Guidebook for Oakland

Ivy
Guidebook for Oakland

Food Scene

Excellent sushi at the most convenient location! Great for take-away. Also has a pleasant garden dinning area in back.
Drunken Fish
3314 Piedmont Avenue
Excellent sushi at the most convenient location! Great for take-away. Also has a pleasant garden dinning area in back.
FANCY night out for dinner in what appears to be a no-name design space, but in fact boasts a Michelin star. While we've never eaten there, we would love to hear your review!
53 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Commis
3859 Piedmont Ave
53 (рекомендации местных жителей)
FANCY night out for dinner in what appears to be a no-name design space, but in fact boasts a Michelin star. While we've never eaten there, we would love to hear your review!
Very popular sushi joint! Inexpensive. Small. Expect to wait a while for a seat or skip that & order take-out.
46 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Geta Japanese Restaurant
165 41st St
46 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Very popular sushi joint! Inexpensive. Small. Expect to wait a while for a seat or skip that & order take-out.
If you love burgers, fried sides, and hot dogs - you will be in your slice of heaven here. Extremely large portions, expansive menu, fair prices. Nice back patio dinning area in sun or on warm nights.
71 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers
1600 Shattuck Ave
71 (рекомендации местных жителей)
If you love burgers, fried sides, and hot dogs - you will be in your slice of heaven here. Extremely large portions, expansive menu, fair prices. Nice back patio dinning area in sun or on warm nights.
Excellent for breakfast/brunch/lunch. Delicious, local fare, great interior design, sunlit in the morning, and inexpensive! What more could you want, really?
Local Cafe
Excellent for breakfast/brunch/lunch. Delicious, local fare, great interior design, sunlit in the morning, and inexpensive! What more could you want, really?
Good, locally owned coffee shop, complete with (often bad) local art on the walls - skip corporate Starbucks and Pete's. Wifi available. PLUS old table-top Pac-Man video games!
26 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Gaylord's Caffe Espresso
4150 Piedmont Ave
26 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Good, locally owned coffee shop, complete with (often bad) local art on the walls - skip corporate Starbucks and Pete's. Wifi available. PLUS old table-top Pac-Man video games!
It looks as though you have entered a large artists' warehouse - but it's a bar, restaurant, and apparently a weekend club. Cool space with good happy hour for snacks & sips.
145 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Mua Oakland
2442a Webster St
145 (рекомендации местных жителей)
It looks as though you have entered a large artists' warehouse - but it's a bar, restaurant, and apparently a weekend club. Cool space with good happy hour for snacks & sips.
Excellent coffee, open early. Great seating options, inside & out. Good magazine selection for sale. Wifi. Also serve small breakfast-inspired eating options.
55 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Farley's East
33 Grand Ave
55 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Excellent coffee, open early. Great seating options, inside & out. Good magazine selection for sale. Wifi. Also serve small breakfast-inspired eating options.
One of our favorite, date-night out fancy restaurants in the bay area. Excellent cuisine, libations, and service. Gorgeous art deco building & decor. Be sure to order the salted caramel pudding!
63 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Flora
1900 Telegraph Ave
63 (рекомендации местных жителей)
One of our favorite, date-night out fancy restaurants in the bay area. Excellent cuisine, libations, and service. Gorgeous art deco building & decor. Be sure to order the salted caramel pudding!
Innovative Mexican taqueria (same owners as Flora next door). Good for tacos & burritos. Fun building with small back patio that is reminiscent of NYC's really small back patios.
41 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Xolo
1916 Telegraph Ave
41 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Innovative Mexican taqueria (same owners as Flora next door). Good for tacos & burritos. Fun building with small back patio that is reminiscent of NYC's really small back patios.
California cuisine, copper bar, good art, view of the lake.
58 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Sidebar
542 Grand Ave
58 (рекомендации местных жителей)
California cuisine, copper bar, good art, view of the lake.
Good thai, clean simple restaurant, fair prices.
14 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Grand Avenue Thai Cuisine
384 Grand Ave
