Overview
Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
25 sights · 21 things to do · 69 places to eat · 27 bars & cafés · 12 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Oakland
African American Museum and Library at Oakland
This is a beautiful building, one of the libraries donated by Andrew Carnegie, and its exterior merits a look before or after you visit the interior. The museum is on the second floor. Some of the temporary exhibits are …
Chabot Space and Science Center
Opened in August 2000, the Center is a state-of-the-art science and technology education facility on a 13-acre site in the hills of Oakland. Visitors can watch planetarium shows and/or Megadome movies, simulate space mis…
The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment
A museum dedicated to the entire history of video games, from the days of Pong and Donkey Kong to their own VR rig, available to the public. Arcade games, consoles, PC games, imports, big screens - whatever your age or y…
Oakland Aviation Museum
Civilian and military aircraft both large and small, even the Flying Boat. Flight simulators, flight lessons, even open cockpit days make this stop in Oakland Airport's old North Terminal a memorable one for anyone inter…
Oakland Museum of California
A startlingly good museum dedicated to the art, history, and culture of California. The building itself is an admirable piece of architecture, and the exhibits are almost uniformly excellent and engaging. Free for everyo…
Oakland Public Library
With branches in neighborhoods throughout the city (check their website for specific branch locations and hours), the Oakland Public Library hosts numerous public events that make use of their facilities and vast resourc…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 75°F; winter lows dip to about 45°F. Wettest: Dec and Jan.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- OAK Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, Oakland — 4 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 13 mi away (major hub). Directions
Other air travel options include the San Francisco (SFO) and San Jose (SJC) International Airports which are connected by BART and CalTrain if transferring by public transportation: * Coliseum Station to Balboa Park Station on the 'Blue' or 'Green' Line trains going towards Daly City. Transfer from the 'Blue' or 'Green' Line trains in Balboa Park Station to the 'Red' or 'Yellow' Line trains going towards SFO Airport/Millbrae Transit Center and get off at the 'SFO Airport Station' at the International Terminal * Downtown San Francisco is accessed through Embacardero, Montgomery St, Powell St, UN/Civic Plaza or Van Ness Stations. For going to downtown Oakland, take the northbound Orange Line train, going towards Richmond, and get off at either 12th St, 19th St, or MacArthur Stations. * For going towards San Jose Mineta International Airport stay on the 'Red' or 'Yellow' Line trains from SFO to the end of the line in Millbrae and transfer to the southbound Caltrain (going towards San Jose or Gilroy) to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. Transfer to VTA #60 bus going towards Milpitas BART from the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, which goes by the airport terminals. * One can also take the southbound 'Green' or 'Orange' Line trains from the (Oakland) Coliseum Station, going towards Berryessa/North San Jose, and get off at the Milpitas Station. Transfer to the VTA #60 bus going towards 'Winchester Station via SJC Airport' from Milpitas to get to SJC airport. * Take Groome Transportation bus or van from Oakland to Marin and Sonoma Counties up north and from San Jose (SJC) for going to Monterey Bay in the south.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $80–$250 a night (typical $200), from 12 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $15 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$120, mid-range ~$260, comfortable ~$390.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Preservation Park, Pardee Home Museum
- Lunch Delage
- Afternoon The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment, E14 Gallery
- Dinner Huangcheng Noodle House
- Evening The District
Day 2
- Morning Oakland Museum of California, Oakland Public Library, Lake Merritt
- Lunch Pho 84
- Afternoon Johansson Projects, SLATE Contemporary Gallery
- Dinner The Lunch Box
- Evening Bar Three Fifty-Five
Day 3
- Morning Chabot Space and Science Center, Joaquin Miller Park, Peralta Museum of History and Culture
- Lunch Sequoia Diner
- Afternoon Oakland Aviation Museum, Oakland Zoo
- Dinner Tacos El Gordo
- Evening Peet's Lincoln Square
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
The third great passion after art and music that is shared by residents and visitors to Oakland alike is food. Oakland is foodie country. No matter what your budget is - if you want to find something to eat from classic burgers to elaborate, innovative cuisine, you're going to find both and just about everything in between. Vegan and vegetarian options are widespread, and Oakland's exceptional ethnic diversity means you can find food from almost any corner of the globe.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
While Oakland has neither the concentration of tourist amenities present in its western neighbor, San Francisco, nor the suburban sprawl of San Jose to the south, the visitor can easily spend a few pleasant days here. For decades popular media has stoked American racial and class biases to generate negative perceptions about Oakland.
Since the late 1990s, however, the actual basis for these often exaggerated portraits of Oakland life have receded, as the city is experiencing an economic and cultural revitalization, as well as the more controversial hyper-gentrification. Oakland is now the Bay Area's most diverse city. Although still an underrated cultural center, its heady arts and culinary scene and ongoing revitalization have generated enthusiastic coverage in the world media of record, including the New York Times, The Guardian (UK), The Independent (UK), NPR, and the Los Angeles Times. The city gets its name because it has an abundance of oak trees.
Since the 1960s, Oakland has been a hub of progressive politics and radical, sometimes outlaw organizations. For example, while Oakland gave rise to civil-rights-conscious labor movements in the mid-century, it was also the birthplace of the Black Panther Party and a crucial hub for the early era Hell's Angels, who still maintain a clubhouse in Fruitvale.
Oakland's history in the arts and entertainment arena is notable as well, as Oakland has nurtured or been a second home to novelists Gertrude Stein and Jack London; actors Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks; architect Julia Morgan; environmentalist Julia "Butterfly" Hill; classical conductor Calvin Simmons; rappers MC Hammer, 2Pac, Messy Marv, and notables in the liberal arts and sciences.
Climate
Oakland, like San Francisco, has a Mediterranean climate with temperatures moderated by the San Francisco Bay and the nearby, greater expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Maximum average temperatures peak around early September with an average high of 75°F and low of 59°F. Hotter temperatures, such as 86°F, with lows around 63°F, are not unheard of in the late summer months, but are uncommon and not the norm. Rain generally occurs in winter, not summer, since rains share more similarity to monsoons than they do to thunderstorms. Also, the effects of the San Francisco Bay and the East Bay's Mediterranean climate mean that below-freezing temperatures are unlikely, and if they do occur, the air will be dry.
