Guidebook for Oakland
Everything Else
This great park is only 13 minutes walk from our house. You can bike, hike, fish, picnic, bbq and enjoy the sun here. There is even a little beach!
24 locals recommend
Temescal Regional Recreation Area
6500 Broadway TerraceThis great park is only 13 minutes walk from our house. You can bike, hike, fish, picnic, bbq and enjoy the sun here. There is even a little beach!
The BART here runs from 4 in the morning til 12:30 at night. It is the direct line to San Francisco and San Francisco Airport. The station is a great meeting point and only a 14 minute walk from us.
127 locals recommend
Rockridge Station
5660 College AveThe BART here runs from 4 in the morning til 12:30 at night. It is the direct line to San Francisco and San Francisco Airport. The station is a great meeting point and only a 14 minute walk from us.
A large lake, popular for walkers to loop around and to sit and have a picnic. There is the Lake Merritt BART station for easy access.
104 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Station
800 Oak StA large lake, popular for walkers to loop around and to sit and have a picnic. There is the Lake Merritt BART station for easy access.
Food Scene
Fresh Mexican food. The place looks like a bland chain, but the food was surprisingly very tasty and well priced for the area. I got two juicy beef tacos for $6 and topped it off at the salsa bar.
62 locals recommend
Cactus Taqueria
5642 College AveFresh Mexican food. The place looks like a bland chain, but the food was surprisingly very tasty and well priced for the area. I got two juicy beef tacos for $6 and topped it off at the salsa bar.
A small wine bar about 35 minutes walk from our house. They have wine flights and tasty food menu. Make a reservation and try to sit in the heated patio!
21 locals recommend
Marc 49
4915 Telegraph AveA small wine bar about 35 minutes walk from our house. They have wine flights and tasty food menu. Make a reservation and try to sit in the heated patio!
A quaint tapas bar with a large tapas selection along with wine and drinks. 35 minutes walk from our place. They were also playing sports on the TV when we were there. You can go just to the bar also.
8 locals recommend
Barlata Tapas Bar
4901 Telegraph AveA quaint tapas bar with a large tapas selection along with wine and drinks. 35 minutes walk from our place. They were also playing sports on the TV when we were there. You can go just to the bar also.
A SUPER popular lunch location. They only have chicken sandwiches and a few things on the menu but they have a HUGE line, sell out every day and ironing boards for sidewalk tables.
196 locals recommend
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph AveA SUPER popular lunch location. They only have chicken sandwiches and a few things on the menu but they have a HUGE line, sell out every day and ironing boards for sidewalk tables.
If you're too lazy and want pizza delivery, you can place your order online. Nothing exceptional, but convenient.
8 locals recommend
Extreme Pizza
2352 Shattuck AveIf you're too lazy and want pizza delivery, you can place your order online. Nothing exceptional, but convenient.
Cheap and fresh sushi, cafeteria style. Plus, happy hour 3-6pm on weekdays, cheap handrolls!
Tokyo Express
814 Mission StCheap and fresh sushi, cafeteria style. Plus, happy hour 3-6pm on weekdays, cheap handrolls!
Peaceful location overlooking Yerba Buena Park with delicious foods and a unique selection of teas or cold drinks. Patio for sunny days and a nice little couch area inside.
41 locals recommend
Samovar Tea Lounge, Yerba Buena Gardens
730 Howard StPeaceful location overlooking Yerba Buena Park with delicious foods and a unique selection of teas or cold drinks. Patio for sunny days and a nice little couch area inside.
Unlimited Sake is poured in this small and rowdy sushi restaurants. Everyone is in a partying mood, but if you don't like sake, the sushi is very fresh and delicious also!
27 locals recommend
Coach Sushi
532 Grand AveUnlimited Sake is poured in this small and rowdy sushi restaurants. Everyone is in a partying mood, but if you don't like sake, the sushi is very fresh and delicious also!
Essentials
A convenient 15 minute walk, Trader Joe's stays open until 10pm for all your grocery needs. They have healthy items for cheap prices. The store is clean and welcoming.
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveA convenient 15 minute walk, Trader Joe's stays open until 10pm for all your grocery needs. They have healthy items for cheap prices. The store is clean and welcoming.
A 24 hour chain grocery store. It's small compared to other Safeway's, but will soon be rebuilt to make it a more deluxe one. For now it's great to have a 24 hour place nearby.
105 locals recommend
Safeway
6310 College AveA 24 hour chain grocery store. It's small compared to other Safeway's, but will soon be rebuilt to make it a more deluxe one. For now it's great to have a 24 hour place nearby.
15 minute walk, directly across from the BART, this is a European style market with different vendors selling gourmet meats, cheese, pasta, seafood, bakery, coffee, vegetables. Expensive, but unique.
64 locals recommend
Rockridge Market Hall
5655 College Ave15 minute walk, directly across from the BART, this is a European style market with different vendors selling gourmet meats, cheese, pasta, seafood, bakery, coffee, vegetables. Expensive, but unique.
Chinatown
Great for asian groceries and foods.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a dark dive bar for locals and those who like cheap drinks, picking their own music on the juke box, playing ping pong (free but you have to squeeze your way into the lineup) and pool (costs).
Ye Old Hut
5515 College AvenueThis is a dark dive bar for locals and those who like cheap drinks, picking their own music on the juke box, playing ping pong (free but you have to squeeze your way into the lineup) and pool (costs).
A favorite bar and grill for all sorts of customers. A wide selection of beers, but a full bar as well. Lots of space to sit and a great happy hour 4-6pm weekdays. Window seats on a sunny day!
25 locals recommend
Ben 'N Nick's Bar & Grill
5612 College AveA favorite bar and grill for all sorts of customers. A wide selection of beers, but a full bar as well. Lots of space to sit and a great happy hour 4-6pm weekdays. Window seats on a sunny day!
