Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
An old bank converted into a bright and airy coffee joint. Super hip crowd — and super strong coffee! Yummy baked goods all day, and in the morning they make waffles to order. Best thing is it's only 2 blocks away! Opens at 7 a.m.
173 locals recommend
Blue Bottle Coffee
300 Webster StAn old bank converted into a bright and airy coffee joint. Super hip crowd — and super strong coffee! Yummy baked goods all day, and in the morning they make waffles to order. Best thing is it's only 2 blocks away! Opens at 7 a.m.
Little hole in the wall coffee and espresso joint, open 7a-5p. Local vibes and friendly service!
40 locals recommend
Subrosa Coffee
419 40th StLittle hole in the wall coffee and espresso joint, open 7a-5p. Local vibes and friendly service!
For a casual, quick, delicious and high-quality burger. And yummy gourmet shakes!
59 locals recommend
Trueburger
146 Grand AveFor a casual, quick, delicious and high-quality burger. And yummy gourmet shakes!
Super local vibe with farm-to-table fare. Gourmet pizzas, pasta, fish, veggies. Plus delicious cocktails. Crowded almost every night, but worth the wait, and if you go early (5:30/5:45), you'll likely sit right down. If you get lucky, you'll get a spot at the (first-come, first-served) bar, where you can order food, too.
This is also a great place for morning coffee and a sit-down breakfast! Closed for lunch, though.
237 locals recommend
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveSuper local vibe with farm-to-table fare. Gourmet pizzas, pasta, fish, veggies. Plus delicious cocktails. Crowded almost every night, but worth the wait, and if you go early (5:30/5:45), you'll likely sit right down. If you get lucky, you'll get a spot at the (first-come, first-served) bar, where you can order food, too.
This is also a great place for morning coffee and a sit-down breakfast! Closed for lunch, though.
Healthy Mexican in a bright and airy space, much nicer than your average taqueria. Yummy agua frescas and a delightful little patio out back. Almost always busy, but the line moves quick!
173 locals recommend
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph AveHealthy Mexican in a bright and airy space, much nicer than your average taqueria. Yummy agua frescas and a delightful little patio out back. Almost always busy, but the line moves quick!
Yum yum yum, Burmese food. We love the pumpkin curry and coconut-infused rice. Always crowded for dinner, lunchtime is a better bet. You can also use the Caviar app for takeout.
458 locals recommend
Burma Superstar
309 Clement StYum yum yum, Burmese food. We love the pumpkin curry and coconut-infused rice. Always crowded for dinner, lunchtime is a better bet. You can also use the Caviar app for takeout.
Local brewery, hip vibe with a large outdoor area. Love sitting outside with a beer. Fresh popcorn on offer + food carts, if you're hungry!
74 locals recommend
Temescal Brewing
4115 Telegraph AveLocal brewery, hip vibe with a large outdoor area. Love sitting outside with a beer. Fresh popcorn on offer + food carts, if you're hungry!
Korean BBQ joint — we take out from here all the time! All the traditional Korean dishes on offer. And only a few blocks away. Great value.
21 locals recommend
Ohgane
3915 BroadwayKorean BBQ joint — we take out from here all the time! All the traditional Korean dishes on offer. And only a few blocks away. Great value.
Yummy Vietnamese pho and meat/rice dishes. Budget-friendly, cheap, and so close!
16 locals recommend
Monster Phở
360 BroadwayYummy Vietnamese pho and meat/rice dishes. Budget-friendly, cheap, and so close!
With a dozen or so different mac n' cheese offerings, this place is all the rage. Admittedly, we sort of don't get it, but maybe that's because we eat so much mac n' cheese in our household, it's the last thing we want to have when we eat out. Still, there's always a line out the door, so others must feel differently!
149 locals recommend
Homeroom
400 40th StWith a dozen or so different mac n' cheese offerings, this place is all the rage. Admittedly, we sort of don't get it, but maybe that's because we eat so much mac n' cheese in our household, it's the last thing we want to have when we eat out. Still, there's always a line out the door, so others must feel differently!
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph AveTake out fried-chicken sandos. 'Nuff said.
If you're a Peet's die-hard, there's one just up the hill. It's a 7-minute-ish walk.
108 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
3401 Fruitvale AveIf you're a Peet's die-hard, there's one just up the hill. It's a 7-minute-ish walk.
Yummy French bakery. Croissants, scones, tarts, muffins, yummy yummy yummy.
24 locals recommend
La Farine Bakery
4094 Piedmont AveYummy French bakery. Croissants, scones, tarts, muffins, yummy yummy yummy.
Just a block away, this friendly neighborhood joint has a delicious bratwurst and meatloaf. There are also some good vegetarian options and wonderful salads on the menu as well as a long list of locally brewed beers.
