Temescal used to be an independent village before joining Oakland in 1897, making it one of the town’s oldest neighborhoods. Its history has hardly slowed it from becoming a hipster nabe, with a particularly unique shopping experience in the Temescal Alleys, former horse stables-turned-boutiques. The rest of nearby Telegraph Avenue is equally hip, where you’ll see locals and visitors eating fried chicken sandwiches at ironing board tables outside. Houses in the Oakland flatlands are a skosh more affordable than those in the hills, with the housing stock mostly made up of 1920s bungalows, many with interior details such as built-in shelves, wainscoting, and window seats. If you’re looking to do a little DIY, the local library has a one-of-a-kind Tool Lending Library in the basement, with more than 5,000 tools available to borrow. Residents here like the quick commute, with easy access to either the Rockridge or MacArthur BART stations.