FEBRUARY 2026
BLUEPRINT
EAST B AY
A L O C A L N E W S L ET T E R
Hot Spots It’s been a busy start to 2026 with some outstanding new openings in the area. Here are some of our favorites (so far):
OAKLAND’S
BAR PANISSE - BERKELEY Berkeley’s most celebrated food establishment, Chez Panisse, nally opens it’s sister right bar next door. The walk-in only bar serves thoughtfully curated small plates, cocktails and has a draft list, too. As one would expect, the execution on all of the above is excellent and the interior space feels familiar and new at the very same time. It’s also the most casual of the 3 Alice Waters options. Thurs - Mon 5-10PM, 1515 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley FLOUR + WATER - OAKLAND Oakland just landed a great new addition. Famous in SF for their thin, crispy-yet-chewy pizzas made with slow fermented dough, the Oakland location thoughtfully leans local with Oaktown Spice Co.–seasoned wings, a bright green sauce inspired by another East Bay pizza institution, and a beer collaboration with Temescal Brewing. It’s a con dent, community minded opening and another sign that Oakland continues to shine as one of the Bay Area’s most exciting food destinations. Wed-Mon 11:30-10PM, The Lark Building, 271 24th St, Oakland
UPSWING Oakland has always had an underdog spirit. It’s creative, independent, and quite proud, sometimes in ways that make it a little harder to “package” than other cities. Over the past few years, the challenges have been very real: public safety, expanding homelessness, business strain, and a lot of residents feeling exhausted from the headlines. But as we enter 2026, it feels like we’re seeing something that’s worth noting: upward momentum. For one, the public safety conversation is shifting because the numbers are starting to shift. Multiple reports show violent crime fell (-25%) in 2025, including a meaningful reduction in homicides (-22%) compared to 2024. While that doesn’t erase anyone’s lived experience (and it doesn’t mean the work is done), it does matter. At the same time, Oakland’s national reputation is quietly getting a refresh in the place where it’s always had a superpower: culture . . . especially food. Oakland was named the #1 “Best Food City” in the U.S. for the second year in a row by Condé Nast Traveler readers, ahead of cities like New Orleans, New York, and even San Francisco. And it’s not just about bragging rights, it signals economic gravity. A strong food scene supports small business ecosystems, keeps neighborhoods vibrant, and gives people a reason to spend time (and money) locally. And best of all, Oakland’s strength here isn’t just in one “hot” neighborhood it traverses the entire city.
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Now, let’s talk real estate because this is where the “Oakland comeback” story needs some clarity. Oakland, like the Inner East Bay, is not one market. Citywide stats can look soft (for example, Oakland’s median sale price was down year-over-year in late 2025), while certain submarkets (Rockridge & N. Oakland) showed gains. That’s not a contradiction but rather the market doing what it always does in transition periods: rewarding the neighborhoods and homes that feel safest, most livable, and most “ready,” (Continued)