Guidebook for Oakland
Everything Else
A quick walk for all your cooking needs and a wonderful selection of pre-cooked meals and snacks.
582 abantu bendawo batusa
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveA quick walk for all your cooking needs and a wonderful selection of pre-cooked meals and snacks.
A perfect Saturday morning outing! A terrific selection of fresh local organic produce, and artisan foods, food trucks and live music.
197 abantu bendawo batusa
Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand AveA perfect Saturday morning outing! A terrific selection of fresh local organic produce, and artisan foods, food trucks and live music.
Simply the coolest multiplex you'll ever been in! A old-time movie palace redone with 4 screens, each with a different design theme. Live organ music on the weekends. Great popcorn too.
382 abantu bendawo batusa
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveSimply the coolest multiplex you'll ever been in! A old-time movie palace redone with 4 screens, each with a different design theme. Live organ music on the weekends. Great popcorn too.
A hip, no frills - French-inspired wine bar featuring small batch local wines alongside great European wines. Wine flight tastings on Saturday afternoons.
42 abantu bendawo batusa
Ordinaire Wine Shop & Wine Bar
3354 Grand AveA hip, no frills - French-inspired wine bar featuring small batch local wines alongside great European wines. Wine flight tastings on Saturday afternoons.
Only need a couple lemons and some basil and don't feel like wondering through TJ's? This little market is the perfect quick in&out. They also have a great selection of Thai spices and sauces.
7 abantu bendawo batusa
Lakeshore Produce
3312 Lakeshore AveOnly need a couple lemons and some basil and don't feel like wondering through TJ's? This little market is the perfect quick in&out. They also have a great selection of Thai spices and sauces.
One of the coolest new and used independent bookstores in the Bay Area. A knowlegable staff of book nerds will help you find or locate any book that's in print or out of print. Fun!
37 abantu bendawo batusa
Walden Pond Books
3316 Grand AveOne of the coolest new and used independent bookstores in the Bay Area. A knowlegable staff of book nerds will help you find or locate any book that's in print or out of print. Fun!
It's a small pharmacy right on Lakeshore in front of the Walgreen's/Trader Joe's parking lot but it's a quick in and out for most of your pharmaceutical needs.
17 abantu bendawo batusa
CVS
3236 Lakeshore AveIt's a small pharmacy right on Lakeshore in front of the Walgreen's/Trader Joe's parking lot but it's a quick in and out for most of your pharmaceutical needs.
One of the few liquor stores in the country that offers free tasting events and is simply gorgeous to spend time in, with an art gallery upstairs.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
Alchemy Bottle Shop
3256 Grand AveOne of the few liquor stores in the country that offers free tasting events and is simply gorgeous to spend time in, with an art gallery upstairs.
The name says it all. Walk in with or without your yoga mat and you'll feel different. Classes all day, beautiful studios and not too much attitude.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
Knimble
3258 Grand AveThe name says it all. Walk in with or without your yoga mat and you'll feel different. Classes all day, beautiful studios and not too much attitude.
After a long walk around Lake Merritt and bite and a drink at the Lake Chalet, stop in for a few minutes at the The Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland's newest tourist destination. http://www.ctlc
23 abantu bendawo batusa
The Cathedral of Christ the Light
2121 Harrison StAfter a long walk around Lake Merritt and bite and a drink at the Lake Chalet, stop in for a few minutes at the The Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland's newest tourist destination. http://www.ctlc
Food Scene
My oh my -- awesome cocktails & great food in a lively neighborhood venue. One of our favorite go-to restaurants.
194 abantu bendawo batusa
Sister
3308 Grand AveMy oh my -- awesome cocktails & great food in a lively neighborhood venue. One of our favorite go-to restaurants.
Reliably tasty, fresh, bright Asian food -- only two blocks away. Great service and 1/2 off wine and beer nights.
21 abantu bendawo batusa
Lin Jia Asian Kitchen
3437 Lakeshore AveReliably tasty, fresh, bright Asian food -- only two blocks away. Great service and 1/2 off wine and beer nights.
One of the first and still one of the best java jolts you could wish for.
259 abantu bendawo batusa
Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine StOne of the first and still one of the best java jolts you could wish for.
Solid Thai food menu with lots of vegetarian options. Especially nice for takeout.
28 abantu bendawo batusa
Neecha Thai Cuisine
3236 Grand AveSolid Thai food menu with lots of vegetarian options. Especially nice for takeout.
A great bargain for a tasty Greek lunch. Family run enterprise.
12 abantu bendawo batusa
Ikaros Greek Restaurant
3268 Grand AveA great bargain for a tasty Greek lunch. Family run enterprise.
A perfectly unique Oakland experience. Spices from all over the world available here with a passionately knowledgable staff.
34 abantu bendawo batusa
Oaktown Spice Shop
546 Grand AveA perfectly unique Oakland experience. Spices from all over the world available here with a passionately knowledgable staff.
