Timeline
17:36
Grab a coffee or pastry at Sheba Restaurant. It is open from 09:00 to 22:00 daily, so you have plenty of time to settle in before heading out. The Yemeni spot is just a short walk from the Buddha.
18:01
Walk to the 11th Avenue Buddha. Stand in the traffic median and watch the light change. The statue was placed by a resident to deter illegal dumping, so you are looking at a piece of local civic pride. The sun is setting toward the W, casting long shadows across the statue.
18:31
Stay for the moment. The sun dips below the horizon at 18:31. The sky turns from bright blue to soft orange. Take a photo of the Buddha against the fading light.
19:06
Walk to Lake Merritt. It is a 27-minute walk from the Buddha, but you can take your time. The 3.1-mile path around the lagoon is perfect for a post-sunset stroll. The parkland and city neighborhoods offer a warts-and-all picture of Oakland as the lights come on.
Local tip
The walk from the Buddha to Lake Merritt is along residential streets. Keep an eye on your surroundings and stick to well-lit paths after dark.
Check before you go
- Sheba Restaurant is open Mo-Su 09:00-22:00.
- Sunset on 15 October is at 18:31 local time.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Oakland (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).