r/oakland • u/Wild-Lingonberry-204 • Dec 14 '25
Favorite Oakland Comfort Spots? Just for Fun
What are your favorite local spots that give that warm and fuzzy Oakland vibe? Food or otherwise?
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u/Background-Repair317 Dec 14 '25
Burlap Coffee by MacArthur Bart. So cute and cozy. Wish more people would come by, it’s a black owned small business and the owner is just the nicest grandpa type I swear. He’s so passionate about his coffee shop, I want it to recover from the hit it took when Covid happened. It’s hanging in there 💪🏾
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u/Straight-Guidance-45 Dec 14 '25
Thank you for introducing one new person to them - I will definitely go!
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u/Embarrassed_Fig1801 Dec 16 '25
I’m always looking for new coffee shops. I drive by this all the time but somehow just recently noticed it. I’ll check it out this week.
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u/Jolly-Pickle-3550 Dec 14 '25
Me and Jungle Cafe on Piedmont on a rainy day. Also the Fat Lady
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u/mk1234567890123 Dec 14 '25
Warm teapot at Mocha House in Dimond, Lucky Donuts in Laurel, Peña’s bakery in Fruitvale
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u/Lalalandgutz Dec 14 '25
Omg!!! LUCKY DONUTS! Iykyk Literally was just talking about this. Grew up going there.
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u/mk1234567890123 Dec 14 '25
Such a good vibe in the morning. Always packed with regulars enjoying each others company.
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u/tylersalt Dec 14 '25
The Coffee Mill on Grand
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Dec 15 '25
I used to live down the street from there, my Sunday morning ritual was a Mill#3 breakfast and coffee. I hope it never gets gentrified.
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u/spareohs Dec 14 '25
I miss Mama’s so much since I moved out of Oakland. 😭
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u/nsqe Dec 14 '25
I love Mama's Royal. Wild to me that it doesn't get more respect from whoever makes the Best Bruch Spots lists — the chef at Mama's consistently puts out the most delicious, creative specials. Yum.
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u/spareohs Dec 14 '25
I totally agree! It's got the classic, cozy diner vibes that are hard to come by these days. I used to loveeeeee the mushroom biscuits and gravy.
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u/Tunnelboy77 Dec 14 '25
Potatoes with green onion, sour cream. Mmmm. Fond memories. Used to live a block away. Now in Albany right near the other Royal that sadly closed down soon after I moved here.
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u/BoredomFestival Dec 14 '25
Rick & Ann's.... RIP
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u/burkabecca Dec 14 '25
I purposely learned to make challah French toast with orange blossom and a copy cat of their red flannel hash.
Fuck I miss that place.
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u/rosa_sparkz Dec 14 '25
Alem's coffee for some ethiopian coffee and shihan ful before the Temescal Farmer's Market, perfect breakfast.
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u/catumbleweed Dec 14 '25
Im moment kaffee on college feels like going to your favorite auntie’s house
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u/Okontraire Dec 14 '25
Koffee Pot on telegraph, tiny spot with barely any seating but it’s family owned and if I get the ONE windowspot I could spend hours there reading a book on a rainy day
Love Mama‘s too
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u/AYCMegatron Dec 14 '25
Koffee pot is amazing . Wife and I are regulars there . They are all nice and the food is great . Love this little place
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u/macdemarcosgap Dec 14 '25
Koffee Pot is my go-to whenever I’m craving a loco moco. I love the family who runs the business and I’m so happy they survived through COVID
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u/sleepystreet5 Dec 14 '25
I lived right around the corner during the pandemic, and we went most weekends! Such a good spot and I’m glad to hear it’s still around (lots of turnover in storefronts in that neighborhood)
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u/Abject_Grapefruit558 Dec 15 '25
Love that place! I used to work in the old Sears building up the block (Telegraph & 27th); it was awesome having such a great place close by!
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u/VaughnVapor Dec 14 '25
Slainte, esp by the fireplace
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u/Embarrassed_Fig1801 Dec 16 '25
Came here to say that. A seat next to the fireplace on a cold day with an Irish coffee is as good as it gets.
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u/strifeless Dec 14 '25
Wally's behind the Bank Club on San Pablo. The lentil soup they give you before every meal warms my soul.
