There’s a cultural hubbub around San Francisco’s lesser-known Californian sibling, with great restaurants and shops popping up all over the city – and earning it the tag of the ‘New Brooklyn’
Just 7km? across San Francisco Bay, the city of Oakland has been steadily establishing itself as a creative capital to rival its smaller and more famous neighbour. Cheaper rents have lured the arty crowd priced out of San Fran, the restaurant scene has exploded and hip independent stores are thriving – with the city being dubbed the “New Brooklyn”.
“We’re a little bit like Brooklyn,” mayor Jean Quan told the National Journal. “Because Oakland is so much more affordable than San Francisco, the whole arts scene has shifted over here. The food scene has taken off. Those kinds of cultural things have made Oakland very desirable.”
