Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
Favorite date night dinner for my husband and me. Reserve ahead for indoor table but show up 5ish to get a walk up outdoor spot. Tasty but modest portions. Check website because they are closed 3 days a week.
Bombera
Favorite date night dinner for my husband and me. Reserve ahead for indoor table but show up 5ish to get a walk up outdoor spot. Tasty but modest portions. Check website because they are closed 3 days a week.
Roll out of bed and down the hill for a sticky bun or red flannel hash. Delicious breakfast/brunch. Pricey but a nice treat. Expect to wait for a table.
101 locals recommend
Sequoia Diner
3719 MacArthur BlvdRoll out of bed and down the hill for a sticky bun or red flannel hash. Delicious breakfast/brunch. Pricey but a nice treat. Expect to wait for a table.
Fanciest restaurant in the neighborhood but many rave about it. Surprise patio in back.
Jo's Modern Thai
Fanciest restaurant in the neighborhood but many rave about it. Surprise patio in back.
Delicious Cambodian dishes, very reasonable prices. The food is similar to Thai food, great flavors!
51 locals recommend
Phnom Penh
3912 MacArthur BoulevardDelicious Cambodian dishes, very reasonable prices. The food is similar to Thai food, great flavors!
Communitē Table
4171 MacArthur BlvdComfort food. Really nice owner and servers.
When we can’t get into Bombera, this is our back up in that neighborhood. Best for brunch in my opinion.
21 locals recommend
Grand Lake Kitchen - Dimond
2042 MacArthur BlvdWhen we can’t get into Bombera, this is our back up in that neighborhood. Best for brunch in my opinion.
Nice walk to burgers and beer. They offer impossible patty. All outdoor seating.
Ghost Town Brewing - Laurel
Nice walk to burgers and beer. They offer impossible patty. All outdoor seating.
Nice lattes, breakfast bagel sandwiches. A little grungy inside but independently owned and been here in the Laurel the longest
50 locals recommend
World Ground Cafe
3726 MacArthur BlvdNice lattes, breakfast bagel sandwiches. A little grungy inside but independently owned and been here in the Laurel the longest
Haven’t actually been, but many neighbors like it. Food from taco truck next door ?
40 locals recommend
Degrees Plato Tap Room Bottle Shop & Kitchen
4251 MacArthur BlvdHaven’t actually been, but many neighbors like it. Food from taco truck next door ?
Yeah it's a chain, but sometimes it hits the spot. Earn your pastry walking up the hill, then with your latte, zig zag into the neighborhood on the north side of Redwood Road on your way back to find the creek.
Peet's Coffee
Yeah it's a chain, but sometimes it hits the spot. Earn your pastry walking up the hill, then with your latte, zig zag into the neighborhood on the north side of Redwood Road on your way back to find the creek.
Beloved local ice cream parlor - eat dinner somewhere else on the avenue, but then go for a sundae here.
129 locals recommend
Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont AveBeloved local ice cream parlor - eat dinner somewhere else on the avenue, but then go for a sundae here.
Essentials
Nice quality produce, family-owned local store with great selection of natural foods.
230 locals recommend
Farmer Joe's Marketplace
3501 MacArthur BlvdNice quality produce, family-owned local store with great selection of natural foods.
Very health conscious, all natural foods - bulk items, great service and source for special dietary needs.
26 locals recommend
The Food Mill
3033 MacArthur BlvdVery health conscious, all natural foods - bulk items, great service and source for special dietary needs.
Safeway
Big, standard grocery store, open long hours. Nice staff at this location.
Entertainment & Activities
AKA "Jordan Park" = our go-to neighborhood playground. There's a big grass field, sand, play structures, swings...
Avenue Terrace Playground
3380 Jordan RdAKA "Jordan Park" = our go-to neighborhood playground. There's a big grass field, sand, play structures, swings...
Grass, play structure, school yard adjacent is often open, too. Some free outdoor movies in this park at dusk in summer months.
Redwood Heights Recreation Center
3883 Aliso AveGrass, play structure, school yard adjacent is often open, too. Some free outdoor movies in this park at dusk in summer months.
Saturday mornings, great food, great people watching, live music, even a playground right across the way toward Lake Merritt.
197 locals recommend
Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand AveSaturday mornings, great food, great people watching, live music, even a playground right across the way toward Lake Merritt.
A swimming pool surrounded by redwoods, right by great picnic area and playground, several trails in the shade start at the parking lot (fee$) are great on a hot day.
9 locals recommend
Roberts Pool
10570 Skyline BlvdA swimming pool surrounded by redwoods, right by great picnic area and playground, several trails in the shade start at the parking lot (fee$) are great on a hot day.
Public swimming pool within a nice park that has tennis courts, climbing structures, trail along creek to explore.
13 locals recommend
Lions Pool at Dimond Park
3860 Hanly RdPublic swimming pool within a nice park that has tennis courts, climbing structures, trail along creek to explore.
Sweet gardens, puppet shows, little rides, farm animals - ideal to visit with kids up to 10. Entry fee, so take a picnic for best value.
140 locals recommend
Children’S Fairyland
699 Bellevue AveSweet gardens, puppet shows, little rides, farm animals - ideal to visit with kids up to 10. Entry fee, so take a picnic for best value.
Crowd pleaser for kids of all ages - take your own picnic for best value!
163 locals recommend
Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links RdCrowd pleaser for kids of all ages - take your own picnic for best value!
Hands-on science exhibits for wide range of ages from toddlers to teens - amazing views of the whole Bay Area from the outdoor terrace.
65 locals recommend
Lawrence Hall of Science
Hands-on science exhibits for wide range of ages from toddlers to teens - amazing views of the whole Bay Area from the outdoor terrace.
