Oakland

While Oakland has neither the concentration of tourist amenities present in its western neighbor, San Francisco, nor the suburban sprawl of San Jose to the south, the visitor can easily spend a few pleasant days here. From the mid-1960s through the early twenty-first century, popular media stoked American racial and class biases to generate negative perceptions about Oakland. Since the late 1990s, however, the actual basis for these often exaggerated portraits of Oakland life have receded, as the city is experiencing an economic and cultural revitalization, as well as the more controversial hyper-gentrification. Oakland is now the Bay Area's most diverse city. Although still an underrated cultural center, its heady arts and culinary scene and ongoing revitalization have generated enthusiastic coverage in the world media of record, including the NY Times, UK Guardian, UK Independent, NPR, and the LA Times. The city gets its name because it has an abundance of oak trees.
Since the 1960s, Oakland has been a hub of progressive politics and radical, sometimes outlaw organizations. For example, while Oakland gave rise to civil-rights-conscious labor movements in the mid-century, it was also the birthplace of the Black Panther Party and a crucial hub for the early era Hell's Angels.
Oakland's history in the arts and entertainment arena is notable as well, as Oakland has nurtured or been a second home to novelists Gertrude Stein and Jack London; actors Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks; architect Julia Morgan; environmentalist Julia "Butterfly" Hill; classical conductor Calvin Simmons; rappers MC Hammer, 2Pac, Messy Marv, and notables in the liberal arts and sciences.

Climate

Oakland, like San Francisco, has a Mediterranean climate with temperatures moderated by the San Francisco Bay and the nearby, greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Rain generally occurs in winter, not summer, since rains share more similarity to monsoons than they do to thunderstorms. Also, the effects of the San Francisco Bay and the East Bay's Mediterranean climate mean that below-freezing temperatures are unlikely, and if they do occur, the air will be dry.

By plane

• Oakland International Airportis served by many domestic and international carriers. There is private shuttle service ($10–25) to hotels in Oakland and San Francisco. The airport is also served by the "BART to OAK" people mover to the Oakland Coliseum BART Station, from where you can continue onward to central Oakland or San Francisco, or transfer to the similarly named Amtrak Capitol Corridor station. The people mover runs every 5 minutes during the day, and ticket pricing is integrated at e.g. $7.85 to central Oakland or $10.05 to central San Francisco. This replaces the earlier AirBART buses, which have now been retired.

Other air travel options include the San Francisco (SFO) and San Jose (SJC) International Airports. SFO, with its BART station, is the more convenient of the two and also sits closer to Oakland. Those flying into SJC may have to battle significant traffic, pay for an expensive van or taxi ride, or take VTA's Airport Flyer (Route 10) to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, then Caltrain to the Millbrae Intermodal Station, and then BART toward Oakland. (From SFO and Millbrae, BART provides direct service to West Oakland, Oakland City Center/12th Street, 19th Street, MacArthur, and Rockridge stations; those traveling to other Oakland stations, such as Coliseum, must change trains no later than 19th Street.)
For private pilots, Oakland Airport (OAK) has a separate General Aviation area "North Field", essentially the equivalent of another airport to the north of the commercial facilities, with separate tower, taxiways, and radio frequencies. Its long runway is frequently used for jet travel, and Oakland makes a far better GA destination than SFO's complex, heavily trafficked field.

By train

Amtrak has two stations accessible from Oakland, (At Alice and 2nd street, not far from the Square itself) and the much larger (At Horton and 59th Street, in Emeryville). It's always a good idea to get to your train at least 30 minutes early, to allow for lines, security and so forth.

• California Zephyr Emeryville to Chicago via Sacramento. Reachable by a bus ride via both AC Transit and the Emery-Go-Round.
• Capitol Corridor San Jose to Auburn via Sacramento). The route also includes a stop at the Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station, adjacent to the Oakland Coliseum BART station. The Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station has no station agents. Passengers may board the train and buy the tickets from the conductor at no surcharge.
• Coast Starlight Seattle to Los Angeles
• San Joaquins (Oakland to Bakersfield, California)
• Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches connects Emeryville and Oakland Jack London Stations to downtown San Francisco, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo by bus. Connections to the Pacific Surfliner are in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

By car

From San Francisco, Interstate 80 east leads over the beautiful Bay Bridge to I-580, I-880, and I-980, which go to east, west, and downtown Oakland respectively.
From Marin, Sonoma, and other counties along the northern coast of California, take US-101 to I-580 and cross the Richmond Bridge. I-580 leads directly into Oakland.
From Monterey, Salinas, and the Central Coast, follow US-101 to San Jose and connect to I-880, which leads to Oakland.
From Tracy, Modesto, and San Joaquin Valley's southern portion (Southern California, too), take the scenic I-580 over Altamont Pass.
From Stockton, either follow the Altamont Pass route or take California Route 4 through Contra Costa County to Route 242, then to Route I-680, which connects to Route 24.
From Contra Costa County, Route 24 leads to north Oakland through the Caldecott Tunnel.
From the northern East Bay, Vallejo, Fairfield, and the greater Sacramento, I-80 west leads directly to Oakland.
Alternatively, you can connect to Highway 123 and San Pablo Avenue in Richmond, and follow it to Oakland, if there is trouble on the parallel I-80. It's city streets, so will likely take extra time, and it will mean driving into and through everything between Richmond and West Oakland, including both El Cerrito and Berkeley.
Most northern entries to Oakland go through the heinous MacArthur Maze, a spaghetti-like mashup of four freeways trying to merge and pass each other. It's got terrible traffic during commute times (7AM-10AM, 4PM-8PM), so you might want to avoid driving on the freeways at these times.

By bus

• Greyhound

  phone: +1 510 832-4730
  address: 2103 San Pablo Ave
  At the western border of Uptown in a notorious location — be careful. There is regular local bus service to and from Downtown and in the opposite direction, Berkeley.

• Hoang Express

  phone: +1 408-729-7885
  address: bus stop at Banh Mi Ba Le's Sandwich Shop, 1909 International Blvd (E 14th St)
  Travels between SoCal (San Diego, El Monte, Los Angeles, Westminster) and northern California (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento).

• Megabus

  address: W Oakland BART station at 1451 7th St
  Service to and from Anaheim, Burbank and Los Angeles.

By ferry

The San Francisco Bay Ferry has departures from both Pier 41 and the Ferry Building in San Francisco, weekdays year-round and weekends except for mid-winter. Its Oakland terminal is at the foot of Clay St. in Jack London Square. (On summer weekends there are also trips to Angel Island, an island park in the middle of the bay, formerly an immigration station.)

Oakland is a good-sized city, with attractions more than a fair distance from the center of town. Car rentals tend to be more expensive than other locations in the country, and streets are frequently lined with meters, unless they're in completely residential zones. Some of the larger attractions have their own parking of course, and some of the more visitor-friendly neighborhoods have sizable parking lots - some paid and some not. Most residential areas allow parking for only a limited time for non-residents, so the wise traveler is best-advised to use public transit of some kind.

Clipper

The frequent and long-term visitor to the area may be best-advised to acquire a Clipper card, which is touted as an 'all-in-one' transit electronic flash pass. It allows much easier use of almost all of the entire Bay Area's public transit agencies, allowing the user to use simple cash value or a specific transit agency's monthly pass. Cash value may be added at any of BART's stations, as well as a certain stores in Oakland or throughout the Bay Area.

By bicycle

Oakland has a wide and increasing infrastructure of bicycle lanes. If you need a bike, rental shops are close to nonexistent. Oakland enjoys a pumping bike culture, with lots of bike parking, and especially at some "parklets" at many of the city's coffee shops. If you like mixing bikes with your nightlife, you can join the 300+ people that cycle together monthly at East Bay Bike Party.

Bike sharing

Bike sharing is a recent development in Oakland, so most of the action is through Ford GoBike and their trademark blue bikes and docking stations. LimeBike is a more recent appearance, mostly through their trademark lime green rental scooters. Both tend to be quite pricey. GoBike's machines allow only a limited time of use, 30 minutes at a time for a day-long access pass or 45 minutes a ride for an annual membership fee.

By bus

• AC Transit

  address: 1600 Franklin St
  Bus service to most parts of Oakland and its neighboring cities and towns for $2.35 (one-way, $.25 for single-use transfer), transbay service to San Francisco is $4.50 (one-way, single-use transfer for AC Transit only is free). A Local Day Pass, allowing unlimited transfers at no additional cost is $5, and lasts until 3 AM the following day. Service for most routes ends at or around midnight. There are several all-night routes, designated by "8xx" numbers, such as the 800, which runs from Richmond BART/Amtrak, through El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley and Oakland to and from San Francisco. (From Bay Area phones, dial 511, then say "AC Transit" for the AC Transit menu, then say, "Customer Relations".)

• The B

  phone: +1 510 891-4777
  The B is a free shuttle service operating along Broadway from Grand Ave. all the way to Jack London Square.