Tourist information
- Visit Oakland website
Get in
By plane
Go Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
It is served by many domestic and international carriers. Domestic non-stop air service is available from Southern California, Hawaii, most other cities on the West Coast, and a few flights to the East Coast. There are international flights from the Azores, El Salvador and Mexico. The main carrier that serves OAK is Southwest Airlines: :* Terminal 1 (Gates 1-17): Alaska, Allegiant, Avianca El Salvador, Azores, Contour (from Crescent City); Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, Volaris El Salvador :* Terminal 2 (Gates 20-32): Southwest. :* JSX have their own separate terminal at 9351 Earhart Rd at the North Field (General Aviation/VIP Airport). There is private shuttle service ($10–25) to hotels in Oakland and San Francisco. The airport is also served by the "BART to OAK" people mover to the Oakland Coliseum BART Station, from where you can continue onward to central Oakland or San Francisco, or transfer to the similarly named Amtrak Capitol Corridor station. The people mover runs every 5 minutes during the day, and ticket pricing is integrated, e.g. $7.85 to central Oakland or $10.05 to central San Francisco. This replaces the earlier AirBART buses, which have now been retired. The ariport terminals are also served by AC Transit routes #21, 73 and 805 while the nearby Coliseum BART Station is served by AC Transit #45, 46L, 73, 90, 98 and 805 buses.
Other air travel options include the San Francisco (SFO) and San Jose (SJC) International Airports which are connected by BART and CalTrain if transferring by public transportation: * Coliseum Station to Balboa Park Station on the 'Blue' or 'Green' Line trains going towards Daly City. Transfer from the 'Blue' or 'Green' Line trains in Balboa Park Station to the 'Red' or 'Yellow' Line trains going towards SFO Airport/Millbrae Transit Center and get off at the 'SFO Airport Station' at the International Terminal * Downtown San Francisco is accessed through Embacardero, Montgomery St, Powell St, UN/Civic Plaza or Van Ness Stations. For going to downtown Oakland, take the northbound Orange Line train, going towards Richmond, and get off at either 12th St, 19th St, or MacArthur Stations. * For going towards San Jose Mineta International Airport stay on the 'Red' or 'Yellow' Line trains from SFO to the end of the line in Millbrae and transfer to the southbound Caltrain (going towards San Jose or Gilroy) to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. Transfer to VTA #60 bus going towards Milpitas BART from the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, which goes by the airport terminals. * One can also take the southbound 'Green' or 'Orange' Line trains from the (Oakland) Coliseum Station, going towards Berryessa/North San Jose, and get off at the Milpitas Station. Transfer to the VTA #60 bus going towards 'Winchester Station via SJC Airport' from Milpitas to get to SJC airport. * Take Groome Transportation bus or van from Oakland to Marin and Sonoma Counties up north and from San Jose (SJC) for going to Monterey Bay in the south.
For private pilots, Oakland General Aviation Airport (OAK) has a separate General Aviation area "North Field", essentially the equivalent of another airport to the north of the commercial facilities, with separate tower, taxiways, and radio frequencies. Its long runway is frequently used for jet travel, and Oakland makes a far better GA destination than SFO's complex, heavily trafficked field.
By train
Amtrak, the United States' main train operator, has a few lines that stop in Oakland. The main Oakland station is Jack London Square station at 245 Second Street, and there's a secondary Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station, adjacent to the Oakland Coliseum BART station, useful for connections to BART or Oakland Airport. It's always a good idea to get to your train at least 30 minutes early, to allow for lines and so forth.
- Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.
- Capitol Corridor (San Jose to Auburn via Sacramento). The route also includes a stop at the Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station. The Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station has no station agents. Passengers may board the train and buy the tickets from the conductor at no surcharge.
- Gold Runner (Oakland to Bakersfield, California)
Adjacent to the northwest of Oakland in Emeryville is Amtrak's area hub station with more train route options, including the California Zephyr from Chicago. If connecting from Amtrak to BART, also consider the station in Richmond to the north. Connections to the Pacific Surfliner are in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, available with Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches (see By bus below).
By car
From San Francisco, Interstate 80 east leads over the beautiful Bay Bridge to I-580, I-880, and I-980, which go respectively to east, west, and downtown Oakland.
From Marin, Sonoma, and other counties along the northern coast of California, take US-101 to I-580 and cross the Richmond Bridge. I-580 leads directly into Oakland.
From Monterey, Salinas, and the Central Coast, follow US-101 to San Jose and connect to I-880, which leads to Oakland.
From Tracy, Modesto, and San Joaquin Valley's southern portion (Southern California, too), take the scenic I-580 over Altamont Pass.
From Stockton, either follow the Altamont Pass route or take California Route 4 through Contra Costa County to Route 242, then to Route I-680, which connects to Route 24.
From the outer East Bay, Route 24 leads to north Oakland through the Caldecott Tunnel.
From the northern East Bay, Vallejo, Fairfield, and the greater Sacramento, I-80 west leads directly to Oakland.
Alternatively, you can connect to Highway 123 and San Pablo Avenue in Richmond, and follow it to Oakland, if there is trouble on the parallel I-80. It's city streets, so will likely take extra time, and it will mean driving into and through everything between Richmond and West Oakland, including both El Cerrito and Berkeley.
Most northern entries to Oakland go through the heinous MacArthur Maze, a spaghetti-like mashup of four freeways trying to merge and pass each other. It's got terrible traffic during commute times (7AM-10AM, 4PM-8PM), so you might want to avoid driving on the freeways at these times. Even for drivers with a lot of experience on these roads, it's easy to get confused and take the wrong exit. When driving in this complex, stay calm and don't do anything too risky if you've taken a wrong turn.
By bus
The West Oakland BART Station is also the bus stop location for the following intercity bus lines in Oakland:
Go Flixbus
They operate from San Francisco to Reno, Los Angeles, Fresno, Bakersfield, Sacramento and San Jose. They also have additional stops at the Crescent Lawn at the UC Berkeley campus, El Cerrito del Norte BART, Hayward BART and Richmond BART. Check tickets and schedules as to where your bus pick up at.
- Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches connects Amtrak trains in Emeryville and Oakland Jack London Stations with downtown San Francisco, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo by bus.
This BART station is also the bus transit center for ACTransit routes #29, 36, 62 and 800. The 800 only stops at the corner of 7th and Mandela Pkwy.
By ferry
The San Francisco Bay Ferry has departures from both Pier 41 and the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Its Oakland terminal is at the foot of Clay St. in Jack London Square, a block from the AC Transit stop and easy walking distance to the Amtrak Station.
Get around
Oakland is a good-sized city, with attractions more than a fair distance from the center of town. Car rentals tend to be more expensive than other locations in the country, and streets are frequently lined with meters, unless they're in completely residential zones. Some of the larger attractions have their own parking of course, and some of the more visitor-friendly neighborhoods have sizable parking lots - some paid and some not. Most residential areas allow parking for only a limited time for non-residents, so the wise traveler is best-advised to use public transit of some kind.