For younger children, nice little ride through the woods. Can be fun before or after a hike in Tilden Park.
45 locals recommend
Redwood Valley Railway (Tilden Steam Train)
2481 Grizzly Peak BlvdFor younger children, nice little ride through the woods. Can be fun before or after a hike in Tilden Park.
Near Fairyland, but just a playground by the lake with no entrance fee. Fun stop for the short-legged on a walk around the lake.
Rotary Nature Center
600 Bellevue AveNear Fairyland, but just a playground by the lake with no entrance fee. Fun stop for the short-legged on a walk around the lake.
Reservoir with sandy beach for swimming - nice for little ones who just like to splash and wade.
65 locals recommend
Lake Temescal
Reservoir with sandy beach for swimming - nice for little ones who just like to splash and wade.
If you are already in Berkeley, especially near the university, this is a fun side trip for kids. Bring lettuce and celery to feed the animals. Don't miss the merry-go-round just down the road.
23 locals recommend
Tilden Nature Area
600 Canon DriveIf you are already in Berkeley, especially near the university, this is a fun side trip for kids. Bring lettuce and celery to feed the animals. Don't miss the merry-go-round just down the road.
If you like planetarium shows and are really interested in space, this is a neat place to visit. Recommended for kids 5 or older. A bit expensive.
122 locals recommend
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline BlvdIf you like planetarium shows and are really interested in space, this is a neat place to visit. Recommended for kids 5 or older. A bit expensive.
Our local branch library is good for a rainy day or free shows in the summer on Tuesday eves and Sat mornings. http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/dimond-branch
43 locals recommend
Dimond park
3860 Hanly RdOur local branch library is good for a rainy day or free shows in the summer on Tuesday eves and Sat mornings. http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/dimond-branch
Great for a short hike, end at a playground, even a public pool, too. Nice picnicking on the grass under big buckeye trees.
18 locals recommend
Dimond Canyon Trail
Dimond Canyon TrailGreat for a short hike, end at a playground, even a public pool, too. Nice picnicking on the grass under big buckeye trees.
Trails to suit hikers with little or lots of motivation, several trailheads within 5 minute drive.
373 locals recommend
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadTrails to suit hikers with little or lots of motivation, several trailheads within 5 minute drive.
Unusual and fun for big kids: hands-on, build your own fort with real tools, wood, nails, etc. Kite flying at the marina nearby is also recommended
23 locals recommend
Adventure Playground
160 University AveUnusual and fun for big kids: hands-on, build your own fort with real tools, wood, nails, etc. Kite flying at the marina nearby is also recommended
Memorable time with the locals - take a picnic dinner and eat before the show up in Joaquin Miller Park. Take blankets and beanies as the fog often rolls in and the sun goes down. You’ll see families who’ve been coming for decades!
6 locals recommend
Woodminster Amphitheater
3540 Sanborn DrMemorable time with the locals - take a picnic dinner and eat before the show up in Joaquin Miller Park. Take blankets and beanies as the fog often rolls in and the sun goes down. You’ll see families who’ve been coming for decades!
Shopping
La Farine
3411 Fruitvale AveDelicious pastries.
Worker-collective-owned bakery with delicious pastries. Pick up a light-bake pizza to bring home for an easy gourmet dinner.
198 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveWorker-collective-owned bakery with delicious pastries. Pick up a light-bake pizza to bring home for an easy gourmet dinner.
Oaklandish
3419 Fruitvale AveGet your cool souvenirs here.
Drinks & Nightlife
For grown ups - if you want to splurge on a drink - fun place to sit out on the lake. Parking is tricky, but make time to take a walk from further around the lake. Catch a gondola ride from here.
136 locals recommend
Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside DrFor grown ups - if you want to splurge on a drink - fun place to sit out on the lake. Parking is tricky, but make time to take a walk from further around the lake. Catch a gondola ride from here.
Sightseeing
Great natural sciences gallery about the biomes of CA, CA history gallery, CA art gallery - good for the whole family. Close enough to take a walk around Lake Merritt, too.
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StGreat natural sciences gallery about the biomes of CA, CA history gallery, CA art gallery - good for the whole family. Close enough to take a walk around Lake Merritt, too.
You can catch the ferry in Oakland, but parking is MUCH easier here and just a few minutes further to drive. Check 511.org for schedule.
41 locals recommend
Alameda Main Street station
2990 Main StYou can catch the ferry in Oakland, but parking is MUCH easier here and just a few minutes further to drive. Check 511.org for schedule.
If you don't feel like a long drive to the Pacific, this is a great place for little waders to make sandcastles on the bay. A visitors center at the northwest end. Parasailing gear for rent, too.
106 locals recommend
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Otis DriveIf you don't feel like a long drive to the Pacific, this is a great place for little waders to make sandcastles on the bay. A visitors center at the northwest end. Parasailing gear for rent, too.
Arts & Culture
Dancing Under The Stars - free dance lesson/ dance party Friday nights June thru Aug starting at 8:30 p.m. Also, Waterfront Flicks are free outdoor movies 2nd and 4th Thursdays at sundown.
213 locals recommend
Jack London Square
472 Water StDancing Under The Stars - free dance lesson/ dance party Friday nights June thru Aug starting at 8:30 p.m. Also, Waterfront Flicks are free outdoor movies 2nd and 4th Thursdays at sundown.
Great live music venue. Lots of restaurants in walking distance. Recommend using a ride share for this destination.
264 locals recommend
Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph AveGreat live music venue. Lots of restaurants in walking distance. Recommend using a ride share for this destination.
Movie theater in great walking neighborhood - close to lots of choices for cheap or fancy eats.
382 locals recommend
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveMovie theater in great walking neighborhood - close to lots of choices for cheap or fancy eats.