Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
Best french toast! Love the turkey sandwich and matzo ball soup. The salads are great and sidewalk tables have a view of the lake and park. Get there early.
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Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt
576 Grand AveBest french toast! Love the turkey sandwich and matzo ball soup. The salads are great and sidewalk tables have a view of the lake and park. Get there early.
the burger is great! But you can't find a better bang for your buck in the bay area. Featured in the NY Times 24 hours in Oakland.
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Sidebar
542 Grand Avethe burger is great! But you can't find a better bang for your buck in the bay area. Featured in the NY Times 24 hours in Oakland.
Hot day: try the New Orleans. All other times the coffee is so darn good and rich.
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Blue Bottle Coffee
300 Webster StHot day: try the New Orleans. All other times the coffee is so darn good and rich.
My everyday coffee. Great neighborhood people watching. Large seating area.
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Peet's Coffee
2124 Vine StMy everyday coffee. Great neighborhood people watching. Large seating area.
great pour-over ethopian coffee. Love to take the lap top and work here. 2 blocks from our house. Sandwiches and snack too.
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Lake Merritt Station
800 Oak Stgreat pour-over ethopian coffee. Love to take the lap top and work here. 2 blocks from our house. Sandwiches and snack too.
grab a coffee on the way to BART from this single source grower direct coffee stand. Also the pastries from Firebrand are some of the best in the bay area.
1888 Coffee Station at Bacheesos
246 Grand Avegrab a coffee on the way to BART from this single source grower direct coffee stand. Also the pastries from Firebrand are some of the best in the bay area.
Donut Savant
3000 38th AvenueMaple sugar cronuts. OMG. Not your everyday donut.
Addicted to their corn-cherry scones. And they have pizza too. this is one place the neighborhood cant do without
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Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore AveAddicted to their corn-cherry scones. And they have pizza too. this is one place the neighborhood cant do without
Great Italian with an interesting (not typical) menu. Try the polpette for sure!!
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Dopo
4293 Piedmont AveGreat Italian with an interesting (not typical) menu. Try the polpette for sure!!
OMG love those shrimp!! Great al fresco tables very near the Bart.
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alaMar Kitchen & Bar
100 Grand AveOMG love those shrimp!! Great al fresco tables very near the Bart.
Get inspired. A fun and unusual place not only for yourself but great to buy gifts. So glad to have a shop like this in the neighborhood.
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Oaktown Spice Shop
546 Grand AveGet inspired. A fun and unusual place not only for yourself but great to buy gifts. So glad to have a shop like this in the neighborhood.
You rarely find Asian cooking this good outside of China Town. Wonderful vegetarian items. Here you get it all - great food, great service and great decor.
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Lin Jia Asian Kitchen
3437 Lakeshore AveYou rarely find Asian cooking this good outside of China Town. Wonderful vegetarian items. Here you get it all - great food, great service and great decor.
Delicious authentic Vietnamese food that stands out among all the restaurants in Oakland China Town.
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Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar
344 12th StDelicious authentic Vietnamese food that stands out among all the restaurants in Oakland China Town.
One of the few sustainable sushi places in the USA. Hip and casual. A great place to sit on the sidewalk and people watch.
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Torpedo Sushi
25 Grand AveOne of the few sustainable sushi places in the USA. Hip and casual. A great place to sit on the sidewalk and people watch.
Authentic Taiwanese street food done to perfection at an incredibly reasonable prices. Generous portions. Favorites: slow roasted pork and grilled chicken entrees.
Taiwan Bento
412 22nd StreetAuthentic Taiwanese street food done to perfection at an incredibly reasonable prices. Generous portions. Favorites: slow roasted pork and grilled chicken entrees.
amazing selection of beer, local and international. German inspired food, sausages. But the fish and chips is best around. outdoor and indoor dining with gorgeous view of marina and estuary.
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Brotzeit Lokal | German Restaurant & Waterfront Biergarten
1000 Embarcaderoamazing selection of beer, local and international. German inspired food, sausages. But the fish and chips is best around. outdoor and indoor dining with gorgeous view of marina and estuary.
Closest to our house. Opens at 7:30 for coffee and breakfast items. Great for neighborhood people watching.
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Perch Coffee House
440 Grand AveClosest to our house. Opens at 7:30 for coffee and breakfast items. Great for neighborhood people watching.
This neighborhood bar also has early morning coffee and pastries. Often has a great food truck outside. 1 block from our house.
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Room 389
389 Grand AveThis neighborhood bar also has early morning coffee and pastries. Often has a great food truck outside. 1 block from our house.
Parks & Nature
The redwoods are amazing and your don't have to deal with the crowds at Muir woods
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Iphakamisa ka-Joaquin Miller
3300 Joaquin Miller RdThe redwoods are amazing and your don't have to deal with the crowds at Muir woods
One of the best in the country! Hours are odd but definitely worth seeking out.
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Lake Merritt Bonsai Gardens
One of the best in the country! Hours are odd but definitely worth seeking out.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore Avea destination spot if you have never been.
Getting Around
A true unique bay area experience. Free rides with neighbors into the city. I have done it for 20 years and never had an issue
Casual Carpool pickup station
A true unique bay area experience. Free rides with neighbors into the city. I have done it for 20 years and never had an issue
Arts & Culture
I-Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak Stlocal and international at the same time
Vessel Gallery | Vessel Satellite
490 Lake Park AvenueContemporary artists. One of the best of the hip Oakland Galleries
Shopping
I can always find a great gift here. No point in going anywhere else.
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Urban Indigo
20405 Lakeshore AveI can always find a great gift here. No point in going anywhere else.
wonderful wine selection with expertise for every occasion. Love the community events.
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Bay Grape
376 Grand Avewonderful wine selection with expertise for every occasion. Love the community events.
Another anchor of the neighborhood which harkens back to the good old days of a new/used bookstore where the staff reads.
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Walden Pond Books
3316 Grand AveAnother anchor of the neighborhood which harkens back to the good old days of a new/used bookstore where the staff reads.
Great hand-made chocolates (and gelato.) Chocolate reviewed as some of the best in the USA. Perfect gifts.
Michael Mischer Chocolates
3352 Grand AveGreat hand-made chocolates (and gelato.) Chocolate reviewed as some of the best in the USA. Perfect gifts.
Sightseeing
A real Italian gondola transported to the lake makes you think you are in another world. Try to book at sunset. Take your wine or champagne onto the boat. Yes, they sing Italian love songs to you.
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Gondola Servizio
1520 Lakeside DrA real Italian gondola transported to the lake makes you think you are in another world. Try to book at sunset. Take your wine or champagne onto the boat. Yes, they sing Italian love songs to you.