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 StDelicious 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.
Nyum Bai
3340 E 12th StHands down the best Cambodian food I've ever tasted.
Nieves Cinco de Mayo
3340 E 12th StMangonadas + Ice Cream = Heaven
For the Vegans! A popular, neighborhood weekend brunch spot.
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Two Mammas' Vegan Kitchen
3700 E 12th StFor 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.
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Red Bay Coffee Roastery & Coffee Bar (Headquarters)
3098 E 10th StThis 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.
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Reem's California
1419 34th AveDelicious Arab bakery/restaurant with outdoor seating. If you like tart + floral + sweet you have to try their Hibiscus Rose Cooler.
Churros Mexicanos
3340 E 12th StBest churros ever according to me and everyone I know.
Sequoia Diner
3719 MacArthur BlvdOne word. Yum.
Brotzeit beer garden sits on the Brooklyn Basin waterfront. Oakland marine experience and hearty German beer and food.
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Brotzeit Lokal | German Restaurant & Waterfront Biergarten
1000 EmbarcaderoBrotzeit beer garden sits on the Brooklyn Basin waterfront. Oakland marine experience and hearty German beer and food.
La Farine
3411 Fruitvale AveMorning 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 BroadwayWe 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 BlvdCafe 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.
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Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadThere 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.
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Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Otis DriveCrown 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.
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Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardLake 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.
Peralta Hacienda Historical Park
2465 34th AveBonsai 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.
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Lake Merritt Bonsai Gardens
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.
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Ale Industries
3096 E 10th StWe 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.
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Faction Brewing
2501 Monarch StSpectacular 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.
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St. George Spirits
2601 Monarch StA 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.
Lucky 13
1301 Park StOur 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.
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Drake's Brewing Company
1933 Davis StDelicious 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.
Degrees Plato Tap Room Bottle Shop & Kitchen
4251 MacArthur BlvdDelicious 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 AveThis 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.
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Inspiration Point
Inspiration PointOkay, 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
Fruitvale BART Station
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.
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San Francisco Bay Ferry station
10 Clay StThis 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.
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Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StThe museum is great and so are the food truck Fridays.
See a film in this amazing historic theater near Lake Merritt.
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Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveSee a film in this amazing historic theater near Lake Merritt.
See a film in this lovely historic theater in Alameda.
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Alameda Theatre & Cineplex
2317 Central AveSee a film in this lovely historic theater in Alameda.
Pacific Film Archive Theater
Excellent programming at this theater.
Essentials
Alameda Natural Grocery
1650 Park StCardenas Markets
1630 High StKing's Liquors Groceries
3715 International BlvdKing's is a liquor store/convenience store, just around the corner from us.
La Finca Tortilleria Inc.
3801 Foothill BlvdDelicious tortillas and tortilla chips.
International Produce Market
3851 International BlvdProduce 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.
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Nob Hill Foods
1250 Grant RdA 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.
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Farmer Joe's Marketplace
3501 MacArthur BlvdA 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.
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Farmer Joe's Marketplace
3501 MacArthur BlvdThis 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.