.
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Champa Garden
2102 8th AveBest Laotian food we've ever ate. Little family owned spot you'd never find on your own. Get the Champa Sampler. It is everything.
Amazing local BBQ. Can be a bit of a scene. But outside seating and amazing food.
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4505 Burgers & BBQ MacArthur
3506 MacArthur BlvdAmazing local BBQ. Can be a bit of a scene. But outside seating and amazing food.
We haven't ate here yet but the food looks good. And the taproom has really good independent beers from all over California.
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Paulista Brazilian Kitchen and Taproom
4239 Park BlvdWe haven't ate here yet but the food looks good. And the taproom has really good independent beers from all over California.
Sightseeing
Here are a few local places we love going on the weekends.
Beautiful park. From here you can hike all the way up to Joaquin Miller Park. Sausal Creek runs through the park and filled with big redwoods and oak trees.
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Dimond park
3860 Hanly RdBeautiful park. From here you can hike all the way up to Joaquin Miller Park. Sausal Creek runs through the park and filled with big redwoods and oak trees.
The crown jewel of Oakland. Walk or run around the lake (4 miles). Picnic or people watch. This is the place to be on weekends in Oakland.
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Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardThe crown jewel of Oakland. Walk or run around the lake (4 miles). Picnic or people watch. This is the place to be on weekends in Oakland.
Beautiful old theatre. Watch a movie here. Its really cool.
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Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveBeautiful old theatre. Watch a movie here. Its really cool.
Yeah it is designed to be touristy, but it has some really cool places like Heinolds First and Last Chance Saloon where the floor is still crooked from the 1906 earthquake. Do yourself a favor and go down and explore. Have a beer, watch the ferries come in.
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Jack London Square
472 Water StYeah it is designed to be touristy, but it has some really cool places like Heinolds First and Last Chance Saloon where the floor is still crooked from the 1906 earthquake. Do yourself a favor and go down and explore. Have a beer, watch the ferries come in.
Brewery
Tons of amazing local breweries in Oakland. Here are some of our favorites.
Temescal Brewing
4115 Telegraph AveGreat kid-friendly brewery with outdoor seating.
Federation Brewing
420 3rd StCool place with a local vibe. Good beer.
Located on an old army base, this place has amazing views of the city. And good beer. Especially if you like the hops.
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Faction Brewing
2501 Monarch StLocated on an old army base, this place has amazing views of the city. And good beer. Especially if you like the hops.
Local Day Trips
These are a few places we love to go for day trips around the Bay Area.
Point Reyes! Whats not to love? Norcal beaches (bring a sweatshirt). Oysters, Beer, Hiking, Whale Watching, Kayaking, Amazing Food, Local spots. P-Reyes has it all!
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Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes! Whats not to love? Norcal beaches (bring a sweatshirt). Oysters, Beer, Hiking, Whale Watching, Kayaking, Amazing Food, Local spots. P-Reyes has it all!