• Emery-Go-Round

  phone: +1 510 451-3862
  address: 1300 67th St
  Shuttle service that connects at MacArthur BART Station, providing frequent and free service from the early morning to around 10PM between Oakland and Emeryville

By car

Unlike the often-tightly packed and crowded streets of nearby San Francisco, many locations of Oakland are much more friendly to cars. Parking lots are a more frequent sight, some requiring a nominal fee, as well as larger parking structures near the airport, and some of the BART stations.
In addition to the freeways and route mentioned in the "Get In" section, there are a couple of smaller intraurban freeways in Oakland:
The Warren Freeway (CA 13) is a two-way narrow four-lane highway that intersects CA-24 near the Caldecott Tunnel at one end and follows the feet of the Oakland Hills, passing alongside the wealthy Montclair neighborhood, through a wooded valley until it merges with I-580. It's often used to bypass the often-circuitous route taken by I-580 and the MacArthur Maze, but its narrowness can turn it into a traffic jam far more easily. Interstate 980 is a north-south freeway that becomes CA-24 when it nears the Cloverleaf merge with I-580. It meets I-880, passing around the western edge of Old Oakland.

Car sharing

Car sharing has been available since 2001 in Oakland, when City Carshare (absorbed by Getaround in 2016) opened its doors for the first time. Rates are usually by the hour or the day, depending on the individual service. Getaround, Gig Car Share, Upshift and Zipcar offer easily-accessible services to account holders city-wide.

Rental cars

Rental car facilities may be found scattered throughout the city, though Oakland International Airport has a dedicated facility; including a connecting rental car bus. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National and Thrifty all maintain offices and rental lots at the Rental Car Center at 7600 Earhart Road (Entrance is at the corner of Langley and Doolittle), outside of the Airport proper.
In addition, Avis, Enterprise and Hertz all operate smaller car rental facilities at various locations in the city itself.

Ride sharing

Uber and Lyft both do a bustling business in the entire Bay Area, including Oakland. As of August 2018, Uber offers services for a minimum fare of about $7.20 and $1.33/mile, and Lyft about $3.50 minimum and about $1.50/mile or $0.18/minute. Uber offers wheelchair-accessible services, and both offer SUV services. Both services have additional fees for rides beginning or terminating at Oakland International Airport. Surge pricing applies during certain heavy traffic hours with both services. Be careful - with heavy traffic during rush hours, surge pricing and mileage can result in a very hefty bill.

By subway

• BARTConnections between Oakland to San Francisco, the Peninsula, Contra Costa County, and the far northeastern reach of Silicon Valley, usually at a cost between $2 and $4 each way. BART has stations in several major neighborhoods in Oakland, such as Downtown (City Center), West Oakland, Lake Merritt and Rockridge. Note that there is an extra $5 added to any fare beginning or ending at SFO.

By taxi

Taxi services in Oakland tend to be a very mixed experience. Prices tend to be high, and even the more reliable taxi companies can be very hit and miss for reliability and prompt response time. There are a large number of companies with "Yellow" and "Cab" in their name, without being the same company.

Oakland has many attractions to the eye and for the mind. Where some believe that it is a city of run-down Victorian houses or endless stretches of urban blight, this is very far from accurate. Oakland is a city with roots as far back as the earliest years of the admission of the State of California, and as such, it has architecture extant from many different eras. The Victorian architecture preserved and restored in Old Oakland, the Art Deco glory of Uptown, and the history of the Port of Oakland itself are among the many things to see. New York City has Manhattanhenge, towers of glass and steel; Oakland has the valleys of stone. Eight different walking tours are offered by the City of Oakland, with eight different paths to explore the city, from the historical landmarks of Jack London Square and the Waterfront, to the cultural sights and experiences of Chinatown, and the history of African Americans that grew and made their marks in civil rights and the history not only of the city but of the nation, just to give a small sample of three of the tours' itineraries.

Neighborhoods

The first place many visitors are likely to visit is Downtown, especially if they are in town on business, or simply do not know where to start. The center of transportation by BART and by bus is there, if you want to branch out. Only a few streets away is Old Oakland, along 10th Street, just west of Broadway. Just east of Broadway and continuing north and south is Oakland's famous Chinatown, where many of the buildings and streets of Chinatown reflect the diverse nature of its history, in architecture and in the bilingual signs seen throughout the neighborhood.
The curious traveler can venture to take a bus southwards along Broadway, and come to Jack London Square. The unlikely mixture of warehouses and very expensive restaurants and posh atmosphere alongside some of the landmarks of the city's waterfront makes the Square an interesting place to visit and explore, even for locals. It's the home of the USS Potomac and the site of the namesake author's residence, still preserved and humbly standing not far from a saloon from the same era.
Just west of Downtown and slightly north of the Financial District is Uptown. In the evening it buzzes with art galleries, theaters and residents and Bay Area visitors coming into the area to see concerts. A popular area on the weekend with a mixed vibe of hipster and hip hop. It's a burgeoning neighborhood of performing arts ranging from nightclubs to music halls, and some of the best in the city's vintage architecture, like the Gothic Revival Cathedral Building and the Art Deco Fox and Paramount Theaters, as well as several nationally renowned restaurants, including Flora, Duende, and Pícan.
North Oakland is a sweeping term, referring to just about everywhere north of Uptown and Lake Merritt. Temescal is a neighborhood that lies north-northwest from Downtown; it is home to a range of restaurant cuisines, from Korean to Ethiopian. Northeast of Temescal lies Rockridge, a picturesque and affluent neighborhood mixed with family friendly and artistic vibes. South of Rockridge lies Piedmont Avenue, a street home to many renowned eateries, close to the small, sleepy and wealthy town of Piedmont. East along I-580 are the Grand Lake and Lakeshore neighborhoods, which share a friendly, early twentieth century suburban ambiance. The Grand Lake Theater stands at the entrance to the neighborhood that bears its name, a matter of a few hundred feet from Lakeshore Avenue - both neighborhoods have a range of eateries no matter what your budget, be it burgers or a romantic meal.
West Oakland was once a burgeoning working-class neighborhood with its roots tracing as far back as the opening decades of the 19th century. The neighborhood is a gritty paradox, featuring separate blocks of slums and industrial sites and on others, stately restored victorians and arts-rededicated warehouses. Marred by among the city's higher crime rates, West Oakland also boasts a growing number of stylish hipster cafés, drawing a clientele ranging from the port's dock workers to concept-conscious hipsters from around the Bay Area.

Museums

• African American Museum and Library at Oakland

  phone: +1 510 637-0200
  address: 659 14th St
  This is a beautiful building, one of the libraries donated by Andrew Carnegie, and its exterior merits a look before or after you visit the interior. The museum is on the second floor. Some of the temporary exhibits are quite worthwhile, and the permanent exhibits, which tell the black history of Oakland in text, pictures, and videotaped interviews, are really well done. Check the AAMLO web site for information on special exhibits, programs and events, such as an African American walking tour of downtown Oakland.

• Chabot Space and Science Center

  phone: +1 510 336-7300
  address: 10000 Skyline Blvd
  Opened in August 2000, the Center is a state-of-the-art science and technology education facility on a 13-acre site in the hills of Oakland. Visitors can watch planetarium shows and/or Megadome movies, simulate space missions in the Challenger Learning Center, explore a variety of changing hands-on exhibits and observe the sky through the center's telescopes. In addition, the Science Discovery Lab (for children 7 and under and their parent/guardian) is fantastic. Discounts for first Fridays of the month, during evening hours.

• The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment

  phone: +1 510 457-0211
  address: 3400 Broadway
  A museum dedicated to the entire history of video games, from the days of Pong and Donkey Kong to their own VR rig, available to the public. Arcade games, consoles, PC games, imports, big screens - whatever your age or your interests, there's always something to see and do.

• Oakland Aviation Museum

  phone: +1 510 638-7100
  address: 8252 Earhart Rd, Bldg 621
  Civilian and military aircraft both large and small, even the Flying Boat. Flight simulators, flight lessons, even open cockpit days make this stop in Oakland International's old North Terminal a memorable one for anyone interested in flying or the history of aviation.

• Oakland Museum of California

  phone: +1 510 238-2200
  address: 1000 Oak St
  A startlingly good museum dedicated to the art, history, and culture of California. The building itself is an admirable piece of architecture, and the exhibits are almost uniformly excellent and engaging. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month.

• Oakland Public Library

  phone: +1 510 238-3134
  address: 125 4th St
  With branches in neighborhoods throughout the city (check their website for specific branch locations and hours), the Oakland Public Library hosts numerous public events that make use of their facilities and vast resources.

• Oakland Zoo

  phone: +1 510 632-9525 ext 100
  address: 9777 Golf Links Rd
  The mission of the Oakland Zoo is to inspire respect for and stewardship of the natural world, while providing a quality visitor experience. At the Oakland Zoo, you can explore together, learn together, and have fun together.

