Food Scene
Soul food meets haute cuisine. Chicken and waffles, buttermilk biscuits, and creole BBQ shrimp done right.
109 locals recommend
Brown Sugar Kitchen
2295 BroadwaySoul food meets haute cuisine. Chicken and waffles, buttermilk biscuits, and creole BBQ shrimp done right.
Home-made kimchi, made three times a week. Home-made chili paste. Delicious barbecued meats and tofu dishes. Sunshine and patio seating. Go!
22 locals recommend
FuseBox
2311 Magnolia StreetHome-made kimchi, made three times a week. Home-made chili paste. Delicious barbecued meats and tofu dishes. Sunshine and patio seating. Go!
Yoshi's Oakland
510 Embarcadero WestLegendary jazz club/sushi bar.
Blue Bottle Coffee
300 Webster StBest coffee in the Bay Area.
Newest addition to the neighborhood. Amazing hipster-approved coffee! (He said it was "very very good.")
65 locals recommend
Kilovolt Coffee
1829 Mandela ParkwayNewest addition to the neighborhood. Amazing hipster-approved coffee! (He said it was "very very good.")
Essentials
A worker-owned grocery store, selling everything you need that's fresh, local, and organic. Right across from the BART station. The home-made soups are killer.
65 locals recommend
Mandela Foods Cooperative
1430 7th StA worker-owned grocery store, selling everything you need that's fresh, local, and organic. Right across from the BART station. The home-made soups are killer.
The best grocery store on the West Coast. If you're looking for 16 varieties of tomatoes, or asparagus in every color of the rainbow, or a killer cheese counter, this is your place.
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz AveThe best grocery store on the West Coast. If you're looking for 16 varieties of tomatoes, or asparagus in every color of the rainbow, or a killer cheese counter, this is your place.
Arts & Culture
Art/sculpture/steel/fire in an old factory complex. Their motto: "Inspiring creativity in everyone." Glass blowing! Welding! Fire opera! Go take a class.
28 locals recommend
The Crucible
1260 7th StArt/sculpture/steel/fire in an old factory complex. Their motto: "Inspiring creativity in everyone." Glass blowing! Welding! Fire opera! Go take a class.
Everything Else
West Oakland station
1451 7th StBART - just one stop to San Francisco!
Come jog, bike, play, sun bathe, or people-watch. Lake Merrit is Oakland's urban oasis, a sunny reservoir in the middle of town.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardCome jog, bike, play, sun bathe, or people-watch. Lake Merrit is Oakland's urban oasis, a sunny reservoir in the middle of town.
Commuter ferry hub and gourmet food cornucopia. Hop the ferry to SF from Jack London Square, or hop on BART and just go one stop to San Francisco.
678 locals recommend
Ferry Building Marketplace
Commuter ferry hub and gourmet food cornucopia. Hop the ferry to SF from Jack London Square, or hop on BART and just go one stop to San Francisco.
Coit Tower
Best views of SF, Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the Golden Gate.
Sightseeing
Restaurants, bars, shops, and a quick ferry ride across the bay to San Francisco.
213 locals recommend
Jack London Square
472 Water StRestaurants, bars, shops, and a quick ferry ride across the bay to San Francisco.
Pedal boat? Kayak? Sailboat? Catamaran? Canoe? The choice is yours.
26 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Boating Center
568 Bellevue AvePedal boat? Kayak? Sailboat? Catamaran? Canoe? The choice is yours.
Entertainment & Activities
Children's Fairyland
699 Bellevue AveA fairyland fantasy for kids of all ages.