One of the neighborhood’s breakout stars is this small bagel shop, offering the style of East coast bagels that transplants would kill for. Long lines formed immediately in pre-covid times, and these chewy, malty goodies are still causing quite a fuss after a feature in the New York Times. Order classic bialys and bagels by the dozen, topped with schmears, or formed into a sandwich. Lox, whitefish salad, and all the fixings are on offer, plus coffee, of course. Bulk bagels can be ordered ahead, otherwise head in and order in person.

A cheerful Italian spizzicheria (a casual spot for snacks and aperitivo) is open, serving Roman pizza by the slice, focaccias with various toppings, and fried snacks like supplie (fried rice balls) and more. The idea is to grab a few things to try with a glass of wine, or to take along on your walk through the neighborhood. A newly added aperitivo hour offers a complimentary sampling of housemade pizzas and focaccia with the order of wine or beer.

Two words: morning buns. People are borderline obsessed with these glorious buns from La Farine—both the sweet version, stuffed with gooey brown sugar and cinnamon, and the savory option, filled with ham, Gruyere, onion, and a touch of dill. This classic French-style bakery opened in 1977 on College Avenue and now has two other storefronts in Oakland. More fan favorite pastries include their frangipane almost croissant and “Swiss twinkie” (puff pastry filled with a roasted nut puree and topped with cinnamon sugar). La Farine also bakes rustic breads, decadent cookies, fruit tarts, and more.

A more relaxed, next-door offshoot from the folks at Wood Tavern, this tiny spot is known for its rotating menu of a half a dozen or so large and decadent sandwiches. Try “the Balls,” which stuffs meatballs, marinara, melted provolone, and parmesan into a crisp La Farine baguette, or the Dungeness crab roll, served with Meyer lemon vinaigrette and jalapeño aioli. They’ve also added Southie tacos to the mix, a separate menu of tacos, all-day breakfast burritos, and more. Call ahead for pickup.

Rockridge has no shortage of coffee shops, but the neighborhood favorite is undoubtedly Cole Coffee. Serving bold pour-overs way before Philz moved in across the street, this coffee shop is bustling all the time, especially on weekends. The cafe is currently closed but the retail bean shop next door is open.

When beloved Barclay’s Pub, which had been in this location for 25 years, moved to a new location, the Rockridge community was sad to see it go. Luckily, this casual, family-friendly spot opened in its place, offering a rotating 24 taps and modern spin on classic pub fare. It is neither a classic American restaurant or a dive bar, but it lands somewhere satisfyingly in the middle.

Vegans and vegetarians rejoiced when Millennium announced it was moving from SF, where it had operated since 1994, to a new home in Oakland in 2015. Arriving in Rockridge with a refreshed menu of globally inspired, plant-based dishes that satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike, it brought something new to the neighborhood with its upscale yet rustic interior. Choose from a selection of fresh salads, eclectic entrees—the pumpkin tamale is a winner—and  inventive desserts. Wash your meal down with your choice from the cocktail menu, which uses fresh infusions and juices. It’s currently available for takeout and delivery, or four course prix-fixe dinners on the back patio by reservation only.

What happens when a trio of Chez Panisse alumni open a Ramen joint? People go wild. That’s what happened back in 2013 when Ramen Shop opened as an instant Oakland staple. Pulling from traditional Japanese methods but using California ingredients, the shop features a rotating selection of ramen (right now, that includes veggie Meyer lemon shoyu and a beef shoyu with smoked brisket and braised oxtail.) Don’t pass over the appetizers or the signature dessert: a sesame ice cream sandwich. Reservations are required for parklet dining, takeout and delivery are available.

Every neighborhood needs a spot like Cactus Taqueria. While not necessarily the best Mexican in the East Bay, it’s been the neighborhood’s go-to place for cheap, fresh, affordable tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas and other classics for more than a decade. Speaking of tacos, the restaurant is most famous for its crispy corn tortilla shells, which provide a satisfying crunch but are still soft enough to hold everything together. Open for back patio dining, takeout, or delivery.

Oliveto, a titan of Italian fare in the Bay Area, is situated in the heart of Rockridge above Market Hall, with large windows giving view to College Avenue. The restaurant is separated into a fine dining experience upstairs and more casual cafe downstairs. The dinner menu is updated daily for both areas, renown for its fresh pastas, grilled meats, and savory roasts. Many more Italian restaurants have opened in the area since Oliveto first opened, but people keep coming back here for more. Open for takeout and delivery.

The former La Boulangerie’s spacious patio is now home to a restaurant serving Nepalese, Indian, and Himalayan food. That means bhel puri, momos, naan, and vindaloo are all available at once, a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The patio truly is one of the best on College.

Named after the narrow side streets that make up the city of Bangkok, this chic, modern restaurant serves an extensive menu of elevated Thai classics (think pad Thai, pad see ew, and kao soi) in addition to many more unique dishes, such as the kieow wan talay, squid, shrimp, salmon, eggplant, and zucchini in basil green curry or the panange neur, braised bone-in beef short ribs in Makrut lime leaf curry.

Chef Michele Belotti, born and raised in a small town northeast of Milan, brings his love for simple, heartfelt cuisine of his homeland to Rockridge’s vast Italian scene. Honoring traditional methods and using local ingredients to craft an approachable menu where his homemade, soul-warming pasta is the star, standouts include the casoncelli, his mom’s Lombardian-style stuffed pasta with beef, prosciutto, pork shoulder covered in sage brown butter sauce. Belotti also churns out a small selection of impressive entrees, such as the 13-hour slow-cooked suckling pig. You can also now take out fresh pasta from the botega in Piedmont.

Finding a quality seafood restaurant in Oakland is a surprisingly daunting task, so Marica serves an important role in this town. Family operated since 2000, it remains just as popular today, known for its top-notch service and classic dishes including Prince Edward Island mussels soaked in a pernod-shallot butter broth, and seafood stew made with 20-hour lobster-cognac-tomato stock and teeming with scallops, shrimp, and rock cod. Always — always — end your meal here with the German dark chocolate souffle.