Locals such as Thomas Tsukiyama, an Oakland real estate broker, love to lunch at the counter at Wood Tavern. In the words of one regular, "I'll come for the pastrami sandwich if I am within a ten-mile radius [of the restaurant.]" (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

City to Watch: Oakland Rising

ByAnnie Fitzsimmons
July 09, 2014
13 min read

Oakland is enjoying a moment in the sun right now, as evidenced by a recent spate of media hits and amorous outpourings on social networks. But after Nat Geo photographer Catherine Karnow and I spent time there on assignment, we both left convinced that the city’s ascent isn’t fleeting, but one that will have a long tail, bolstered by a steady stream of colorful shop and restaurant openings and an influx of equally colorful characters seeking lower rents and a less stressful lifestyle.

That being said, I would stop short of calling Oakland “Brooklyn by the Bay.” I live in Brooklyn, and seemingly everywhere I travel lately, I am met with food, clothes, and culture described as the “Brooklyn of…” or “Brooklyn-style”—terms meant to evoke a less touristy, hipster alternative to a major metropolis that has historically been overshadowed by its neighbor.

To be sure, Oakland does offer an antidote to expensive San Francisco and its smaller next-door neighbor, Berkeley. The city’s racial and ethnic diversity also draws apt comparisons to Brooklyn. But, as a local named Emily told us at Cole Coffee in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood, that diversity is unlike anything she’s encountered before.

At Wood Tavern in the Rockridge section of Oakland, Brad Anderson, with his wife Denee, raves about "the best pork chop [he has] ever eaten, served with smoked bacon, potatoes, mushrooms, and a Marsala cream sauce." (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
Outside Wood Tavern in the Rockridge section of Oakland, Brad Anderson raves about “the best pork chop [he has] ever eaten, served with smoked bacon, potatoes, mushrooms, and a Marsala cream sauce.” (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

She pointed across the street, to the stretch of College Avenue between 63rd Street and Alcatraz Avenue. “This block reflects the city’s growth today,” she said. Indeed, independent local-owned shops—a bakery, a beer café, a pizzeria, and, a major draw for foodies, the spirited Wood Tavern, among them—make the block a poster child for the Oakland of today.

Here are four of the trends we witnessed as we explored this sister city on the rise:

> Food Phenoms: Oakland’s Dynamic Restaurant Scene

When Rich and Rebekah Wood left a popular San Francisco restaurant to open Wood Tavern in 2007, they kick-started a food frenzy in Oakland. The classy, warm joint was soon brimming with neighborhood locals and visitors from across the Bay Bridge—commanding attention from the San Francisco fooderati and exploding old stereotypes.

At Juhu Beach Club, owner Preeti Mistry (left) prepares Indian street-food-inspired favorites, such as the Navi Mumbai chicken salad, made with seasonal greens, roasted root veggies, and grilled green chili chicken. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
At Juhu Beach Club, owner Preeti Mistry (left) prepares Indian street-food-inspired favorites, such as the Navi Mumbai chicken salad, made with seasonal greens, roasted root veggies, and grilled green chili chicken. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

Many chefs are following the Woods’s lead, moving in from San Francisco and Berkeley to make their mark on Oakland. In the past three years, more than 200 restaurants have opened their doors in the city. Top Chef contestant Preeti Mistry is at the helm of one of them—Juhu Beach Club, a casual, modern Indian eatery that’s earning rave reviews and repeat visitors.

And you simply can’t talk about the Oakland food scene without mentioning chef Charlie Hallowell, who honed his skills at Berkeley’s legendary Chez Panisse before opening Pizzaiolo. He has since followed up his success there with Penrose and Boot and Shoe Service, but Pizzaiolo remains the star. The Italian hotspot is packed for dinner but also offers up one of Oakland’s best bets for breakfast, with daily pastries like a spicy cheese croissant and cornmeal-raisin scone.

Locals flock to Pizzaiolo for the many different varieties of Neapolitan-style pizza, authentic in its puffy crust and charred in spots. The squid pizza is a favorite. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
Locals flock to Pizzaiolo for the many different varieties of Neapolitan-style pizza, authentic in its puffy crust and charred in spots. The squid pizza is a favorite. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

Camino, with its giant, open room and communal tables, is the labor of love of yet another Chez Panisse alum, chef Russell Moore, who shares ownership and creative vision with his wife, Allison Hopelain. Another early favorite in Oakland, the still-beloved restaurant is known for its emphasis on open-hearth cooking and rustic yet refined dishes.

The vibe is casual at Romney Nani Steele and Steve Day's new California café and wine bar, The Cook and Her Farmer. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
The vibe is casual at Romney Nani Steele and Steve Day’s new California café and wine bar, The Cook and Her Farmer. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

And in Old Oakland, the Friday farmers market continues to be a launchpad for local talent (many of Oakland’s most popular places, like Bakesale Betty and Cholita Linda, got their start here), with current stand-out stall Flour Chylde Bakery serving up delicious gluten-free treats.

