Five spots for coffee and culture in Lake Merritt

In the Lake Merritt section of Oakland, independently-owned coffeehouses have won favor with locals in a big way. They embody a unique character and charm that simply can't be duplicated in corporate coffee chains. Here's a rundown of some of the coolest cafes this part of the “O” has to offer:

1. Grand Lake Coffee House – It's a fairly new spot with ample, comfortable seating (indoor and outdoor), and surroundings that are conducive to studying and reading. The WiFi is free and consistent. Their lattes & teas are quite tasty, but its real draw is the great live music on Friday nights. (Open daily, hours vary)

2. Coffee With a Beat – A quintessential community cafe with a superb playlist of jazz, old-school soul, reggae, and local artists. It has an eclectic atmosphere, and occasionally attracts 'colorful' characters, but the coffee is decent, and its abundant selection of reading material is impressive. (Open daily, hours vary)

3. Merritt Station – This place has undergone a substantial improvement since changing ownership in 2008. Come here for the fair-trade coffee, delicious sandwiches and smoothies, free WiFi, and sincere customer service. Oh, and the view of the lake isn't half bad. (Open Monday – Saturday, closed Sundays)

4. Arizmendi Bakery – An employee owned co-op that specializes in, you guessed it, baked goods. Its best kept secret is the coffee which happens to go perfectly with a fresh scone or brioche. It's small and crowded, but if there's a vacant seat out front, there's no better place to people watch on Lakeshore Avenue. (Open daily, hours vary)

5. Day of the Dead Cafe – A joint that serves “dead” coffee, dogs, and sandwiches may not sound appealing, but don't let the name (or skeletons) scare you. Their veggie dogs were enough to win me over, and the rich, strong coffee gives the Peet's chain a run for its money. (Open daily, 10:00am – 8:00pm)