Top Rated Shopping in Oakland

Temescal Alley has emerged as a hotbed of activity. A lot of development has happened through the years and now a lot of independent shops, restaurants and artist's shops are open in the alley. There are restaurants and ice cream parlors also, which offer a wide variety of cuisine to the tourists. The architecture of the alley is of early 20th Century and due to this the shops which are located in this alley have maintained the buildings as they were. The owner's of the shops have formed small communities amongst themselves. This place has developed a lot over the years and has become a small sweet little alley for people to shop, eat and spend some time with their family.

With its own BART station, Rockridge's main artery is College Avenue. Half in Oakland and half in Berkeley, Rockridge nevertheless feels like its own little town. Locals, as well as those in-the-know throughout the Bay Area, know this is the perfect place to wile away a sunny weekend afternoon shopping for antiques, gourmet groceries, and the best in locally made clothing and crafts, or to just enjoy a leisurely brunch at one of the many fine restaurants. Whether you are visiting for a short while or are new to the area, a day in Rockridge is not to be missed.

Oaklandish has become an Oakland institution since its inception as a renegade street art campaign in 2002. Starting with their iconic oak tree with roots logo, they eventually progressed to making apparel with this and other Oakland-centric designs and selling them from booths at street fairs and farmers markets. Booths gave way to a truck, and in 2011 they opened their own store front. The clothing has come a long way since their single logo, and now savvy shoppers can pick up shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more in a variety of clever, stylish and just plain cool colors, designs and logos.

Just across the street from the Rockridge BART station, you'll find this great little shopping center that feels like a bit of Manhattan's Upper West Side all rolled into a corner. You will find the best in gourmet delights, flowers, coffees and tea, and everything you need for a romantic meal at home. Market Hall offers restaurants, cafes, bakeries and florists as well as fishmongers and some of the finest produce available in the Bay Area.

College Avenue stretches from deep within Berkeley to Oakland, and along this bustling boulevard numerous restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and much more are waiting for your enjoyment. Near the Rockridge end of the street you will find many eclectic restaurants serving an enormous variety of cuisines, as well as other small boutique shops selling anything from yoga mats to antique brass bedposts. Near the University, College Avenue takes on a funkier spirit, and incense shops allure you with their intriguing scents. Shopping is a major attraction of this East Bay hot spot, yet there are not many chain stores. Rather, locals prefer to support local businesses instead of national chains. However certain stores, such as Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and Hot Topic, can still be found conveniently nearby. Great for a Sunday walk where you can leisurely stroll down this beautiful avenue - stop and have a coffee at one of many cafes, or buy a unique present for a special someone!

Here book-lovers will find the romantic notion of shelves stacked up to the ceiling with books, so heavy they threaten to give way. The fading smell of bookbinding glue conjures images of ancient libraries. You could spend hours wandering the aisles like that kid in The Neverending Story. If you do not find what you are looking for, which is nearly impossible since Moe's has just about everything ever printed, you are sure to find something to appease you. For those looking for antique or rare books, check out the huge collection on the fourth floor.