Guidebook for Oakland

Andrea
Guidebook for Oakland

Essentials

Good for picking up staples and snacks. Easy walk from the house
582 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore Ave
582 locals recommend
Good for picking up staples and snacks. Easy walk from the house
fresh fruit and veggies if you don't make it to the farmer's market.
7 locals recommend
Lakeshore Produce
3312 Lakeshore Ave
7 locals recommend
fresh fruit and veggies if you don't make it to the farmer's market.
Every Saturday from 9-2. Great fresh fruit and veggies, prepared foods, crafts, and baked goods. Vendors sell meals so you can grab something to eat and enjoy people watching. Live music too.
197 locals recommend
Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand Ave
197 locals recommend
Every Saturday from 9-2. Great fresh fruit and veggies, prepared foods, crafts, and baked goods. Vendors sell meals so you can grab something to eat and enjoy people watching. Live music too.
Right down the hill from us.
62 locals recommend
Safeway
3747 Grand Ave
62 locals recommend
Right down the hill from us.
Prepared foods and groceries. Outdoor sitting area.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay Pl
553 locals recommend
Prepared foods and groceries. Outdoor sitting area.

Everything Else

Great to walk or run around (around 3.5 miles around). Boat rentals as well. Playgrounds at two different spots. Great people seeing.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt Boulevard
751 locals recommend
Great to walk or run around (around 3.5 miles around). Boat rentals as well. Playgrounds at two different spots. Great people seeing.
wonderful yoga studio, variety of styles, really solid teachers, and a beautiful space.
11 locals recommend
Namaste Yoga + Wellness Grand Lake
3227 Lakeshore Ave
11 locals recommend
wonderful yoga studio, variety of styles, really solid teachers, and a beautiful space.

Food Scene

Really great food and nice vibe. Our favorite place to get upscale pizza.
197 locals recommend
Sister
3308 Grand Ave
197 locals recommend
Really great food and nice vibe. Our favorite place to get upscale pizza.
Good Indian food in walking distance.
7 locals recommend
Punjabi Tarka
3276 Lakeshore Ave
7 locals recommend
Good Indian food in walking distance.
If you need a quick slice late at night or anytime.
13 locals recommend
Lanesplitter Pub & Pizza
536 Lake Park Ave
13 locals recommend
If you need a quick slice late at night or anytime.
good pub fare and a good bar. Outdoor patio for brunch and dinner and drinks.
15 locals recommend
The Grand Tavern
3601 Grand Ave
15 locals recommend
good pub fare and a good bar. Outdoor patio for brunch and dinner and drinks.
If you're looking for a fancier special meal out. Also does brunch.
45 locals recommend
Camino
3917 Grand Ave
45 locals recommend
If you're looking for a fancier special meal out. Also does brunch.
Decent Thai food in walking distance.
14 locals recommend
Grand Avenue Thai Cuisine
384 Grand Ave
14 locals recommend
Decent Thai food in walking distance.
Good brunch and great outdoor patio.
105 locals recommend
Portal Oakland
1611 2nd Ave
105 locals recommend
Good brunch and great outdoor patio.
Great ice cream and an Oakland tradition. Also serves food.
129 locals recommend
Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont Ave
129 locals recommend
Great ice cream and an Oakland tradition. Also serves food.
great falafal and other dishes. Check out the mint lemonade.
12 locals recommend
Holy Land Kosher Food
677 Rand Ave
12 locals recommend
great falafal and other dishes. Check out the mint lemonade.
farther afield but one of our favorite brunch spots. Be prepared to wait.
53 locals recommend
Aunt Mary's Cafe
4640 Telegraph Avenue
53 locals recommend
farther afield but one of our favorite brunch spots. Be prepared to wait.
wonderful brunch - also has a great back patio.
10 locals recommend
Cock-A-Doodle Cafe
719 Washington St
10 locals recommend
wonderful brunch - also has a great back patio.
great East Bay brunch!
47 locals recommend
Rick & Ann's Restaurant
2922 Domingo Ave
47 locals recommend
great East Bay brunch!
Fabulous restaurant, great ambiance, right on the water. Definitely get the chocolate croissant bread pudding.
24 locals recommend
Bocanova
24 locals recommend
Fabulous restaurant, great ambiance, right on the water. Definitely get the chocolate croissant bread pudding.
great outdoor patio right on the water. Solid pizza, interesting beers.
42 locals recommend
Forge Pizza Oakland
66 Franklin St
42 locals recommend
great outdoor patio right on the water. Solid pizza, interesting beers.
great breads, baked goods, and homemade pizzas. Worker co-op is a bonus!
198 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore Ave
198 locals recommend
great breads, baked goods, and homemade pizzas. Worker co-op is a bonus!
Live salsa music on the weekends, brunch, morning coffee, you name it.
54 locals recommend
CAÑA Cuban Parlor & Cafe
530 Lake Park Ave
54 locals recommend
Live salsa music on the weekends, brunch, morning coffee, you name it.
really solid burger and great shakes.
59 locals recommend
Trueburger
146 Grand Ave
59 locals recommend
really solid burger and great shakes.
not a coffee drinker but Peet's makes good coffee!
259 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine St
259 locals recommend
not a coffee drinker but Peet's makes good coffee!
great homemade noodles.
71 locals recommend
Shandong Restaurant
328 10th St
71 locals recommend
great homemade noodles.
they say it's the best fried chicken sandwich (i'm a vegetarian).
196 locals recommend
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph Ave
196 locals recommend
they say it's the best fried chicken sandwich (i'm a vegetarian).
really great Vietnamese food.
7 locals recommend
Pho 84
354 17th St
7 locals recommend
really great Vietnamese food.
for a fancy dinner out.
63 locals recommend
Flora
1900 Telegraph Ave
63 locals recommend
for a fancy dinner out.
good tapas and nice bar. outdoor patio.
25 locals recommend
Bar Cesar
4039 Piedmont Ave
25 locals recommend
good tapas and nice bar. outdoor patio.
really good mexican food - if you are up for wandering into east oakland.
El Huarache Azteca
3842 International Blvd
really good mexican food - if you are up for wandering into east oakland.
brunch place nearby - not our favorite but solid. Check out the upstairs deck/patio.
15 locals recommend
Lynn & Lu's Escapade Cafe
3353 Grand Ave
15 locals recommend
brunch place nearby - not our favorite but solid. Check out the upstairs deck/patio.

