East Bay

East Bay

 

 

The East Bay is a diverse and dynamic region on the east side of the San Francisco Bay. As an East Bay native, I have an in-depth knowledge of the area and strong ties to its community. I love helping people plant their own roots here. 

 

Oakland is the East Bay’s largest city—and one I know very well, as I grew up in Montclair and the Oakland Hills. Oakland is a hub of culture and business, with many diverse neighborhoods. The neighboring city of Berkeley boasts a great dining scene and the world-famous University of California Berkeley. Other East Bay communities include the prestigious small city of Piedmont, which is surrounded by Oakland on all sides.

 

 

• Diverse neighborhoods with eclectic homes
• Lots of great shopping and dining
• Lake Merritt recreation in Oakland
• SF Bay views
  
  

 

Oakland is an exciting city with lots to discover. Some of my favorite neighborhoods in Oakland include hip Rockridge at the foot of the Oakland Hills, which features cute California bungalows with pretty gardens. Rockridge has a BART station and lots of great places to dine and shop. 

 

The Oakland neighborhoods of Crocker Highlands and Trestle Glen feature beautiful homes on curving streets lined with mature trees. The gorgeous architecture in these neighborhoods includes homes built in Tudor, French Provincial, and Colonial styles. These elegant properties are close to shopping and dining along Lakeshore Avenue and Grand Avenue. Crocker Highlands and Trestle Glen are great neighborhoods for children, each with excellent schools. Both are close to Lake Merritt and attractions such as the Saturday Farmers’ Market by the lake and the famous Grand Lake Theatre. 

 

My family’s first home was in the Oakland neighborhood of Montclair. Montclair’s beautiful wooded hills make this neighborhood feel like a serene forest retreat, but homes here are within a five- to ten-minute drive of the bustling commercial district in Montclair Village. Montclair offers enchanting views and lots of nearby trails for hiking and biking. 

 

I spent most of my childhood in Oakmore, and my parents currently reside here. Oakmore features spacious homes in eclectic styles on the western slopes of the Oakland Hills. This elevated neighborhood has stunning views across Oakland to the SF Bay. 

 

Piedmont Avenue is packed with diverse shopping and dining options. Housing options in this historic neighborhood include stately manors and attractive Craftsman homes. Grand Lake is another popular shopping and dining destination named for its proximity to Lake Merritt. Housing styles in Grand Lake include mid-century apartment buildings and Art Deco properties. 

 

Berkeley is a vibrant city offering lots of parks and cultural attractions, plus great shopping and dining. Berkeley’s extensive housing options include spacious single-family homes, convenient downtown condominiums, and sought-after waterfront and hilltop properties with mesmerizing views. 

 

Piedmont is a beautiful small city featuring stately homes on larger lots. Piedmont is an almost entirely residential enclave surrounded by Oakland on all sides. Homes in this captivating community are close to commercial hubs such as Montclair Village, Piedmont Avenue, and Grand Lake.

 

 

The East Bay offers a huge variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment districts, copious cultural attractions, and plentiful parks and picturesque outdoor recreation areas. Rockridge in Oakland features a great mix of independent restaurants and retailers. Zachary’s Pizza is a local favorite for delicious stuffed and thin-crust pies. Rockridge Market Hall is an amazing market featuring eight specialty retailers selling high-quality meat, seafood, farm-fresh produce, premium wines, scrumptious baked goods, and gourmet meals. Oliveto at Rockridge Market Hall serves exquisite Northern Italian dishes prepared using locally sourced ingredients. Everything at Oliveto is handcrafted, including signature olive oils, house-cured salami, and wood-fired pizza. 

 

The Grand-Lakeshore district features many more great dining choices, including nutrition-focused Asian fusion eatery Café Umami, authentic sushi spot Mijori, and seasonal Californian kitchen Almond and Oak. The 1920s Grand Lake Theatre screens movies in beautifully preserved Egyptian and Moorish-themed auditoriums. 

 

Nearby Lake Merritt is a pretty recreation spot with three miles of lakeshore featuring trails, beautiful themed gardens, and a splash pad. The adjacent Grand Lake Kitchen serves deli sandwiches, salads, and brunch plates alongside cocktails and wine. Every Saturday, Grand Lake Farmers’ Market brings around 100 vendors and live entertainment to Lake Merritt’s Splash Pad Park. 

 

Montclair Village also hosts a Farmers’ Market on Sundays. Montclair Village is a delightful place to shop any day of the week, with unique stores such as McCaulou’s and Someone’s in the Kitchen selling stylish clothing and homeware. Montclair Village’s eclectic dining options include homestyle cooking at convivial Irish pub Corgan’s, classic Mexican cuisine and tequila at El Agavero, and flavorful Southern Thai street food at Daughter Thai Kitchen. 

 

Piedmont Avenue is another Oakland shopping and dining hotspot, where highlights include upscale designer vintage store Mercy Vintage, craft beer destination Cato’s Ale House, and revered two Michelin-starred restaurant Commis. 

 

Other Oakland neighborhoods offer many more places to eat, drink, and shop. Berkeley is similarly packed with exceptional amenities. Berkeley’s Shattuck Avenue is lined with premier restaurants, including pioneering farm-to-table eatery Chez Panisse.

 

 

School districts serving the East Bay include the Oakland Unified and Berkeley Unified School Districts.

 

 

• Francophone Charter School of Oakland, Public, Charter, K-8.
• Hillcrest Elementary, Public, K-8.
• Yu Ming Charter, Public, Charter, K-8.
• Oakland Charter High, Public, 9-12.