This is Oakland: A Guide to the City's Most Interesting Places

by Melissa Davis, Kristen Loken (Photographer)

This is Oakland: A Guide to the City's Most Interesting Places is a photo-driven travel/guide book that informs, entertains, and inspires. The book profiles 90 of the most interesting places to visit in Oakland—from cafes to boutiques—and the innovators who own them.

This book is of course for anyone who lives in or is visiting Oakland or the San Francisco Bay Area and wants to know where to go for food, drink, shopping or just plain fun. Perhaps more importantly, though, this book is for anyone, across the country, who is inspired by creative thought and the pioneering spirit. Oakland's restaurants are trend-setting, and its shops are getting national attention. People who want to know what's next are looking to Oakland. We're offering them a glimpse inside.

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[Maxine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this book would not have been so bad if it were titled "This Is Not Oakland: This Is A Guide to the City's Most Instagrammable Places." The real title is ridiculous because there is far more to the city than bougie restaurants, overpriced boutiques made to look old-timey, hipster shops specializing in "zines" and quaint cafes selling lavender oatmeal. The author only chooses to include things that photograph within a certain aesthetic.

That being said, what I found interesting to discover is that 5-6 years after this book was published (and pre-coronavirus), almost one-third of the businesses mentioned had either shut down, converted to an online store or relocated outside of the Bay Area. It's heartbreaking to see so many local businesses close and struggle during the current shutdown but what this made me realize is that running a business is always a huge challenge--even without a pandemic.

[Susy · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARGH. This book made me mad. I will admit that there were places that I plan to go to after reading this.... That said - why no places in West or East Oakland? Nothing there???
Also it was very annoying to me to read why the business owners said they loved Oakland. I don't think a single one said because of the people. That's why I hella love Oakland.
Bottom line is VERY BOOJIE (how ever you spell it.)

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reads like a satire of what gentrifiers enjoy about Oakland. It only covers neighborhoods like Temescal and Rockridge, but doesn’t include West Oakland, Chinatown, or Fruitvale. If only I could put my finger on what all those neighborhoods have in common.... Oakland is an incredible, diverse city right lots to offer, and I encourage anyone spending time here to look beyond this book.

[Joey Alison Sayers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll readily admit that I like a small handful of places in this book, but overall it really should be called "This is White, Wealthy Oakland".

[Amanda Boehm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice photos, design, and quick two-ish paragraph read about each place (some I've even been to!).

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book containing gorgeous photographs of many of my favorite places in Oakland.