14 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Good thai, clean simple restaurant, fair prices.
Fair Mexican food - fine for sitting in or take-out.
16 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Los Cantaros | Restaurant & Taqueria
336 Grand Ave
16 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Fair Mexican food - fine for sitting in or take-out.
Incredible all-windowed dinning room (which reminds us of Paris) in art deco building overlooking Lake Merritt. Gorgeous at sunset. Good standard dinning, we think it 1 of Oakland's best kept secrets.
7 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Terrace Room Restaurant
1800 Madison St
7 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Incredible all-windowed dinning room (which reminds us of Paris) in art deco building overlooking Lake Merritt. Gorgeous at sunset. Good standard dinning, we think it 1 of Oakland's best kept secrets.
Solid restaurant with seating in several dining halls & outside on the dock. Many enjoy Taco Tuesday at the bar over looking the lake or on the sunny dock. (You may also hop a gondola tour here.)
136 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside Dr
136 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Solid restaurant with seating in several dining halls & outside on the dock. Many enjoy Taco Tuesday at the bar over looking the lake or on the sunny dock. (You may also hop a gondola tour here.)
Our favorite taco truck, hands down. Great to take order to eat on the lake (if still light out). Recommend ordering extra guacamole & ask for the chips. (Note: this map is slightly wrong.)
23 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Tacos Mi Rancho
1434 1st Ave
23 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Our favorite taco truck, hands down. Great to take order to eat on the lake (if still light out). Recommend ordering extra guacamole & ask for the chips. (Note: this map is slightly wrong.)
Simply excellent Alice Waters's influenced cuisine centered around an enormous fireplace. Seasonal & local menu with farm-table seating.
45 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Camino
3917 Grand Ave
45 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Simply excellent Alice Waters's influenced cuisine centered around an enormous fireplace. Seasonal & local menu with farm-table seating.
Breakfast standards great, simple, and very inexpensive. Rustic interior feels a little like a time warp, not in the least pretentious while nothing to write home about.
15 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Lynn & Lu's Escapade Cafe
3353 Grand Ave
15 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Breakfast standards great, simple, and very inexpensive. Rustic interior feels a little like a time warp, not in the least pretentious while nothing to write home about.
Super popular spot for wood fire thin crust pizza, communal tables, cocktail bar tucked in back. Be prepared to wait and pay a little more than you might be comfortable with.
194 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Sister
3308 Grand Ave
194 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Super popular spot for wood fire thin crust pizza, communal tables, cocktail bar tucked in back. Be prepared to wait and pay a little more than you might be comfortable with.
Beautiful coffee shop in expansive and clean design-focused space. Good place to socialize or work - no wifi. Doubles as home decor shop too.
3265 Grand Ave
3265 Grand Avenue
Beautiful coffee shop in expansive and clean design-focused space. Good place to socialize or work - no wifi. Doubles as home decor shop too.
This is a pizza shop for delivery & to-go only. (Several Lanesplitters in the east bay if you want sit down.) Our New York friends find this the closest to "a slice" you can get here in the Bay.
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Lanesplitter Pub & Pizza
536 Lake Park Ave
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This is a pizza shop for delivery & to-go only. (Several Lanesplitters in the east bay if you want sit down.) Our New York friends find this the closest to "a slice" you can get here in the Bay.
Good Cantonese food, very inexpensive, clean space, often busy.
Bay Fung Tong | Tea House Restaurant
Good Cantonese food, very inexpensive, clean space, often busy.
Cozy & warm lovable restaurant with brick walls, street windows, large vintage-like bar. Known for seafood, daily menus, & fair prices ($1 oysters). Popular spot -make rezzies even the day-of & enjoy!
17 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Marica Restaurant
5301 College Avenue
17 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Cozy & warm lovable restaurant with brick walls, street windows, large vintage-like bar. Known for seafood, daily menus, & fair prices ($1 oysters). Popular spot -make rezzies even the day-of & enjoy!

