Guidebook for Berkeley
Food Scene
A nice place within walking distance to grab coffee, breakfast or lunch. Check the times before you go...they close for about an hour between meals, M-F.
14 locals recommend
900 Grayson St
900 Grayson StreetA nice place within walking distance to grab coffee, breakfast or lunch. Check the times before you go...they close for about an hour between meals, M-F.
A neighborhood favorite coffee shop, within walking distance, with live music or events most nights and weekends.
99 locals recommend
Caffè Chiave
2500 San Pablo AveA neighborhood favorite coffee shop, within walking distance, with live music or events most nights and weekends.
If tea is your thing, walk down to Far Leaves. They have a great selection, a lovely tea service, a spacious place to relax, and there's wifi, too.
Far Leaves Tea
2626 San Pablo AveIf tea is your thing, walk down to Far Leaves. They have a great selection, a lovely tea service, a spacious place to relax, and there's wifi, too.
If you like Northern Indian food, you'll love Breads of India. The menu changes daily and each dish comes with a fresh baked bread recommendation. It's a small menu, but sometimes less is more.
30 locals recommend
Breads of India
2448 Sacramento StIf you like Northern Indian food, you'll love Breads of India. The menu changes daily and each dish comes with a fresh baked bread recommendation. It's a small menu, but sometimes less is more.
We love this place. DELICIOUS Korean food. The friendliest service on the planet. Nothing fancy, but it never disappoints.
26 locals recommend
Spoon Korean Bistro
933 Ashby AveWe love this place. DELICIOUS Korean food. The friendliest service on the planet. Nothing fancy, but it never disappoints.
This is a really unique experience: On Sundays they cook up a big lunch open to the public. It's a way for them to raise money and for the community to come together.
45 locals recommend
Wat Mongkolratanaram
1911 Russell StThis is a really unique experience: On Sundays they cook up a big lunch open to the public. It's a way for them to raise money and for the community to come together.
Fun, funky and casual little Creole place with yummy food (vegan and non-vegan menu!) with a great bar next door.
58 locals recommend
Easy Creole
1761 Alcatraz AveFun, funky and casual little Creole place with yummy food (vegan and non-vegan menu!) with a great bar next door.
This place wins the award for our favorite lunch spot. It's an all-vegan deli, but don't let that scare you if you're an omnivore. Many a meat-eater has gone and LOVED it. I've never tasted better plant-based meats and cheeses. These guys are wizards...and as nice as can be. They do bagels, croissants and other pastries, too.
29 locals recommend
The Butcher’s Son
1954 University AveThis place wins the award for our favorite lunch spot. It's an all-vegan deli, but don't let that scare you if you're an omnivore. Many a meat-eater has gone and LOVED it. I've never tasted better plant-based meats and cheeses. These guys are wizards...and as nice as can be. They do bagels, croissants and other pastries, too.
Yum, yum and yum. This Berkeley institution is an India market and chaat restaurant (Indian street food). Very close to Rudramandir and 4th Street shopping.
84 locals recommend
Viks Chaat
2390 Fourth StYum, yum and yum. This Berkeley institution is an India market and chaat restaurant (Indian street food). Very close to Rudramandir and 4th Street shopping.
Excellent vegetarian Indian restaurant with stellar thalis and dosas. If you're a dosa fan, try the spinach masala dosa or the spring dosa. It's definitely on the spicy side, but I'm sure there are dishes that can be made more mild.
101 locals recommend
Udupi Palace
1007 Valencia StExcellent vegetarian Indian restaurant with stellar thalis and dosas. If you're a dosa fan, try the spinach masala dosa or the spring dosa. It's definitely on the spicy side, but I'm sure there are dishes that can be made more mild.
Drinks & Nightlife
Feel like grabbing a beer at a down and dirty local spot? Look no further than The Missouri Lounge. There's an outdoor patio, too, when the weather's behaving.
47 locals recommend
Missouri Lounge
2600 San Pablo AveFeel like grabbing a beer at a down and dirty local spot? Look no further than The Missouri Lounge. There's an outdoor patio, too, when the weather's behaving.
This is a great, small bar with a local vibe. As for food, they only serve popcorn, but you can bring dinner in from restaurants nearby. We recommend Easy Creole or Giin Thai Canteen.
50 locals recommend
Hoi Polloi Brewing Taproom and Beat Lounge
1763 Alcatraz AveThis is a great, small bar with a local vibe. As for food, they only serve popcorn, but you can bring dinner in from restaurants nearby. We recommend Easy Creole or Giin Thai Canteen.
Essentials
Stroll through our amazing locally-owned supermarket. It even has it's own cafe. It has an incredible bulk section, organic and non-organic produce and one of the biggest beer selections I've seen.
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz AveStroll through our amazing locally-owned supermarket. It even has it's own cafe. It has an incredible bulk section, organic and non-organic produce and one of the biggest beer selections I've seen.
Shopping
Hey, you're in Berkeley. Do as the locals do and go get your eco-friendliness on! They've got great books, kitchenware, gifts, kids stuff and more.
8 locals recommend
Ecology Center
2530 San Pablo AveHey, you're in Berkeley. Do as the locals do and go get your eco-friendliness on! They've got great books, kitchenware, gifts, kids stuff and more.
If you're into vinyl, walk or drive a few blocks down to Dave's and support this great local business with a great selection.
Dave's Record Shop
1404 San Pablo AveIf you're into vinyl, walk or drive a few blocks down to Dave's and support this great local business with a great selection.
A well-curated local business with great gifts, home stuff, clothes, skin care, etc. Definitely not "budget" shopping, but fun to browse and indulge from time to time.
Social Studies
1659 San Pablo AvenueA well-curated local business with great gifts, home stuff, clothes, skin care, etc. Definitely not "budget" shopping, but fun to browse and indulge from time to time.
Everything Else
This is the closest BART station to our house. It's a mile away and takes about 20 minutes to walk if you're on foot.
159 locals recommend
Ashby station
3100 Adeline StThis is the closest BART station to our house. It's a mile away and takes about 20 minutes to walk if you're on foot.
Arts & Culture
A great rainy day activity in downtown Berkeley. A very nice, small, art museum with interesting collections and a great cafe. Super conveniently located just a few blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART.
171 locals recommend
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
2155 Center StA great rainy day activity in downtown Berkeley. A very nice, small, art museum with interesting collections and a great cafe. Super conveniently located just a few blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART.
Parks & Nature
We've got an amazing park/open space right in our own backyard...up in the Berkeley Hills. It's get everything from the "Little Farm" where you can feed and hang with cows, goats and more, to a swimming lake (Anza), to steam trains if you've got little kiddos. And tons of great hiking trails.
495 locals recommend
Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak BlvdWe've got an amazing park/open space right in our own backyard...up in the Berkeley Hills. It's get everything from the "Little Farm" where you can feed and hang with cows, goats and more, to a swimming lake (Anza), to steam trains if you've got little kiddos. And tons of great hiking trails.
This park down by the Berkeley Marina is a great spot to fly a kite, do some level walking (a 1.25 mile loop), and catch great views of SF and Marin. If you're lucky, you may even spot a burrowing owl in its protected habitat.
75 locals recommend
Cesar Chavez Park
11 Spinnaker WayThis park down by the Berkeley Marina is a great spot to fly a kite, do some level walking (a 1.25 mile loop), and catch great views of SF and Marin. If you're lucky, you may even spot a burrowing owl in its protected habitat.