Most San Francisco dwellers rarely leave the 7×7 area for everyday activities, but Oakland is worth the short BART ride across the Bay. This is especially true when eating and drinking are on the agenda. Here are not to miss spots for an evening in Oakland:
To Eat:
Get off on the Rockridge BART stop and head down College Avenue to A16 Rockridge, a Southern Italian restaurant helmed by Chef Rocky Maselli. The menu features excellent, VPN certified pizzas in addition to other rustic yet innovative fare. The bar at A16 Rockridge has a fantastic amaro program and Italian-inspired cocktail list that evolves seasonally, showcasing the creativity of the bar team.
Please do not skip the Montanara Rockridge pizza, a pie created with lightly fried dough, smoked San Marzano tomato sauce, burrata and basil.
To Drink:
While you can’t go wrong with cocktails at A16 Rockridge, there are other great spots to check out before or after dinner. For the beer lover, The Trappist on 8th street is a must. Housed in an 1870’s Victorian building, The Trappist boasts an outdoor patio to complement the indoor pub setting. With 100 rotating bottled beers and 28 offerings on tap, the bar’s menu is a dream come true for every range of beer drinker.
To Do:
Head over to Cafe Van Kleef and step into the surrealist wonderland of Telegraph Avenue. The space is teeming with art and features live music on its intimate stage. Less than a block away from the 19th Street Oakland BART station, Cafe Van Kleef is the perfect spot to round out your Oakland evening before heading home to San Francisco.
natalie b. compton 