• Pardee Home Museum

  phone: +1 510 444-2187
  address: 672 11th St
  The home of the Pardee family, beginning with a California State Senator in 1868, and made into a museum in 1981. The main attraction is the accumulation of knick-knacks that the family gathered from traveling the world, as well as the history of the family, and the vintage of the house and grounds.

• Peralta Museum of History and Culture

  phone: +1 510 532-9142
  address: 2496 34th Ave
  Check website for tour hours and special events. Once headquarters of the Rancho San Antonio Spanish land grant, this six-acre park contains the 1870 Antonio Peralta House and interpretive exhibits, a native plant garden, and changing exhibits on history and culture.

• USS Potomac

  phone: +1 510 627-1215
  address: Clay St and Water St
  Historic cruises on the bay are available Apr-Oct Th & Sa; these must be booked with TicketWeb or by calling +1-866-468-3399. The Potomac was built as a Coast Guard cutter, and remodeled as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht in 1936. It served in that role until his death in 1945. In 1941, a fishing trip on the Potomac served as a cover story for Roosevelt's secret meeting with Churchill in Newfoundland waters; this meeting led to the Allied partnership during World War II and eventually to the formation of the United Nations.

Parks & gardens

Public parks are a very common sight no matter what part of Oakland you are in. From green gardens to athletic fields and playgrounds to the massive open space of the Oakland Hills, if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle for a breath of fresh air or the like, there are plenty of places to relax in. A more complete list of the city's parks may be found at the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation

• The Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate

  phone: +1 510 615-5555
  address: 2960 Peralta Oaks Ct
  An out of the way large mansion and grounds dating to the sunset of the 19th century, the Dunsmuir House is home to a variety of events year-round, from classic car shows to Scottish Games.

• Joaquin Miller Park

  address: Joaquin Miller Rd
  A beautiful park in the Oakland hills, made up in part of "The Hights", the old estate of California poet Joaquin Miller. The park has some of the few remaining old-growth redwood groves in the East Bay. Lots of hiking and bike-riding opportunities.

• Lake Merritt

  address: East of Downtown
  A large tidal lagoon that is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. A popular 3.1-mile (5-km) walking and jogging path runs along its perimeter. It is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870.

• Morcom Amphitheater of Roses

  address: 700 Jean St
  A peaceful and picturesque oasis of color, near Grand Lake, often a site for weddings. Seven acres of roses, a few benches and quiet, nestled into a residential area. The garden may be reserved after Mother's Day through October 31. Reservations are booked on a first come first serve basis.

• Preservation Park

  phone: +1 510 874-7580
  address: 1233 Preservation Park Way
  A preserved and gated Victorian neighborhood and gardens open to the public (on foot). Popular spot for weddings. Office space available.

• Redwood Regional Park

  address: 7867 Redwood Rd
  The hills behind the Mormon Temple and to the east of Oakland's bustling streets are home to this, where redwood groves and trees and trails and wildlife help even the most weary traveler forget that a city lies at the elbow of the wilderness. Redwood is just one of a string or regional parks running along the crest of the Oakland Hills. To the north are Huckleberry Botanical Preserve and Sibley Volcanic Regional Park while to the south is Anthony Chabot Regional Park. All have trails that interconnect with Redwood

Art galleries

News on many of Oakland's fine arts exhibitions can be found at Oakland Art Murmur.

• E14 Gallery

  phone: +1 510 424-7750
  address: 472 9th St
  A modest art gallery focused on the local art, crafts and artists of Oakland, the focus primarily being the urban consciousness of the city.

• Feelmore Adult Gallery

  phone: +1 510 891-0199
  address: 1703 Telegraph Ave
  Offerings include traditional adult products as well as vintage adult films, antiquarian books, pre-1980 adult magazines, vinyl records, and erotic artwork.

• Johansson Projects

  phone: +1 510 444-9140
  address: 2300 Telegraph Ave

• The Joyce Gordon Gallery

  phone: +1 510 465-8928
  address: 406 14th St
  A commercial fine art gallery that showcases the Bay Area's cultural and social diversity. Also hosts artistic events.

• Pro Arts Gallery

  phone: +1 510 763-4361
  address: 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza
  Special events on weekends.

• SLATE Contemporary Gallery

  phone: +1 510 652-4085
  address: 473 25th St
  As the name says, exhibitions from all over the country and the world, focusing on contemporary art.

• Transmission Gallery

  phone: +1 510 835-2626
  address: 770 West Grand Ave
  Large venue that has exhibitions from many local artists.

Oakland is a city of passionate interests - among the strongest of them are the love of the performing arts. Theater, live DJs, nightclubs, concerts, dance and even more unusual avant-garde activities are common sights and experiences in the city. Not just the obvious locations like the convention center or the Oracle Arena are home to the passion of performance. The Fox and Paramount Theaters host live concerts; the Paramount in particular is home to Oakland's East Bay Symphony, but that is by no means the end of the list. The nightlife of Oakland swings to the beat too, with popular spots like the Uptown and Yoshi's (Found in the Bar/Nightclub section under Drink) keep the music moving far into the evening hours. And that is only the beginning.

Performing arts

• Fox Theater

  phone: +1 510 302-2250
  address: 1807 Telegraph Ave
  A former movie theatre, the Fox was built in 1928. It closed its doors in 1970 and stood empty until 2009, when it reopened as a 1,500-2,800 seat music venue, following a two-year, $75-million renovation. One block from the 19th St BART stop, it is in the heart of Oakland's Uptown neighborhood, which is also being re-named the Arts and Entertainment district.

• The New Parish

  phone: +1 510 444-7474
  address: 1743 San Pablo Ave
  Live performing artists, DJs and readings abound at this venue a stone's throw away from the Financial District.

• The Oakland East Bay Symphony

  phone: +1 510 444-0801
  address: 1440 Broadway, Suite 405

• Oakland Gay Men's Chorus

  address: 360 Grand Ave PMB 103

• Oakland Symphony Chorus

  phone: +1 510 444-0801
  address: 1440 Broadway, Suite 405

• Oakland Youth Orchestra

  phone: +1 510 444-0801
  address: 1440 Broadway, Suite 405

• Pan Theater

  address: 120 Frank Ogawa Plaza
  An improv theater that offers acting classes as well as live comedy performances,

• Paramount Theater

  phone: +1 510 465-6400
  address: 2025 Broadway
  This gorgeous Depression-era theater, completed in 1931, has been completely restored and is maintained in almost mint condition. It's worth just looking at the sculpture, the paintings, even the carpets. Shows include classic movies, concerts, and other live performances.

Events

Oakland is an amazingly diverse city, with roots in a range of cultures and traditions. Reflecting this, many annual events are held in Oakland usually but not always centered around Downtown.

• Eat Real Fest

  phone: +1 510 842-0029
  address: Jack London Square
  A celebration of food and food culture, especially locally-grown ingredients. A combination county fair, food festival and block party, by their own admission.

• Halloween On Piedmont

  address: Piedmont Ave
  The entire length of Piedmont Avenue from West MacArthur Blvd. to Pleasant Valley Ave. including Mountain View Cemetery participates in this event. Trick-or-treating is allowed at many of the stores, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, special movies at Piedmont Theater and so on. Security handled by a local biker group.

• Oakland Art and Soul Weekend

  address: Downtown Oakland
  Four stages worth of live music, in a city with a long history in the arts. Blues, Jazz, Rap, R&B and Indie performances abound.

• Oakland Chinatown Streetfest

  phone: +1 510 893-8979
  address: Oakland Chinatown
  A celebration of many cultures. Local bands, singers, demonstrations by local acrobats and even the Shao Lin monks, Taiko drumming, Polynesian dance, all reflecting the amazing diversity of Oakland.

• Oaktoberfest

  address: MacArthur and Fruitvale
  The Dimond District's answer to Oktoberfest; biergartens, stuff from local breweries and even a root biergarten for those who want to celebrate without alcohol.

• Off the Grid

  phone: +1 415-339-5888
  address: 1000 Oak St
  The Oakland branch of a food festival with food trucks and live music, held at various locations throughout the Bay Area.

Recreation and film

Maybe a night of dancing or shaking yourself to the beat isn't quite what you had in mind. Three major sports teams and a whole host of theaters offer a distinct alternative, or even a prelude to a dip into the city's diverse nightlife. Oakland's tradition of movie theaters goes as far back as the First World War, and most of the theaters are in preserved and carefully restored style that can take the breath away.

• Oakland Raiders (NFL)

  phone: +1 510 569-2121
  address: Oakland Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way
  Known as "The Team of the Demons," the Raiders have commanded the fierce support of Oaklanders and enjoy a large fan base across Northern California. However, fans are experiencing heartache—the team has announced plans to move to Las Vegas by 2020, which won't be the first time Oaklanders have lost their beloved football team. Be sure to enjoy the famous pre-game tailgating scene in the Coliseum parking lot, as well as the "Black Hole" of hard-core fans in the endzone section. Most home games are not sold out, so it should be possible to buy tickets up until game time. As of Sep, 2018, the Oakland Raiders are officially moving to Las Vegas come 2020.

