Best Neighborhoods to Live in Oakland - Local Guide
By Sean Creamer on February 19, 2024
If you are considering moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, you have plenty of great cities and towns to check out.
Yet if you want to remain close to San Francisco, but have easy access to cities like Fremont and Hayward, then you should set your sights on Oakland, California. This East Bay city is the third largest in the Bay Area and has the biggest port in Northern California.
But many people buying homes in California move to Oakland because of the warmer, sunnier weather, artistic culture, and great job opportunities. It also helps that Oakland residents are just a BART ride away from the rest of the Bay Area.
To give folks a layout of the city, below is a beginner's guide to some of the best neighborhoods in Oakland.
Best Neighborhoods in Oakland, CA
- Rockridge
- Claremont Hills
- Adam’s Point
- Lakeshore
- Piedmont Avenue
- Downtown Oakland
- Castlemont
- Jingletown
Rockridge
If you want to remain close to sweeping nature preserves but still have an easy commute, you should check out Rockridge. The Grove Shafter Freeway cuts through the area, leading adventurers and day-trippers to the Temescal Regional Recreation Area and the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.
As you head towards the mountains and pass Upper Rockridge, you'll see large single-family homes on big plots of land in neighborhoods with hilly, winding streets. Closer to College Avenue, the area's commercial district, you can find condo units in multi-family buildings near the Rockridge BART station.
College Avenue is where you will find locals doing their grocery shopping, as there is a Trader Joe's, a Safeway, and a slew of boutique clothing and art stores. Between these stores, you can find plenty of great restaurants and coffee shops to frequent.
The Rockridge Cafe is a neighborhood mainstay, serving up American fare since the early 1970s. But you can find great Thai food at Yimm Oakland, and for dessert folks head over to Boba Guys Rockridge.
Claremont Hills
Those who need astounding views of the San Francisco Bay to start their day should check out Claremont Hills.
This neighborhood sits on the edge of Oakland and Berkeley, nestled against the mountain wilderness. This hillside enclave features homes built to take advantage of the incredible views in the area, with giant floor-to-ceiling windows that brighten up the house with each sunrise and sunset.
Folks who love spending time outdoors make the trip to Claremont Hills to explore the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve and trails in the Telegraph Canyon. But if you do not like hiking for your nature fix, you can hang out at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley to take in their flora collection. Panoramic Hill is another beautiful nearby location, which even has a redwood tree preserve.
When it comes to shopping, there is a Safeway on Claremont Avenue, but otherwise, residents trek out to College Avenue near UC Berkeley for groceries and other needs.
Homes for sale in Claremont Hills
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On the northern shores of Lake Merritt is Adam's Point, a scenic neighborhood that is right near the heart of Downtown Oakland.
Most of the homes in the area are condos in three-to-four-story buildings. But there are single-family Craftsman and Spanish Revival-style homes for sale as well.
This neighborhood is perfect for folks working around the Bay Area as the 19th Street Oakland BART station is just a few blocks away in Downtown. If you commute throughout the East Bay, you can hop on the 580 Highway, which creates the neighborhood's western border. But you do not need to leave the area to have a great time.
Grand Avenue is where Adam's Point comes alive, and folks head here to get a cup of espresso at the 1888 Coffee Station at Bachessos, then enjoy a day in the expansive Lakeside Park. This park offers visitors a chance to explore a traditional Japanese Bonsai Garden, the 10-acre Children's Fairyland amusement park, and the Lake Merritt Boating Center.
After an exciting day on the shores of Lake Merritt, locals jockey for dining space at Enssaro Ethiopian or MAMA Oakland, two popular restaurants near the park.
Homes for sale in Adam’s Point
Lakeshore
Across from Adam’s Point, on the other side of the 580, you will find the tranquil streets of Lakeshore. This hilly part of the city rises up from the shores of Lake Merritt, providing homeowners with wonderful views of Downtown Oakland and the San Francisco Bay.
