Guidebook for Oakland
Food Scene
So many great restaurants in Oakland and Berkeley! These are just a few nearby.
Great fast-casual Mexican restaurant. The crispy chicken tacos are really special.
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Cactus Taqueria
5642 College AveGreat fast-casual Mexican restaurant. The crispy chicken tacos are really special.
Really great chicken dishes with a southeast Asian flavor. "The Hawking Bird" sandwich is our favorite - fried chicken thigh with coleslaw on a nice bun. Great cocktails too, and incredibly fast service - fast-casual restaurant. Also very fast to order delivery via Caviar.
http://www.hawkingbird.com/
https://www.trycaviar.com/sf-east-bay/hawking-bird-7551
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Hawking Bird
4901 Telegraph AveReally great chicken dishes with a southeast Asian flavor. "The Hawking Bird" sandwich is our favorite - fried chicken thigh with coleslaw on a nice bun. Great cocktails too, and incredibly fast service - fast-casual restaurant. Also very fast to order delivery via Caviar.
http://www.hawkingbird.com/
https://www.trycaviar.com/sf-east-bay/hawking-bird-7551
Inspired by Thai street food, a very nice but affordable meal. Popular but usually has seating without reservations so it is very convenient.
https://oakland.soifour.com/
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Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery
5421 College AveInspired by Thai street food, a very nice but affordable meal. Popular but usually has seating without reservations so it is very convenient.
https://oakland.soifour.com/
Great locally-roasted coffee and espresso prepared by very skilled baristas.
https://www.highwirecoffee.com/
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Highwire Coffee Roasters
2049 San Pablo AveGreat locally-roasted coffee and espresso prepared by very skilled baristas.
https://www.highwirecoffee.com/
If you've never had Burmese food, now is the time to try it! This restaurant tends to get packed on weekends, so expect a wait. Be sure to order their tea leaf salad - it's quite impressive and they toss it in front of you.
https://www.burmasuperstar.com/
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Burma Superstar
309 Clement StIf you've never had Burmese food, now is the time to try it! This restaurant tends to get packed on weekends, so expect a wait. Be sure to order their tea leaf salad - it's quite impressive and they toss it in front of you.
https://www.burmasuperstar.com/
Great pizzas and Italian food. A bit pricy, but our favorite. Recommended over the similar A16 on College.
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Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveGreat pizzas and Italian food. A bit pricy, but our favorite. Recommended over the similar A16 on College.
Fast-casual with great sandwiches and tortas. The interior is designed to look like a colorful street in Peru. Also a nice patio out back for warm days. Expect a bit of a line on a nice weekend day.
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Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph AveFast-casual with great sandwiches and tortas. The interior is designed to look like a colorful street in Peru. Also a nice patio out back for warm days. Expect a bit of a line on a nice weekend day.
Of the many local Ethiopian restaurants, this one is our go-to for takeout or for watching a Warriors game in their newly-renovated bar.
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Asmara Restaurant
5020 Telegraph AveOf the many local Ethiopian restaurants, this one is our go-to for takeout or for watching a Warriors game in their newly-renovated bar.
A neighborhood gem! Delicious Italian food in an intimate setting. Not for the faint of wallet. If you are interested, try to book a reservation in advance online or arrive early or late and try to get a bar seat. Almost always booked solid.
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Belotti Ristorante E Bottega
5403 College AveA neighborhood gem! Delicious Italian food in an intimate setting. Not for the faint of wallet. If you are interested, try to book a reservation in advance online or arrive early or late and try to get a bar seat. Almost always booked solid.
If you are vegan, this is THE place to go. End of story.
http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/
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Millennium
5912 College AveIf you are vegan, this is THE place to go. End of story.
http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/
Drinks & Nightlife
Very close (walkable) and great cocktails. Lots of space inside and many things to keep you busy - pac man, shuffleboard, Jenga, and board games.
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Rockridge Improvement Club
5515 College AveVery close (walkable) and great cocktails. Lots of space inside and many things to keep you busy - pac man, shuffleboard, Jenga, and board games.
Cheaper than many alternatives, this is not a super-classy bar. However, what it lacks in sophistication it makes up for in intimacy. Really friendly bartenders and customers that always seem happy to strike up a conversation - even with tourists.
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McNally's Irish Pub
5352 College AveCheaper than many alternatives, this is not a super-classy bar. However, what it lacks in sophistication it makes up for in intimacy. Really friendly bartenders and customers that always seem happy to strike up a conversation - even with tourists.
Good pub food, and a nice selection of beers and cocktails, lots of TVs, and a small patio for warmer days. Very friendly atmosphere.
The Golden Squirrel
5940 College AvenueGood pub food, and a nice selection of beers and cocktails, lots of TVs, and a small patio for warmer days. Very friendly atmosphere.
Upscale wine bar with small bites as well. Very nice quiet atmosphere and great wines. I recommend the red flight both for selection and value. For food, the mousse and burrata are great choices, although it's hard to go wrong with charcuterie as well.
