Neighborhoods
Piedmont Avenue
Rockridge
Nightlife
Kona Club
4401 Piedmont AveThe BEST tiki bar. We recommend the Painkiller and the Macdamia Chi-Chi
Kerry House
4092 Piedmont AveGreat little dive bar
Cato's Ale House
3891 Piedmont AveSolid beer selection, pub grub & low key atmosphere
Food scene
Shimizu Cuisine
4290 Piedmont AveFresh, delicious, affordable sushi
Upscale Californian cuisine in a quaint setting. Delicious food, reservations recommended
22 locals recommend
Homestead
4029 Piedmont AveUpscale Californian cuisine in a quaint setting. Delicious food, reservations recommended
Slicer Pizzeria
4395 Piedmont AveNY style pizzeria, 2 blocks from the house
Our favorite coffee shop! 100% vegan, but the food is so tasty you’d never know it (especially the “ham & cheese” croissant). Great stop for people and dog watching weekend mornings
54 locals recommend
Timeless Coffee
4252 Piedmont AveOur favorite coffee shop! 100% vegan, but the food is so tasty you’d never know it (especially the “ham & cheese” croissant). Great stop for people and dog watching weekend mornings
Commis
3859 Piedmont Ave$$$$, 2 Michelin starred restaurant, requires reservations
California-style restaurant in a hip atmosphere, great for a nice dinner out
19 locals recommend
The Wolf
3853 Piedmont AveCalifornia-style restaurant in a hip atmosphere, great for a nice dinner out
Dopo
4293 Piedmont AveOutdoor seating at this elevated Italian restaurant
Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont AveGreat for kids and cones!
Amazing Vietnamese spot (we recommend the Buddha roll & coconut prawns!)
18 locals recommend
Xyclo Restaurant
4218 Piedmont AveAmazing Vietnamese spot (we recommend the Buddha roll & coconut prawns!)
The Saap Avenue
4395 Piedmont AveLaotian/Asian fusion cocktails & food 2 blocks from the house
Shopping
Philippa Roberts
4176 Piedmont AveExcellent jewelry store
Gypsy Road Studio
369 East Main StreetAntiques & vintage shopping
Other fun things around Piedmont Ave
Open air, private hot tubs! They also offer excellent massages and spa services. We recommend visiting in the evening so you can hot tub under the stars. Reservations required
25 locals recommend
Piedmont Springs
3939 Piedmont AveOpen air, private hot tubs! They also offer excellent massages and spa services. We recommend visiting in the evening so you can hot tub under the stars. Reservations required
Mountain View and St. Mary’s Cemeteries have excellent walking trails and peekaboo views of the Bay. You can access St Mary’s at the end of our block, and Mountain View one block over at the end of Piedmont Ave
Piedmont Funeral Services and Mountain View Cemetery
5000 Piedmont AvenueMountain View and St. Mary’s Cemeteries have excellent walking trails and peekaboo views of the Bay. You can access St Mary’s at the end of our block, and Mountain View one block over at the end of Piedmont Ave
Traveler advice
Getting around
Getting around by bus
There are several bus lines within a 5 minute walk of the house. The C bus and the 12 bus have stops two blocks from our house at Piedmont Ave / Pleasant Valley Ave. For getting into San Francisco, the C line offers weekday commuter service to SF in the morning (goes to the Salesforce Transbay Terminal right downtown), and service back to Piedmont Ave in the evening. The 12 line picks up on the block as the C and can take you to downtown Oakland, as well as towards Berkeley (the Berkeley direction will also take you to Ashby BART). Fares are $2.25 for local busses or $5.50 for transbay service
Getting around
Getting around by BART
BART is the easiest way to get around the Bay Area past Oakland. The closest stops to the suite are MacArthur and Rockridge, and both are a brisk 20 minute walk. The C line also stops at MacArthur BART during commuting hours. The 51A or 51B can take you to Rockridge BART, and picks up about a 5-minute walk from the suite, and the 12 can take you to Ashby BART and picks up a 1-minute walk from the suite.
Useful phrases
Don’t call it San Fran or Frisco!
The quickest way to out yourself as a tourist is to refer to San Francisco as San Fran or Frisco. Locals usually say SF or just “the city.”
What to pack
Bring a light jacket wherever you go
Weather in the Bay Area can change pretty rapidly, especially in San Francisco, where microclimates are a very real thing. The East Bay tends to be warmer than in SF, but it will usually get cool at night. If you’re planning on being out after the sun goes down, bring a sweater or light jacket!