Oakland

[[file:Oakland Fox Theatre banner.jpg|1280px|dotm=yes|caption=Marquee of the Fox Theatre on Telegraph Avenue in Uptown Oakland}} This Muslim Friendly Travel Guide is part of eHalal.io Travel Group

Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area (California) | Bay Area of California in the United States. Once overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor lying directly to the west, Oakland 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. Visitors to the city notice that Oakland reflects its diversity and history.

An introduction to Oakland

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See Oakland's 7 day forecast]

Note: What I loved the most about Oakland was that all of my neighbors came in as many colors, ideas, and religions as there are people on the planet. How lucky I was to know so many people that were so different and yet so much alike!

While Oakland has neither the concentration of tourist amenities present in its western neighbor, San Francisco, nor the suburban sprawl of San Jose (California) | San Jose to the south and the visitor can easily spend a few pleasant days here. From the mid-1960s through the early twenty-first century, popular media stoked American racial and class biases to generate negative perceptions about Oakland. Since the late 1990s, however and 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 NY Times, UK Guardian, UK Independent, NPR, and the LA 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 perioid Hell's Angels.

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.

How is the Climate in Oakland

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. Rain generally occurs in winter, not summer, since rains share more similarity to monsoons than they do to thunderstorms. Also and 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 and the air will be dry.

Travel to Oakland

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Oakland

Oakland or Auckland?|It's not just Full House's Stephanie and Michelle Tanner that have ended up in Auckland, New Zealand instead of Oakland, California. Several incidents have been reported of tourists destined for Oakland ending up on the wrong side of the Pacific, either due to ticketing agent errors, or because they misheard an Air New Zealand flight attendant saying their London to Los Angeles flight was continuing to "Oakland". It may pay to double check your airline tickets and the destination screens before you board your flight; otherwise, it will be an expensive flight home.

• Oakland International Airport IATA Flight Code: OAK 37.721389, -122.220833 - Oakland International Airport OAK Control Tower 07832 is served by many domestic and international carriers. 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 at 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.

Other air travel options include the San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco (IATA Flight Code: SFO) and San Jose (IATA Flight Code: SJC) International Airports. SFO, with its BART station, is the more convenient of the two and also sits closer to Oakland. Those flying into SJC may have to battle significant traffic, pay for an expensive van or taxi ride, or take VTA's Airport Flyer ( Route 10]) to the Santa Clara Caltrain Station and then Caltrain to the Millbrae Intermodal Station, and then BART toward Oakland. (From SFO and Millbrae, BART provides direct service to West Oakland, Oakland Downtown/12th Street, 19th Street, MacArthur, and Rockridge stations; those traveling to other Oakland stations, such as Coliseum, must change trains no later than 19th Street.)

For private pilots, Oakland Airport (IATA Flight Code: OAK) has a separate General Aviation area "North Field", crucially 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 Rail

Rail_travel_in_the_United_States |Amtrak has two stations accessible from Oakland, Jack London Plaza Station (At Alice and 2nd street, not far from the Plaza itself) and the much larger Emeryville Station (At Horton and 59th Street, in Emeryville). It's always a good idea to get to your train at least 30 minutes early, to allow for lines, security and so forth.

• California Zephyr Emeryville to Chicago via Sacramento. Reachable by a bus ride via both AC Transit and the Emery-Go-Round.
• Capitol Corridor San Jose to Auburn (California) | Auburn via Sacramento). The route also includes a stop at the Oakland Coliseum/Airport Amtrak station, adjacent to the Oakland Coliseum BART 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.
• Coast Starlight Seattle to Los Angeles
• San Joaquins (Oakland to Bakersfield|Bakersfield, California)

By car

From San Francisco, Interstate 80 east leads over the beautiful Bay Bridge to I-580, I-880, and I-980, which go to east, west, and downtown Oakland respectively.

From Marin County|Marin, Sonoma County|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 (California) | Monterey, Salinas, and the Central Coast (California) | 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 (California) | Stockton, either follow the Altamont Pass route or take California Route 4 through Contra Costa County to Route 242 and then to Route I-680, which connects to Route 24.

From Contra Costa County, Route 24 leads to north Oakland through the Caldecott Tunnel.

From the northern East Bay (Bay Area) | East Bay, Vallejo, Fairfield (California) | 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 (California) | 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 (California) | 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 Monday - 10AM, 4PM Monday - 8PM), so you might want to avoid driving on the freeways at these times.

== Travel on a Bus in Oakland

• BoltBus - W. Oakland BART at 1451 7th Street bus stop in front of the West Oakland Bart station on 7th St. near the junction of Mandela Pkwy at the street signs stating "No Stopping Bus Only" +1-877-265-8287 - Service to and from Los Angeles, Portland_(Oregon) | Portland, Seattle, Vancouver and many major and minor points on the West Coast.

• Greyhound - 2103 San Pablo Avenue San Pablo Ave & Castro, a block up from 20th St. ☎ +1 510 832-4730 - At the western border of Uptown in a notorious location — be careful. There is regular local bus service to and from Downtown and in the opposite direction, Berkeley.

• Hoang Express - bus stop at Banh Mi Ba Le's Sandwich Shop, 1909 International Blvd (E 14th St) International Blvd & 19th Ave south of downtown Oakland ☎ +1 408-729-7885 +1-888-834-9336 $60-65 to Bay Area from Los Angeles - Travels between SoCal (San Diego, El Monte, Los Angeles, Westminster (California) | Westminster) and northern California (San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento).

• Megabus - West Oakland BART station at 1451 7th Street bus stop is at front of West Oakland BART Station on 7th Street (eastbound) between Center Street and Mandela Parkway +1-877-462-6342 - Service to and from Anaheim, Burbank and Los Angeles.

By ferry

The San Francisco Bay Ferry has departures from both Pier 41 and the Ferry Building in San Francisco, weekdays year-round and weekends except for mid-winter. Its Oakland terminal is at the foot of Clay St. in Jack London Plaza. (On summer weekends there are also trips to Angel Island, an island park in the middle of the bay, formerly an immigration station.)

How to get around in Oakland

GPS 37.782|-122.238 {{mapshapes|QQ10120

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 nation, 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.Downtown to Old Oakland Bus near BART in Downtown - |The distinctive lime green B shuttle

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. Cash value may be added at any of BART's stations, as well as a certain stores in Oakland or throughout the Bay Area.

How to travel around Oakland on a 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 Halal dining, you can join the 300+ people that cycle together monthly at East Bay Bike Party.

Bike sharing

Bike sharing is a recent development in Oakland, so most of the action is through Ford GoBike and their trademark blue bikes and docking stations. LimeBike is a more recent appearance, mostly through their trademark lime green rental scooters. Both tend to be quite pricey. GoBike's machines allow only a limited time of use, 30 minutes at a time for a day-long access pass or 45 minutes a ride for an annual membership fee.

== Travel on a Bus in Oakland

• AC Transit - 1600 Franklin Street Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday to Sunday 9AM Monday - 5PM - Bus service to most parts of Oakland and its neighboring cities and towns for $2.35 (one-way, $.25 for single-use transfer), transbay service to San Francisco is $4.50 (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 and then say "AC Transit" for the AC Transit menu and then say, "Client Relations".)

• The B - ☎ +1 510 891-4777 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 10PM - The B is a free shuttle service operating along Broadway from Grand Ave. all the way to Jack London Plaza.

• Emery-Go-Round - transit-@ 1300 67th Street ☎ +1 510 451-3862 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 6AM Monday - 10PM, Saturday 7AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 9AM Monday - 7PM Free - Shuttle service that connects at MacArthur BART Station, providing frequent and free service from the early morning to around 10PM between Oakland and Emeryville

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 and 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 has been available since 2001 in Oakland, when City Carshare (absorbed by Getaround in 2022) opened its doors for the first time. Rates are usually by the hour or the day, depending on the individual service. Getaround, Gig Car Share, Upshift and Zipcar offer easily-accessible services to account holders city-wide.

Muslim Friendly Car Rentals in Oakland

Rental vehicle facilities may be found scattered throughout the city, though Oakland International Airport has a dedicated facility; including a connecting rental vehicle 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 junction of Langley and Doolittle), outside of the Airport proper.

In addition, Avis, Enterprise and Hertz all operate smaller vehicle rental facilities at various locations in the city itself.

Ride sharing

Uber and Lyft both do a bustling business in the entire Bay Area, including Oakland. As of August 2023, 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 International 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

• BART - Connections between Oakland to San Francisco and the Peninsula (Bay Area) | Peninsula, Contra Costa County, and the far northeastern reach of Silicon Valley, usually at a cost between $2 and $4 each way. BART has stations in several major neighborhoods in Oakland, such as Downtown (Downtown), West Oakland, Lake Merritt and Rockridge. Note that there is an extra $5 added to any fare beginning or ending at SFO.

Best way to travel in Oakland by a 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.

What to see in Oakland

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 and 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. Eight different walking tours are offered by the City of Oakland, with eight different paths to explore the city, from the historical monuments of Jack London Plaza and the Waterfront, to the cultural sights and experiences of Chinatown, and the history of African Americans that grew and made their marks in civil rights and the history not only of the city but of the nation, just to give a small sample of three of the tours' itineraries.

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 Plaza. The unlikely mixture of warehouses and expensive restaurants and posh atmosphere alongside some of the monuments of the city's waterfront makes the Plaza an interesting place to visit and explore, even for local residents. 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 and 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 late night restaurants to music halls, and some of the best in the city's vintage architecture, like the Gothic Revival Gothic Church Building and the Art Deco Fox and Paramount Theaters, as well as several nationally renowned restaurants, including Flora, Duende, 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. East along I-580 are the Grand Lake and Lakeshore neighborhoods, which share a friendly, early twentieth 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. Marred by among the city's higher crime rates, 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

Chabot SSC entrance - Chabot Space and Science Center.

• African American Museum and Library at Oakland - 659 14th Street 37.8061168, -122.2764248 at Martin Luther King Jr. Way ☎ +1 510 637-0200 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday noon-5:30PM Free African American Museum and Library at Oakland African American Museum and Library at Oakland (2022) - 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.

