Guidebook for Oakland

Samantha
Guidebook for Oakland

Food Scene

The best breakfast we've found in the neighborhood. Simple and excellent.
22 locals recommend
Caffe 817
817 Washington St
22 locals recommend
The best breakfast we've found in the neighborhood. Simple and excellent.
Mexican restaurant. They bring you out chips with a trio of delicious salsas when you arrive. All the food we've tried has been great. Big portions.
El Gusano
1015 Clay St
Mexican restaurant. They bring you out chips with a trio of delicious salsas when you arrive. All the food we've tried has been great. Big portions.
The Tom Kha soup (coconut curry) is our favorite here.
9 locals recommend
Siam Bay | Authentic Thai Cuisine
1009 Clay St
9 locals recommend
The Tom Kha soup (coconut curry) is our favorite here.
A pretty cool little coffee shop at the bottom of the tribune tower.
12 locals recommend
modern coffee
411 13th St
12 locals recommend
A pretty cool little coffee shop at the bottom of the tribune tower.
New restaurant. Good, original food but a bit pricey.
10 locals recommend
Tribune Tavern
401 13th St
10 locals recommend
New restaurant. Good, original food but a bit pricey.
Caribbean food. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had!
27 locals recommend
Miss Ollie's
901 Washington St
27 locals recommend
Caribbean food. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had!
Good lunch spot
Cafe 15
671 4th Street
Good lunch spot
Brazilian food. I am so bummed that this place is only open for lunch M-F. It is so delicious and the staff is really helpful and friendly.
7 locals recommend
Rio California
1233 Preservation Park Way
7 locals recommend
Brazilian food. I am so bummed that this place is only open for lunch M-F. It is so delicious and the staff is really helpful and friendly.
The best pizza I've ever had. Usually a long wait.
194 locals recommend
Sister
3308 Grand Ave
194 locals recommend
The best pizza I've ever had. Usually a long wait.
Great apps and pizza, awesome outdoor patio. It gets better each time we go there.
42 locals recommend
Forge Pizza Oakland
66 Franklin St
42 locals recommend
Great apps and pizza, awesome outdoor patio. It gets better each time we go there.
Cheap, huge, awesome burritos! Tacos are great, too. I recommend the "Al Pastor." Friendly service, too!
Burrito Express
582 14th St
Cheap, huge, awesome burritos! Tacos are great, too. I recommend the "Al Pastor." Friendly service, too!
Good Vietnamese spot. Slow service.
27 locals recommend
Le Cheval
1007 Clay St
27 locals recommend
Good Vietnamese spot. Slow service.
Handmade noodles and dumplings. Everything is good here. Very small/crowded for seating, recommend take out.
71 locals recommend
Shandong Restaurant
328 10th St
71 locals recommend
Handmade noodles and dumplings. Everything is good here. Very small/crowded for seating, recommend take out.
Tapas. Pricey but has really great flavors and a beautiful outdoor seating area.
24 locals recommend
Bocanova
24 locals recommend
Tapas. Pricey but has really great flavors and a beautiful outdoor seating area.
Super delicious comfort food but a little expensive.
9 locals recommend
Haven
44 Webster St
9 locals recommend
Super delicious comfort food but a little expensive.
Great food, good beer selection. Trivia on Wednesday nights. They deliver.
153 locals recommend
Rosamunde Sausage Grill
2832 Mission St
153 locals recommend
Great food, good beer selection. Trivia on Wednesday nights. They deliver.
Our favorite restaurant hands down. Afghan food, incredibly cooked and seasoned meats. We usually get the chicken thigh kebab and bolani but it's all good!
10 locals recommend
Kamdesh Afghan Kabab House
332 14th St
10 locals recommend
Our favorite restaurant hands down. Afghan food, incredibly cooked and seasoned meats. We usually get the chicken thigh kebab and bolani but it's all good!
Very close to the MacArthur BART station. Great "Montreal style" bagels.
122 locals recommend
Beauty's Bagel Shop
3838 Telegraph Ave
122 locals recommend
Very close to the MacArthur BART station. Great "Montreal style" bagels.
Specializes in chocolate.
Bittersweet Cafe
1438 Broadway
Specializes in chocolate.
Chicago style deep dish pizza. Close to the Rockridge BART station.
247 locals recommend
Zachary's Chicago Pizza
5801 College Ave
247 locals recommend
Chicago style deep dish pizza. Close to the Rockridge BART station.
This is life changing coffee. If you're a coffee drinking, do not leave the bay area without trying it!
173 locals recommend
Blue Bottle Coffee
300 Webster St
173 locals recommend
This is life changing coffee. If you're a coffee drinking, do not leave the bay area without trying it!
Excellent Mexican food. Best in town. Fantastic brunch on Saturdays.
25 locals recommend
Cosecha
907 Washington St
25 locals recommend
Excellent Mexican food. Best in town. Fantastic brunch on Saturdays.
A pretty long walk from the MacArthur BART but famous for it's fried chicken sandwiches.
196 locals recommend
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph Ave
196 locals recommend
A pretty long walk from the MacArthur BART but famous for it's fried chicken sandwiches.
Amazing salted caramel pudding! Good brunch on weekends, too.
63 locals recommend
Flora
1900 Telegraph Ave
63 locals recommend
Amazing salted caramel pudding! Good brunch on weekends, too.
Vegetarian tapas.
15 locals recommend
Encuentro
550 2nd St
15 locals recommend
Vegetarian tapas.
It's across the courtyard, steps away from our building.
City Cup Cafe
1259 Jefferson Street
It's across the courtyard, steps away from our building.
Excellent food all around. Great brunch on weekends.
55 locals recommend
Chop Bar
190 4th St
55 locals recommend
Excellent food all around. Great brunch on weekends.
Awesome breakfast/brunch spot. People talk about the chicken and waffles.
109 locals recommend
Brown Sugar Kitchen
2295 Broadway
109 locals recommend
Awesome breakfast/brunch spot. People talk about the chicken and waffles.
Great little coffee shop. Often has live music. Serves four barrel coffee
35 locals recommend
Awaken Cafe & Roasting
1429 Broadway
35 locals recommend
Great little coffee shop. Often has live music. Serves four barrel coffee
Great Asian fusion restaurant. Smaller portions but excellent food and service.
8 locals recommend
Camber
8 locals recommend
Great Asian fusion restaurant. Smaller portions but excellent food and service.
Some would argue these are the best burritos in the world.
169 locals recommend
Taquería El Farolito
2779 Mission St
169 locals recommend
Some would argue these are the best burritos in the world.
A must-see for a coffee snob
378 locals recommend
Sightglass Coffee
270 7th St
378 locals recommend
A must-see for a coffee snob
Fantastic pizza place. They have several different ovens for different styles of pizza. Long wait but they'll call you when the table is ready and you can stroll around north beach while you wait!
177 locals recommend
Tony's Pizza Napoletana
1570 Stockton St
177 locals recommend
Fantastic pizza place. They have several different ovens for different styles of pizza. Long wait but they'll call you when the table is ready and you can stroll around north beach while you wait!
Great lunch M-F.
Marrow
Great lunch M-F.
Good breakfast, lunch, and coffee
8 locals recommend
Stag's Lunchette
362 17th Street
8 locals recommend
Good breakfast, lunch, and coffee
Open late! Good pizza.
8 locals recommend
Five 10 Pizza
400 15th St
8 locals recommend
Open late! Good pizza.
Great deep dish and thin crust pizza. Has a parking lot.
64 locals recommend
The Star on Grand
3425 Grand Ave
64 locals recommend
Great deep dish and thin crust pizza. Has a parking lot.
Expensive but good food, close to Rockridge BART
50 locals recommend
À Côté Restaurant
5478 College Ave
50 locals recommend
Expensive but good food, close to Rockridge BART
An absolute MUST for beer lovers
262 locals recommend
Russian River Brewing Company - Santa Rosa Location
725 4th St
262 locals recommend
An absolute MUST for beer lovers
Tasty, unique burgers
14 locals recommend
Umami Burger Oakland
2100 Franklin St
14 locals recommend
Tasty, unique burgers

