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Home About Discover Oakland

Nestled on the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay, Oakland provides a rich ground for exploration and personal growth. In a city where more than 100 languages are spoken, you can nosh on Brazilian food one day and Burmese the next. Spend Friday nights dancing to hip-hop and cumbia at a museum, or go trail running through more than 2,300 acres of redwood forests. 

Explore the city

A large crowd enjoys a concert in an indoor venue, with bright stage lights shining and confetti falling from above, creating an energetic and festive atmosphere.

Oakland Arena

3.5 miles from campus

Indoor concert and live event venue

Aerial view of an empty baseball stadium with green field, brown infield, and surrounding seating areas. Some seats are shaded, and the parking lot around the stadium appears mostly empty.

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

3.5 miles from campus

Outdoor sports, concert, and live event venue

Aerial view of a modern building with a glass dome roof, surrounded by trees and greenery, with sunlight streaming through morning mist and clouds in the background.
DiscoverOakland chabot

Chabot Space and Science Center

4.1 miles from campus

Science center with an observatory and planetarium

Four young adults walk together on a city sidewalk, smiling and holding coffee cups. A theater marquee and rainbow flags are visible in the background, creating a lively urban atmosphere.

Grand Lake Theatre

4.3 miles from campus

Renovated Art Deco movie theater

A lion stands partly hidden behind leafy branches in a grassy, sunlit outdoor enclosure, looking intently ahead.

Oakland Zoo

4.5 miles from campus

Wildlife conservation facility serving as a home to more than 850 animals

DiscoverOakland

Oakland Museum of California

5 miles from campus

California art, history, and natural sciences museum and community space

Red Chinese lanterns hang in a row above a city street lined with buildings. Colorful triangular flags and smaller lanterns are strung across the street, creating a festive atmosphere in the sunlight.
DiscoverOakland chinatown

Oakland Chinatown

5.6 miles from campus

Pan-Asian community with cultural events, restaurants, grocery stores, and shopping

A large crowd at a concert raises their hands toward the brightly lit stage, where a performer sings with one arm in the air amid colorful lights and smoke.
DiscoverOakland newparish

The New Parish

6 miles from campus

Live music venue

A group of people sitting in a movie theater, smiling and watching a film. A woman in a yellow sweater holds popcorn, and a man next to her holds a drink. Red theater seats fill the scene.
DiscoverOakland newparkway

The New Parkway Theater

6.5 miles from campus

Theater screening new and throwback films; venue for gaming and community events

A view from the stage of an empty theater auditorium, featuring rows of red seats and multiple balconies with warm lighting.
DiscoverOakland paramount

Paramount Theatre

6.8 miles from campus

Live event venue, home of the Oakland Symphony and Oakland Ballet

Night view of the historic Fox Theater in Oakland, California, illuminated with red lights and a bright marquee displaying upcoming performances. The building features ornate architectural details and a large vertical sign reading "Oakland.
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Fox Theater

6.9 miles from campus

Live music venue

Entrance to Jack London Square in Oakland, California, with large archway sign, palm trees, American flag, parked cars, and a parking entrance visible on a sunny day.
DiscoverOakland jacklondon

Jack London Square

7.9 miles from campus

Free events, music, restaurants, and more on the waterfront

Sports

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Close-up of two soccer players running towards a white soccer ball on a grassy field, with their legs in motion and other players blurred in the background.
DiscoverOakland soul

Oakland Soul

2.3 miles from campus

USL W League women’s soccer 

Merritt College

Soccer players in blue and white uniforms are on the field, preparing for kickoff in a stadium with a large crowd of spectators in the stands.
DiscoverOakland roots

Oakland Roots

3.5 miles from campus

USLC men’s soccer 

Oakland Coliseum

A cricket bowler delivers the ball to a batsman, with the wicketkeeper and fielders positioned around the pitch, while an umpire observes the play. All players are dressed in traditional white uniforms.
DiscoverOakland unicorns

San Francisco Unicorns

3.5 miles from campus

Cognizant MLC men’s cricket 

Oakland Coliseum

A baseball player in a white uniform slides headfirst into a base as a player in a gray uniform attempts to tag him out. Dirt is kicked up by the slide.
DiscoverOakland ballers

Oakland Ballers

7.7 miles from campus

Pioneer League men’s baseball 

Raimondi Park

Parks and outdoor recreation

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Looking up from the forest floor, tall trees stretch toward the sky with sunlight filtering through their branches and leaves, creating a dramatic and vibrant canopy overhead.

