Downtown Oakland - Oakland, CA Area Guide

Lake Merritt, abutting the eastern portion of Downtown Oakland, used to serve as a central source of water for the Huchuin community of people, who occupied the area for thousands of years. In the late 1700s, Spanish colonists took the land from the natives and established a small town in it, deeming it "Contra Costa," or the opposite coast, as Oakland faces San Francisco across the waters of the bay.

Oakland grew significantly throughout the years, exploding with shipbuidling and canning in World War II. The city became recognizable as the Oakland of today once the wartime industry withdrew. Since the 1950s, Oakland has grown as a post-industrial city focused on community organization.

Folks interested in the city's history of activism have a home in the African American Museum and Library, and art fans love the annual Art & Soul event, showcasing Oakland's diverse visual art scene.

Many upscale restaurants dot the landscape in downtown Oakland. A glorious array of ethnic cuisines abound, representing many of the ethnic communities found in the East Bay. A dense urban area, downtown Oakland features no one place to find food; wander down any of its streets and find one of Oakland's many culinary treasures.

Tambo 's menu sports many traditional Peruvian dishes, an array of simple barbecued or pan-fried meats with potatoes or yucca, a starchy root. Patrons return time and time again for the ceviche, a traditional Peruvian dish of fish cooked in a lime-chili juice bath.

Belly practices what it calls "the art of street tacos," with a menu chock-full of classic comfort food bites wrapped up in corn tortillas. Customers love the restaurant for its trademark pork belly. Waiters recommend the steak and eggs taco for breakfast lovers, and for anyone looking to move past the titular dish.

Folks hoping to stay out on the town past sundown find no dearth of options in downtown Oakland. Thirsty locals are never far from a watering hole, and many flock to the Layover Music Bar & Lounge for a beer, cocktail and dancing. Patrons know the Layover to get packed at night, so visit Penelope, a craft cocktail bar, for a fine drink and a quieter atmosphere. Live music fans flock to the Fox Theater, a 1,500-capacity renovated theater built in 1928.

Residents walk around the relatively small neighborhood with ease. Wide sidewalks and generous crosswalks give the impression that planners constructed this neighborhood for walking. Drivers access the area by car easily, but parking proves difficult. The I-980 and I-880 freeways run along the edges of downtown Oakland and take no more than five minutes to reach by car from any part of the neighborhood.

Hailing a cab proves little problem in downtown Oakland, and smartphone users can schedule a ridd with Uber at any time as well.

Alameda Country Transit (colloquially known as AC transit) serves the area with seven different bus lines that congregate around the 12th Street BART Station.

Bikers use bike lanes on several of the streets in downtown Oakland, and while there are designated biker spaces, the dense urban traffic poses a hazard regardless.

Downtown Oakland contains a few open public spaces, including Frank Ogawa Plaza, Snow Park and the western portion of Lake Merritt. Visitors come to Frank Ogawa Plaza to simply enjoy the fresh air outside of downtown Oakland's many high-rises. All of Downtown Oakland's park attractions cost nothing to visit.

Snow Park features an unusual site: a small golf course and putting green, giving urban dwellers a chance to practice their stroke and putt. A small grove of trees shades golfers from the East Bay sun, and the proximity to Lake Merritt gives visitors a wonderful view.

Lake Merritt attracts visitors with its 3.4 mile running and walking path around the circumference of the lake and with its boat rentals. Visiting the park costs nothing, and basic classes for boating and kayaking start at $20. While both kid- and dog-friendly, the families ought to keep an eye on their loved ones and furry friends because of the large body of water. Outdoor exercise facilities exist on the edge of the lake. Love Our Lake Day occurs annually every summer, with food vendors and live music.

Downtown Oakland residents pay $2,300 for a one-bedroom apartment, a number that runs higher than the city average. The cost of living jumps in the confines of downtown Oakland, as the neighborhood caters to many high-income businesses and workers. One ride on the bus will cost $2.10, and the BART costs depend on the distance traveled.

A beer at one of the local pubs costs $4-5, and gas prices run about 14 percent more than the national average.

Shops surround the Latham Square area, selling mostly locally made products. Several high-end boutiques exist in Downtown Oakland, including SoleSpace, a combination art gallery and retail shop for fans of designer footwear. Visitors and residents alike flock to the Oaklandish clothing store, selling T-shirts sporting a distinctive design with the company name imprinted on it. Archer Bicycle caters to the local cycling community with distinctive a la carte service—if you want a brand-new bike or just some help tuning your brakes, Archer Bicycle can help.

Nature's Best Foods serves the area's grocery needs. While its selection may not rival national grocery chains, Nature's Best draws customers with its fresh, organic produce. Local farm-lovers patronize the Old Oakland Farmers' market, held every Friday from mid-morning to early afternoon.