Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
This spot used to be a neighborhood institution when it was around the corner from us. Now Tanya’s move the place downtown but those waffles are still LEGENDARY.
Chef Tanya Holland is not just locally famous, but recently started a show on OWN,has competed on Top Chef, and has been a regular on TV as guest and host. Food wise, Stef says "the airy, sour, and crisp cornmeal waffles with their sweet sour Apple Cider Syrup will blow your mind"; guidebooks and blogs agree the Fried Chicken and Waffles is the main attraction.
We’re grateful this spot is still around despite a lot of recent factors working against the restaurant. 100% support this place!!
109 locals recommend
Brown Sugar Kitchen
2295 BroadwayThis spot used to be a neighborhood institution when it was around the corner from us. Now Tanya’s move the place downtown but those waffles are still LEGENDARY.
Chef Tanya Holland is not just locally famous, but recently started a show on OWN,has competed on Top Chef, and has been a regular on TV as guest and host. Food wise, Stef says "the airy, sour, and crisp cornmeal waffles with their sweet sour Apple Cider Syrup will blow your mind"; guidebooks and blogs agree the Fried Chicken and Waffles is the main attraction.
We’re grateful this spot is still around despite a lot of recent factors working against the restaurant. 100% support this place!!
Satiates your inner hipster. Tasty breakfast sandwiches. Wifi and limited tables for working.
65 locals recommend
Kilovolt Coffee
1829 Mandela ParkwaySatiates your inner hipster. Tasty breakfast sandwiches. Wifi and limited tables for working.
Puerto Rican deliciousness in a casual dining environment just across the street from the hip Temescal Alley. Order at the front and snag a table inside or on the back patio. They also deliver. Matt lives the rice plates, Stef is loyalist to the fish tacos. They also deliver via Caviar.
173 locals recommend
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph AvePuerto Rican deliciousness in a casual dining environment just across the street from the hip Temescal Alley. Order at the front and snag a table inside or on the back patio. They also deliver. Matt lives the rice plates, Stef is loyalist to the fish tacos. They also deliver via Caviar.
GLUTEN FREE EVERYTHING. Sandwiches, croissants, challah, pot pie, cupcakes. Swoon.
34 locals recommend
Mariposa Baking Company
5427 Telegraph AveGLUTEN FREE EVERYTHING. Sandwiches, croissants, challah, pot pie, cupcakes. Swoon.
THE RIBS.
When Brown Sugar Kitchen left we worried what may fill the spot 1.5 blocks from our house.
Not worried anymore.
Pro tip: they roast a whole hog for Sunday diners only.
21 locals recommend
Horn Barbecue
2534 Mandela ParkwayTHE RIBS.
When Brown Sugar Kitchen left we worried what may fill the spot 1.5 blocks from our house.
Not worried anymore.
Pro tip: they roast a whole hog for Sunday diners only.
You know, a bodega where you can buy totter-tot burritos, yuzu Basque cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly petite chaux, 6 kinds of hot sauce, OR SIMPLY THE MOST DELICIOUS EGGS YOU EVER ATE.
this spot us in the 02 Artists Aggregate so ne prepared for all the magical spots here — Re-up sustainable home supplies, Ichi Soba noodles, June’s pizza, or more!
Magnolia Mini Mart
1014 Fruitvale AvenueYou know, a bodega where you can buy totter-tot burritos, yuzu Basque cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly petite chaux, 6 kinds of hot sauce, OR SIMPLY THE MOST DELICIOUS EGGS YOU EVER ATE.
this spot us in the 02 Artists Aggregate so ne prepared for all the magical spots here — Re-up sustainable home supplies, Ichi Soba noodles, June’s pizza, or more!
Drinks & Nightlife
Great drinks and a small culinarily respected gastropub menu (sexy corn dogs and a killer grilled cheese/tomato soup combo). Diverse clientele who come to sit at the booths, stand at the bar, or kill time before a show in the back or upstairs. A true locals place for the clued-in looking for something classier than a dive but nothing too posh.
56 locals recommend
Starline Social Club
2236 Martin Luther King Jr WayGreat drinks and a small culinarily respected gastropub menu (sexy corn dogs and a killer grilled cheese/tomato soup combo). Diverse clientele who come to sit at the booths, stand at the bar, or kill time before a show in the back or upstairs. A true locals place for the clued-in looking for something classier than a dive but nothing too posh.
Beers, ciders, shelves of liquor. There's always a drink or two of the day (shot and a beer, or some bespoke cocktail with a catchy name), and they're regularly highlighting local vendors. Plenty of space to sit inside, heated lamps and dogs allowed on the patio out front.
86 locals recommend
Prizefighter
6702 Hollis StBeers, ciders, shelves of liquor. There's always a drink or two of the day (shot and a beer, or some bespoke cocktail with a catchy name), and they're regularly highlighting local vendors. Plenty of space to sit inside, heated lamps and dogs allowed on the patio out front.
