Lynn - Oakland, CA Area Guide

The neighborhood of Lynn, a former settlement of Alameda County, became a part of Oakland in 1872. Oakland developed gradually in the 1800s as the Central Pacific Railroad laid rail in the area to what’s now the Port of Oakland. General Motors opened a large automobile factory in Oakland in 1916, which led to Oakland’s reputation as “the Detroit of the West.” Today, Oakland continues to grow as a metro center with new, forward-thinking developments.

Lynn does not house museums of its own, but residents like to take trips to Lake Merritt to see the Camron-Stanford Victorian mansion. The Oakland Museum of California also attracts visitors who want to learn about California’s history. Art centers, such as the Creative Growth Arts Center, sponsor galleries and encourage growth in Oakland’s arts scene. Many festivals and events, like the Oakland Art & Soul Festival, draw crowds year-round to Oakland.

Lynn, a tiny neighborhood, doesn’t provide much in terms of restaurants, bars and nightlife within its area. However, Lynn's residents can travel outside the neighborhood to nearby Lake Merritt and downtown Oakland to taste some of the culinary delights. Various types of Asian cuisine and Latin food dominate the restaurant fare around Lynn, though a few renowned cafes have sprung up in recent years.

One place Lynn's locals like, Borinquen Soul, operates as a food truck that travels all around the Bay Area. When it stops in Lynn, residents come out to enjoy the authentic Puerto Rican food. Taste empanadillas, plantains and Puerto Rican rice to get to know the island’s cuisine. To try genuine Caribbean food outside of New York and the islands themselves, catch up with the food truck when it travels around Oakland.

Locals who want to continue with the empanada trend like Haddon Hill Café by Lake Merritt. Unlike Borinquen Soul, you can enjoy a beef empanada with a specialty coffee or tea, such as an almond milk latte. Try gluten-free muffins, or get brave and taste an alfajor, a Spanish confection. Taste the organic dairy products and relish in an anything-but-typical neighborhood café.

For Asian food, East Oakland residents stay in their area to eat at Kainbigan Restaurant. Kainbigan serves Filipino classics, like lumpia, chicken adobo rice and garlic noodles. Vegans and vegetarians have options at Kainbigan, where cooks modify the meat dishes for them. Try a turon, a wrapped fried banana and jackfruit dipped in a glaze, to end the meal on a high note.

When you want to drop into a bar for a drink, follow the locals to the Parkway Lounge for a glass of beer at this typical neighborhood dive bar where everyone can play pool on the two billiards tables. Another dive bar, Baggy’s By The Lake in Lake Merritt, attracts patrons with its friendly atmosphere and staff.

Most Lynn locals go to downtown Oakland to dance at clubs like The Layover Bar & Music Lounge, while others prefer to visit music venues in the city center. Jazz fans, in particular, like to kick back and relax to the tunes at The Sound Room. Popular clubs like Yoshi’s regularly put on shows by national headliners.

Lynn’s small size makes it a fairly easy neighborhood to walk in. Most locals can walk to Highland Hospital if need be. Bicyclists can get to their homes in Lynn, but only the major thoroughfare of MacArthur Boulevard has a bicycle lane. Therefore, bicyclists should take caution while riding around Lynn.

Since most commercial activities located outside Lynn require driving, locals prefer to use that form of transportation. Drivers can use Interstate 580 to get where they need to go in just a short amount of time. They can park easily in the area, though parking at the hospital may be difficult depending on how busy it becomes.

Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District buses run through Lynn with a few bus lines, so locals have that option when they need to get to downtown Oakland without a car. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) passes by, but residents have to get off at the nearest stop of Lake Merritt. Residents also have the option of hailing a cab or using Uber and Lyft.

Lakeside Park, Lake Merritt’s premier park, attracts hundreds of visitors from Oakland and the surrounding Bay Area communities every day. For a $5 all-day parking fee, people can enter the park and let their children play on the playground while they enjoy the lake. The Bonsai Garden and Japanese Garden show off the plant life in Oakland, and the Children's Fairyland keeps kids busy for hours. Bring your dogs, but keep them on leashes.

The free Diamond Canyon Park, located close to Highway 13, may be a better option than Lakeside Park for those who want to exercise. Hikers can follow a trail through the park and walk along Sausal Creek to get their heart rates up. Take a rest and have a picnic at one of the picnic sites in the park.

Most festivals in Oakland take place in the downtown area rather than the parks, but stick around the Lynn and Lake Merritt neighborhoods for periodic events at Lakeside Park like nature walks. You might be able to learn some bird-watching techniques.

Living in Oakland has a higher cost of living than the national average, much like most of the San Francisco Bay Area. The average price for a one-bedroom apartment in Lynn costs about $1,700 per month.

The nearest gas station in the area offers gas at a price about 23 percent higher than the national average. Generally, a glass of beer around Lynn and Lake Merritt costs $4.

A ride on the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District buses costs $2.10 for a one-way ticket for most riders. Those younger than 19 or older than 64 can ride for $1. A 31-day pass for the main age group costs $75.

Lynn residents find shopping at a few places in downtown Oakland. Oakland City Center and Jack London Square house a few large retailers, like Walgreens, but mostly locals go to the various gift shops, restaurants and local shops to buy clothes and food. A few boutiques and specialty stores make their home in downtown and Uptown Oakland. Endgame, a massive gaming store, puts on game tournaments regularly and sells a vast array of board and strategy games. Many hobby shop fans set up camp at Endgame to play games all day. Collage Clothing Lounge in Uptown attracts people of all backgrounds who like to find vintage women's clothing and jewelry at decent prices. Locals shop at grocery stores near downtown Oakland, including Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Mithapheap Oriental Food Marketoffers prepared food as well as ingredients you can cook yourself. The Food Mill, a smaller neighborhood store, carries whole grains and other organic food that Whole Foods may not have. The nearest farmers market to Lynn, Grand Lake Farmers Market, sells hummus, olive bread, chanterelle mushrooms and other delicacies. Open year-round, shoppers like to buy produce and other items, like rotisserie chicken and kettle corn.