Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
Excellent coffee, delicious snacks, and a lovely atmosphere. Just a few minutes away on foot.
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Haddon Hill Cafe
504 Wesley AveExcellent coffee, delicious snacks, and a lovely atmosphere. Just a few minutes away on foot.
A neighborhood staple. Ownership recently changed hands, and the new owners have upgraded the quality of the pizza, which is absolutely delicious, especially the Mushroom Special. They serve exquisite organic salads and always have several great beers on tap. Outside seating available for warm nights.
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Leaning Tower
498 Wesley AveA neighborhood staple. Ownership recently changed hands, and the new owners have upgraded the quality of the pizza, which is absolutely delicious, especially the Mushroom Special. They serve exquisite organic salads and always have several great beers on tap. Outside seating available for warm nights.
Sidebar has delicious food, great cocktails, and a lively atmosphere. The bar is the best seat in the house.
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Sidebar
542 Grand AveSidebar has delicious food, great cocktails, and a lively atmosphere. The bar is the best seat in the house.
Grand Lake Kitchen is a gourmet deli, market, and restaurant offering delicious and locally sourced meals in a casual space. Open all day, every day. They recently renovated the space next to them the make the dining area bigger and installed a lovely bar. They are a very popular local spot and are well-known for their brunch. They also have a happy hour.
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Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt
576 Grand AveGrand Lake Kitchen is a gourmet deli, market, and restaurant offering delicious and locally sourced meals in a casual space. Open all day, every day. They recently renovated the space next to them the make the dining area bigger and installed a lovely bar. They are a very popular local spot and are well-known for their brunch. They also have a happy hour.
Nothing beats Arizmendi for fresh baguettes and other baked goods like the Sweet Sally, Cherry Corn Scone, and focaccia. They have a daily seasonal pizza which you can buy by the slice, the pie, or half-baked to take and finish at home. They also have a limited selection of high-quality cheeses, house-made dips, to-go salads, and olives.
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Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveNothing beats Arizmendi for fresh baguettes and other baked goods like the Sweet Sally, Cherry Corn Scone, and focaccia. They have a daily seasonal pizza which you can buy by the slice, the pie, or half-baked to take and finish at home. They also have a limited selection of high-quality cheeses, house-made dips, to-go salads, and olives.
Go to Penrose for the beautifully designed dining room, gorgeous bar, and delicious food and cocktails. Penrose does a classic Oakland take on California-style cuisine with its wood-fired oven, seasonal ingredients, and casual yet refined style. For a simple meal go early, grab a seat at the bar, and have a cocktail with one of their starters. It can get pricey here, but it's the perfect place for a special evening. Good for brunch too.
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Penrose
3311 Grand AveGo to Penrose for the beautifully designed dining room, gorgeous bar, and delicious food and cocktails. Penrose does a classic Oakland take on California-style cuisine with its wood-fired oven, seasonal ingredients, and casual yet refined style. For a simple meal go early, grab a seat at the bar, and have a cocktail with one of their starters. It can get pricey here, but it's the perfect place for a special evening. Good for brunch too.
Grand Fare is a great place to pick up locally made charcuterie, seasonal salads, sandwiches, pasta, rotisserie chicken, chocolate, coffee drinks, kombucha on tap, beer, and wine. You can get food to-go, but don't miss their beautiful and spacious outdoor patio where you can linger for as long as you want. There is also a lovely flower market.
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Grand Fare Market
3265 Grand AveGrand Fare is a great place to pick up locally made charcuterie, seasonal salads, sandwiches, pasta, rotisserie chicken, chocolate, coffee drinks, kombucha on tap, beer, and wine. You can get food to-go, but don't miss their beautiful and spacious outdoor patio where you can linger for as long as you want. There is also a lovely flower market.
The beef noodle soup is the thing to get here. They have a full menu of Vietnamese and pho dishes. No atmosphere, perfunctory service, but they are open late and have big portions.
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Pho Anh Dao
280 E 18th StThe beef noodle soup is the thing to get here. They have a full menu of Vietnamese and pho dishes. No atmosphere, perfunctory service, but they are open late and have big portions.
Portal has a lively and usually crowded outdoor patio, an interesting beer selection, wine, cocktails, and food. Also good for brunch.
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Portal Oakland
1611 2nd AvePortal has a lively and usually crowded outdoor patio, an interesting beer selection, wine, cocktails, and food. Also good for brunch.
Arts & Culture
Take a walk around the Lake and check out the Oakland Museum of California, which features artifacts & interactive displays in a modern building focusing on state art, history & science. Get your Oakland groove on at "Friday Nights @ OMCA" with food trucks, local beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages at the Blue Oak beer garden, live music, and dance lessons. Get creative at family-friendly drop-in workshops, and enjoy special guest performers and events.
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Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StTake a walk around the Lake and check out the Oakland Museum of California, which features artifacts & interactive displays in a modern building focusing on state art, history & science. Get your Oakland groove on at "Friday Nights @ OMCA" with food trucks, local beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages at the Blue Oak beer garden, live music, and dance lessons. Get creative at family-friendly drop-in workshops, and enjoy special guest performers and events.
