This is an absolutely gorgeous little cottage - Ericka has done a wonderful job of decorating it and it's in my very favorite part of the East Bay - so handy to great restaurants, cafes, food stores, bookstores and more - and literally a couple of minutes walk from the BART station (and also the buses). I would stay again and will be recommending it to friends. Highly recommended.
My top tips for Rockridge:
- coffee from Highwire or Bica - both of these crews really know how to make espresso and both also have really good chai (and if you are from NZ or Australia, the baristas at Highwire will happily make you a flat white)
- Market Hall for baked goods, cheeses, fish, wine, fresh produce & locally made treats including Tcho chocolate
- Namaste Yoga on College Ave - I especially recommend Kimber Simpkins classes
- Pegasus books on College Ave has great used books at great prices as well as new books and Diesel Books has a fabulous range as new books
- the downstairs part of Olivetti on the Corner of Shafter & College is a great spot for a glass of wine or a meal
- a little further up College Ave towards Berkeley - there's a little strip with three great spots:
- Trappist is a boutique beer place, where you can taste some fabulous beers, and snack on pickled veggies, nuts or cheese
- Southie is a great burger place and it's 'big brother' next door Wood Tavern consistently delivers great food, great service
I'm also a BIG fan of the restaurants on Telegraph Ave block between 51st and 49th Street (aka Temescal): including Pizzaiola, Dona Tomas, Burma Superstar, Barlata
Also - there are a couple of fantastic little alleyways in behind that block, just off 49th St between Telegraph and Clarke St - another fabulous espresso spot, a great vintage clothing store, and a really wonderful store from jeweller Marisa Haskell
FInally, the BART is obviously super convenient - but if you want a little bit of an adventure (or the BART workers are on strike, as they were this week) take the 51A bus from College Ave & Forest (less than 5 mins walk) to Jack London Square and get the ferry over to the city.