Rad’s favorite things to do / eat / drink in Oakland

Rad
Rad’s favorite things to do / eat / drink in Oakland

Food scene

~~Hands down the best brunch in Oakland~~ Locally sourced food that influences the daily menu. Everything is handmade in house, including the bread, jam, sausages, etc Opens at 8am, best to visit on weekdays to avoid the line — but you should definitely go even if you have to wait, it’s 3 blocks away! Put in your name then check out ‘Therapy (home goods) two doors down, or thrift at Goodwill while you wait.
101 locals recommend
Sequoia Diner
3719 MacArthur Blvd
101 locals recommend
~~Hands down the best brunch in Oakland~~ Locally sourced food that influences the daily menu. Everything is handmade in house, including the bread, jam, sausages, etc Opens at 8am, best to visit on weekdays to avoid the line — but you should definitely go even if you have to wait, it’s 3 blocks away! Put in your name then check out ‘Therapy (home goods) two doors down, or thrift at Goodwill while you wait.
Great bbq and burgers one block away. Outdoor seating and dog friendly! My favorite is the salad w/ chicken.
9 locals recommend
4505 Burgers & BBQ MacArthur
3506 MacArthur Blvd
9 locals recommend
Great bbq and burgers one block away. Outdoor seating and dog friendly! My favorite is the salad w/ chicken.
Great sandwiches and family friendly beer garden with pinball inside. Another smaller location on Shattuck (no beer garden there). The Cubano is ~100~
20 locals recommend
Stay Gold Deli
2635 San Pablo Ave
20 locals recommend
Great sandwiches and family friendly beer garden with pinball inside. Another smaller location on Shattuck (no beer garden there). The Cubano is ~100~
Incredible local bakery. Serves the local favorite pie (pizza) of the day by the slice or by the pie. Super delicious.
198 locals recommend
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore Ave
198 locals recommend
Incredible local bakery. Serves the local favorite pie (pizza) of the day by the slice or by the pie. Super delicious.
I heard this was opened by a couple of guys that used to work at Arizmendi. Same concept: pie of the day. Also delicious, and nearby with generally no line and only 3 minutes away by car. I like to get a half-bake and finish cooking it at home, check the daily menu online before heading over.
15 locals recommend
Dimond Slice Pizza
2208 MacArthur Blvd
15 locals recommend
I heard this was opened by a couple of guys that used to work at Arizmendi. Same concept: pie of the day. Also delicious, and nearby with generally no line and only 3 minutes away by car. I like to get a half-bake and finish cooking it at home, check the daily menu online before heading over.
Historic ice cream parlor, referenced in Pixar’s movie ‘Up’. Generally always a fast moving line, lots of flavors, very good old fashioned ice cream — been around forever, doesn’t have those fancy new hip flavors, etc. Been going here since before I was born :)
129 locals recommend
Fentons Creamery
4226 Piedmont Ave
129 locals recommend
Historic ice cream parlor, referenced in Pixar’s movie ‘Up’. Generally always a fast moving line, lots of flavors, very good old fashioned ice cream — been around forever, doesn’t have those fancy new hip flavors, etc. Been going here since before I was born :)
Best Chinese food in Oakland! Maybe in all of California? Definitely one of my go-to spots when I have friends visiting. Get the handmade noodles, green beans, Shan Dong chicken – actually, I’ve never had anything remotely sub-par here. But the noodles are hand-pulled and so yummy.
71 locals recommend
Shandong Restaurant
328 10th St
71 locals recommend
Best Chinese food in Oakland! Maybe in all of California? Definitely one of my go-to spots when I have friends visiting. Get the handmade noodles, green beans, Shan Dong chicken – actually, I’ve never had anything remotely sub-par here. But the noodles are hand-pulled and so yummy.
Great tacos and plates. So so so good and affordable. Near Temescal Alley. Outdoor seating. Another great cubano, but I usually get tacos and beans / rice.
173 locals recommend
Cholita Linda
4923 Telegraph Ave
173 locals recommend
Great tacos and plates. So so so good and affordable. Near Temescal Alley. Outdoor seating. Another great cubano, but I usually get tacos and beans / rice.
Best burritos and tacos in Oakland! Open late, cash only. I try to call ahead and pickup so I don’t have to wait around, no seating area.
23 locals recommend
Tacos Mi Rancho
1434 1st Ave
23 locals recommend
Best burritos and tacos in Oakland! Open late, cash only. I try to call ahead and pickup so I don’t have to wait around, no seating area.
Cute taproom serving their beer, plus some other locals. Small bites menu that’s yummy, but a bit pricey. Really beautiful aesthetic – very airy and filled with plants. They make lots of fun / interesting beers, unlike most other local breweries – which aren’t typically my thing.
34 locals recommend
Roses' Taproom
4930 Telegraph Ave
34 locals recommend
Cute taproom serving their beer, plus some other locals. Small bites menu that’s yummy, but a bit pricey. Really beautiful aesthetic – very airy and filled with plants. They make lots of fun / interesting beers, unlike most other local breweries – which aren’t typically my thing.
Great ramen, a bit expensive, always a line.
41 locals recommend
Marufuku Ramen
4828 Telegraph Avenue
41 locals recommend
Great ramen, a bit expensive, always a line.
Really good brunch, but Sequoia is better.
117 locals recommend
Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt
576 Grand Ave
117 locals recommend
Really good brunch, but Sequoia is better.
Open for a few hours a day on weekdays. Serving incredible fried chicken (or tofu) sandwiches. Also fresh pies and cookies. An Oakland institution, definitely go for lunch if you’re here on a weekday — they close at 2pm. The line moves really quickly.
196 locals recommend
Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph Ave
196 locals recommend
Open for a few hours a day on weekdays. Serving incredible fried chicken (or tofu) sandwiches. Also fresh pies and cookies. An Oakland institution, definitely go for lunch if you’re here on a weekday — they close at 2pm. The line moves really quickly.
Absolutely no frills / hole in the wall type place, and my favorite place for Indian food in Oakland. Get the coconut chicken!
Raj Indian Cuisine
4086 Piedmont Avenue
Absolutely no frills / hole in the wall type place, and my favorite place for Indian food in Oakland. Get the coconut chicken!
Teeny tiny amazing and simple Japanese spot. Not fancy, but one of my favorite places to go with a friend.
46 locals recommend
Geta Japanese Restaurant
165 41st St
46 locals recommend
Teeny tiny amazing and simple Japanese spot. Not fancy, but one of my favorite places to go with a friend.
Great great food! Not over priced for what you’re getting, and in a fun part of town with nightlife.
41 locals recommend
Xolo
1916 Telegraph Ave
41 locals recommend
Great great food! Not over priced for what you’re getting, and in a fun part of town with nightlife.
Amazing pastries and breads! Also, love the pulled pork and jam biscuit for brunch — don’t love the rest of the brunch menu all that much, but often go just for this biscuit.
25 locals recommend
Firebrand Artisan Breads
2343 Broadway
25 locals recommend
Amazing pastries and breads! Also, love the pulled pork and jam biscuit for brunch — don’t love the rest of the brunch menu all that much, but often go just for this biscuit.
My family has been coming here since before I was born. I love it so much, but also am not sure if it’s just extremely nostalgic for me or if it’s really that good.
8 locals recommend
Juan's Place
941 Carleton St
8 locals recommend
My family has been coming here since before I was born. I love it so much, but also am not sure if it’s just extremely nostalgic for me or if it’s really that good.

