Nice Saturday sipping wine, sitting by the water and spending a nice little DEI afternoon. Perfect…read moreplace to land your feet after a ferry ride over. Crowd was, thankfully, diverse. Wine selection (I''m a strictly Chardonnay and Prosecco person), was nice, nice selection of bites (the warm bread w/ the Brie ... perfect ... and wait service was fun and very attentive ... special treat is to be by the water and seeing the joy playing in the grass, walking along the harbor ... and just being! Def a "treat yo'self" good time experience, go on the weekends and enjoy live music

Decided to randomly stop here last weekend while in town…read more We sat outside and the view was stunning. It was such a nice day. We did a red and white flight of wine. The wine was so nice. Bottles are reasonably priced. We also had lunch here. Food was decent. Takes a minute to come out. Staff was friendly enough but not very attentive. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the Jack London area.

This is the only winery in Oakland, and one of the few urban wineries in the Bay Area where you can…read morechat directly with the head winemaker in the tasting room most days. Quality whites and rosés, and a solid lineup of reds. Easy parking, and a relaxed environment. Highly recommend.

A fun little wine bar in Jack London Square. Stu, the winemaker was there talking to all of the…read morecustomers and keeping everyone entertained. Service was great. Tasting fee is a little pricey but this is a small mom and pop winery not a giant corporation. The wines are priced around $45 for most of them, I really enjoyed the rose and the Temprenillo. Note: they have food for purchase but do not have a kitchen so it is pre packaged. If you're hungry you may want to eat first before going tasting.

Coco Noir is one of the cutest vibes in Oakland for mature people looking for a quality place to…read moreunwind, imbibe, and connect with friends. The atmosphere is quaint, welcoming, and thoughtfully curated. They frequently host live music and offer a variety of games and activities that align with what's happening around the city and the season. It's a great spot to meet friends before dinner or after dinner, although I'm not entirely sure of their late-night hours. The restrooms are clean, comfortable, and beautifully designed, which honestly matters in a wine bar. While Coco Noir doesn't offer a full menu, they do have bits and bites, including charcuterie boards crafted by an amazing chef. Chef Shan Shan puts genuine love and care into everything she creates, and she has done an outstanding job with her role at Coco Noir. Because of her alone, I've become a regular and will continue to be a loyal patron of this amazing venue. If you're looking for a cute, cozy spot to relax, connect, and enjoy good vibes, check out Coco Noir. You won't be disappointed. Tell them Dorothy sent you you may get an extra pour

Coco Noir is my neighborhood wine bar! Great wine selection,…read morecharcuterie and the service is amazing! The space is modern, a tad industrial and very chic. I love that they also have pop up chefs on the weekend! Great local Black woman owned wine bar!

Gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and the redwoods They…read moreoffer lots of Pinots a great chenin blanc and various chardonnay's. It's a trek to get up here they offer Beautiful vistas and nice grounds They have space for private tastings. You can hold private events or fundraisers up to 100 guests. And stay nearby at timber cove. They also offer great food pairings. Tammy was super nice as our hostess

I was driving up 1 and I saw the sign so I decided to drive in. The trip on the side road felt a…read morelot longer than the advertised 2 miles but I wasn't in a hurry. I got there and saw a sign that said "Appointments Required" which almost turned me away but I decided to drive down the dirt road since the gates were open anyways. I arrived at the tasting room which was quite nice looking. After walking up to the counter the staffmember I talked to apologized for not having their private chef there but gave me the rundown of their offerings. The tasting price was unexpected but I guess I'm just used to how things were in the early 2000s when tastings in Sonoma were a lot more casual. I decided to just dive in and got two bottles to go. I think this place is more of a destination than I expected, which is cool, it was very much a nice spot to visit. I'll probably come back in the summer to get the full experience.

Easy to work with, wonderful driver (thank you, Gio!), such a fun way to get around the Bay!read more

Rented a medium size party bus for a bachelor party. On time, clean, and always nearby and quick…read morefor whenever we needed pick up during our night. Dontaye was a fantastic driver, accommodating, and kind. Can't recommend enough for a night out with a large group.

Everything about Marquis Charters was first class. Captain Dave has EXCELLENT communication…read morethrough the planning, and the voyage. The crew were all friendly and real pros as well. When we charter again in the SF Bay, we will defintely use Captain Dave and Marquis Charters again!!

What an amazing silver soirée 40th birthday for my sister!!! Dave was very professional and detail…read moreoriented from the booking process, to the planning of the event, to the day of festivities, we were pampered and taken care of like Queens and Kings!!! Dave made this so easy, I give him a few ideas and he cultivated and crafted it to life. I couldn't believe how meticulous and beautiful the day was. My sister was truly brought to tears. There was a customized champagne flute, a customized birthday welcome sign on an easel, fresh flowers, balloons, the colors and decor were honestly all on point!!! We were even able to come up with a chef inspired menu to hit the notes of our food favorites and Dave even has menu customized and laminated for the event. The crewmembers were some of the nicest top-notch service personnel we've ever met. We were even able to come up with a drink menu and they were bartenders on deck too! Truly was white glove service all around. If you put your contract in with Marquis Charters, you will not be disappointed as every dollar will be worth it!!!

Had dinner at Yoshi's Oakland on Mother's Day before the evening show. We ordered the calamari,…read morespider roll, fire dragon roll, warriors roll, and avocado maki. The calamari was definitely my favorite! Loved how lightly fried it was, and the jalapeño sauce was such a nice touch. The sushi rolls were on the smaller side and felt a bit too rice-heavy with not enough filling. After dinner, we headed into the music venue side of Yoshi's to see The Best Intentions and they were incredible! One thing to note: seating is assigned by the venue and can feel pretty tight since tables are often shared.

