Published December 9, 2024
Why the neighborhood Temescal is rad.
Between 40th and 51st street on the main strip of Telegraph, you will find Oaklands trendy neighborhood Temescal. There are a number of stand out businesses, tattoo shops and restaurants along with barbers and vintage clothing spots that have spear headed Temescals popularity. The vibe is very new Oakland, the fun, hip and vibrant young families, art students, queer folks, shopping, eating, hanging out.
The homes in the neighborhood streets off of Telegraph are a mix of prewar bungalows and duplex’s, with a light speckling of Victorian homes on the scene. They have little yards and large price tags, but people are willing to pay a good amount to live in a neighborhood they love, and people love this area.
If you’ve heard of the neighborhood at all, then you’ve heard of Temescal Ally. You can people watch and count the epic mustaches, they call this strip hipster ally for a legit reason, there is even an apothecary, coffee shops, a very popular barbershop where they will serve you a shot of whiskey, and Curbside Creamery for vegan ice cream.
A few other notable Temescal hang outs, not directly in the alley are Beauty’s Bagel Shop, Pizzaiolo and Kingfish.
There is a Sunday farmers market which we love. Here you can find all manner of ethnic food from the more common Italian and Mexican (YUM Cholita Linda), to Ethiopian. But what has us really excited is the recent arrival of Small Change Oyster Bar! They just popped onto the scene and already making waves. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a casual meal with friends or family.
The Avenue on Telegraph for Halloween decorates to the nines! You can always find a decently priced beer, and a punk rock vibe to hang out in. It’s a grimier feel if that’s what you like, it’s a local spot to be sure.
How do you feel about fried chicken sandwiches? Bake sale Betty opens at 11, with a preexisting line down the block. These popular chicken sandwiches sell out quick, it’s a famous Temescal jewel that’s been featured in all kinds of food shows and magazines.
Lake Temescal is a beautiful haven within the city. It’s a regional park where you can fish or go swimming during season and hours. It also offers lovely walking/hiking trails to enjoy the scenery and clear your mind.
If you’ve got little kids, there a several cool charter school options for elementary in Temescal. This is a special thing a lot of neighborhoods don’t have. To name a few there are Yuming, Francophone and Downtown Charter Academy, which is actually a middle school. It’s really great to have several good school options in this area.
If you are a Bart rider or muni commuter, both Rockridge and MacArthur Bart stations put you right in the neighborhood. Bus lines 1R, 12 and 800 also run right through it. It’s bicycle friendly and you can definitely walk to things, while taking your basic, don’t forget your in Oakland style precautions.
The population of Temescal is around 4100 residents. It does take long to see why people love living here, or visiting, it’s a fun place to be. With so many options of places to go out, it’s very easy to quickly feel connected to living in a community. You can walk to your bagel shop and say hi to the regulars. You can stop in for your Friday night beer and the bar tender will know your order. While living in a big city, it’s really nice to find hubs of tighter knit neighborhoods. And to be able to just walk out your door and have access to all this lively social interaction without having to drive anywhere is an undeniable luxury.
If you’re neighborhood shopping in Oakland, this is a central neighborhood of local flare and fun, definitely one to consider!
If you live here but haven’t been out to eat in a minute, don’t forget the awesome food and ambiance is right around the corner!
Temescal is pretty rad, it’s a neighborhood that really stands out as one of Oaklands greats.