Getting Around
The Lake Merritt BART station is about a 25 minute walk away, but it is a pleasant walk through the neighborhood and then along the path next to Lake Merritt.
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Lake Merritt Station
800 Oak StThe Lake Merritt BART station is about a 25 minute walk away, but it is a pleasant walk through the neighborhood and then along the path next to Lake Merritt.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveA short 15 minute walk through the neighborhood.
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlA 30 minute walk away around the Lake.
Lucky
1750 Fulton StA 10 minute walk away for grocery basics.
A good laundromat with an attached cafe for coffee and sandwiches while you wait.
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Woody's Cafe
1841 Park BlvdA good laundromat with an attached cafe for coffee and sandwiches while you wait.
Parks & Nature
A 25 minute walk, first around the Lake and then through the Grand Ave business district. The Rose Garden features hundreds of varieties of roses, a reflecting pool, benches, and a small grassy area for picnics or relaxing with a book.
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Morcom Rose Garden
700 Jean StA 25 minute walk, first around the Lake and then through the Grand Ave business district. The Rose Garden features hundreds of varieties of roses, a reflecting pool, benches, and a small grassy area for picnics or relaxing with a book.
Easy to access park with picnicking areas and trails located in the hills east of Oakland. The park contains the largest remaining natural stand of coastal redwood found in the East Bay.
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Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadEasy to access park with picnicking areas and trails located in the hills east of Oakland. The park contains the largest remaining natural stand of coastal redwood found in the East Bay.
The subtle beauty of the trails and surrounding landscape will appeal to everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Trail runners will enjoy experiencing the whole range of the park--steep climbs through chaparral, long stretches beneath the lofty tree cover along the stream, and open trails along the ridges. You can enjoy a casual stroll through the groves of giant trees, or do a more serious hike into the canyon. Hikers of all abilities will enjoy winding through redwoods, oaks, and eucalyptus, stopping to take in sweeping views from both sides of the park.
East Ridge Trail
East Ridge TrailThe subtle beauty of the trails and surrounding landscape will appeal to everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Trail runners will enjoy experiencing the whole range of the park--steep climbs through chaparral, long stretches beneath the lofty tree cover along the stream, and open trails along the ridges. You can enjoy a casual stroll through the groves of giant trees, or do a more serious hike into the canyon. Hikers of all abilities will enjoy winding through redwoods, oaks, and eucalyptus, stopping to take in sweeping views from both sides of the park.
This is a generally very private beach that gives you a spectacular view of the Bay Bridge from your spot on the sand. You are blocked from the wind and the water is calm enough to swim in. Treasure Island is an odd place to check out and explore, with fantastic views and not much else. Park for free at Clipper Cove Way and walk back up the hill to access the beach. A fun day adventure, and there are also several wineries open for tastings on the weekend. Note that you must go over the Bay Bridge to get there and so do not try to go during morning rush hour.
Clipper Cove Beach
8442 Treasure Island RdThis is a generally very private beach that gives you a spectacular view of the Bay Bridge from your spot on the sand. You are blocked from the wind and the water is calm enough to swim in. Treasure Island is an odd place to check out and explore, with fantastic views and not much else. Park for free at Clipper Cove Way and walk back up the hill to access the beach. A fun day adventure, and there are also several wineries open for tastings on the weekend. Note that you must go over the Bay Bridge to get there and so do not try to go during morning rush hour.
Joaquin Miller Park
3300 Joaquin Miller RdCity view in the redwoods.
Bay and SF views inspiring Journey's song: Lights (unconfirmed)
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Middle Harbor Shoreline Park
2777 Middle Harbor RdBay and SF views inspiring Journey's song: Lights (unconfirmed)
Entertainment & Activities
This restored 1926 movie palace with a Wurlitzer organ & themed auditoriums, screens first-run films and is about a 15 minute walk away.
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Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveThis restored 1926 movie palace with a Wurlitzer organ & themed auditoriums, screens first-run films and is about a 15 minute walk away.
Drinks & Nightlife
A chill hangout offering happy hours, an outdoor patio, pool table, and classic arcade games.
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Heart & Dagger Saloon
504 Lake Park AveA chill hangout offering happy hours, an outdoor patio, pool table, and classic arcade games.
Baggy's By the Lake
288 E 18th StClassic dive bar.
This is a great community gathering spot to pick up a bottle of wine, or sit and drink a bottle of wine! In addition to wine, they also offer beer, specialty sodas and a small retail selection of local, artisanal foodstuffs. The owners, Stevie and Josiah, are friendly and knowledgable, and are happy to help you find the perfect bottle.
24 lokale inwoners raden aan
Bay Grape
376 Grand AveThis is a great community gathering spot to pick up a bottle of wine, or sit and drink a bottle of wine! In addition to wine, they also offer beer, specialty sodas and a small retail selection of local, artisanal foodstuffs. The owners, Stevie and Josiah, are friendly and knowledgable, and are happy to help you find the perfect bottle.
Room 389
389 Grand AveCocktails, good beer on tap, sports (without sports bar vibe)