Locals dive. Tiny low ceilinged front inside, big back good for groups.
67 locals recommend
Kingfish Pub & Cafe
5227 Telegraph AveLocals dive. Tiny low ceilinged front inside, big back good for groups.
Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph AveNick's Lounge
3218 Adeline StEverything Else
Mount Tamalpais
Parks & Nature
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadTilden Path
Tilden PathBig open lawn for picnics family and games. Trails for hiking around the lake or deep up into Tilden Regional Park. Swimming in the lake!
43 locals recommend
Lake Anza
Big open lawn for picnics family and games. Trails for hiking around the lake or deep up into Tilden Regional Park. Swimming in the lake!
Fills up quickly but well worth it. If it's a weekend strategize your commute. If you have time, stop by the Pelican Inn for a pint in the sun after your hike.
https://www.nps.gov/muwo/planyourvisit/index.htm
660 locals recommend
Muir Woods National Monument
Fills up quickly but well worth it. If it's a weekend strategize your commute. If you have time, stop by the Pelican Inn for a pint in the sun after your hike.
https://www.nps.gov/muwo/planyourvisit/index.htm
Shopping
Inside Temescal Alley. Full of pretty things aka "thoughtfully curated selection of fine jewelry, artwork, and both handcrafted and natural objects. Known for unique engagement rings."
10 locals recommend
Esqueleto
482 49th StInside Temescal Alley. Full of pretty things aka "thoughtfully curated selection of fine jewelry, artwork, and both handcrafted and natural objects. Known for unique engagement rings."
A cavernous 3-acre warehouse filled with all sorts of thrown-out stuff for sale: appliances, furniture, scrap metal, artwork, antiques, clothes, and unexpected ephemera. Worth a wander.
22 locals recommend
Urban Ore
900 Murray StA cavernous 3-acre warehouse filled with all sorts of thrown-out stuff for sale: appliances, furniture, scrap metal, artwork, antiques, clothes, and unexpected ephemera. Worth a wander.
Formerly Diesel Books, then bought buy its top employee with the help of a Kickstarter campaign. Great selection, well curated by people who love books. Support local business!
Plus, Rockridge is swanky-done-east-bay-style: simply too charming not to stroll around for window shopping and novelty eats.
17 locals recommend
East Bay Booksellers
5433 College AveFormerly Diesel Books, then bought buy its top employee with the help of a Kickstarter campaign. Great selection, well curated by people who love books. Support local business!
Plus, Rockridge is swanky-done-east-bay-style: simply too charming not to stroll around for window shopping and novelty eats.
Everyone just calls this the "Alameda Flea" or simply "The Flea". 1st Sunday of every month. Rain or shine. Food trucks and miles of booths. They official say it's "the largest antiques show in Northern California" but it's an amazing mix of garage sale junk to antique collectors gems. If you haven't been to The Flea you aren't really from the East Bay. Free parking, cost of admission $0 - $15 depending on when you arrive and how old you are.
42 locals recommend
Alameda Point Antiques Faire 1st Sunday Every Month
3900 Main StEveryone just calls this the "Alameda Flea" or simply "The Flea". 1st Sunday of every month. Rain or shine. Food trucks and miles of booths. They official say it's "the largest antiques show in Northern California" but it's an amazing mix of garage sale junk to antique collectors gems. If you haven't been to The Flea you aren't really from the East Bay. Free parking, cost of admission $0 - $15 depending on when you arrive and how old you are.
Getting Around
MacArthur Station
555 40th StWest Oakland station
1451 7th StEssentials
Great variety. Good prices. Lots of specialty items. Second, original location on Oregon St. Also featured on Radio Lab: http://www.radiolab.org/story/91641-how-much-is-too-much/
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz AveGreat variety. Good prices. Lots of specialty items. Second, original location on Oregon St. Also featured on Radio Lab: http://www.radiolab.org/story/91641-how-much-is-too-much/
3 blocks walking distance from the house. Big box store with a little bit of everything you need, plus a lackluster Starbucks and phenomenal CVS pharmacy inside.
149 locals recommend
Target
1057 Eastshore Hwy3 blocks walking distance from the house. Big box store with a little bit of everything you need, plus a lackluster Starbucks and phenomenal CVS pharmacy inside.
This is a massive grocery store, part of the Safeway chain. The service here is slow, it's poorly maintained, and there's a lot of pan handlers outside. That said, it's cheap and a solid place to get essentials and grab a 6-pack of beer, as long as you're not in a rush.
75 locals recommend
Pak N Save Pharmacy
3889 San Pablo AveThis is a massive grocery store, part of the Safeway chain. The service here is slow, it's poorly maintained, and there's a lot of pan handlers outside. That said, it's cheap and a solid place to get essentials and grab a 6-pack of beer, as long as you're not in a rush.