Guidebook for Oakland
Essentials
1 block from my place, WiFi, Vietnamese sandwiches, healthy smoothies (I'm having a delicious kale, banana and pineapple right now), plenty of tables and couches, nice neighborhood.
Fresh & Best II
1428 Alice St1 block from my place, WiFi, Vietnamese sandwiches, healthy smoothies (I'm having a delicious kale, banana and pineapple right now), plenty of tables and couches, nice neighborhood.
Great cafe with WiFi, really good food menu, hot and cold sandwiches and salads, lower and upper floor with plenty of tables, and an outside seating area which is great for beautiful California days.
55 locals recommend
Farley's East
33 Grand AveGreat cafe with WiFi, really good food menu, hot and cold sandwiches and salads, lower and upper floor with plenty of tables, and an outside seating area which is great for beautiful California days.
I go here a lot. I usually ride my bike which takes about 15 minutes from my place, walking would take close to 30 minutes. It's a little further but you can't beat TJs!
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveI go here a lot. I usually ride my bike which takes about 15 minutes from my place, walking would take close to 30 minutes. It's a little further but you can't beat TJs!
Safeway is one of my go-to groceries spots. It's a little further away, I usually bike which takes 15 minutes. But they have good selection and it's cheap!
62 locals recommend
Safeway
3747 Grand AveSafeway is one of my go-to groceries spots. It's a little further away, I usually bike which takes 15 minutes. But they have good selection and it's cheap!
Great little general store right across the street, with all your basic drink and food items, frozen foods, soups, ice cream, decent wine selection.
Gourmet Market
1549 Jackson StGreat little general store right across the street, with all your basic drink and food items, frozen foods, soups, ice cream, decent wine selection.
Everything Else
Free WiFi--great when you don't feel like having to buy a coffee or food at a cafe. Lots of seating areas. Great selection of books, DVDs, and CDs to check out--and it's all free!!
18 locals recommend
Oakland Public Library
5205 Telegraph AveFree WiFi--great when you don't feel like having to buy a coffee or food at a cafe. Lots of seating areas. Great selection of books, DVDs, and CDs to check out--and it's all free!!
I don't usually go here because it's too expensive, but it's about a 15 minute walk from my apartment, and it's got a great selection of organic food.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlI don't usually go here because it's too expensive, but it's about a 15 minute walk from my apartment, and it's got a great selection of organic food.
The only improv theater in Oakland and coincidentally where I'm a regular member of Liquid Mind, one of two house troupes. Come see me perform Friday and Saturday nights, or take a class!
Pan Theater
120 Frank H. Ogawa PlazaThe only improv theater in Oakland and coincidentally where I'm a regular member of Liquid Mind, one of two house troupes. Come see me perform Friday and Saturday nights, or take a class!
Beautiful art deco theater in downtown Oakland, 10 minute walk from my apartment, home of the East Bay Symphony, and one of my favorites: classic movie night. They'll be showing The Goonies in July!
120 locals recommend
Paramount Theatre
2025 BroadwayBeautiful art deco theater in downtown Oakland, 10 minute walk from my apartment, home of the East Bay Symphony, and one of my favorites: classic movie night. They'll be showing The Goonies in July!
I come to this donation-based yoga studio at least twice/week. They offer many classes during the day, and each one will get you sweating and yet relaxed at the end.
47 locals recommend
Yoga to the People
64 Shattuck SquareI come to this donation-based yoga studio at least twice/week. They offer many classes during the day, and each one will get you sweating and yet relaxed at the end.
Food Scene
Really cool and progressive cafe space, WiFI, public performances on the weekends, small but good selection of healthy food, coffee, beer and wine; they also have an analog section after 5pm--cool!
35 locals recommend
Awaken Cafe & Roasting
1429 BroadwayReally cool and progressive cafe space, WiFI, public performances on the weekends, small but good selection of healthy food, coffee, beer and wine; they also have an analog section after 5pm--cool!
A great theater space in an old warehouse where you can relax on couches or at tables and watch your favorite flick. Extensive menu and they deliver to your seat! Have beer and wine!
156 locals recommend
The New Parkway Theater
474 24th StA great theater space in an old warehouse where you can relax on couches or at tables and watch your favorite flick. Extensive menu and they deliver to your seat! Have beer and wine!
Everett and Jones
126 BroadwayBBQ? Say no more. This is where you're going.
Ghazal Indian Cuisine
131 BroadwayGreat Indian food. Loved their cauliflower curry dish.
Great worker-owned and operated bakery in the hopping Lakeshore district. Grab a muffin, scone, or chocolate chip cookie with your coffee or try a slice of their fresh-baked pizza, new recipe daily.
198 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveGreat worker-owned and operated bakery in the hopping Lakeshore district. Grab a muffin, scone, or chocolate chip cookie with your coffee or try a slice of their fresh-baked pizza, new recipe daily.
Best Chinese food Oakland, located conveniently in Chinatown just blocks away. Their Shan Dong chicken is great, they make their own noodles on site and fresh, and their eggplant dish is also tasty.
71 locals recommend
Shandong Restaurant
328 10th StBest Chinese food Oakland, located conveniently in Chinatown just blocks away. Their Shan Dong chicken is great, they make their own noodles on site and fresh, and their eggplant dish is also tasty.
For a chain, Round Table is probably my favorite. I don't come here a lot because I'm trying to watch the weight, but once in awhile..
11 locals recommend
Round Table Pizza
398 Grand AveFor a chain, Round Table is probably my favorite. I don't come here a lot because I'm trying to watch the weight, but once in awhile..
Arts & Culture
Classic art deco movie house, beautiful interior worth seeing, even have an organ player in the main theater on Friday and Saturday nights before movies.
382 locals recommend
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveClassic art deco movie house, beautiful interior worth seeing, even have an organ player in the main theater on Friday and Saturday nights before movies.
I still haven't been here but want to see a David Mamet play showing there now. Berkeley is great for theater, as well as SF.
127 locals recommend
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
2025 Addison StI still haven't been here but want to see a David Mamet play showing there now. Berkeley is great for theater, as well as SF.
Great theater conveniently located across the Ashby BART station. I've been here many times with my theater class and have seen some great plays.
32 locals recommend
Shotgun Players
1901 Ashby AveGreat theater conveniently located across the Ashby BART station. I've been here many times with my theater class and have seen some great plays.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar, restaurant (great burger), pool hall, and dance club--what more could you ask for? 15 minute walk from my place.
73 locals recommend
Luka's Taproom & Lounge
2221 BroadwayBar, restaurant (great burger), pool hall, and dance club--what more could you ask for? 15 minute walk from my place.
Sightseeing
One of my favorite things to do in the bay: take the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco. It's only $6.25, and you enjoy beautiful views of the Oakland Port, the San Francisco Skyline, and Alcatraz.
73 locals recommend
San Francisco Bay Ferry station
10 Clay StOne of my favorite things to do in the bay: take the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco. It's only $6.25, and you enjoy beautiful views of the Oakland Port, the San Francisco Skyline, and Alcatraz.
Shopping
Great independent book store in Oakland off of Grand, about a 25 minute walk from my place. Huge selection of new and used, and the owners 2 gigantic and fluffy white dogs are usually hanging around.
37 locals recommend
Walden Pond Books
3316 Grand AveGreat independent book store in Oakland off of Grand, about a 25 minute walk from my place. Huge selection of new and used, and the owners 2 gigantic and fluffy white dogs are usually hanging around.