Timeline
15:43
Women's Athletic Club of Alameda County Building
Walk from the historic Women's Athletic Club of Alameda County Building toward the water. The path is short and leads directly to the parkland surrounding the lagoon.
16:43
Find a spot along the perimeter path at Lake Merritt. The sun is setting toward the WSW, casting a warm, golden glow across the water and the city skyline. This is the quiet moment before the joggers and walkers arrive.
17:33
Head to Lake Chalet, a short walk from the lake edge. By this time the sun has fully set, but the dining room is open and warm. Order a coffee or a light meal to enjoy while the evening lights of Oakland begin to twinkle across the water.
18:13
Finish your evening at The Alley. This is one of the last piano bars in town. The pianist is playing oldies, and the atmosphere is relaxed. It is the perfect place to linger as the night deepens.
Local tip
The walk from the anchor to the lake is about 10 minutes. Lake Chalet is also about 14 minutes from the anchor, so you can easily walk from the historic building to the lake, watch the sunset, and then walk to dinner without needing a car. The Alley is a 14-minute walk from the anchor, making it a logical end point if you start there.
Check before you go
- Lake Chalet is open Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-20:00.
- The Alley is open Daily 6PM-2AM. Check the website for specific services.
- Sunrise is at 07:23 and sunset is at 17:13 on 15 January 2027.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Oakland (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).