Breakfast in Oakland, California - 24-Hour Travel Guide

Fried Chicken & Waffle

Breakfast - There are so many great breakfast spots in the East Bay, rather than try to choose one, we'll go for 24 hours of breakfast. Breakfast for lunch, breakfast for dinner, and of course, breakfast for breakfast.

First stop: the newest in new... Brown Sugar Kitchen. Mandela Parkway around 28th... yeah, that's right, the middle of nowhere. Trust me on this one. Great vibe, great place, it's like Lois the Pie Queen but nice inside and the chicken might be free range. So of course, you must start the day right (Breakfast is the most important meal): Chicken and Waffles. Light and flaky batter, solid waffle, great syrup. Of course, Blue Bottle coffee to start the day and all the other "price of admission" for a gourmet East Bay breakfast.

Morning - Find a way to work it off. Maybe we'll get some exercise and walk the lake at Lake Merritt. A 5 mile stroll to digest that delicious Fried Chicken start to the day.

Lunch - It's breakfast for lunch today, so let's go to Rick and Ann's, up by the Claremont Hotel. (2922 Domingo Avenue, technically in Berkeley but a block or two from Oakland). Lots of great things here, and I would typically do the Doc's Delight (substitute bacon for the sausage, just because that's how I like it), but since we had a waffle for breakfast already, we should try something with the Red Flannel Hash, which is great (despite, or some would say, because of the beets in it).

Afternoon - We're pretty close to the hills, so drive or bike up and up to Grizzly Peak, and hike around at one of the great East Bay Regional Parks. Sibley is right there, or head over to Redwood or Joaquin Miler. You can't go wrong. Work off that hash, and feel like you've gone to the mountains while minutes from the city.

Dinner - Take it retro with the Merritt Bakery, just off Lake Merritt (203 E 18th St, and yes, this one is indubitably in Oakland). It's a classic diner, no organic feta and brie omelets here. You can do a roundtrip from breakfast with a good chicken and waffles again, or tasty silver dollar pancakes or whatever tickles your fancy. This place is authentic, tasty, open late, and worth a visit.

After Dark - You're done... time to settle in to something sedentary. A movie? Fall asleep on the couch? Nothing more ambitious than this.

Sleep - Your own home. Nobody travels to Oakland to do 24 hours of breakfast.

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