Traditional Irish food — including all-day breakfast — meets classic cocktails and a cozy, warm atmosphere at Sláinte. This is a contemporary yet charmingly old-school Irish pub with brick walls, a fireplace, darts, and Guinness always on tap.

Before vegan diets swept the Bay Area, Souley Vegan was introducing plant-based versions of soul food staples to Oakland. Now, the restaurant’s Southern-fried tofu burger feels like a Town classic. First-time visitors can’t go wrong with the sampler plate, piled high with greens, yams, barbecued tofu, mac n cheese, cornbread, and more.

An Oakland institution since 1973, Everett & Jones is still serving ribs, brisket, and most famously, beef links. Sadly, the restaurant’s matriarch and owner, Dorothy King, died in March 2021, but granddaughter Dorcia White is maintaining her legacy with the family’s three locations across Oakland and Berkeley.

This dedicated cider taproom with 25 taps was one of the biggest developments for cider in the Bay Area when it opened in 2019, with selections ranging from great local ciders to famed European imports, plus some beers thrown in for good measure. There’s plenty of room to enjoy them all in a 2,800-square-foot industrial space, and while food options change, there are always vegan and gluten-free options available.

With a neon-lit, nightclub vibe, Dragon Gate is not necessarily where you’d expect to find excellent Taiwanese food in this slice of town. Regardless, the extensive menu covers all of the cuisine’s musts, including beef noodle soup, popcorn chicken, stinky tofu, and three cup chicken.

The Oakland location of the popular Mission district restaurant is full of flowers, pink, and festive fun. The attractively designed restaurant also dishes out excellent Thai dishes, including a mammoth beef short rib with Panang curry and crispy rice salad. Fair warning: The spicy dishes truly pack a punch.

This adorable wine shop focuses on natural wines produced by independent small producers. Folks can drink any bottle at the shop’s long communal table and order snacks like local cheeses. Minimo also offers thematic wine tastings and wine flight specials, bottle service in the courtyard, and a reasonably-priced wine club.

The still-new Seabreeze on the Dock is all about sourcing transparency — lobster, Dungeness crab, clams, mussels, shrimp, crawfish, and oysters are all labeled so there’s no mystery where your fish is from. Get them in boils, baskets, platters, and po’boys and enjoy on the cozy little waterfront patio at sunset.

Bicycle Coffee can now be found in a few locations in Oakland (and one in LA), but this is the company’s first stand-alone cafe. It’s funky and warehouse-y with a real family-friendly, community vibe, amplified on Fridays when the baristas hand out free cold brew and pour overs.

While there are bigger and more beautiful Blue Bottle cafes all over the Bay Area, it’s fun to visit the headquarters near Jack London Square. The large warehouse houses its cupping room and offices, but also has the usual Blue Bottle beverages. With minimal seating, they’re best enjoyed walking along the water.

After opening in 2018, this brewery quickly established itself as one to watch in the East Bay. The emphasis is on Belgian and German styles, including saisons, sours, lagers, dubbels, and kolsch beers. But with its historic brick home, string lights, and comfy seating, it’s also a lovely place to just hang out.

A longstanding neighborhood favorite, Chop Bar moved into new, bigger digs on 4th Street in 2019. Serving American comfort food for brunch, lunch, and dinner, Chop Bar is known for having some of the tastiest breakfast sandwiches in town, and the burger remains a justifiable fixture on the menu after all these years.