Guidebook for Oakland

Stephanie
Guidebook for Oakland

Food Scene

Excellent example of Cal cuisine; superior craft cocktails. Get there EARLY or make a reservation. It's my absolute fave restaurant. With no reservation you can still sit at the bar.
237 locals recommend
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph Ave
237 locals recommend
Excellent example of Cal cuisine; superior craft cocktails. Get there EARLY or make a reservation. It's my absolute fave restaurant. With no reservation you can still sit at the bar.
Sister resto to Pizzaiolo near the Grand Lake Theatre. Fresh, Cal-style cuisine, wood oven, best cocktails. No reservations taken, just go.
194 locals recommend
Sister
3308 Grand Ave
194 locals recommend
Sister resto to Pizzaiolo near the Grand Lake Theatre. Fresh, Cal-style cuisine, wood oven, best cocktails. No reservations taken, just go.
Closest decent coffee to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Decent food. Wonderful and community-minded owners.
16 locals recommend
Earthly Coffee and Tea
5506 Martin Luther King Jr Way
16 locals recommend
Closest decent coffee to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Decent food. Wonderful and community-minded owners.
Interesting/yummy bowls of Korean and Korean-fusion foods. In Temescal and walkable.
31 locals recommend
Bowl'd BBQ
South Shore Center
31 locals recommend
Interesting/yummy bowls of Korean and Korean-fusion foods. In Temescal and walkable.
Good, clean taqueria close to home. Delicious. Closes at 9.
15 locals recommend
La Calaca Loca Taqueria
5199 Telegraph Ave
15 locals recommend
Good, clean taqueria close to home. Delicious. Closes at 9.
BEST taqueria that is walkable. BEST. (They also sell limited menu at Sunday farmers market.)
173 locals recommend
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph Ave
173 locals recommend
BEST taqueria that is walkable. BEST. (They also sell limited menu at Sunday farmers market.)
Closest Ethiopian to home and quite good! Great food, no atmosphere. Close walk.
7 locals recommend
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine
4929 Shattuck Ave
7 locals recommend
Closest Ethiopian to home and quite good! Great food, no atmosphere. Close walk.
Best atmosphere of all the Ethiopian and good food.
53 locals recommend
Café Colucci
5849 Telegraph Ave
53 locals recommend
Best atmosphere of all the Ethiopian and good food.
Best Thai food in the East Bay that I have tasted. Lots of veggie options, very fresh, organic often, great brown rice mix!
38 locals recommend
Anchalee Thai Cuisine
1096 Dwight Way
38 locals recommend
Best Thai food in the East Bay that I have tasted. Lots of veggie options, very fresh, organic often, great brown rice mix!
Closest taqueria to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Really tasty! Closes early--8! Be careful on 55th west of Lowell.
16 locals recommend
Cassave
5412 San Pablo Ave
16 locals recommend
Closest taqueria to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Really tasty! Closes early--8! Be careful on 55th west of Lowell.
Seriously awesome cheap eats in South Berkeley, daily menu w veg options.
58 locals recommend
Easy Creole
1761 Alcatraz Ave
58 locals recommend
Seriously awesome cheap eats in South Berkeley, daily menu w veg options.
Wayyyy above-average diner food. Breakfast till late night.
54 locals recommend
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe
4081 Hollis St
54 locals recommend
Wayyyy above-average diner food. Breakfast till late night.
I personally think it's HIGHLY overrated but I appear to be in the minority. Besides, you can say you went to the all mac n cheese resto!