Clipper
The frequent and long-term visitor to the area may be best-advised to acquire a Clipper card, which is touted as an 'all-in-one' transit electronic flash pass. It allows much easier use of almost all of the entire Bay Area's public transit agencies, allowing the user to use simple cash value or a specific transit agency's monthly pass.
Clipper cards can be purchased and topped-up digitally, directly in apps such as Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on modern phones with NFC (contactless payment) technology built in.
Alternatively, physical Clipper cards can be purchased and topped-up with cash value at any of BART's stations, as well as a certain stores in Oakland or throughout the Bay Area.
By bicycle
Oakland has a wide and increasing infrastructure of bicycle lanes. If you need a bike, rental shops are close to nonexistent. Oakland enjoys a pumping bike culture, with lots of bike parking, and especially at some "parklets" at many of the city's coffee shops. If you like mixing bikes with your nightlife, you can join the 300+ people that cycle together monthly at East Bay Bike Party.
Bike sharing
Most of the bike sharing in Oakland is through Bay Wheels and their docking stations. Lime is known for its trademark lime green rental scooters. Both tend to be quite pricey.
By bus
Go AC Transit
Bus service to most parts of Oakland and its neighboring cities and towns for $2.50 cash or $2.25 with Clipper (one-way, $.25 for single-use transfer), transbay service to San Francisco is $6 (one-way, single-use transfer for AC Transit only is free). A Local Day Pass, allowing unlimited transfers at no additional cost is $5, and lasts until 3 AM the following day. Service for most routes ends at or around midnight. There are several all-night routes, designated by "8xx" numbers, such as the 800, which runs from Richmond BART/Amtrak, through El Cerrito, Albany, Berkeley and Oakland to and from San Francisco. (From Bay Area phones, dial 511, then say "AC Transit" for the AC Transit menu, then say, "Customer Relations".).
By car
Unlike the often-tightly packed and crowded streets of nearby San Francisco, many locations of Oakland are much more friendly to cars. Parking lots are a more frequent sight, some requiring a nominal fee, as well as larger parking structures near the airport, and some of the BART stations.
In addition to the freeways and route mentioned in the "Get In" section, there are a couple of smaller intraurban freeways in Oakland:
The Warren Freeway (CA 13) is a two-way narrow four-lane highway that intersects CA-24 near the Caldecott Tunnel at one end and follows the feet of the Oakland Hills, passing alongside the wealthy Montclair neighborhood, through a wooded valley until it merges with I-580. It's often used to bypass the often-circuitous route taken by I-580 and the MacArthur Maze, but its narrowness can turn it into a traffic jam far more easily. Interstate 980 is a north–south freeway that becomes CA-24 when it nears the Cloverleaf merge with I-580. It meets I-880, passing around the western edge of Old Oakland.
Car sharing
Car sharing rates are usually by the hour or the day and tend to be expensive, depending on the individual service. The more in advance the booking usually, the better the options will be. Turo and Upshift offer easily-accessible services to account holders city-wide.
Rental cars
Rental car facilities may be found scattered throughout the city, though Oakland Airport has a dedicated facility; including a connecting rental car bus. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National and Thrifty all maintain offices and rental lots at the Rental Car Center at 7600 Earhart Road (entrance is at the corner of Langley and Doolittle), outside of the Airport proper.
In addition, Avis, Enterprise and Hertz all operate smaller car rental facilities at various locations in the city itself.
Ride hailing
Uber and Lyft both do a bustling business in the entire Bay Area, including Oakland. As of August 2018, Uber offers services for a minimum fare of about $7.20 and $1.33/mile, and Lyft about $3.50 minimum and about $1.50/mile or $0.18/minute. Uber offers wheelchair-accessible services, and both offer SUV services. Both services have additional fees for rides beginning or terminating at Oakland Airport. Surge pricing applies during certain heavy traffic hours with both services. Be careful - with heavy traffic during rush hours, surge pricing and mileage can result in a very hefty bill.
By subway
Place BART
Connections between Oakland to San Francisco, the Peninsula, Contra Costa County, and San Jose, usually at a cost between $2 and $4 each way. The size of the fare depends on the distance traveled. BART has stations in several major neighborhoods in Oakland, such as Downtown (City Center), West Oakland, Lake Merritt and Rockridge. Note that there is an extra $5 added to any fare beginning or ending at SFO.
By taxi
Taxi services in Oakland tend to be a very mixed experience. Prices tend to be high, and even the more reliable taxi companies can be very hit and miss for reliability and prompt response time. There are a large number of companies with "Yellow" and "Cab" in their name, without being the same company.
See
Oakland has many attractions to the eye and for the mind. Where some believe that it is a city of run-down Victorian houses or endless stretches of urban blight, this is very far from accurate. Oakland is a city with roots as far back as the earliest years of the admission of the State of California, and as such, it has architecture extant from many different eras. The Victorian architecture preserved and restored in Old Oakland, the Art Deco glory of Uptown, and the history of the Port of Oakland itself are among the many things to see. New York City has Manhattanhenge, towers of glass and steel; Oakland has the valleys of stone.
Neighborhoods
The first place many visitors are likely to visit is Downtown, especially if they are in town on business, or simply do not know where to start. The center of transportation by BART and by bus is there, if you want to branch out. Only a few streets away is Old Oakland, along 10th Street, just west of Broadway. Just east of Broadway and continuing north and south is Oakland's famous Chinatown, where many of the buildings and streets of Chinatown reflect the diverse nature of its history, in architecture and in the bilingual signs seen throughout the neighborhood.
The curious traveler can venture to take a bus southwards along Broadway, and come to Jack London Square. The unlikely mixture of warehouses and very expensive restaurants and posh atmosphere alongside some of the landmarks of the city's waterfront makes the Square an interesting place to visit and explore, even for locals. It's the home of the USS Potomac and the site of the namesake author's residence, still preserved and humbly standing not far from a saloon from the same era.
Just west of Downtown and slightly north of the Financial District is Uptown. In the evening it buzzes with art galleries, theaters and residents and Bay Area visitors coming into the area to see concerts. A popular area on the weekend with a mixed vibe of hipster and hip hop. It's a burgeoning neighborhood of performing arts ranging from nightclubs to music halls, and some of the best in the city's vintage architecture, like the Gothic Revival Cathedral Building and the Art Deco Fox and Paramount Theaters, as well as several nationally renowned restaurants, including Flora and Pícan.