34 locals recommend
Hog's Apothecary
375 40th StJust a block away, this friendly neighborhood joint has a delicious bratwurst and meatloaf. There are also some good vegetarian options and wonderful salads on the menu as well as a long list of locally brewed beers.
Drinks & Nightlife
The nabe's go-to local dive bar. Local vibe and totally unpretentious.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-avenue-oakland
18 locals recommend
The Avenue
4822 Telegraph AveThe nabe's go-to local dive bar. Local vibe and totally unpretentious.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-avenue-oakland
Famous ramen joint where you can get really good, errrrr, ramen. But we really like the upscale bar, a separate space attached to the restaurant. It has a hip, cosmopolitan vibe and the drinks are surprising and deelish.
112 locals recommend
Ramen Shop
5812 College AveFamous ramen joint where you can get really good, errrrr, ramen. But we really like the upscale bar, a separate space attached to the restaurant. It has a hip, cosmopolitan vibe and the drinks are surprising and deelish.
Kona Club
4401 Piedmont AveA local tiki bar, if tiki's your thing!
Tapas bar in a bistro-like setting. Big windows open out onto the street. More of a happy hour/after dinner joint — not open super late.
25 locals recommend
Bar Cesar
4039 Piedmont AveTapas bar in a bistro-like setting. Big windows open out onto the street. More of a happy hour/after dinner joint — not open super late.
Local tavern, with pub food on offer. Known for the taxidermy and quirky decor.
8 locals recommend
The Lodge
3758 Piedmont AveLocal tavern, with pub food on offer. Known for the taxidermy and quirky decor.
The Barrel Room
415 Sansome StreetFor the winos! Small plates and intimate setting.
Shopping
A smattering of local boutiques, including Esqueleto, Marisa Mason, Ali Golden, Baggu, and vintage art and clothes stores. If you're into locally-made stuff, you must stop by. We call it "hipster alley". Fittingly, there's a walk-in barber shop, too.
17 locals recommend
Alley 49
Alley 49A smattering of local boutiques, including Esqueleto, Marisa Mason, Ali Golden, Baggu, and vintage art and clothes stores. If you're into locally-made stuff, you must stop by. We call it "hipster alley". Fittingly, there's a walk-in barber shop, too.
I love this local boutique. Lots of independent labels, a bright and airy space, super friendly owner.
Dandelion Post
421 40th StI love this local boutique. Lots of independent labels, a bright and airy space, super friendly owner.
Local independent novelty store with every magazine title imaginable. I get lost in here for hours!
15 locals recommend
Issues
4198 Piedmont AveLocal independent novelty store with every magazine title imaginable. I get lost in here for hours!
Sunday morning farmers market with food stalls and live music. We go most weekends!
96 locals recommend
Temescal Farmer's Market
5300 Claremont AveSunday morning farmers market with food stalls and live music. We go most weekends!
Essentials
Piedmont Grocery Co
4038 Piedmont AveSafeway
6310 College Ave
CVS
2655 Telegraph AveTrader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveBerkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StWhole Foods Market
230 Bay PlGetting Around
BART trains in every direction, including to/from San Francisco. It's a major hub, so you never need to wait too long for trains. If you arrive late at night, I'd call a Lyft or get in a cab (always lined up along the 40th St. entrance).
164 locals recommend
MacArthur Station
555 40th StBART trains in every direction, including to/from San Francisco. It's a major hub, so you never need to wait too long for trains. If you arrive late at night, I'd call a Lyft or get in a cab (always lined up along the 40th St. entrance).
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
3001 Shattuck AveA great option for last-minute and very affordable car rentals. They're not real relics — the cars on offer are of very decent (though not immaculate) quality.
9 locals recommend
Rent-A-Relic
5501 Telegraph AveA great option for last-minute and very affordable car rentals. They're not real relics — the cars on offer are of very decent (though not immaculate) quality.
Parks & Nature
Good park/playground for kiddos. Adjacent to Temescal farmers market on Sunday mornings.
23 locals recommend
Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt
5500 Claremont AveGood park/playground for kiddos. Adjacent to Temescal farmers market on Sunday mornings.
Great park/playground for kiddos, in a quarry, in a very upscale neighborhood.
11 locals recommend
Dracena Quarry Park
130 Dracena AveGreat park/playground for kiddos, in a quarry, in a very upscale neighborhood.
Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak BlvdBerkeley Marina
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadRoberts Regional Recreation Area
10570 Skyline BlvdMount Diablo
Arts & Culture
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StBerkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
2155 Center St