Shopping

Cute, independent hipster store - complete with some vintage ware, old cameras, local-made jewelry, trinkets, vinyl, & eye-candy galore.
Rare Bird
3883 Piedmont Ave
Cute, independent hipster store - complete with some vintage ware, old cameras, local-made jewelry, trinkets, vinyl, & eye-candy galore.
Amazing games here - including the option to open a rental account to check out board games! Plus, great selection of comics, if you're into that.
Dr. Comics & Mr. Games
4014 Piedmont Ave
Amazing games here - including the option to open a rental account to check out board games! Plus, great selection of comics, if you're into that.
This magazine store is simply amazing. It has EVERY title available from the obscure zine to the culturally prolific, from People to Parabola. Enjoy.
15 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Issues
4198 Piedmont Ave
15 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This magazine store is simply amazing. It has EVERY title available from the obscure zine to the culturally prolific, from People to Parabola. Enjoy.
Cute vintage shop. Better threads for the ladies. Sizes run small.
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Mercy Vintage
4188 Piedmont Ave
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Cute vintage shop. Better threads for the ladies. Sizes run small.
The most beautiful, gallery-like flower shop we have found outside of Amsterdam!
Arjan
4220 Piedmont Ave
The most beautiful, gallery-like flower shop we have found outside of Amsterdam!
Excellent selection that includes unique & local spirits.
6 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Broadway Liquors
2860 Broadway
6 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Excellent selection that includes unique & local spirits.
Feeling Oakland pride? Get your pride on here! (Check their website to see their retail: http://oaklandish.com/retail) You may also catch Oaklandish at the Grand Lake Farmers' Market on Saturdays.
62 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Oaklandish
3419 Fruitvale Ave
62 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Feeling Oakland pride? Get your pride on here! (Check their website to see their retail: http://oaklandish.com/retail) You may also catch Oaklandish at the Grand Lake Farmers' Market on Saturdays.
Good independent book store.
3316 Grand Ave
3316 Grand Avenue
Good independent book store.
Love consignment shops? For women, this one is super stylish, slightly higher priced, but, the quality of the clothing is excellent, especially the boots.
10 (рекомендации местных жителей)
maribel
3251 Lakeshore Ave
10 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Love consignment shops? For women, this one is super stylish, slightly higher priced, but, the quality of the clothing is excellent, especially the boots.
Another really cute home decor & gift shop. (We love them and the Bay Area's flush with them.)
14 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Urban Indigo
20405 Lakeshore Ave
14 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Another really cute home decor & gift shop. (We love them and the Bay Area's flush with them.)
Need a quick gift or home decor element to remember your visit to Oakland? Nathan & Co is the place! *Oops, placement on this map is wrong: on north side, btwn 40th St & Glen Ave.
10 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Nathan & Co
4025 Piedmont Ave
10 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Need a quick gift or home decor element to remember your visit to Oakland? Nathan & Co is the place! *Oops, placement on this map is wrong: on north side, btwn 40th St & Glen Ave.

Drinks & Nightlife

The classic beer hall where all the locals like to hang. They also serve hearty bar food if you're feeling like pizza, burgers, tacos, or wedge-cut fries.
48 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Cato's Ale House
3891 Piedmont Ave
48 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The classic beer hall where all the locals like to hang. They also serve hearty bar food if you're feeling like pizza, burgers, tacos, or wedge-cut fries.
Fine spot for fancy cocktails in a central & open location. Current chef was apparently trained at Chez Panisse... Small plates. (Though we do find it over-priced, honestly.)
25 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Bar Cesar
4039 Piedmont Ave
25 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Fine spot for fancy cocktails in a central & open location. Current chef was apparently trained at Chez Panisse... Small plates. (Though we do find it over-priced, honestly.)
Tiki lounge with reasonable libations, a mini pool table, fabulous velvet art, a full size automated dancing hula girl - and a volcano. Just a blast!
42 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Kona Club
4401 Piedmont Ave
42 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Tiki lounge with reasonable libations, a mini pool table, fabulous velvet art, a full size automated dancing hula girl - and a volcano. Just a blast!
Great food, large selection of beers, full bar, and the West Gran Plateau - a huge selection of fresh seafood to be shared. They have $1 oysters Monday nights & DJ's make the dance scene on weekends.
73 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Luka's Taproom & Lounge
2221 Broadway
73 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great food, large selection of beers, full bar, and the West Gran Plateau - a huge selection of fresh seafood to be shared. They have $1 oysters Monday nights & DJ's make the dance scene on weekends.
Excellent interior design, fun bites menu (including a "happy meal special"), great libations.
36 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Plum Cocktail Bar
2216 Broadway
36 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Excellent interior design, fun bites menu (including a "happy meal special"), great libations.
1st storefront of downtown Oakland's revival. This bar feels like an old NYC bar filled with funky art & theatre storage remnants. Known 4 fresh-squeezed grapefruit greyhounds. Burlesque 1st Saturdays
120 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph Ave
120 (рекомендации местных жителей)
1st storefront of downtown Oakland's revival. This bar feels like an old NYC bar filled with funky art & theatre storage remnants. Known 4 fresh-squeezed grapefruit greyhounds. Burlesque 1st Saturdays
Really fun bar with events on most nights. Swing by on a Wednesday night for open-mic funk (which is only really open to the most talented local musicians)! Check FB for their events & specials.
33 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Layover
1517 Franklin St
33 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Really fun bar with events on most nights. Swing by on a Wednesday night for open-mic funk (which is only really open to the most talented local musicians)! Check FB for their events & specials.
Our favorite bar.
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
389 Grand Ave
389 Grand Avenue
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Our favorite bar.
This is both a bar and a restaurant and it is Robijn's favorite joint in the area. Indoor and outdoor lounges, fun decor, and really down-to-earth service, always friendly. Great steak.
15 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Grand Tavern
3601 Grand Ave
15 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This is both a bar and a restaurant and it is Robijn's favorite joint in the area. Indoor and outdoor lounges, fun decor, and really down-to-earth service, always friendly. Great steak.
Greasy old dive bar decorated with every client's calling card from time immortal. Also a steak house, known for its piano bar/Karaoke action. (Not really our pace, but why not?)
60 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Alley | Piano Bar & Restaurant
3325 Grand Ave
60 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Greasy old dive bar decorated with every client's calling card from time immortal. Also a steak house, known for its piano bar/Karaoke action. (Not really our pace, but why not?)
People are fond of this dive bar in an old house. Good back garden with producing lemon trees.
52 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Heart & Dagger Saloon
504 Lake Park Ave
52 (рекомендации местных жителей)
People are fond of this dive bar in an old house. Good back garden with producing lemon trees.