North Oakland is a sweeping term, referring to just about everywhere north of Uptown and Lake Merritt. Temescal is a neighborhood that lies north-northwest from Downtown; it is home to a range of restaurant cuisines, from Korean to Ethiopian. Northeast of Temescal lies Rockridge, a picturesque and affluent neighborhood mixed with family friendly and artistic vibes. South of Rockridge lies Piedmont Avenue, a street home to many renowned eateries, close to the small, sleepy and wealthy town of Piedmont. Piedmont is legally a separate city to Oakland, with its own police force, services, and public works, but essentially operates as a neighborhood of Oakland. East along I-580 are the Grand Lake and Lakeshore neighborhoods, which share a friendly, early 20th-century suburban ambiance. The Grand Lake Theater stands at the entrance to the neighborhood that bears its name, a matter of a few hundred feet from Lakeshore Avenue - both neighborhoods have a range of eateries no matter what your budget, be it burgers or a romantic meal.
West Oakland was once a burgeoning working-class neighborhood with its roots tracing as far back as the opening decades of the 19th century. The neighborhood is a gritty paradox, featuring separate blocks of slums and industrial sites and on others, stately restored Victorians and arts-rededicated warehouses. After the collapse of the Cypress Freeway in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and its replacement by the open Mandela Parkway, the neighborhood began the process of gentrification. However, that process is far from complete. While still a high crime area, West Oakland also boasts a growing number of stylish hipster cafés, drawing a clientele ranging from the port's dock workers to concept-conscious hipsters from around the Bay Area.
Museums
See African American Museum and Library at Oakland
This is a beautiful building, one of the libraries donated by Andrew Carnegie, and its exterior merits a look before or after you visit the interior. The museum is on the second floor. Some of the temporary exhibits are quite worthwhile, and the permanent exhibits, which tell the black history of Oakland in text, pictures, and videotaped interviews, are really well done. Check the AAMLO web site for information on special exhibits, programs and events, such as an African American walking tour of downtown Oakland.
See Chabot Space and Science Center
Opened in August 2000, the Center is a state-of-the-art science and technology education facility on a 13-acre site in the hills of Oakland. Visitors can watch planetarium shows and/or Megadome movies, simulate space missions in the Challenger Learning Center, explore a variety of changing hands-on exhibits and observe the sky through the center's telescopes. In addition, the Science Discovery Lab (for children 7 and under and their parent/guardian) is fantastic. Discounts for first Fridays of the month, during evening hours.
See The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (The MADE)
A museum dedicated to the entire history of video games, from the days of Pong and Donkey Kong to their own VR rig, available to the public. Arcade games, consoles, PC games, imports, big screens - whatever your age or your interests, there's always something to see and do.
See Oakland Aviation Museum
Civilian and military aircraft both large and small, even the Flying Boat. Flight simulators, flight lessons, even open cockpit days make this stop in Oakland Airport's old North Terminal a memorable one for anyone interested in flying or the history of aviation.
See Oakland Museum of California
A startlingly good museum dedicated to the art, history, and culture of California. The building itself is an admirable piece of architecture, and the exhibits are almost uniformly excellent and engaging. Free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month. One thing to know is that the concrete construction of the building blocks cell signals, so be aware that you will likely lose contact for your stay in the museum.
See Pardee Home Museum
The home of the Pardee family, beginning with a California State Senator in 1868, and made into a museum in 1981. The main attraction is the accumulation of knick-knacks that the family gathered from traveling the world, as well as the history of the family, and the vintage of the house and grounds.
See Peralta Museum of History and Culture (Peralta Hacienda Historical Park)
Check website for tour hours and special events. Once headquarters of the Rancho San Antonio Spanish land grant, this six-acre park contains the 1870 Antonio Peralta House and interpretive exhibits, a native plant garden, and changing exhibits on history and culture.
See USS Potomac
Historic cruises on the bay are available Apr-Oct Th & Sa, while dockside tours run year-round. Book on the website or by phone. The Potomac was built as a Coast Guard cutter, and remodeled as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential yacht in 1936. It served in that role until his death in 1945. In 1941, a fishing trip on the Potomac served as a cover story for Roosevelt's secret meeting with Churchill in Newfoundland waters; this meeting led to the Allied partnership during World War II and eventually to the formation of the United Nations.
Parks and gardens
Public parks are a very common sight no matter what part of Oakland you are in. From green gardens to athletic fields and playgrounds to the massive open space of the Oakland Hills, if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle for a breath of fresh air or the like, there are plenty of places to relax in.
See Dr. Aurelia Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park (Redwood Regional Park)
The hills behind the Mormon Temple and to the east of Oakland's bustling streets are home to this, where redwood groves and trees and trails and wildlife help even the most weary traveler forget that a city lies at the elbow of the wilderness. Redwood is just one of a string or regional parks running along the crest of the Oakland Hills. To the north are Huckleberry Botanical Preserve and Sibley Volcanic Regional Park while to the south is Anthony Chabot Regional Park. All have trails that interconnect with Redwood. Renamed in 2019.
See The Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate (The Dunsmuir House)
An out of the way large mansion and grounds dating to the sunset of the 19th century, the Dunsmuir House is home to a variety of events year-round, from classic car shows to Scottish Games. Open from March–September.
See Lake Merritt
A large tidal lagoon that is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. A popular 3.1-mile (5-km) walking and jogging path runs along its perimeter and gives you a warts-and-all picture of Oakland: nature, art, culture, and diversity; gleaming skyscrapers and historic rowhouses; but also occasional run-down sections and visible homeless encampments. The lake was the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870. In the winter it's a good place for birdwatching, as birds migrating south from Canada and Alaska use it as a rest stop or a winter home. Look for grebes, pelicans, cormorants, hawks, and various types of ducks.
See Morcom Rose Garden
A peaceful and picturesque oasis of color, near Grand Lake, often a site for weddings. Seven acres of roses, a few benches and quiet, nestled into a residential area. The garden may be reserved after Mother's Day through October 31. Reservations are booked on a first come first serve basis.
Art galleries
News on many of Oakland's fine arts exhibitions can be found at Oakland Art Murmur.
Other sights
Do
Oakland is a city of passionate interests - among the strongest of them are the love of the performing arts. Theater, live DJs, nightclubs, concerts, dance and even more unusual avant-garde activities are common sights and experiences in the city. Not just the obvious locations like the convention center or the Oracle Arena are home to the passion of performance. The Fox and Paramount Theaters host live concerts; the Paramount in particular is home to Oakland's East Bay Symphony, but that is by no means the end of the list. The nightlife of Oakland swings to the beat too, with popular spots like the Uptown and Yoshi's (Found in the Bar/Nightclub section under Drink) keep the music moving far into the evening hours. And that is only the beginning.