Exercise

Great yoga down the street, have never been disappointed with a class.
Left Coast Power Yoga - Laurel
4148 MacArthur Blvd
Great yoga down the street, have never been disappointed with a class.
Just down the street. Love this local studio — amazing, friendly local owners. Some classes are more gentle.
14 locals recommend
Anasa Yoga
4232 MacArthur Blvd
14 locals recommend
Just down the street. Love this local studio — amazing, friendly local owners. Some classes are more gentle.

Nightlife

Best cocktails, dance parties, and late night food menu. My favorite burger in Oakland, everything on the menu is incredible. Fun karaoke and jazz nights.
55 locals recommend
Starline Social Club
2236 Martin Luther King Jr Way
55 locals recommend
Best cocktails, dance parties, and late night food menu. My favorite burger in Oakland, everything on the menu is incredible. Fun karaoke and jazz nights.
Great local bar, incredible cocktails, great atmosphere / ambiance.
26 locals recommend
The Cat House
3255 Lakeshore Avenue
26 locals recommend
Great local bar, incredible cocktails, great atmosphere / ambiance.
74 locals recommend
Temescal Brewing
4115 Telegraph Ave
74 locals recommend
28 locals recommend
The Rare Barrel
940 Parker St
28 locals recommend

Hiking

Beautiful hiking in the redwoods!!
214 locals recommend
Joaquin Miller Park
3300 Joaquin Miller Rd
214 locals recommend
Beautiful hiking in the redwoods!!
More ncredible hiking in the redwoods!!
373 locals recommend
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood Road
373 locals recommend
More ncredible hiking in the redwoods!!
Beautiful waterfront trail with quirky areas to explore. Local art in nature. Dog friendly. My favorite place to take my pup.
56 locals recommend
Albany Bulb
1 Buchanan St
56 locals recommend
Beautiful waterfront trail with quirky areas to explore. Local art in nature. Dog friendly. My favorite place to take my pup.

Shopping

A bunch of super cute local shops: clothing, coffee, plants, jewelry, restaurants, barber etc. Very very cute, fun to walk around and checkout.
29 locals recommend
Temescal Alley
Temescal Alley
29 locals recommend
A bunch of super cute local shops: clothing, coffee, plants, jewelry, restaurants, barber etc. Very very cute, fun to walk around and checkout.

Neighborhoods

Cute, lots of food and some shopping. One of the more desired neighborhoods for younger folks to live in. Great food and fun nightlife, plus some local shopping.
89 locals recommend
Temescal
89 locals recommend
Cute, lots of food and some shopping. One of the more desired neighborhoods for younger folks to live in. Great food and fun nightlife, plus some local shopping.
Good food and nightlife. Very busy, parking can be challenging.
45 locals recommend
Uptown
45 locals recommend
Good food and nightlife. Very busy, parking can be challenging.
Beautiful lake with vibrant daytime scene. Great for picnics and bbqs. Love walking around the lake (3 mile loop). Lots of good food and shopping, and the local theater nearby.
10 locals recommend
Lake Merritt Plaza
323 20th Street
10 locals recommend
Beautiful lake with vibrant daytime scene. Great for picnics and bbqs. Love walking around the lake (3 mile loop). Lots of good food and shopping, and the local theater nearby.
Cute neighborhood with lots of food options, some shopping, nail salons, fun to walk around.
Piedmont Avenue
Piedmont Avenue
Cute neighborhood with lots of food options, some shopping, nail salons, fun to walk around.

Movies

Historic theater, local sodas, organ player before some shows.
382 locals recommend
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand Ave
382 locals recommend
Historic theater, local sodas, organ player before some shows.