• Oakland Athletics (MLB)

  address: Rickey Henderson Field, Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way
  With nine trophies to their name, four since relocating to Oakland, they are one of the most successful franchises in baseball. The A's also have the best deal in baseball: $2 tickets and $1 hot dogs for nearly every Wednesday game. The cheap tickets sell out quick, so buy a day or two in advance. Rickey Henderson Field (the official name of the playing surface of the Coliseum since 2017) has the odd distinction of having the most foul territory of any MLB field, and by a large margin.

• Golden State Warriors (NBA)

  address: Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way
  Once considered a fast-and-loose rules sort of team, the Warriors have proven a more effective and even record-breaking team in recent years. After moving from Philadelphia to San Francisco, the Warriors settled in the East Bay, where the team has won four NBA championships in 1975, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Warriors will be leaving Oakland for Chase Arena in San Francisco after the 2018-2019 season.

• Grand Lake Theater

  address: 3200 Grand Ave
  This beautiful Art Deco theater (built in 1926) shows first-run movies. It has a spectacular neon sign that is lit on weekends, and is famous for the ultra-liberal (and sometimes conspiracy-minded) weekly sign proclamations from the theater owner. At Friday and Saturday evening shows, an organist plays standards in the main theater.

• The New Parkway Theater

  phone: +1 510 658-7900
  address: 474 24th St
  A second-run movie theater, the Parkway does not have screens in the traditional sense. Movies are projected at the flat white concrete walls, with large comfy couches to sit on. Best of all, they serve pizza, salads, and beer that you can eat and drink while you watch a movie.

• Piedmont Theatre

  phone: +1 510 985-1252
  address: 4186 Piedmont Ave
  The oldest still-operating theater in Oakland (built in 1917), completely restored and renovated in 2010 shows first-run movies. Saturdays are frequently marked by the showing of art-house and independent films.

• Regal Jack London Stadium 9

  phone: +1 510 433-1325
  address: 100 Washington St
  Very large theater that shows first run movies, and usually has weekly rebate days that tend to lead to the place being full of kids.

Just for the kids

• Children's Fairyland

  phone: +1 510 238-6876
  address: 699 Bellevue Ave
  Mixed seasonal hours, almost always open on weekends. Amazing, dynamic playground and destination for children, right on Lake Merritt. Please note that only adults with children can enter. Make sure you get a Magic Key.

• Museum of Children's Arts

  phone: +1 510 465-8770
  address: 1221 Broadway LL-49
  A hands-on art workshop aimed at kids ages 6-15, covering topics like illustration and architecture and sculpture and even DIY art to wear!

• California College of the Arts

  phone: +1 510 594-3600
  address: 5212 Broadway
  As the name implies, a large art college with a variety of disciplines. One caveat - the school is split into two locations, this listing is for the Oakland campus. The other is in San Francisco.

• The Crucible

  phone: +1 510 444-0919
  address: 1260 7th St
  An industrial arts collaborative offering classes in everything from blacksmithing to welding.

• Laney College

  phone: +1 510 834-5740
  address: 900 Fallon St
  South of Lake Merritt, one of the city's two community colleges through the Peralta Community College District.

• Lincoln University

  phone: +1 510 628-8010
  address: 401 15th St
  A private university primarily focused on business, offering a modest variety of minors.

• Merritt College

  phone: +1 510 531-4911
  address: 12500 Campus Dr
  It's high in the Oakland Hills. Merritt is the other Peralta community college in Oakland.

• Mills College

  phone: +1 510 430-2255
  address: 5000 MacArthur Blvd
  An all-women's liberal arts college.

Bike shops

Bike shops are a reasonably easy find in Oakland - used as an alternative means of transportation, to say nothing of exercise, throughout the city.

• Lakeview Bicycle

  phone: +1 510 251-1422
  address: 622 Grand Ave
  Locally owned, friendly no-attitude service and reasonable prices.

• Luckyduck Bicycle Cafe

  phone: +1 510 891-1830
  address: 302 12th St
  Friendly, hip spot to get parts for your ride or grab an inexpensive sandwich and tea.

• Manifesto Bicycles

  phone: +1 510 595-1155
  address: 421 40th St
  Though their inventory is dominated by single-gear bikes, they offer full and quite friendly repair services.

• Pioneer Bike Shop

  phone: +1 510 658-8981
  address: 11 Rio Vista Ave
  A friendly little shop near the bustle of Piedmont Ave, that offers full repair service, regardless of how old your bike is, or how much work it needs.

• Spokeland

  phone: +1 510 852-9253
  address: 813 37th St.
  A not-for-profit DIY bike workshop that also offers classes and programs for cyclists of any level of experience.

• Tip Top Bike Shop

  phone: +1 510 444-4148
  address: 4800A Telegraph Ave
  Friendly full service bike store and repair shop. Service estimates free, appointments available by phone or email. No weekend appointments.

Bookstores

• Bibliomania

  phone: +1 510 835-5733
  address: 1816 Telegraph Ave
  Old-fashioned cluttered and friendly bookstore near the heart of Uptown.

• Black Swan Books

  phone: +1 510 428-2881
  address: 4236 Piedmont Ave
  Used bookstore with a Victorian look and shelves full of vintage (and spendy) volumes frequently from the 1930s and earlier.

• The Bookmark Bookstore

  phone: +1 510 444-0473
  address: 721 Washington St
  A nice not-for-profit used bookstore associated with the Oakland Public Library.

• East Bay Booksellers

  phone: +1 510 653-9965
  address: 5433 College Ave
  A spacious and clean spot that hosts many writers' events from near and abroad.

• European Book Company

  phone: +1 510 922-9157
  address: 6600 Shattuck Ave
  Specialists in books in languages other than English, predominantly French, German and Spanish; selections from many nations.

• A Great Good Place for Books

  phone: +1 510 339-8210
  address: 6120 La Salle Ave
  Extremely friendly little bookstore in the suburbs of the Oakland Hills.

• Marcus Books

  phone: +1 510 652-2344
  address: 3900 Martin Luther King Jr Way
  A branch of the nation's oldest black-owned bookstore, this continues the long-standing tradition. Shelves full of excellent works from authors of color, posters and a consciousness of black history in both Oakland and the country.

• Owl and Company Bookshop

  phone: +1 510 788-5821
  address: 3941 Piedmont Ave
  A used bookstore with a somewhat Victorian look, and a focus primarily but not exclusively on psychology, philosophy and the occult.

• Pegasus Books

  phone: +1 510 652-6259
  address: 5560 College Ave
  Once a friendly neighborhood used book store, now a trendy hipster chain used book store.

• Spectator Bookstore

  phone: +1 510 653-7300
  address: 4163 Piedmont Ave
  A small but well-organized used book store that has a variety of subjects available and even sells used DVDs and VHS tapes.

• Walden Pond Books

  phone: +1 510 832-4438
  address: 3316 Grand Ave
  A large used book store with friendly staff and an absolutely amazing selection.

Music

• 1-2-3-4 Go! Records

  phone: +1 510 985-0325
  address: 420 40th St. Ste 5
  Friendly little store with a wide variety of new vinyl.

• Groove Yard

  phone: +1 510 655-8400
  address: 5555 Claremont Ave.
  Old-fashioned record and CD nook - stacked high with boxes of LPs

• Stranded Records

  phone: +1 510 808-5505
  address: 14 Glen Ave.
  Neat hole in the wall store with a surprisingly wide selection of vinyl and nothing else.

• Vamp Vintage Art & Music for the People

  phone: +1 510 435-3106
  address: 331 19th St
  Equal parts vintage art and music store, showing many classics and obscure LP covers as well as clothing and household items from the 1960s and 70s.

Shopping centers

Though once a common sight in Oakland, with Eastmont Mall (the last operating fully enclosed mall) being used almost exclusively for other services, large enclosed malls are a thing of the past in Oakland. There are however a few open-air spots.

• Jack London Square

  phone: +1 510 645-9292
  address: 466 Water St
  JLS's mix of gentrification, working warehouses, and tourism make it a place to find pricey and stylish restaurants that give San Francisco a run for its money. You'll also find some off beat and interesting fusion restaurants, too.

• Pacific Renaissance PlazaAn apartment complex and shopping center at the heart of Chinatown.

• Rockridge Shopping Center

  address: 5108 Broadway
  Home to the area's largest Safeway, this shopping center is about halfway between Rockridge and Piedmont Ave. and is frequented by residents from both. Half of the shopping center is under heavy construction, though the half that contains a renovated Safeway among others is open and fully functional.

• Temescal Plaza

  address: Corner of 51st St. and Telegraph Ave
  A friendly little strip-mall that makes a good starting point for those exploring or navigating the neighborhood.

The third great passion after art and music that is shared by residents and visitors to Oakland alike is food. Oakland is foodie country. No matter what your budget is - if you want to find something to eat from a hamburger to a full-course meal, you're going to find both and just about everything in between. Though any city would look spartan and lackluster next to San Francisco, Oakland is not found wanting.