Performing arts
Do Fox Theater
A former movie theatre, the Fox was built in 1928. It closed its doors in 1970 and stood empty until 2009, when it reopened as a 1,500-2,800 seat music venue, following a two-year, $75-million renovation. One block from the 19th St BART stop, it is in the heart of Oakland's Uptown neighborhood, which is also being re-named the Arts and Entertainment district.
Do Paramount Theater
This gorgeous Depression-era theater, completed in 1931, has been completely restored and is maintained in almost mint condition. It's worth just looking at the sculpture, the paintings, even the carpets. Shows include classic movies, concerts, and other live performances.
Events
Oakland is an amazingly diverse city, with roots in a range of cultures and traditions. Reflecting this, many annual events are held in Oakland usually but not always centered around Downtown and Lake Merritt.
Do Port of Oakland Harbor Tours (Free Harbor Tours)
The Port of Oakland offers once a month a 90-minute free harbor tour of the Oakland harbor. A free reservation must be made online, reservation opens on the first Monday of each month at 8PM. Harbor tour dates for 2023 are: June 9, July 21, August 11, September 15, October 13.
Do Halloween On Piedmont
The entire length of Piedmont Avenue from West MacArthur Blvd. to Pleasant Valley Ave. including Mountain View Cemetery participates in this event. Trick-or-treating is allowed at many of the stores, pumpkin patches, haunted houses, special movies at Piedmont Theater and so on. Security handled by a local biker group.
Do Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival
An outdoor festival that draws 100,000 people to celebrate Hispanic history and culture in the Fruitvale neighborhood. Live music, family-friendly games, rides and activities, traditional Latin American artisans, and the altar artistic installations created by community members. October 31.
Recreation and film
Do Grand Lake Theater
This beautiful Art Deco theater (built in 1926) shows first-run movies. It has a spectacular neon sign that is lit on weekends, and is famous for the ultra-liberal (and sometimes conspiracy-minded) weekly sign proclamations from the theater owner. At Friday and Saturday evening shows, an organist plays standards in the main theater.
Do The New Parkway Theater
A second-run movie theater, the Parkway does not have screens in the traditional sense. Movies are projected at the flat white concrete walls, with large comfy couches to sit on. Best of all, they serve pizza, salads, and beer that you can eat and drink while you watch a movie.
Just for the kids
Do Children's Fairyland
Mixed seasonal hours, almost always open on weekends. Amazing, dynamic playground and destination for children, right on Lake Merritt. Fairyland was one of the earliest themed amusement parks, and was an inspiration for everything from Disneyland to the Jejune Institute. Please note that only adults with children can enter. Make sure you get a Magic Key to activate audio stories on the various displays.
Learn
Buy
Most shops in Oakland are local establishments, some with distinctive personalities that reflect local culture. If you're looking for big-box chains, try Emeryville instead.
Bike shops
Bike shops are a reasonably easy find in Oakland - used as an alternative means of transportation, to say nothing of exercise, throughout the city.
Shop Pioneer Bike Shop
A friendly little shop near the bustle of Piedmont Ave, that offers full repair service, regardless of how old your bike is, or how much work it needs.
Bookstores
Shop Black Swan Books
Used bookstore with a Victorian look and shelves full of vintage (and spendy) volumes frequently from the 1930s and earlier.
Shop Book Tree
Local hole-in-the-wall shop in Montclair Village, densely packed with well-curated books and just disorganized enough to be charming. The owner is friendly and knowledgeable, and the offerings range from classics to recent bestsellers, as well as some quality guides to the local area.
Shop Owl and Company Bookshop
A used bookstore with a somewhat Victorian look, and a focus primarily but not exclusively on psychology, philosophy and the occult.
Music
Distinctive shops
Shop East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse
Eclectic thrift shop with a focus on art supplies. You'll find typical thrift shop buys like dishes and books as well as extensive arrays of yarn, fabric, magazines, office supplies, tools and all manner of arts and crafts materials. And then there are the more eccentric items: X-ray sheets, dental molds, bottle caps, zippers, old keys, barrels of corks priced by the pound.... Founded in 1979, the Depot is run by a non-profit with the twin goals of reducing community waste and providing low-cost supplies to artists and teachers.
Shop Oaktown Spice Shop
Charming shop with a wide range of high-quality spices, herbs, and seasonings, from standards like sage and oregano to specialty products like long pepper and Cypriot lemon salt. Also has a selection of teas, hot sauces, syrups, and other high-end cooking ingredients. There are samples for you to smell as you peruse the shelves, and the friendly staff can give you recipe cards tailored to specific spices.
Shopping centers
Though once a common sight, with Eastmont Mall (the last operating fully enclosed mall) being used almost exclusively for other services, large enclosed malls are a thing of the past in Oakland. There are however a few open-air spots.
Shop Pacific Renaissance Plaza
An apartment complex and shopping center at the heart of Chinatown.
Shop The Ridge
Home to the area's largest Safeway, this shopping center is about halfway between Rockridge and Piedmont Ave. and is frequented by residents from both. Ignore the grim look of the fenced-off parking lot; the mall itself is small but thriving. The Starbucks has nice views of the old quarry nearby.
Shop Temescal Plaza
A friendly little strip-mall that makes a good starting point for those exploring or navigating the neighborhood.
Eat
The third great passion after art and music that is shared by residents and visitors to Oakland alike is food. Oakland is foodie country. No matter what your budget is - if you want to find something to eat from classic burgers to elaborate, innovative cuisine, you're going to find both and just about everything in between. Vegan and vegetarian options are widespread, and Oakland's exceptional ethnic diversity means you can find food from almost any corner of the globe.
Adams Point
Budget
Eat Ahn's Quarter Pound Burger
Very no-frills burger stop that has all the basics and its own parking lot.
Mid-range
Eat Enssaro
Come for the Wot and Ye Tibs, stay for the honey wine. Try the combo platters. Vegetarian-friendly. Online ordering. Delivery available.
Eat Jong Ga House
A large menu of Korean delights and excellent service, good if you want noodles or marinated meat or want to do all you can eat. Online reservations. Local parking problematic. Cheaper lunch specials.
Chinatown
Budget
Eat Golden Lotus Vegan Restaurant
A Vietnamese restaurant that does its best to serve 100% vegan and organically-grown dishes on a budget. Online ordering.
Eat New Gold Medal
Decent to great Cantonese food with fast service, open late. A reasonable option after a late show or club night if you're already downtown. If you like duck, make sure to get some roast duck, and their BBQ pork is equally good. Excellent lobster, too.
