Meghan's Guidebook
Food Scene
Neat neighborhood cafe that is about a 10 minute walk. Good coffee, smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches.
19 locals recommend
Paradise Park Café
6334 San Pablo AveNeat neighborhood cafe that is about a 10 minute walk. Good coffee, smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches.
Local small brewery that is all booked themed. Run by a local couple it has a cozy inside, games, and pop up food venders. Dog friendly!
27 locals recommend
Novel Brewing Company
6510 San Pablo AveLocal small brewery that is all booked themed. Run by a local couple it has a cozy inside, games, and pop up food venders. Dog friendly!
Another dog/kid friendly beer garden. David particularly loves their chicken sandwich and there are vegetarian guilty pleasures as well.
25 locals recommend
Sideshow Kitchen
942 Stanford AveAnother dog/kid friendly beer garden. David particularly loves their chicken sandwich and there are vegetarian guilty pleasures as well.
Punky vegan donut shop? How Oakland is that. We particularly love the Philz Coffee donut.
17 locals recommend
Donut Farm Oakland
6037 San Pablo AvePunky vegan donut shop? How Oakland is that. We particularly love the Philz Coffee donut.
Best Ethiopian food around and there is a lot of good Ethiopian food in the East Bay. Owned by the same family since the early 80s. Located in the popular neighborhood of Temescal. We like to hang on the bar side for Warriors games.
20 locals recommend
Asmara Restaurant
5020 Telegraph AveBest Ethiopian food around and there is a lot of good Ethiopian food in the East Bay. Owned by the same family since the early 80s. Located in the popular neighborhood of Temescal. We like to hang on the bar side for Warriors games.
Famous Bay Area restaurant, it's always worth the wait. Tea leaf salad is a thing of wonder.
146 locals recommend
Burma Superstar
4721 Telegraph AveFamous Bay Area restaurant, it's always worth the wait. Tea leaf salad is a thing of wonder.
Pricey but chic and delicious. I'm sure everything is good but make sure to get a bowl of ramen no matter what.
112 locals recommend
Ramen Shop
5812 College AvePricey but chic and delicious. I'm sure everything is good but make sure to get a bowl of ramen no matter what.
Newer Oakland Bar near Lake Merritt. When you want a well crafted cocktail this is hard to beat! Yummy eats as well.
Low Bar
2300 Webster StreetNewer Oakland Bar near Lake Merritt. When you want a well crafted cocktail this is hard to beat! Yummy eats as well.
This is one of our favorite take out restaurants. It is about a mile down San Pablo towards Berkeley so we always just go pick it up but delivery work as well!
Chai Thai Noodles
3015 San Pablo AvenueThis is one of our favorite take out restaurants. It is about a mile down San Pablo towards Berkeley so we always just go pick it up but delivery work as well!
Okay, this pizza is expensive. But it's delicious... and the beer selection is on point. They also have outdoor seating.
31 locals recommend
Rotten City Pizza
6613 Hollis StOkay, this pizza is expensive. But it's delicious... and the beer selection is on point. They also have outdoor seating.
Honor Kitchen & Cocktails
1411 Powell StHip spot with delicious cocktails and yummy eats.
This was the first craft cocktail in the area and it's reputation looms large. Delicious cocktails. Great outdoor seating and cool interior.
86 locals recommend
Prizefighter
6702 Hollis StThis was the first craft cocktail in the area and it's reputation looms large. Delicious cocktails. Great outdoor seating and cool interior.
Mehak Indian Cuisine
2449 Sacramento StOur go to Indian food delivery option.
Sightseeing
Did you know that you could be surrounded by Redwood trees and epic landscapes in Oakland. The trail system is more than you can explore in a single trip.
373 locals recommend
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadDid you know that you could be surrounded by Redwood trees and epic landscapes in Oakland. The trail system is more than you can explore in a single trip.
I like to call this Oakland's happy place. 5k around the entire lake, with the countries oldest bird sanctuary, a botanical garden that includes a Bonsai Museum hidden within. There is often music, dancing, skating and random merriment going on. One of the best farmers markets happens only blocks away on Saturdays. Lots of delicious eats and places to get a drink on all sides.
751 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardI like to call this Oakland's happy place. 5k around the entire lake, with the countries oldest bird sanctuary, a botanical garden that includes a Bonsai Museum hidden within. There is often music, dancing, skating and random merriment going on. One of the best farmers markets happens only blocks away on Saturdays. Lots of delicious eats and places to get a drink on all sides.
Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak BlvdBerkeley hikes!
They have the best exhibits and food trucks on First Fridays
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StThey have the best exhibits and food trucks on First Fridays
Great for kids but even better they have adults only nights that's a ridiculous amount of fun.
432 locals recommend
Exploratorium
Green StreetGreat for kids but even better they have adults only nights that's a ridiculous amount of fun.
Be outside with sights of the Bay and stumble on giant found object sculptures. A really unique experience.
56 locals recommend
Albany Bulb
1 Buchanan StBe outside with sights of the Bay and stumble on giant found object sculptures. A really unique experience.
Running
If you are in the mood for a run you can get in a touch over 5 miles by running down and around the aquatic park. I dare you not stop to take a picture while you're there. If you're feeling extra inspired you can continue over the foot bridge and run along the bay trail to the Berkeley Marina or the Emeryville Marina.
49 locals recommend
Aquatic Park
700-898 Beach StIf you are in the mood for a run you can get in a touch over 5 miles by running down and around the aquatic park. I dare you not stop to take a picture while you're there. If you're feeling extra inspired you can continue over the foot bridge and run along the bay trail to the Berkeley Marina or the Emeryville Marina.
City advice
Don't miss
Fun Cheap SF
Go to funcheapsf.com for a guide of wonderfully random things that are happening in SF and the East Bay