Stay at The Claremont in Oakland?

Is this a decent place to stay, just for fun?

My wife and I will be doing some "antiqueing" next week, focusing on the Arts and Crafts genre. Berkeley, Alameda and Oakland are good areas for this. So I was thinking of staying at The Claremont for a couple of days, just for the heck of it.

Is this a good idea? Got a better one?

Is Chez Panisse still worth it, or any food ideas?

(This is our annual "All kids away at camp" vacation with my wife)


Jay and Yvonne

 

I think Claremont is actually Berzerkley but in any event it is near the border. Since I have lived close by for most of my life I have never stayed there. It's supposed to be a pretty nice place. The place has spa facilities that are supposed to be nice and used/liked by many locals.

Not a big Chez P fan. Think it is over rated. That area of Berzerkley is known as the "Gourmet Getto". Lots of small very plain places with good food. If you are dining in Berkeley or Oakland look up Le Cheval. Vietnamese/French. Very good. Locations in both towns.

 

A stay at the Claremont will not disappoint.

 

Hey JM! Sounds like you guys are going to have some fun. Chez Panisse is usu. great but they have a set menu nightly and it could be a "major fail" if there are certain things you do not like. They have the weeks menu online to check out http://www.chezpanisse.com/menus/restaurant-menu/ Upstairs in the less formal cafe you have a selection of items to choose from.

There is a great pizza place called the Cheeseboard Collective nearby Chez Panisse across the street and of course there is Zachary's Pizza as well. Cheeseboard is more artisan style pizza and they have only vegetarian options but you probably won't notice since the pizza is amazing. Zachary's is an excellent deepdish Chicago style pizza and probably the best west of Chicago. You can't go wrong with both pizza joints.

For higher end stuff there is Five Restaurant (Scott Howard's newer establishment) and Meritage restaurant at the Claremont. Cheers!

 

JM, Claremont did a multimillion $ renovation over the last two years and just a couple months back I did a tour of all of their facilities - singles, suites, spa, dining, etc. It really is in great shape. Like any place, they have their stinker rooms downstairs, near the dumpster pick-up point, but if you are specific about what you want in terms of view, I think you'll be pleased.

 

Ok, thanks. We are going tomorrow morning, and will take all of your advice on where to eat and hang out.

We are trying to do an unstructured trip, with no reservations, just like college days.

(Using Ferrarichat instead of Fodors books.)


Jay and Yvonne

 

One of my favorites in the area is Oliveto Restaurant. www.oliveto.com

 

Wonderful restaurant Ed! I had a fantastic meal there with Dak, Hiro, Moogle, and Butcher a few months back. A great choice by our epicurean and carnut, Butcher.