Montclair

“Montclair Village is a charming and vibrant community, nestled in the beautiful, tree-covered Oakland Hills. Walk the bustling commercial district and enjoy a unique Village vibe.” (MontclairVillage.com)

You will find the Montclair neighborhood in the hills of Oakland, northeast of Piedmont and Crocker Highlands and north of the Dimond district. Highway 13 cuts across the area, and Moraga Ave and Mountain Blvd are home to most of the services and businesses in the neighborhood. Montclair is an eleven minute drive to the Joaquin Miller Park and the Chabot Space and Science Center, a fourteen minute drive to Lake Merritt, seventeen minutes to Berkeley, and a fifteen minute drive to downtown Oakland.

The restaurants and shops of the Glenview neighborhood are a six mile drive down Park Blvd.

Montclair feels a bit like a ski village, with its tightly packs stores and restaurants on the main drag and its hilly residential streets that snake up the hills. There are over 200 retailers, service providers, restaurants, and financial services in Montclair Village, the commercial part of the district. Some of note are: Safeway, CVS, Compass Real Estate (our Oakland office!), Pet Food Express, and Peet’s Coffee and Tea. There is a city parking lot in the area. Visit the Montclair Village merchant directory here to see more.

On Sundays (9am-1pm) the Farmers’ Market draws many neighbors to the Village.

In the neighborhood, you’ll find a Community Center, complete with a duck pond, picnic areas, tennis courts, outdoor basketball court, and modern play equipment, Montclair Elementary School and the the Montclair Branch Library.

Montclair “happens to be a terrific launching point into Oakland’s wilderness; some of the East Bay’s best hiking is found in nearby Redwood Regional and Joaquin Miller parks, and other gems like Chabot Space & Science Center are tucked away in the hills.” (Visit Oakland) ​ For this reason, it is a popular neighborhood for active families looking for easy access to a plethora of outdoor activities.

Home styles in Montclair range from Craftsman bungalows to split-level and ranch style homes from the 50s-70s. Some homes in the area offer views of Oakland and the Bay, and some of the lots can be quite large. There are a few multi-unit buildings around the Village.

The CB and V transbay buses will get you to San Francisco. You’ll find a casual carpool pickup down Park Blvd.

People love the remote, suburban feel of Montclair, with the easy access to the shops and services of Montclair Village and commute options. Montclair gives off a small-town-within-a-big-city vibe, making it a desirable area for many.