Flora Restaurant & Bar

Restaurateurs Dona Savitsky and Thomas Schnetz, known for their upscale Mexican Restaurante Doña Tomás in the Temescal neighborhood, expanded their mini empire with high-end California cuisine an cocktails at Flora. They took over the corner of the blue-tiled art deco building that originally housed the Oakland Floral Depot (across from the Fox Theatre. They have since added a taqueria, Xolo, and a 22-stool bar, Fauna, next door. The Albert Evers-designed building will soon house another restaurant, chef Paul Canales' Duende, with a Spanish theme, full bar, and adventurous live music. Within a block: Bar Dogwood, Make Westing, Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe, the Uptown Nightclub, and more.