• Chabot Space and Science Center - Visitor@ChabotSpace.org 10000 Skyline Blvd 37.8186, -122.181 ☎ +1 510 336-7300 +1 510 336-7491 Opening Hours: W-Su 10AM Monday - 5PM Adults $18, seniors/students/military/ASTC (Association of Science-Technology Centers) $15, children $14, members free Chabot Space and Science Center Chabot SSC entrance - Opened in August 2000 and 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 and 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.

• The Museum of Arts and Digital Entertainment - The MADE | 3400 Broadway 37.8218725, -122.2600415Just north of 34th and Piedmont Ave, former Saw Mill building ☎ +1 510 457-0211 | Opening Hours: Friday noon-midnight, Saturday 10AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday noon-6PM $10, members free - A museum deddicated 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 and there's always something to see and do.

• Oakland Aviation Museum - 8252 Earhart Road, Bldg 621 37.7329, -122.212 inside Oakland International Airport; use Cooke St., parking is on Boeing St. ☎ +1 510 638-7100 Opening Hours: W-Su 10AM Monday - 4PM Adults $12, seniors (60+) $10, military/student/teen $8, children 5-12 $6, children under 4 free 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 International's old North Terminal a memorable one for anyone interested in flying or the history of aviation.

• Oakland Museum of California - 1000 Oak Street 37.7986, -122.264 at 10th; Lake Merritt BART station ☎ +1 510 238-2200 | Opening Hours: W-Thursday 11AM Monday - 5PM, Friday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Saturday Sunday 10AM Monday - 6PM $15.95/adult, $10.95/concession, $6.95/youth 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.

• Oakland Public Library - 125 4th Street 37.8008, -122.264 Main Branch, six blocks east of 12th Street BART ☎ +1 510 238-3134 +1-888-625-6873 - Oakland Public Library - With branches in neighborhoods throughout the city (check their website for specific branch locations and hours) and the Oakland Public Library hosts numerous public events that make use of their facilities and vast resources.

• Oakland Zoo - 9777 Golf Links Road 37.7508, -122.148 exit off I-580 ☎ +1 510 632-9525 ext 100 Opening Hours: Seasonal $24, kids and seniors $20 Age 2 and under/76+ Free Oakland Zoo Oakland Zoo entrance - The mission of the Oakland Zoo is to inspire respect for and stewardship of the natural world, while providing a quality visitor experience. At the Oakland Zoo, you can explore together, learn together, and have fun together.

• Pardee Home Museum - 672 11th Street 37.8046859, -122.2779404 at 11th Street and Castro Street ☎ +1 510 444-2187 Opening Hours: By appointment only $10/person Pardee Home - - The home of the Pardee family, beginning with a California State Senator in 1868, and made into a museum in 1981. The major tourist 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.

• Peralta Museum of History and Culture - Peralta Hacienda Historical Park - 2496 34th Ave 37.7869975, -122.2172758 ☎ +1 510 532-9142 Opening Hours: Wednesday to Friday Saturday 2:30PM Monday - 5:30PM $5 admission, free for Fruitvale community members, members, and children 10 and under - 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 local plant garden, and changing exhibits on history and culture.

• USS Potomac - Clay Street and Water Street 37.795278, -122.280111 Oakland Ferry Terminal; adjacent to Jack London Plaza ☎ +1 510 627-1215 Opening Hours: The ship is available for dockside tours Wednesday to Friday Sunday 11AM Monday - 3PM Dockside tours $10, $8 seniors, free for children 12 and under USS Potomac (AG-25) Uss-potomac-at-oakland - Historic cruises on the bay are available April - Oct Thursday & Sa; these must be booked with TicketWeb or by calling +1-866-468-3399. 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 & 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 and there are plenty of places to relax in. A more complete list of the city's parks may be found at the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation

The Cascade Waterfall - The Cascade Waterfall in Joaquin Miller Park.

• The Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate - The Dunsmuir House - 2960 Peralta Oaks Ct 37.7428, -122.141 take I580, exit at Foothill from either direction, take 106th under the freeway, and take a right on Peralta Oaks ☎ +1 510 615-5555 +1 510 562-8294 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11AM Monday - 4PM Adults $10, seniors $8, children $6 Dunsmuir House Dunsmuir-house - An out of the way large mansion and grounds dating to the sunset of the 19th century and the Dunsmuir House is home to a variety of events year-round, from classic vehicle shows to Scottish Games.

• Joaquin Miller Park Joaquin Miller Road 37.81116944, -122.18934444 entrance about 1 mile from Highway 13Free Joaquin Miller Park Joaquin Miller later years A - A beautiful park in the Oakland hills, made up in part of "The Hights" and the old estate of California poet Joaquin Miller. The park has some of the few remaining old-growth redwood groves in the East Bay. Lots of hiking and bike-riding opportunities.

• Lake Merritt East of Downtown 37.8039, -122.2591 Lake Merritt BART, also easy access from I-880 from the south or I-580 from the north - 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. It is historically significant as the United States' first official wildlife refuge, designated in 1870.

• Morcom Amphitheater of Roses - Morcom Rose Garden | 700 Jean Street 37.8197, -122.247 one block from Grand Ave. - Morcom Rose Garden 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.

• Preservation Park - 1233 Preservation Park Way 37.8058046, -122.2771567 two blocks between Castro and MLK, 12th St. and 14th St. ☎ +1 510 874-7580 +1 510 268-1961 - A preserved and gated Victorian neighborhood and gardens open to the public (on foot). Popular spot for weddings. Office space available.

• Redwood Regional Park - 7867 Redwood Road 37.8019214, -122.1447926 take Redwood Road north from Skyline Blvd. +1-888-327-2757 (option 3 extension 4553) Opening Hours: Daily 5AM Monday - 10PM unless otherwise posted or permitted 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

Art galleries

News on many of Oakland's fine arts exhibitions can be found at Oakland Art Murmur.

• Feelmore Adult Gallery - @.com 1703 Telegraph Ave 37.807, -122.270 corner of Telegraph and 17th St. ☎ +1 510 891-0199 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday noon-9PM, Friday Saturday noon-midnight, Sunday noon-5PM Pricey - usually $60 and up - Offerings include traditional adult products as well as vintage adult films, antiquarian books, pre-1980 adult magazines, vinyl records, and erotic artwork.

• Johansson Projects - 2300 Telegraph Ave 37.8127, -122.2686 at 23rd Ave. ☎ +1 510 444-9140 | Opening Hours: Thursday - Saturday 1PM Monday - 5PM, and by appointment
• The Joyce Gordon Gallery - @JoyceGordonGallery.com 406 14th Street 37.804, -122.270 BART: 19th St.; near Franklin St. ☎ +1 510 465-8928 | Opening Hours: W-F 11AM Monday - 5PM, Saturday 1PM Monday - 5PM - A commercial fine art gallery that showcases the Bay Area's cultural and social diversity. Also hosts artistic events.

• Pro Arts Gallery - 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza 37.805, -122.271 BART: 19th St; at Oakland Art Gallery ☎ +1 510 763-4361 +1 510 763-9470 Opening Hours: W-F Noon-6PM Free - Special events on weekends.

• Transmission Gallery - 770 West Grand Ave 37.813, -122.275 at West St, near San Pablo Ave ☎ +1 510 835-2626 | Opening Hours: Thursday - Friday noon-6PM, Saturday 11AM Monday - 5PM, first Fridays noon-9PM, and by appointment - Large venue that has exhibitions from many local artists.

• Vessel Gallery - @llery.com 471 25th Street 37.814, -122.267 between Broadway and Telegraph ☎ +1 510 893-8800 | Opening Hours: Tuesday Thursday - Saturday 11AM Monday - 6PM, first Friday of the month 3PM Monday - 9PM, West by appointment only

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Oakland

Oakland is a city of passionate interests - among the strongest of them are the love of the performing arts. Theater, live DJs, late night restaurants, 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 in Oakland

Yoshicline - Nels Cline performing at Yoshi's

• Fox Theater - 1807 Telegraph Ave 37.808889, -122.269167 downtown, 19th Street BART ☎ +1 510 302-2250 - Fox Oakland Theatre Fox Oakland Theatre - A former movie theatre and 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 Street BART stop, it is in the heart of Oakland's Uptown neighborhood, which is also being re-named the Arts and Entertainment neighborhood.

• The New Parish - 1743 San Pablo Ave 37.8076968, -122.2724702At 18th Street ☎ +1 510 444-7474 - Live performing artists, DJs and readings abound at this venue a stone's throw away from the Financial District.

• The Oakland East Bay Symphony - 1440 Broadway, Suite 405 12th St. BART; Above Oaklandish ☎ +1 510 444-0801 +1 510 444-0863 - Oakland East Bay Symphony A
• Oakland Men's Chorus | 360 Grand Ave PMB 103 +1-800-706-2389 Oakland-East Bay Men's Chorus
• Oakland Symphony Chorus - 1440 Broadway, Suite 405 12th St. BART; Above Oaklandish ☎ +1 510 444-0801 +1 510 444-0863
• Oakland Youth Orchestra - 1440 Broadway, Suite 405 12th St. BART ☎ +1 510 444-0801 +1 510 444-0863
• Pan Theater - 120 Frank Ogawa Plaza 37.8106794, -122.2674567 across the Plaza from City Hall, behind Laurel Books $15 door, $14 online - An improv theater that offers acting classes as well as live comedy performances,

• Paramount Theater - 2025 Broadway 37.81, -122.268 Uptown, 19th Street BART ☎ +1 510 465-6400 - Paramount Theatre (Oakland, California) Paramount A - 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 and 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.

• Eat Real Fest - Jack London Plaza ☎ +1 510 842-0029 | Opening Hours: Second weekend in September Entry is free, no food item over $5 - A celebration of food and food culture, especially locally-grown ingredients. A combination county fair, food festival and block party, by their own admission.

• Halloween On Piedmont Piedmont Ave Opening Hours: Last Saturday in October - 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.

• Oakland Art and Soul Weekend - Downtown Oakland Opening Hours: Third weekend in August $50-60 at the gate - Four stages worth of live music, in a city with a long history in the arts. Blues, Jazz, Rap, R&B and Indie performances abound.