I haven't been here often, but it seems to hold a certain sway in the neighborhood. Cuban food, outside seating, full bar, huge movie screen and live salsa music on Sunday afternoon.
54 abantu bendawo batusa
CAÑA Cuban Parlor & Cafe
530 Lake Park AveI haven't been here often, but it seems to hold a certain sway in the neighborhood. Cuban food, outside seating, full bar, huge movie screen and live salsa music on Sunday afternoon.
Open for lunch and dinner. A very nice place for a cocktail or steak frites and other seasonal house specials right across from Lake Merritt.
58 abantu bendawo batusa
Sidebar
542 Grand AveOpen for lunch and dinner. A very nice place for a cocktail or steak frites and other seasonal house specials right across from Lake Merritt.
Pizza and baked goods prepared by dedicated coop owners. The pizzas of the day are incredibly distinctive (half baked or by the slice) usually with sliced onions and vegetable du jour + feta.
198 abantu bendawo batusa
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AvePizza and baked goods prepared by dedicated coop owners. The pizzas of the day are incredibly distinctive (half baked or by the slice) usually with sliced onions and vegetable du jour + feta.
Full bar with great house drinks like "French 75" and a simple but delicious wine list pairs well with tasty French bistro food. Try the cheese plate, sit at the bar to practice your French! Really.
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Michel Bistro
3343 Lakeshore AvenueFull bar with great house drinks like "French 75" and a simple but delicious wine list pairs well with tasty French bistro food. Try the cheese plate, sit at the bar to practice your French! Really.
Excellent Cal-Spanish-Mediterranean cuisine in a hip fun environment with a friendly staff. Locals crowd to this place so if you want to get a table, best to make reservations or arrive early and sit at the bar. Better yet, go for lunch or happy hour. The chef/owners were both "Top Chef" competitors and live in the neighborhood.
73 abantu bendawo batusa
Shakewell
3407 Lakeshore AveExcellent Cal-Spanish-Mediterranean cuisine in a hip fun environment with a friendly staff. Locals crowd to this place so if you want to get a table, best to make reservations or arrive early and sit at the bar. Better yet, go for lunch or happy hour. The chef/owners were both "Top Chef" competitors and live in the neighborhood.
Drinks & Nightlife
Wood fired food, great bar, fun and high energy all around. Something magical for everyone. And they serve food until 11 pm. Oakland embraces Chef Charlie Hallowell's third venue.
77 abantu bendawo batusa
Penrose
3311 Grand AveWood fired food, great bar, fun and high energy all around. Something magical for everyone. And they serve food until 11 pm. Oakland embraces Chef Charlie Hallowell's third venue.
The food is fine, but it's really about the view. Sit outside on the dock on a sunny afternoon with the seagulls, watch the Gondolas come and go, drink your favorite brew. Oakland at it's finest!
136 abantu bendawo batusa
Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside DrThe food is fine, but it's really about the view. Sit outside on the dock on a sunny afternoon with the seagulls, watch the Gondolas come and go, drink your favorite brew. Oakland at it's finest!
The legendary dive bar featuring Rod Dibble on the piano bar and serves your favorite comfort food. Sing, drink and eat. Memorable!
60 abantu bendawo batusa
The Alley | Piano Bar & Restaurant
3325 Grand AveThe legendary dive bar featuring Rod Dibble on the piano bar and serves your favorite comfort food. Sing, drink and eat. Memorable!
This neighborhood bar is run by two lovely ladies who have a following for their super cocktails and great hospitality.
26 abantu bendawo batusa
The Cat House
3255 Lakeshore AvenueThis neighborhood bar is run by two lovely ladies who have a following for their super cocktails and great hospitality.
Shopping
A very nice women's consignment clothing store with seasonal selections of pretty nice quality clothing and shoes.
10 abantu bendawo batusa
maribel
3251 Lakeshore AveA very nice women's consignment clothing store with seasonal selections of pretty nice quality clothing and shoes.
Want a special gift for someone but don't want to spend Gumps kind of money, this is the go-to shop. A sweet selection of interesting household items as well as cards, jewelry hats, and scarves.
14 abantu bendawo batusa
Urban Indigo
20405 Lakeshore AveWant a special gift for someone but don't want to spend Gumps kind of money, this is the go-to shop. A sweet selection of interesting household items as well as cards, jewelry hats, and scarves.
Arts & Culture
Wonderful example of 60's minimal architecture with three floors of permanent exhibits that focus on, you guessed it, California -- Art, History and Natural Science. Special exhibitions are always timely and engaging. Enjoy live music, a dazzling variety of food truck cuisine, local brews, wine and people watching at "Friday Nights at OMCA". All free and open till 10 pm.
547 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StWonderful example of 60's minimal architecture with three floors of permanent exhibits that focus on, you guessed it, California -- Art, History and Natural Science. Special exhibitions are always timely and engaging. Enjoy live music, a dazzling variety of food truck cuisine, local brews, wine and people watching at "Friday Nights at OMCA". All free and open till 10 pm.
Parks & Nature
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt Boulevard