If you grew up in the East Bay, you know that picnicking is somewhat central to the local experience. There are simply too many great restaurants here — and too many fantastic view spots — to not bring your takeout outdoors.
As students at Oakland Tech back in the 2010s, my friends and I swiftly mastered the art of guerrilla picnicking. In the 45 minutes we were allowed for lunch, we’d grab Thai food or Wendy’s, then hop the fence to eat on the California College of the Arts campus lawn. (To any high schoolers reading: I don’t endorse this.) We’d bring club sandwiches from Fentons to the church lawn on Piedmont Avenue, or grab slices from Purple Pepper to eat on our own campus green. Once we were old enough to drive, we piled into our parents’ cars and drove up Skyline Boulevard after school, a steaming box of Zachary’s pizza warming our laps.
While I wouldn’t recommend hopping any fences or squatting on church lawns to have a picnic, there are still plenty of reasonable places you can bring a nice meal to and enjoy the crisp mountain air or bay breeze. Here are a few of our favorite spots to have a picnic, along with the markets and restaurants we order from.
The Saap Avenue + Mountain View Cemetery
Before you write to tell me that slurping down noodles on the graves of the departed is weird, hear me out. The Mountain View Cemetery is a historic Oakland landmark. It’s been around since 1863 and serves as the final resting place for local legends like Julia Morgan and Mac Dre. It also boasts beautiful views to boot, which is why it’s not all that weird to bring takeout to the very top and enjoy the scenery.
Truthfully, you could bring takeout from any of Piedmont Ave.’s magnificent restaurants to the cemetery, but the fresh Laotian cuisine provided at The Saap Avenue feels especially perfect for picnicking. Snag some crisp fresh rolls, papaya salad and yellow curry noodles — or perhaps some crispy chicken wings — and watch the sun set over the bay.
The Saap Avenue: 4395 Piedmont Ave. (at Pleasant Valley Ave.), Oakland; open daily 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; https://thesaapavenue.com/
Skyline Community Market + Roberts Park
Until recently, it’s been hard to find smaller, local grocery stores in the Oakland Hills. Skyline Community Market, which opened on the corner of Skyline Boulevard and Rishell Drive in late 2023, is filling that need. It’s a stone’s throw from Serpentine Prairie, which offers several beautiful hiking trails through redwood forests. It’s also just a short drive (or bike ride) from Roberts Park, where picnicking on the meadow is complemented with views of both redwoods and the bay. Skyline Community Market features plenty of fresh produce, chips and dip selections, beverages and sandwich ingredients for the perfect summer picnic.
Skyline Community Market: 11881 Skyline Blvd. (at Rishell Dr.), Oakland; open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Picnic + Albany Bulb
If you’re prepared to be somewhat wind-swept, swing by Picnic on San Pablo before finding a spot at Albany Bulb. The beach, which is popular among dog owners, offers lovely views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also hike a little further out to eat your lunch among the driftwood art installations.
Picnic is, as the name would suggest, a place to grab delicious, high-quality meals for outdoor consumption. You’ll find rotisserie chicken, sausages, charcuterie, bread, honey and a variety of seasonal side dishes to pack with you.
Picnic: 862 San Pablo Ave. (at Solano Ave.), Albany; open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; https://www.picnicrotisserie.com/
Zachary’s Pizza + Morcom Rose Garden
Many years ago, I brought Ethiopian takeout to enjoy in the Rose Garden. I strongly recommend against this, as the injera had already soaked up much of the moisture from the food, and trying to eat from the takeout container without making a huge mess proved difficult. But bringing something a little sturdier, like a thin-crust buffalo chicken pie from Zachary’s Pizza, to eat while savoring the beauty of the garden is delightful. (Thin crust probably reigns supreme here; deep dish also gets quite messy.) You can also stop at the Safeway on Grand to pick up your own DIY picnic ingredients.
Zachary’s Pizza: 3917 Grand Ave. (at Boulevard Way), Oakland; open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; https://zacharys.com/
The Local Butcher Shop + Live Oak Park
If you’re in the mood for a sandwich crafted with sustainably-raised meats on house-made bread, The Local Butcher Shop is the place to go. The worker-owned butchery switches its sandwich offerings every day of the week; some days, the sandwich might feature beef roast, butter-braised fennel and cabbage, lemon, spinach, tomato vinaigrette, and aioli on a sweet deli roll. Others, it could be a pork braise with sautéed peppers and onions, provolone, pickled mushroom relish, arugula, and oregano aioli. Grab your sando of the day and head to Live Oak Park, a brisk 10-minute walk up Shattuck, where you can settle on a picnic table or lay out a blanket on the grass.
The Local Butcher Shop: 1600 Shattuck Ave. Ste. 120, Berkeley (entrance on Cedar); open Tuesday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday through Monday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; https://thelocalbutchershop.com/
Santa Fe Market + Keller Beach
Santa Fe is a gem of a neighborhood market. You’ll find your typical market goods here, but if you’re in search of picnic fare, head to their deli counter, where a well-proportioned sandwich will run you just $10.99. Once you’ve secured the goods, walk 10 minutes to Keller Beach, where you’ll find several picnic tables and sweeping views of the Richmond Bridge.
Santa Fe Market: 155 W Richmond Ave., Richmond; open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Rico Rico + Lake Merritt
Consuming a world-class burrito next to any body of water, be it an urban lake or the ocean, feels like a uniquely Californian indulgence. In Oakland, the best way to do that is by grabbing Rico Rico (or Rico Rico Vegano around the corner for plant-based options) and picnicking lakeside. You might also consider the tacos at the other side of the lake from Tacos Mi Rancho, if you’re closer to the Downtown area.
Rico Rico: 3205 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland; open Sunday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday-Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; https://www.ricoricotaco.com/
Rico Rico Vegano: 677 Rand Ave., Oakland; open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; https://ricoricovegano.com/
