Guidebook for Oakland
Essentials
Good for picking up staples and snacks. Easy walk from the house
582 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveGood for picking up staples and snacks. Easy walk from the house
fresh fruit and veggies if you don't make it to the farmer's market.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lakeshore Produce
3312 Lakeshore Avefresh fruit and veggies if you don't make it to the farmer's market.
Every Saturday from 9-2. Great fresh fruit and veggies, prepared foods, crafts, and baked goods. Vendors sell meals so you can grab something to eat and enjoy people watching. Live music too.
197 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand AveEvery Saturday from 9-2. Great fresh fruit and veggies, prepared foods, crafts, and baked goods. Vendors sell meals so you can grab something to eat and enjoy people watching. Live music too.
Safeway
3747 Grand AveRight down the hill from us.
Prepared foods and groceries. Outdoor sitting area.
553 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlPrepared foods and groceries. Outdoor sitting area.
Everything Else
Great to walk or run around (around 3.5 miles around). Boat rentals as well. Playgrounds at two different spots. Great people seeing.
751 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardGreat to walk or run around (around 3.5 miles around). Boat rentals as well. Playgrounds at two different spots. Great people seeing.
wonderful yoga studio, variety of styles, really solid teachers, and a beautiful space.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Namaste Yoga + Wellness Grand Lake
3227 Lakeshore Avewonderful yoga studio, variety of styles, really solid teachers, and a beautiful space.
Food Scene
Really great food and nice vibe. Our favorite place to get upscale pizza.
194 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sister
3308 Grand AveReally great food and nice vibe. Our favorite place to get upscale pizza.
Punjabi Tarka
3276 Lakeshore AveGood Indian food in walking distance.
If you need a quick slice late at night or anytime.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lanesplitter Pub & Pizza
536 Lake Park AveIf you need a quick slice late at night or anytime.
good pub fare and a good bar. Outdoor patio for brunch and dinner and drinks.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Grand Tavern
3601 Grand Avegood pub fare and a good bar. Outdoor patio for brunch and dinner and drinks.
If you're looking for a fancier special meal out. Also does brunch.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Camino
3917 Grand AveIf you're looking for a fancier special meal out. Also does brunch.
Grand Avenue Thai Cuisine
384 Grand AveDecent Thai food in walking distance.
Portal Oakland
1611 2nd AveGood brunch and great outdoor patio.
Great ice cream and an Oakland tradition. Also serves food.
129 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont AveGreat ice cream and an Oakland tradition. Also serves food.
great falafal and other dishes. Check out the mint lemonade.
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Holy Land Kosher Food
677 Rand Avegreat falafal and other dishes. Check out the mint lemonade.
farther afield but one of our favorite brunch spots. Be prepared to wait.
53 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Aunt Mary's Cafe
4640 Telegraph Avenuefarther afield but one of our favorite brunch spots. Be prepared to wait.
wonderful brunch - also has a great back patio.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cock-A-Doodle Cafe
719 Washington Stwonderful brunch - also has a great back patio.
Rick & Ann's Restaurant
2922 Domingo Avegreat East Bay brunch!
Fabulous restaurant, great ambiance, right on the water. Definitely get the chocolate croissant bread pudding.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bocanova
Fabulous restaurant, great ambiance, right on the water. Definitely get the chocolate croissant bread pudding.
great outdoor patio right on the water. Solid pizza, interesting beers.
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Forge Pizza Oakland
66 Franklin Stgreat outdoor patio right on the water. Solid pizza, interesting beers.
great breads, baked goods, and homemade pizzas. Worker co-op is a bonus!
198 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore Avegreat breads, baked goods, and homemade pizzas. Worker co-op is a bonus!
Live salsa music on the weekends, brunch, morning coffee, you name it.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
CAÑA Cuban Parlor & Cafe
530 Lake Park AveLive salsa music on the weekends, brunch, morning coffee, you name it.
Trueburger
146 Grand Avereally solid burger and great shakes.
Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine Stnot a coffee drinker but Peet's makes good coffee!
Shandong Restaurant
328 10th Stgreat homemade noodles.
they say it's the best fried chicken sandwich (i'm a vegetarian).
196 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph Avethey say it's the best fried chicken sandwich (i'm a vegetarian).
Pho 84
354 17th Streally great Vietnamese food.
Flora
1900 Telegraph Avefor a fancy dinner out.
Bar Cesar
4039 Piedmont Avegood tapas and nice bar. outdoor patio.
El Huarache Azteca
3842 International Blvdreally good mexican food - if you are up for wandering into east oakland.
brunch place nearby - not our favorite but solid. Check out the upstairs deck/patio.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lynn & Lu's Escapade Cafe
3353 Grand Avebrunch place nearby - not our favorite but solid. Check out the upstairs deck/patio.
Drinks & Nightlife
our German guests loved this spot. Has a nice back patio.
52 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Heart & Dagger Saloon
504 Lake Park Aveour German guests loved this spot. Has a nice back patio.
Easy Lounge
3255 Lakeshore Avenuealso serves food and has a back patio.
Kingman's Lucky Lounge
3332 Grand Avegood djs nice vibe.
if you like to sing along to piano music go check it out.
60 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Alley | Piano Bar & Restaurant
3325 Grand Aveif you like to sing along to piano music go check it out.
Duende
468 19th Stthey have food too - but I go there to drink.
Not a huge fan of the food - but you can't beat the location. They have Taco Tuesday happy hours and other deals. Often live music. Decent brunch.
136 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside DrNot a huge fan of the food - but you can't beat the location. They have Taco Tuesday happy hours and other deals. Often live music. Decent brunch.
Entertainment & Activities
nice wooded area to walk in just 3 blocks from the house. Most people take their dogs there to walk but you can go without a dog (or borrow ours).
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Piedmont Park
356 Highland Avenice wooded area to walk in just 3 blocks from the house. Most people take their dogs there to walk but you can go without a dog (or borrow ours).
It's a bit mid-century in design and upkeep but every day we see kids streaming there dressed as princesses and pirates. My 5 year old niece loved it.
140 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fairyland yabantwana
699 Bellevue AveIt's a bit mid-century in design and upkeep but every day we see kids streaming there dressed as princesses and pirates. My 5 year old niece loved it.
great trails, beach area for hot days, and a snack shack.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lake Anza
great trails, beach area for hot days, and a snack shack.
close by and good for a walk, a picnic, or swimming.
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lake Temescal
close by and good for a walk, a picnic, or swimming.
Sightseeing
10 minutes away by car - and great trails with Redwoods.
214 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iphakamisa ye-Joaquin Miller
3300 Joaquin Miller Rd10 minutes away by car - and great trails with Redwoods.
easy to get to and really wonderful hiking. nice redwood grove.
373 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood Roadeasy to get to and really wonderful hiking. nice redwood grove.