Everything Else

Wishing our deck had a hot tub? Yeah, we do too... In the meantime, we like to soak here. We recommend the combo hot-tub & sauna room (both redwood) for a sky-open soak & sweat. Clean. Fair prices.
25 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Piedmont Springs
3939 Piedmont Ave
25 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Wishing our deck had a hot tub? Yeah, we do too... In the meantime, we like to soak here. We recommend the combo hot-tub & sauna room (both redwood) for a sky-open soak & sweat. Clean. Fair prices.
Incredible house-made gelato with innovative flavors - often organic too. We LOVE dessert, especially when going to Piedmont Theatre.
27 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Lush Gelato
4184 Piedmont Ave
27 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Incredible house-made gelato with innovative flavors - often organic too. We LOVE dessert, especially when going to Piedmont Theatre.
Great YMCA in walking distance, but you've got to have a membership already. Includes indoor track, indoor pool, and saunas.
8 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Oakland YMCA
2350 Broadway
8 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great YMCA in walking distance, but you've got to have a membership already. Includes indoor track, indoor pool, and saunas.
BART station closest to our home (15 min walk). Last train from the city's @12am so plan ahead. Be aware walking home at night or take 51A bus (bus stop at 19th & Broadway): tell driver stop @29th st.
69 (рекомендации местных жителей)
19th St / Oakland station
1900 Broadway
69 (рекомендации местных жителей)
BART station closest to our home (15 min walk). Last train from the city's @12am so plan ahead. Be aware walking home at night or take 51A bus (bus stop at 19th & Broadway): tell driver stop @29th st.
Just like in Venice, you too may enjoy Lake Merritt from a gondola tour... let us know your thoughts, as we have yet to be that *romantic*!
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Gondola Servizio
1520 Lakeside Dr
16 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Just like in Venice, you too may enjoy Lake Merritt from a gondola tour... let us know your thoughts, as we have yet to be that *romantic*!
One of the best Farmer's Markets in the Bay Area - every Saturday morning. Complete with vendors that serve breakfast/lunch, tables & chairs, great coffee, live music, and jumpy houses for the kids.
Splash Pad Park Path
Splash Pad Park Path
One of the best Farmer's Markets in the Bay Area - every Saturday morning. Complete with vendors that serve breakfast/lunch, tables & chairs, great coffee, live music, and jumpy houses for the kids.
Worker owned co-op organic bakery that serves up the most amazing sweet and savory baked goods & breads. (Maybe 1 gluten-free option, FYI...) Smells like heaven.
198 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore Ave
198 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Worker owned co-op organic bakery that serves up the most amazing sweet and savory baked goods & breads. (Maybe 1 gluten-free option, FYI...) Smells like heaven.

