Eat in Lake Merritt, Oakland

MAMA Oakland

• ★ 4.5
• Italian
• $$$$

MAMA Oakland on Grand Avenue runs a Michelin Bib Gourmand three-course Italian dinner for under forty dollars. No reservations, menu changes weekly.

Almond and Oak

• ★ 4.2
• New American
• $$$

Almond and Oak in Oakland's Lake Merritt opened in December 2018 from chef-owner Rico Rivera. California New American with weekend brunch on Grand Avenue.

Equator Coffees Lake Merritt

• ★ 4.2
• Café
• $

Order Single-origin pour over

Equator Coffees Lake Merritt at 175 Bay Place pours the Marin County roaster's beans in a calm downtown Oakland room one block from the lake itself.

Bake Sum

• ★ 4.8
• Café
• $

Order Iced black sesame latte

Bake Sum on Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt pours coffee with the city's most-loved Asian American pastry program. Mochi muffins, Spam musubi croissants.

Equator Coffees

• ★ 4.0
• Coffee roaster
• $$

Equator Coffees opened the Bay Place cafe in Oakland's Lake Merritt as the Marin County roaster's East Bay outpost. Single-origins and a Lake Merritt patio.

Ordinaire

• ★ 4.7
• Wine bar
• $$$

Ordinaire is Oakland's natural wine bar on Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt. Bradford Taylor opened it in 2013 with organic minimal-intervention pours.

Bardo Lounge and Supper Club

• ★ 4.5
• Wine bar
• $$$

Bardo on Lakeshore Avenue near Lake Merritt is a mid-century-inspired lounge. Wine, supper club plates, and a Michelin Guide listing for atmosphere.

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

• ★ 4.4
• Street food
• $

Try Rotating food truck plates

Off the Grid sets a rotating food truck row outside the Oakland Museum of California every Friday night. DJs and a community block party run all summer.

Grand Lake Farmers Market

• ★ 4.8
• Market
• $

Grand Lake's Saturday farmers market by Lake Merritt is among the largest in California. Organic produce, dim sum, pastries and prepared goods.