Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
This is our favorite place within walking distance. The food is excellent (and so is the wine) and they do a 4 course prix-fix menu that is ~$40/pp (+$15 for wine pairing)
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Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar
4238 Park BlvdThis is our favorite place within walking distance. The food is excellent (and so is the wine) and they do a 4 course prix-fix menu that is ~$40/pp (+$15 for wine pairing)
If you're new to the Bay or West coast don't leave without getting some out of this world sushi! There are many great places around the bay but this one is walkable!
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Sushi Park | Japanese Restaurant
4209 Park BlvdIf you're new to the Bay or West coast don't leave without getting some out of this world sushi! There are many great places around the bay but this one is walkable!
Excellent breakfast and brunch spot. Everything on their menu is great but their biscuits are can't miss!
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Blackberry Bistro
4240 Park BlvdExcellent breakfast and brunch spot. Everything on their menu is great but their biscuits are can't miss!
Mua is a warehouse restaurant complete with stunning large scale artwork and a live DJ (at least on Fri/Sat night). Their food is excellent - one of our favorite places to go with friends and order a ton of smaller plates.
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Mua Oakland
2442a Webster StMua is a warehouse restaurant complete with stunning large scale artwork and a live DJ (at least on Fri/Sat night). Their food is excellent - one of our favorite places to go with friends and order a ton of smaller plates.
Great brunch spot, but you'll likely need a reservation. Excellent cuban drinks and food in a great atmosphere and location. Check out the Grand-Lake Farmers Market and then head to Caña for brunch!
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CAÑA Cuban Parlor & Cafe
530 Lake Park AveGreat brunch spot, but you'll likely need a reservation. Excellent cuban drinks and food in a great atmosphere and location. Check out the Grand-Lake Farmers Market and then head to Caña for brunch!
Highly recommend people watching from their patio. They offer good food and affordable wine by the carafe!
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Barlago
550 Grand AveHighly recommend people watching from their patio. They offer good food and affordable wine by the carafe!
If you're a fan of thai food, the Sunday brunch (they only serve Sunday brunch at the temple) is can't miss. Enjoy authentic thai food served served in an informal outdoor setting at a beautiful temple in Berkeley.
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Wat Mongkolratanaram
1911 Russell StIf you're a fan of thai food, the Sunday brunch (they only serve Sunday brunch at the temple) is can't miss. Enjoy authentic thai food served served in an informal outdoor setting at a beautiful temple in Berkeley.
Best burger in Oakland! Small restaurant which fills up quickly, so reservations are recommended. Their entire menu is delightful, though portions can sometimes be small. If you enjoy IPA and Scotch, their Hop+Scotch pairings are also highly recommended.
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Hopscotch
1915 San Pablo AveBest burger in Oakland! Small restaurant which fills up quickly, so reservations are recommended. Their entire menu is delightful, though portions can sometimes be small. If you enjoy IPA and Scotch, their Hop+Scotch pairings are also highly recommended.
A short walk from the studio, this is one of the best collections of draft beers (and wines!) around. They offer a selection of empanadas that is outstanding.
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Paulista Brazilian Kitchen and Taproom
4239 Park BlvdA short walk from the studio, this is one of the best collections of draft beers (and wines!) around. They offer a selection of empanadas that is outstanding.
Great food on the edge of Jack London Square. Excellent seafood, cocktails, and service.
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NIDO Kitchen & Bar
444 Oak StGreat food on the edge of Jack London Square. Excellent seafood, cocktails, and service.
Arts & Culture
Learn about the history of Oakland, as well as greater California and take in their art exhibits as well. Bonus points: on Friday nights check out "Off the Grid" for local food trucks, outdoor music and museum access!
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Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StLearn about the history of Oakland, as well as greater California and take in their art exhibits as well. Bonus points: on Friday nights check out "Off the Grid" for local food trucks, outdoor music and museum access!
One of the best modern art museums in the country! Enough said...
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San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StOne of the best modern art museums in the country! Enough said...
An art museum in the middle of Golden Gate park brings the best of the indoors and outdoors together!
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de Young Museum
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden DrAn art museum in the middle of Golden Gate park brings the best of the indoors and outdoors together!
One of the best regional theaters in the bay area. Enjoy both classical theater and edgier new plays.
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Berkeley Repertory Theatre
2025 Addison StOne of the best regional theaters in the bay area. Enjoy both classical theater and edgier new plays.
Drinks & Nightlife
Heinold's is one of the oldest bars in the bay area, has an amazing outdoor patio and the most earth quake tilted floor we've seen. Tour the Jack London area on a nice sunny day and stop by Heinold's for a drink on their patio.
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Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon
48 Webster StreetHeinold's is one of the oldest bars in the bay area, has an amazing outdoor patio and the most earth quake tilted floor we've seen. Tour the Jack London area on a nice sunny day and stop by Heinold's for a drink on their patio.
One of the most beautiful music venues we've ever seen. You'll probably need to book tickets in advance, but it's beautiful from the outside as well and in the middle of a great neighborhood to explore on foot.