149 locals recommend
Homeroom
400 40th St
149 locals recommend
I personally think it's HIGHLY overrated but I appear to be in the minority. Besides, you can say you went to the all mac n cheese resto!
SUPER-tasty farm to table place right on the Downtown Berkeley BART. Varied menu, great wines and cocktails, good value.
35 locals recommend
Revival Bar + Kitchen
2102 Shattuck Ave
35 locals recommend
SUPER-tasty farm to table place right on the Downtown Berkeley BART. Varied menu, great wines and cocktails, good value.
Fantastic upscale Mexican food, reasonable prices. Gets BUSY and doesn't take reservations.
134 locals recommend
Comal
2020 Shattuck Ave
134 locals recommend
Fantastic upscale Mexican food, reasonable prices. Gets BUSY and doesn't take reservations.
The original Gregoire. More like a take-out window than restaurant. Fantastic French/French-inspired food open all day.
71 locals recommend
Grégoire Restaurant
2109 Cedar St
71 locals recommend
The original Gregoire. More like a take-out window than restaurant. Fantastic French/French-inspired food open all day.
Super-unique Indian-Cali fusion. Food unlike anywhere else; you gotta try the frybread! Great cocktails.
19 locals recommend
Tigerlily Berkeley
1513 Shattuck Ave
19 locals recommend
Super-unique Indian-Cali fusion. Food unlike anywhere else; you gotta try the frybread! Great cocktails.
MOST EXCELLENT cocktails, pretty great food while you're there. Curated by local authors, with books. A literary cafe/bookstore/cocktail bar!
10 locals recommend
North Light
4915 Telegraph Ave
10 locals recommend
MOST EXCELLENT cocktails, pretty great food while you're there. Curated by local authors, with books. A literary cafe/bookstore/cocktail bar!
A Rockridge restaurant institution with a wonderful French-Cal-inspired menu. Always a delight.
50 locals recommend
À Côté Restaurant
5478 College Ave
50 locals recommend
A Rockridge restaurant institution with a wonderful French-Cal-inspired menu. Always a delight.
French-Cal-inspired fun spot walkable to you. Can get very loud. food is wonderful.
The Rendez-Vous
French-Cal-inspired fun spot walkable to you. Can get very loud. food is wonderful.
Authentic and amazing Italian
41 locals recommend
Belotti Ristorante E Bottega
5403 College Ave
41 locals recommend
Authentic and amazing Italian
Best Japanese food in the East Bay; expensive but impeccable
35 locals recommend
Iyasare
1830 Fourth St
35 locals recommend
Best Japanese food in the East Bay; expensive but impeccable
Best Middle Eastern+Cal from a longtime caterer. Wonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
6 locals recommend
Pomella
3770 Piedmont Ave
6 locals recommend
Best Middle Eastern+Cal from a longtime caterer. Wonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
Wonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
74 locals recommend
Doña Tomás
3770 Piedmont Avenue
74 locals recommend
Wonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
Legendary, foodie. Check hours tho; they are limited.
15 locals recommend
Tacos Oscar
420 40th St
15 locals recommend
Legendary, foodie. Check hours tho; they are limited.
Top-notch Cal baking; if you don't want pizza there's focaccia, pull-apart cheese sticks, etc.
48 locals recommend
Nick's Pizza and Bakery Made in Oakland
6400 Shattuck Ave
48 locals recommend
Top-notch Cal baking; if you don't want pizza there's focaccia, pull-apart cheese sticks, etc.
Foodie scene.
Snail Bar
Foodie scene.
The celery salad is really as good as they say. Unique/cool spot, can get loud.
DAYTRIP
The celery salad is really as good as they say. Unique/cool spot, can get loud.

