A few months ago, I moved from the Peninsula side of the Bay Area to Oakland. Now if you are not from the Bay Area – I basically moved from a suburban area filled with trees and greenery in a very urban city. It was only a 30-minute move, but it’s night and day. My husband and I moved because we needed to be closer to work and school.

Oakland, like any other growing city, is going through some changes. More and more people are moving to Oakland because it is one of the few cities in the Bay Area that is affordable. You get a vibrant nightlife like San Francisco but there is more parking.

I reside in West Oakland, which is a very industrial area of the city, similar to the meatpacking district of New York City. Amongst the warehouses, I have found some gems.

Linden Street Brewery: Yes, I live near a brewery. I can walk to this brewery and taste some amazing beers in 7 minutes. I actually attended this brewery a few years ago with the Alzheimer’s Association. They provided the venue for our fundraiser. This brewery is near the Bay and you can get some views of the Bay. There are wonderful outdoor seating and ample parking, (see how I mentioned parking twice – parking is gold to Bay Area residents). They serve an array of beers, from lights to darks. They don’t serve food, but they do partner with local food vendors.  Grab a beer, a good friend, and a seat. Enjoy!

Venga Paella: After a few beers, walk or drive down a few blocks to Venga Paella. It is my neighborhood Tapas place. It is a small space but welcoming. The decor has a lot of reds and blacks. The food though is delicious with a lot of seafood options.

Beer Revolution: It’s a bar and a hipster liquor store. I love this place. You can choose from their large beer selection and stay for awhile or grab a beer to go. You can buy six packs of different, hard to find beers. We love going here on a weeknight and grabbing new beers.

NIDO: A lovely Mexican restaurant. This is not your traditional Mexican joint. It’s a bit more hipster but they don’t sacrifice the food. Their food is fresh, organic and most importantly tasty. They have a large selection of tequila and mezcal. Our waiter was attentive and prompt. Also, on their menu, they had the names of their staff. Rarely do you see that. You can tell that employee happiness is important to the owner. The only negative is that they don’t have a lot of vegetarian options.

Next time you are on this side of the Bay, come by and visit. I would love to show you my new home.