Adams Point

Budget

• Ahn's Quarter Pound Burger

  phone: +1 510 763-4328
  address: 439 Grand Ave
  Very no-frills burger stop that has all the basics and its own parking lot.

Mid-range

• Bacheeso's

  phone: +1 510 891-1496
  address: 246 Grand Ave
  A cozy atmospheric spot whose biggest draw are the impressively large lunch buffets and weekend brunches, though they do an early evening weekday "hummus hour" as well.

• Enssaro

  phone: +1 510 238-9050
  address: 357A Grand Ave
  Come for the Wot and Ye Tibs, stay for the honey wine. Try the combo platters. Vegetarian-friendly. Online ordering. Delivery available.

• Jong Ga House

  phone: +1 510 444-7658
  address: 372 Grand Ave
  A large menu and excellent service, good if you want noodles or marinated meat or want to do all you can eat. Online reservations. Local parking problematic.

• Sidebar

  phone: +1 510 452-9500
  address: 542 Grand Ave
  A sizable hip restaurant that serves old favorites in new and interesting ways. Come for the Niman Ranch burgers and paprika fries and bring friends along for the cocktails.

Chinatown

Budget

• Golden Lotus Vegan Restaurant

  phone: +1 510 893-0383
  address: 1301 Franklin St
  A Vietnamese restaurant that does its best to serve 100% vegan and organically-grown dishes on a budget.

• New Gold Medal

  phone: +1 510 465-1940
  address: 389 8th St
  Decent to great Cantonese food with fast service, open late. A reasonable option after a late show or club night if you're already downtown. If you like duck, make sure to get some roast duck, and their BBQ pork is equally good. Excellent lobster, too.

• Shandong Restaurant

  phone: +1 510 839-2299
  address: 328 10th St
  Although California Governor Jerry Brown visited this place during his term as Mayor of Oakland (a framed picture of him and the restaurant owner is proudly displayed), this restaurant has the characteristics of a local, "dirty but delicious" gem. Noodles are made fresh, right in the restaurant. Often crowded with local Chinese, and so when busy one may have to wait a while to get a table.

• Vien Huong Restaurant

  phone: +1 510 465-5938
  address: 712 Franklin St
  This is the best restaurant in Chinatown for a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. Be sure to order a noodle soup and fish cake(with a sweet and sour salad).

Mid-range

• Battambang Restaurant

  phone: +1 510 839-8815
  address: 850 Broadway
  Delicious Cambodian food in a quiet, clean, casual with white tablecloth environment.

• Spices 3!

  phone: +1 510 625-8889
  address: 369 12th St
  Just as the name implies, spicy Szechuan food and hot pot, home of the Gangsta Casserole. Online ordering. Delivery.

Dimond

Budget

• Ly Luck

  phone: +1 510 530-3232
  address: 3537 Fruitvale Ave
  Big portions, low prices.

• Shaan Indian Cuisine

  phone: +1 510 531-1172
  address: 3434 Fruitvale Ave
  A small Indian restaurant that delivers. Online ordering.

• Taqueria Los Comales

  phone: +1 510 531-3660
  address: 2105 MacArthur Blvd
  Small taqueria with low prices and large portions. Try the wet burritos.

• Tu Tai 3

  phone: +1 510 482-6188
  address: 2141 MacArthur Blvd
  A small, clean and inexpensive Vietnamese restaurant with good noodle dishes and sandwiches. Vegetarian-friendly.

Mid-range

• La Farine Bakery

  phone: +1 510 531-7750
  address: 3411 Fruitvale Ave
  A classic French bakery, La Farine is rich in crusty sourdough, flavorful sweet bread, tarts and numerous sweet treats. The sour batard, rustic baguette and morning buns are highly recommended for a first survey of their offerings.

• Nama

  phone: +1 510 530-8564
  address: 3400 Fruitvale Ave
  A full service Japanese restaurant and sushi bar that is a frequent stop for shoppers at Farmer Joe's.

• Southern Cafe

  phone: +1 510 336-2013
  address: 2000 MacArthur Blvd
  An up-market soul food spot that serves all the favorites, from fried chicken to chitlins. Live jazz and buffet Sundays.

Fruitvale

Budget

• Los Cocos Salvadorean Restaurant

  phone: +1 510 992-4768
  address: 1449 Fruitvale Ave
  A little hole-in-the-wall that serves up authentic Salvadorean food at excellent prices.

• Mariscos La Costa

  phone: +1 510 533-9566
  address: 3625 International Blvd
  A small, outdoor patio restaurant that features seafood but has the regular fare of typical Mexican restaurants. Authentically spicy, so make sure you request no salsa or jalapeños if that is your preference. A former burger joint turned-taqueria, this eatery is good for lunch and best enjoyed in fair weather with a refreshing agua fresca, as tables are exclusively on the outdoor patio.

• Tacos El Gordo

  address: 4201 International Blvd
  Could be considered the best taco truck in Oakland, with fare that by far surpasses most restaurants. Their burritos are over 12" and unbeatable. Contrary to popular belief, taco trucks (especially this one) are sanitary and often have food as good or better than what one can find in standard restaurants. As there is no place to sit, people eat standing up next to the taco truck, or in their cars. There is a parking lot with free parking.

• Taqueria San Jose

  address: 3433 International Blvd
  Authentic Mexican food, best known for its tacos, salsa bar and low prices.

• Two Mammas' Vegan Kitchen

  phone: +1 510 606-0596
  address: 3700 E 12th St Ste 1D
  A friendly little vegan/vegetarian spot for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Full catering, no take-out.

Mid-range

• Guadalajara

  phone: +1 510 533-7294
  address: 1001 Fruitvale Ave.
  This Fruitvale landmark is a full-service Mexican spot that serves from a gigantic menu that covers everything from simple salads to large seafood platters. There is on-site parking, a full tequila bar, vegetarian-friendly dishes and they even cater. If visiting during the later hours, be judicious.

Grand Lake / Lakeshore

Budget

• Arizmendi

  phone: +1 510 268-8849
  address: 3265 Lakeshore Ave
  A worker-owned bakery well-known for cheap and delicious baked goods and pizza.

• Mijori

  phone: +1 510 465-8854
  address: 3260 Grand Ave
  One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. Usually a long wait for a table on the weekend.

• Miss Saigon

  phone: +1 510 835-3474
  address: 3345 Grand Ave
  Great family-run Vietnamese restaurant with good food at good prices, and a ridiculously good beer selection. Local delivery, but it's always better fresh out of the kitchen. Online ordering.

Mid-range

• Boot and Shoe Service

  phone: +1 510 763-2668
  address: 3308 Grand Ave
  Friendly hipster Italian and pizza restaurant that serves a variety of cocktails, and tends to be packed on the weekends.

• Lin Jia Asian Kitchen

  phone: +1 510 835-8322
  address: 3437 Lakeshore Ave.
  A nice, well-decorated little Chinese spot that's good for lunch or dinner. Online ordering.

• Michael Mischer Chocolates

  phone: +1 510 986-1822
  address: 3352 Grand Ave
  Incredible gourmet chocolate and gelato.

• Neecha Thai

  phone: +1 510 451-9419
  address: 3236 Grand Ave
  A spacious, quiet spot with low lights and good service. Vegetarian-friendly. Catering. No substitutions. Online reservations.

Jack London Square

Budget

• Home of Chicken and Waffles

  phone: +1 510 836-4446
  address: 444 Embarcadero West
  The best chicken and waffles in the Bay Area. Cheap, open late, good drink specials (though the beer & wine is pretty standard, nothing to get excited about), it's a local institution. A diner style decor, lots of televisions (some tables even have televisions), and wonderful, attentive service. Full catering.

Mid-range

• Chop Bar

  phone: +1 510 834-2467
  address: 247 4th Street #111
  A gathering spot for meat-eaters, based on a West African concept of the same name - it is a bit pricey for what is offered, but the quality of the meat is excellent. Full catering menu.

• Dyafa

  phone: +1 510 250-9491
  address: 44 Webster St
  A friendly, picturesque spot with fine geometric tiles and a menu from the Middle East and a touch of North Africa.

• Forge Pizza

  phone: +1 510 268-3200
  address: 66 Franklin St #100
  A vision of bare hardwoods and a menu of neopolitan features both with meat and without as well as a respectable list of sandwiches and salads.

• Plank

  phone: +1 510 817-0980
  address: 98 Broadway
  An unusual mixture of bowling alley, bocce court, pizza and sandwich restaurant and cocktail bar, all rolled into one.

Splurge

• Kincaid's Bay House

  phone: +1 510 835-8600
  address: 1 Franklin St
  The east bay location of this national chain of seafood and steakhouses. A nice dining room that makes Scott's Seafood look old and stuffy. They also have a great happy hour where frugal foodies can pig out on seafood and finger foods every evening in the bar. Online reservations. Virtual tour.