• Oakland Chinatown Streetfest - oakland@ Oakland Chinatown ☎ +1 510 893-8979 +1 510 893-8988 Opening Hours: Last weekend of August Free - A celebration of many cultures. Local bands, singers, demonstrations by local acrobats and even the Shao Lin monks, Taiko drumming, Polynesian dance, all reflecting the amazing diversity of Oakland.

• Oaktoberfest - MacArthur and Fruitvale see website for directions Opening Hours: Last weekend of September $20 and up - see website - The Dimond District's answer to Oktoberfest; biergartens, stuff from local breweries and even a root biergarten for those who want to celebrate without alcohol.

• Off the Grid | 1000 Oak Street outside the Oakland Museum of California, 10th St. between Oak St. and Fallon St. ☎ +1 415-339-5888 | Opening Hours: Friday 5PM Monday - 10PM $20-40 depending on the truck - The Oakland branch of a food festival with food trucks and live music, held at various locations throughout the Bay Area.

Recreation and film

Visiting the Raider Nation|Things to know when in the city with some of the craziest football fans:

• There is a long history of tension between Raider fans and San Francisco 49er fans.
• Be careful. Wearing the wrong team colors in some places in Oakland can lead to confrontations with some of the more wild fans.
• The Raiders' reputation as outlaws started during the 1970s and early 1980s, under John Madden, during which time they won three Superbowls, and then-manager Al Davis moved the team to Los Angeles.
• The present-day 'Raider Nation' is associated with the Coliseum's 'Black Hole' section, and during games, many fans wear elaborate and bizarre outfits.

Maybe a night of dancing or shaking yourself to the beat isn't quite what you had in mind. Three major sports teams and a whole host of theaters offer a distinct alternative, or even a prelude to a dip into the city's diverse nightlife. Oakland's tradition of movie theaters goes as far back as the First World War, and most of the theaters are in preserved and carefully restored style that can take the breath away. Raiders on offense at Atlanta at Oakland 11-2-08 10 - |125px|The Raiders on O against the Falcons.

• Oakland Raiders (NFL) - Oakland Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way connected to Coliseum BART ☎ +1 510 569-2121 - Oakland Raiders - Known as "The Team of the Demons," the Raiders have commanded the fierce support of Oaklanders and enjoy a large fan base across Northern California. However, fans are experiencing heartache—the team has announced plans to move to Las Vegas by 2020, which won't be the first time Oaklanders have lost their beloved football team. Be sure to enjoy the famous pre-game American Football|tailgating scene in the Coliseum parking lot, as well as the "Black Hole" of hard-core fans in the endzone section. Most home games are not sold out, so it should be feasible to buy tickets up until game time. As of Sep, 2018 and the Oakland Raiders are officially moving to Las Vegas come 2020.

• Oakland Athletics (MLB) - A's - Rickey Henderson Field, Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way - Oakland Athletics - With nine trophies to their name, four since relocating to Oakland and they are one of the most successful franchises in Baseball in the United States|baseball. The A's also have the best deal in baseball: $2 tickets and $1 Hot Dogs for nearly every Wednesday game. The affordable tickets sell out quick, so buy a day or two in advance. Rickey Henderson Field (the official name of the playing surface of the Coliseum since 2017) has the odd distinction of having the most foul territory of any MLB field, and by a large margin.

• Golden State Warriors (NBA) - Oracle Arena, 7000 Coliseum Way adjacent to O.Co Coliseum, connected to Coliseum BART - Golden State Warriors - Once considered a fast-and-loose rules sort of team and the Warriors have proven a more effective and even record-breaking team in recent years. After moving from Philadelphia to San Francisco and the Warriors settled in the East Bay, where the team has won four NBA championships in 1975, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Warriors will be leaving Oakland for Chase Arena in San Francisco after the 2018-2019 season.

Grand Lake Theater Oakland - 125px|The Grand Lake Theater.

• Grand Lake Theater - 3200 Grand Ave 37.8115, -122.247 corner of Grand Ave. and Lake Park Ave. near I-580 - Grand Lake Theatre Grand Lake Theater Oakland - 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.

• The New Parkway Theater - 474 24th Street one block west of Broadway ☎ +1 510 658-7900 - A second-run movie theater and 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 and they serve Pizzas, salads, and soft-drinks that you can eat and drink while you watch a movie.

• Piedmont Theatre - 4186 Piedmont Avenue north end of Piedmont Avenue, at Linda ☎ +1 510 985-1252 - The oldest still-operating theater in Oakland (built in 1917), completely restored and renovated in 2010 shows first-run movies. Saturdays are frequently marked by the showing of art-house and independent films.

• Regal Jack London Stadium 9 - 100 Washington Street one block north of Jack London Plaza ☎ +1 510 433-1325 - Very large theater that shows first run movies, and usually has weekly rebate days that tend to lead to the place being full of kids.

==Just for the kids

• Children's Fairyland - 699 Bellevue Ave 37.809, -122.26 enter via Grand Ave near Lake Merritt ☎ +1 510 238-6876 +1 510 452-2261 - Children's Fairyland - Mixed seasonal hours, almost always open on weekends. Amazing, dynamic playground and destination for children, right on Lake Merritt. Please note that only adults with children can enter. Make sure you get a Magic Key.

• Museum of Children's Arts - MOCHA - 1625 Clay Street 37.8070895, -122.2727412 Clay and 17th St. near San Pablo Ave. ☎ +1 510 465-8770 | Opening Hours: W-F 10AM Monday - 1PM, Saturday Sunday private events only - A hands-on art workshop aimed at kids ages 6-15, covering topics like illustration and architecture and sculpture and even DIY art to wear!

==Study in Oakland

• California College of the Arts - 5212 Broadway 37.8359, -122.25 at College Ave. ☎ +1 510 594-3600 +1-800-447-1278 California College of the Arts - As the name implies, a large art college with a variety of disciplines. One caveat - the school is split into two locations, this listing is for the Oakland campus. The other is in San Francisco.

• The Crucible - 1260 7th Street 37.8047, -122.291 at Union St., two blocks from West Oakland BART ☎ +1 510 444-0919 +1 510 444-0918 Opening Hours: (Office) Monday - Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Friday 10AM Monday - 2PM (Studio), Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 10PM, Saturday Sunday 10AM Monday - 5PM The Crucible (arts education center) - - An industrial arts collaborative offering classes in everything from blacksmithing to welding.

• Laney College | 900 Fallon Street 37.7964, -122.263 between E 8th St. and 10th St. ☎ +1 510 834-5740 - Laney College - South of Lake Merritt, one of the city's two community colleges through the Peralta Community College District.

• Lincoln University - 401 15th Street 37.804794444444, -122.26958055556 at Franklin St. ☎ +1 510 628-8010 +1-888-810-9998 +1 510 628-8012 - Lincoln University (California) - A private university primarily focused on business, offering a modest variety of minors.

• Merritt College - 12500 Campus Dr 37.788811111111, -122.16639166667 off of Redwood Rd. ☎ +1 510 531-4911 - Merritt College - It's high in the Oakland Hills. Merritt is the other Peralta community college in Oakland.

• Mills College | 5000 MacArthur Blvd 37.780555555556, -122.18305555556 near Pierson St. ☎ +1 510 430-2255 - Mills College - An all-women's liberal arts college.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Oakland

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.

• Lakeview Bicycle - 622 Grand Ave 37.8098747, -122.2494068 between El Embarcadero and MacArthur Blvd. ☎ +1 510 251-1422 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM - Locally owned, friendly no-attitude service and reasonable prices.

• Luckyduck Bicycle Cafe - 302 12th Street 37.8017637, -122.2687321 near corner of 12th Street and Harrison Street ☎ +1 510 891-1830 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 8AM Monday - 7PM - Friendly, hip spot to get parts for your ride or grab an affordable sandwiches and tea.

• Manifesto Bicycles - 421 40th Street 37.8284028, -122.2607726 between Shafter Ave. and Webster St. ☎ +1 510 595-1155 | Opening Hours: Monday - Tuesday Thursday - Sunday 11AM Monday - 6PM - Though their inventory is dominated by single-gear bikes and they offer full and quite friendly repair services.

• Pioneer Bike Shop 11 Rio Vista Ave 37.8241933, -122.2549721 between Fairmount Ave. and Piedmont Ave. ☎ +1 510 658-8981 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Wednesday to Friday-Sa 10AM Monday - 5PM, Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM - 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.

• Spokeland - 813 37th St. 37.8266466, -122.2724053 near West St., 1 block south of West MacArthur ☎ +1 510 852-9253 | Opening Hours: Sunday 1PM Monday - 6PM, Tuesday Thursday 6PM Monday - 9PM - A not-for-profit DIY bike workshop that also offers classes and programs for cyclists of any level of experience.

• Tip Top Bike Shop - 4800A Telegraph Ave 37.8348437, -122.2627979 corner of Telegraph Ave. and 48th St. ☎ +1 510 444-4148 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday noon-5PM - Friendly full service bike store and repair shop. Service estimates free, appointments available by phone or email. No weekend appointments.

==Bookstores

• Bibliomania - 1816 Telegraph Ave 37.8079106, -122.2697583 at 19th St. ☎ +1 510 835-5733 +1 510 835-1008 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 5PM - Old-fashioned cluttered and friendly bookstore near the heart of Uptown.

• Black Swan Books 4236 Piedmont Ave 37.8279734, -122.2500019 between Entrada Ave. and Glenwood Ave. ☎ +1 510 428-2881 | Opening Hours: Monday - Tuesday Thursday - Saturday 11AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday noon-6PM - Used bookstore with a Victorian look and shelves full of vintage (and spendy) volumes frequently from the 1930s and earlier.

• The Bookmark Bookstore - 721 Washington Street 37.8005192, -122.2755153 Near 8th St. ☎ +1 510 444-0473 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10:30AM Monday - 5:30PM, Saturday 10:30AM Monday - 3:30PM, Sunday 10:30AM Monday - 2PM - A nice not-for-profit used bookstore associated with the Oakland Public Library.

