By Jonathan Bair for Visit Oakland
According to the Census, Oakland along with San Francisco make up the most queer metropolitan area in America, so it’s no surprise that Oakland’s diverse and creative population includes many LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs! From nightlife to dining to shopping to services, many of Oakland’s unique businesses are owned by queer individuals.
Sample some, using this guide.
Bars and Nightlife
Femme-forward queer and trans bar There/There slings thoughtful cocktails including non-alcoholic options, wines by the glass, and international appetizers in a sleek space carved out of a century-old industrial building.
Oakland’s White Horse Bar is the oldest continuously-operating gay bar in the United States.
College students, old-timers and everyone in-between frequent this Telegraph Avenue queer anchor, often enjoying drag king performances and soulful karaoke nights.
In the heart of Uptown, Art Deco-inspired Town Bar gathers gays and friends into a packed dance floor under soaring ceilings. An ever-changing cocktail menu and some of the East Bay’s most energetic DJs make for sweaty evenings at this downtown queer mainstay.
Fluid510 on Broadway downtown, owned by gay community leaders, is a bar and event space with a menu of cocktails and food for every appetite. From boozy brunches to ballroom dance-offs, Fluid510 turns up the dial on the queer social scene.
Find more queer bars in our Downtown Oakland Queer Bar Crawl
Restaurants
Brenda’s draws diners from across the city to North Oakland to enjoy New Orleans-style fried delicacies like catfish po’ boys and beignets. This vegan-friendly, no-reservations, quick-serve spot is especially popular for brunch and take-out.
Lauded for its inspired, modern Filipino cuisine, FOB Kitchen in the trendy Temescal neighborhood presents vibrant flavors in a tropical atmosphere. Don’t miss the inventive cocktails - or the delectable desserts! FOB is also at Prescott Market in West Oakland.
Farmhouse Kitchen serves tasty and Instagrammable Southeast Asian dishes with queer flair amid a riotously colorful celebration of Thai culture. Sister restaurant Noka Ramen, around the corner in Jack London Square, serves Sailor Moon-themed sake flights to accompany their signature, rich, tasty noodle soups in a faux-flower-filled dining room.
Downtown’s Tay Ho is celebrated in the local media for its expertly-prepared, brightly seasoned regional Vietnamese fare, offered alongside Asian-spiced cocktails and a thoughtful wine list.
Cafe Gabriela is a downtown breakfast and lunch favorite for tasty, Filipina-inflected sandwiches and salads. A short walk from the 12th Street BART Station and several hotels, this Californified diner is sure to please any hungry visitor.
Worker-owned, queer-led Understory serves vegan-friendly fusion cuisine in the vibrant Fruitvale District, to an appreciative, largely queer clientele.
Retail & Services
Nathan & Co, on College and Piedmont Avenues in North Oakland, sells gifts so thoughtful you’ll be tempted to buy something for yourself! From cocktail accessories to Oakland-themed housewares, from greeting cards to delicate jewelry, owner Nathan Waldon has a remarkable talent for stocking irresistible trinkets.
At Alkali Rye, in the vibrant Grand Lake neighborhood, two queer women of color sell a carefully-curated selection of liquors in an elegant atmosphere, highlighting Black and women-owned brands.
Radically Fit, a gym for queer, trans, femme and non-conforming folks, regularly hosts drag and community-supporting events. Online and in-person fitness classes are available for non-members looking to move their bodies for health.
On bustling, charming Piedmont Avenue, Tally Ho! Books is everything that makes an independent bookstore indispensable - thoughtful recommendations, literary events, and unique local finds. Selling new and used books including large feminist and LGBTQ sections, Tally Ho! is a cozy space to browse and discover.
