Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
Cheap, really yummy take on southern cuisine with a twist. Ultimate comfort food.
58 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Easy Creole
1761 Alcatraz AveCheap, really yummy take on southern cuisine with a twist. Ultimate comfort food.
Sourdough crust. Amazing pizza pies.
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nick's Pizza and Bakery Made in Oakland
6400 Shattuck AveSourdough crust. Amazing pizza pies.
Fantastic espresso and pastries.
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Alchemy Collective Cafe and Roaster
1741 Alcatraz AveFantastic espresso and pastries.
Killer espresso with nutmeg and other rose-, lavender-, or honey-inspired creations. Awesome to grab a cup when coming to/from Ashby BART.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rasa Caffe
411 Martin Luther King Jr WayKiller espresso with nutmeg and other rose-, lavender-, or honey-inspired creations. Awesome to grab a cup when coming to/from Ashby BART.
Sweet Adeline Bakeshop
3350 Adeline StAmazing baked goods. Get a gougères!
"Hipster Indian." A little pricey, but yummy food, cocktails, and great atmosphere.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Juhu Beach Club
5179 Telegraph Avenue"Hipster Indian." A little pricey, but yummy food, cocktails, and great atmosphere.
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveIncredible fare and cocktails. Pricey.
Bay Area institution. Get a cup of coffee with mint involved! If you like mint, you won't regret it.
913 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Philz Coffee
3101 24th StBay Area institution. Get a cup of coffee with mint involved! If you like mint, you won't regret it.
Comal
2020 Shattuck AveExcellent, upscale Mexican.
Bakery + pizza. One type of pie daily; lots of cheese and baked good next door.
317 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Cheeseboard Pizza
1512 Shattuck AveBakery + pizza. One type of pie daily; lots of cheese and baked good next door.
Not your typical ramen, Ramen Shop offers a new take on ramen weekly. Farm-to-fork inspired + amazing cocktails. Yes it's hipster, yes it's worth it. Also, start with a small fried rice.
112 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ramen Shop
5812 College AveNot your typical ramen, Ramen Shop offers a new take on ramen weekly. Farm-to-fork inspired + amazing cocktails. Yes it's hipster, yes it's worth it. Also, start with a small fried rice.
OK, this place gets a lot of hype – the deep dish is great (and is basically the _only_ deep dish in East Bay), but I find myself dreaming about their Caesar Salad – perfect mix of garlic and sardines; super spicy without being too much.
247 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Zachary's Chicago Pizza
5801 College AveOK, this place gets a lot of hype – the deep dish is great (and is basically the _only_ deep dish in East Bay), but I find myself dreaming about their Caesar Salad – perfect mix of garlic and sardines; super spicy without being too much.
Wonderful breakfast/brunch/lunch spot that opens at 7:30a on weekends. Get their daily scone/pastry.
47 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rick & Ann's Restaurant
2922 Domingo AveWonderful breakfast/brunch/lunch spot that opens at 7:30a on weekends. Get their daily scone/pastry.
Chez Panisse has a scene/vibe/following all its own, so google around for what you want to know about it. I'm adding it here to call out a lesser-known thing about the place: Monday-Thursday, you can get steak frites + glass of wine for $25 in the cafe after 9:30p. (The whole cafe menu is also available, but holla for the omnivores in the house.)
337 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck AveChez Panisse has a scene/vibe/following all its own, so google around for what you want to know about it. I'm adding it here to call out a lesser-known thing about the place: Monday-Thursday, you can get steak frites + glass of wine for $25 in the cafe after 9:30p. (The whole cafe menu is also available, but holla for the omnivores in the house.)
Wonderful Mexican; can't go wrong with the chile relleños.
74 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Doña Tomás
3770 Piedmont AvenueWonderful Mexican; can't go wrong with the chile relleños.
Wonderful South American food. Relatively unknown spot with amazing pozole, salsas, enchiladas, and quesadillas.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Los Cilantros
3105 Shattuck AveWonderful South American food. Relatively unknown spot with amazing pozole, salsas, enchiladas, and quesadillas.
Here's the deal: there are a *lot* of great Ethiopian restaurants in this area/Temescal neighborhood. This one has always been solid–great for groups, brunch, and a lively atmosphere. It's my favorite, but it's hard to really get bad Ethiopian around here.
53 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Café Colucci
5849 Telegraph AveHere's the deal: there are a *lot* of great Ethiopian restaurants in this area/Temescal neighborhood. This one has always been solid–great for groups, brunch, and a lively atmosphere. It's my favorite, but it's hard to really get bad Ethiopian around here.
Drinks & Nightlife
It's a bar. It's karaoke. It's a bar with karaoke 7 nights a week.
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Nick's Lounge
3218 Adeline StIt's a bar. It's karaoke. It's a bar with karaoke 7 nights a week.
Fantastic micro brewery. Bring over some Easy Creole from next door or nosh some popcorn with your beer.
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hoi Polloi Brewing Taproom and Beat Lounge
1763 Alcatraz AveFantastic micro brewery. Bring over some Easy Creole from next door or nosh some popcorn with your beer.
Great, Irish-style pub with different events almost every night - folk music jams, poetry slams, dances, etc.. Check their website for details.
74 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Starry Plough Pub
3101 Shattuck AveGreat, Irish-style pub with different events almost every night - folk music jams, poetry slams, dances, etc.. Check their website for details.
The oldest LGBTQ bar in Oakland. Great bar; dancing in the back.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
White Horse Inn
6551 Telegraph AveThe oldest LGBTQ bar in Oakland. Great bar; dancing in the back.
Kingfish Pub & Cafe
5227 Telegraph AveGreat sports bar.
Albatross Pub
1822 San Pablo AveSunday night trivia.
Missouri Lounge
2600 San Pablo AveGreat for dancing on the weekends!
Essentials
Quintessential grocery for Berkeley life – Berkeley Bowl is an institution. Amazing selection of organic good, meats, fish, breads, and prepared foods.
419 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StQuintessential grocery for Berkeley life – Berkeley Bowl is an institution. Amazing selection of organic good, meats, fish, breads, and prepared foods.
Safeway
6310 College AveGood for quick essentials; ample parking on the roof.
Glama-Rama Salon
507 Telegraph AveGet a haircut! (Barbershop is around the corner.)
Getting Around
Trains to get to the rest of East Bay, Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and the peninsula. Can get to both OAK and SFO airports via BART.
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Adeline St & Ashby BART Station
Trains to get to the rest of East Bay, Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and the peninsula. Can get to both OAK and SFO airports via BART.
Sightseeing
You can see the entire Bay on a clear day from here. *Perfect* for sunsets.
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Centennial Drive:Lawrence Hall of Science station
You can see the entire Bay on a clear day from here. *Perfect* for sunsets.
Panoramic Way
Panoramic WayGreat views of the bay!
Parks & Nature
GIANT, CEMENT OUTDOOR SLIDE! Not for the faint of heart (but your 5-yo won't bat an eye).
34 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Codornices Park
1201 Euclid AveGIANT, CEMENT OUTDOOR SLIDE! Not for the faint of heart (but your 5-yo won't bat an eye).
Arts & Culture
Just moved to its new Bancroft location.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pacific Film Archive Theater
Just moved to its new Bancroft location.