Some adventures are all about a craving, whether it’s oysters pulled straight from the bay, perfectly crafted martinis, or tasty tacos.
From ice cream to burgers, we’ve rounded up the best food trails and crawls in the Bay Area. Some are organized maps with a prize at the end, while others are collections of beloved local businesses connected by a single obsession.
There’s just one thing they all have in common: eating is the main event.
A burger topped with mac 'n' cheese from Oakland's Beeryland(Dana Plucinski for Visit Oakland)
Burger Trail, Oakland
Oakland’s Burger Trail serves up some of the most mouthwatering burgers, so you better come hungry. From the classic patty with cheese to smashburgers with crispy edges and patties piled high with toppings, there are 21 awesome spots to choose from. Add fries and a shake and you’ve got a meal for champions. We love the smashburgers (and Fruity Pebbles shake) out of the school bus at Hyphy Burger (898 W. Grand Ave.), classic patties at old-school Anh’s (439 Grand Ave.), and hidden gem Sparky’s Giant Burgers (4120 Redwood Rd.). // Details at visitoakland.com
Ice Cream Trail, Tri-Valley (East Bay)
With 13 participating locations, the ice cream trail is a perfect way to draw a line between Livermore, Danville, Dublin, and Pleasanton in the East Bay. Sign up online to get the free mobile pass, which will help you find each one, instruct you on the stamps to collect when you visit, and may even earn you prizes. The only ice cream trail in the Bay Area, you’ll be able to try soft serve at a drive-through farm at Meadowlark Dairy in Pleasanton (57 W. Neal St.), Indian-inspired treats at Kwality in Dublin (6601 Dublin Blvd., C), and celebrate with a gelato cake at Yersen Gelato in Danville (9000 Crow Canyon Rd.). // Details at visittrivalley.com
Martini Trail, San Francisco
Shaken, dirty, sweet, or smoky, martinis are definitely a thing in San Francisco. It’s no wonder the city had to make the Martini Trail to showcase the best found at trendy hotel lounges and hidden dive bars alike. More than 5,000 people cast their vote for their favorite and 23 made it on the list, including the Dirty 90’s Martini at Starlite at the top of the Beacon Grand Hotel (450 Powell St., Union Square), a pickle-perfect one at Absinthe in Hayes Valley (398 Hayes St.), and a caffeinated espresso martini at Balboa Cafe (3199 Fillmore St., Pac Heights). // Details at sftravel.com
Sonoma Marin Cheese Trail, Sonoma + Marin
Follow the California Cheese Trail with stops in Marin and Sonoma Counties to tour a farm, take a cheesemaking class, or just set up a picnic and enjoy fresh fromage with a view. We love Marin French Cheese (7510 Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Rd., Petaluma) for their award-winning brie, Achadinha Cheese Co. for their brocha cheese (with a glass of sauvignon blanc; 750 Chileno Valley Rd., Petaluma), and Vella Cheese (315 2nd St. E., Sonoma) for creamy jack cheese. // Details at sonomacounty.com
Curelty-free donuts on the Vegan Trail in Oakland(Courtesy of Visit Oakland)
Vegan Trail, Oakland
Oakland has a super diverse culinary culture, so it’s no surprise to find a vegan trail here filled with plant-based favorites that go way beyond the salad. The route has more than 20 meat-free spots to try, and a mobile map to help you get there. Check out Bare Knuckles Pizza (351 12th St.) for a vegan pepperoni pie, Filipino-Mexican fusion Señor Sisig (330 17th St.) for a vegan burrito, and Timeless Coffee for dairy-free cheesecake and espresso (1700 Webster St.). // Details at visitoakland.com
Taco Trail, Concord
Taco Tuesday is a year-round event in Concord where over 40 restaurants and taquerias have come together in the East Bay. Follow the route between September 15th and October 15th to take part in the Taco Trail Challenge: download the passport and map online, tag each business on social media, and earn a chance to become the Taco Challenge Champion. Go to Tortillería El Molino (1500 Monument Blvd.) for Michoacán-style tacos, quesabirria tacos at Los Portales (4305 Clayton Rd.), and Taqueria Mariscos (1500 Monument Blvd., Ste. A1) for all things seafood. // Details at visitconcordca.com
Oyster Crawl, Tomales Bay
Tomales Bay is oyster central: one of the best places in the state to enjoy the shellfish, thanks to pristine waters and plenty of oyster farms. While the crawl is unofficial, a trip on Highway 1 will lead you to the freshest bivalves you’ll ever have. Stop by The Marshall Store (19225 Hwy 1, Marshall) for smoked oysters with cheese on crostini, Hog Island Oyster Company’s bayside farm (20215 Hwy 1, Marshall) for a dozen shucked to order with a little splash of lemon, and Nick’s Cove (23240 Hwy 1, Marshall) for the famous BBQ oysters.
