Neighborhoods
Similar to its San Franciscan neighbor, Oakland is famous for its picturesque communities that offer houses situated within rolling hills. Offering a mix of small single family homes and sprawling Victorian estates, Oakland neighborhoods range from historic upscale to renovation areas and communities with new construction. Many neighborhoods here are old and well established while others are just making their presence known. With its proximity to Berkeley and the college town’s strong ties to Oakland, many who work and play in the home of the Oakland Athletics have planted their roots in nearby communities.
Elmwood
A popular Berkeley neighborhood, Elmwood is known for its mix of apartments and sprawling, old homes complete with the gingerbread common of Victorian-era construction. Here residents find lots of local commercial operations including shopping and dining.
Fruitvale District
This multicultural commercial area with a strong Latin identity has recently had housing added to its landscape. The area is known throughout the Bay Area for its cultural events such as the Dia de los Muertos festival and the Fruitvale Village where housing, retail and offices surround a pedestrian plaza.
Hidden Haddon Hill
This historic neighborhood is dominated by Mediterranean-style homes built in the 1920s. It is located between Lake Merritt and Park Boulevard.
Lake Merritt
Located in the middle of downtown, this residential area is noted for its jogging paths and scenic parks and interesting mix of historic homes.
Montclair Village
This hill community is noted for its distinctive historic buildings including its old fire station, library and more. The neighborhood features an array of single family homes, including cozy cottage-type dwellings.
Northgate
This neighborhood along Telegraph Avenue is just outside of downtown Oakland. It offers a combination of commercial and residential with many lofts characterizing the residential landscape.
North Oakland
A popular residential area, this section of Oakland is noted for its accessibility to Berkeley.
Oak Center Historic District
This neighborhood in West Oakland features 19th century Victorian houses and beautiful gardens. It has recently undergone a lot of redevelopment to preserve and restore its historic properties. Residents here have worked hard to maintain the community’s historic appeal.
Oakland Hills
Another of Oakland’s more wooded and hilly neighborhoods, this community offers great views of the entire Bay. It’s noted for its jogging and biking trails and tight-knit residential area.
Old Oakland
Between Broadway and Clay, this historic neighborhood is noted for its restored Victorian buildings and homes. Dating back to the 1800s, many of these buildings are “house shops,” galleries and restaurants. The area is also referred to as Chinatown. Its specialty shops, restaurants, markets and more are year round favorites of residents and visitors alike. In fact, the Chinatown Streetfest draws more than 100,000 visitors each year.
Piedmont
This historic and affluent neighborhood is considered one of the best in the Bay area. It offers large, sprawling homes and a view of San Francisco. The community is also noted for its schools, which are considered some of the best in the area.
Rockridge
This neighborhood features trains that go directly into San Francisco and bus and bike routes that lead directly into the University of California Berkeley Campus. It’s noted for its quaint bookstores, shops, flower stands and cafes. Homes in this area are sought after because of the neighborhood’s proximity to shopping, dining, the university and more.
South Berkeley
This Berkeley area is noted for its mix of housing. It offers single-family homes, small bungalows, duplexes and more. It has tree-lined streets, cafes, antique shops and more.
West Berkeley
Just south of University Avenue in this college town lies a neighborhood known for its unusual mix of small homes and large Victorian farmhouses.