How To Experience The Culture, Community And Cuisine Of Downtown Oakland

The town of Oakland, California feels huge in comparison to San Francisco. The amount of diversity is incredible. And when I say diversity, I mean diversity in everything from the people and neighborhoods, to the food and bars, to the boutique shops and city staples, and to the art and murals that can be found on any given wall in the city. The fact that the Black Panthers originated here should be indication enough that this is a city rich in history, one that thrives on community, camaraderie and social justice.

Countless impassioned works of art can be seen throughout the downtown area. Stunning murals abound and can be appreciated with nearly every step as you explore the neighborhood. Colorful murals about social issues, race, the love of The Town and more truly set this downtown apart from most in the Bay Area.

The variety of types of cuisine that can be found within any given span a few blocks is likewise evidence to the diversity of those that call Oakland home. From hole-in-the-walls and mom and pop shops, to some of the most popular restaurants in country right now, the food scene here is insane. And remains largely unpretentious, unlike many upscale restaurants in the rest of the Bay Area.

There is so much to see, eat, drink and do in this area! Here is just a little taste of what you can enjoy while here.

Stay

The Moxy Oakland Downtown is a brand new hotel that’s the perfect place to make your home base while in Oakland. Located in the downtown area, it’s right in the heart of the city’s art and entertainment district, surrounded by great restaurants, bars, and art. This super chic hotel offers guests a complimentary cocktail upon check-in at the bar in their fun lobby, of which features unique communal spaces designed for the young millennial crowd.

The attention to detail is worth noting. The design pays homage to the area’s hip, art deco vibes, giving the property an energizing, exciting atmosphere which can be felt the moment you check in. Cozy, thoughtfully decorated rooms with views of the downtown area; a spacious terrace and rooftop space; Bar Moxy in the buzzing lobby and more make this hotel a total winner.

Eat

Created by Top Chef Season 18 Contestant, Chef Nelson German of alaMar Kitchen & Bar, Sobre Mesa is a chic, spirited Afro-Latino Kitchen that offers vibrant, opulent-jungle-vibe interiors, refined cocktails, seasonal cuisine, and lively music. Head here to start your day with a killer, lit brunch that will have you feeling all the good vibes.

The libations and energetic atmosphere are inspired by Chef Nelson’s Dominican roots and African ancestry, with influences from other Latin countries. Sobre Mesa is definitely one of the hottest cocktail bars in Oakland, distinct from others thanks to its cocktail/chef-driven menu—the beverages expertly pair with the delicious variety of tapas offered on the menu. The dishes use local ingredients and flavors and are ideal for sharing with your party! It’s a super fun place to unwind or turn up depending on your agenda.

Mela Bistro Modern Ethiopian Cuisine

If you have yet to experience Ethiopian food, Executive Chef Adiam Tsegaye is here to fix that. Mela Bistro is a charming, cozy restaurant features modern and traditional techniques of cooking that truly showcase the deliciousness of Ethiopian cuisine. Take a seat for beautiful cuisine; hospitable service; incredible food made with Ethiopian herbs and spices and local organic vegetables and produce; and unique libations that include honey wine.

And all the dishes are served with authentic Injera (a thin, sponge bread used to pick up food with your hands). Must-try dishes are the asa kitfo with wild caught sushi grade ahi tuna tartar, seasoned with mitmita, false cardamom, herb infused olive oil, and Himalayan sal; shrimp tibs with sauteed onions, garlic, ginger, berbere, rosemary, and cumin; the vegetarian platter roasted pepper and berbere hummus.

Brown Sugar Kitchen

To satisfy your cravings for indulgent soul food, check out Brown Sugar Kitchen where chef Tanya Holland combines her unique interpretation of soul food with California flair. You can’t go wrong with any of Brown Sugar Kitchen’s dishes, especially when it comes to the buttermilk fried chicken! Other popular items include the catfish po-boy sandwhich, North African spiced oxtails, gumbo and more. Don’t forget to save room for a slice of sweet potato pie!