Eat Shandong Restaurant
Although former California Governor Jerry Brown visited this place during his term as Mayor of Oakland (a framed picture of him and the restaurant owner is proudly displayed), this restaurant has the characteristics of a local, "dirty but delicious" gem. Noodles are made fresh, right in the restaurant. Often crowded with local Chinese, and so when busy one may have to wait a while to get a table.
Eat Vien Huong Restaurant
This is the best restaurant in Chinatown for a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. Be sure to order a noodle soup and fish cake (with a sweet and sour salad). Cash only.
Mid-range
Eat Battambang Restaurant
Delicious Cambodian food in a quiet, clean, casual room with white tablecloths.
Eat Spices 3!
Just as the name implies, spicy Szechuan food and hot pot, home of the Gangsta Casserole. Online ordering. Delivery.
Dimond
Budget
Eat Ly Luck
Big portions, low prices. Online ordering.
Eat Shaan Indian Cuisine
A small Indian restaurant that delivers. Online ordering.
Eat Taqueria Los Comales
Small taqueria with low prices and large portions. Try the wet burritos.
Mid-range
Eat La Farine Bakery
A classic French bakery, La Farine is rich in crusty sourdough, flavorful sweet bread, tarts and numerous sweet treats. The sour batard, rustic baguette and morning buns are highly recommended for a first survey of their offerings.
Eat Tomsa Sushi (Formerly Nama)
A full service Japanese restaurant and sushi bar that is a frequent stop for shoppers at Farmer Joe's. Online ordering.
Fruitvale
Budget
Eat Los Cocos Salvadorean Restaurant
A little hole-in-the-wall that serves up authentic Salvadorean food at excellent prices.
Eat Mariscos La Costa
A small, outdoor patio restaurant that features seafood but has the regular fare of typical Mexican restaurants. Authentically spicy, so make sure you request no salsa or jalapeños if that is your preference. A former burger joint turned-taqueria, this eatery is good for lunch and best enjoyed in fair weather with a refreshing agua fresca, as tables are exclusively on the outdoor patio.
Eat Tacos El Gordo
Could be considered the best taco truck in Oakland, with fare that by far surpasses most restaurants. Their burritos are over 12" and unbeatable. Contrary to popular belief, taco trucks (especially this one) are sanitary and often have food as good or better than what one can find in standard restaurants. As there is no place to sit, people eat standing up next to the taco truck, or in their cars. There is a parking lot with free parking.
Eat Taqueria San Jose
Authentic Mexican food, best known for its tacos, salsa bar and low prices.
Mid-range
Eat Guadalajara
This Fruitvale landmark is a full-service Mexican spot that serves from a gigantic menu that covers everything from simple salads to large seafood platters. There is on-site parking, a full tequila bar, vegetarian-friendly dishes and they even cater. If visiting during the later hours, be judicious.
Eat Wahpepah's Kitchen
Native American restaurant owned by a James Beard award finalist (2022) from the Kickapoo Nation, Crystal Wahpepah. The restaurant serves intertribal Native American cuisine, with dishes from the Kickapoo, Lakota, and Navajo nations, among others. There are several options for vegans on the menu. Sometimes gets busy on weekends, so plan ahead and call to see if you need to book a table if you are going then.
Grand Lake / Lakeshore
Budget
Eat Arizmendi
A worker-owned bakery well-known for cheap and delicious baked goods and pizza. Pizza is made daily, with only one set of toppings available on a given day. Thankfully, they're all good.
Eat Mijori
One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. Usually a long wait for a table on the weekend.
Eat Miss Saigon
Great family-run Vietnamese restaurant with good food at good prices, and a ridiculously good beer selection. Local delivery, but it's always better fresh out of the kitchen. Online ordering.
Eat Rico Rico Taco
Mexican restaurant serving burritos, tacos, etc. Try the nopal (cactus) tacos or burrito.
Mid-range
Eat Lin Jia Asian Kitchen
A nice, well-decorated little Chinese spot that's good for lunch or dinner. Online ordering.
Eat Neecha Thai
A spacious, quiet spot with low lights and good service. Vegetarian-friendly. Catering. No substitutions. Online reservations.
Jack London Square
Mid-range
Eat Plank
An unusual mixture of bowling alley, bocce court, pizza and sandwich restaurant and cocktail bar, all rolled into one.
Splurge
Eat Scott's Seafood Grill & Bar
Large, upscale, seafood restaurant on the waterfront, frequented for wedding receptions and business luncheons. They have a decent happy hour. Old school surf and turf. Full catering. Online reservations. Private space available. Full florist service.
Old Oakland
Budget
Eat Huangcheng Noodle House
Delicious and authentic no-fuss Chinese food. Good Sichuan-style dishes among others. Come for chewy noodles and tingly-spicy flavors – the specialty is the Chongqing Street Noodle. Like in China, pay when you order, not after you eat.
Mid-range
Eat The Fat Lady
Victoriana themed restaurant that has been open since 1970. Fine art lines the walls, yet it's casual and fun for a nice dinner out. House made cocktails are delicious, a great wine list. They also have brunch. Banquet services available.
Eat T'chaka
Casual Haitian food. The chef is Haitian, and you might hear snatches of conversation in Kreyòl from the kitchen. Vegetarian and vegan options.
Splurge
Eat Delage
A small Japanese spot that does nightly omakase (chef's choice) with seasonal local ingredients. Reservations recommended. Online reservations.
Piedmont Ave
Mid-range
Eat Baja Taqueria
An avenue institution with lines sometimes out the doors for their great and innovative Baja style seafood and other Mexican food. The fish tacos are legendary and the lobster burritos hit home like nothing else. The portions are big and the prices are reasonable. Try the agua frescas too.
Eat Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers
Barney's is a restaurant specializing in every kind of burger, from the simple to the exotic. They have more than just the simple neapolitan trio of flavors for shakes as well, and the same can be said of their fries. Vegetarian, too! Catering services available. Online ordering.
Eat Doña (Formerly Doña Tomás)
A relocated and newly-themed Mexican place with a polished modern look and a decidedly polished and modern menu. Take-out is available, but from a different door (both are clearly marked).
Eat Fentons Creamery and Restaurant
This hundred-year-old ice cream parlor is a cornerstone of Oakland culture—one of those places that East Bay folks point to as making the region special. The parlor is mentioned in the 2009 Pixar film Up. Huge bowls of ice cream and sundaes of various sorts are served in this always-crowded eatery. Sugar-amped kids roam the aisles all day and into the evening, and although the place attracts a cannabis-enhanced college crowd towards the end of the night, it always has a sweet and wholesome atmosphere. An expensive treat, but the servings are huge. Online reservations. Private parties and full catering available.
