Guidebook for Oakland
Everything Else
Fabulous bakery with morning pastries, breads, olives, cheeses and vegetarian pizza daily. Make a mean cappucino too. Worker-owned it's got a good vibe.
198 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveFabulous bakery with morning pastries, breads, olives, cheeses and vegetarian pizza daily. Make a mean cappucino too. Worker-owned it's got a good vibe.
Walking distance, great take-out, organic foods, wine, coffee, and more. Very convenient. Not so pricey if you shop the specials.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlWalking distance, great take-out, organic foods, wine, coffee, and more. Very convenient. Not so pricey if you shop the specials.
Classy Jazz club with world-class talent; includes bar and Japanese restaurant.
136 locals recommend
Yoshi's Oakland
510 Embarcadero WestClassy Jazz club with world-class talent; includes bar and Japanese restaurant.
It's close and it's outside. Lot's of fruit and vegetables but also breads, honey, & goods like jewelry, soaps & more. On Saturdays, 9 am - 2 pm, year round. In walking distance; use my shopping cart.
197 locals recommend
Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand AveIt's close and it's outside. Lot's of fruit and vegetables but also breads, honey, & goods like jewelry, soaps & more. On Saturdays, 9 am - 2 pm, year round. In walking distance; use my shopping cart.
Ace Garden Center
4001 Grand AveWell-stocked.
Has everything a hardware store needs. Friendly helpful staff.
6 locals recommend
Grand Lake Ace Hardware Inc
1221 Grand AveHas everything a hardware store needs. Friendly helpful staff.
Children’S Fairyland
699 Bellevue AveInspired Disney to build Disneyland.
Luka's Taproom & Lounge
2221 BroadwayNice for drinks and mixing.
Picán
2295 BroadwayElegant Zagat-rated restaurant. A little pricey.
Food Scene
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food — generous portions. Inexpensive, although inconsistent lately.. Jazz or belly dancing some nights. Sunday brunch,come early -- later in day it can be tired.
27 locals recommend
Bacheesos
246 Grand AveMediterranean/Middle Eastern food — generous portions. Inexpensive, although inconsistent lately.. Jazz or belly dancing some nights. Sunday brunch,come early -- later in day it can be tired.
The best Cambodian food around. Eat in or take out. My faves: barbeque chicken, eggplant with shrimp and pork, green beans with tofu. Good prices. Sob!! The 8th St. location closed after 30 years. But fear not, you may still find them in the Laurel District in Oakland, and in the City of Alameda (take the webster tube.) Not as convenient perhaps but the foods still the same. And they do take out. Alameda Location:
1514 Webster Street
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 893-3825
Hours:
Mon to Thurs 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri and Sat 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
Sundays CLOSED
Laurel District Location:
3912 MacArthur Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 482-8989
19 locals recommend
Phnom Penh House
1514 Webster StThe best Cambodian food around. Eat in or take out. My faves: barbeque chicken, eggplant with shrimp and pork, green beans with tofu. Good prices. Sob!! The 8th St. location closed after 30 years. But fear not, you may still find them in the Laurel District in Oakland, and in the City of Alameda (take the webster tube.) Not as convenient perhaps but the foods still the same. And they do take out. Alameda Location:
1514 Webster Street
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 893-3825
Hours:
Mon to Thurs 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri and Sat 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
Sundays CLOSED
Laurel District Location:
3912 MacArthur Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 482-8989
Le Cheval
1007 Clay StSalty prawns are killer.
A very trendy restaurant with excellent pizza. Mains were hit and miss. The wait can be long for a table; make reservation.
237 locals recommend
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveA very trendy restaurant with excellent pizza. Mains were hit and miss. The wait can be long for a table; make reservation.
The closest to being in Florence I can get without going to Italy. The food is authentic and spot on. Good bar. Nice atmosphere. It's one of my faves; please don't tell everyone!
25 locals recommend
Corso
1788 Shattuck AveThe closest to being in Florence I can get without going to Italy. The food is authentic and spot on. Good bar. Nice atmosphere. It's one of my faves; please don't tell everyone!
Great food, good prices, full bar, friendly staff, arty happening neighborhood.
458 locals recommend
Burma Superstar
309 Clement StGreat food, good prices, full bar, friendly staff, arty happening neighborhood.
Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine StCoffee.
Mijori Japanese Restaurant
3260 Grand AveGood Japanese restaurant.
Cat-themed cafe has cats up for adoption as well as plenty of cat-approved snacks & play areas. And you may just play with the cats if you can't adopt!
15 locals recommend
Cat Town
2869 BroadwayCat-themed cafe has cats up for adoption as well as plenty of cat-approved snacks & play areas. And you may just play with the cats if you can't adopt!
I loved the old Parkway theater, with its couches, food, wine and beer. Can't wait to try out this new one, located in a better neighborhood. and they give $1 off tickets if you ride your bike.
