Eva’s Oakland Guidebook

Eva
Eva’s Oakland Guidebook

Sightseeing

The Oakland Museum hosts collections and programs that combine art, history and the natural sciences to explore Oakland’s and California’s identities. One of our favorite events is Friday Nights @ OMCA. It’s a happy mix of Off the Grid food trucks, live music, dancing lessons, half-off gallery admission, and more. Whatever you do, don’t miss a stroll through the gardens. The walk pairs well with a ginger tequila cocktail (on Fridays).
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Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St
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The Oakland Museum hosts collections and programs that combine art, history and the natural sciences to explore Oakland’s and California’s identities. One of our favorite events is Friday Nights @ OMCA. It’s a happy mix of Off the Grid food trucks, live music, dancing lessons, half-off gallery admission, and more. Whatever you do, don’t miss a stroll through the gardens. The walk pairs well with a ginger tequila cocktail (on Fridays).
How many cities have a beautiful lake in the heart of downtown? The city has invested in beautifying the lake in recent years and it shows. Warm weekends bring young crowds and picnics to the lawns on the Eastern shore and near the Fairyland sign. There's a steady stream of pedestrians, joggers and cyclists enjoying the 3.4 mile perimeter path year round, day or evening. Feeling adventurous? Take a gondola ride from the Lake Chalet or a sailing class from the recently upgraded Boat House.
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Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt Boulevard
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How many cities have a beautiful lake in the heart of downtown? The city has invested in beautifying the lake in recent years and it shows. Warm weekends bring young crowds and picnics to the lawns on the Eastern shore and near the Fairyland sign. There's a steady stream of pedestrians, joggers and cyclists enjoying the 3.4 mile perimeter path year round, day or evening. Feeling adventurous? Take a gondola ride from the Lake Chalet or a sailing class from the recently upgraded Boat House.
Oakland Zoo is the perfect destination for a day trip with your family. Learn about wildlife conservation, see amazing animals, or attend one of our many interactive and educational programs. Nestled in the 525-acre Knowland Park in the Oakland Hills, the zoo houses more than 700 native and exotic animals. The exhibits are organized geographically and reflect the ecosystems of the animals' native habitats. Visitors can enjoy rotating cultural exhibits in the education center, and kids will love the new butterfly garden and the rides area, with a roller coaster, an endangered species carousel, and a train. A gondola ride with unparalleled views of the Bay Area will take you up the hill The California Trail, including native species such as the Grizzly Bears, Grey Wolves, Bison and more! Open daily from 10:00am-4:00pm.
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Oakland dýragarður
9777 Golf Links Rd
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Oakland Zoo is the perfect destination for a day trip with your family. Learn about wildlife conservation, see amazing animals, or attend one of our many interactive and educational programs. Nestled in the 525-acre Knowland Park in the Oakland Hills, the zoo houses more than 700 native and exotic animals. The exhibits are organized geographically and reflect the ecosystems of the animals' native habitats. Visitors can enjoy rotating cultural exhibits in the education center, and kids will love the new butterfly garden and the rides area, with a roller coaster, an endangered species carousel, and a train. A gondola ride with unparalleled views of the Bay Area will take you up the hill The California Trail, including native species such as the Grizzly Bears, Grey Wolves, Bison and more! Open daily from 10:00am-4:00pm.
Children's Fairyland is a magical mid-century park where young children can create, imagine, play, and learn all day long, located on the shores of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California. Fun Fact: Fairyland inspired Walt Disney for the building of Disneyland!
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Children's Fairyland
699 Bellevue Avenue
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Children's Fairyland is a magical mid-century park where young children can create, imagine, play, and learn all day long, located on the shores of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California. Fun Fact: Fairyland inspired Walt Disney for the building of Disneyland!

