Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking
Upon confirmation of a reservation and to gain entry, please send me your own personal 4 digit code to open the key lockbox located at the cottage door.
This marvelous studio cottage in Oakland is the perfect cozy retreat for guests. With a comfortable queen bed and a convenient sofa bed, this adorable space is ideal for a relaxing stay, for up to 3 people, although it works best with 2 adults and a child (or of course 1 person). Enjoy the wonderful amenities provided, including a hair dryer, iron, WiFi, and heating. The bathroom features a bathtub/shower. Writers, academics, grandparents, executives and vacationers have enjoyed staying here since 2014.
I have always welcomed long stays, so if you need to stay a number of weeks or months, I am happy to accommodate you.
The cottage is fully furnished, including bedding, towels, & fully equipped kitchen. The kitchen has a 2 burner gas stovetop, a combination microwave/convection oven, toaster oven, drip coffee maker, and a full size refrigerator. The queen bed sits on a platform with 6 drawers on each side and 2 long storage drawers that open at the bottom of the platform. Windows on all walls and double sliding doors create a light filled, peaceful, spacious abode. The heater will warm up the cottage in a few minutes on cold days and on warm days, just open the windows and the door. Fan also included behind the bed. There are 2 laundromats within a couple of blocks.
I have lived in the main house since 1987, raised my daughter here, and created a second home for her three children. I love my neighborhood and love sharing it with travelers.
Walk 25 minutes to College Avenue's Elmwood district for a movie theatre, terrific cafes and restaurants, Wells Fargo Bank, bakeries, ice cream shop and much more. Or walk more to the south on College Avenue to enter the Rockridge district for tons of shops and eateries and the Rockridge BART station. Just a couple of blocks away on Adeline Street and Alcatraz Avenue are good eateries, a Yoga studio and a few shops. The Berkeley border is just one block north and one block west. If you enjoy walking, I heartily encourage you take walks around the neighborhoods to view a wide variety of beautiful old homes, varied architecture and landscaping.
UC Berkeley campus is a short BART or bus ride or about a 45 minute walk. All within easy walking distance are libraries, two post offices, Berkeley Bowl grocery, Whole Foods, yoga and Pilates studios, museums, BART, bus lines, Berkeley's art district with theatres, live performance venues and many places to eat. Oakland and Berkeley offer a wide variety of music, theatre, and arts. Two of my favorite venues are Zellerbach Auditorium on the UC Berkeley campus and just a few blocks away are Freight and Salvage, Berkeley Repertory and the Roda Theatre. A few blocks from my place is our local theatre, The Ashby Stage/Shotgun Players. You will always be able to stay entertained while here. And did I mention the dozens of local hiking trails?
If you are arriving with a car, I can offer you one free off street parking spot in my fenced driveway. Or you can park on the street but you will need a visitor parking permit if your car will be parked for more that 2 hours between 8am to 6pm Monday through Friday. They cost $5 per day or $27 for 2 consecutive weeks.
A little bit about me. I owned a wholesale bakery in Richmond for 35 years called Zoe's Cookies and Other Delights. I retired in January of 2017 and my income source now comes from my cottage rental and 2 bedrooms in the main house. I have one daughter who has blessed me with three grandchildren who currently (2025) are 17, 19, and 20. I love to garden as you will see from the photos and one of my favorite activities is to just get outside and walk which I sometimes do for hours. I really enjoy sharing my home and meeting people I would never meet otherwise.
So please come stay in my lovely cottage. I promise you a wonderful visit. And if you're lucky, I'll be baking something delicious from my Zoe's Cookies recipe files to satisfy any sweet tooth.
I will do my very best to answer your questions.
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Modern cottage with full kitchen & private patio. Close to great hiking trails!
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Modern cottage with full kitchen & private patio. Close to great hiking trails!
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
There is no dishwasher, so please wash, dry, and put away dishes and cookware. Remove food, grease, water from the kitchen counter. Trash, compost, recycle city bins are at NW corner of main house.
Return furniture to its original placement if you rearranged it. Leave towels in the bathroom and do not make the bed.
Turn off the heater.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Follow chart on the refrigerator regarding trash, composting, recycling. Save water-short showers, don't leave water running while washing dishes.
Turn off heater, lights when going out. Keep heater set no higher than 68.
IMPORTANT: SEND ME A 4 DIGIT CODE OF YOUR CHOICE FOR THE COTTAGE KEY LOCKBOX WHEN YOUR RESERVATION IS CONFIRMED
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number 00268038
Property # 4510332vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
About the area
Oakland
Upper Telegraph, a neighbourhood in Oakland, is home to this cottage. Ferry Building and Golden Gate Bridge are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Pier 39 and Embarcadero Center. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Oracle Park or Chase Center.
University of California, Berkeley - 4 min drive - 2.2 km
People's Park - 4 min drive - 2.2 km
Getting around
Berkeley Station - 7 min drive
Ashby Station - 7 min walk
Oakland, CA (OAK-Oakland Intl.) - 24 min drive
Restaurants
The Kingfish Pub & Cafe - 3 min drive
The Smokehouse - 12 min walk
Market Hall Foods - 4 min drive
Philz Coffee - 20 min walk
Ain’t Normal Cafe - 4 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking?
As of 25 Aug, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking on 6 Jan, 2027 start from S$488, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Peaceful backyard studio cottage. 5 min. to Ashby BART; free off street parking located?
Located in Upper Telegraph, this cottage is 0.5 mi (0.7 km) from Telegraph Avenue and within 3 miles (5 km) of San Francisco Bay and University of California, Berkeley. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Historic Berkeley are also within 1 mile (2 km). Ashby Station is 7 minutes by foot and Rockridge Station is 26 minutes.
About the host
Hosted by Zoe Smith
A little bit about me. I owned a wholesale bakery in Richmond for 35 years called Zoe's Cookies and Other Delights. I retired in January of 2017 and my income source now comes from my cottage rental and 2 bedrooms in the main house. I have one daughter who has blessed me with three grandchildren who currently (2026) are 17, 19, and 20. I love to garden as you will see from the photos and one of my favorite activities is to just get outside and walk which I sometimes do for hours. I really enjoy sharing my home and meeting people I would never meet otherwise. I have been steadily sharing since 2014 and before that I shared with long term housemates who lived with me for years at a time so I have lots of experience sharing my home.
Why they chose this property
I have lived in the main house since 1987, raised my daughter here, and created a second home for her three children. I love my neighborhood and love sharing it with travelers. This area has so much to offer and is what we now call a "walkable" neighborhood. We are close to just about everything (read more details in the About This Place section). My neighborhood is a wonderful mix of young families, those of us who have been here for decades (38 years for me), blue collar folks, professionals, students, kids, dogs, cats, musicians, artists, retirees, and more. Architectural styles are many as is the landscaping. Walking for hours around the neighboring blocks is one of my favorite things to do for exercise.
What makes this property unique
Maybe the 12 year old cottage that I designed to match the interior of my 1907 main house makes it stand out as unique. It has everything you need for a comfortable visit (except a TV, which will come sometime in the future). It is so easy to live in that my longest term tenant stayed 3 years. The bed is very comfortable with 12 standard size drawers and 2 extra long drawers under the sleeping platform. You can view plants through all the windows and the sliding glass patio doors, which let abundant natural light in, and you can enjoy a private deck surrounded by plants. It is very quiet and peaceful and many guests have told me how healing their stay was.