• Scott's Seafood Grill & Bar

  phone: +1 510 444-3456
  address: 2 Broadway
  Large, upscale, seafood restaurant on the waterfront, frequented for wedding receptions and business luncheons. They have a decent happy hour. Old school surf and turf. Full catering. Online reservations. Private space available. Full florist service.

Old Oakland

Budget

• Caffè 817

  phone: +1 510 271-7965
  address: 817 Washington St
  Stylish Italian caffè where patrons line up patiently for capuccini, chorizo & eggs, polenta, fresh fruit granola, panini sandwiches & salads. Online ordering. Delivery.

Mid-range

• The Fat Lady

  phone: +1 510 465-4996
  address: 201 Washington St
  Victoriana themed restaurant that has been open since 1970. Fine art lines the walls, yet it's casual and fun for a nice dinner out. House made cocktails are delicious, a great wine list. They also have brunch. Banquet services available.

• Le Cheval

  phone: +1 510 763-8495
  address: 1007 Clay St
  Asian fusion cuisine spot. Online reservations.

• Seison Restaurant & Lounge

  phone: +1 510 832-7449
  address: 495 10th St
  Seafood, some American standards and a full bar, very atmospheric. Private events space available. Reservations available.

• Tamarindo Antojeria Mexicana

  phone: +1 510 444-1944
  address: 468 8th St
  Mexican tapas.

Splurge

• Delage

  phone: +1 510 823-2050
  address: 536 9th St
  A small Japanese spot that does nightly omakase (chef's choice) with seasonal local ingredients. Reservations recommended. Online reservations.

Piedmont Ave

Budget

• Simply Greek

  phone: +1 510 428-0588
  address: 4060 Piedmont Ave.
  A small gyro and souvlaki spot with very large portions and a flavorful menu. Try any of the gyros, and bring your appetite, especially when ordering the aptly-named Titan. Free Wi-Fi. Catering services available.

Mid-range

• Baja Taqueria

  phone: +1 510 547-2252
  address: 4070 Piedmont Ave
  An avenue institution with lines sometimes out the doors for their great and innovative Baja style seafood and other Mexican food. The fish tacos are legendary and the lobster burritos hit home like nothing else. The portions are big and the prices are reasonable. Try the agua frescas too.

• Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers

  phone: +1 510 655-7180
  address: 4162 Piedmont Ave
  Barney's is a restaurant specializing in every kind of burger, from the simple to the exotic. They have more than just the simple neapolitan trio of flavors for shakes as well, and the same can be said of their fries. Vegetarian, too! Catering services available. Online ordering.

• Fentons Creamery and Restaurant

  phone: +1 510 658-7000
  address: 4226 Piedmont Ave
  This hundred-year-old ice cream parlor is a cornerstone of Oakland culture—one of those places that East Bay folks point to as making the region special. The parlor is mentioned in the 2009 Pixar film Up. Huge bowls of ice cream and sundaes of various sorts are served in this always-crowded eatery. Sugar-amped kids roam the aisles all day and into the evening, and although the place attracts a cannabis-enhanced college crowd towards the end of the night, it always has a sweet and wholesome atmosphere. An expensive treat, but the servings are huge. Online reservations. Private parties and full catering available.

• Judoku Sushi

  phone: +1 510 645-1912
  address: 3314 Piedmont Ave
  A small, simple venue with dim lights and exceptionally friendly and attentive service. Look for the daily specials on sushi and drinks.

• La Farine Bakery

  phone: +1 510 420-1777
  address: 4094 Piedmont Ave
  A classic French bakery, La Farine is rich in crusty sourdough, flavorful sweet bread, tarts and numerous sweet treats. The sour batard, rustic baguette and morning buns are highly recommended for a first survey of their offerings.

• Shimizu Sushi

  phone: +1 510 653-7672
  address: 4290 Piedmont Ave
  A small sushi house with a wide range of choices for specialty sushi, as well as more standard Japanese fare. Popular with locals, family friendly, and laid back.

• Xyclo

  phone: +1 510 654-2681
  address: 4218 Piedmont Ave
  Trendy Southeast Asian fusion restaurant.

Splurge

• Commis

  phone: +1 510 653-3902
  address: 3859 Piedmont Ave
  Swanky, cramped spot well-known for their sommelier service and often-incredible combination of flavors. Online reservations.

• The Wolf

  phone: +1 510 879-7953
  address: 3853 Piedmont Ave
  A cozy and well-lit and ventilated place for French-American haute cuisine.

Rockridge

Mid-range

• À Côté

  phone: +1 510 655-6469
  address: 5478 College Ave
  Charming small portion French meals in great ambiance. Online reservations. Private event space available.

• Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers

  phone: +1 510 601-0444
  address: 5819 College Ave
  Barney's is a restaurant specializing in every kind of burger, from the simple to the exotic. They have more than just the simple neapolitan trio of flavors for shakes as well, and the same can be said of their fries. Vegetarian, too!

• Cactus Taqueria

  phone: +1 510 658-6180
  address: 5642 College Ave
  A family-friendly Mexican restaurant dedicated to freshness and sustainability while maintaining traditional flavors. Everything at Cactus Taqueria is made from scratch with no artificial ingredients or fillers. Top your taco, burrito, quesadilla, or enchilada with one of the multiple house-made salsas, and cool your mouth with a delicious glass of horchata.

• The Chocolate Dragon Bittersweet Cafe & Bakery

  phone: +1 510 654-7159
  address: 5427 College Ave
  A small cafe that specializes in all things chocolate. Relaxing atmosphere.

• La Farine Bakery

  phone: +1 510 654-0338
  address: 6323 College Ave
  A classic French bakery, La Farine is rich in crusty sourdough, flavorful sweet bread, tarts and numerous sweet treats. The sour batard, rustic baguette and morning buns are highly recommended for a first survey of their offerings.

• Noodle Theory

  phone: +1 510 595-6988
  address: 6099 Claremont Ave
  Asian fusion food is a must-see for the trendiest in California cuisine.

• Ramen Shop

  phone: +1 510 640-5034
  address: 5812 College Avenue
  Well-crafted Ramen bowls with flavorful broth. Typically includes at least one vegetarian option. Excellent cocktail bar. Can be crowded during evenings.

• Soi4: Bangkok Eatery

  phone: +1 510 655-0889
  address: 5421 College Ave
  Expansive selection of dishes at affordable prices especially given prompt service, simple and pleasant ambiance, solid wine by the glass list. A weeknight favorite. Seafood items among strongest on menu. Online reservations. Space for large groups.

• Zachary's Chicago Pizza

  phone: +1 510 655-6385
  address: 5801 College Ave
  No one will dispute that Zachary's biggest fans come for their Windy City deep dish pizza (thin crust is also available). Not to be confused with "Sicilian" style, "Stuffed Crust" or other "deep dish" pizzas, Zachary's stuffed pizza starts with a thin layer of fresh made-from-scratch dough in a deep pan filled with a blend of quality cheeses and any combination of fresh ingredients. Another thin layer of dough is then added to cover the filling. The pizza is then topped with a mildly spicy, tangy tomato sauce and is cooked in an oven. This is one of the most popular spots in Oakland, so if you visit on a weekend, be prepared for a long wait. The best way around the crowd, if you aren't planning to dine in, is to call considerably ahead of time and place a take-out order and a window of time for pickup. Online ordering. Third-party online delivery.

Temescal

Budget

• Cholita Linda

  phone: +1 510 594-7610
  address: 4923 Telegraph Ave.
  Friendly little place well-known for their fish tacos and mix and match frescas.

• Pizza Nation

  phone: +1 510 658-7788
  address: 4919 Telegraph Ave
  Cheap pizza that boasts a delivery area that includes Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville and Albany. Online ordering and delivery.

Mid-range

• Bowl'd BBQ

  phone: +1 510 654-2000
  address: 4869 Telegraph Ave.
  Nice, modern Korean barbecue, best remembered for their bibimbop and fried chicken.

• Burma Superstar

  phone: +1 510 652-2900
  address: 4721 Telegraph Ave.
  A cozy restaurant that does proper Burmese cuisine, as well as several Chinese and Thai dishes. Vegetarian-friendly, no reservations. Catering available.

• Doña Tomás

  phone: +1 510 450-0522
  address: 5004 Telegraph Ave
  A rare Mexican restaurant that serves brunch, and authentic mole sauce and huitlacoche. Online reservations.

• Kansai

  phone: +1 510 658-7273
  address: 4345 Telegraph Ave
  Extensive sushi menu and good service. Has their own private parking lot - a rare sight in Oakland.

Upper Telegraph

Budget

• Mai Banh Mi

  phone: +1 510 788-5755
  address: 6601 Telegraph Ave
  A friendly Vietnamese place that specializes in banh mi - Vietnamese sandwiches, as well as some light standard entrees. Online ordering for pickup.

Mid-range

• Cafe Colucci

  phone: +1 510 601-7999
  address: 6427 Telegraph Ave
  Ethiopian food served traditionally on injera, with an excellent selection of vegetarian dishes, friendly wait staff and excellent decor. Try the mitten shuro. Full catering services available. Online ordering. Third party online delivery.