• East Bay Booksellers - Formerly Diesel | 5433 College Ave 37.8409516, -122.2519449 at Kales Ave. ☎ +1 510 653-9965 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 9PM - A spacious and clean spot that hosts many writers' events from near and abroad.

• European Book Company - 6600 Shattuck Ave 37.8517202, -122.2659425 at 66th St. ☎ +1 510 922-9157 | Opening Hours: Monday Tuesday appt only, West Thursday noon-5PM, Friday Saturday 10AM Monday - 5PM - Specialists in books in languages other than English, predominantly French, German and Spanish; selections from many nations.

• A Great Good Place for Books - 6120 La Salle Ave 37.8263851, -122.2099345 Halfway between Mountain and Moraga ☎ +1 510 339-8210 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday, Saturday 9AM Monday - 6PM, Friday 9:30AM Monday - 7PM, Sunday 9AM Monday - 5PM - Extremely friendly little bookstore in the suburbs of the Oakland Hills.

• Marcus Books - 3900 Martin Luther King Jr Way 37.8291074, -122.2684671At 39th St. ☎ +1 510 652-2344 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday noon-4PM - A branch of the nation's oldest black-owned bookstore, this continues the long-standing tradition. Shelves full of excellent works from authors of color, posters and a consciousness of black history in both Oakland and the nation.

• Owl and Company Bookshop | 3941 Piedmont Avenue Between Montell St. and Monte Vista Ave. ☎ +1 510 788-5821 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 8PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 9PM - A used bookstore with a somewhat Victorian look, and a focus primarily but not exclusively on psychology, philosophy and the occult.

• Pegasus Books - Formerly Pendragon Books - 5560 College Ave ☎ +1 510 652-6259 Opening from Monday to Saturday 9AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 10AM Monday - 10PM - Once a friendly neighborhood used book store, now a trendy hipster chain used book store.

• Spectator Bookstore - 4163 Piedmont Avenue Near Linda Ave. ☎ +1 510 653-7300 | Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 9PM - A small but well-organized used book store that has a variety of subjects available and even sells used DVDs and VHS tapes.

• Walden Pond Books - 3316 Grand Avenue Near Elwood Ave. ☎ +1 510 832-4438 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 10AM Monday - 9PM, Friday Saturday 10AM Monday - 10PM - A large used book store with friendly staff and an absolutely amazing selection.

==Music

• 1-2-3-4 Go! Records - @orecords.com 420 40th St. Ste 5 Between Webster Ave. and Shafter Ave. ☎ +1 510 985-0325 | Opening Hours: Daily noon-8PM - Friendly little store with a wide variety of new vinyl.

• Groove Yard 5555 Claremont Ave. Near Forest & Colby ☎ +1 510 655-8400 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 6PM, Sunday noon-5PM - Old-fashioned record and CD nook - stacked high with boxes of LPs

• Stranded Records | 14 Glen Ave. Near Piedmont Ave. ☎ +1 510 808-5505 | Opening Hours: Daily noon-7PM - Neat hole in the wall store with a surprisingly wide selection of vinyl and nothing else.

• Vamp Vintage Art & Music for the People 331 19th Street Between Webster St. and Harrison St. ☎ +1 510 435-3106 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday noon-6:30PM, Friday noon-7:30PM, Saturday Sunday noon-6PM - Equal parts vintage art and music store, showing many classics and obscure LP covers as well as clothing and household items from the 1960s and 70s.

Shopping centers

Though once a common sight in Oakland, 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.

• Jack London Plaza - 466 Water Street 37.7942, -122.2747 The very end of Broadway at the waterfront ☎ +1 510 645-9292 - Jack London Plaza Oakland Ferry at Jack London - JLS's mix of gentrification, working warehouses, and tourism make it a place to find pricey and stylish restaurants that give San Francisco a run for its money. You'll also find some off beat and interesting fusion restaurants, too.

• Pacific Renaissance Plaza - Main entrance on 9th, between Webster and Franklin - An apartment complex and shopping center at the heart of Chinatown.

• Rockridge Shopping Center 5108 BroadwayAt Pleasant Valley Ave. - 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. Half of the shopping center is under heavy construction, though the half that contains a renovated Safeway among others is open and fully functional.

• Temescal Plaza Corner of 51st St. and Telegraph Avenue Entrance on Telegraph - A friendly little strip-mall that makes a good starting point for those exploring or navigating the neighborhood.

Halal Restaurants in Oakland

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 a hamburger to a full-course meal, you're going to find both and just about everything in between. Though any city would look spartan and lackluster next to San Francisco, Oakland is not found wanting.

Adams Point

• Ahn's Quarter Pound Burgers 439 Grand Avenue corner of Bellevue and Grand ☎ +1 510 763-4328 Opening from Monday to Saturday 8AM Monday - 9PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 8PM Under $10 - Very no-frills Burgers stop that has all the basics and its own parking lot.

• Bacheeso's - 246 Grand Avenue at Park View Terrace ☎ +1 510 891-1496 | Opening Hours: Monday 10:30AM Monday - 4PM, Tuesday to Friday 10:30AM Monday - 9:30PM, Saturday 9:30AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 9:30AM Monday - 7:30PM - A cozy atmospheric spot whose biggest draw are the impressively large lunch buffets and weekend brunches, though they do an early evening weekday "hummus hour" as well.

• Enssaro - 357A Grand Avenue between Elita and Perkins ☎ +1 510 238-9050 | Opening Hours: Monday W-Thursday Sunday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM $10-20 - Come for the Wot and Ye Tibs, stay for the honey soft drinks. Try the combo platters. Vegetarian-friendly. Online ordering. Delivery available.

• Jong Ga House - 372 Grand Avenue north of junction with Elita Ave ☎ +1 510 444-7658 +1 510 444-5274 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday noon-11PM $15-30 - A large menu and excellent service, good if you want Noodles or marinated Meat or want to do all you can eat. Online reservations. Local parking problematic.

• Sidebar - 542 Grand Ave 37.8089394, -122.2507007 across from Lake Merritt Columns, where Grand Ave becomes divided ☎ +1 510 452-9500 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM, Friday 11:30AM Monday - 10:30PM, Saturday 4PM Monday - 10:30PM (bar open one hour later than restaurant) $15-30 - A sizable hip restaurant that serves old favorites in new and interesting ways. Come for the Niman Ranch Burgers and paprika fries and bring friends along for the cocktails.

Chinatown

• Golden Lotus Vegan Restaurant - 1301 Franklin Street corner of 13th St. and Franklin St. ☎ +1 510 893-0383 | Opening Hours: Daily 10AM Monday - 8:30PM Under $20 - A Vietnamese restaurant that does its best to serve 100% vegan and organically-grown dishes on a budget.

• New Gold Medal - 389 8th Street between Webster Street & Franklin Street ☎ +1 510 465-1940 Opening Hours: Daily 7AM Monday - 2AM Seasonal pricing - check menu - 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 Beef is equally good. Excellent lobster, too.

• Shandong Restaurant - 328 10th Street between Harrison St. and Webster St. ☎ +1 510 839-2299 +1 510 839-2299 Opening Hours: Sa-Thursday 11AM Monday - 3PM, 4PM Monday - 9PM, F-Sa 11AM Monday - 3PM, 4PM Monday - 9:30PM $15-30 - Although 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.

• Vien Huong Restaurant 712 Franklin Street between 7th St. and 8th St. ☎ +1 510 465-5938 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30AM Monday - 4PM, Saturday to Sunday 7:30AM Monday - 5PM Under $15 - This is the best restaurant in Chinatown for a mix of Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. Be sure to order a Noodles soup and fish cake(with a sweet and sour salad).

• Battambang Restaurant | 850 Broadway between 8th St. and 9th St. ☎ +1 510 839-8815 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 9:30PM; F-Sa 11AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 5PM Monday - 10PM $15-30 - Delicious Cambodian food in a quiet, clean, casual with white tablecloth environment.

• Spices 3! - 369 12th Street Between Webster St. and Franklin St. ☎ +1 510 625-8889 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10:30AM Monday - 11PM, Saturday Sunday 11:30AM Monday - 11PM $11-30 - Just as the name implies, spicy Szechuan food and hot pot, home of the Gangsta Casserole. Online ordering. Delivery.

Dimond

• Ly Luck 3537 Fruitvale Avenue across the street from Safeway ☎ +1 510 530-3232 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 9PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 9:30PM - Big portions, fair prices.

• Shaan Indian Cuisine - 3434 Fruitvale Avenue between MacArthur and Bienati ☎ +1 510 531-1172 | Opening Hours: Check website Usually under $15 per meal - A small Indian restaurant that delivers. Online ordering.

• Taqueria Los Comales - 2105 MacArthur Blvd near Dimond Ave ☎ +1 510 531-3660 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 8:30PM Under $10 - Small taqueria with fair prices and large portions. Try the wet burritos.

• Tuesday Tai 3 2141 MacArthur Blvd near the junction of MacArthur Blvd and Fruitvale Ave ☎ +1 510 482-6188 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 9PM Under $10 - A small, clean and affordable Vietnamese restaurant with good Noodles dishes and sandwiches. Vegetarian-friendly.

• La Farine Bakery - 3411 Fruitvale Avenue across from Farmer Joe's ☎ +1 510 531-7750 | Opening Hours: Daily 7AM Monday - 6PM - 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.

• Nama - 3400 Fruitvale Avenue streetside, completely enclosed by Farmer Joe's parking lot ☎ +1 510 530-8564 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30AM Monday - 3PM, 4:30PM Monday - 9:30PM; Saturday Sunday noon-9:30PM $15-30 - A full service Japanese restaurant and sushi bar that is a frequent stop for shoppers at Farmer Joe's.

• Southern Cafe - @.com 2000 MacArthur Blvd corner of MacArthur Blvd and Canon Ave ☎ +1 510 336-2013 | Opening Hours: W-Sa 11AM Monday - 9PM, Sunday 1PM Monday - 8PM $11-30 - An up-market soul food spot that serves all the favorites, from fried Chicken to chitlins. Live jazz and buffet Sundays.