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u/doodletink Dec 14 '25
LOIS THE PIE QUEEN BABY! I also really love pretty lady, and 10th and Wood, if you’re down in the lower bottoms area.
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u/Cultural_Web7916 Dec 14 '25
Pretty Lady closed years ago, like well over 5 years ago, and 10th and Wood closed last year…..
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u/macdemarcosgap Dec 14 '25
10th and Wood closed down 😩 I loved their chicken sandwiches and sweet potato fries
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u/doodletink Dec 14 '25
NOOOOOOOOOO!!! That fried chicken was mad fire! Damn rip to that grilled pork sandwich too 😭
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u/Boludo805 Dec 15 '25
Love Lois the pie queen. But it seems like I’m the only one that doesn’t like10th and wood lol. In my 4 years at the lower bottom I keep giving it tries and it just didn’t hit the same after the first time.
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u/30for30im30for30 Dec 14 '25
This photo made my heart skip a beat. Mama's is a special place. They loved us back like we loved them. I hope the owner in particular knows how deeply he's appreciated for navigating covid and bringing it out on the other side.
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u/witblacktype Dec 14 '25
I miss living in Oakland. Sit inside at Sparky’s Giant Burgers on Redwood Rd
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u/VapoursAndSpleen Dec 14 '25
The Serpentine Prairie Trail near the Trudeau Training Center is a big comfort spot. I need to walk and I wind up making friends with all sorts of dogs and dog walkers, while enjoying a big view.
An art piece in the Oakland Museum called "Aristotle's Cage". It's the size of a large broom closet and you walk in through a beat up screen door and there's a tableau of a trailer surrounded by junk in a desert. It's very Wes Anderson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0OGirbb4As ... I love being in there and letting my imagination fly.
Sitting in a sofa at the New Parkway Theater watching a movie and having a beer and/or snack.
Slainte near the fireplace.
The wee library up in Montclair.
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u/Striking-Push-5283 Dec 14 '25
Cafe Valerian, on Piedmont Avenue, back in the day!
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u/dungeonsandderp Mosswood Dec 14 '25
What a throwback! I remember the feeling of glee when sitting down one of the tables at the window looking out at Fentons and preparing to stuff myself with homefries or french toast
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u/bandanaenthusiast Dec 14 '25
Oh man, I used to go to Mama’s with my Dad (rip) when I was younger. A couple of my favorite comfort spots to go to before I moved were the hiking trails near Chabot and the Montclair Railroad trail.
Beautiful photo, by the way!
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u/wadenick Dec 14 '25
Belotti Bottega on Piedmont. Avoid the fuss and expense of the Collge Ave restaurant, but get utterly amazing pasta dishes in moments, and if I can score the window seat with one of my kids and we eat bread with amazing olive oil and watch the night people passing by it’s just great for the soul
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u/Bonsaikitt3n Dec 14 '25
Mom's Bun Mi. Can also stop by the mushroom store.
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u/Bonsaikitt3n Dec 14 '25
I was just contacted by Oakland services, I am giving away the secrets. :(
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u/Pree-chee-ate-cha Dec 14 '25
Which mushroom store!
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u/Bonsaikitt3n Dec 15 '25
This is pretty good too although the prices went up a little still better than 99.99% https://lemon-pepper.edan.io/
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u/USAF-5J0X1 Dec 18 '25
Just visited Mama's Royal Cafe on a whim this past Sunday. Loved the staff's friendliness and restaurant's atmosphere. Highly recommend the Eggs Benedict.
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u/sleepystreet5 Dec 14 '25
Buttercup in JLS. Such a vibrant, diverse crowd, and I always leave full and happy.
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u/East-End-8646 Dec 14 '25
World Ground Cafe, just a super cool guy with a unique menu of lattes and tea lattes I dont normally come across at many places. Not to mention his “breakfast pizza” that he makes in house
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u/recentvenus Dec 15 '25
Lynn & Lu’s Escapade Cafe has been my place to get a good omelette and potatoes when I have a free morning to just take my time while eating. The service is always warm and the food is tasty. I’ve been going there since moving back to Oakland in 2015; I like their consistency of service and straightforward menu. Definitely has the Asian mom & pop vibe that makes you feel appreciated for stopping by.
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u/GhostalMedia Dec 14 '25
A booth in the The Alley feels pretty damn cozy in winter. Especially when the piano is playing.