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

4.3 miles from campus

Archery, biking, camping, hiking, horseback riding, jogging, and picnicking among 1,833-acres of California redwoods and streams

A dirt path winds through a sunlit forest of tall, dense redwood trees. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground, with green undergrowth lining the trail.

Joaquin Miller Park

4.4 miles from campus

Biking, hiking, horseback riding, jogging, and picnicking among 500-acres of California redwoods and oak trees

Aerial view of a large urban lake surrounded by trees, parks, and city buildings at sunset, with clear skies and roads winding around the water.

Lake Merritt

5 miles from campus

Baseball, boating, jogging, and picnicking surrounding an urban wildlife refuge and themed gardens; restaurants and shops adjacent

A scenic view overlooking a lush, green park with a small lake, surrounded by trees. In the distance, a city skyline rises under a clear sky, with mountains visible on the horizon.
DiscoverOakland temescal

Temescal Regional Recreation Area

7.1 miles from campus

Biking, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and swimming in and around Lake Temescal

Restaurants 

Grand Lake Kitchen

2042 MacArthur Boulevard

2.2 miles from campus

American, vegetarian options

Bellanico

4238 Park Boulevard

3 miles from campus

Italian, wine bar

Paulista Brazilian Kitchen

4239 Park Boulevard

3.3 miles from campus

Brazilian, cafe, taproom

Daughter Thai Kitchen

6118 Medua Place 

3.9 miles from campus

Thai, vegan options

Almond and Oak

3311 Grand Avenue

4.2 miles from campus

California cuisine, vegetarian options

Burma Superstar

4721 Telegraph Avenue

4.2 miles from campus

Burmese, vegan options

Mijori

3260 Grand Avenue

4.3 miles from campus

Japanese, sushi

Commis

3859 Piedmont Avenue

5.1 miles from campus

New American

Two Michelin stars

Cat Town/Souvenir Coffee

2869 Broadway

5.4 miles from campus

Light breakfast and lunch, coffee

First cat cafe in the U.S. 

FOB Kitchen

5179 Telegraph Ave.

6.6 miles from campus

Filipino, vegetarian options

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza

5801 College Ave.

7.9 miles from campus

Pizza, vegetarian options

Plank

98 Broadway

8 miles from campus

American, beer garden

Arcade games, bowling, and bocce 

Hotels

In Oakland

Executive Inn and Suites Embarcadero Cove

1755 Embarcadero

4.6 miles from campus

Oakland Marriott City Center

1001 Broadway

5.9 miles from campus 

In the Greater East Bay

Claremont Club and Spa

41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley

7.1 miles from campus

Hampton Inn and Suites Alameda-Oakland Airport

1700 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda

7.7 miles from campus

Home2 Suites by Hilton Alameda, Oakland Airport

1660 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda

7.7 miles from campus

Hilton Garden Inn Oakland/San Leandro

510 Lewelling Boulevard, San Leandro

9.7 miles from campus

Groceries and sundries

Ace Hardware

4024 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland

1 mile from campus

Safeway

4100 Redwood Road, Oakland

1.4 miles from campus

Trader Joe’s

3250 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland

2.2 miles from campus

3.8 miles from campus

Whole Foods Market

230 Bay Place, Oakland

5.8 miles from campus

Yet Sun Market #1

397 8th Street, Oakland

8.4 miles from campus

Target

2700 Fifth Street, Alameda

10.2 miles from campus

Smart and safe: Navigating metropolitan areas with confidence

Northeastern University in Oakland works closely with our local neighborhoods to foster strong bonds. These efforts contribute to a positive environment, but it’s important to take common-sense precautions and keep personal safety in mind in any large metropolitan setting.

Secure your valuables

Do not advertise your valuables in public. Remove valuables from your vehicle before parking. Do not leave luggage, phones, or other valuables unattended in your vehicle.

Be aware of your surroundings

Travel in well-lit areas. Avoid distractions such as listening to music, talking on a cell phone, and text messaging when possible. Know what is going on around you and keep alert. Also, there is safety in numbers. Travel with others, especially at night and in the early hours of the morning. Plan your route and avoid unfamiliar streets.