Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
Cosecha
907 Washington StFor brunch or lunch! Delish casual Mexican spot.
Duende
468 19th StDelicious Spanish tapas. I LOVE this place. Make a reservation.
If you just don't feel like cooking, this is where I'd send you: It's like a fancy cafeteria! They have 4 different restaurants that share "counters" so you can pick from Mexican, American or Japanese cuisine. Highly recommend popping in there for lunch - all of the restaurants are really delicious.
55 locals recommend
Swan's Market
538 9th StIf you just don't feel like cooking, this is where I'd send you: It's like a fancy cafeteria! They have 4 different restaurants that share "counters" so you can pick from Mexican, American or Japanese cuisine. Highly recommend popping in there for lunch - all of the restaurants are really delicious.
Blue Bottle coffee started the entire snobby SF coffee movement. It's SUPER GOOD. This is the facility where they manufacture the coffee and you can take tours and do a coffee tasting - you'd have to call to find out the specifics for that. https://bluebottlecoffee.com/cafes/webster-street
173 locals recommend
Blue Bottle Coffee
300 Webster StBlue Bottle coffee started the entire snobby SF coffee movement. It's SUPER GOOD. This is the facility where they manufacture the coffee and you can take tours and do a coffee tasting - you'd have to call to find out the specifics for that. https://bluebottlecoffee.com/cafes/webster-street
This is my favorite pizza spot and probably my favorite restaurant in Jack London Square. They have a great patio so you can sit outside on a sunny day. If I'm dining solo I like to sit at the high stools outside looking out onto the bay, where there is great people-watching.
Get the cheese curds! They are sooooo good.
42 locals recommend
Forge Pizza Oakland
66 Franklin StThis is my favorite pizza spot and probably my favorite restaurant in Jack London Square. They have a great patio so you can sit outside on a sunny day. If I'm dining solo I like to sit at the high stools outside looking out onto the bay, where there is great people-watching.
Get the cheese curds! They are sooooo good.
This is my preferred spot for Ramen. Chinatown is a little intimidating, but this spot is yummy and clean. Their broth is delicious.
14 locals recommend
Sobo Ramen
988 Franklin StThis is my preferred spot for Ramen. Chinatown is a little intimidating, but this spot is yummy and clean. Their broth is delicious.
My favorite of the awesome beer gardens in Oakland! Their patio is unprecedented.
165 locals recommend
Drake's Dealership
2325 BroadwayMy favorite of the awesome beer gardens in Oakland! Their patio is unprecedented.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is my favorite bar and it's right down the street. Great cocktails and wine list and really nice bar food (the fries are to die for).
24 locals recommend
District Oakland
827 Washington StThis is my favorite bar and it's right down the street. Great cocktails and wine list and really nice bar food (the fries are to die for).
Cafe Van Kleef has funky decorations and the BEST "salty dog" on the planet: it's a greyhound with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice with a rim of salt and topped with a grapefruit.
120 locals recommend
Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph AveCafe Van Kleef has funky decorations and the BEST "salty dog" on the planet: it's a greyhound with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice with a rim of salt and topped with a grapefruit.
Because they have a drinks bar AND A GRILLED CHEESE BAR. This is the best place ever when you need one more drink and a late-night snack.
44 locals recommend
Dogwood
1644 Telegraph AveBecause they have a drinks bar AND A GRILLED CHEESE BAR. This is the best place ever when you need one more drink and a late-night snack.
Parks & Nature
Gorgeous park with lots of hiking trails. There is a map with my favorite routes pinned to the corkboard in the hallway.
373 locals recommend
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadGorgeous park with lots of hiking trails. There is a map with my favorite routes pinned to the corkboard in the hallway.
It's a 3.5 mile loop that's very flat. Highly recommend it if you've got a couple hours to meander. There are lots of events there and people chillin' on the shores.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardIt's a 3.5 mile loop that's very flat. Highly recommend it if you've got a couple hours to meander. There are lots of events there and people chillin' on the shores.
In Jack London Square you can rent kayaks for $25 an hour for a single kayak or $40 for a double. You can paddle around the bay and it's just gorgeous. Also, if you're not an expert, don't worry, neither am I. I'm super slow and chill and kayaking is really easy. If you've never done it before I say give it a try! https://calkayak.com/
17 locals recommend
California Canoe & Kayak Oakland
409 Water StreetIn Jack London Square you can rent kayaks for $25 an hour for a single kayak or $40 for a double. You can paddle around the bay and it's just gorgeous. Also, if you're not an expert, don't worry, neither am I. I'm super slow and chill and kayaking is really easy. If you've never done it before I say give it a try! https://calkayak.com/
Essentials
Closest grocery store... although you CAN go to Smart & Final, but I save that for emergencies. It's kinda ghetto.
54 locals recommend
Safeway
2600 Fifth StClosest grocery store... although you CAN go to Smart & Final, but I save that for emergencies. It's kinda ghetto.
Target
2675 Geary BlvdAll the things you need here!
Entertainment & Activities
Jack London is awesome! It's about a 10-minute walk from my house. You can just take a stroll, or you can rent Kayaks and go for a cruise around the bay, or see if there's an event while you're here. They have a Farmer's Market on Sunday mornings from 9 to noon and a really cool craft fair called "Jack of all Trades Market" every other Saturday. It's fab. Go. http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/
213 locals recommend
Jack London Square
472 Water StJack London is awesome! It's about a 10-minute walk from my house. You can just take a stroll, or you can rent Kayaks and go for a cruise around the bay, or see if there's an event while you're here. They have a Farmer's Market on Sunday mornings from 9 to noon and a really cool craft fair called "Jack of all Trades Market" every other Saturday. It's fab. Go. http://www.jacklondonsquare.com/
Arts & Culture
About a 10 minute walk from my place and the museum is really a good one. Friday nights they have 1/2 price admission and events with food trucks and live music. I've seen some great special exhibits here, so check to see what they have going on: http://museumca.org/events
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StAbout a 10 minute walk from my place and the museum is really a good one. Friday nights they have 1/2 price admission and events with food trucks and live music. I've seen some great special exhibits here, so check to see what they have going on: http://museumca.org/events
Getting Around
BART is about a 7-minute walk from my house and it's a 15-minute ride into SF. You can get from my place to a downtown SF location in 30 minutes. Budget more time at night and on Sundays when BART service is slower.
34 locals recommend
12th Street / Oakland City Center station
1245 BroadwayBART is about a 7-minute walk from my house and it's a 15-minute ride into SF. You can get from my place to a downtown SF location in 30 minutes. Budget more time at night and on Sundays when BART service is slower.