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Yoshi's Oakland $$$
- 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland (map)
- 510-238-9200
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(based on 4 user reviews)
This Jack London Square anchor tenant lives up to its claim of world-class jazz; everyone from McCoy Tyner to John Scofield comes by at least once a year, and you can also occasionally catch rising stars and school bands in addition to big-name national acts. The acoustics are marvelous, the sushi is fresh and good, and the grilled calamari is also recommended. Tickets range from $5 for a Sunday afternoon children's matinee (with paid adult admission) to upwards of $100 for a special event. Two shows nightly.
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La Peña Cultural Center
- 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley (map)
- 510-849-2568
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(based on 1 user review)
La Peña Cultural Center, with its trademark colorful mural out front, is a microcosm of Berkeley’s cultural, social, and political utopia. Founded in 1975 in response to the military coup that overthrew Chilean President Salvador Allende, La Peña continues to live up to its revolutionary roots, hosting a variety of hip-hop, world, and jazz music; spoken word; dance classes; art exhibits; films; and lectures, focusing on social justice and human rights about four nights a week. Its 175-capacity theater features a sizable stage, wooden dance floor, and a riser with tables and chairs, suitable for getting sweaty to some Latin American rhythms or sitting back and enjoying the show. If all that consciousness has you feeling a bit woozy, try one of the empanadas at La Peña’s Cafe Valparaiso.
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Disco Volante $$
- 347 14th St., Oakland (map)
- 510-663-0271
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(based on 4 user reviews)
The latest addition to Oakland's blossoming nightlife scene has set up shop in a turquoise-tiled Art Deco building at 14th and Webster streets. Disco Volante, set to open in late October, is a bar, music venue, and restaurant run by a trio of Oakland arts and entertainment vets, with chef Douglas Bernstein of Bacar, Eccolo, and Farallon fame serving up local and seasonal California cuisine. Musical offerings will range from bluegrass to Afrobeat, with shows at least three nights a week.
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Telegraph
- 2318 Telegraph Ave., Oakland (map)
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The cafe, which replaced the beloved Mama Buzz in February 2012, serves up homemade sausages, pastries, beer, and coffee, all for under $10. Like its predecessor, the space hosts a gallery that features works by local artists.
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Brown Sugar Kitchen $$
- 2534 Mandela Parkway, Oakland (map)
- 510-839-7685
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Chop Bar $$
- 247 4th St., Oakland (map)
- 510-834-2467
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(based on 3 user reviews)
With its savory Vietnamese pork sandwiches and occasional pig roasts, the Chop Bar is a favorite neighborhood eatery in the warehouse district. The owners are adamant about locally sourcing their food, and they also offer drafts from several Bay Area breweries, including the beloved Linden Street.
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900 Grayson $$
- 900 Grayson St., Berkeley (map)
- 510-704-9900
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Al's Big Burger $
- 437 San Pablo Ave., Albany (map)
- 510-527-1523
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(based on 2 user reviews)
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El Chalan $$
- 3748 San Pablo Dam Rd., El Sobrante (map)
- 510-222-0607
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(based on 3 user reviews)
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Gather $$
- 2200 Oxford St., Berkeley (map)
- 510-809-0400
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(based on 2 user reviews)
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Giovanni Restaurant $$
- 2420 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley (map)
- 510-665-7700
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(based on 2 user reviews)
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Jupiter $$
- 2181 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley (map)
- 510-843-8277
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(based on 2 user reviews)
Enjoy tasty Mediterranean-style pizzas and a wide variety of house brews on tap in this Berkeley outpost’s beer garden, where live bands perform on a brick patio throughout the week. For no cover charge you get atmosphere -- heat lamps, foliage, lanterns, a huge brick fire pit -- and entertainment ranging from experimental laptop music to bluegrass and Americana. Inside, the restaurant is two stories, and there are tables large enough to accommodate groups.
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Mama's Royal Cafe $
- 4012 Broadway, Oakland (map)
- 510-547-7600
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(based on 2 user reviews)
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Oggi $$
- 1801 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley (map)
- 510-898-1392
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(based on 3 user reviews)
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Petar's Restaurant
- 32 Lafayette Cir., Lafayette (map)
- 925-284-7117
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(based on 1 user review)
Located in a historic Lafayette building, Petar’s is a funky place decorated with a Knights-of-the-Round-Table-type English theme that seems to attract the white-hairs. The main draw here is Diamond Dave Hosley, who has been performing every Wednesday through Saturday since 1986. Equipped with his Roland keyboard and headset mic, Hosley sings everything from oldies to current hip-hop hits in Petar’s bar. In addition, Tuesday nights feature Irish songs from Snead Healy, and Sundays feature blues with the Rhythm Doctors.
