Guidebook for Oakland

Shannon
Guidebook for Oakland

Food Scene

Delicious and authentic Mexican food with an emphasis on locally sourced, organic food. Don't confuse this with "health food". It's the perfect combination of rich, flavorful, and healthy. Handmade tortillas, good prices, and a 5 minute walk from our place.
Obelisco Restaurant
3411 E 12th St
Delicious and authentic Mexican food with an emphasis on locally sourced, organic food. Don't confuse this with "health food". It's the perfect combination of rich, flavorful, and healthy. Handmade tortillas, good prices, and a 5 minute walk from our place.
Hands down the best Cambodian food I've ever tasted.
12 locals raden deze aan
Nyum Bai
3340 E 12th St
12 locals raden deze aan
Hands down the best Cambodian food I've ever tasted.
Mangonadas + Ice Cream = Heaven
Nieves Cinco de Mayo
3340 E 12th St
Mangonadas + Ice Cream = Heaven
For the Vegans! A popular, neighborhood weekend brunch spot.
7 locals raden deze aan
Two Mammas' Vegan Kitchen
3700 E 12th St
7 locals raden deze aan
For the Vegans! A popular, neighborhood weekend brunch spot.
This coffee roastery is gorgeous. Coffee bar on the inside + outdoor garden across the street where you can sit and drink your coffee. Delicious lattes.
13 locals raden deze aan
Red Bay Coffee Roastery & Coffee Bar (Headquarters)
3098 E 10th St
13 locals raden deze aan
This coffee roastery is gorgeous. Coffee bar on the inside + outdoor garden across the street where you can sit and drink your coffee. Delicious lattes.
Delicious Arab bakery/restaurant with outdoor seating. If you like tart + floral + sweet you have to try their Hibiscus Rose Cooler.
13 locals raden deze aan
Reem's California
1419 34th Ave
13 locals raden deze aan
Delicious Arab bakery/restaurant with outdoor seating. If you like tart + floral + sweet you have to try their Hibiscus Rose Cooler.
Best churros ever according to me and everyone I know.
Churros Mexicanos
3352 E 12th St
Best churros ever according to me and everyone I know.
One word. Yum.
101 locals raden deze aan
Sequoia Diner
3719 MacArthur Blvd
101 locals raden deze aan
One word. Yum.
Brotzeit beer garden sits on the Brooklyn Basin waterfront. Oakland marine experience and hearty German beer and food.
21 locals raden deze aan
Brotzeit Lokal | German Restaurant & Waterfront Biergarten
1000 Embarcadero
21 locals raden deze aan
Brotzeit beer garden sits on the Brooklyn Basin waterfront. Oakland marine experience and hearty German beer and food.
Morning buns, savory treats, sweet treats. Love this bakery.
70 locals raden deze aan
La Farine
3411 Fruitvale Ave
70 locals raden deze aan
Morning buns, savory treats, sweet treats. Love this bakery.
We love Slainte and its owner, Jackie. She's one of our favorite people. She has created an Irish Pub smack dab in the middle of Oakland. Go there for food, drinks, live traditional Irish music (if you're lucky to catch it), or trivia night. Warm and homey and Guinness, specially tapped to recreate the taste of Guinness fresh from the Brewery in Dublin vs. flown over the ocean.
Sláinte Oakland
131 Broadway
We love Slainte and its owner, Jackie. She's one of our favorite people. She has created an Irish Pub smack dab in the middle of Oakland. Go there for food, drinks, live traditional Irish music (if you're lucky to catch it), or trivia night. Warm and homey and Guinness, specially tapped to recreate the taste of Guinness fresh from the Brewery in Dublin vs. flown over the ocean.
Cafe El Patio is a neighborhood cafe. Delicious Honduran coffee from the owner's family farm. Breakfast/lunch items. Yum.
Cafe El Patio
4030 B International Blvd
Cafe El Patio is a neighborhood cafe. Delicious Honduran coffee from the owner's family farm. Breakfast/lunch items. Yum.

