Oakland Resources
HOTELS
Claremont Club and Spa (41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley. Tel: 510-843-3000 or 888-560-4455. Doubles $283-$359. www.fairmont.com/claremont-berkeley) is the areaโs luxury leader, with an entrance in Berkeley but pure Oakland, set in the Oakland Hills and boasting a hotel full of art, nice spa, and wonderful restaurant.
Marriott Oakland Marriott City Center (1001 Broadway. Tel: 510-451-4000 or 800-291-9434. Doubles $175-$422. www.marriott.com) lives up to its name with its super-convenient location right in the heart of downtown Oakland, with the services and amenities youโd expect from this hotel chain.
Waterfront Hotel (10 Washington St. Tel: 510-836-3800 or 888-842-5333. Doubles $189-$269. www.jdvhotels.com), a boutique hotel right on Jack London Square, echoes the color of the boats in the harbor with the nautical coloring in the comfy rooms overlooking the Alameda/Oakland estuary.
The Claremont Club
Photo: Courtesy Claremont Club Hotel & Spa
DINING
Belotti (5403 College Ave. Tel: 510-788-7890. www.belottirb.com) offers some of the best Italian food youโre likely to find in a refined but comfy setting.
Cafรฉ Colucci (6427 Telegraph Ave. Tel: 510-601-7999. www.cafecolucci.com) is a comfy little spot with a uniquely spicy and comforting Ethiopian menu.
Cholita Linda (4923 Telegraph Ave. Tel: 510-594-7610. www.cholitalinda.com) offers a pan-Caribbean menu that packs in the locals to this vibrant spot in the Temescal neighborhood.
Cosecha (907 Washington St. Tel: 510-452-5900. www.cosechacafe.com) lives up to its name (which means harvest) with freshly-prepared Mexican food in a casual Swanโs Market location.
Drakeโs Dealership (2325 Broadway. Tel: 510-569-2739. www.drinkdrakes.com/dealership), in a former car dealership (huge patio too), offers a great pizza selection and fun atmosphere.
Limewood (41 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley. Tel: 510-549-8585. www.limewoodrestaurant.com), like the hotel in which itโs housed, is one of the best in the area, featuring creative cuisine and farm-sourced ingredients.
Miss Ollieโs (901 Washington St. Tel: 510-285-6188. www.realmissolliesoakland.com) dishes up Caribbean favorites including their wonderful herbed fried chicken in a corner of Swanโs Market.
Nido (444 Oak St. Tel: 510-444-6436. www.nidooakland.com) is a winning Mexican place thatโs attracting a lot of attention for its fresh and creative food.
Nyum Bai (3340 E. 12th St. Tel: 510-500-3338. www.nyumbai.com) offers Cambodian street food from noodles to rice dishes in a causal little spot in Fairlawn.
Rockridge Food Hall (5655 College Ave. Tel: 510-250-6000. www.rockridgemarkethall.com) is the spot for everything from coffee and pastries to wine, cheese, pasta, and prepared foods.
Shakewell (3407 Lakeshore Blvd. Tel: 510-251-0329. www.shakewelloakland.com) is a hugely popular (and queer-owned) spot right near Lake Merritt for brunch, dinner, and/or drinks.
COFFEE/SWEETS/SMALL BITES
Cole Coffee (6255 College Ave. Tel: 510-653-5458. www.colecoffee.com) is a friendly neighborhood spot in Rockridge.
Cro Cafรฉ (470A 49th St. Tel: 510-658-6839. www.thecrocafe.com), located in Temescal Alley, is a tiny cafรฉ devoted to making great coffee.
Firebrand Artisan Breads (2343 Broadway. Tel: 510-594-9213. www.firebrandbread.com) has everything from amazing pastries to great breads, coffee drinks, and original beverage concoctions.
Julieโs Coffee and Tea Garden (4316 Telegraph Ave. Tel: 510-346-5336. www.juliestea.com) serves organic coffee in the warm wood-hued interior or the pleasant courtyard out back.
La Boulangerie (5500 College Ave. Tel: 510-350-8332. www.laboulangeriesf.com) is a relaxing place to grab a sandwich, pastry, or coffee in the comfy interior or on the large patio.
Michael Mischer Chocolates (3352 Grand Ave. Tel: 510-986-1822. www.michaelmischerchocolates.com) has a variety of top-notch chocolates from lavender/honey to marzipan or root beer.
Red Bay Coffee (2327 Broadway. Tel: 510-922-9798. www.redbaycoffee.com) serves coffee drinks from a refashioned shipping container in the middle of a bustling urban courtyard.
Slojoy Coffee Roasters (1528 Webster St. www.slojoy.com), tucked into the entryway of an office building, is a place to sit and watch the world go by as you sip.
Taraโs Organic Ice Cream (4731 Telegraph Ave. Tel: 510-923-1567. www.tarasorganic.com) presents a huge variety of offbeat (and familiar) flavors โ and oh, those sesame cones!
Timeless Coffee (4252 Piedmont Ave. Tel: 510-985-1360. www.timelesscoffee.com) has a great selection of pastries and light bites in addition to their coffee drinks.
NIGHTLIFE
Club 21 (2111 Franklin St. Tel: 510-268-9425. www.club21oakland.com) is the cityโs dance club, a Latin-flavored spot with such fab weekly events as Fridayโs Latin Explosion and Saturdayโs La Bota Loca.
Hella Gay Dance Party (at the Uptown, 1928 Telegraph Ave. www.hellagaydanceparty.com) happens on the third Saturday of the month and welcomes partygoers from all points on the LGBTQ spectrum for an evening of sexy fun.
Port Bar (2023 Broadway. Tel: 510-823-2099. www.portbaroakland.com) is filled with local queer-themed art and offers everything in the front room and back lounge from trivia nights to drag queen performances to midnight happy hours.
Ships in the Night (www.facebook.com/shipsinthanight) presents a variety of events and parties, all to benefit local queer causes.
White Horse Bar (6551 Telegraph Ave. Tel: 510-652-3820. www.whitehorsebar.com), thought to be the oldest gay bar in the U.S., has been around since at least 1933 and is a friendly neighborhood spot for cocktails or events like Epic Karaoke and a โwomen, queers, comedyโ night.
ACTIVITIES
Chabot Space and Science Center (10000 Skyline Blvd. Tel: 510-336-7300. www.chabotspace.org) makes a great stop when visiting Joaquin Miller Park and youโll lovc the space-themed exhibits in this science center.
Oakland Museum of California (1000 Oak St. Tel: 510-318-8400. www.museumca.org) explores the unique world that is California through history, science, and art.
Postcard Scavenger Hunt (www.streetsalad.co) is one of the best ways to really experience the city, with a fun and knowledgeable guide to bring you to a series of hidden treasures from which you can send your own, very Oakland postcards.
INFORMATION
The best source for information on the city is www.visitoakland.com.
