Today, many of these homes remain, and they represent some of the most coveted real estate in the Bay Area, for several reasons: the weather in this particular microclimate is often sunny and warm; the commute from the Rockridge BART is easy; the homes on the leafy residential streets have been charmingly restored; and the area's main thoroughfare, College Avenue, is lined with atmospheric cafes, gourmet restaurants, independent bookstores and, more and more, antiques shops that people go out of their way to patronize.

Although some have derided the neighborhood for being too upscale, too yuppie, Rockridge is, unlike many other gentrified areas, ethnically diverse. After all, this is still Oakland, the most integrated city in the United States. It's true, the area has a chic edge. But it's also a place where people greet each other on the street, chat in line while they wait for their burritos at Cactus Taqueria, walk home together from BART. In the hamlet of Rockridge, a down-home feel prevails.

Best Time to Go
Weekend mornings -- and in Rockridge, that includes Fridays -- are a great time to visit the neighborhood. Destination cafes like Oliveto, La Farine and Royal Coffee are buzzing with activity as locals settle down over the morning paper, coffee and decadent pastries. Late afternoons Monday through Saturday are also happening. Stroll in and out of boutiques, bookstores and antiques shops, then pop into Ben-N-Nick's for a pint of beer or À Côté for a kir. If you'd like to stay for dinner, be aware that you will have to wait at any of the better restaurants. Fortunately, no matter what time you visit, parking is not a problem. You may have to hunt around the side streets for a spot, but you'll find one more quickly than you would in other neighborhoods.

Rockridge doesn't have any tourist sights -- it's just a really nice place to live and hang out. However, curious visitors might be interested in the Firestorm Community Mural Project. Located outside the Rockridge BART station, this collection of more than 2,000 handpainted tiles pays tribute to those who fought, and those who were lost in, the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm. Some of the more moving tiles were created by kids who lost pets and families who wanted to honor the firefighters who risked their lives to save their homes. The project is a beautiful representation of the community feeling that is such an important part of Rockridge. Rockridge BART, 5660 College Avenue, Oakland.

The Rockridge Branch Library is a particularly pleasant public library, with an arbor of wisteria out front and sunny reading rooms inside. 5366 College Avenue at Manila, (510) 597-5017.

Rockridge is known for its cute bungalows and abundant gardens. Those who are interested in home decor and gardening might take a stroll along its residential streets, particularly on Lawton and Manila between Shafter to the west and Broadway to the east.

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