Eat Judoku Sushi
A small, simple venue with dim lights and exceptionally friendly and attentive service. Look for the daily specials on sushi and drinks.
Eat La Farine Bakery
A classic French bakery, La Farine is rich in crusty sourdough, flavorful sweet bread, tarts and numerous sweet treats. The sour batard, rustic baguette and morning buns are highly recommended for a first survey of their offerings.
Eat Shimizu Sushi
A small sushi house with a wide range of choices for specialty sushi, as well as more standard Japanese fare. Popular with locals, family friendly, and laid back.
Splurge
Eat Commis
Swanky, cramped spot well-known for their sommelier service and often-incredible combination of flavors. Online reservations.
Eat The Wolf (Formerly Bay Wolf)
A cozy and well-lit and ventilated place for French-American haute cuisine.
Rockridge
Mid-range
Eat À Côté
Charming small portion French meals in great ambiance. Online reservations. Private event space available.
Eat Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers
Barney's is a restaurant specializing in every kind of burger, from the simple to the exotic. They have more than just the simple neapolitan trio of flavors for shakes as well, and the same can be said of their fries. Vegetarian, too!
Eat Cactus Taqueria
A family-friendly Mexican restaurant dedicated to freshness and sustainability while maintaining traditional flavors. Everything at Cactus Taqueria is made from scratch with no artificial ingredients or fillers. Top your taco, burrito, quesadilla, or enchilada with one of the multiple house-made salsas, and cool your mouth with a delicious glass of horchata.
Eat La Farine Bakery
A classic French bakery, La Farine is rich in crusty sourdough, flavorful sweet bread, tarts and numerous sweet treats. The sour batard, rustic baguette and morning buns are highly recommended for a first survey of their offerings.
Eat Ramen Shop
Well-crafted Ramen bowls with flavorful broth. Typically includes at least one vegetarian option. Excellent cocktail bar. Can be crowded during evenings.
Eat Soi4: Bangkok Eatery
Expansive selection of dishes at affordable prices especially given prompt service, simple and pleasant ambiance, solid wine by the glass list. A weeknight favorite. Seafood items among strongest on menu. Online reservations. Space for large groups.
Eat Zachary's Chicago Pizza
No one will dispute that Zachary's biggest fans come for their Windy City deep dish pizza (thin crust is also available). Not to be confused with "Sicilian" style, "Stuffed Crust" or other "deep dish" pizzas, Zachary's stuffed pizza starts with a thin layer of fresh made-from-scratch dough in a deep pan filled with a blend of quality cheeses and any combination of fresh ingredients. Another thin layer of dough is then added to cover the filling. The pizza is then topped with a mildly spicy, tangy tomato sauce and is cooked in an oven. This is one of the most popular spots in Oakland, so if you visit on a weekend, be prepared for a long wait. The best way around the crowd, if you aren't planning to dine in, is to call considerably ahead of time and place a take-out order and a window of time for pickup. Online ordering. Third-party online delivery.
Temescal
Budget
Eat Asmara Restaurant
Eritrean cuisine served by friendly staff. Tasty vegan options.
Eat Cholita Linda
Friendly little place well-known for their fish tacos and mix and match frescas.
Eat Forma Bakery
Local bakery started by a father-son duo with roots in Guadalajara, serving a mix of French viennoiseries and Mexican sweet breads. Conchas meet croissants, including some with fun fillings like mushrooms or pistachios, depending on what's in season. Plenty of plant-based options. Also makes tea and coffee drinks, some with a Mexican twist.
Eat Monster Phở
Delicious and affordable Vietnamese cuisine. Some dishes are served by robots.
Eat Poppy Bagels
East Coast style bagels.
Eat Tacos Oscar
Yummy, inventive, and affordable tacos. Good vegan options.
Mid-range
Eat Hanshin Pocha
Nice, modern Korean pub, best remembered for their bulgogi and chicken feet.
Eat Burma Superstar
A cozy restaurant that does proper Burmese cuisine, as well as several Chinese and Thai dishes. Vegan/vegetarian-friendly, no reservations. Catering available.
Eat Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique
Delicious Eritrean and Ethiopian food with a couple of twists. Good vegetarian options. Try the honey wine. Reservations recommended.
Eat Homeroom
Popular and well-known local restaurant specializing in macaroni and cheese. You can get a classic, plain mac 'n' cheese or try creative additions like truffles, crab, or jalapeño poppers. Vegan and/or gluten-free mac and cheese is available too. And if not everyone in your group is into the theme, there are also various salads and sides on the menu.
Eat Kansai
Extensive sushi menu and good service. Has their own private parking lot - a rare sight in Oakland. Online ordering.
Eat Pizza Ponte
Cheap pizza that boasts a delivery area that includes Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville and Albany. Online ordering and delivery.
Eat Shangri-La
Vegan, organic, macrobiotic food. But if that sounds like a mouthful, don't worry - it's just simple, fresh, and well-cooked nutritious meals. The food's unprocessed simplicity gives you the feeling that someone could have eaten exactly the same thing hundreds of years ago, and the skillful cooking and seasoning make it surprisingly delicious. The menu has only one dish, a combo of cooked veggies, rice, beans, salad, and soup, but the exact ingredients change twice a day (check the website to see the current offerings). Free herbal tea and Tibetan decor round out the experience.
Upper Telegraph
Mid-range
Eat Saysetha Thai Cuisine
A small Thai restaurant with simple decor, low prices and a massive menu. Take-out orders welcome.
Uptown
Budget
Eat The Lunch Box
A little lunch spot not far from the Financial District that does salads, sandwiches and wraps on the cheap. Catering available. Online ordering.
Other
Budget
Eat Champa Garden
It's in a residential neighborhood. This cozy restaurant that has a flair of Southern Asia flavors. The mix of Vietnamese, Lao, Thai and Mien cuisine makes this restaurant a unique one. Make sure to get an order of Pad Thai.
Mid-range
Eat Cafe Colucci
Ethiopian food served traditionally on injera, with an excellent selection of vegetarian dishes, friendly wait staff and excellent decor. Try the mitten shuro. Full catering services available. Online ordering. Third party online delivery.
Eat Lake Chalet
Elegant dining room overlooking Lake Merritt. When the weather is warm you can have lunch or happy hour outside on the pier. The food itself (seafood and steaks) is mediocre. The wine list is rather generic, but they do have their own local beer. You can also take a gondola ride around the lake. Online reservations. Space for private parties.
