Rockridge was once known as “Little Italy” until around the mid 60’s due to its large Italian immigrant community. Rockridge is a beautiful neighborhood with lots of shopping and entertainment options.
Like Piedmont, Rockridge’s affluence and large family populations often prevents poorer residents from living in the community.
Rockridge/Claremont is considered one of the safest Oakland neighborhoods, partly due to its affluence and proximity to Berkeley.
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Rockridge is made up of many large homes, often built between the 1920’s and 1950’s, though some are older.
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Mostly affluent residents live in the neighborhood.
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Rockridge is a family-heavy neighborhood.
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Commerce is heavy in Rockridge, primarily along College Avenue.
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Housing is commonly expensive in Rockridge, due to its safety and location as well as abundance of commerce.
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LOOT Antiques – Antiques and home furnishings.
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Trappist Provisions – Nine specialty rotating draft beers and hundreds of bottles for selection.
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Bittersweet Café – Chocolate-oriented café with incredible drinks and chocolate for sale.
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Great Wall – Chinese vegetarian restaurant.
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George & Walt’s –Sports bar with nine separate screens. Busy on game nights.
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Rockridge Market Hall – Gourmet restaurants and food stores.
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Rockridge Café – Breakfast and lunch served all day.
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Ver Brugge Foods – Meats and seafood.
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Pegasus Books – Buy and sell used and new books. Store credit from sold books can be used to buy new merchandise.
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Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary and Garden Arts – Bookstore with heavy emphasis on gardening and plants. Also sells plants.
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Pretty Penny – Vintage consignment store with mostly women’s but some men’s clothing.
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Bloomies – Florist shop.
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Yasai – Produce market.
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Rockridge BART on College Avenue. Contains a memorial mural for the Oakland Firestorm of 1991.
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AC Transit lines along College Avenue.
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Bike-friendly neighborhood, but be wary of heading into the hills without gears and stamina! Check out Hank and Frank Bicycles!
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State Route 24 meets at the Rockridge BART station.
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Chabot Elementary School – K-5th grade
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Claremont Middle School – grades 6-8
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Oakland Technical High School – 9–12th grade
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Mentoring Academy – Private independent high school
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Far West High School – Visual arts-focused school for grades 7-12
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Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt Park – Community-built, also known as “Frog Park.”
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Gas and Electric: PG&E
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Water: EBMUD
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Telecom: Comcast Xfinity or AT&T U-verse
West Oakland
Black panthers were based in West Oakland. Was the terminus of the first Transcontinental railroad. 7th Street was once a hub for jazz and the blues.
Oakland Hills/Mills College
The Oakland Hills unofficially refers to the area—particularly the residential neighborhoods—that lines the eastern edge of Oakland on the western side of the Berkeley Hills.
East Oakland
What’s Great East Oakland is rich with history. It is predominantly known as the area where West Coast rap was popularized. Tupac, Mac Dre, and Too Short are just a few famous names that got their start here.