Outdoor patio, darts, sports bar, a chill hangout with beer and wine (no full bar) and bar foods. A local hangout.
9 locals recommend
Barclay's Restaurant & Pub
2430 Shattuck AvenueOutdoor patio, darts, sports bar, a chill hangout with beer and wine (no full bar) and bar foods. A local hangout.
Known for their fresh greyhounds - grapefruits and vodka drinks - one of my favorite beverages :)
120 locals recommend
Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph AveKnown for their fresh greyhounds - grapefruits and vodka drinks - one of my favorite beverages :)
Shopping
A big warehouse full of scraps on one side and used items on the other for those who like to build or are just looking for some unique furniture. We got a lot of cool furniture here. You gotta dig!
22 locals recommend
Urban Ore
900 Murray StA big warehouse full of scraps on one side and used items on the other for those who like to build or are just looking for some unique furniture. We got a lot of cool furniture here. You gotta dig!
Used furniture, great pieces for low prices and cheap delivery. It's a non-profit, so money goes to a good cause. They really know how to use their space, the tiny store is jam packed to the ceiling.
Uhuru Furniture & Collectibles
3742 Grand AveUsed furniture, great pieces for low prices and cheap delivery. It's a non-profit, so money goes to a good cause. They really know how to use their space, the tiny store is jam packed to the ceiling.
My favorite place for Chinese foot refloxology massage. You must like lots of pressure! It's only $19/hour, but don't forget to tip! This is not a relaxing massage, it's to take your knots out!
Crystal Island Massage
1038 5th AveMy favorite place for Chinese foot refloxology massage. You must like lots of pressure! It's only $19/hour, but don't forget to tip! This is not a relaxing massage, it's to take your knots out!
Flipping through new and used books makes me nostalgic of times when paperbacks were not a dying breed.
29 locals recommend
Pegasus Books
1855 Solano AveFlipping through new and used books makes me nostalgic of times when paperbacks were not a dying breed.
Sightseeing
Hidden treasure, sitting and listening to the natural music of water against man man organs. A bit of a walk to get to, but well worth it, especially on a warm day.
40 locals recommend
The Wave Organ
83 Marina Green DrHidden treasure, sitting and listening to the natural music of water against man man organs. A bit of a walk to get to, but well worth it, especially on a warm day.
Great walk up through greenery and green parrots, go up the Montgomery side stairs. Nice hike up and nice views from the top. Pay to go up the tower if it interests you!
545 locals recommend
Coit Tower
Great walk up through greenery and green parrots, go up the Montgomery side stairs. Nice hike up and nice views from the top. Pay to go up the tower if it interests you!
In case you're flying into the Oakland Airport, this is housed in the original Boeing School of Aeronautics. $10 for adults 10-4pm. http://www.oaklandaviationmuseum.org/
11 locals recommend
Oakland Aviation Museum
8252 Earhart RdIn case you're flying into the Oakland Airport, this is housed in the original Boeing School of Aeronautics. $10 for adults 10-4pm. http://www.oaklandaviationmuseum.org/
A museum and non-circulating library dedicated to preserving the history and experiences of African Americans in Northern California and the Bay Area.
Tues-Sat 12-5:30
7 locals recommend
African American Museum and Library
659 14th StA museum and non-circulating library dedicated to preserving the history and experiences of African Americans in Northern California and the Bay Area.
Tues-Sat 12-5:30
Tour hours are 10pm-3pm Monday through Thursday. Cost:$1 per person http://www.fcf-limited.com/
Fortune Cookie Factory
261 12th StreetTour hours are 10pm-3pm Monday through Thursday. Cost:$1 per person http://www.fcf-limited.com/
The Friday night activities (5 p.m. to midnight) include Off the Grid’s food trucks, California beer and wine at bars throughout the Museum, animal face-painting and a costume contest.
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StThe Friday night activities (5 p.m. to midnight) include Off the Grid’s food trucks, California beer and wine at bars throughout the Museum, animal face-painting and a costume contest.
The museum is open for Tours and Teas. In addition to the architecture of the house and the richness of the gardens, the Museum offers two floors of collections -- from the sublime to the bizarre.
Pardee Home Museum
672 11th StThe museum is open for Tours and Teas. In addition to the architecture of the house and the richness of the gardens, the Museum offers two floors of collections -- from the sublime to the bizarre.
Arts & Culture
Movie Theater and Food court, plus the new City Target is here, in a clean, modern building overlooking the Yerba Buena Park. Also free Wi-Fi.
124 locals recommend
Metreon
135 4th StMovie Theater and Food court, plus the new City Target is here, in a clean, modern building overlooking the Yerba Buena Park. Also free Wi-Fi.
All kinds of classes in this huge warehouse building. I took jewelry metalsmithing classes, but they have a whole selection plus some art shows/sales once or more a year.
28 locals recommend
The Crucible
1260 7th StAll kinds of classes in this huge warehouse building. I took jewelry metalsmithing classes, but they have a whole selection plus some art shows/sales once or more a year.
Jazz shows, restaurant, happy hour (M-Sat 4:30-6, Th 9-11), late night menu in club, bar and lounge. www.yoshis.com/oakland
136 locals recommend
Yoshi's Oakland
510 Embarcadero WestJazz shows, restaurant, happy hour (M-Sat 4:30-6, Th 9-11), late night menu in club, bar and lounge. www.yoshis.com/oakland
Oakland Symphony
1440 BroadwayMusic! http://www.oebs.org/
BBQ and Blues with two music venues, soul, jazz. http://www.eandjbbq.com/
26 locals recommend
Everett and Jones
126 BroadwayBBQ and Blues with two music venues, soul, jazz. http://www.eandjbbq.com/