Guidebook for Oakland
Essentials
Interesting and affordable grocery store chain. Unique dry goods. Great for pre-packaged items, beer, wine, & liquor. Produce is fine, but not spectacular.
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveInteresting and affordable grocery store chain. Unique dry goods. Great for pre-packaged items, beer, wine, & liquor. Produce is fine, but not spectacular.
Safeway
3747 Grand AveStandard chain grocery store.
Food Scene
For those who care about coffee. Truly delicious espresso drinks. Chai and good pastries, too. Small, storefront space with outdoor seating and almost-view of Lake Merritt. Pleasant 1 mi walk.
30 locals recommend
Haddon Hill Cafe
504 Wesley AveFor those who care about coffee. Truly delicious espresso drinks. Chai and good pastries, too. Small, storefront space with outdoor seating and almost-view of Lake Merritt. Pleasant 1 mi walk.
The only snob-worthy coffee on Grand or Lakeshore. Great espresso drinks. Outdoor seating in back. Cafe closes at 2. Attached to a (pricey, but tasty) "new Italian"-ish restaurant w/ good cocktails.
194 locals recommend
Sister
3308 Grand AveThe only snob-worthy coffee on Grand or Lakeshore. Great espresso drinks. Outdoor seating in back. Cafe closes at 2. Attached to a (pricey, but tasty) "new Italian"-ish restaurant w/ good cocktails.
Starbucks
3347 Lakeshore AveYep, we have one.
Better than Starbucks! Stronger espresso drinks (one shot instead of two!) for less $. Now a major chain, the original Peet's started in Berkeley.
259 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine StBetter than Starbucks! Stronger espresso drinks (one shot instead of two!) for less $. Now a major chain, the original Peet's started in Berkeley.
One of the neighborhood's best kept secrets – this mostly Laotian restaurant is a thriving hole-in-the-wall with *GREAT* food. Friendly, casual atmosphere, super-cheap beer, table seating or bar.
70 locals recommend
Champa Garden
2102 8th AveOne of the neighborhood's best kept secrets – this mostly Laotian restaurant is a thriving hole-in-the-wall with *GREAT* food. Friendly, casual atmosphere, super-cheap beer, table seating or bar.
Delicious California-style Italian place. For a fancy night out. Try the desert flights.
52 locals recommend
Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar
4238 Park BlvdDelicious California-style Italian place. For a fancy night out. Try the desert flights.
A cut above the usual thai restaurant. Fresh, local ingredients often from the Farmer's Market. Very tasty dishes in a bright, cheerful interior.
28 locals recommend
Neecha Thai Cuisine
3236 Grand AveA cut above the usual thai restaurant. Fresh, local ingredients often from the Farmer's Market. Very tasty dishes in a bright, cheerful interior.
The best brunch in town! Fresh, deli-inspired American fare. Sit outside with a view of Lake Merritt. You might have to wait a bit, but pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the people-watching.
117 locals recommend
Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt
576 Grand AveThe best brunch in town! Fresh, deli-inspired American fare. Sit outside with a view of Lake Merritt. You might have to wait a bit, but pour yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy the people-watching.
AWESOME bakery + pizza. Grab a slice of truly creative pizza (toppings change daily), or a reasonably-priced but exceedingly fresh salad at this amazing co-op. Fabulous bread and pastries, too.
198 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveAWESOME bakery + pizza. Grab a slice of truly creative pizza (toppings change daily), or a reasonably-priced but exceedingly fresh salad at this amazing co-op. Fabulous bread and pastries, too.
One of our favorites! Not your average Mexican restaurant. Re-imagined traditional favorites, fresh local ingredients. Like spicy? Try the Margarita Picosa. Hip, casual atmosphere. Plenty of parking.
29 locals recommend
NIDO Kitchen & Bar
444 Oak StOne of our favorites! Not your average Mexican restaurant. Re-imagined traditional favorites, fresh local ingredients. Like spicy? Try the Margarita Picosa. Hip, casual atmosphere. Plenty of parking.
Gorgeous restaurant and bar in restored downtown Floral Depot. For a fancy night out, or just an elegant happy hour. Delicious Californian cuisine, fabulous cocktails.
63 locals recommend
Flora
1900 Telegraph AveGorgeous restaurant and bar in restored downtown Floral Depot. For a fancy night out, or just an elegant happy hour. Delicious Californian cuisine, fabulous cocktails.
Looks like just any old Greek restaurant on the outside, but Ikaros is a cut above. Very fresh, flavorful, affordable, nice wait staff, totally relaxed, casual environment. Try the Skordalia w/beets!
12 locals recommend
Ikaros Greek Restaurant
3268 Grand AveLooks like just any old Greek restaurant on the outside, but Ikaros is a cut above. Very fresh, flavorful, affordable, nice wait staff, totally relaxed, casual environment. Try the Skordalia w/beets!
Drinks & Nightlife
The best cocktails *IN THE WORLD*! We recommend sitting at the bar and watching the "mixologists" do their thing. Casual, but sophisticated bar food & entrees. Diverse local crowd.
58 locals recommend
Sidebar
542 Grand AveThe best cocktails *IN THE WORLD*! We recommend sitting at the bar and watching the "mixologists" do their thing. Casual, but sophisticated bar food & entrees. Diverse local crowd.
An Oakland Institution. Brush up your Sinatra: Piano player Rod Dibble plays standards & showtunes while you sing along, Tues – Sat. Dive bar, cash only, best STEAK DINNER for your money.
60 locals recommend
The Alley | Piano Bar & Restaurant
3325 Grand AveAn Oakland Institution. Brush up your Sinatra: Piano player Rod Dibble plays standards & showtunes while you sing along, Tues – Sat. Dive bar, cash only, best STEAK DINNER for your money.
A biker bar that is somehow diverse and welcoming, as only an Oakland biker bar could be. Delicious beer on tap and a sweet backyard beer garden.
52 locals recommend
Heart & Dagger Saloon
504 Lake Park AveA biker bar that is somehow diverse and welcoming, as only an Oakland biker bar could be. Delicious beer on tap and a sweet backyard beer garden.
Arts & Culture
Voted Best Movie Theatre in the East Bay! Gorgeously restored movie palace, great selection of blockbuster + art films, and an organist plays a giant Wurlitzer before evening performances on Fri & Sat
382 locals recommend
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveVoted Best Movie Theatre in the East Bay! Gorgeously restored movie palace, great selection of blockbuster + art films, and an organist plays a giant Wurlitzer before evening performances on Fri & Sat
Shopping
One of the area's best! Extensive, well-curated selection of new & used books and records. Particularly good for art books and philosophy. Nice selection of notebooks and postcards, too.
37 locals recommend
Walden Pond Books
3316 Grand AveOne of the area's best! Extensive, well-curated selection of new & used books and records. Particularly good for art books and philosophy. Nice selection of notebooks and postcards, too.
Interesting and affordable boutique featuring the unique work of local artists. Lots of awesomely unique and affordable jewelry. Free gift wrap and friendly sales people. We shop here a lot!
14 locals recommend
Urban Indigo
20405 Lakeshore AveInteresting and affordable boutique featuring the unique work of local artists. Lots of awesomely unique and affordable jewelry. Free gift wrap and friendly sales people. We shop here a lot!
Sightseeing
You can rent boats to paddle on your own, or just take a walk around it. Lake Merritt is one of the prettiest places around, with lots of restaurants and shops on the Grand Ave side to explore.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardYou can rent boats to paddle on your own, or just take a walk around it. Lake Merritt is one of the prettiest places around, with lots of restaurants and shops on the Grand Ave side to explore.