Essentials

Great for classic and gourmet groceries. They have the freshest produce, excellent cheese and butcher counters, fair wine selection, and desserts - oh my. Pricey, but solid & in walking distance.
66 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Piedmont Grocery Co
4038 Piedmont Ave
66 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great for classic and gourmet groceries. They have the freshest produce, excellent cheese and butcher counters, fair wine selection, and desserts - oh my. Pricey, but solid & in walking distance.
Hit or miss, but we have found some quality organic products here. It's an overstock grocery & you never know what you'll find. If you're into bargain shopping and/or love adventure, give it a go!
33 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
2900 Broadway
33 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Hit or miss, but we have found some quality organic products here. It's an overstock grocery & you never know what you'll find. If you're into bargain shopping and/or love adventure, give it a go!
It's Whole Foods. Probably the most amazing Whole Foods we've ever been in. Really top notch (aka don't shop here if you are on a tight budget).
553 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay Pl
553 (рекомендации местных жителей)
It's Whole Foods. Probably the most amazing Whole Foods we've ever been in. Really top notch (aka don't shop here if you are on a tight budget).
It's Safeway. That is all.
62 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Safeway
3747 Grand Ave
62 (рекомендации местных жителей)
It's Safeway. That is all.
If you know Trader Joe's, you'll know what to expect. This one is small so store line is LONG at rush hour. Also open 'til 10pm.
582 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore Ave
582 (рекомендации местных жителей)
If you know Trader Joe's, you'll know what to expect. This one is small so store line is LONG at rush hour. Also open 'til 10pm.

Sightseeing

A lovely little garden/creek walk through the neighborhood (btwn Panama Ct. & Montell St.). This is the same creek that runs by our house! We like to walk here with gelato from Lush (listed herein).
Panama Court
Panama Court
A lovely little garden/creek walk through the neighborhood (btwn Panama Ct. & Montell St.). This is the same creek that runs by our house! We like to walk here with gelato from Lush (listed herein).
Lake Merritt is well loved by Oaklanders & geese alike. At any time of day, you will find people circulating the lake for exercise, leisure, or a nice lounge on the greens. 3 miles all round.
201 Grand Ave
201 Grand Avenue
Lake Merritt is well loved by Oaklanders & geese alike. At any time of day, you will find people circulating the lake for exercise, leisure, or a nice lounge on the greens. 3 miles all round.
Go for the clean lines of mid-century modern inspired architecture - it's the Bay Area's newest Catholic church and a beauty at that.
23 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Собор Христа Света
2121 Harrison St
23 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Go for the clean lines of mid-century modern inspired architecture - it's the Bay Area's newest Catholic church and a beauty at that.
Hundreds of roses in a sweet little park that has been there since the '20's compete with very blue fountains. Also a set of over 80 stairs up the hill if you feel like a bit of exercise...
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Morcom Rose Garden
700 Jean St
66 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Hundreds of roses in a sweet little park that has been there since the '20's compete with very blue fountains. Also a set of over 80 stairs up the hill if you feel like a bit of exercise...

Arts & Culture

Small film house exclusively for independent films (a Landmark Cinema). Plus, take your ticket stub across the street for a discount on snacking/dinning - look for their offer advertised outside.
59 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Landmark's Piedmont Theatre
4186 Piedmont Ave
59 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Small film house exclusively for independent films (a Landmark Cinema). Plus, take your ticket stub across the street for a discount on snacking/dinning - look for their offer advertised outside.
On the register of historic places, the Paramount is a gorgeous art deco theatre. It holds concerts as well as old film screenings.
120 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway
120 (рекомендации местных жителей)
On the register of historic places, the Paramount is a gorgeous art deco theatre. It holds concerts as well as old film screenings.
Stunning restored art deco theater recently reopened with top bands and a decent bar & pub grub.
264 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Фокс-театр
1807 Telegraph Ave
264 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Stunning restored art deco theater recently reopened with top bands and a decent bar & pub grub.
Ivy's favorite museum! OMCA houses 3 collections all about California: art, natural history, and history. Inner sculpture garden & cafe. Check their website for wonderful programs. Closed Mon & Tues.
547 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Музей Калифорнии в Окленде
1000 Oak St
547 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Ivy's favorite museum! OMCA houses 3 collections all about California: art, natural history, and history. Inner sculpture garden & cafe. Check their website for wonderful programs. Closed Mon & Tues.
This local theatre is a visual icon that Oaklanders take great pride in. It shows popular and independent films in a gorgeous deco period building, inside and out. Free popcorn on weeknights too!
382 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Театр Grand Lake
3200 Grand Ave
382 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This local theatre is a visual icon that Oaklanders take great pride in. It shows popular and independent films in a gorgeous deco period building, inside and out. Free popcorn on weeknights too!