Bocanova

I came here on a Tuesday night while in Oakland for work and actually asked ChatGPT what the best restaurant I should go to and recommended Bocanova. I dug in on additional reviews, and I can say the food here is excellent. I ordered the pork which is tender and flavorful, loved it. Kudos to the staff especially Alejandro, who’s attention to customer service and details are top-notch. When in Oakland fine time to eat in Bocanova!

I used to go here back when it was at Jack London. Now I stopped in to kill an hour. Had an oyster shooter (delicious!) and a mezcalita. Super friendly staff, big spacious dining room. No more quinoa duck cherry salad but still good.

A Christmas Eve to Remember This year was my very first time spending Christmas Eve out on the town instead of at home with my family, and I had no idea how many people actually go out to dine on this night. Bocanova offered a special menu called the Feast of the 7 Fishes. Every dish was creative, innovative, and delicious. It truly felt like a celebration, not just a meal. Not to mention the stroll through the Financial District we took that was stunned by gorgeous how it looked with the architecture and festive energy. Bocanova made my first Christmas Eve out absolutely unforgettable!

What a beautiful experience. Everything was top notch. Service decor and the food. Probably had one of the best desserts I had in my life. We will be back soon

Charlie Reyes

Came here with my mom for our first time, and WOW 🤩 such a great experience! We were not disappointed. The vibe was cozy and beautiful, and the service was top-tier from start to finish. We shared all the dishes, which made it even more fun. The Mexican Caesar Salad with grilled chicken was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly done. But the REAL star was the moqueca 😍 — rich, creamy, and packed with tender fish and shrimp. Every bite was amazing! Finished strong with chocolate and vanilla ice cream 🍨 — the perfect sweet ending. Loved everything about this place and can’t wait to come back. Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jeff Dillon

Seven Fishes of Christmas done right 🎄🐟 We spent Christmas Eve at Bocanova in Oakland for their Feast of the Seven Fishes prix fixe and it was the perfect way to celebrate the holiday. Every course was on point from the ahi tuna poke all the way to the crispy whole branzino and the bûche de Noël to finish. The food was thoughtful, beautifully prepared, and genuinely delicious across the board. What really made the night special was meeting the owner, Martin. He was incredibly welcoming, took time to chat with us, shared a bit about the restaurant, and made us feel right at home. You could feel the care and pride behind the entire experience. Amazing food, warm hospitality, and a great holiday vibe. We will absolutely be back.

Isaac Armstrong

Decide to try a place my friend recommended and I was not disappointed. Bocanova was delicious. I got the Peruvian classic ceviche for an app and then decided to go for a chifa steak. Both were delicious and I got a couple of drinks. My favorite was the Broadway. The server Nicole was very nice and attentive. Will be coming back soon! Thank you!

Cristina Franco

I love coming to Bocanova, the service is always so attentive, the music choices and level of noise is optimal and I haven't even gotten to the food! this time I ordered the Shrimp Louie salad followed by the Cúpula de Limón, both absolutely delicious! can't wait to come back with friends and family.

Angeles Duran

I came to Bocanova on Wednesday with my son and my husband. We sat in the main dining room and we shared a couple of dishes starting with the oysters and they were delicious and fresh! You can't beat $2 oysters which we found out they offer 7 days a week during Happy hour. The other dishes we shared were their Peruvian beef stir fry which was to die for! And the Ecuadorian Tuna Stew! They were so good I booked another reservation to bring my family. Mary and Montaiesha took care of us, they were very nice and made sure we had a wonderful time! The attentiveness and ambiance overall was really really good and you can tell everyone here works as a team.

Guan-Lun Liao

This place deserves five stars in all categories! We were looking for a dog friendly restaurant for a late lunch, and were very happy to find this place! Dungeness Crab Deviled Eggs and Ceviche were great starters, and both large plates had good portions and very delicious. We were so full when the Guava Cheesecake, but we were still amazed by it - It’s a must try! One of the owners came to greet us, and from his interactions with the staff, we could tell this is a place that treats employees well!