156 locals recommend
The New Parkway Theater
474 24th StI loved the old Parkway theater, with its couches, food, wine and beer. Can't wait to try out this new one, located in a better neighborhood. and they give $1 off tickets if you ride your bike.
Lynn & Lu's Escapade Cafe
3353 Grand AveGreat brunch spot with garden in back. Local.
Modigliani Cafe
3208-3210 Grand AveSandwiches and subs has had good reviews. Worth trying.
It's Greek it's close and it's gotten good reviews. I want to try it.
12 locals recommend
Ikaros Greek Restaurant
3268 Grand AveIt's Greek it's close and it's gotten good reviews. I want to try it.
Pleasant service, pretty good food, walking distance.
76 locals recommend
Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant
357-A Grand AvePleasant service, pretty good food, walking distance.
Loved the one for 25 years in Oakland Chinatown. It's moved to Alameda. Try it! Also in the Laurel District, Oakland, straight shot down 580 Freeway.
19 locals recommend
Phnom Penh House
1514 Webster StLoved the one for 25 years in Oakland Chinatown. It's moved to Alameda. Try it! Also in the Laurel District, Oakland, straight shot down 580 Freeway.
Sister restaurant of Phnpm Penh in Alameda (formerly in Oakland Chinatown.) Incredible Cambodian food. Straight shot down 580 Freeway to MacArthur, order take out and go get it. Or maybe you can pick it up on the way home from work, depending where you are coming from. Don't know if they deliver.
51 locals recommend
Phnom Penh
3912 MacArthur BoulevardSister restaurant of Phnpm Penh in Alameda (formerly in Oakland Chinatown.) Incredible Cambodian food. Straight shot down 580 Freeway to MacArthur, order take out and go get it. Or maybe you can pick it up on the way home from work, depending where you are coming from. Don't know if they deliver.
Arts & Culture
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveClassic Art Deco movie theatre.
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StEssentials
Great for staples, frozen pizzas and dinners, canned food, dairy, wine, and groceries. Good parking. Next to CVS, Walgreen's and across from Arizmendi's.
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveGreat for staples, frozen pizzas and dinners, canned food, dairy, wine, and groceries. Good parking. Next to CVS, Walgreen's and across from Arizmendi's.
Fairly good Safeway -- all the usual groceries. The one in Rockridge is bigger, with better parking.
62 locals recommend
Safeway
3747 Grand AveFairly good Safeway -- all the usual groceries. The one in Rockridge is bigger, with better parking.
Great for organic fruit and veggies, bulk foods, cheeses, fresh fish, meat, poultry, grass-fed and sustainable too. Roasted chickens are good-tasting and reasonably priced.
419 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StGreat for organic fruit and veggies, bulk foods, cheeses, fresh fish, meat, poultry, grass-fed and sustainable too. Roasted chickens are good-tasting and reasonably priced.
Great for organic fruit and veggies, bulk foods, cheeses, fresh fish, meat, poultry, grass-fed and sustainable too. Roasted chickens are good-tasting and reasonably priced.
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz AveGreat for organic fruit and veggies, bulk foods, cheeses, fresh fish, meat, poultry, grass-fed and sustainable too. Roasted chickens are good-tasting and reasonably priced.
Great hot tub, small but nice pool for swimming, friendly clientele. Clean, nice amenities. Much better than City Sports Club (City Sports is really LA Sports Club and not to be trusted. A rip off)
Active Sports Clubs
1200 Clay StGreat hot tub, small but nice pool for swimming, friendly clientele. Clean, nice amenities. Much better than City Sports Club (City Sports is really LA Sports Club and not to be trusted. A rip off)
Drinks & Nightlife
Lanesplitter Pizza & Pub
Pizza's great, also offer gluten-free.
Old-time favorite piano bar, friendly patrons, talented karaoke singers! Go soon as Ron Dibble on the piano has been doing this for a long long time.
60 locals recommend
The Alley | Piano Bar & Restaurant
3325 Grand AveOld-time favorite piano bar, friendly patrons, talented karaoke singers! Go soon as Ron Dibble on the piano has been doing this for a long long time.
Sidebar
542 Grand AveNew restaurant with full bar on Grand. Looks like a fun place.
Looks inviting with sidewalk tables. Haven't tried it out yet but has had good reviews.
15 locals recommend
Barlago
550 Grand AveLooks inviting with sidewalk tables. Haven't tried it out yet but has had good reviews.
Sister
3308 Grand AveTrendy restaurant.
Camino
3917 Grand AveTop -notch restaurant.
There are so many new restaurants opening up I can't keep track! But this has had great reviews, although like many the prices are on the higher side.
77 locals recommend
Penrose
3311 Grand AveThere are so many new restaurants opening up I can't keep track! But this has had great reviews, although like many the prices are on the higher side.
Opened in July 2013 and I haven't tried it yet, but has great reviews for pizza, salads, and drinks. Parking in back.
64 locals recommend
The Star on Grand
3425 Grand AveOpened in July 2013 and I haven't tried it yet, but has great reviews for pizza, salads, and drinks. Parking in back.