Oeste Restaurant And Bar

This lively restaurant and bar offers guests something that isn’t all too common in the city—a rooftop bar! The rooftop features a vibrant green wall and succulents, space to drink and dine and the perfect place to watch the sunset. Oeste offers dishes infused with the family’s Latino recipes merged with Southern flavors and cooking techniques. The menu is a melting pot reflecting Oakland’s multi-cultural community. Specialties include cheesy shrimp and grits, crispy fried catfish and beans, whole fish red snapper and the pecan bread pudding.

Drink

Luka's Taproom & Lounge

Luka’s has been a town mainstay since 2004 offering the community a place to enjoy a strong cocktail and modern California cuisine that includes everything from beer battered fish and chips and bbq baby back ribs, to burgers and fries, and sharable plates like the spicy Korean ribs and street cart corn. They have all the classic cocktails and more, including wines and beer in bottles and on tap.

Luka’s is also a huge supporter of the community and with the help of World Central Kitchen provided over 35,000 meals from April to December of last year to help those in need during the pandemic. Moreover, they currently use money raised from various charitable efforts to help support local mom and pop shops stay afloat during this time. As things start to get back to normal, they plan to continue to work closely with Community Kitchen in Oakland which helps to feed the unhoused community in the town and supporting local independent restaurants.

Downtown Wine Merchants

While walking through the murals of downtown, stop by the charming Downtown Wine Merchants for a glass or two of wine and some bites. The wine shop offers over 150 wines in house, 25 by the glass, with eight on tap to minimize their carbon footprint. They pride themselves on a selection of well curated, unique wines and offer custom flights of anything they have open. Order a charcuterie board to enjoy your sips with!

Viridian Bar

Viridian is literally one of the coolest bars in town. You can’t miss it thanks to it’s show-stopping shade of green-blue, which according to its website, “represents our ethos of providing food and drinks in a way that is sustainable to our also green-blue Earth and the people who live on it.”

Creative cocktails range from the sweet White Rabbit with Old Grand Dad Bourbon, White Rabbit Candy, milk oolong, coffee, and pistachio to the spicy Firebird Phuket with Los Vecinos mezcal, mandarinquat, Thai chili, lime, and coconut and everything in between.

They also have a selection of small plates that include desserts, dim sum style treats, and bites inspired by the Asian-American experience. Think crispy rice tuna tartare; chicken wontons katsuo; pork belly skewers; and turnip cake. They have full bar and offer everything from classic cocktails, beer and wine, to sake, zero-proof creations, tea and coffee.

Shopping

One thing I cannot get over is how beautiful curated and thoughtfully designed so many of the boutique shops are in Oakland. From specialty stores to clothing retailers, each one has a purpose, mission, and overall intention that they honor with what they sell, who they cater to, and how it is all presented. Below are some shops I highly recommend that are all within a 5-10 minute drive of the downtown area!

BLK Girls Greenhouse

This is simply the most stunningly hip plant shop ever. This open-air plant and specialty home goods shop is 100% good vibes. Lush plants; unique home and lifestyle goods; jewelry and one-of-a-kind finds; and a top-notch coffee shop nestled within, BLK Girls Greenhouse is the kind of place you literally want to live in. Owned and operated by two Oakland women—Kalkidan Gebreyohannes and J’Maica Roxanne—these incredible woman support and collaborate with fellow POC and Black-owned businesses and inspire conscious shopping and gathering with their unique shop.

Sweet July, McMullen and Dish

For unparalleled, upscale boutique shopping check out Sweet July, McMullen Boutique and Dish Boutique. Sweet July is Ayesha Curry’s “love letter” to the place she calls home, Oakland. This store is filled with thoughtfully curated items from Black-owned brands, as well as products created by Bay Area-based makers. Think home goods, clothes, art, a coffee bar and more.

Founded 2007 by Sherri McMullen, this boutique shop features a stunning collection of luxury womenswear featuring emerging and established designers from around the world. Global fashion with a focus on female empowerment? Yes, please!

Desiree Alexander founded Dish in 1996 and after having locations in both Berkeley and San Francisco decided to make Oakland its newest home. This elegant boutique shop features small-batch designers, curated clothing, and eye catching jewelry and accessories from unique makers. Good to note? Dish donates a portion of sales each month to programs that include Black Girls Code, Hidden Genius Project and East Oakland Collective.

For more information on Oakland, California, click here.