Miles Lawrence

Loved the shrimp Louie salad! The service is amazing! I washed it down with with their famous Bocanova margarita. Cozette was my bartender and she was amazing and recommend the new dessert cupula de limon (kinda like a lime mouse dome) so good gotta try for sure ! Met the owner Martin he was a great guy I recommend you come in for happy hour every day 3-6pm!

neat pit

Everything was delicious. I especially enjoyed the Brussel sprouts, deviled eggs, beef empenadas, and churros! The service was great and the food was fast even on a busy night. I can't wait to return.

Bryan Kerner

I came here on a Tuesday night while in Oakland for work and actually asked ChatGPT what the best restaurant I should go to and recommended Bocanova. I dug in on additional reviews, and I can say the food here is excellent. I ordered the pork which is tender and flavorful, loved it. Kudos to the staff especially Alejandro, who’s attention to customer service and details are top-notch. When in Oakland fine time to eat in Bocanova!

Gloria Gutierrez

Try something you haven’t tried yet! Wonderful food and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Came here after a long conference day in San Fran. A good spot to wind down.

Alison M C

I used to go here back when it was at Jack London. Now I stopped in to kill an hour. Had an oyster shooter (delicious!) and a mezcalita. Super friendly staff, big spacious dining room. No more quinoa duck cherry salad but still good.

hanan ingel

What a beautiful experience. Everything was top notch. Service decor and the food. Probably had one of the best desserts I had in my life. We will be back soon

neohelden

A Christmas Eve to Remember This year was my very first time spending Christmas Eve out on the town instead of at home with my family, and I had no idea how many people actually go out to dine on this night. Bocanova offered a special menu called the Feast of the 7 Fishes. Every dish was creative, innovative, and delicious. It truly felt like a celebration, not just a meal. Not to mention the stroll through the Financial District we took that was stunned by gorgeous how it looked with the architecture and festive energy. Bocanova made my first Christmas Eve out absolutely unforgettable!

Sara Ameri

I have tried two different fish tacos here and both were very delicious.

Margie Wu

This has always been my favorite Happy Hour spot in Downtown Oakland. I used to wonder why it’s always so empty during happy hour when everything is delicious and half price. One Thursday afternoon 3 pm, I brought some family friends here for drinks—and I finally understood why. The blonde host was incredibly rude and unpleasant. We politely asked if we could sit in the back since it was completely empty, and she just said “No” without any explanation. When we asked how the weather was outside, she curtly replied, “I don’t know.” While clearing the table, she kept dropping the forks and spoons on the ground. That’s when I realized: people aren’t avoiding this place because of the food or drinks—which are actually amazing. They’re staying away because of the service. Bocanova has the best cocktails and finger foods in town, no doubt. But one staff member like her can ruin the whole experience. As a Google Guide Level 10, I had planned to shoot a short video for Instagram and YouTube. But after this, I don’t want to risk my own reputation by promoting a place that lacks even basic hospitality.

Erica Stafford

Great spot for a date. I was expecting more flavor with duck tostadas but I highly I recommend trying the poblano cornbread and deviled eggs. Both delicious but the cornbread..chefs kiss 🤌🏾

We hosted a company dinner at Bocanova for a group of 22 and had an absolutely fantastic experience. We chose the family style dinner, and everything was delicious from start to finish. Martin, the General Manager, personally reached out to me by both email and phone ahead of the event to go over options and make sure everything was perfectly planned. I wish I could remember our server’s name, but she was the sweetest so attentive, kind, and on top of everything all night. The entire staff was professional and welcoming. And the food, WOW. The Brussels sprouts and beef empanadas are hands down some of the best we’ve ever had. Excellent service, highly recommend Bocanova for group events or any special occasion.