Fruitvale

• Los Cocos Salvadorean Restaurant 1449 Fruitvale Avenue between E 15th and Farnham ☎ +1 510 992-4768 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 10:30AM Monday - 7PM, F-Su 10:30AM Monday - 8PM Under $10 - A little hole-in-the-wall that serves up authentic Salvadorean food at excellent prices.

• Mariscos La Costa 3625 International Blvd corner of International Blvd and 37th Ave ☎ +1 510 533-9566 | Opening Hours: Daily 9AM Monday - 5PM $5 or less - 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 Burgers 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.

• Tacos El Gordo 4201 International Blvd Corner of International Blvd and 42nd Ave Opening Hours: Monday 10AM Monday - 2:30AM, Tuesday West 6PM Monday - 2:30AM, Thursday 6PM Monday - 3AM, Friday 6PM Monday - 3:30AM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 3:30AM, Sunday 10AM Monday - 3AM - 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.

• Taqueria San Jose 3433 International Blvd Corner of International Blvd and 35th Ave - Under $10 - Authentic Mexican food, best known for its tacos, salsa and fair prices.

• Two Mammas' Vegan Kitchen - 3700 E 12th Street Ste 1D near 37th, across from Ascend ☎ +1 510 606-0596 | Opening Hours: Thursday - Sunday 10AM Monday - 3PM Under $15 - A friendly little vegan/vegetarian spot for breakfast, lunch or brunch. Full catering, no take-out.

• Guadalajara - 1001 Fruitvale Ave. 37.775575, -122.2273044 ☎ +1 510 533-7294 +1 510 533-7296 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 7AM Monday - 1AM, Friday Saturday 7AM Monday - 2AM $10-25 - 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.

Grand Lake / Lakeshore

• Arizmendi - 3265 Lakeshore Avenue across from Peet's and Trader Joe's ☎ +1 510 268-8849 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 7AM Monday - 8PM Under $15 - A worker-owned bakery well-known for affordable and delicious baked goods and Pizzas.

• Mijori - 3260 Grand Avenue halfway between Lake Park Ave. and Elwood ☎ +1 510 465-8854 | Opening Hours: Lunch: Monday to Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM; dinner: Monday - Thursday 5PM Monday - 9:30PM, Friday 5PM Monday - 10PM, Saturday 5PM Monday - 9PM - One of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. Usually a long wait for a table on the weekend.

• Miss Saigon - 3345 Grand Avenue near Elwood ☎ +1 510 835-3474 | Opening Hours: Monday - Tuesday Thursday - Sunday 11AM Monday - 11PM - Great family-run Vietnamese restaurant with good food at good prices, and a ridiculously good organic juice selection. Local delivery, but it's always better fresh out of the kitchen. Online ordering.

• Boot and Shoe Service - 3308 Grand Avenue halfway between Lake Park Ave. and Elwood Ave. ☎ +1 510 763-2668 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 5:30PM Monday - 10PM, F-Sa 5:30PM Monday - 10:30PM, Sunday 5:30PM Monday - 9:30PM - Friendly hipster Italian and pizza restaurant that serves a variety of fruit cocktails, and tends to be packed on the weekends.

• Lin Jia Asian Kitchen - 3437 Lakeshore Ave. corner of Lakeshore and Mandana ☎ +1 510 835-8322 | Opening Hours: Daily 11:30AM Monday - 9:30PM $10-20 - A nice, well-decorated little Chinese spot that's good for lunch or dinner. Online ordering.

• Michael Mischer Chocolates - 3352 Grand Avenue near Elwood Ave. ☎ +1 510 986-1822 Opening from Monday to Saturday noon-9PM, Sunday noon-7PM - Incredible gourmet Chocolates and gelato.

• Neecha (Thai) - 3236 Grand Avenue near Lake Park Ave and Santa Clara Ave ☎ +1 510 451-9419 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 3PM, 5PM Monday - 10PM, Saturday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 11:30AM Monday - 9:30PM $11-30 - A spacious, quiet spot with low lights and good service. Vegetarian-friendly. Catering. No substitutions. Online reservations.

Jack London Plaza

• Home of Chicken and Waffles - 444 Embarcadero West between Broadway & Franklin, on the junction ☎ +1 510 836-4446 | Opening Hours: Monday - West 10AM Monday - midnight, Thursday 10AM Monday - 1AM, Friday Saturday 10AM Monday - 4AM, Sunday 9AM Monday - midnight $10-20 - The best Chicken and waffles in the Bay Area. Cheap, open late, good drink specials (though the organic juice & is pretty standard, nothing to get excited about), it's a local institution. A diner style decor, lots of televisions (some tables even have televisions), and wonderful, attentive service. Full catering.

• Chop Bar - 247 4th Street #111 at 4th & Alice ☎ +1 510 834-2467 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 8AM Monday - 10PM, Friday 8PM Monday - 11PM, Saturday 9AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday 9PM Monday - 10PM $20-40 - A gathering spot for meat-eaters, based on a West African concept of the same name - it is a bit pricey for what is offered, but the quality of the Meat is excellent. Full catering menu.

• Dyafa | 44 Webster Street Corner of Webster and Water, next to Heinold's ☎ +1 510 250-9491 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, Saturday to Sunday 11AM Monday - 2:30PM, Tuesday - Saturday 5:30PM Monday - 10PM, Sunday - Monday 5:30PM Monday - 9PM $20-40 - A friendly, picturesque spot with fine geometric tiles and a menu from the Middle East and a touch of North Africa.

• Forge Pizzas - 66 Franklin Street #100 - GPS: Corner of Franklin and Water ☎ +1 510 268-3200 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 9:30PM, F-Sa 11AM Monday - 10:30PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 9PM $20-40 - A vision of bare hardwoods and a menu of neopolitan features both with Meat and without as well as a respectable list of sandwiches and salads.

• Plank - 98 Broadway Large building at North end of the Plaza ☎ +1 510 817-0980 +1 510 817-0984 Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - midnight (Age 21+ after 9PM) $30-40 - An unusual mixture of bowling alley, bocce court, pizza and sandwiches restaurant and cocktail bar, all rolled into one.

• Kincaid's Bay House - 1 Franklin Street south edge of Jack London Plaza ☎ +1 510 835-8600 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 2:30PM, Monday - Thursday 3PM Monday - 9:30PM, Friday Saturday 3PM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 3PM Monday - 9PM; Lounge Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 11PM $25-65 - The east bay location of this national chain of seafood and steakhouses. A nice dining room that makes Scott's Seafood look old and stuffy. They also have a great happy hour where frugal foodies can pig out on seafood and finger foods every evening in the restaurant. Online reservations. Virtual tour.

• Scott's Seafood Grill & Bar - 2 Broadway south of main entrance to Jack London Plaza ☎ +1 510 444-3456 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday 10AM Monday - 9PM $40 and up - 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

• Caffè 817 - caffe817@ 817 Washington Street inside the Ratto & Co. Building ☎ +1 510 271-7965 +1 510 271-0778 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30AM Monday - 5:30PM, Saturday Sunday 8:30AM Monday - 3PM Under $10 - Stylish Italian caffè where patrons line up patiently for capuccini, chorizo & eggs, polenta, fresh fruit granola, panini sandwiches & salads. Online ordering. Delivery.

• The Fat Lady - 201 Washington Street corner of Washington & 2nd St. ☎ +1 510 465-4996 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM, Saturday 9AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday 9AM Monday - 3PM $20-40 - 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 list. They also have brunch. Banquet services available.

• Le Cheval - 1007 Clay Street between 10th and 11th Streets ☎ +1 510 763-8495 +1 510 763-7610 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 9PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 9:30PM, Sunday 4PM Monday - 9PM $15-30 - Asian fusion cuisine spot. Online reservations.

• Seison Restaurant & Lounge - 495 10th Street inside the Washington Inn Hotel ☎ +1 510 832-7449 +1 510 452-4436 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30PM Monday - 9PM $20-40 - Seafood, some American standards and a full bar, very atmospheric. Private events space available. Reservations available.

• Tamarindo Antojeria Mexicana - 468 8th Street between Washington St. and Broadway ☎ +1 510 444-1944 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 3PM, 5PM Monday - 9:30PM, F-Sa 11AM Monday - 3PM, 5PM Monday - 10PM - Mexican tapas.

• Delage - 536 9th Street 37.801914, -122.2755167 corner of Clay and 9th ☎ +1 510 823-2050 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 5:30PM Monday - 9:30PM $70 prix fixe - A small Japanese spot that does nightly omakase (chef's choice) with seasonal local ingredients. Reservations recommended. Online reservations.

Piedmont Ave

• Simply Greek - 4060 Piedmont Ave. between Glen Ave. and the 41st St. junction ☎ +1 510 428-0588 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 8PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 9PM Under $10 - A small gyro and souvlaki spot with very large portions and a flavorful menu. Try any of the gyros, and bring your appetite, especially when ordering the aptly-named Titan. Free Wi-Fi. Catering services available.

• Baja Taqueria - 4070 Piedmont Ave ☎ +1 510 547-2252 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM $15-30 - 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.

• Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - 4162 Piedmont Avenue between 41st St. and Linda ☎ +1 510 655-7180 | Opening Hours: Seasonal hours, see website $15-25 - 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.

• Fentons Creamery and Restaurant - 4226 Piedmont Ave ☎ +1 510 658-7000 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 11PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - midnight $5-15 large sundae or entree - 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.

• Judoku Sushi - 3314 Piedmont Avenue near Broadway, not far from Pill Hill ☎ +1 510 645-1912 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 10PM; Saturday to Sunday 5PM Monday - 10PM $20-40 - A small, simple venue with dim lights and exceptionally friendly and attentive service. Look for the daily specials on sushi and none-alcoholic drinks.

• La Farine Bakery - 4094 Piedmont Ave ☎ +1 510 420-1777 | Opening Hours: Daily 7AM Monday - 6PM - 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.

• Shimizu Sushi - 4290 Piedmont Avenue between Glenwood Ave & Echo Ave ☎ +1 510 653-7672 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 9:30PM; Friday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 10PM; Saturday noon-10PM; Sunday noon-9:30PM - A small sushi house with a wide range of choices for specialty sushi, as well as more standard Japanese fare. Popular with local residents, family friendly, and laid back.

