Living in Oakland’s Temescal Neighborhood

Typical Temescal scenes: Children gobbling down ice cream at Curbside Creamery. Guys getting their hair trimmed in the old-fashioned Temescal Alley Barber Shop. Creatives shopping at The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.

Restaurants in Temescal include Cholita Linda, Pizziaolo, Burma Superstar, Bakesale Betty, Sacred Wheel, Bowl'd, Homeroom, and Dona Tomas. If you're struggling to choose a restaurant, make sure you attend the fall event Taste of Temescal, where you can sample from each of these popular restaurants and more!

Grab a post dinner drink at one of the original Oakland businesses like Kingfish Pub & Cafe (not actually a cafe, but hey - there's free popcorn!). Kingfish opened as a bait shop in 1922 and transformed over the years to the Temescal dive bar we know and love today. Beers are also served at the nearby Temescal Brewing, a new beer garden with a hip vibe that features the occasional food truck.

Buried underneath the bustling neighborhood lies parts of Temescal Creek. It was covered in the 60s and 70s to make room for the urban development we see today. The creek received its name from the native tribes that used to inhabit the area. They built small sweat houses, called Temescals, along the creek. The tribes would socialize in these heated houses and when the temperature became unbearable they would jump into the water to cool off. These days we can hang with the Friends of Temescal Creek to discuss the natural resources this area once provided, to help maintain the neighborhoods parks, and to feel that sense of community this area is known for.