A fabulous spot for lunch or dinner. Highest quality ingredients, shopped for daily by the chef owner. Incredibly friendly and helpful staff. Each area offers a different experience. The patio with the warmth of the sun amidst the urban buzz of downtown Oakland. Into the bar with a wall of windows and a soundtrack of Peruvian music to accompany your delicious meal, cocktails or coffee. Then there’s the internal dining area with views of the stunning artfully designed courtyard garden, visible through more walls of windows, with a view into the open kitchen. A great place for large parties and events. Centrally located across from the Marriott convention center and steps to BART, you can’t go wrong with a meal or event at Bocanova.

The Peruvian beef stir fry was a revelation perfectly cooked with a rich, velvety sage and also loved the Fried Calamari ; they were crispy, not greasy, with the sweet chile sauce on the side, everything was cooked to perfection. For dessert I had the Guava cheesecake it was delicious. This cozy spot has the perfect vibe for a date night dim lighting, soft music, and attentive but not intrusive service. My Waitress Nicole was the Best waitress and made sure I was OVERLY taken care of!!

We always love our experience at Bocanova! We’ve gone for lunch, happy hour, and dinner, and you can’t go wrong with anything you order! We’ve had a mix of seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes and all have been great. The desserts are amazing too. Everyone working there is always so welcoming and the owners do everything they can to make their guests feel like family. The space is beautiful as well. Highly recommend!!

Chris Rock

The Peruvian beef stir fry was a revelation perfectly cooked with a rich, velvety sage and also loved the Fried Calamari ; they were crispy, not greasy, with the sweet chile sauce on the side, everything was cooked to perfection. For dessert I had the Guava cheesecake it was delicious. This cozy spot has the perfect vibe for a date night dim lighting, soft music, and attentive but not intrusive service. My Waitress Nicole was the Best waitress and made sure I was OVERLY taken care of!!

Emily S

Bocanova is one of my favorite restaurants in Oakland. The food is always on point and the craft cocktails never disappoint. We’ve always had the most gracious and genuine service there. Whether it’s one of the owners or their lovely servers taking care of us, we always feel extremely welcomed. This place is a true gem

Kiara

First time here and I loved it! The vibe was great, the service was super friendly, and the food was really good. Everything we tried was delicious. And the churros with cajeta… AMAZING 🤤 definitely my favorite dessert! I’ll definitely be back to try more flavors.

Tee Ponsukcharoen

Delicious and creative food! It is peruvian based cuisine yet the chef gave us something more! It is a private event lunch and we got something special. The main dishes are nice. Yet the dishes that steal the show are fried brussel sprouts and yuzu cream puff. Let me tell you about yuzu cream puff. The crust is freshly made and crusty with a touch of sugar crumbs sweetness. The filling is cream and yuzu. I don't know how they create such a balance: creamy yet refreshingly sour and citrusy sweet. It is the way to end at the high note for the meal. The chef welcomed us himself and the staffs are friendly. Definitely a place I want to come back to try other dishes and dessert, and eat that cream puff that they ever made it again lol.

Stopped by for happy hour. Good times. Drinks- got wine and mocktail. My guest said the Jamaica was super refreshing. Food- we got shrimp sliders, fish sliders, Brussels sprouts, and guac + chips. The Brussels were my favorite, great flavor and cook. Love the cornmeal crust in the shrimp and chips were hearty and well seasoned. Service- we interacted with the bartender, server, and manager. All were friendly, attentive, and professional. helpful to each other as well. Space- love to high ceilings, great natural light and spacious. The place is huge. Two outdoor patios, main dining room, large bar, and casual seating area.

Lomo saltado was more tomato than soy sauce. Peruvian ceviche was mostly tomatoes and tasted like Mexican salsa, this restaurant has a heavy Mexican influence it seems like. The beef empanadas were pretty good. They wouldn’t substitute fries as they were “too busy”, with a total of four tables in use. They said parking would be discounted at Marriott when I showed my receipt at the garage, it was not. Limon is much better, this was disappointing.