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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Oakland

30 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Oakland, California

Updated July 12, 2022

Unusual Attractions in Oakland

Oakland, California

Chapel of the Chimes

Julia Morgan's Moorish-Gothic labyrinth of fountains, trees, natural light and Oakland's notable dead.

Oakland, California

Lake Merritt's Bonsai Garden

Bonsai garden in Oakland is curated by the first non-Japanese female bonsai master in the United States.

Oakland, California

Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon

Dive bar built out of the remains of a whaling ship.

Oakland, California

Mazzariello Labyrinth

Spiral labyrinth hidden in the hills above Oakland, CA.

Oakland, California

Jonestown Memorial

The memorial to the victims of the Jonestown Massacre carries the names of 918 lost, including one name people wish wasn't there.

Oakland, California

Children's Fairyland

This Oakland fairytale kingdom, fiercely devoted to childlike whimsy, was an early inspiration for Disneyland.

Oakland, California

Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate

Neoclassical Revival mansion and set of horror cult classic Phantasm.

Oakland, California

Bay Area Thelemic Temple

A temple devoted to inner esoteric mysteries located in a California commercial strip.

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Oakland

Oakland, California

Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon

Dive bar built out of the remains of a whaling ship.

Oakland, California

Ratto's Market & Deli

International delicatessen has been owned and operated by the same family for more than 110 years.

Oakland, California

Watermelon Rock

A unique piece of graffiti offers a little slice of local history and mystery.

Oakland, California

It's All Good Bakery

This bakery sits on the site of the Black Panther Party's first headquarters.

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Stories About Oakland

Inside America's Premier Black Rodeo, A Celebration of Cowboy Culture

A photographer captures perseverance and pride over a decade of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo.

by Gemma Tarlach

Podcast: Women of the Black Panther Mural

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Women of the Black Panther Mural

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

The Unfortunately Action-Packed Afterlife of a California Grave-Robbery Victim

Nearly 140 years after being snatched, almost dissected, and eventually reburied, Clara Loeper may finally get a headstone.

by Erika Mailman

Oakland's Favorite Monster Is Back—and Greener Than Ever

A restoration project has given a once-iconic sculpture a new lease on life.

by Sabrina Imbler

The Quest to Revive the Bay Area's Fabled Doggie Diners

One man is determined to get these giant dachshunds smiling down on customers once more.

by Matthew Taub

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