Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
Excellent example of Cal cuisine; superior craft cocktails. Get there EARLY or make a reservation. It's my absolute fave restaurant. With no reservation you can still sit at the bar.
237 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveExcellent example of Cal cuisine; superior craft cocktails. Get there EARLY or make a reservation. It's my absolute fave restaurant. With no reservation you can still sit at the bar.
Sister resto to Pizzaiolo near the Grand Lake Theatre. Fresh, Cal-style cuisine, wood oven, best cocktails. No reservations taken, just go.
194 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sister
3308 Grand AveSister resto to Pizzaiolo near the Grand Lake Theatre. Fresh, Cal-style cuisine, wood oven, best cocktails. No reservations taken, just go.
Closest decent coffee to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Decent food. Wonderful and community-minded owners.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Earthly Coffee and Tea
5506 Martin Luther King Jr WayClosest decent coffee to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Decent food. Wonderful and community-minded owners.
Interesting/yummy bowls of Korean and Korean-fusion foods. In Temescal and walkable.
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bowl'd BBQ
South Shore CenterInteresting/yummy bowls of Korean and Korean-fusion foods. In Temescal and walkable.
Good, clean taqueria close to home. Delicious. Closes at 9.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Calaca Loca Taqueria
5199 Telegraph AveGood, clean taqueria close to home. Delicious. Closes at 9.
BEST taqueria that is walkable. BEST. (They also sell limited menu at Sunday farmers market.)
173 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph AveBEST taqueria that is walkable. BEST. (They also sell limited menu at Sunday farmers market.)
Closest Ethiopian to home and quite good! Great food, no atmosphere. Close walk.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine
4929 Shattuck AveClosest Ethiopian to home and quite good! Great food, no atmosphere. Close walk.
Café Colucci
5849 Telegraph AveBest atmosphere of all the Ethiopian and good food.
Best Thai food in the East Bay that I have tasted. Lots of veggie options, very fresh, organic often, great brown rice mix!
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Anchalee Thai Cuisine
1096 Dwight WayBest Thai food in the East Bay that I have tasted. Lots of veggie options, very fresh, organic often, great brown rice mix!
Closest taqueria to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Really tasty! Closes early--8! Be careful on 55th west of Lowell.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cassave
5412 San Pablo AveClosest taqueria to Craftsman Owner's Unit. Really tasty! Closes early--8! Be careful on 55th west of Lowell.
Seriously awesome cheap eats in South Berkeley, daily menu w veg options.
58 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Easy Creole
1761 Alcatraz AveSeriously awesome cheap eats in South Berkeley, daily menu w veg options.
Wayyyy above-average diner food. Breakfast till late night.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe
4081 Hollis StWayyyy above-average diner food. Breakfast till late night.
I personally think it's HIGHLY overrated but I appear to be in the minority. Besides, you can say you went to the all mac n cheese resto!
149 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Homeroom
400 40th StI personally think it's HIGHLY overrated but I appear to be in the minority. Besides, you can say you went to the all mac n cheese resto!
SUPER-tasty farm to table place right on the Downtown Berkeley BART. Varied menu, great wines and cocktails, good value.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Revival Bar + Kitchen
2102 Shattuck AveSUPER-tasty farm to table place right on the Downtown Berkeley BART. Varied menu, great wines and cocktails, good value.
Fantastic upscale Mexican food, reasonable prices. Gets BUSY and doesn't take reservations.
134 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Comal
2020 Shattuck AveFantastic upscale Mexican food, reasonable prices. Gets BUSY and doesn't take reservations.
The original Gregoire. More like a take-out window than restaurant. Fantastic French/French-inspired food open all day.
71 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grégoire Restaurant
2109 Cedar StThe original Gregoire. More like a take-out window than restaurant. Fantastic French/French-inspired food open all day.
Super-unique Indian-Cali fusion. Food unlike anywhere else; you gotta try the frybread! Great cocktails.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tigerlily Berkeley
1513 Shattuck AveSuper-unique Indian-Cali fusion. Food unlike anywhere else; you gotta try the frybread! Great cocktails.
MOST EXCELLENT cocktails, pretty great food while you're there. Curated by local authors, with books. A literary cafe/bookstore/cocktail bar!
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
North Light
4915 Telegraph AveMOST EXCELLENT cocktails, pretty great food while you're there. Curated by local authors, with books. A literary cafe/bookstore/cocktail bar!
A Rockridge restaurant institution with a wonderful French-Cal-inspired menu. Always a delight.
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
À Côté Restaurant
5478 College AveA Rockridge restaurant institution with a wonderful French-Cal-inspired menu. Always a delight.
The Rendez-Vous
French-Cal-inspired fun spot walkable to you. Can get very loud. food is wonderful.
Belotti Ristorante E Bottega
5403 College AveAuthentic and amazing Italian
Best Japanese food in the East Bay; expensive but impeccable
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iyasare
1830 Fourth StBest Japanese food in the East Bay; expensive but impeccable
Best Middle Eastern+Cal from a longtime caterer. Wonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pomella
3770 Piedmont AveBest Middle Eastern+Cal from a longtime caterer. Wonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
Wonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
74 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Doña Tomás
3770 Piedmont AvenueWonderful food and atmosphere and in a nice shopping area.
Tacos Oscar
420 40th StLegendary, foodie. Check hours tho; they are limited.
