Food Scene
Old-school, diner-style breakfast place with an amazing array of pie. An easy walk.
52 locals recommend
Lois the Pie Queen
851 60th StOld-school, diner-style breakfast place with an amazing array of pie. An easy walk.
Great breakfast spot to meet a friend. Delicious renditions of all the breakfast classics - pancakes, french toast, eggs of every kind, and much more. Some outdoor seating available. Tends to have a wait on the weekends. Walk in about 20 minutes, or take the bike.
53 locals recommend
Aunt Mary's Cafe
4640 Telegraph AvenueGreat breakfast spot to meet a friend. Delicious renditions of all the breakfast classics - pancakes, french toast, eggs of every kind, and much more. Some outdoor seating available. Tends to have a wait on the weekends. Walk in about 20 minutes, or take the bike.
The well-loved Burma Superstar has a location nearby in Temescal. Delicious food, usually a long wait, so be prepared.
458 locals recommend
Burma Superstar
309 Clement StThe well-loved Burma Superstar has a location nearby in Temescal. Delicious food, usually a long wait, so be prepared.
Super-close pizza place selling freshly made, seasonal pizza slices. A few tables to sit, friendly scene, and good spot for a pretty fast meal nearby.
48 locals recommend
Nick's Pizza and Bakery Made in Oakland
6400 Shattuck AveSuper-close pizza place selling freshly made, seasonal pizza slices. A few tables to sit, friendly scene, and good spot for a pretty fast meal nearby.
Probably the most popular and classic of the many great Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood. Easy to get in, delicious combo meals, and inexpensive.
53 locals recommend
Café Colucci
5849 Telegraph AveProbably the most popular and classic of the many great Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood. Easy to get in, delicious combo meals, and inexpensive.
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine
4929 Shattuck AveQuiet, delicious Ethiopian restaurant in the neighborhood
Good spot to do some work! The food's nothing to write home about, but they have enough to keep you going.
38 locals recommend
Nomad Cafe
6500 Shattuck AveGood spot to do some work! The food's nothing to write home about, but they have enough to keep you going.
Great spot in the Uptown area of Oakland (near downtown). Good cafe food in a lively part of Oakland, with indoor seating and a little sidewalk seating on sunny days. Great magazine selection (they're kind of known for it), and good work or social spot. Near BART and the downtown buses.
55 locals recommend
Farley's East
33 Grand AveGreat spot in the Uptown area of Oakland (near downtown). Good cafe food in a lively part of Oakland, with indoor seating and a little sidewalk seating on sunny days. Great magazine selection (they're kind of known for it), and good work or social spot. Near BART and the downtown buses.
Senegalese restaurant, sometimes with music in the evenings. Delicious food and fun drinks
51 locals recommend
Little Baobab SF
2243 19th StSenegalese restaurant, sometimes with music in the evenings. Delicious food and fun drinks
Fish taco-focused restaurant, great for lunch or dinner. Sunny back patio. There's sometimes a long line to order but they make the food fast! Easy neighborhood spot for a delicious, inexpensive meal.
173 locals recommend
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph AveFish taco-focused restaurant, great for lunch or dinner. Sunny back patio. There's sometimes a long line to order but they make the food fast! Easy neighborhood spot for a delicious, inexpensive meal.
Among the best bagels in the Bay Area, with all kinds of bagel sandwiches and other bagel-centric food. Good spot to work, or just hang out and read the paper.
122 locals recommend
Beauty's Bagel Shop
3838 Telegraph AveAmong the best bagels in the Bay Area, with all kinds of bagel sandwiches and other bagel-centric food. Good spot to work, or just hang out and read the paper.
Middle Eastern grocery and deli. Tables for a sit-down lunch, or get Middle Eastern food to go. Mid-way between my house and downtown Oakland. Take the bike or bus!
23 locals recommend
Oasis Food Market
3045 Telegraph AveMiddle Eastern grocery and deli. Tables for a sit-down lunch, or get Middle Eastern food to go. Mid-way between my house and downtown Oakland. Take the bike or bus!
Upscale Italian restaurant with delicious wood-oven pizza. Little known is that it also opens as a cafe / breakfast spot M-Sat 8 am - 12 pm. Delicious baked goods.
237 locals recommend
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveUpscale Italian restaurant with delicious wood-oven pizza. Little known is that it also opens as a cafe / breakfast spot M-Sat 8 am - 12 pm. Delicious baked goods.
Great food, good spot for working in Uptown neighborhood of Oakland.
20 locals recommend
Sweet Bar Bakery
2355 BroadwayGreat food, good spot for working in Uptown neighborhood of Oakland.
My favorite spot to do some work, with plenty of food to keep you going. Breakfast food as well as lunch and dinner. In a grittier neighborhood but not too far - take the guest bike over!
19 locals recommend
Paradise Park Café
6334 San Pablo AveMy favorite spot to do some work, with plenty of food to keep you going. Breakfast food as well as lunch and dinner. In a grittier neighborhood but not too far - take the guest bike over!
Great coffee, tables, and wifi, in a beautiful part of Rockridge near a Safeway, fish shop, bakery, and more.
61 locals recommend
Cole Coffee Cafe
307 63rd StGreat coffee, tables, and wifi, in a beautiful part of Rockridge near a Safeway, fish shop, bakery, and more.
Bird & Buffalo
4659 Telegraph AveCool, new Thai restaurant, with unusual menu and communal seating.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar with great margaritas, and you can order from their restaurant menu. Separate space from the restaurant, not too loud, good for catching up with a friend.