Parks & Nature

There are many staging areas for this large park, our favorites are Moon Gate and the Redwood Regional main entrance. There are easy hikes and more advanced hikes and everything inbetween.
373 locals raden deze aan
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood Road
373 locals raden deze aan
There are many staging areas for this large park, our favorites are Moon Gate and the Redwood Regional main entrance. There are easy hikes and more advanced hikes and everything inbetween.
Crown Memorial State Beach offers so much. Walk or run along the bay and enjoy beautiful views of San Francisco, fly a kite, windsurf, hang out on the beach, or pack a picnic and watch the sunset over the bay. Crab Cove visitors center is fun for kids and adult alike...and it's free.
106 locals raden deze aan
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Otis Drive
106 locals raden deze aan
Crown Memorial State Beach offers so much. Walk or run along the bay and enjoy beautiful views of San Francisco, fly a kite, windsurf, hang out on the beach, or pack a picnic and watch the sunset over the bay. Crab Cove visitors center is fun for kids and adult alike...and it's free.
Lake Merritt is a great place to walk/run, BBQ, or picnic with friends. Watch out for duck poop, though, this is a wildlife sanctuary! Check out the gardens, including the Bonsai garden. There are many restaurants and cafes surrounding the lake and on Saturdays there is the Lake Merritt Farmer's Market.
751 locals raden deze aan
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt Boulevard
751 locals raden deze aan
Lake Merritt is a great place to walk/run, BBQ, or picnic with friends. Watch out for duck poop, though, this is a wildlife sanctuary! Check out the gardens, including the Bonsai garden. There are many restaurants and cafes surrounding the lake and on Saturdays there is the Lake Merritt Farmer's Market.
7 locals raden deze aan
Peralta Hacienda Historical Park
2465 34th Ave
7 locals raden deze aan
Bonsai trees from forever-ago. This place is so underrecognized, in my humble opinion. Beautiful collection of carefully curated trees. I was shocked the first time I came through and saw that one of the trees dated back to the 1800s.
14 locals raden deze aan
Lake Merritt Bonsai Gardens
14 locals raden deze aan
Bonsai trees from forever-ago. This place is so underrecognized, in my humble opinion. Beautiful collection of carefully curated trees. I was shocked the first time I came through and saw that one of the trees dated back to the 1800s.

Drinks & Nightlife

We love Ale Industries and it's so close to our home. You can bring your own food! The Guadalajara taco truck and restaurant are within walking distance.
10 locals raden deze aan
Ale Industries
3096 E 10th St
10 locals raden deze aan
We love Ale Industries and it's so close to our home. You can bring your own food! The Guadalajara taco truck and restaurant are within walking distance.
Spectacular views of the Bay and San Francisco from the old Alameda Naval Base. Great beer. Dog friendly.
62 locals raden deze aan
Faction Brewing
2501 Monarch St
62 locals raden deze aan
Spectacular views of the Bay and San Francisco from the old Alameda Naval Base. Great beer. Dog friendly.
A local distillery that produces my favorite gin, St. George Terroir. It is like a sip of Mt. Tam + Christmas. The distillery tour and tasting is worth your time and money. Head to Faction or Rock Wall afterward for a drink and a beautiful view of The Bay and San Francisco.
65 locals raden deze aan
St. George Spirits
2601 Monarch St
65 locals raden deze aan
A local distillery that produces my favorite gin, St. George Terroir. It is like a sip of Mt. Tam + Christmas. The distillery tour and tasting is worth your time and money. Head to Faction or Rock Wall afterward for a drink and a beautiful view of The Bay and San Francisco.
Our favorite dive.
58 locals raden deze aan
Lucky 13
1301 Park St
58 locals raden deze aan
Our favorite dive.
Delicious beer, food truck, dogs and kids allowed. A nice place to spend a sunny day outside on the patio or inside the cool, cavernous brewery itself.
22 locals raden deze aan
Drake's Brewing Company
1933 Davis St
22 locals raden deze aan
Delicious beer, food truck, dogs and kids allowed. A nice place to spend a sunny day outside on the patio or inside the cool, cavernous brewery itself.
Delicious food and beer.
40 locals raden deze aan
Degrees Plato Tap Room Bottle Shop & Kitchen
4251 MacArthur Blvd
40 locals raden deze aan
Delicious food and beer.
This local bar is one of my favorites. Generous pours, sports on TV, outdoor patio, friendly bartenders, and the longest bar in town.
Aloha Club
952 Fruitvale Ave
This local bar is one of my favorites. Generous pours, sports on TV, outdoor patio, friendly bartenders, and the longest bar in town.

