The reliable brunch geographies are Temescal and Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, the Gourmet Ghetto and Fourth Street in Berkeley, Alameda’s Park Street, Lafayette, Danville, Walnut Creek, and downtown Pleasanton. Add a walk at Lake Merritt, the reservoir, or a main street and the morning has a shape.
Livermore’s downtown does the wine-country version. Concord’s plaza does the locals version. Go early if you want the famous rooms. Go one neighborhood over if you want to talk.
Towns
Inner East Bay
Oakland
The bridge lands here, and so does dinner.
OpenBerkeley & the north hills
Berkeley
Campus, canyons, and a food culture that predates the trend.
OpenInner East Bay
Alameda
An island of Victorians, beaches, and a main street that still works.
OpenLamorinda
Lafayette
A downtown you can actually finish walking, plus a reservoir.
OpenSan Ramon Valley
Danville
A downtown main street with the mountain behind it.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Walnut Creek
The East Bay downtown people drive to on purpose.
OpenTri-Valley
Pleasanton
A historic downtown and a job base in the same city.
Open