Oakland Shopping

Chinatown
More than its name suggests, this area is packed with pan-Asian culture. Visitors to the downtown neighborhood will find dozens of fascinating, eclectic stores that carry fresh, high-quality produce, live seafood, healing herbs, and a plethora of retail goods-everything from chopsticks and stress relievers to fine china and porcelain. You'll find some of these goods at Pacific Renaissance Plaza, which houses two stories of shops. The plaza also boasts a quiet courtyard-the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a cool drink.

City Center
Glimpse a mix of 19th-century buildings standing proud alongside modern skyscrapers and elegant landscaping. Eye-catching buildings of note include Tribune Tower, the art deco financial center building, the federal building, the historic and recently restored City Hall, the Rotunda, and Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. The City Center pedestrian plaza boasts outdoor seating, restaurants, shops, and summer concerts.

City Center
Glimpse a mix of 19th-century buildings standing proud alongside modern skyscrapers and elegant landscaping. Eye-catching buildings of note include Tribune Tower, the art deco financial center building, the federal building, the historic and recently restored City Hall, the Rotunda, and Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. The City Center pedestrian plaza boasts outdoor seating, restaurants, shops, and summer concerts.

Fruitvale
The flavor of this expanding neighborhood is defined by its many Latino residents-as well as by several large, colorful murals. Fruitvale plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year, including the popular Dia de los Muertos and Cinco de Mayo celebrations, during which you'll find dozens of street vendors hawking their wares. Browse ethnic specialty stores, food shops, and clothing boutiques. When you get hungry, stop in at one of the area's many restaurants and taquerias, where you're likely to find the perfect enchilada.

Grand Avenue/Lakeshore Avenue
The classic Grand Lake Theater is the centerpiece of this established neighborhood near downtown and Lake Merritt. Popular with professionals and young families, the area has seen a blossoming of many new stores. Shoppers along the neighborhood's two busy main streets will find a host of consignment and antique stores, bookstores, and boutiques selling everything from fashion apparel and accessories to jewelry and trinkets. Joggers, strollers, visitors, and families all mix and meld at the area's many restaurants and cafés. Stop in at the popular Art Deco Collection.com, or, if you feel inspired to belt out a few verses, head to The Alley, a local institution since 1934.

Jack London Square
The historic waterfront boasts dozens of stores, ranging from biggies Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Cost Plus World Market to the one-of-a-kind boutiques that make the area a top attraction for shoppers. Stop in at Timeout for Fun and Games, browse for knickknacks at Whales and Friends or peruse works of African American art at Samuel's Gallery. Cruise a few streets east and you'll run into the warehouse district, a nine-block area that's home to an old-fashioned wholesale produce market, a weekly farmers market, coffeehouses, restaurants, boutiques, and live-work lofts.

Montclair Village
Stroll through this residential neighborhood's narrow, picturesque streets and you'll get an idea how this area earned its moniker. The locals are prone to sip coffee, whiling away their days on benches scattered along the main thoroughfare. You'll want to take full advantage of the great specialty shops, fine boutiques, and children's clothing and toy stores. Stop in at Montclair Toyhouse and Ps Home gallery, and shop for worldwide treasures at What the Traveler Saw.

Piedmont Avenue
Like its longer counterpart, College Avenue, this busy neighborhood street in the northern part of Oakland draws scores of shoppers, both local and out-of-area. Particularly known for its vintage and antique shops, this small stretch of commercial buildings is also home to specialty boutiques, gourmet food stores, restaurants, cafés, and bars. For a bite to eat after window shopping, stop in at the ever-popular Piedmont Grocery, or treat the kids to a giant sundae at the old-fashioned Fenton's Creamery and Restaurant!