Food scene

Jong Ga House has been serving up authentic Korean food for 15 years. There's always a full house, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to grab dinner after 8 pm. Every meal starts with 15 small dishes of cold appetizers. Try the spicy tofu soup, the seafood pancake and of course the authentic Korean barbecue.
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Jong Ga House
372 Grand Ave
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Jong Ga House has been serving up authentic Korean food for 15 years. There's always a full house, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to grab dinner after 8 pm. Every meal starts with 15 small dishes of cold appetizers. Try the spicy tofu soup, the seafood pancake and of course the authentic Korean barbecue.
Skip the trip to the grocery store and spend a day at the Grand Lake Farmers Market instead. This massive farmers market is the place to find great produce, delicious prepared foods, hard goods and more every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm year round.
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Grand Lake Farmers Market
746 Grand Ave
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Skip the trip to the grocery store and spend a day at the Grand Lake Farmers Market instead. This massive farmers market is the place to find great produce, delicious prepared foods, hard goods and more every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm year round.
One of six bakeries in the co-op, this spot boasts some of the best pizza in town. Arizmendi is famous for their vegetarian "pizza of the day" on thin, sourdough crust, but they also have a variety of excellent pastries, breads, muffins and daily salad options to choose from.
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Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore Ave
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One of six bakeries in the co-op, this spot boasts some of the best pizza in town. Arizmendi is famous for their vegetarian "pizza of the day" on thin, sourdough crust, but they also have a variety of excellent pastries, breads, muffins and daily salad options to choose from.
This apothecary-style spice shop has everything you need for a vibrant, fragrant and flavorful meal. Owners John Beaver and Erica Perez have created a unique spot with specialty spices and blends for every palate. The shop occasionally hosts events and they sell excellent kits like the curry lovers gift box and a finishing sea salt sampler.
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Oaktown Spice Shop
546 Grand Ave
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This apothecary-style spice shop has everything you need for a vibrant, fragrant and flavorful meal. Owners John Beaver and Erica Perez have created a unique spot with specialty spices and blends for every palate. The shop occasionally hosts events and they sell excellent kits like the curry lovers gift box and a finishing sea salt sampler.
Executive Chef Jen Biesty and General Manager Tim Nugent have created an incredible restaurant in the heart of Oakland. Shakewell's menu focuses on Mediterranean flavors with unique twists, like the chili chocolate braised short rib and the Serrano ham with persimmons and honey hazelnuts. Attention is clearly paid to the service as it is reliably warm and friendly.
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Shakewell
3407 Lakeshore Ave
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Executive Chef Jen Biesty and General Manager Tim Nugent have created an incredible restaurant in the heart of Oakland. Shakewell's menu focuses on Mediterranean flavors with unique twists, like the chili chocolate braised short rib and the Serrano ham with persimmons and honey hazelnuts. Attention is clearly paid to the service as it is reliably warm and friendly.
For your Caribbean kick. The bright eatery makes us feel as though we’ve teleported to a nearby island for sugary sips and spicy bites. A forewarning: The whole menu may tempt you. Our saving grace is ordering a side of fried chicken if we venture from it as a main course. And believe us, there’s always room for one of Miss Ollie's drumsticks.
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Miss Ollie's
901 Washington St
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For your Caribbean kick. The bright eatery makes us feel as though we’ve teleported to a nearby island for sugary sips and spicy bites. A forewarning: The whole menu may tempt you. Our saving grace is ordering a side of fried chicken if we venture from it as a main course. And believe us, there’s always room for one of Miss Ollie's drumsticks.
Founded in Oakland, CA in 1894, Fentons Creamery is a landmark institution that has served generations its famous handcrafted ice creams and sauces. Featured on the Travel Channel, the History Channel, the Food Network, and in USA Today and Zagat, Fentons offers ice cream production tours by appointment.
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Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont Ave
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Founded in Oakland, CA in 1894, Fentons Creamery is a landmark institution that has served generations its famous handcrafted ice creams and sauces. Featured on the Travel Channel, the History Channel, the Food Network, and in USA Today and Zagat, Fentons offers ice cream production tours by appointment.
Get their chai latte and chocolate croissant. Baked fresh daily!
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Haddon Hill Cafe
504 Wesley Ave
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Get their chai latte and chocolate croissant. Baked fresh daily!