Top-notch Cal baking; if you don't want pizza there's focaccia, pull-apart cheese sticks, etc.
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nick's Pizza and Bakery Made in Oakland
6400 Shattuck AveTop-notch Cal baking; if you don't want pizza there's focaccia, pull-apart cheese sticks, etc.
Snail Bar
Foodie scene.
DAYTRIP
The celery salad is really as good as they say. Unique/cool spot, can get loud.
Drinks & Nightlife
Beer garden. I don't even like beer and I LOVE this place: friendly service, walking distance, GREAT veg/vegan options and overall great menu.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Moxy
3136 Sacramento StBeer garden. I don't even like beer and I LOVE this place: friendly service, walking distance, GREAT veg/vegan options and overall great menu.
I've never been. Too meaty but the meat folkses love it. Allegedly excellent craft beers.
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hog's Apothecary
375 40th StI've never been. Too meaty but the meat folkses love it. Allegedly excellent craft beers.
Irish-influenced bar, nicely done by nice owners, just a 5-min walk from your home base. Huge beer selection, some cocktails.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wolfhound Bar
5516 San Pablo AveIrish-influenced bar, nicely done by nice owners, just a 5-min walk from your home base. Huge beer selection, some cocktails.
Viridian
Best craft cocktails in all of Oakland. Can get loud, so WORTH IT.
Essentials
Best area groceries. Worthy tourist destination; you likely have nothing like it at home.
371 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz AveBest area groceries. Worthy tourist destination; you likely have nothing like it at home.
If you have a car this is THE place to get groceries.
419 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StIf you have a car this is THE place to get groceries.
Everything Else
Sunday farmers market in the DMV parking lot, 8-1. Walkable. Nice selection of baked goods and restaurant food cart items even if you're not getting produce. Local people watching.
96 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Temescal Farmer's Market
5300 Claremont AveSunday farmers market in the DMV parking lot, 8-1. Walkable. Nice selection of baked goods and restaurant food cart items even if you're not getting produce. Local people watching.
Mariposa Baking Company
5427 Telegraph AveAll things gluten-free. Walkable.
Beauty's Bagel Shop
3838 Telegraph AveBest local bagels.
Adorable stroll w/retail that includes fancy coffee and donuts. The naughty cream is the only donut worth getting. So good tho! (The others are average.)
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Temescal Alley
Temescal AlleyAdorable stroll w/retail that includes fancy coffee and donuts. The naughty cream is the only donut worth getting. So good tho! (The others are average.)
Little retail area with cheese shop, Ethiopian, USPS, shops and restaurants, drug store. Walk 55th and turn right to head south. The action is on the other side of the freeway underpass.
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shattuck Avenue
Shattuck AvenueLittle retail area with cheese shop, Ethiopian, USPS, shops and restaurants, drug store. Walk 55th and turn right to head south. The action is on the other side of the freeway underpass.
Pizza of the day and bread of the day that always changes. Menu on website. Fantastic chai. Walkable.
72 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Arizmendi Bakery & Pizzeria
4301 San Pablo AvePizza of the day and bread of the day that always changes. Menu on website. Fantastic chai. Walkable.
Fantastic Tuesday (2-6:30) farmers market a close walk into Berkeley.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
South Berkeley (Tuesday) Farmers' Market
63rd StreetFantastic Tuesday (2-6:30) farmers market a close walk into Berkeley.
Foodie heaven at Rockridge BART. The best is the cheese shop and the coffee. The fish market has daily sandwich and soup specials till 6. The bakery is good too.
64 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rockridge Market Hall
5655 College AveFoodie heaven at Rockridge BART. The best is the cheese shop and the coffee. The fish market has daily sandwich and soup specials till 6. The bakery is good too.
Not rec'ing the station. Just mapping it to tell you you can walk several blocks on College Ave. in either direction from the BART and be pleased and entertained (retail, restaurants, etc.).
127 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rockridge Station
5660 College AveNot rec'ing the station. Just mapping it to tell you you can walk several blocks on College Ave. in either direction from the BART and be pleased and entertained (retail, restaurants, etc.).
Hey, you can walk to Pixar! How cool is that? Also it's cute and historic around there, unlike most of the rest of Emeryville.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pixar Animation Studios
1200 Park AveHey, you can walk to Pixar! How cool is that? Also it's cute and historic around there, unlike most of the rest of Emeryville.
Easy/short walk to fill in produce/basic needs. Note limited hours, closes around 7-8. Also Basic Cafe next door for GREAT food and outdoor seating!
Baseline Produce
5220 Adeline StEasy/short walk to fill in produce/basic needs. Note limited hours, closes around 7-8. Also Basic Cafe next door for GREAT food and outdoor seating!
Not a rec. Just mapping your nearest BART station.
164 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
MacArthur Station
555 40th StNot a rec. Just mapping your nearest BART station.
Not a rec. Just mapping your other nearest BART station.
159 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ashby station
3100 Adeline StNot a rec. Just mapping your other nearest BART station.