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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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
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 Alcatraz Island are notable landmarks, and travellers looking to shop may want to visit Pier 39 and Union Square. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Oracle Park or Oakland Arena.
University of California, Berkeley - 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 Smokehouse - 12 min walk
Jack in the Box - 11 min walk
Me Va Con - 11 min walk
Damask Rose - 4 min walk
Red Bay Coffee Bar - 6 min walk
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 8 May, 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 14 Jul, 2026 start from S$235, 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 within 2 miles (3 km) of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, University of California, Berkeley and UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall. Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center and Greek Theater are also within 3 miles (5 km). Ashby Station is 7 minutes by foot and Rockridge Station is 26 minutes.
Reviews
9.8
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
This was a tranquil hide away in the middle of Berkeley, the option to beable to park behind a locked gate made us feel safe and secure. The bed was comfortable and this option took us away from the family to give us a breather fromAll of the festivity with family. I hope that we were just as excellent as the host. Thank you Zoe for your gem of a property.
iSOON M.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 5 May, 2026
And you were excellent guests. Thank you for choosing my cottage for your stay.
Zoe
Super clean, beautiful garden, very nice hostess, convenient location, will come again
debra b.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Sept, 2025
Thank you for the lovely review Debra. I enjoyed talking with you out in the driveway that evening and I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay. Love to have you back.
Beautiful and peaceful stay! The space and amenities were perfect for my needs.
Paul J.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Sept, 2025
Hi Paul, I’m so glad you enjoyed your stay. You are a perfect guest and I hope to see you again in the future. Be sure to check my calendar first if you need a place to stay in Oakland.
Best wishes
Zoe
The space was great! Well-equipped with everything we needed. Clean, comfortable, quiet. Would definitely stay again if we come back to the area and would recommend to others without hesitation.
Maria K.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Nov, 2025
I’m happy to hear your stay was comfortable and thank you for the positive review. If you’re in the area again, please check my calendar and hopefully it will be open for the days you would like to stay.
Small clean ans quiet cottage with off street secore parking
Gregory W.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 Sept, 2025
Yes, secure off street parking is a plus for guests arriving in a car and I am happy to provide it. Thank you for your positive review and I hope to see you again in November.
Zoe
Zoe is so kind and always quick to reply to any questions before booking through my stay. The cottage is super clean and everything worked perfectly! Thank you!
Cozy, clean and conveniently located by BART, surrounded by a backyard sanctuary. Zoe was able to meet a special request and was communicative and helpful. It was just what I needed for my quick trip to town and I would stay again!
Melissa W.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Oct, 2025
Hi Melissa,
Thank you for your positive review. Reviews like yours are immensely helpful for future guests. It would be lovely to host you again so be sure to check my calendar if you are visiting the area in the future.
Warmly,
Zoe
We met Zoe within minutes of our arrival. She was very welcoming and present on the property. Her little cottage was clean, compact and comfy….offered everything we needed! It is located in a very quiet residential neighborhood, and very well located for walking to just about anywhere we wanted or needed to go. We would definitely stay here again. Also, Zoe treated us with some homemade pumpkin bars she was making for Thanksgiving
Joyce K.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Dec, 2025
Thank you Joyce for the positive review. I do hope you can rent the cottage again. You were a great guest and I very much appreciated how clean you left the cottage.
Zoe
Zoe’s cottage was the perfect spot for my work trip - quiet, with off-street parking and a lovely garden. The full kitchen and comfortable bed were highlights. Thank you, Zoe! Would stay again.
Rakia F.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jun, 2025
I would love to see you again. Please check my calendar first anytime you will be returning.
Zoe
Spacious, especially quiet, clean cottage with cooking facilities surrounded by beautiful gardens. The host was kind and supportive. The bed was super comfortable. A radio is provided but I would have liked a small TV to keep up with the news.
Laurie V.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Sept, 2025
Laurie was a great guest. She good care of the cottage during her stay. I recommend her to any future hosts.
Overall my family is happy about the stay. One suggestion, the three-in-one shower gel may need to be changed to suit different needs for the hair and for the body.
Everything was clean and lovely. Beautiful gardens, nice little deck for morning coffee. Comfortable bed, kitchen fully stocked and just all around a cute nice place. We were sad we couldn't stay the whole week because of medical happenings. We were unfamiliar with the area, so took us a few passes to find the correct gate/path, but that's on us! Thank you Zoe
Michelle D.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Oct, 2025
I recommend Michelle and her husband to future hosts. They left the cottage in excellent condition. I hope they can visit me in the future.
Such a peaceful little cottage/ADU! I really enjoyed my short time here. The place was clean, very quiet and contained everything I needed. The backyard where this unit is located is very leafy and green! And I really enjoyed having a pint and listening to musicians playing traditional Irish music at the Starry Plough just a few blocks away, as well as hanging out and having tacos at the vibrant La Leña cultural center. A really rest stay in a really great neighborhood (didn’t need a car coz the public transit in the area is so good). Really appreciated all the storage under the bed too which is often a problem in small short term rentals. Thank Zöe for making it so nice!
Greg S.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Oct, 2025
Hi Greg,
Thank you for your detailed review of the cottage. I'm sure it will encourage future guests to reserve some time here. It always pleases me greatly when a guest has such a positive experience.
Zoe
Verified
6/10 Okay
catherine q.
6 Oct, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication
Very noisy refrigerator - hard to sleep with that noise. No TV (so unusual and unexpected). Not convenient to UC Berkeley - bus rt 18 very delayed and slow. Uber expenses high. Not very close to Rockridge shops and restaurants (10 blocks). Run down neighborhood, but cottagw was clean and Zoe was very nice.
catherine q.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Oct, 2025
Catherine, I am very sorry you did not have a 5 star experience. I have been renting out the cottage for 12 years and have never received 3 stars. As a matter of fact, I have many repeat guests.
I have no control over bus schedules and Uber prices, so there is nothing I can do about that. Rockridge is a short 20 minute walk away and the Ashby BART station is a 5-7 minute walk. Downtown Berkeley and UC Berkeley are a 5 minute BART ride with a short walk to the west end of campus.
I checked the refrigerator noise, but since it is a studio cottage and the frig is in the same room as the bed, a light sleeper may be disturbed, although you are the first to mention it. The compressor quietly hums when it cycles on, just like other refrigerators and does not sound noisy to my ears.
To possible future guests, I hope this review does not scare you away. My property is surrounded by a beautiful garden, with a very private deck for the cottage. The neighborhood is quiet and I adore living here (since 1987). The cottage itself is serenely peaceful inside and is designed to accommodate all your cooking needs. Bathroom is lovely and the bed is comfy. Guests have happily stayed up to 3 years. Please view the photos and come visit this little oasis in the North Oakland neighborhood.
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.