Book Stores

This surprisingly voluminous bookstore has thrived for more than 40 years. That's partly because the staff prides itself on really knowing its stock and being the original recommendation engine before Amazon ever existed. Located on Grand Avenue and surrounded by a variety of restaurants, you'll often find customers waiting for their tables browsing the aisles. The kid's section has a handmade feel and the rare book room is gorgeous and full of first editions and other treasures.
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Walden Pond Books
3316 Grand Ave
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This surprisingly voluminous bookstore has thrived for more than 40 years. That's partly because the staff prides itself on really knowing its stock and being the original recommendation engine before Amazon ever existed. Located on Grand Avenue and surrounded by a variety of restaurants, you'll often find customers waiting for their tables browsing the aisles. The kid's section has a handmade feel and the rare book room is gorgeous and full of first editions and other treasures.

Entertainment

Step into this piece of history and see the latest films in ornate auditoriums. You can easily find it by its large, animated light displays: fireworks on the roof and a waterfall of fire over the marquee. Although movies are shown with the latest projectors and sound systems, this historic landmark opened in 1926 showing vaudeville and silent films, and is considered one of the top ten vintage theaters in the United States. Today, you can still catch a matinee for $6!
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Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand Ave
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Step into this piece of history and see the latest films in ornate auditoriums. You can easily find it by its large, animated light displays: fireworks on the roof and a waterfall of fire over the marquee. Although movies are shown with the latest projectors and sound systems, this historic landmark opened in 1926 showing vaudeville and silent films, and is considered one of the top ten vintage theaters in the United States. Today, you can still catch a matinee for $6!
Built in 1928, the Fox Theater is an architectural masterpiece and former movie house that underwent a $75 million renovation to reopen its doors in February of 2009 under the direction of Another Planet Entertainment. Featuring jaw-dropping original details, state-of-the-art Meyer sound system and a capacity of up to 2,800, the Fox is continuously recognized as a favorite among touring artists and fans alike. The Fox Theater’s leading presence in Oakland has anchored the long-awaited renaissance of an Uptown entertainment district of theaters, restaurants, and nightspots.
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Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Ave
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Built in 1928, the Fox Theater is an architectural masterpiece and former movie house that underwent a $75 million renovation to reopen its doors in February of 2009 under the direction of Another Planet Entertainment. Featuring jaw-dropping original details, state-of-the-art Meyer sound system and a capacity of up to 2,800, the Fox is continuously recognized as a favorite among touring artists and fans alike. The Fox Theater’s leading presence in Oakland has anchored the long-awaited renaissance of an Uptown entertainment district of theaters, restaurants, and nightspots.
Starline Social club is a three story historic victorian Oddfellows event space from built in 1893, which contains a bar, ballroom, restaurant as well as multiple venues/ event spaces. The Starline operates as a multi-use space that facilitates artists, musicians, activists and community based entrepreneurs in the exhibition of music, performance, literary, social, culinary and visual media. Starline is staffed and owned by a diverse and local crew of individuals whom are dedicated to maintaining a safe, inclusive and creative environment that supports the Oakland community and also pays respect to the Oddfellows original motto of “Friendship, Love & Truth”.
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Starline Social Club
2236 Martin Luther King Jr Way
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Starline Social club is a three story historic victorian Oddfellows event space from built in 1893, which contains a bar, ballroom, restaurant as well as multiple venues/ event spaces. The Starline operates as a multi-use space that facilitates artists, musicians, activists and community based entrepreneurs in the exhibition of music, performance, literary, social, culinary and visual media. Starline is staffed and owned by a diverse and local crew of individuals whom are dedicated to maintaining a safe, inclusive and creative environment that supports the Oakland community and also pays respect to the Oddfellows original motto of “Friendship, Love & Truth”.