Upscale Camino restaurant, whose chef and co-owner Russell Moore cooked at Chez Panisse for more than 20 years, is known for its rustic, ingredient-focused dishes, such as the smoked duck breast and fig salad with carrots, greens, and pounded shiso. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
Upscale Camino restaurant, whose chef and co-owner Russell Moore cooked at Chez Panisse for more than 20 years, is known for its rustic, ingredient-focused dishes, such as the smoked duck breast and fig salad with carrots, greens, and pounded shiso. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

Catherine and I especially loved brand-new oyster bar and café The Cook and Her Farmer. Located in the old Swan’s Market building and accented by natural light and wood tables, this foodie favorite is co-owned by Romney Nani Steele, whose family owns Big Sur darling Nepenthe, and former public school teacher Steven Day. Their unique culinary offerings reflect both of their personalities, blending Steele’s coastal sensibilities with Day’s Memphis-born southern soul.

> The Alter-Napa: Oakland’s Urban Wineries Take Flight

The urban wine landscape has been growing steadily in the Bay area for the past decade, and there are now ten wineries in Oakland, represented by the East Bay Vintners Alliance (EBVA).

Many vintners, like Cerruti Cellars, are taking formerly abandoned spaces and turning them into wine destinations, combating, as Nina Newhouse of the EBVA noted, “the notion that living in a vineyard is the only way to make fantastic wine.” Cheers to that.

> Breaking the Chains: Mom ‘N Pop Retail

It is refreshing and increasingly unremarkable to explore a city without being assaulted by mass-market retail brands. Oakland is one such city.

Lisa Monda tends to Alexander Seeley at the Temescal Alley Barbershop, known for its cool atmosphere, slick and dapper haircuts, and old-school razor shaves.  (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
Lisa Monda tends to Alexander Seeley at the Temescal Alley Barbershop, known for its cool atmosphere, slick and dapper haircuts, and old-school razor shaves.  (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

Shopping local there should start in Temescal Alley. Formerly home to a horse-drawn streetcar line, the narrow street now houses an eclectic mix of jewel-box-size boutiques and eateries along with the popular walk-in-only Temescal Alley Barber Shop.

Walrus, which started as an Etsy outlet before opening up shop here, up-cycles or refurbishes home goods to fabulous effect. And don’t miss Kickstarter-funded Doughnut Dolly, where the fist-sized treats are infused with your choice of filling—like “naughty cream,” fruit jam, and dark chocolate—before being rolled in granulated or powdered sugar.

Mahogany Moton tries on a vintage sweater at Owl N Wood, a new boutique in Oakland's Uptown District.  (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
Mahogany Moton tries on a vintage sweater at Owl N Wood, a new boutique in Oakland’s Uptown District.  (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

It’s worth the trip to head two miles southwest to Uptown, another mom ‘n pop mecca. At Owl N Wood, you’ll find a curated hodgepodge of pieces reflecting the Afro-Scandinavian style of Denmark-born owner Rachel Konte, who worked with Levi Strauss for years as a designer before opening up her own shop.

> Fair-Weather Fun: Out-of-Doors Oakland

When you’re blessed with weather this good (temperatures hover in the 60-70°F range most of the year), it makes sense that much Oakland’s art and culture scene is centered outdoors. The first Friday of each month brings Art Murmur, a grassroots initiative that has grown to include live music and more than 40 galleries that keep their doors open late for the occasion.

A young Jack London, an Oakland native, developed a thirst for adventure while soaking up the atmosphere in Heinold's First and Last Chance. The historic bar, which provided inspiration for scenes in two of London's novels, is known as "Jack London's Rendezvous." (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
A young Jack London, an Oakland native, developed a thirst for adventure while soaking up the atmosphere in Heinold’s First and Last Chance. The historic bar, which provided inspiration for scenes in two of London’s novels, is known as “Jack London’s Rendezvous.” (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

Oakland’s sizable waterfront is another focal point for outdoor activity. Jack London Square may be experiencing rapid change, but time seems to stand still at 19th-century mainstay Heinold’s First and Last Chance saloon, whose name harkens back to a time when sailors enjoyed a final drink before heading out to sea. The cozy throwback, famous for its heavily slanted floor caused by the 1906 earthquake, fits ten people, at most. Instead, opt for a modern, level chair outside on the ample patio.

At Lake Merritt, Robyn Kick relaxes after a day of volunteering at an organic farm that donates produce to Oakland residents in need. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)
At Lake Merritt, Robyn Kick relaxes after a day of volunteering at an organic farm that donates produce to Oakland residents in need. (Photograph by Catherine Karnow)

Across town, the area around Lake Merrittwhere white lights twinkle at night and beautiful, historical buildings are being renovated into upmarket apartments—is emerging as a favorite outdoor space in the city. The 3.5-mile path encircling the lagoon has long been a popular jogging and walking route, but as one Oaklander told us, “If you haven’t seen Lake Merritt in three years, you wouldn’t recognize it.”

The neighborhood still has a long way to go before it becomes a tourist destination, but for locals, the improvements—including major upgrades to Children’s Fairyland, a storybook themed park that first opened its doors back in 1950—are gratifying.

Annie Fitzsimmons is National Geographic Travel’s Urban Insider, exploring the cities of the world with style. Follow her adventures on the Urban Insider blog, Twitter @anniefitz, and Instagram @anniefitzsimmons.

Catherine Karnow is a contributing photographer at Traveler magazine known for her vibrant, emotional, and sensitive style of photographing people and places. Connect with her on Facebook and on Instagram @catherinekarnow.

> More from Annie and Catherine’s Trip:

> Related:

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Get a FREE tote featuring 1 of 7 ICONIC PLACES OF THE WORLD

Go Further