Food destinations within easy reach of Oakland, worth the train, the rental car or the early start.

Worth the trip

Berkeley for Chez Panisse

  • ★ 4.8

Famous for Chez Panisse prix-fixe dinner and a Cheese Board pizza slice

Alice Waters opened Chez Panisse on Berkeley's Shattuck Avenue in 1971 and codified California cuisine. Four-course set menu nightly, book one month out.

BART to Downtown Berkeley, walk up Shattuck Avenue

Berkeley Gourmet Ghetto

  • ★ 4.7

Famous for Cheese Board pizza, Acme Bread loaf, Saul's Deli sandwich

Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto runs four blocks of Shattuck Avenue at Cedar. The Cheese Board Collective pizza, Acme Bread and Saul's Deli anchor the strip.

BART to North Berkeley, walk to Shattuck and Cedar

Alameda Spirits Alley

  • ★ 4.5

Famous for Hangar 1 vodka flight and Faction Brewing IPA on the patio

Alameda's Spirits Alley runs distilleries, wineries and breweries along Monarch Street on the former naval air station. Bay-view tasting rooms.

Alameda Main Street Ferry from Jack London or drive across the estuary

Public Market Emeryville

  • ★ 4.3

Famous for Food hall lunch crawl: Shiba Ramen, Minnie Bell's, C Casa

Public Market Emeryville is the renovated East Bay food hall on Shellmound. Fourteen vendors, family seating, and a park just outside the door.

Drive or AC Transit Bus 6 to Bay Street

Marshall for Hog Island Oysters

  • ★ 4.7

Famous for Shuck-your-own oysters at the Boat Oyster Bar

Hog Island Oyster Farm on Tomales Bay in Marshall runs the Boat Oyster Bar, picnic-table grills and a retail counter. Three dining options on the water.

Drive Highway 1 north along Tomales Bay

Berkeley for Acme Bread

  • ★ 4.6

Famous for Pain au levain straight from the oven and a Kermit Lynch tasting next door

Acme Bread on San Pablo at Cedar has baked the Bay Area's foundational sourdough since 1983. Pair with Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant for a half-day.

Drive to San Pablo at Cedar in West Berkeley

Berkeley for Boichik Bagels

  • ★ 4.6

Famous for Everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and a Highwire cup

Boichik Bagels at 3170 College Avenue on the Berkeley side of Rockridge serves the East Bay's most-acclaimed New York-style bagel. Pair with a Highwire latte.

BART to Rockridge, walk south on College to Elmwood

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