Oakland Chinatown & Downtown
Food Scene
Famous noodles & dumplings, best you'll ever eat.
71 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shandong Restaurant
328 10th StFamous noodles & dumplings, best you'll ever eat.
Sun Sing Pastry Dim Sum
382 8th StBest pork buns in the neighborhood
House roasted coffee, food, open late, good place to work. Next to 12th St BART.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Awaken Cafe & Roasting
1429 BroadwayHouse roasted coffee, food, open late, good place to work. Next to 12th St BART.
Chop Bar
190 4th StNot for vegetarians. Excellent Bloody Mary's
KultMix
304 10th StClosest late night take out place. Very good soups.
Poke Zone
329 11th StExtremely fast sushi / poke take out.
CAM ANH
920 Webster StCheap banh mi, lunch take out only.
Through the tube into Alameda - one of the best traditional dim sum places in the bay area.
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
East Ocean Seafood Restaurant
1713 Webster StThrough the tube into Alameda - one of the best traditional dim sum places in the bay area.
Authentic Szechuan style for adventurous eaters - very spicy, 'stinky tofu', etc.
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Spices 3 Restaurants
370-372 12th StAuthentic Szechuan style for adventurous eaters - very spicy, 'stinky tofu', etc.
Flora
1900 Telegraph AveNicer 'New American' style dinner
Sobo Ramen
988 Franklin StExcellent ramen, only open for lunch.
One Zo
362 8th StThere's a lot of boba places in the hood, this is the only one that makes their own in house.
Permanent food truck on the other end of the lake - open until 2am most nights.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tacos Mi Rancho
1434 1st AvePermanent food truck on the other end of the lake - open until 2am most nights.
Drinks & Nightlife
Nearby stuff.
50+ craft beers on tap with a patio, punk rock vibe but diverse crowd. Bottles to go.
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Beer Revolution: pick-up & curbside ❤️
464 3rd St50+ craft beers on tap with a patio, punk rock vibe but diverse crowd. Bottles to go.
Belgian and rare beers. "Monk's Lunch" special is one of the better deals in downtown.
86 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Trappist
460 8th StBelgian and rare beers. "Monk's Lunch" special is one of the better deals in downtown.
Ruby Room
132 14th StDive that allows smoking
Dogwood
1644 Telegraph AveGreat cocktails, across from Fox Theater
The Hatch Oakland
402 15th StSmall neighborhood spot that has good music and food (burgers, tacos) until late
Mad Oak Bar
135 12th StPlays sports games on TV and has a nice patio
The Golden Bull Bar
412 14th StPunk / metal bar often has touring bands playing.
Radio
435 13th StDive bar directly next to 12th St BART station.
Famously weird bar next to City Hall. Excellent greyhounds, good music. Very Oakland.
120 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph AveFamously weird bar next to City Hall. Excellent greyhounds, good music. Very Oakland.
On-site microbrewery, excellent jazz & swing bands on weekend nights. Only place I've ever been with a gruit on tap.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Woods Bar & Brewery
1701 Telegraph AveOn-site microbrewery, excellent jazz & swing bands on weekend nights. Only place I've ever been with a gruit on tap.
Merchants' Saloon
401 2nd StVery divey sailor bar near OKJ Amtrak.
The Good Hop Bar & Bottle Shop
2421 Telegraph AveReally good beer bar on Telegraph
Arts & Culture
Historic venue within walking distance
Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph AveHistoric venue
Excellent museum, very underrated. Every Friday has free admission & huge food truck event on 10th Street with live music. Highly recommend.
547 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StExcellent museum, very underrated. Every Friday has free admission & huge food truck event on 10th Street with live music. Highly recommend.
Every first Friday - large street festival in downtown that runs up Telegraph Avenue. Food trucks, art galleries, bars, special events, etc.
64 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
First Fridays
2633 Telegraph AveEvery first Friday - large street festival in downtown that runs up Telegraph Avenue. Food trucks, art galleries, bars, special events, etc.
Paramount Theatre
2025 BroadwayArt Deco venue & events center
Watch an indie film on a couch. Has food & alcohol. Very Oakland.
156 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The New Parkway Theater
474 24th StWatch an indie film on a couch. Has food & alcohol. Very Oakland.
The Golden Bull Bar
412 14th StDivey bar that has a lot of punk/metal touring bands play.
The New Parish
1743 San Pablo AveVenue host to all kinds of concerts.
Elbo Room Jack London
311 BroadwayBar downstairs, small intimate venue upstairs.
Oakland Metro Operahouse
303 3rd StFamous for the Oakland amateur 'Hoodslam Wrestling' events (google it).