Richmond
- Not to be confused with the Richmond district in San Francisco, California.
Though it was a booming industrial center during World War II, the subsequent decades were not kind to Richmond, California. Its thriving shipyards gave way to blight, and a reputation for violent crime kept visitors away. But in the 21st century crime has gone down, and a revitalization has begun. Richmond and its near-enclave of San Pablo (also covered in this article) still aren't on any tourism shortlists, but their historic sites, nature, and strategic location between the East Bay and Marin County do attract some interest to this often-overlooked part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Get in[edit]
Richmond is served by I-80 from San Francisco, Vallejo and Sacramento, I-580 from Berkeley, Marin County and Oakland and Richmond Parkway skirting most of town as a bypass.
Public transportation is provided with an 1 inter-modal transit center comprising BART and Amtrak, with local buses run by AC Transit. BART connects Richmond directly to Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and other parts of the Bay Area. (See also Bay Area public transit.) The Golden Gate Transit 580 bus runs from the San Rafael transit center in Marin.
- Amtrak, 1700 Nevin Ave. Two Amtrak routes service Richmond: the Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquins. It is in the same building as the BART station. There is no ticket service, no baggage checking, and no luggage assistance.
Get around[edit]
See[edit]
- 1 Keller Beach. Beach that you can hike to through Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline.
- 2 Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (visitor center can be reached by bus 74), ☏ +1 510 232-5050. Consists of Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Marina Bay Park, a visitor center in the Oil House, the Ford Assembly Plant, a museum and WWII shipyard, preserving and interpreting the stories and places of America's home front response to World War II.
- 3 Point Richmond Historic District.
- 4 Marina Bay.
Do[edit]
- 1 S.S Red Oak Victory Ship (Dornan Drive at Ferry Point, not served by public transit), ☏ +1 510-222-9200. Launched in 1944, and commissioned as the USS Red Oak Victory ship, the Red Oak is the only vessel built by the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California that is being restored. This last remaining Boulder Class Victory saw service in the World War II, Korea and Vietnam has the distinction of being the only ship operated by both military and civilian personnel during career.
- 2 Golden State Model Railroad Museum, ☏ +1 510-234-4884. The Golden State Railroad Museum consists 10,000 square feet of O, HO, and N scale train tracks. In the museum, you will find 3 large railroad tracks, constructed and owned by the EBMES. It is open from April to December. It is located on Dornan Drive, past the Ferry Point Tunnel.
- 3 Maquers Playhouse, ☏ +1 510-232-4031. The Masquers theater is located in Point Richmond on the eastshore of the San Francisco bay. The Masquers playhouse has been producing and showing plays for the last 50 years. There are 100 seats. They show 5 productions year round.
- Point Richmond Music Festival. Many Jazz and music performances every Summer, every month June, July, August, and September. Live performances. The First Friday of every month. Starts at 5:30.
- 4 San Pablo Lytton Casino, 13255 San Pablo Ave, ☏ +1 510-215-7888.
Buy[edit]
Downtown Point Richmond has many shops and cafes.
- 1 Annie's Annuals, 740 Market Ave. A local favorite, a nursery that specializes in rare, exotic, and down-right interesting plants. Annie's is so extensive, leave yourself a few hours to browse the entire operation.
Eat[edit]
- 1 Americana Pizza & Taqueria, 13350 San Pablo Ave Ste A4, ☏ +1 510-236-9005. Good take-out food, generous portions, good prices. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diners Club, ATM. 24-hour delivery free with minimum $15.00 purchase
- 2 Angelo's Gourmet Delicatessen, 12025 San Pablo Ave, ☏ +1 510-234-2485. Neighborhood deli with an extensive selection of good-quality sandwiches, with prices much lower than comparable delis in the Bay Area.
- 3 Anh Restaurant & Bar, 1950 Esplanade Dr, ☏ +1 510-680-5292. Harborside restaurant serving Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean dishes. Accessible via the San Francisco Bay Trail. Indoor and outdoor seating available.
- 4 Brezo, 1414 Harbour Way South (Located in Assemble Marketplace.), ☏ +1 510-215-6025. W-F 11:30AM-2PM, Sa Su 10AM-2PM. A breakfast and lunch restaurant on the marina. Reservations are suggested.
- 5 Golden Gate Bistro, 803 Wright Ave Ste #101 (At the corner of Wright Avenue and Harbour Way South.), ☏ +1 510-374-6393. M-F 6AM-5PM, Sa 8AM-4PM, Closed Sunday. Local breakfast and lunch spot in the industrial area north of Marina Bay. Well-known in the area for their breakfast burritos, breakfast potatoes and watermelon lemonade. Order at the counter under the awning, seating is outdoor patio dining only. Patio has a foosball table.
- 6 Lara's Fine Dining, 1900 Esplanade Dr, ☏ +1 510-234-1860. Italian-American and seafood restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
- 7 Portumex, 721 23rd St, ☏ +1 510-237-7513. One of the few Mexican restaurants in the area to serve ceviche.
- 8 Tommy's BBQ Company, 1414 Harbour Way South Ste 4000 (to the side of Assemble Marketplace), ☏ +1 510-860-7894. Th-Sa noon-7PM. Texas-style barbecue spot on the marina.
Drink[edit]
Sleep[edit]
- 1 Hotel Mac, 50 Washington St, ☏ +1 510 233-0010. The most elegant hotel in the Bay Area, built in 1910, was the second hotel built in Richmond, after the Critchett Hotel (closed in 1909). Features a first class restaurant and bar.
- 2 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 2525 San Pablo Dam Rd, San Pablo, ☏ +1 510 965-1900. Breakfast included. From $154 double.
- 3 Oakland-Richmond/Berkeley - Courtyard Richmond Berkeley, 3150 Garrity Way, ☏ +1 510 262-0700, fax: +1 510 262-0927.
- 4 SureStay Plus By Best Western Point Richmond, 915 West Cutting Blvd, ☏ +1 510-237-3000.
- 5 Extendedstay America, 3170 Garrity Way, ☏ +1 510 222-7383.
Stay safe[edit]
Richmond has a reputation for high levels of crime. The safest parts of Richmond consist of Marina Bay and Point Richmond south of I-580, the Hilltop area north of San Pablo and much of East Richmond on the other side of I-80 or San Pablo Avenue at the most. Areas to exercise caution, and to avoid at night, are the Iron Triangle and Central Richmond near Cutting, McDonald and Barrett Avenues. These regional segments of Richmond are the reason behind its horrible reputation. In fact, the city used to rank with Compton as one of the worst cities in California statistically when it came to crime rate. However, these days it's a lot safer, even if it's not the most well-to-do city in the Bay.
Go next[edit]
Routes through Richmond |
END ← Emeryville ← | W ![]() | → Martinez → Sacramento |
Sacramento ← Martinez ← | N ![]() | → Berkeley → Emeryville |
Bakersfield ← Martinez ← | N ![]() | → Emeryville → Oakland |
END ← | NW ![]() | → El Cerrito → Oakland |
San Francisco ← El Cerrito ← | S ![]() | → Sacramento |
END ← San Rafael ← | NW ![]() | → El Cerrito → Oakland |