I've been contemplating writing this review for a few months. I wanted to give a raving review as…read moremost of the experience was great. Anyhow, we had dinner first for a party of 9. The restaurant itself was a nice atmosphere. We ordered salads, appetizers, sushi, entrees, desserts, and plenty spirits/cocktails. Our server, Owen, was on top of his service. He was great with suggestions and checked on us often. The food was a bit pricey but expected. Nice presentation and food was good. For the show afterwards, we had a booth with a great view. It was a good time. Good vibes and all. The service was there as we kept the drinks coming. My only thing that knocked two stars down was the host. Which I think his name was Chung. He was absolutely rude and had such a condescending attitude towards my party when they were checking in. If you're a host, act like it! You represent the restaurant and the front line of it all when patrons come in. Such a disappointment for a nice establishment! Luckily, the rest of the experience was pleasant.

Cafe Van Kleef is just the right amount of funky and eclectic mixed with a splash of dive-bar charm…read moreand a garnish of chaos and art. I love places with personality, and this one totally delivered. Go just to enjoy the little Ali Baba cavern of curiosities that it is, you won't regret it. Also, if you're citrus-obsessed like me, they serve fresh grapefruit juice in all its forms and variations and the drinks are delicious!

Fun funky silly place to hang. The cartoonishly large grapefruit slide was actually very welcomed…read moreand I don't usually like grapefruit. Had it w vodka and tequila and both were great, the classic is a great drink.

FREE BOAT TOUR?? Say less…read more Scored tickets on Eventbrite by sheer luck and fast fingers--like, Hunger Games fast. I clicked "register" and two minutes later the entire thing was sold out. The site was lagging so bad it felt like I was trying to buy Taylor Swift tickets, but for a ship. They handed out free Oakland Harbor pins like it was Halloween, which honestly made me feel very official. The tour itself? A+ vibes. The guides were funny, informative, and clearly living their best sea-loving lives. Fun fact: apparently most of the giant shipping boats cruising in come from Asia, and somehow I've passed them for years without noticing the country names literally written on the sides. Who knew? Now the downside: the snacks were a crime. No garlic fries. Just $10 tea and peanuts combo that somehow made my "free" boat ride feel bougie. If you sit outside (which I did because I like wind and pretending I'm in a dramatic movie scene), just know the speakers are basically whispering. But hey, vibes over volume, right? Totally recommend--just bring your own snacks and your best clicking finger.

Every season, the Port of Oakland offers free 90-minute tours if the port in the Red and White…read moreFerry. I just happened to go on the dirt one this year. The weather was perfect and it was a fun, engaging experience. They narrate most of the ride out, pointing out significant ships and places along the channel. You pass Alameda, sail over BART, glide under the Bay Bridge, and cruise by Angel Island. If you listen, you will definitely learn something new. The best place to sit or stand is on the right (facing Oakland). I was inside, because I needed to sit, but there was easy access to the back of the boat. I got some great pics. There is also easy access to the snack bar. They have candy, chips, soda, and other snackables. The surprise offering was cup of noodles, which seemed really popular. They did a brisk business the whole trip. The best parts for me were the cranes, seeing the bridge up close, and check your the lighthouse on Angel Island, particularly the cranes. Shout to George Lucas. He claims the cranes weren't the inspiration for the imperial walkers on Hoth. We all know better. Anyway, be prepared to stand in line a bit before boarding (like at least 1/2 an hour), lots of people, and lots of kids. It seemed popular with families. Time seemed approximate. The tour started "late" and ended a bit late. Nothing too obscene, just don't plan anything immediately following. The tours are popular, so sign up early. Again, it's free, and it's pretty delightful. Definitely recommended.

Im happy to say I didn't have to miss out on all my fav festivals in the year. Eat Real food…read morefestival held at Oakland's Jack london Square was unfortunately cancelled this year as so many other festivals due to Covid-19. This is one of the few fest I volunteer for every year and have so many amazing experiences. I got an email last week notifying me that I could still support in a big way for Eat Real to continue...voila...the take home fest box. What a sweet idea to get all the food you still love and give to the community at the same time. Here is what my box included: Chicharon Fried Pork Rinds with Chili Lime Salt from Jeepney Guy Japanese Fried Chicken from Aburaya Take & Bake Chicken and Shrimp Paella from Gerard's Paella Oxtail Taco Kit from alaMar Take & Bake (Frozen) Gumbo Pot Pie from Samara's Southern Creations Set of 3 Macarons from Shades of Sugar Bakeshop: Mint Watermelon: spearmint, watermelon ganache and sloe gin Peach Melba: vanilla, peach ganache, raspberry and bourbon Banana Foster: cinnamon, banana ganache, caramel and rum Hopefully we'll be thru this pandemic soon so we can go back to having a little more fun again...till then.... Keep supporting local bay area business!!!

Overdue review! This…read moreyear was my first time attending the Eat Real Festival. For those who have never been or heard of Eat Real, it is a free event that is a combo of a state fair, food festival, and block party to celebrate good eats, along with bringing awareness to where our food comes from, who grows it, how it is grown, and how to cook it. There were over 50 vendors, and 30 craft beers, wines, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages to try! There was also live music and cooking demons, family-friendly activities, and other ticketed culinary experiences. The fiancé and I were able to find street parking nearby, but parking in general around this area is fairly difficult. There were also a lot of people at the event, so unfortunately trying to find a place to sit and eat was challenging. Additionally, lines for some of the food trucks were extremely long. This limited the foods we wanted to try out. Despite all that, the fiancé and I enjoyed the festival as first timers. It was a nice to check out the different vendors and learn about their mission. However, I would take a pass next year.