• Xyclo - 4218 Piedmont Avenue at Entrada Ave. ☎ +1 510 654-2681 | Opening Hours: Daily noon-2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 10PM $25-30 - Trendy Southeast Asian fusion restaurant.

• Commis - 3859 Piedmont Avenue near Piedmont Ave and Rio Vista Ave ☎ +1 510 653-3902 +1 510 653-8902 Opening Hours: W-Sa 5:30PM Monday - 9:30PM, Sunday 5PM Monday - 9PM $60 and up - Swanky, cramped spot well-known for their sommelier service and often-incredible combination of flavors. Online reservations.

• The Wolf - Formerly Bay Wolf - 3853 Piedmont Avenue Near Rio Vista and Piedmont - 2 doors NE of Kaiser's parking lot ☎ +1 510 879-7953 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 9PM, F-Sa 5PM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 5PM Monday - 9PM $50 and up - A cozy and well-lit and ventilated place for French-American haute cuisine.

Rockridge

• À Côté - 5478 College Ave ☎ +1 510 655-6469 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 5:30PM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 5:30PM Monday - 11PM - Charming small portion French meals in great ambiance. Online reservations. Private event space available.

• Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers - 5819 College Avenue near Chabot Rd. ☎ +1 510 601-0444 | Opening Hours: Seasonal hours, see website - 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!

• Cactus Taqueria - 5642 College Avenue between Ocean View Dr. & Shafter Ave. ☎ +1 510 658-6180 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 9PM - A muslim-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.

• The Chocolates Dragon Bittersweet Cafe & Bakery - 5427 College Avenue near Kales Ave. ☎ +1 510 654-7159 +1 510 654-7059 Opening Hours: Sunday - Monday 8:30AM Monday - 6:30PM, Tuesday - Thursday 8AM Monday - 8PM, Friday 8AM Monday - 9:30PM, Saturday 8:30AM Monday - 9:30PM - A small cafe that specializes in all things Chocolates. Relaxing atmosphere.

• La Farine Bakery - 6323 College Avenue between Alcatraz and 63rd St. ☎ +1 510 654-0338 | Opening Hours: Daily 7:30AM–7PM - 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.

• Noodles Theory - 6099 Claremont Avenue corner of Claremont and College Aves ☎ +1 510 595-6988 | Opening Hours: Daily 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 9:30PM - Asian fusion food is a must-see for the trendiest in California cuisine.

• Ramen Shop | 5812 College Avenue ☎ +1 510 640-5034 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 5pm-10:30pm Friday 5pm-Midnight Saturday 11am-3pm 4-Midnight Sunday 11am-3pm 4pm-10:30pm $20 per person without drinks. - Well-crafted Ramen bowls with flavorful broth. Typically includes at least one Vegetarian option. Excellent cocktail café. Can be crowded during evenings.

• Soi4: Bangkok Eatery - 5421 College Avenue between Kales Ave. and Manila Ave. ☎ +1 510 655-0889 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM, Saturday Sunday 5:30PM Monday - 10PM - Expansive selection of dishes at affordable prices especially given prompt service, simple and pleasant ambiance, solid by the glass list. A weeknight favorite. Seafood items among strongest on menu. Online reservations. Space for large groups.

• Zachary's Chicago Pizzas - 5801 College Avenue CORNER of College Ave. and Oak Grove Ave. ☎ +1 510 655-6385 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 10:30PM $ - 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

• Cholita Linda | 4923 Telegraph Ave. across from Temescal Plaza ☎ +1 510 594-7610 | Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 10PM Under $15 - Friendly little place well-known for their fish tacos and mix and match frescas.

• Pizzas Nation - 4919 Telegraph Avenue near 49th Street ☎ +1 510 658-7788 | Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 10:30PM Usually under $25 - Cheap pizza that boasts a delivery area that includes Oakland, Alameda, Emeryville and Albany. Online ordering and delivery.

• Bowl'd BBQ - Bowl'd BBQ Korean Stone Grill - 4869 Telegraph Ave. near 48th St. and Telegraph Ave. ☎ +1 510 654-2000 | Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 10PM $15-30 - Nice, modern Korean barbecue, best remembered for their bibimbop and fried Chicken.

• Myanmar Superstar - 4721 Telegraph Ave. between 47th St. and 48th St. ☎ +1 510 652-2900 | Opening Hours: Daily 11:30AM Monday - 3PM, Sunday - Thursday 5PM Monday - 10PM, F-Sa 5PM Monday - 10:30PM $11-30 - A cozy restaurant that does proper Burmese cuisine, as well as several Chinese and (Thai) dishes. Vegetarian-friendly, no reservations. Catering available.

• Doña Tomás - Restaurante Doña Tomás - 5004 Telegraph Avenue near 51st St. and Temescal Plaza ☎ +1 510 450-0522 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 5:30PM Monday - 9:30PM; Friday 5:30PM Monday - 10PM; Saturday 9:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5:30PM Monday - 10PM; Sunday 9:30AM Monday - 2:30PM - A rare Mexican restaurant that serves brunch, and authentic mole Sauce and huitlacoche. Online reservations.

• Kansai 4345 Telegraph Avenue between 44th Street & 43rd Street ☎ +1 510 658-7273 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 2AM, Sunday 11:30AM Monday - midnight - Extensive sushi menu and good service. Has their own private parking lot - a rare sight in Oakland.

Upper Telegraph

• Mai Banh Mi 6601 Telegraph Avenue corner of Telegraph and 66th ☎ +1 510 788-5755 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 7PM Under $10 - A friendly Vietnamese place that specializes in banh mi - Vietnamese sandwiches, as well as some light standard entrees. Online ordering for pickup.

• Cafe Colucci - 6427 Telegraph Avenue between Alcatraz Ave. and 65th St. ☎ +1 510 601-7999 | Opening Hours: Daily 8AM Monday - 10PM $15-30 - 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.

• Nude Sushi - 6228 Telegraph Avenue between 62nd and 63rd ☎ +1 510 547-6833 Opening from Monday to Saturday 5PM Monday - 3AM $15-30 - This small dinner Japanese place does delivery only until 3AM, six days of the week.

• Saysetha (Thai) Cuisine 6230 Telegraph Avenue South of Alcatraz Ave. near 63rd ☎ +1 510 653-2837 | Opening Hours: Daily 11:30AM Monday - 3PM, 5PM Monday - 10:30PM $10-20 - A small (Thai) restaurant with simple decor, fair prices and a massive menu. Take-out orders welcome.

Uptown

• Lotus Falafel & Shawerma - Lotus.2015@ 377 19th Street near 19th St. and Franklin St. ☎ +1 510 444-0900 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10:30AM Monday - 3PM Under $15 - A friendly place specializing in shawerma and Middle-Eastern food. Full catering menu.

• The Lunch Box - 1720 Franklin Street between 19th Street and 17th Street ☎ +1 510 836-0703 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 3:30PM Under $10 - A little lunch spot not far from the Financial District that does salads, sandwiches and wraps on the cheap. Catering available.

• Suya African-Caribbean Grill - 408 22nd Street between Broadway & Webster St. ☎ +1 510 465-7892 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 4PM Under $10 - A small spot specializing in soul food skewers. Wi-Fi available. Many items

• Taiwan Bento - 412 22nd Street near Franklin Street curve ☎ +1 510 250-9858 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 10AM Monday - 8PM Under $15 - Comfy spot that does Taiwanese and Chinese cuisine in bento boxes, also noodles. Online ordering. Delivery by third party. Catering.

• Brown Sugar Kitchen - 2295 Broadway Near corner of 23rd and Broadway ☎ +1 510 839-SOUL | Opening Hours: W-Sa 7AM Monday - 2PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 2PM $20-35 - Once the pride of West Oakland, now located at the edge of Uptown with the same soul food specialties that they served for a decade prior to their move.

• Flora - 1900 Telegraph Avenue at 19th ☎ +1 510 286-0100 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 5:30PM Monday - 9:30PM, F-Sa 5:30PM Monday - 10PM (Dinner), Saturday (Bar) 2:30PM Monday - 5:30PM (Brunch), Saturday to Sunday 10AM Monday - 2:30PM $20-40 - Expensive upscale art deco restaurant with an impressive cocktail and list. It's named Flora because it used to be a flower shop. Have a pre-dinner cocktail at their bar next door, Fauna. They also offer a Vegetarian special (Flora) and a Meat based special (Fauna), eat evening.

• Luka's Taproom & Lounge - 2221 Broadway at W. Grand Ave. ☎ +1 510 451-4677 | Opening Hours: Sunday - West 11:30AM Monday - midnight, Thursday - Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 2AM $20-35 - Excellent food with a great selection of Belgian Ales, a small dance floor in a separate room, and a swimming swimmingpool table in the back. Popular for lunch and happy hour during the work week, and brunch on the weekend. Space for private events.

West Oakland

• 10th & Wood - corner of 10th Street and Wood Street ☎ +1 510 645-1955 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 4PM, Saturday Sunday 8:30AM Monday - 4PM Under $15 - A cozy little cafe that offers New American breakfast and lunch fare all day. Full catering menu. ☎ ordering.

• Pretty Lady 1733 Peralta Street between 17th Street & 18th Street ☎ +1 510 832-1213 Opening from Monday to Saturday 7AM Monday - 2PM Under $15 - Go for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Korean American diner with a friendly staff. Old-fashioned U-shaped counter and bar stools.

Etc.

• Champa Garden 2102 8th Avenue between 21st Street & 10th Street ☎ +1 510 238-8819 | Opening Hours: Lunch 11AM Monday - 3:30PM daily; dinner Monday - Thursday Sunday 5PM Monday - 9PM, Friday Saturday 5PM Monday - 10PM - 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).

