Albany, the charming small city bordering Berkeley, has a lot to offer in only 1.5 square miles. It boasts highly ranked public schools, parks and a variety of excellent restaurants. Here are a few gems that will make you want to explore the city.
Albany Bulb
Albany Bowl, nestled on the Albany-El Cerrito border, is one of the few bowling alleys in the East Bay. If you're looking for a relaxing Sunday in the sun, the Golden Gate Fields racetrack boasts panoramic views of San Francisco and Marin county. Gorgeous views can also be observed from Albany Bulb, a great way to enjoy an evening stroll. For the movie buffs, the Albany Twin theater shows an eclectic selection of independent and avant-garde flicks. A great place to jog is the Ohlone Greenway, a 4.5-mile pedestrian and bicycle path that follows along the BART tracks from North Berkeley to El Cerrito and passes through Albany.
Albany also offers a variety of restaurants that cover pretty much every region of the globe. They’re mainly situated on Solano Avenue, the main commercial vein of the city. All these factors make it an ideal place for people looking for a small town feel but still close to larger cities.
Zaytoon (photo from Inside Out’s Facebook page)
In July 2020, Albany started Inside Out, a volunteer-driven program to help the city’s small businesses repurpose outdoor space to welcome customers under COVID-19 limitations. Lots of restaurants participate in the program and offer outdoor dining including Zaytoon, serving delicious Mediterranean food. Head to 5 Tacos and Beers for, well, tacos and beers! They even have Meatless Monday, and sometimes live music. Craving Thai food? Go to Bua Luang Thai. Vietnamese bánh mì? Kim's Café is right there. French ratatouille or a Nutella crêpe? Rendez-Vous Cafe Bistro and Suzette Crêpe Café. Lebanese mezze? Chez Mansour is the place to go.
Some restaurants have their own outdoor spaces to welcome guests like the renowned Juanita & Maude offering refined American dishes with a seasonal focus, Sam’s Log Cabin serving classic comfort breakfast food, and Little Star Pizza, famous for their deep dish pizza with cornmeal crust.
Flowerland
Some of the interesting shopping Albany has to offer can be seen in fillgood.co, a zero-waste store dedicated to reducing all of the harmful waste in our environment by selling sustainable products. Another great place to explore is Flowerland, a nursery and gift shop for the modern gardener that has been an urban oasis in the local community for over 70 years. On the same grounds, you can grab a delicious cup of coffee or tea at Highwire Coffee’s vintage Airstream trailer. Tucked along a street perpendicular to Solano Avenue is Morningtide, a lifestyle shop carrying thoughtfully-curated home accessories, gifts, clothing, and jewelry by independent designers and craftspeople - it’s a great place to find a gift for that special someone. Abrams Claghorn Gallery presents home goods and art from local makers and emerging artists. And if your life needs a little “spice,” the Oaktown Spice Shop offers high-quality culinary spices, herbs and hand-crafted blends.
Have a sweet tooth? Head to the vegan ice cream joint Mr Dewie’s, or consider Pâtisserie Rotha for arguably one of the best croissants in the East Bay. For coffee lovers, there are a few great stops on Solano including Hal’s Office, Souvenir Coffee, and Royal Ground Coffee.
Solano Avenue Stroll (photo from Solano Avenue Association and Stroll’s Facebook page)
Since 1974 Solano Avenue and the twin cities of Albany and Berkeley have hosted the Solano Avenue Stroll, one of East Bay’s largest street festivals. This event promotes the unique traits of Solano Avenue, helping independently-owned businesses, artists, and community organizations thrive through exposure and fundraising. It features over 500 vendors including entertainers, food booths, government and non-profit agencies, juried hand-crafters, an entry parade, state-of-the-art mechanical rides and much more. Participants and event guests visit from all over the West Coast. Sadly, the 2020 Solano Avenue Stroll was cancelled due to Covid but will hopefully resume in 2021.
To learn more about Albany real estate, or if you have questions about living in the East Bay, don’t hesitate to reach out.
**Please note that some of the mentioned businesses and spaces may be temporarily closed during COVID-19. Contact these locations before you visit to make sure you have their most current hours.**