• Nude Sushi

  phone: +1 510 547-6833
  address: 6228 Telegraph Ave
  This small dinner Japanese place does delivery only until 3AM, six days of the week.

• Saysetha Thai Cuisine

  phone: +1 510 653-2837
  address: 6230 Telegraph Ave
  A small Thai restaurant with simple decor, low prices and a massive menu. Take-out orders welcome.

Uptown

Budget

• Lotus Falafel & Shawerma

  phone: +1 510 444-0900
  address: 377 19th St
  A friendly place specializing in shawerma and Middle-Eastern food. Full catering menu.

• The Lunch Box

  phone: +1 510 836-0703
  address: 1720 Franklin St
  A little lunch spot not far from the Financial District that does salads, sandwiches and wraps on the cheap. Catering available.

• Suya African-Caribbean Grill

  phone: +1 510 465-7892
  address: 408 22nd St
  A small spot specializing in soul food skewers. Wi-Fi available. Many items halal-friendly.

• Taiwan Bento

  phone: +1 510 250-9858
  address: 412 22nd St
  Comfy spot that does Taiwanese and Chinese cuisine in bento boxes, also noodles. Online ordering. Delivery by third party. Catering.

Mid-range

• Brown Sugar Kitchen

  phone: +1 510 839-SOUL
  address: 2295 Broadway
  Once the pride of West Oakland, now located at the edge of Uptown with the same soul food specialties that they served for a decade prior to their move.

• Flora

  phone: +1 510 286-0100
  address: 1900 Telegraph Ave
  Expensive upscale art deco restaurant with an impressive cocktail and wine list. It's named Flora because it used to be a flower shop. Have a pre-dinner cocktail at their bar next door, Fauna. They also offer a vegetarian special (Flora) and a meat based special (Fauna), eat evening.

• Luka's Taproom & Lounge

  phone: +1 510 451-4677
  address: 2221 Broadway
  Excellent food with a great selection of Belgian Ales, a small dance floor in a separate room, and a pool table in the back. Popular for lunch and happy hour during the work week, and brunch on the weekend. Space for private events.

Splurge

West Oakland

Budget

• 10th & Wood

  phone: +1 510 645-1955
  A cozy little cafe that offers New American breakfast and lunch fare all day. Full catering menu. Phone ordering.

• Pretty Lady

  phone: +1 510 832-1213
  address: 1733 Peralta St
  Go for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Korean American diner with a friendly staff. Old-fashioned U-shaped counter and bar stools.

Mid-range

Etc.

Budget

• Champa Garden

  phone: +1 510 238-8819
  address: 2102 8th Ave
  It's in a residential neighborhood. This cozy restaurant that has a flair of Southern Asia flavors. The mix of Vietnamese, Lao, Thai and Mien cuisine makes this restaurant a unique one. Make sure to get an order of Pad Thai.

Mid-range

• Lake Chalet

  phone: +1 510 208-5253
  address: 1520 Lakeside Dr
  Fantastic seafood and steaks in an elegant dining room overlooking Lake Merritt. When the weather is warm you can have lunch or happy hour outside on the pier. While lunch can be casual, they have decent seafood. The wine list is rather generic, but they do have their own local beer. You can also take a gondola ride around the lake. Online reservations. Space for private parties.

• Mua

  phone: +1 510 238-1100
  address: 2442a Webster St
  A restaurant to see and be seen. In an old warehouse, it's decorated in funky contemporary art and features a live DJ performing while you enjoy dinner on the weekends. Make a reservation, this place gets out of control busy on the weekends. A mix of small and large plates. Highlights include the ahi tuna sashimi and their house made veggie burger. Online reservations. Space for large parties. Note - due to heavy construction in the area, parking is more difficult than usual.

• Pho 84

  phone: +1 510 832-1338
  address: 354 17th St
  Some of the best Vietnamese food in town, served in a subdued atmosphere. The pho bo and carpaccio are definitely worth trying.

• Quinn's Lighthouse Restaurant & Pub

  phone: +1 510 536-2050
  address: 1951 Embarcadero East
  A nautically-themed restaurant offering a variety of dishes ranging from meat and pasta to fresh seafood in a rebuilt lighthouse dating to the earliest days of the 20th century. Drinks served at the attached pub upstairs. Online reservations.

• Souley Vegan

  phone: +1 510 922-1615
  address: 301 Broadway
  A famous foodie spot, it's one of the only vegan soul food restaurants in the country. Yes, that's right - vegan soul food! Popular with locals, they serve local beer on tap, have a full bar, and play soul music as you enjoy your eats. The lentils are delicious and the tofu BBQ, too! Full catering available.

Pubs

• Ben and Nick's Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 510 923-0327
  address: 5612 College Ave
  Often-visited for their considerable beer list and well-stocked menu.

• Cato's Ale House

  phone: +1 510 655-3349
  address: 3891 Piedmont Ave
  A local pub that would look at home in nearly any century, with a long list of both local brews and quality imports.

• Commonwealth Cafe & Pub

  phone: +1 510 663-3001
  address: 2882 Telegraph Ave
  Good pub food with a fresh twist, microbrew beers on tap, and cafe. Soccer matches broadcast.

• The District

  phone: +1 510 272-9110
  address: 827 Washington St
  A friendly pub that serves brunch and dinner, in addition to cheese, wine and whiskey.

• Luka's Taproom & Lounge

  phone: +1 510 451-4677
  address: 2221 Broadway
  Excellent food with a great selection of Belgian Ales, a small dance floor in a separate room, and a pool table in the back. Check website for daily specials.

• McNally's Irish Pub

  phone: +1 510 655-3929
  address: 5352 College Ave
  A standard Irish Pub in Rockridge.

• The Trappist

  phone: +1 510 238-8900
  address: 460 8th St
  Large selection of both Belgian-style and local beers. Knowledgeable staff and good bottle selections for the road.

Bars and nightclubs

• The Alley

  phone: +1 510 444-8505
  address: 3325 Grand Ave
  Sing along with pianist Rod Dibble as he plays the oldies. One of the last piano bars in town.

• Bar Three Fifty-Five

  phone: +1 510 451-3355
  address: 355 19th St
  Prohibition-era atmosphere bar with early-20s clientele, reasonable prices.

• Cafe Van Kleef

  phone: +1 510 763-7711
  address: 1621 Telegraph Ave
  Artsy bar with live music. Greyhounds are the house drinktheir margaritas are good too. Vodka Greyhounds are the default; if you want gin, you must specify.

• George Kaye's

  phone: +1 510 547-9374
  address: 4044 Broadway
  A neighborhood dive, full of interesting characters behind and above the bar. Allows dogs and food from the outside.

• Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon

  phone: +1 510 839-6761
  address: 48 Webster St
  An old-fashioned saloon, dating all the way to the 1880s, purported to have been a frequent stop for a young Jack London.

• Kona Club

  phone: +1 510 654-7100
  address: 4401 Piedmont Ave
  Enjoy a tropical drink in this tiki bar, and lift up the grass skirt on the anatomically correct hula girl statue.

• The Layover

  phone: +1 510 834-1517
  address: 1517 Franklin St
  A small, cozy lounge with frequent live music and a variety of mixed drinks.

• The Libertine

  phone: +1 510 735-9073
  address: 3332 Grand Ave
  Low lights and interesting art compliment the wide drinks selection at this spot opened in 2016.

• Radio

  phone: +1 510 451-2889
  address: 435 13th St
  A small hipster bar with a cool DJ. Shares an all-red lighting scheme (and an owner) with the Ruby Room. House cocktails are considerably more complex than you would expect, including early 20th century drinks, and most are worth trying.

• Ruby Room

  phone: +1 510 444-7224
  address: 132 14th St
  A larger bar with a similar ambiance to the Radio Bar (with which it shares an owner), this includes a pool (billiards) room.

• The Uptown Nightclub

  phone: +1 510 451-8100
  address: 1928 Telegraph Ave
  Though named a nightclub and they do serve drinks, it's dominantly a performance venue for bands or singers of just about any kind of music.

• White Horse Bar

  phone: +1 510 652-3820
  address: 6551 Telegraph Ave
  Friendly gay bar in North Oakland, beware of the $25 minimum charge when paying with a credit card. Frequent stop for karaoke and live music.

• Yoshi's

  phone: +1 510 238-9200
  address: 510 Embarcadero West
  Though they serve sushi and drinks, the real draw is the music - Yoshi's is among the most well-known jazz clubs on the West Coast. Online ticketing available for events.

Coffee, tea and chocolate

• Caffè Chiave

  phone: +1 510 658-2744
  address: 4045 Piedmont Ave
  An old-school Italian coffeehouse that does all-day breakfast and desserts right from the old country. Meals can be a little above average, especially dinner.

• The Coffee Mill

  phone: +1 510 465-4224
  address: 3363 Grand Ave
  A nice, friendly little coffee shop and bakery that is in a good spot for having breakfast or lunch inside or outside, depending on the weather. Also has live jazz on Sunday evenings.

