This is the perfect place to stay in Oakland! The location is very convenient. You’re within 20min walking distance of downtown Oakland & the Grand Lake area of Lake Merritt & even less than that to a BART station. It’s just about right on Grand Ave & a 5min walk to the Bonsai Gardens on Lake Merritt’s edge. There’s a multitude of cafes & corner markets & small grocery stores in the neighborhood & there’s a Whole Foods within 10min of walking.
The house is old & full of charm. You do have to share a full bathroom with 2 other people, but there was a half bath which made this much easier. Both full & half bathrooms were extremely clean & very well stocked with soaps, shampoo & conditioner, wipes, q-tips, and more. It had more of a family stay vibe than being a secluded, private getaway, which I really appreciated! Gloria, Henry, and Nicki were very welcoming & although I did not see them much, we did have a fun conversation in the kitchen the night I arrived! They were funny & shared a couple very cool stories. Gloria handled all the communication & she was very quick to respond & very helpful with all my questions.
The house & rooms were also very clean & tastefully decorated with interesting books and cool furniture. I stayed in the queen bed room, and WOW the mattress was comfy. There was a minifridge in the room as well as a coffee bar & a nice reading nook that got great light. The room was spacious, with a walk in closet & felt so very cozy. The neighborhood was quiet & I was able to sleep with the windows cracked open without any noise issues. Each room individually locked & had a separate key from the main house key, so I felt very secure leaving my stuff in the room. There was even a full sized kitchen downstairs to use, although I did not have time to check it out/use it.
One thing to note is that there is a dog living in the house (Mouse!), so if you are allergic, that is something to be aware of.