Drinks & Nightlife

The best greyhounds ever! Pretty neat ambiance, too.
120 locals recommend
Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph Ave
120 locals recommend
The best greyhounds ever! Pretty neat ambiance, too.
Rare Belgian beers, very cool atmosphere. Nice outdoor seating.
86 locals recommend
The Trappist
460 8th St
86 locals recommend
Rare Belgian beers, very cool atmosphere. Nice outdoor seating.
Nearly 50 craft beers on tap, usually $4-6/pint. Very crowded but a MUST DO for a beer fan!
42 locals recommend
Beer Revolution: pick-up & curbside ❤️
464 3rd St
42 locals recommend
Nearly 50 craft beers on tap, usually $4-6/pint. Very crowded but a MUST DO for a beer fan!
Specializes in cocktails and has 2 bocce courts.
79 locals recommend
Make Westing
1741 Telegraph Ave
79 locals recommend
Specializes in cocktails and has 2 bocce courts.
Awesome cocktails.
Penelope
555 12th St
Awesome cocktails.
Cool little bar that has been there since the 1883! Nice outdoor patio, cheap drinks.
213 locals recommend
Jack London Square
472 Water St
213 locals recommend
Cool little bar that has been there since the 1883! Nice outdoor patio, cheap drinks.
Great outdoor beer garden.
16 locals recommend
Telegraph
2318 Telegraph Ave
16 locals recommend
Great outdoor beer garden.
Oakland Brewery, often has food trucks.
15 locals recommend
Linden Street Brewery
95 Linden St
15 locals recommend
Oakland Brewery, often has food trucks.