• Lake Chalet - 1520 Lakeside Dr between 14th and 17th ☎ +1 510 208-5253 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 10PM, Friday Saturday 10AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday 10AM Monday - 10PM $15-35 - Fantastic seafood and Steak in an elegant dining room overlooking Lake Merritt. When the weather is warm you can obtain lunch or happy hour outside on the pier. While lunch can be casual and they have decent seafood. The list is rather generic, but they do have their own local soft drinks. You can also take a gondola ride around the lake. Online reservations. Space for private parties.

• Mua - 2442a Webster Street at Broadway, near 25th St. ☎ +1 510 238-1100 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 5:30PM Monday - 11PM, Friday 11:30-3PM, 5:30-midnight, Saturday 5:30PM Monday - midnight, Sunday 5PM Monday - 10:30PM - 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. Note - due to heavy construction in the area, parking is more difficult than usual.

• Pho 84 - 354 17th Street Near corner of 17th and Webster ☎ +1 510 832-1338 | Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 3PM, 5PM Monday - 9PM; Friday 11AM Monday - 3PM, 5:30PM Monday - 10PM; Saturday 12PM Monday - 3PM, 5:30PM Monday - 9:30PM Moderately priced. - Some of the best Vietnamese food in town, served in a subdued atmosphere. The pho bo and carpaccio are definitely worth trying.

• Quinn's Lighthouse Restaurant & Pub - @QuinnsLighthouse.com 1951 Embarcadero East in Embarcadero Cove Marina ☎ +1 510 536-2050 +1 510 535-1285 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 9PM; Friday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 10PM; Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM; Sunday 11AM Monday - 9PM $20-40 per meal - A nautically-themed restaurant offering a variety of dishes ranging from Meat and Pastas to fresh seafood in a rebuilt lighthouse dating to the earliest days of the 20th century. Drinks served at the attached pub upstairs. Online reservations.

• Souley Vegan - 301 Broadway corner of Broadway & 3rd ☎ +1 510 922-1615 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 11AM Monday - 10:30PM, Friday Saturday 11AM Monday - 11:30PM, Sunday 10AM Monday - 3PM $10-15 - A famous foodie spot, it's one of the only vegan soul food restaurants in the nation. Yes, that's right - vegan soul food! Popular with local residents and they serve local organic juice on tap, have a full bar, and play soul music as you enjoy your eats. The lentils are delicious and the tofu BBQ, too! Full catering available.

==Pubs

• Ben and Nick's Grill - 5612 College Avenue between Keith Ave & Ocean View Dr ☎ +1 510 923-0327 | Opening Hours: Bar: 11:30AM Monday - 2AM daily; kitchen: Sa-Thursday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM, Friday 11:30AM Monday - 11PM $15-30 - Often-visited for their considerable organic juice list and well-stocked menu.

• Cato's Ale House - 3891 Piedmont Avenue near Montel Street ☎ +1 510 655-3349 | Opening Hours: Bar: Monday - Thursday,Sa 11:30AM Monday - midnight, Friday 11:30AM Monday - 1AM, Sunday 11:30AM Monday - 10PM; kitchen: Sa-W 11:30AM Monday - 10PM, Thursday - Friday 11:30AM Monday - 11PM $10-30 - A local pub that would look at home in nearly any century, with a long list of both local brews and quality imports.

• Commonwealth Cafe & Pub - 2882 Telegraph Avenue Telegraph and 29th St. ☎ +1 510 663-3001 Opening from Monday to Saturday 10AM Monday - 11PM, Sunday 10AM Monday - 9PM $15-30 - Good pub food with a fresh twist, microbrew soft drinks on tap, and cafe. Soccer matches broadcast.

• The District - 827 Washington Street between 8th Street and 9th Street ☎ +1 510 272-9110 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 4PM Monday - close, Saturday 5PM Monday - close; brunch: Saturday to Sunday 11AM Monday - 2:30PM $20-40 - A friendly pub that serves brunch and dinner, in addition to Cheese, and whiskey.

• Luka's Taproom & Lounge - 2221 Broadway at W. Grand Ave. ☎ +1 510 451-4677 | Opening Hours: Sunday - West 11:30AM Monday - midnight, Thursday - Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 2AM $20-40 - Excellent food with a great selection of Belgian Ales, a small dance floor in a separate room, and a swimming swimmingpool table in the back. Check website for daily specials.

• McNally's Irish Pub - 5352 College Avenue between Bryant Ave & Manila Ave ☎ +1 510 655-3929 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Tuesday 2PM Monday - 2AM, W-Sa noon-2AM Under $15 - A standard Irish Pub in Rockridge.

• The Trappist - @TheTrappist.com 460 8th Street half a block from Broadway, in Old Oakland ☎ +1 510 238-8900 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday noon-12:30AM, F-Sa noon-1:30AM - Large selection of both Belgian-style and soft drinkss. Knowledgeable staff and good bottle selections for the road.

==Bars and late night restaurants

• The Alley 3325 Grand Avenue between Lake Park Ave & Santa Clara Ave ☎ +1 510 444-8505 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Monday 6PM Monday - midnight, Tuesday - Saturday 4PM Monday - 2AM - Sing along with pianist Rod Dibble as he plays the oldies. One of the last piano bars in town.

• Bar Three Fifty-Five 355 19th Street between Franklin and Webster ☎ +1 510 451-3355 Opening from Monday to Saturday 4pm-2AM, Sunday 8PM Monday - 2AM - Prohibition-era atmosphere bar with early-20s clientele, reasonable prices.

• Cafe Van Kleef - 1621 Telegraph Avenue between 16th and 17th ☎ +1 510 763-7711 | Opening Hours: Monday 4PM Monday - 2AM, Tuesday to Friday noon-2AM, Saturday to Sunday 6PM Monday - 2AM - 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.

• George Kaye's | 4044 Broadway at 41st ☎ +1 510 547-9374 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 2PM Monday - midnight, Saturday to Sunday 2PM Monday - 1AM $ - A neighborhood dive, full of interesting characters behind and above the café. Allows dogs and food from the outside.

• Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon - 48 Webster Street 37.793756, -122.274646 Near Jack London Plaza ☎ +1 510 839-6761 | Opening Hours: Monday 3PM Monday - 11PM, Tuesday - Thursday Sunday noon-11PM, F-Sa noon-1AM Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon Heinold’s First and Last Chance 2007 - An old-fashioned saloon, dating all the way to the 1880s, purported to have been a frequent stop for a young Jack London.

• Kona Club - 4401 Piedmont Avenue at Pleasant Valley Ave. ☎ +1 510 654-7100 | Opening Hours: 2AM Monday - 2PM daily $15-30 - Enjoy a tropical drink in this tiki bar, and lift up the grass skirt on the anatomically correct hula girl statue.

• The Layover - The Layover Music Bar & Lounge - 1517 Franklin Street between 15th and 17th ☎ +1 510 834-1517 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5PM Monday - 1:45AM, Saturday 8PM Monday - 1:45AM, Sunday special events only - A small, cozy lounge with frequent live music and a variety of mixed drinks.

• The Libertine 3332 Grand Ave ☎ +1 510 735-9073 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 4PM Monday - 2AM, Saturday to Sunday 2PM Monday - 2AM $15-25 - Low lights and interesting art compliment the wide drinks selection at this spot opened in 2016.

• Radio 435 13th Street three doors from Tribune Tower ☎ +1 510 451-2889 | Opening Hours: Daily 4PM Monday - 2AM - A small hipster bar with a cool DJ. Shares an all-red lighting scheme (and an owner) with the Ruby Room. House cocktails are considerably more complex than you would expect, including early 20th century drinks, and most are worth trying.

• Ruby Room 132 14th Street between Madison & Jefferson, across from Central Library ☎ +1 510 444-7224 | Opening Hours: 4PM Monday - 2AM daily - A larger bar with a similar ambiance to the Radio Bar (with which it shares an owner), this includes a swimming swimmingpool (billiards) room.

• The Uptown Nightclub - 1928 Telegraph Avenue near 19th Street ☎ +1 510 451-8100 | Opening Hours: Hours vary by event. Price varies - Though named a nightclub and they do serve drinks, it's dominantly a performance venue for bands or singers of just about any kind of music.

• White Horse Bar - 6551 Telegraph Avenue two blocks north of Alcatraz, at 66th Street ☎ +1 510 652-3820 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 3PM Monday - 2AM, Saturday to Sunday 1PM Monday - 2AM - Friendly bar in North Oakland, beware of the $25 minimum charge when paying with a credit card. Frequent stop for karaoke and live music.

• Yoshi's - 510 Embarcadero West around the junction from Regal Jack London ☎ +1 510 238-9200 | Opening Hours: Dinner: Monday - West 5:30PM Monday - 9PM, Thursday - Saturday 5:30PM Monday - 10PM, Sunday 4PM Monday - 9PM; happy hour: Monday to Saturday 4:30PM Monday - 6PM - Though they serve sushi and none-alcoholic drinks and 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.

==Coffee, tea and chocolate

• Caffè Chiave | 4045 Piedmont Avenue between 40th Street & Glen Ave. ☎ +1 510 658-2744 | Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 8AM Monday - 10PM, F-Su 8AM Monday - 11PM Under $15 - An old-school Italian coffeehouse that does all-day breakfast and desserts right from the old country.

• The Coffee Mill 3363 Grand Avenue corner of Grand and Elwood ☎ +1 510 465-4224 | Opening Hours: 7AM Monday - 3PM daily $15-30 - 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.

• lord's Caffe Espresso 4150 Piedmont Avenue near 41st St. ☎ +1 510 658-2877 Opening from Monday to Saturday 6:30AM Monday - midnight, Sunday 7AM Monday - midnight - A nice neighborhood coffeehouse that is usually crowded, also has an old organ for a countertop.

• Hive The Place To Be 2139 MacArthur Blvd near Fruitvale Ave ☎ +1 510 482-4483 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 4PM, Saturday to Sunday 8AM Monday - 4PM Under $10 - A smart little breakfast and sandwiches shop with many gluten-free options. Free wifi.

• 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.