Sightseeing

Okay, okay they say this point is in Contra Costa county but the point of entry is in Alameda County and it is very much an Alameda County destination in my mind. Beautiful 360 degree views if you make the full trip. A moderate hike.
10 locals raden deze aan
Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point
10 locals raden deze aan
Okay, okay they say this point is in Contra Costa county but the point of entry is in Alameda County and it is very much an Alameda County destination in my mind. Beautiful 360 degree views if you make the full trip. A moderate hike.

Getting Around

29 locals raden deze aan
Fruitvale BART Station
29 locals raden deze aan
This is such a fun way to travel to San Francisco from Oakland and back. Get off at the Ferry Building in SF and hit the town. You can get to Jack London Square by taking BART to Lake Merritt Station or 12th Street Station. If you exit at Lake Merritt, you can walk through Chinatown on your way to Jack London Square.
73 locals raden deze aan
San Francisco Bay Ferry station
10 Clay St
73 locals raden deze aan
This is such a fun way to travel to San Francisco from Oakland and back. Get off at the Ferry Building in SF and hit the town. You can get to Jack London Square by taking BART to Lake Merritt Station or 12th Street Station. If you exit at Lake Merritt, you can walk through Chinatown on your way to Jack London Square.

Arts & Culture

The museum is great and so are the food truck Fridays.
547 locals raden deze aan
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St
547 locals raden deze aan
The museum is great and so are the food truck Fridays.
See a film in this amazing historic theater near Lake Merritt.
382 locals raden deze aan
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand Ave
382 locals raden deze aan
See a film in this amazing historic theater near Lake Merritt.
See a film in this lovely historic theater in Alameda.
87 locals raden deze aan
Alameda Theatre & Cineplex
2317 Central Ave
87 locals raden deze aan
See a film in this lovely historic theater in Alameda.
Excellent programming at this theater.
9 locals raden deze aan
Pacific Film Archive Theater
9 locals raden deze aan
Excellent programming at this theater.

Essentials

17 locals raden deze aan
Alameda Natural Grocery
1650 Park St
17 locals raden deze aan
37 locals raden deze aan
Cardenas Markets
1630 High St
37 locals raden deze aan
King's is a liquor store/convenience store, just around the corner from us.
King's Liquors Groceries
3715 International Blvd
King's is a liquor store/convenience store, just around the corner from us.
Delicious tortillas and tortilla chips.
La Finca Tortilleria Inc.
3801 Foothill Blvd
Delicious tortillas and tortilla chips.
Produce market just around the corner from us.
International Produce Market
3851 International Blvd
Produce market just around the corner from us.
A quick trip over the Fruitvale bridge from our place. A grocery store with all of the essentials. There is a Peet's coffee inside the store and it has great views of the estuary and wifi.
56 locals raden deze aan
Nob Hill Foods
1250 Grant Rd
56 locals raden deze aan
A quick trip over the Fruitvale bridge from our place. A grocery store with all of the essentials. There is a Peet's coffee inside the store and it has great views of the estuary and wifi.
A short drive from our place in the Dimond District. This market has almost any grocery item you could need. Organic produce and a deli.
230 locals raden deze aan
Farmer Joe's Marketplace
3501 MacArthur Blvd
230 locals raden deze aan
A short drive from our place in the Dimond District. This market has almost any grocery item you could need. Organic produce and a deli.
This Farmer Joe's is closer to our house than the one on Fruitvale, it's smaller in size so may not have as many items as it's larger sister store. A short drive from our place on the corner of 35th/MacArthur.
230 locals raden deze aan
Farmer Joe's Marketplace
3501 MacArthur Blvd
230 locals raden deze aan
This Farmer Joe's is closer to our house than the one on Fruitvale, it's smaller in size so may not have as many items as it's larger sister store. A short drive from our place on the corner of 35th/MacArthur.