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Black Swan Books

Used bookstore with a Victorian look and shelves full of vintage (and spendy) volumes frequently from the 1930s and earlier.

Listing from Wikivoyage: Oakland, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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Eat
Fentons Creamery and Restaurant
This hundred-year-old ice cream parlor is a cornerstone of Oakland culture—one of those places that East Bay folks point to as making the region special. The parlor is mentioned in the 2009 Pixar film Up. Huge bowls of ice cream and sundaes of various sorts are served in this always-crowded eatery. Sugar-amped kids roam the aisles all day and into the evening, and although the place attracts a cannabis-enhanced college crowd towards the end of the night, it always has a sweet and wholesome atmosphere. An expensive treat, but the servings are huge. Online reservations. Private parties and full catering available.
Mon-Thu 11AM-11PM, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight$5-15 large sundae or entree
Drink
Timeless Coffee
An upscale coffeehouse and bakery known best for brunches and hand-made vegan pastries.
Mon-Fri 7AM-5PM, Sat-Sun 8AM-5PM$11-30
Eat
Shimizu Sushi
A small sushi house with a wide range of choices for specialty sushi, as well as more standard Japanese fare. Popular with locals, family friendly, and laid back.
Mon-Thu 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5-9:30PM; Fri 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5-10PM; Sat noon-10PM; Sun noon-9:30PM
Do
Piedmont Theatre
The oldest still-operating theater in Oakland (built in 1917), completely restored and renovated in 2010 shows first-run movies. Saturdays are frequently marked by the showing of art-house and independent films.