859 44th STREET

North Oakland

Makers and bakers meet for coffee and cocktails, craft beer, bread and bagels.

North Oakland is a centralized hub for exploring the wide array of assets in the entire East Bay. Centrally located, populated with DIY-ers and a huge variety of cultures and cuisines, this is Bay Area living at its most interesting. With freeway access and BART nearby, it’s also a great commuter location, and there are plenty of amenities and services right in the neighborhood, where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content.

 Uptown Oakland is just blocks away, with its breweries, bakeries, and dozens of dining, entertainment, and meeting choices. Temescal, Longfellow, and Emeryville are also close by, offering their own fabric, flavors and amenities. Groceries and shopping are easy at nearby Sprouts, Whole Foods, Oasis Food Market and Target. Kaiser Permanente, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Samuel Merritt University and all of “pill hill” are also within blocks.

Several public library branches serve the area, well-tended by devoted librarians who dote on their visitors. There’s also a tool-lending library nearby for DIY projects, which might be the most popular place in the neighborhood on a Saturday morning. Creative Re-Use is another hot-spot, packed to the rafters with donated materials diverted from landfill and beloved by teachers and artists throughout the Bay Area.

North Oakland and West Oakland have an impressive inventory of historic Craftsman, Edwardian and Victorian homes built in the early 20th century by local craftspeople and artisans who had expertise in good woodwork and architectural detailing. Modern custom homes and lofts rub shoulders with the historical structures, creating a calico streetscape that blends vintage charm with innovative architecture. Yards frequently dangle fruit from lemon and plum trees over sidewalks, and backyard gardens are the norm. The can-do spirit of Oakland is alive and well, with countless micro-neighborhood groups and community events.