Lakeshore is right on the border of Piedmont, and many residents spend their off time playing tennis at the Oakland Davie Tennis Stadium. On the hot and sunny days, you can find folks lounging in the shade of Oak Grove Park on the other side of the neighborhood. Shopping is centralized on Lakeshore Avenue, right by the 580, so it is easy to grab groceries from Trader Joe’s before heading home for the day.
On the weekend, you will commonly find people taking in an evening or afternoon movie or show at the historic Grand Lake Theater, then grabbing some vegan BBQ cuisine at Vegan Mob, a popular restaurant on Lakeshore Ave.
Piedmont Avenue
If you seek a quiet neighborhood near the heart of Downtown Oakland but removed from the hustle and bustle, you should check out Piedmont Avenue.
This quiet neighborhood features curving roads, sizable single-family homes, and several parks where locals unwind after work. Morcom Rose Garden on Oakland Avenue is a favorite haunt, as roses and other flowers flank the scenic walkways of this park.
Yet Piedmont Avenue is not just quaint streets and bucolic parks. Piedmont Avenue is the main commercial corridor where residents head out to shop. Fenton's Creamery, Timeless Coffee, and The Lodge are local favorites for grabbing a bite between shopping. In the evening, you can find folks hanging out at The Lodge for a beer or sitting down for dinner at The Wolf, an upscale French restaurant.
Oakland's oldest theater, the Piedmont Theater, is a mainstay of the community, drawing movie-goers from all over the Bay Area to take in a matinee on the weekend.
Homes for sale in Piedmont Avenue
Downtown Oakland
High-rises and skyscrapers dominate the landscape of Downtown Oakland, which stands tall against the backdrop of the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.
Flanked by Lake Merritt on one side and the Oakland Estuary on the other, this unique district is the city's beating heart. Commuters take the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to the junction of the 880 and the 980 highways to reach Downtown, making this a busy commercial hub.
While the economy works nonstop, there are plenty of pastimes for locals to enjoy in Downtown Oakland. Folks looking for a night out on the town usually see a concert at the historic Fox Theater, then hit Telegraph Avenue to frequent a cocktail lounge or nosh on a burger at the Shake Shack Oakland.
During the heat of the day, you can find folks at the Oakland Ice Center or grabbing a bite at The Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill on the shores of Lake Merritt. You can also find plenty of downtown regulars hanging out at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater, which is around the corner from the Oakland Museum of California.
Homes for sale in Downtown Oakland
Castlemont
While some folks commute to San Francisco daily for work, many must travel south throughout the East Bay. Luckily, places like Castlemont in Oakland take the stress out of commuting.
The neighborhood is near the 580, making it easy to skip the local traffic if you're heading to Fremont or farther south to San Jose. When folks are not making the trip out of town, you can find them hanging out in the shade at the Oakland Zoo or nearby Knowland Park, where there is a slew of hiking trails.
Most of Castlemont is residential, but nearby neighborhoods like Foothill Square have shopping centers to get your retail therapy in. After shopping, many people travel to MacArthur Boulevard to grab a bite at Ben's Burger or a quick pick-me-up snack from Happy Donuts.
Jingletown
Oakland is an exciting city, as it is an industrial powerhouse for the California economy. Yet there are pockets thriving with of local arts and culture.
One of the best places to find that unique streak in Oakland is the Jingletown neighborhood. Right by the Oakland waterfront, near Alameda Island, Jingletown is an artistic community that survived many rezoning efforts.
Now, the Jingletown Arts & Business Community works to preserve the arts scene, small businesses, shops, and restaurants that make the streets and business district of Jingletown come alive. Two bridges connecting to Alameda make it easy for locals to come and go between the island, where folks will hang out on Park Street to grab food or a cup of coffee.
The 880 separates Jingletown from the Fruitvale neighborhood, where there is a BART train station for folks who commute for work or just need an easy way to explore the rest of the Bay Area or a quick ride to the Oakland Arena.
