36 places worth visiting

Old-school ice cream shop where the sundaes are oversized and the candies are actually good

Books, cocktails, and the occasional chess match on Grand Avenue

Martini dive bar slinging hot dogs until 2 a.m. on weekends

Burgers worth planning your night around

Plant-based spot on Telegraph that actually changes its menu twice daily

Oakland's longtime East African spot that tastes like home

Sandwiches that feel like a world tour, made in North Oakland

Employee-owned brewery where the beer rotates faster than the DJ

Old Oakland charm meets serious craft beer

Oakland's brewery with serious beer and proper outdoor vibes

The kind of deli where regulars know their sandwich before they order

Italian sandwiches built from Acme bread and Boar's Head provisions

Mac and cheese that actually makes you feel at home

Sichuan heat and numbness without the plane ticket to Chengdu

No-frills Shandong cooking that won't break the bank

The dim sum spot that made everyone stop looking elsewhere

Twenty years of homestyle desserts that actually live up to the hype

Mexican cooking that honors ancestors and feeds the community

Mid-century dinner party energy in the heart of Grand Lake

Asian American pastries that taste as good as they look

Smashburgers with sideshow energy in West Oakland

Over a century of handmade ice cream and the kind of place that feels like home

Piedmont Avenue's California-American spot wrapped in Steven Anderson color

Fine dining that actually feels like dinner with someone you want to know

100+ vendors, endless Saturday morning energy, actual food for your actual life

Oakland's gather spot for eating, drinking, and real community moments

Margaritas and seasonal Mexican food in Jack London's only proper backyard

Hand-rolled bagels that taste like New York but taste like Oakland

One sandwich, infinite reasons people line up at 11am

Lactose-free ice cream with flavors that actually make sense together

Chef Rico's Grand Avenue kitchen trades trends for actual technique

Italian seafood done right, in a dining room that actually lets you taste your food

Wood-fired pizzas that hit different, open till midnight

Coffee, plants, and a whole lot of wellness in Cleveland Heights

Coffee, cocktails, and small plates in a neighborhood sweet spot

Local coffee and pastries from RoastCo and Starter Bakery on Piedmont Ave