• Peet's Financial District 1111 Broadway ☎ +1 510 844-0061 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 7AM Monday - 4PM
• Peet's Dimond 3401 Fruitvale Ave ☎ +1 510 842-0203 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 6AM Monday - 7PM, Sunday 6:30AM Monday - 6PM
• Peet's Lakeshore 3258 Lakeshore Ave ☎ +1 510 832-6761 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30AM Monday - 8PM, Saturday 6AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 6:30AM Monday - 8PM
• Peet's Latham Plaza 1615 Broadway ☎ +1 510 842-0203 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 7AM Monday - 7PM, Sunday 8AM Monday - 2PM
• Peet's Montclair 2066 Antioch Ct ☎ +1 510 339-6075 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30AM Monday - 8PM, Saturday 6AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 6AM Monday - 7PM
• Peet's Piedmont Ave. 4050 Piedmont Ave ☎ +1 510 655-3228 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30AM Monday - 8PM, Saturday to Sunday 6AM Monday - 8PM
• Peet's Temescal 5095 Telegraph Ave. Suite #1 ☎ +1 510 899-6230 Opening from Monday to Saturday 5:30AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 6:30AM Monday - 7PM
• Perch - Formerly Grand Lake Coffee House - 440 Grand Avenue near the junction of Grand and Bellevue ☎ +1 510 922-1507 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7:30AM Monday - 5PM, Saturday to Sunday 8AM Monday - 5PM Under $15 - A friendly little coffeehouse, complete with hand-painted shades and a play area for kids.

• Timeless Coffee - 4252 Piedmont Avenue near Glenwood Ave ☎ +1 510 985-1360 | Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 7AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday to Sunday 8AM Monday - 7PM $11-30 - An upscale coffeehouse and bakery known best for brunches and hand-made vegan pastries.

Muslim Friendly hotels in Oakland

• Bay Breeze Inn - 4919 Coliseum Way 37.7639041, -122.2156528 near 50th Ave. ☎ +1 510 536-5972 +1 510 536-0107 Around $80/night - No frills.

• Best Western Airport Inn and Suites - 170 Hegenberger Loop 37.735784, -122.194970 near Edgewater Dr. ☎ +1 510 633-0500 +1-800-780-7234 +1 510 633-1040 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: 11AM $120-170 - In an industrial neighborhood. Free breakfasts. Very clean and professional.

• Econo Lodge Inn & Suites | 10 Hegenberger Road 37.7274142, -122.2003948 near Doolittle Dr. ☎ +1 510 635-1892 +1 510 635-1292 $80-100 - High-speed Internet, continental breakfast and swimmingpool on a budget. Free shuttle to and from Oakland Airport.

• Motel 6 - Embarcadero - 1801 Embarcadero 37.7841063, -122.2444407 near 16th Ave. ☎ +1 510 436-0103 +1 510 436-7428 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $80-110 - Surprisingly pricey for a budget motel chain.

• Quality Inn Oakland Airport - 8471 Enterprise Way 37.7421057, -122.1933053 near 85th Ave. ☎ +1 510 562-4888 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $100-120 - Free buffet breakfast and Coffee, swimmingpool and hot tub.

• Courtyard Oakland Airport - 350 Hegenberger Road 37.7351277, -122.19699780000002 ☎ +1-510 568-7600 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $220-260/night - The hotel offers airport shuttle service for easy access to and from the Oakland International Airport. Free Internet available throughout the lobby and in all guest rooms. The Bistro serves breakfast, dinner, fruit cocktails and and Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) Coffee.

• Courtyard Oakland Downtown - 998 Broadway 37.8008222, -122.2729941 at 9th St. ☎ +1 510 625-8282 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $200-250 - Steps from BART subway, traveling to San Fran in minutes. Property offers: outdoor pool, fitness center, & 3 meeting rooms.

• Executive Inn & Suites - 1755 Embarcadero 37.785111, -122.2454196 south of I-880, near Embarcadero Cove ☎ +1 510 536-6633 +1 510 536-6006 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $220-275 - Waterfront-side executive-class hotel, as the name implies. Choice of waterfront or city view. Complimentary breakfasts and Wi-fi. Full space for meetings and banquets. Free shuttle service to Jack London Plaza and Oakland Airport. Outdoor heated swimmingpool and Jacuzzi with waterfront view.

• Hilton Oakland Airport - 1 Hegenberger Road 37.7283517, -122.2026923 at Doolittle Dr., near Oakland Airport ☎ +1 510 635-5000 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $200-250 per day - Parking is $11.75, no valet. Full access to computers, fax and copiers 24 hours daily. Attached sports bar with 13 HDTVs. Fitness center, heated outdoor pool. Breakfast buffet. Shuttle service to Oakland Airport as well as the Coliseum and the Oracle Arena for sports or performance events. Frequent rebates depending on date of stay - book online to check.

• Holiday Inn & Suites - Oakland Airport - 77 Hegenberger Road 37.7292247, -122.2013651 near Airport Access Rd. ☎ +1 510 638-7777 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $200-220 - Airport shuttle service and a swimming pool.

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - @Oaklandhiexpress.com 66 Airport Access Road 37.726055, -122.1985663 at Doolittle Dr. ☎ +1 510 569-4400 +1-877-833-0605 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $180-220 - Good, nice business-class hotel with a lot of amenities.

• The Washington Inn - 495 10th Street 37.8018277, -122.2739506 corner of Washington and 10th St. ☎ +1 510 452-1776 +1 510 452-4436 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $150/night and up - Old-fashioned-looking hotel and restaurant near Old Oakland. Self parking with fee. Business center and complimentary newspapers. Cable TV, complimentary wifi.

• Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel - 1717 Embarcadero 37.7860196, -122.2465217 south of I-880, near 16th Ave. ☎ +1 510 356-2450 +1-800-780-7234 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: 11AM $250-310 - Waterfront view.

• Homewood Suites by Hilton Oakland-Waterfront - 1103 Embarcadero 37.7882194, -122.2531225 near 10th Ave. ☎ +1 510 663-2700 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $280-420 - An all-suite, extended stay hotel with fully-equipped kitchens. Complimentary hot breakfast daily, dinner with organic juice and Monday - Thursday, and high-speed Internet. Pets allowed, with fee.

• Oakland Marriott Downtown - 1001 Broadway 37.8022136, -122.2729121 at 11th St. ☎ +1 510 451-4000 +1 510 835-3466 $300-400 - Central location. Onsite restaurant, fitness center and heated swimming pool. Access to downtown shuttle system.

• The Waterfront Hotel | 10 Washington Street 37.7950406, -122.2785426 facing the main entrance to Jack London Plaza ☎ +1 510 836-3800 +1-888-842-5333 +1 510 832-5695 Check-in: 3PM / Check-out: noon $400 and up - Large hotel with a nautical theme, swimming swimmingpool and enclosed restaurant.

Stay Safe

Crime

Oakland has some problems with both property and violent crime, especially toward the eastern part of the city. 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. At the same time and there is no reason to be paranoid, just judicious. 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 or East Oakland at night.

Telecommunications in Oakland

The area code for Oakland is 510. You only need to dial the seven-digit phone number for calls within the city. For calls within the U.S. or Canada, dial 1+area code+number, and for international calls, dial 011+country code+city code(if applicable)+number. Pay phones are getting less and less common with the increasing popularity of mobile phones. Unfortunately, broken phones and empty phone booths are also a common sight. When you do find one, keep in mind that they only take coins and phone cards with a dial-to-use number. Local calls start at $0.50.

Internet access is available for free or with a fee in cafes and coffeehouses in several neighborhoods throughout the city, most notably the Financial District, Piedmont Avenue and Rockridge. Internet cafes, though once a common sight in Oakland, have dwindled down to nothing. The best option for finding free Wi-fi Internet is to find one of the larger hotels, one of the branches of the Oakland Public Library, or one of the more well-known coffeehouses especially and Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) or Peet's.

Cope

Parks

Parks are a common sight in Oakland, ranging from the small green with attached baseball field to the large wilderness of Redwood or Joaquin Miller in the hills. They are therefore easy to find, and if one needs some time away from the hustle and bustle of city streets and traffic, especially in the case of Lake Merritt and they may be a short walk away.

==Newspapers in Oakland

• The Catholic Voice - A newspaper, as the name implies, aimed at the city's Catholic residents.

• De Lauer's Super News Stand 1310 Broadway between 13th St. & 14th St. ☎ +1 510 451-6157 Opening Hours: Daily 5AM Monday - 11PM - Downtown's source for publications from around the world.

• The East Bay Express - A free newspaper distributed throughout the East Bay, as the title implies.

• The East Bay Times - A newspaper consolidated from the Oakland Tribune and the Daily Review of Hayward and the Contra Costa Times and the Fremont Argus.

• Issues - 20 Glen AveAt Piedmont Ave. ☎ +1 510 652-5700 Opening Hours: Daily 11AM Monday - 7PM - A magazine store that covers just about everything that can be imagined in magazine form.

• The Joint Forces Journal - $13/6 months, $25/year - A privately produced newspaper primarily with the armed forces in mind.

• The Montclarion - A free newspaper associated dominantly with Montclair and Piedmont Ave.

• Oakland Post - Free "The largest African American weekly newspaper in Northern California" is one of a group of minority-run professional newspapers in the region.

Smoking

As with the rest of California, tobacco-friendly venues are very rare in Oakland. State labor laws prohibit smoking in places of employment with only a few exceptions. Hotel lobbies may have a smoking section, and many hotels and motels have rooms and areas specifically for smokers. There are a handful of tobacco shops in the city, and the laws permit smoking in places such as privately-owned casinos and bingo halls and such, but by and large, smoking in public is very rarely permitted.

• The Piedmont Tobacconist - 17 Glen Avenue near Piedmont Ave. ☎ +1 510 652-7473 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Friday 10AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 5PM - A rare sight in the Bay Area, a full-service tobacconist. Very friendly service, and a large range of choices of cigars and pipes, and will even show you how to roll your own cigarettes.

• 19th Street Station 339 19th Street near 19th Street BART ☎ +1 510 893-1919 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday noon-8PM - A rare sight in the Bay Area, a bar that allows smoking. Limited hours.

Travel Next

• San Francisco. Oakland's neighbor across the Bay. (NOTE: Bridge tolls are paid crossing into San Francisco, not exiting it.)
• Berkeley (California) | 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 west, 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.

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