The restaurant is also excellent. Great for brunch, dinner, or margaritas. Sunny back patio, organic, seasonally-driven Mexican cuisine. Delicious and relaxing environment. Right in the heart of Temescal, an easy walk from my house
74 locals recommend
Doña Tomás
3770 Piedmont AvenueBar with great margaritas, and you can order from their restaurant menu. Separate space from the restaurant, not too loud, good for catching up with a friend.
The restaurant is also excellent. Great for brunch, dinner, or margaritas. Sunny back patio, organic, seasonally-driven Mexican cuisine. Delicious and relaxing environment. Right in the heart of Temescal, an easy walk from my house
Low-key bar within easy walking distance, toward Ashby Bart.
50 locals recommend
Hoi Polloi Brewing Taproom and Beat Lounge
1763 Alcatraz AveLow-key bar within easy walking distance, toward Ashby Bart.
Classic Berkeley spot not far from here - sometimes they have music, sometimes dance classes. Very low-key, friendly scene.
74 locals recommend
The Starry Plough Pub
3101 Shattuck AveClassic Berkeley spot not far from here - sometimes they have music, sometimes dance classes. Very low-key, friendly scene.
Right next to Starry Plough, La Peña is another classic. Low-key music and performance venue, not far away.
36 locals recommend
La Pena Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck AveRight next to Starry Plough, La Peña is another classic. Low-key music and performance venue, not far away.
Really diverse Oakland scene with good shows. Pretty casual, with just a basic bar, but a huge space that used to be an old-time social club. Restaurant downstairs.
55 locals recommend
Starline Social Club
2236 Martin Luther King Jr WayReally diverse Oakland scene with good shows. Pretty casual, with just a basic bar, but a huge space that used to be an old-time social club. Restaurant downstairs.
Lively new venue in Uptown area of Oakland. Huge outdoor seating area with great people watching on a sunny afternoon/evening.
165 locals recommend
Drake's Dealership
2325 BroadwayLively new venue in Uptown area of Oakland. Huge outdoor seating area with great people watching on a sunny afternoon/evening.
Great happy hour venue, little bar with a fireplace on the patio, and housemade empanadas on order.
12 locals recommend
Woods Bar & Brewery
1701 Telegraph AveGreat happy hour venue, little bar with a fireplace on the patio, and housemade empanadas on order.
One of the many bars along Telegraph that's fun for happy hour, with outdoor space. Low-key.
69 locals recommend
Lost & Found Beer Garden
2040 Telegraph AvenueOne of the many bars along Telegraph that's fun for happy hour, with outdoor space. Low-key.
Make Westing
1741 Telegraph AveFun bar in downtown Oakland with bocce courts inside!
Good neighborhood watering hole. Was recently lifted up from its original site around the corner when its lot was sold. Kind of amazing neighborhood institution.
67 locals recommend
Kingfish Pub & Cafe
5227 Telegraph AveGood neighborhood watering hole. Was recently lifted up from its original site around the corner when its lot was sold. Kind of amazing neighborhood institution.
Trappist Provisions
6309 College AveFamous Danish beer, with a nice ambience for hanging out.
Temescal Brewing
4115 Telegraph AveBeer garden for sunny afternoons
The Barrel Room
415 Sansome StreetTo sample some California wines
Roses' Taproom
4930 Telegraph AveArts & Culture
A great museum on Lake Merritt - good special exhibits, as well as art & natural history of California.
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StA great museum on Lake Merritt - good special exhibits, as well as art & natural history of California.
Sightseeing
About 3.5 miles around, Lake Merritt makes for a nice stroll with lots of people watching. It borders downtown Oakland, Uptown, Chinatown, and the Grand Lake area, all worth exploring.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardAbout 3.5 miles around, Lake Merritt makes for a nice stroll with lots of people watching. It borders downtown Oakland, Uptown, Chinatown, and the Grand Lake area, all worth exploring.
Entertainment & Activities
Big old-time movie theater, right on the edge of Lake Merritt.
382 locals recommend
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveBig old-time movie theater, right on the edge of Lake Merritt.
Lively scene at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings, including a bunch of food trucks. There are tables to eat there, or you can have a picnic by the lake.
197 locals recommend
Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand AveLively scene at the Grand Lake Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings, including a bunch of food trucks. There are tables to eat there, or you can have a picnic by the lake.
The Paramount is a beautifully restored theater, hosting music, classic movie nights, and more. It's stunning, and worth checking out if there's an event while you're here.
120 locals recommend
Paramount Theatre
2025 BroadwayThe Paramount is a beautifully restored theater, hosting music, classic movie nights, and more. It's stunning, and worth checking out if there's an event while you're here.
Bookstore-cafe-music venue in a tiny, but beautifully designed space in the Uptown area of Oakland. Delicious food, with a great small book collection, there somehow always seems to be space at lunchtime. In the evenings, Octopus hosts readings, music, and other events.
The Octopus Literary Salon
2101 Webster StBookstore-cafe-music venue in a tiny, but beautifully designed space in the Uptown area of Oakland. Delicious food, with a great small book collection, there somehow always seems to be space at lunchtime. In the evenings, Octopus hosts readings, music, and other events.
Shopping
Unique collection of house-blended spices and spices collected from all over. They teach workshops and sell a bunch of interesting cookbooks. Right near the farmer's market if you're headed there on a Saturday.
34 locals recommend
Oaktown Spice Shop
546 Grand AveUnique collection of house-blended spices and spices collected from all over. They teach workshops and sell a bunch of interesting cookbooks. Right near the farmer's market if you're headed there on a Saturday.