Eat Mua
A restaurant to see and be seen. In an old warehouse, it's decorated in funky contemporary art and features a live DJ performing while you enjoy dinner on the weekends. Make a reservation, this place gets out of control busy on the weekends. A mix of small and large plates. Highlights include the ahi tuna sashimi and their house made veggie burger. Online reservations. Space for large parties. Online ordering.
Eat Pho 84
Some of the best Vietnamese food in town, served in a subdued atmosphere. The pho bo and carpaccio are definitely worth trying.
Eat Sequoia Diner
Tasty and beautifully presented diner food in a lively, casual atmosphere. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Very popular, so expect a 15–30 minute wait for a table on the weekend.
Drink
Pubs
Drink Ben and Nick's Bar & Grill
Often-visited for their considerable beer list and well-stocked menu.
Drink Cato's Ale House
A local pub that would look at home in nearly any century, with a long list of both local brews and quality imports. Regular live music events. Online ordering for food pickup.
Drink The District
A friendly pub that serves brunch and dinner, in addition to cheese, wine and whiskey.
Drink McNally's Irish Pub
A standard Irish Pub in Rockridge.
Bars and nightclubs
Popular nightlife districts include Temescal/Telegraph (Telegraph Avenue between 40th St and 51st St) and Piedmont Avenue (north of MacArthur Blvd).
Drink The Alley
Sing along with pianist Rod Dibble as he plays the oldies. One of the last piano bars in town. Also has decent steaks.
Drink Bar Three Fifty-Five
Prohibition-era atmosphere bar with early-20s clientele, reasonable prices.
Drink Cafe Van Kleef
Artsy bar with live music. Greyhounds are the house drink--their margaritas are good too. Vodka Greyhounds are the default; if you want gin, you must specify.
Drink George Kaye's
A neighborhood dive, full of interesting characters behind and above the bar. Allows dogs and food from the outside.
Drink Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon
An old-fashioned saloon dating all the way to the 1880s. The building is fashioned out of the remnants of a ship with a bar that tilted from one of the earthquakes and was never repaired. Purported to have been a frequent stop for a young Jack London.
Drink Kona Club
Enjoy a tropical drink in this tiki bar, and lift up the grass skirt on the anatomically correct hula girl statue.
Drink The Barbary
Low lights, tropical and/or pirate decorations and interesting art compliment the wide drinks selection.
Drink Ruby Room
A larger bar with a similar ambiance to the Radio Bar (with which it shares an owner), this includes a pool (billiards) room.
Drink White Horse Bar
Friendly gay bar in North Oakland, beware of the $25 minimum charge when paying with a credit card. Frequent stop for karaoke and live music.
Drink Yoshi's
Though they serve sushi and drinks, the real draw is the music - Yoshi's is among the most well-known jazz clubs on the West Coast. Online ticketing available for events.
Drink Clio's
A chill bar with the aesthetic of a bookstore. The walls are lined with shelves of books for sale, and some visitors play chess at their tables. Popular for a date or for a night out in a calming, friendly atmosphere.
Coffee, tea and chocolate
Drink Caffè Chiave
An old-school Italian coffeehouse that does all-day breakfast and desserts right from the old country. Meals can be a little above average, especially dinner.
Drink The Coffee Mill
A nice, friendly little coffee shop and bakery that is in a good spot for having breakfast or lunch inside or outside, depending on the weather. Also has live jazz on Sunday evenings.
Drink The Chocolate Dragon Bittersweet Cafe & Bakery
A small cafe that specializes in all things chocolate. Relaxing atmosphere, good vegan options.
Drink Peet's Coffee (Formerly Peet's Coffee and Tea)
Based in nearby Berkeley, Peet's is an East Bay favorite for coffee, tea and pastries.
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Drink Timeless Coffee
An upscale coffeehouse and bakery known best for brunches and hand-made vegan pastries.
Drink The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room
Single origin coffees prepared well.
Sleep
Budget
Stay Garden Inn & Suites Oakland Airport
High-speed Internet and pool on a budget. Free shuttle to and from Oakland Airport.
Mid-range
Stay Courtyard Oakland Airport
The hotel offers airport shuttle service for easy access to and from the Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport. Full fitness center. Outdoor pool. Free Internet available throughout the lobby and in all guest rooms. The Bistro serves breakfast, dinner, cocktails and Starbucks coffee.
Splurge
Stay safe
Crime
Oakland has some problems with both property and violent crime. Smash-and-grab attacks on parked cars are common, so do not leave anything visible in your car, not even cell phone mounts or bags that might look like they could contain valuables. Lock your bicycle with a U-lock or a chain, not a flexible cable lock, and make sure you secure the front wheel.
The parts of the city with the most serious crime problems are unlikely to be interesting to tourists, but be careful when you venture into areas where there are not many people on the streets, keep your wits about yourself, and be aware of where you are at all times. The hills of Oakland are safe when it comes to violent crime but there is still property crime there. Think twice about going to West Oakland (south of 580 and west of 980) or East Oakland (southeast of Lake Merritt), especially at night.
Traffic
The number of reckless drivers in Oakland seems to be higher than in the average US city. As a pedestrian, pay attention when crossing the street, even if you have the right of way; as a driver, drive defensively; and as a cyclist, stay alert and don't rely on cars to accommodate you. International Boulevard in particular is notorious for traffic fatalities and speeding.
The quality of Oakland's roads is relatively poor. Residents complain bitterly about persistent potholes, and if you're driving or biking, you should take that as a warning.
Go next
- San Francisco. Oakland's neighbor across the Bay. Take BART, or the ferry for some great views. (Bridge tolls are paid crossing into San Francisco, not exiting it.)
- Berkeley. Eclectic, political and always interesting neighbor to the north.
- San Leandro. Oakland's quieter suburban neighbor to the south, home to worldwide firms, malls, regional parks and shorelines.
- Alameda. Oakland's sleepy island suburb to the southwest, home to the former Alameda Naval Air Station, and miles of pretty beaches and Victorian houses.
- Emeryville. Home of Pixar and several major animation schools, as well as plenty of shopping and industry.
Nearby
Alameda
City / town · 51 listings · 3 mi away
Emeryville
City / town · 21 listings · 5 mi away
San Leandro
City / town · 67 listings · 6 mi away
Berkeley
City / town · 94 listings · 7 mi away
Moraga
City / town · 3 listings · 7 mi away
Orinda
City / town · 8 listings · 8 mi away
Albany
City / town · 13 listings · 8 mi away
San Francisco
City / town · 66 listings · 9 mi away
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