West Oakland is one of the most historically important regions of the city, and continues to be one of the most eclectic and interesting parts of town. Situated between Downtown Oakland and the Bay Bridge, West Oakland has been the center of Oakland’s industry for more than a century, serving the nation via rail cars and the world through its port.

Through much of the 1900’s, much of the city’s power and culture rested in the West Oakland region, but everything changed with the construction of the Cypress Freeway, which essentially cut the neighborhood off from the rest of the city. During this time, the Black Panther movement came out of the neighborhood. After the freeway’s destruction in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the closing of the Oakland Army Base, West Oakland began a path of redevelopment that continue to this day.

Filled with many condos and warehouse lofts, West Oakland also has pockets of historic Victorians that would amaze you. Many well known businesses have made West Oakland home, from the Lonely Planet line of travel books to world-renowned Blue Bottle Coffee, which many people wrongly assume is a San Francisco phenomenon. Local businesses thrive as well, such as the Linden Street Brewery and Brown Sugar Kitchen, which serves up one of the best brunches in the bay area.

Artists and creative folks of all stripes have been attracted to the open possibilities of West Oakland. The Crucible is a star of the arts and crafts world for its groundbreaking work with metal and glass. Get in shape like they do in the circus at Trapeze Arts. Or catch a concert or art show at the Black New World club. And amateur and professional photographers alike can snap stellar shots of the bay at Portview Park, way out on the water, offering views you cannot get anywhere else.

While the neighborhood may seem far from life to some people, don’t forget that you can quickly get almost anywhere you want on BART, thanks to the centrally located West Oakland BART station. There is also easy access to the Bay Bridge and the “casual carpool” program. West Oakland residents are minutes from San Francisco, Downtown Oakland, and Emeryville.