Piedmont
Piedmont, a small town in California, is widely considered to be among the state's most affluent and attractive urban areas. The area is perfect for settling down and raising a family because of its high-quality schools, beautiful homes, tree-lined streets, and welcoming neighbors. The neighborhood's desirability has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by Forbes Magazine naming it the "Best Place to Live" in the United States in 2007.
The neighborhood of Piedmont can be found in the lower part of the Oakland Hills to the east of Oakmore, to the south of Rockridge and Glen Highlands, to the southwest of Montclair, and to the northeast of Lake Merritt/Grand Lake/Lakeshore.
Despite being physically located within Oakland, Piedmont is a city unto itself, with its own government, schools, public services, and taxes. The town's 11,000 residents have easy access to the big-city amenities of San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, and ritzy Walnut Creek, all within a half-hour's drive.
The birthplace of Rocky Road ice cream, Fenton's Creamery, as well as Timeless Coffee, La Farine bakery, and Gaylord's Caffe Espresso, are all worth visiting if you're in the area to indulge your sweet tooth or fuel up on caffeine. Places like the prix fixe menu restaurant Commis, the Spanish-inspired Bar Cesar, the intimate trattoria Dopo, the northern California cuisine at Mago, the French-inspired The Wolf, the open-kitchen eatery Homestead, and the popular but tiny Japanese restaurant Geta can all be found on Piedmont Ave.
Hundreds of one-of-a-kind, monumental estates in period revival style and opulent takes on the ubiquitous Craftsman bungalow characterize Piedmont real estate, the majority of which was built in the early half of the twentieth century. The City of Piedmont, known for its low population density and primarily residential character, is home to a single, modest shopping center. However, just west of the city limits is Piedmont Avenue, a veritable shopping paradise.