Oakland-- Where are the young people? And the food? (Berkeley: salons, neighborhood)

[MrNoName]

I am a 23-year-old male from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I just accepted a position with Kaiser in Oakland. I am looking for a location with a bunch of yuppies like myself. I am also a major foodie, so close proximity to good eats is important.

I walked around Lake Merritt today looking for such an area, but I couldn't seem to find anything. I have heard great things about the Grand Ave. area, but besides the Whole Foods up there, there didn't seem to be much! What am I missing?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[sonarrat]

Laurel - MacArthur between 35th and High. Very much a mix, with African-Americans rubbing shoulders with white yuppies and Vietnamese-Americans freely. Highlights: the World Ground coffee shop and the Farmer Joe's Marketplace at the corner of MacArthur & 35th.

Dimond - Right next to the Laurel, but mainly centered around MacArthur & Fruitvale. A bit more yuppie.

Grand Lake - Grand Avenue right above 580. Longstanding movie theater, salons, restaurants, cafes. Very cool place.

[artemis78]

If you could see the Whole Foods, you were too far south on Grand--gotta keep truckin' around the lake till you cross under the freeway, and that's the Grand Lake neighborhood that folks were telling you about. (That said, there are some hidden gems on the lower stretches of Grand, too--not yuppie per se, but definitely tasty!) But north of the freeway in the funny triangle created by Grand and Lakeshore Avenues is the Grand Lake area--definitely an option.

Honestly, though, based on your description of what you want, I'd make a beeline for Rockridge, if you can afford rents there. (Northern edge of Temescal, the area between Telegraph and Broadway near 51st, is also walkable to the Rockridge goodness and an easy Kaiser commute.) There, you'll find restaurants galore, a great (but pricey) market, a farmer's market on Sundays, a BART station for trips into the city, and bus line that will get you to Kaiser in no time. And hordes of young yuppie/hipster types (plus young families too).

Other options (besides what sonarrat mentioned) are:

- Piedmont Avenue, which has yuppies and restaurants galore (walk to work, can't beat that!)
- Uptown, the neighborhood in downtown Oak near 19th Street BART (growing foodie destination, but not quite there yet--and Whole Foods is basically your grocery option)
- Elmwood in Berkeley--similar to Rockridge but sometimes (slightly) cheaper rents to be had

[Ultrarunner]

Piedmont Avenue... which has been mentioned

Montclair District is exactly what you're describing also...

Welcome to the Bay Area...

[18Montclair]

Rockridge is foodie heaven(some of the best restaurants in the Bay Area are there) and full of yuppies-and not far from Kaiser at all.

There are actually many areas in Oakland that fit the bill as mentioned in the posts above.

[DjRey]

You gonna need a car in the Bay Area.Things are too spread out in the Bay..

[E14]

fruitvale has by far the best food in oakland
il admit that im biased though, because if i could i would eat a burrito only diet
try el zamoranos on high st and e14th, or stop by a taco truck
but as far as being a yuppie goes, get your ass on the other side of the bay where you belong

[fizbin]

Rockridge or Piedmont Ave are your two best choices, with Grand/Lakeshore Aves next. All three are pretty close to each other.

[vdy1985]

I recommend Rockridge, it is a great area with good eats and lots of yuppies.

[ssmaster]

rockridge sounds like your type of place
you should try acote ,olivetto's and citron in rockridge
other parts of the city you might try are
dopo and cesar on peidmont
sidebar and camino on grand
mua,franklin Square Wine Bar ,lukas ,ozumo and pican all in uptown
mezze on lakeshore
llevende east,B,tamarindo and le chevelle in old oakland
keep in mind oakland is a city not a college town like ann arbor and some older folks ,gays ,people of color and hipsters like good food also(i am a U of M graduate so i know of what i speak)
try flora and soizic too