Piedmont Avenue - Oakland, CA Area Guide

Oakland originated from the large Spanish parcel know as Encincal, which translates into "oak grove." The city incorporated in 1854, growing quickly from the transcontinental railroad connections that popped up over the next couple decades.

The streetcar arrived along Piedmont Avenue in 1904, starting a boom that combined with San Francisco residents fleeing the great earthquake of 1906. The region's growth continued as Oakland became a large industrial center and port city. Oakland began its decline after World War II, losing ship-building and auto-manufacturing jobs. Residents began moving farther away with the addition of freeways in the 1960's, but Piedmont Avenue still retains a lot of its original character.

The area lacks museums, but contains many art galleries. The Piedmont Avenue Stroll presents an art walk every third Thursday of the month, featuring many local and regional artists and musicians.

Piedmont Avenue hosts an annual Halloween Pumpkin Festival featuring a children's parade, games, and free pumpkins. Spring also brings the Piedmont Avenue Tulip Festival, providing floral shows, art exhibits and live music.

Piedmont Avenue includes one of the most vibrant restaurant scenes in Oakland. The nightlife caters to a relaxed atmosphere, as locals come to grab a drink with friends rather than party all night.

Recognized as one of the best restaurants in the East Bay, Commis serves high-end cuisine from award-winning chef James Syhabout. The changing prix fixe menu includes such items as calf’s liver with parsley, oyster with mousse of tea leaves, and bourbon eucalyptus truffle. Dinner costs $95, or $160 including wine pairing.

Geta's great sushi and cheap prices makes it one of the most frequented Japanese restaurants in Oakland. The spiny tuna roll delights, and the rainbow roll, with tuna, shrimp, salmon and crab, is a local favorite. With the restaurant's small size and no reservations, expect a long wait before you're seated.

Fenton's Creamery has been an East Bay institution since 1894. Even when eating a full meal, be sure to leave room for one of the large signature sundaes, whch are best when shared.

The Kona Club attracts locals to this humble tiki lounge nightly. Bring a date and share one of their cocktail bowls, like a Kona or scorpion bowl in an island-themed setting.

George Kaye's on Broadway attracts a younger crowd. People enjoy the no frills atmosphere and the stiff pours at this local dive bar. Happy hour runs from 3-6 p.m., featuring a shot of Jim Beam and a PBR for $6.

Residents choose Piedmont Avenue because of its walkable nature. The neighborhood developed before the advent of the car, making parking hard to find. Expect most spaces to be metered or permitted. Cyclists enjoy a bike friendly atmosphere, with many dedicated bike lanes, shared lanes and bike racks.

AC Transit serves the neighborhood with bus routes running along Broadway, Pleasant Valley Avenue and Piedmont Avenue. Residents can walk to the MacArthur BART station, which grants rail access across the Bay Area.

Taxis do not largely frequent the neighborhood, but cabs station themselves nearby at the MacArthur BART station. Uber, Lyft and other ride-share companies service Piedmont Avenue.

Piedmont Avenue doesn't accommodate any park space, but residents can access many opportunities within 1 mile of the neighborhood. Many locals take their morning walk though historic Mountain View Cemetary, designed in 1863 by New York's Central Park landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead. Mosswood Dog Park provides pet owners a convenient, but small area to let their dogs roam.

Lake Merritt attracts recreationists as one of the area's landmark parks. A lagoon converted into a lake in 1870, the green space around the water contains Children's Fairyland — a huge and imaginatively designed playground — as well as a boating center, a 3-mile jogging trail and gardens representing various climates.

Overall, the cost of living in Piedmont Avenue is 11.8% greater than the Oakland average.

Taking AC Transit buses to downtown Oakland via Broadway costs $2 with a Clipper card. Riding BART from the MacArthur station to Oakland City Center costs $1.85. San Francisco can be reached by BART for $3.50.

Expect to spend a little more for most goods and services within Piedmont Avenue, but many value stores surround the neighborhood. Rent in Piedmont Avenue averages to $1,995 for a one-bedroom apartment. The cost of a beer ranges from $3 to $7.

Compared to the national average, gas prices in Oakland cost about 40 cents per gallon more, which is 10 cents more than you'd pay in Piedmont Avenue.

Piedmont Avenue features many small businesses that retain an independent character. The Rare Bird sells vintage goods and one-of-a-kind artisan products. Shoppers enjoy a wide variety of locally sourced jewelry, home decor and artwork. The Rare Bird also hosts art classes that teach creating in many different mediums. One of the last remaining magazine shops, Issues provides an extensive list of periodicals from around the world. Expect to find hundreds of publications from smaller interests that rarely make it to the newsstand. The Shops At The Ridge at Broadway and Pleasant Valley Avenue provides retail shopping opportunities, including a Safeway supermarket. Piedmont Grocery provides a wider selection of produce, meat, beer and fresh food than most grocery stores, but at a slightly higher price. The Kaiser Permanente Farmers Market hosts a small bazaar every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but locals prefer the nearby Grand Lake Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with its larger offerings of produce, artists and prepared food.