Local Goods

For all things Oakland, Bay Area or California, but mostly Oakland, Oaklandish is the store for you. Forever immortalized on t-shirts, hoodies, hats, pins, socks, bandannas and of course skateboards, it's your choice what flavor or neighborhood of Oakland you want to represent. You'll find a healthy dose of local icons: the Port of Oakland cranes, the city's tree logo, Lake Merritt, the sugar skull. Other Bay Area hoods have a designated rack near a selection of Levi's and locally made goods to round out their selection. Our top pick: a toddler shirt melding the West Oakland BART rails with Fairyland’s iconic Jolly Trolly.
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Oaklandish
3419 Fruitvale Ave
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For all things Oakland, Bay Area or California, but mostly Oakland, Oaklandish is the store for you. Forever immortalized on t-shirts, hoodies, hats, pins, socks, bandannas and of course skateboards, it's your choice what flavor or neighborhood of Oakland you want to represent. You'll find a healthy dose of local icons: the Port of Oakland cranes, the city's tree logo, Lake Merritt, the sugar skull. Other Bay Area hoods have a designated rack near a selection of Levi's and locally made goods to round out their selection. Our top pick: a toddler shirt melding the West Oakland BART rails with Fairyland’s iconic Jolly Trolly.

Neighborhoods

Oakland Chinatown nowadays becomes the center of Asian cultures, arts and gourmet cuisine. You can find up to 8 Asian languages of books in the Oakland Public Library Asian Branch; learn Balinese dance at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center; eat Japanese Ramen and Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, and drink Taiwanese boba tea; and buy American Chinese fortune cookies which all can be found in Chinatown!
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Chinatown
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Oakland Chinatown nowadays becomes the center of Asian cultures, arts and gourmet cuisine. You can find up to 8 Asian languages of books in the Oakland Public Library Asian Branch; learn Balinese dance at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center; eat Japanese Ramen and Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, and drink Taiwanese boba tea; and buy American Chinese fortune cookies which all can be found in Chinatown!
Temescal is a vibrant and unique community unlike any other part of Oakland. Once filled with horse stables and barns, Temescal is full of a younger crowd with a hipster feel without the pretentious looks you could receive in other cities. Lose yourself in the culture walking up the street of Telegraph and into Temescal Alley where you will be pleasantly entertained by the artistry of Oakland.
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Temescal
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Temescal is a vibrant and unique community unlike any other part of Oakland. Once filled with horse stables and barns, Temescal is full of a younger crowd with a hipster feel without the pretentious looks you could receive in other cities. Lose yourself in the culture walking up the street of Telegraph and into Temescal Alley where you will be pleasantly entertained by the artistry of Oakland.
Location. Location. Location. That’s Jack London’s selling point. It’s got Bay views, the call of seabirds, and the ferry as public transit. Enjoy the peace of the waterfront, or head a few paces onshore and down European styled walkways to a booming bar and restaurant scene, including The Fat Lady Opens a New Window. , The Night Light and BBQ joint Everett & Jones Opens a New Window. . Music can be heard almost every night of the week at Yoshi’s Opens a New Window. , the famed spot in the Bay Area for jazz and dinner. Tucked within these modern-day diversions and loft-style living are serious old-school stops. California’s second oldest bar, Heinold’s First and Last Saloon Opens a New Window. , opened in 1883 and is still lit by gas (author Jack London wrote here). Or just look for the writer’s Yukon cabin—a replica built from the original boards.
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Jack London District
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Location. Location. Location. That’s Jack London’s selling point. It’s got Bay views, the call of seabirds, and the ferry as public transit. Enjoy the peace of the waterfront, or head a few paces onshore and down European styled walkways to a booming bar and restaurant scene, including The Fat Lady Opens a New Window. , The Night Light and BBQ joint Everett & Jones Opens a New Window. . Music can be heard almost every night of the week at Yoshi’s Opens a New Window. , the famed spot in the Bay Area for jazz and dinner. Tucked within these modern-day diversions and loft-style living are serious old-school stops. California’s second oldest bar, Heinold’s First and Last Saloon Opens a New Window. , opened in 1883 and is still lit by gas (author Jack London wrote here). Or just look for the writer’s Yukon cabin—a replica built from the original boards.