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Paramount Theatre
2025 BroadwayOne of the most beautiful music venues we've ever seen. You'll probably need to book tickets in advance, but it's beautiful from the outside as well and in the middle of a great neighborhood to explore on foot.
Love the spicy cocktails here (with ghostpeppers!) and they also have an excellent burger.
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Sidebar
542 Grand AveLove the spicy cocktails here (with ghostpeppers!) and they also have an excellent burger.
Enjoy live music most nights and their famous Greyhound cocktails (grapefruit + vodka)
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Cafe Van Kleef
1621 Telegraph AveEnjoy live music most nights and their famous Greyhound cocktails (grapefruit + vodka)
Enjoy the view from Jack London with a flight of wines, then either take the ferry to SF or sample the best Jack London Square has to offer.
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Rosenblum Cellars
10 Clay StEnjoy the view from Jack London with a flight of wines, then either take the ferry to SF or sample the best Jack London Square has to offer.
Entertainment & Activities
Every Saturday from 10am~2pm!
If you haven't been to a bay area farmer's market, it's a bit difficult to describe. There is amazing food for shopping or immediate consumption. Numerous food trucks, live music, and frequently some additional entertainment. We highly recommend shopping for your picnic lunch and enjoying it around the nearby lake! Note: parking is often crazy during the market so may be worth walking or ubering!
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Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand AveEvery Saturday from 10am~2pm!
If you haven't been to a bay area farmer's market, it's a bit difficult to describe. There is amazing food for shopping or immediate consumption. Numerous food trucks, live music, and frequently some additional entertainment. We highly recommend shopping for your picnic lunch and enjoying it around the nearby lake! Note: parking is often crazy during the market so may be worth walking or ubering!
Great theater that features living-room like seating (couches and comfy chairs) and a menu of comfort food, beer and wine to enjoy while watching your movie. Not the biggest/best screens and sound systems, but great for anything but the latest blockbuster.
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The New Parkway Theater
474 24th StGreat theater that features living-room like seating (couches and comfy chairs) and a menu of comfort food, beer and wine to enjoy while watching your movie. Not the biggest/best screens and sound systems, but great for anything but the latest blockbuster.
Parks & Nature
We love hiking Tilden in the afternoon. Depending on the trail you pick you can enjoy scenic views of Oakland/San Francisco or a stunning amount of pristine wilderness!
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Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak BlvdWe love hiking Tilden in the afternoon. Depending on the trail you pick you can enjoy scenic views of Oakland/San Francisco or a stunning amount of pristine wilderness!
Joaquin Miller is the closest hiking area with some great trails and also some gardens, picnic areas and other places worth exploring. When you want to get some nature but don't want to deal with traffic!
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Joaquin Miller Park
3300 Joaquin Miller RdJoaquin Miller is the closest hiking area with some great trails and also some gardens, picnic areas and other places worth exploring. When you want to get some nature but don't want to deal with traffic!
One of our favorite places in the entire bay area, Mt Tam has it all. Amazing ocean views, sweeping views of San Francisco, and every level of hiking.
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Mount Tamalpais
One of our favorite places in the entire bay area, Mt Tam has it all. Amazing ocean views, sweeping views of San Francisco, and every level of hiking.
Beautiful rose garden not far from our house. Great place to meet friends or hang out.
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Morcom Rose Garden
700 Jean StBeautiful rose garden not far from our house. Great place to meet friends or hang out.
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline BoulevardEssentials
Prices aren't the best here but they have anything you might have left at home!
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Savemore Market
4219 Park BlvdPrices aren't the best here but they have anything you might have left at home!
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveThis is our go-to grocery store!
Getting Around
This is the closest BART stop to our house, which could be useful especially when coming to/from the airport. For most transportation in the East Bay we recommend using Uber or Lyft - if you're not familiar with these services, we think you'll be surprised by how reasonable their fares are!
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Lake Merritt Station
800 Oak StThis is the closest BART stop to our house, which could be useful especially when coming to/from the airport. For most transportation in the East Bay we recommend using Uber or Lyft - if you're not familiar with these services, we think you'll be surprised by how reasonable their fares are!
On a clear day save yourself the agony of driving in San Francisco and take the ferry from Oakland to the historic Ferry Building. This route takes you near the Oakland port where you may see large container ships up close and then across the bay. On a clear day the views are remarkable! Once you've landed enjoy the many shops and restaurants of the Ferry Building. Bonus points: the ferry serves beer and wine and can be quite an enjoyable "happy hour"!
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San Francisco Bay Ferry station
10 Clay StOn a clear day save yourself the agony of driving in San Francisco and take the ferry from Oakland to the historic Ferry Building. This route takes you near the Oakland port where you may see large container ships up close and then across the bay. On a clear day the views are remarkable! Once you've landed enjoy the many shops and restaurants of the Ferry Building. Bonus points: the ferry serves beer and wine and can be quite an enjoyable "happy hour"!