Shopping

Really cool clothing shop with locally designed shirts.
62 locals recommend
Oaklandish
3419 Fruitvale Ave
62 locals recommend
Really cool clothing shop with locally designed shirts.
Japanese specialty shop. Very cool, unusual stuff here. Also has a small Japanese convenience store inside with food from Japan.
11 locals recommend
Umami Mart
4027 Broadway
11 locals recommend
Japanese specialty shop. Very cool, unusual stuff here. Also has a small Japanese convenience store inside with food from Japan.
Drug store with essentials like soap, food, etc.
197 locals recommend
Walgreens
2801 Adeline St
197 locals recommend
Drug store with essentials like soap, food, etc.
Ikea is a Swedish home store which has EVERYTHING
149 locals recommend
Target
1057 Eastshore Hwy
149 locals recommend
Ikea is a Swedish home store which has EVERYTHING
Home decor and gifts. Really high quality, unique stuff.
461 9th St
461 9th Street
Home decor and gifts. Really high quality, unique stuff.

Essentials

Organic/natural food store. Pricey but closer than whole foods.
16 locals recommend
Nature's Best Foods
1431 Jackson St
16 locals recommend
Organic/natural food store. Pricey but closer than whole foods.
Beautiful grocery store by Lake Merritt.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay Pl
553 locals recommend
Beautiful grocery store by Lake Merritt.
Great grocery store.
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore Ave
582 locals recommend
Great grocery store.
Awesome sausages. The Boudin blanc is our favorite.
Taylor's Sausage
907 Washington St
Awesome sausages. The Boudin blanc is our favorite.
Great Farmer's Market on Fridays from 8:00am to 2:00pm.
21 locals recommend
Old Oakland Farmer's Market
485 9th Street
21 locals recommend
Great Farmer's Market on Fridays from 8:00am to 2:00pm.
Grocery store, good prices.
6 locals recommend
Smart & Final
901-933 Broadway
6 locals recommend
Grocery store, good prices.
Pretty incredible grocery store. The produce section is the size of a small city.
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz Ave
371 locals recommend
Pretty incredible grocery store. The produce section is the size of a small city.
Awesome little deli and small grocery store. Mostly Italian foods but also has delicious breads, cheeses, and meats!
Ratto's
821 Washington St
Awesome little deli and small grocery store. Mostly Italian foods but also has delicious breads, cheeses, and meats!

Arts & Culture

New movie theater with food, beer, and comfortable seating (couches and recliners!). $8 movies.
156 locals recommend
The New Parkway Theater
474 24th St
156 locals recommend
New movie theater with food, beer, and comfortable seating (couches and recliners!). $8 movies.
Several exhibits. Food trucks, music, and fun every Friday from 6-9PM.
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St
547 locals recommend
Several exhibits. Food trucks, music, and fun every Friday from 6-9PM.
Very unique entertainment such as Hoodslam (pro wrestling) every first Friday of the month and Burlesque show every first Thursday of the month.
Oakland Metro Operahouse
303 3rd St
Very unique entertainment such as Hoodslam (pro wrestling) every first Friday of the month and Burlesque show every first Thursday of the month.
Good place to check out movies. Free popcorn on Tuesdays
382 locals recommend
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand Ave
382 locals recommend
Good place to check out movies. Free popcorn on Tuesdays

Sightseeing

Beautiful lake in the middle of the city. 3.1 mile loop around it for running/walking. It ends up being 4.75 miles round trip from our apartment if you go around the lake.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt Boulevard
751 locals recommend
Beautiful lake in the middle of the city. 3.1 mile loop around it for running/walking. It ends up being 4.75 miles round trip from our apartment if you go around the lake.
Pixar studios!
35 locals recommend
Pixar Animation Studios
1200 Park Ave
35 locals recommend
Pixar studios!
Beautiful park overlooking the city. Very fun to people watch.
1244 locals recommend
Mission Dolores Park
19th Street
1244 locals recommend
Beautiful park overlooking the city. Very fun to people watch.

Everything Else

Small winery
12 locals recommend
Urban Legend Cellars
1951 Monarch St
12 locals recommend
Small winery
A nice winery, friendly staff.
Cerruti Cellars
100 Webster Street
A nice winery, friendly staff.
Famous ice cream shop. Rumored to have invented rocky road!
129 locals recommend
Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont Ave
129 locals recommend
Famous ice cream shop. Rumored to have invented rocky road!
My favorite place in San Francisco. Several artisan foods and shops. Farmers market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
679 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
679 locals recommend
My favorite place in San Francisco. Several artisan foods and shops. Farmers market on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Delicious ice cream with a loooong line.
476 locals recommend
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th St
476 locals recommend
Delicious ice cream with a loooong line.
Delicious ice cream
214 locals recommend
Mitchell's Ice Cream
688 San Jose Avenue
214 locals recommend
Delicious ice cream
Cream puffs!
Dave's Bar
99 Yerba Buena Ln
Cream puffs!
Italian neighborhood. Excellent coffee shops, meat markets, delis, and pizza.
229 locals recommend
North Beach
229 locals recommend
Italian neighborhood. Excellent coffee shops, meat markets, delis, and pizza.
Very hip neighborhood. Great food.
355 locals recommend
Mission District
355 locals recommend
Very hip neighborhood. Great food.
Hippie central.
379 locals recommend
Haight-Ashbury
379 locals recommend
Hippie central.
Saturdays from 9am-2pm
197 locals recommend
Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand Ave
197 locals recommend
Saturdays from 9am-2pm