Drinks & Nightlife

Beer garden. I don't even like beer and I LOVE this place: friendly service, walking distance, GREAT veg/vegan options and overall great menu.
24 locals recommend
Moxy
3136 Sacramento St
24 locals recommend
Beer garden. I don't even like beer and I LOVE this place: friendly service, walking distance, GREAT veg/vegan options and overall great menu.
I've never been. Too meaty but the meat folkses love it. Allegedly excellent craft beers.
34 locals recommend
Hog's Apothecary
375 40th St
34 locals recommend
I've never been. Too meaty but the meat folkses love it. Allegedly excellent craft beers.
Irish-influenced bar, nicely done by nice owners, just a 5-min walk from your home base. Huge beer selection, some cocktails.
35 locals recommend
Wolfhound Bar
5516 San Pablo Ave
35 locals recommend
Irish-influenced bar, nicely done by nice owners, just a 5-min walk from your home base. Huge beer selection, some cocktails.
Best craft cocktails in all of Oakland. Can get loud, so WORTH IT.
Viridian
Best craft cocktails in all of Oakland. Can get loud, so WORTH IT.

Essentials

Best area groceries. Worthy tourist destination; you likely have nothing like it at home.
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz Ave
371 locals recommend
Best area groceries. Worthy tourist destination; you likely have nothing like it at home.
If you have a car this is THE place to get groceries.
419 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St
419 locals recommend
If you have a car this is THE place to get groceries.

Everything Else

Sunday farmers market in the DMV parking lot, 8-1. Walkable. Nice selection of baked goods and restaurant food cart items even if you're not getting produce. Local people watching.
96 locals recommend
Temescal Farmer's Market
5300 Claremont Ave
96 locals recommend
Sunday farmers market in the DMV parking lot, 8-1. Walkable. Nice selection of baked goods and restaurant food cart items even if you're not getting produce. Local people watching.
All things gluten-free. Walkable.
34 locals recommend
Mariposa Baking Company
5427 Telegraph Ave
34 locals recommend
All things gluten-free. Walkable.
Best local bagels.
122 locals recommend
Beauty's Bagel Shop
3838 Telegraph Ave
122 locals recommend
Best local bagels.
Adorable stroll w/retail that includes fancy coffee and donuts. The naughty cream is the only donut worth getting. So good tho! (The others are average.)
65 locals recommend
Temescal Alley
Temescal Alley
65 locals recommend
Adorable stroll w/retail that includes fancy coffee and donuts. The naughty cream is the only donut worth getting. So good tho! (The others are average.)
Little retail area with cheese shop, Ethiopian, USPS, shops and restaurants, drug store. Walk 55th and turn right to head south. The action is on the other side of the freeway underpass.
6 locals recommend
Shattuck Avenue
Shattuck Avenue
6 locals recommend
Little retail area with cheese shop, Ethiopian, USPS, shops and restaurants, drug store. Walk 55th and turn right to head south. The action is on the other side of the freeway underpass.
Pizza of the day and bread of the day that always changes. Menu on website. Fantastic chai. Walkable.
72 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery & Pizzeria
4301 San Pablo Ave
72 locals recommend
Pizza of the day and bread of the day that always changes. Menu on website. Fantastic chai. Walkable.
Fantastic Tuesday (2-6:30) farmers market a close walk into Berkeley.
43 locals recommend
South Berkeley (Tuesday) Farmers' Market
63rd Street
43 locals recommend
Fantastic Tuesday (2-6:30) farmers market a close walk into Berkeley.
Foodie heaven at Rockridge BART. The best is the cheese shop and the coffee. The fish market has daily sandwich and soup specials till 6. The bakery is good too.
64 locals recommend
Rockridge Market Hall
5655 College Ave
64 locals recommend
Foodie heaven at Rockridge BART. The best is the cheese shop and the coffee. The fish market has daily sandwich and soup specials till 6. The bakery is good too.
Not rec'ing the station. Just mapping it to tell you you can walk several blocks on College Ave. in either direction from the BART and be pleased and entertained (retail, restaurants, etc.).
127 locals recommend
Rockridge Station
5660 College Ave
127 locals recommend
Not rec'ing the station. Just mapping it to tell you you can walk several blocks on College Ave. in either direction from the BART and be pleased and entertained (retail, restaurants, etc.).
Hey, you can walk to Pixar! How cool is that? Also it's cute and historic around there, unlike most of the rest of Emeryville.
35 locals recommend
Pixar Animation Studios
1200 Park Ave
35 locals recommend
Hey, you can walk to Pixar! How cool is that? Also it's cute and historic around there, unlike most of the rest of Emeryville.
Easy/short walk to fill in produce/basic needs. Note limited hours, closes around 7-8. Also Basic Cafe next door for GREAT food and outdoor seating!
Baseline Produce
5220 Adeline St
Easy/short walk to fill in produce/basic needs. Note limited hours, closes around 7-8. Also Basic Cafe next door for GREAT food and outdoor seating!
Not a rec. Just mapping your nearest BART station.
164 locals recommend
MacArthur Station
555 40th St
164 locals recommend
Not a rec. Just mapping your nearest BART station.
Not a rec. Just mapping your other nearest BART station.
159 locals recommend
Ashby station
3100 Adeline St
159 locals recommend
Not a rec. Just mapping your other nearest BART station.