• Gaylord's Caffe Espresso

  phone: +1 510 658-2877
  address: 4150 Piedmont Ave
  A nice neighborhood coffeehouse that is usually crowded, also has an old organ for a countertop.

• Hive The Place To Be

  phone: +1 510 482-4483
  address: 2139 MacArthur Blvd
  A smart little breakfast and sandwich shop with many gluten-free options. Free wifi.

• Peet's CoffeeBased in nearby Berkeley, Peet's is an East Bay favorite for coffee, tea and pastries.

• Peet's Financial District

  phone: +1 510 844-0061
  address: 1111 Broadway

• Peet's Dimond

  phone: +1 510 842-0203
  address: 3401 Fruitvale Ave

• Peet's Lakeshore

  phone: +1 510 832-6761
  address: 3258 Lakeshore Ave

• Peet's Latham Square

  phone: +1 510 842-0203
  address: 1615 Broadway

• Peet's Montclair

  phone: +1 510 339-6075
  address: 2066 Antioch Ct

• Peet's Piedmont Ave.

  phone: +1 510 655-3228
  address: 4050 Piedmont Ave

• Peet's Temescal

  phone: +1 510 899-6230
  address: 5095 Telegraph Ave. Suite #1

Perch

phone: +1 510 922-1507

address: 440 Grand Ave

A friendly little coffeehouse, complete with hand-painted shades and a play area for kids.

Timeless Coffee

phone: +1 510 985-1360

address: 4252 Piedmont Ave

An upscale coffeehouse and bakery known best for brunches and hand-made vegan pastries.

Budget

• Bay Breeze Inn

  phone: +1 510 536-5972
  address: 4919 Coliseum Way
  No frills.

• Best Western Airport Inn and Suites

  phone: +1 510 633-0500
  address: 170 Hegenberger Loop
  In an industrial neighborhood. Free breakfasts. Very clean and professional.

• Econo Lodge Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 510 635-1892
  address: 10 Hegenberger Rd
  High-speed Internet, continental breakfast and pool on a budget. Free shuttle to and from Oakland Airport.

• Motel 6 - Embarcadero

  phone: +1 510 436-0103
  address: 1801 Embarcadero
  Surprisingly pricey for a budget motel chain.

• Quality Inn Oakland Airport

  phone: +1 510 562-4888
  address: 8471 Enterprise Way
  Free buffet breakfast and coffee, pool and hot tub.

Mid-range

• Courtyard Oakland Airport

  phone: +1-510 568-7600
  address: 350 Hegenberger Rd
  The hotel offers airport shuttle service for easy access to and from the Oakland International Airport. Free Internet available throughout the lobby and in all guest rooms. The Bistro serves breakfast, dinner, cocktails and Starbucks coffee.

• Courtyard Oakland Downtown

  phone: +1 510 625-8282
  address: 998 Broadway
  Steps from BART subway, traveling to San Fran in minutes. Property offers: outdoor pool, fitness center, & 3 meeting rooms.

• Executive Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 510 536-6633
  address: 1755 Embarcadero
  Waterfront-side executive-class hotel, as the name implies. Choice of waterfront or city view. Complimentary breakfasts and Wi-fi. Full space for meetings and banquets. Free shuttle service to Jack London Square and Oakland Airport. Outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi with waterfront view.

• Hilton Oakland Airport

  phone: +1 510 635-5000
  address: 1 Hegenberger Rd
  Parking is $11.75, no valet. Full access to computers, fax and copiers 24 hours daily. Attached sports bar with 13 HDTVs. Fitness center, heated outdoor pool. Breakfast buffet. Shuttle service to Oakland Airport as well as the Coliseum and the Oracle Arena for sports or performance events. Frequent rebates depending on date of stay - book online to check.

• Holiday Inn & Suites - Oakland Airport

  phone: +1 510 638-7777
  address: 77 Hegenberger Rd
  Airport shuttle service and a swimming pool.

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites

  phone: +1 510 569-4400
  address: 66 Airport Access Rd
  Good, nice business-class hotel with a lot of amenities.

• The Washington Inn

  phone: +1 510 452-1776
  address: 495 10th St
  Old-fashioned-looking hotel and restaurant near Old Oakland. Self parking with fee. Business center and complimentary newspapers. Cable TV, complimentary wifi.

Splurge

• Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel

  phone: +1 510 356-2450
  address: 1717 Embarcadero
  Waterfront view.

• Homewood Suites by Hilton Oakland-Waterfront

  phone: +1 510 663-2700
  address: 1103 Embarcadero
  An all-suite, extended stay hotel with fully-equipped kitchens. Complimentary hot breakfast daily, dinner with beer and wine M-Th, and high-speed Internet. Pets allowed, with fee.

• Oakland Marriott City Center

  phone: +1 510 451-4000
  address: 1001 Broadway
  Central location. Onsite restaurant, fitness center and heated swimming pool. Access to downtown shuttle system.

• The Waterfront Hotel

  phone: +1 510 836-3800
  address: 10 Washington St
  Large hotel with a nautical theme, swimming pool and enclosed restaurant.

Crime

Oakland has some problems with both property and violent crime, especially toward the eastern part of the city. The parts of the city with the most serious crime problems are unlikely to be interesting to tourists, but be careful when you venture into areas where there are not many people on the streets, keep your wits about yourself, and be aware of where you are at all times. At the same time, there is no reason to be paranoid, just judicious. The hills of Oakland are safe when it comes to violent crime but there is still property crime there. Think twice about going to West or East Oakland at night.

The area code for Oakland is 510. You only need to dial the seven-digit phone number for calls within the city. For calls within the US or Canada, dial 1+area code+number, and for international calls, dial 011+country code+city code(if applicable)+number. Pay phones are getting less and less common with the increasing popularity of mobile phones. Unfortunately, broken phones and empty phone booths are also a common sight. When you do find one, keep in mind that they only take coins and phone cards with a dial-to-use number. Local calls start at $0.50.
Internet access is available for free or with a fee in cafes and coffeehouses in several neighborhoods throughout the city, most notably the Financial District, Piedmont Avenue and Rockridge. Internet cafes, though once a common sight in Oakland, have dwindled down to nothing. The best bet for finding free Wi-fi Internet is to find one of the larger hotels, one of the branches of the Oakland Public Library, or one of the more well-known coffeehouses especially Starbucks or Peet's.

Parks

Parks are a common sight in Oakland, ranging from the small green with attached baseball field to the large wilderness of Redwood or Joaquin Miller in the hills. They are therefore easy to find, and if one needs some time away from the hustle and bustle of city streets and traffic, especially in the case of Lake Merritt, they may be a short walk away.

Publications

• The Catholic VoiceA newspaper, as the name implies, aimed at the city's Catholic residents.

• De Lauer's Super News Stand

  phone: +1 510 451-6157
  address: 1310 Broadway
  Downtown's source for publications from around the world.

• The East Bay ExpressA free newspaper distributed throughout the East Bay, as the title implies.

• The East Bay TimesA newspaper consolidated from the Oakland Tribune, the Daily Review of Hayward, the Contra Costa Times and the Fremont Argus.

• Issues

  phone: +1 510 652-5700
  address: 644 40th St #102
  A magazine store that covers just about everything that can be imagined in magazine form.

• The Joint Forces JournalA privately produced newspaper primarily with the armed forces in mind.

• The MontclarionA free newspaper associated dominantly with Montclair and Piedmont Ave.

• Oakland Post"The largest African American weekly newspaper in Northern California" is one of a group of minority-run professional newspapers in the region.

Smoking

As with the rest of California, tobacco-friendly venues are very rare in Oakland. State labor laws prohibit smoking in places of employment with only a few exceptions. Hotel lobbies may have a smoking section, and many hotels and motels have rooms and areas specifically for smokers. There are a handful of tobacco shops in the city, and the laws permit smoking in places such as privately-owned casinos and bingo halls and such, but by and large, smoking in public is very rarely permitted.

• The Piedmont Tobacconist

  phone: +1 510 652-7473
  address: 17 Glen Ave
  A rare sight in the Bay Area, a full-service tobacconist. Very friendly service, and a large range of choices of cigars and pipes, and will even show you how to roll your own cigarettes.

• 19th Street Station

  phone: +1 510 893-1919
  address: 339 19th Street
  A rare sight in the Bay Area, a bar that allows smoking. Limited hours.

• San Francisco. Oakland's neighbor across the Bay. (NOTE: Bridge tolls are paid crossing into San Francisco, not exiting it.)
• Berkeley. Eclectic, political and always interesting neighbor to the north.
• San Leandro. Oakland's quieter suburban neighbor to the south, home to worldwide firms, malls, regional parks and shorelines.
• Alameda. Oakland's sleepy island suburb to the west, home to the former Alameda Naval Air Station, and miles of pretty beaches and Victorian houses.
• Emeryville. Home of Pixar and several major animation schools, as well as plenty of shopping and industry.