sandyp5

Ivy Hill is an absolute gem of a neighborhood. Incredibly diverse and integrated, this is mostly working class families and retired people. The majority of residents are very friendly and polite; you'll get a lot of greetings and smiles. With Lake Merritt literally one or two blocks away, you get the best of all worlds - the serenity and quiet of a residential neighborhood and the mirth and excitement of Lake Merritt. At night, the area is eerily quiet - you can hear a pin drop. This is not a party neighborhood by any means. While there are many apartment buildings, there are equal number of single family houses which creates a wonderfully diverse mix. Parking isn't great but you don't need a car in this neighborhood if you are able-bodied. Several bus lines are one or two blocks away, Lake Merritt BART is one mile away for most residents, there are Zipcars and Gig Cars available to rent, as well as private companies that do car rentals, and there is a Ford GoBike bike share station. Lucky grocery store and Walgreens are also down the street, and there are great dining options such as: Casa Vallerta, L&S Fish and Chips (which serves a lot more than fish and chips), Woody's Cafe (amazing family-owned cafe), Rooz Coffee and Cafe, Subway sandwiches, Vegan donuts, Anh Dao, a great taco truck, Portal's, Rockin' Crawfish and a few more blocks away is the very popular Champa Garden. This area is teeming with all of the best that Oakland has to offer and is surprisingly still affordable! That might change as more people become aware of the area. This area is also safe, though one should always be aware of their surroundings and not make themselves a target. I've seen tons of cars with items very visibily left inside that are parked for days on the street. I do not recommend that but they haven't been broken into (doesn't mean you should do this!). I can't say enough great things about this fantastic neighborhood.