Markets

25 Swanton Road Davenport, CA 95017 (831) 469-8804 swantonberryfarm.com Description In 1983, on a dream and a prayer (and a beat-up tractor), Jim Cochran and Mark Matze rented four acres of land and planted them with strawberries. The goal was to harvest organic strawberries on a successful commercial basis. Others—including Cesar Chavez—had undertaken such dreams, but it still seemed a long shot. Fast-forward to 2011: Jim (Mark has since moved to

610 & 644 First Street Napa, CA 94559 (707) 226-6529 oxbowpublicmarket.com Description If you said that this unassuming (and incredible) place is something like Napa’s answer to the Ferry Building, you wouldn’t be far off. Steve Carlin, founder of Oxbow, was one of the brains behind the Ferry Building’s market. And his genius is at work in this airy space on the Napa River. Part local grocery, part farmer’s market, part

Antiques Faire 2900 Navy Way Alameda, Ca 94501 alamedapointantiquesfaire.com Description On the first Sunday of each month, the stark runways of the former Alameda Point Naval Air Station come alive with more than 800 booths selling fantastic vintage treasures. The fair’s claim to offer the “widest array of antiques and collectibles on the west coast” is not unfounded—from cool-again fashion items to quirky antique decor, you’ll find it all here.

4629 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way Oakland, CA 94609 popupgrocerystore.com popupgeneralstore@gmail.com Description Question: What’s magically delicious, obsession-inducingly fleeting, and the foodie version of the flash mob? Answer: Oakland’s Pop-Up General Store, a semi-regular gourmet foods market that crops up in the gorgeous red-brick Grace Street Catering building  a couple times a month. The brainchild of super chefs Samin Nosrat and Christopher Lee (both trained at the famed Chez Panisse) the

1709 Solano Avenue Berkeley, CA 94707 (510) 525-9626 thexocolatebar.com Description From hot chocolate to edible art to a variety of jewelry and collectibles, this chocolate shop is extra sweet. The chocolate is made from organic ingredients and comes in traditional flavors and spicier varietals like Cardamom Crunch of the sinful Makeout Bar. The shop even offers fun chocolate-making courses. Read about more things to do on Solano Avenue in Berkeley. Directions

983 Moraga Road Lafayette, CA 94549 (925) 283-2207 chowfoodbar.com Description Located in the pretty shopping center, La Fiesta Square, this independent health food market is one of the last of its kind. And it’s got a wide array of organic foods and supplements, at easy-to-swallow prices. Read about more things to do in Lafayette. Directions Take BART to Lafayette station

Star Grocery 3068 Claremont Avenue Berkeley, CA 94705 (510) 652-2490 Description Star Grocery is a to-die-for deli meets extravagant local produce selection (plus all the usual grocery store suspects). This tiny little market is unassuming and easy to miss, but this warm neighborhood gem is a must-stop. Best of all, it offers the indie grocery vibe without the blown-out indie price markups—products at Star are often cheaper than a big

5655 College Avenue Oakland, CA 94618 510-250-6000 rockridgemarkethall.com Description The butcher, the baker… There’s no candlestick maker at this gorgeous European-style market, but they do have a flower shop and a fish shop. That’s to say nothing of the fine purveyors of pasta, produce, wine and coffee who also call this gastronome heaven home. Begun by three siblings as a cure for the common supermarket, Market Hall is a beautiful