Drinks & Nightlife

our German guests loved this spot. Has a nice back patio.
52 locals recommend
Heart & Dagger Saloon
504 Lake Park Ave
52 locals recommend
our German guests loved this spot. Has a nice back patio.
also serves food and has a back patio.
14 locals recommend
Easy Lounge
3255 Lakeshore Avenue
14 locals recommend
also serves food and has a back patio.
good djs nice vibe.
Kingman's Lucky Lounge
3332 Grand Ave
good djs nice vibe.
if you like to sing along to piano music go check it out.
60 locals recommend
The Alley | Piano Bar & Restaurant
3325 Grand Ave
60 locals recommend
if you like to sing along to piano music go check it out.
they have food too - but I go there to drink.
50 locals recommend
Duende
468 19th St
50 locals recommend
they have food too - but I go there to drink.
Not a huge fan of the food - but you can't beat the location. They have Taco Tuesday happy hours and other deals. Often live music. Decent brunch.
136 locals recommend
Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside Dr
136 locals recommend
Not a huge fan of the food - but you can't beat the location. They have Taco Tuesday happy hours and other deals. Often live music. Decent brunch.

Entertainment & Activities

nice wooded area to walk in just 3 blocks from the house. Most people take their dogs there to walk but you can go without a dog (or borrow ours).
16 locals recommend
Piedmont Park
356 Highland Ave
16 locals recommend
nice wooded area to walk in just 3 blocks from the house. Most people take their dogs there to walk but you can go without a dog (or borrow ours).
It's a bit mid-century in design and upkeep but every day we see kids streaming there dressed as princesses and pirates. My 5 year old niece loved it.
140 locals recommend
Children's Fairyland
699 Bellevue Ave
140 locals recommend
It's a bit mid-century in design and upkeep but every day we see kids streaming there dressed as princesses and pirates. My 5 year old niece loved it.
great trails, beach area for hot days, and a snack shack.
43 locals recommend
Lake Anza
43 locals recommend
great trails, beach area for hot days, and a snack shack.
close by and good for a walk, a picnic, or swimming.
65 locals recommend
Lake Temescal
65 locals recommend
close by and good for a walk, a picnic, or swimming.

Sightseeing

10 minutes away by car - and great trails with Redwoods.
214 locals recommend
Joaquin Miller Park
3300 Joaquin Miller Rd
214 locals recommend
10 minutes away by car - and great trails with Redwoods.
easy to get to and really wonderful hiking. nice redwood grove.
373 locals recommend
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood Road
373 locals recommend
easy to get to and really wonderful hiking. nice redwood grove.