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The Barrel Room
415 Sansome StreetUpscale wine bar with small bites as well. Very nice quiet atmosphere and great wines. I recommend the red flight both for selection and value. For food, the mousse and burrata are great choices, although it's hard to go wrong with charcuterie as well.
A new upscale beer-focused bar with local and unusual beers and small bites.
http://www.rosestaproom.com/
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Roses' Taproom
4930 Telegraph AveA new upscale beer-focused bar with local and unusual beers and small bites.
http://www.rosestaproom.com/
Great outdoor space to grab a beer with some friends. Certain days and weekends there is a food truck parked out front too.
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Birrificio Temescal
4115 Telegraph AveGreat outdoor space to grab a beer with some friends. Certain days and weekends there is a food truck parked out front too.
Essentials
Great foods that require minimal preparation for when you want to cook but don't really want to cook from scratch. Also very good prices on alcohol.
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Trader Joe's
3250 Lakeshore AveGreat foods that require minimal preparation for when you want to cook but don't really want to cook from scratch. Also very good prices on alcohol.
Large selection - they should have just about anything you're looking for. There is also a pharmacy in the back.
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Safeway
5100 BroadwayLarge selection - they should have just about anything you're looking for. There is also a pharmacy in the back.
Getting Around
Find your destination station on the chart next to the ticket machines and purchase a round-trip ticket for convenience. Use a credit card to avoid getting lots of coins as change. You will be given a paper ticket with a magnetic stripe that allows you to swipe in and out of stations.
BikeLink eLockers: Rockridge BART
5660 College AveFind your destination station on the chart next to the ticket machines and purchase a round-trip ticket for convenience. Use a credit card to avoid getting lots of coins as change. You will be given a paper ticket with a magnetic stripe that allows you to swipe in and out of stations.
Shopping
Sundays only, 9 AM to 1 PM. Lots of local produce, meats, cheeses, etc. Some food vendors as well, and live music for kids. Lots of fun.
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Temescal Farmer's Market
5300 Claremont AveSundays only, 9 AM to 1 PM. Lots of local produce, meats, cheeses, etc. Some food vendors as well, and live music for kids. Lots of fun.
Pegasus Books
1855 Solano AveGreat local bookstore.
A unique local market with several different vendors - fish, cheese, wine, groceries, a bakery, and produce. You can get pre-prepared foods at a large deli counter as well. A great place to find high-quality ingredients, including some specialty ingredients like squid-ink pasta or truffle salt. Not particularly cheap for everyday grocery shopping.
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Market Hall Produce
5655 College AveA unique local market with several different vendors - fish, cheese, wine, groceries, a bakery, and produce. You can get pre-prepared foods at a large deli counter as well. A great place to find high-quality ingredients, including some specialty ingredients like squid-ink pasta or truffle salt. Not particularly cheap for everyday grocery shopping.
Parks & Nature
A really nice lake and bird reserve with a path running around the entire lake. It's just over 3 miles around, and there are lots of nice grassy areas to picnic or enjoy the sun, as well as some restaurants including Lake Chalet where you can sit on the dock and enjoy food and drinks. Because it connects to the bay, if you watch closely you may see a ray or two gliding in the water.
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Anfiteatro del Lago Merritt
Lake Merritt BoulevardA really nice lake and bird reserve with a path running around the entire lake. It's just over 3 miles around, and there are lots of nice grassy areas to picnic or enjoy the sun, as well as some restaurants including Lake Chalet where you can sit on the dock and enjoy food and drinks. Because it connects to the bay, if you watch closely you may see a ray or two gliding in the water.
Normally goes by the name "Frog Park". This is a small park with a fenced-in dog area as well as a great kids' area with lots of structures to climb and slide on. Swings as well.
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Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt
5500 Claremont AveNormally goes by the name "Frog Park". This is a small park with a fenced-in dog area as well as a great kids' area with lots of structures to climb and slide on. Swings as well.
Arts & Culture
Lots of information about the history of California, among other things.
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Museo di Oakland della California
1000 Oak StLots of information about the history of California, among other things.
Art and unique films, in a newly-redesigned building.
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Museo d'Arte di Berkeley e Archivio Cinematografico del Pacifico
2155 Center StArt and unique films, in a newly-redesigned building.
Newly-reopened world-class art museum. Take BART to get there - catch a San Francisco train and get off at Montgomery station. Driving is not recommended because traffic on the Bay Bridge can mean a trip of over an hour, and parking is very expensive.
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Museo di Arte Moderna di San Francisco
151 3rd StNewly-reopened world-class art museum. Take BART to get there - catch a San Francisco train and get off at Montgomery station. Driving is not recommended because traffic on the Bay Bridge can mean a trip of over an hour, and parking is very expensive.
One side is dedicated to children and has lots of toys in addition to books. The other (adult) side has some good reading areas as well as computers that are free to use.
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Oakland Public Library: Rockridge Branch
5366 College AveOne side is dedicated to children and has lots of toys in addition to books. The other (adult) side has some good reading areas as well as computers that are free to use.