Guidebook for Berkeley
Food Scene
Very cute little neighborhood spot! Highlights are the rose lattes and really good iced coffee. It's tiny but there are a couple tables!
26 locals recommend
Rasa Caffe
411 Martin Luther King Jr WayVery cute little neighborhood spot! Highlights are the rose lattes and really good iced coffee. It's tiny but there are a couple tables!
Crixa Cakes
2748 Adeline StDelicious cakes and baked goods!!
Homemade Cafe
2454 Sacramento StGreat old school neighborhood breakfast spot!
Delicious Japanese food. This place is an institution, and usually has a line outside, but has good deals for lunch.
79 locals recommend
Kirala
2100 Ward StDelicious Japanese food. This place is an institution, and usually has a line outside, but has good deals for lunch.
Be a real local and head here (we call it "thai temple") on Sunday mornings for the crowded thai food on offer, cooked by the temple. Be ready for long lines, cheap prices, and a fun atmosphere.
45 locals recommend
Wat Mongkolratanaram
1911 Russell StBe a real local and head here (we call it "thai temple") on Sunday mornings for the crowded thai food on offer, cooked by the temple. Be ready for long lines, cheap prices, and a fun atmosphere.
Charming french bistro with delicious brunch. Expect a line for a table on the weekends, but it's worth it!
80 locals recommend
La Note
2377 Shattuck AveCharming french bistro with delicious brunch. Expect a line for a table on the weekends, but it's worth it!
Cheeseboard is very Berkeley. It's a co-op, and it's been around forever. They make one pizza everyday, and it's always good. There's also always a line, but it's a fun lunch and a good jumping off point to wander around the "gourmet ghetto."
317 locals recommend
The Cheeseboard Pizza
1512 Shattuck AveCheeseboard is very Berkeley. It's a co-op, and it's been around forever. They make one pizza everyday, and it's always good. There's also always a line, but it's a fun lunch and a good jumping off point to wander around the "gourmet ghetto."
This low-key Indian market and restaurant is delicious and a great deal. We suggest getting whatever the daily meal is, which comes with a number of sides. The desserts and the mango lassis are also delicious! Check the hours as it closes early - it's perfect for a lunch or afternoon snack. Head to fourth street for some shopping afterward!
84 locals recommend
Viks Chaat
2390 Fourth StThis low-key Indian market and restaurant is delicious and a great deal. We suggest getting whatever the daily meal is, which comes with a number of sides. The desserts and the mango lassis are also delicious! Check the hours as it closes early - it's perfect for a lunch or afternoon snack. Head to fourth street for some shopping afterward!
Alice Waters started an entire movement of California cuisine out of this homey restaurant, which is still one of the pride-and -joys of Berkeley. The downstairs has a prix fixe menu with prices that vary by the day of the week, and the upstairs serves a la carte menu items. If you're in town on a Monday, make a reservation downstairs for a decadent prix fixe meal at a fraction of the weekend night pricing.
337 locals recommend
Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck AveAlice Waters started an entire movement of California cuisine out of this homey restaurant, which is still one of the pride-and -joys of Berkeley. The downstairs has a prix fixe menu with prices that vary by the day of the week, and the upstairs serves a la carte menu items. If you're in town on a Monday, make a reservation downstairs for a decadent prix fixe meal at a fraction of the weekend night pricing.
Delicious ramen! This is the first bay area outpost of the crazy popular ramen restaurant in Manhattan, and it's just as good. Try the pork buns while you're here. Slurp!
11 locals recommend
Ippudo Berkeley
2015 Shattuck AveDelicious ramen! This is the first bay area outpost of the crazy popular ramen restaurant in Manhattan, and it's just as good. Try the pork buns while you're here. Slurp!
Essentials
GREAT grocery store which is beloved in the city. Amazing selection of produce, great deli and prepared foods, and everything in between. Be a local and do a little shopping while you're here, or come to grab a quick lunch!
419 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StGREAT grocery store which is beloved in the city. Amazing selection of produce, great deli and prepared foods, and everything in between. Be a local and do a little shopping while you're here, or come to grab a quick lunch!
Our nicer local version of Home Depot, where you can grab and hardware items and lots of other random home goods.
Orchard Supply Hardware
1025 Ashby AveOur nicer local version of Home Depot, where you can grab and hardware items and lots of other random home goods.
Drinks & Nightlife
Standby bar with various live programming, open mics, and other performances - classic neighborhood spot!
74 locals recommend
The Starry Plough Pub
3101 Shattuck AveStandby bar with various live programming, open mics, and other performances - classic neighborhood spot!
Solid dive bar with live music and a back patio. It's a fun place to grab a drink with friends - just don't expect anything too fancy!
47 locals recommend
Missouri Lounge
2600 San Pablo AveSolid dive bar with live music and a back patio. It's a fun place to grab a drink with friends - just don't expect anything too fancy!
Shopping
Head to our neighborhood farmers market on Tuesday afternoons for fresh produce and prepared foods. We love the thai stand that sells red snapper cooked in banana leaves!
43 locals recommend
South Berkeley (Tuesday) Farmers' Market
63rd StreetHead to our neighborhood farmers market on Tuesday afternoons for fresh produce and prepared foods. We love the thai stand that sells red snapper cooked in banana leaves!
Huge warehouse chock full of every matter of salvaged goods. It's perfect for browsing for random antique and other used items. Don't come expecting to find anything specific, but you may uncover a gem.
22 locals recommend
Urban Ore
900 Murray StHuge warehouse chock full of every matter of salvaged goods. It's perfect for browsing for random antique and other used items. Don't come expecting to find anything specific, but you may uncover a gem.
My good friend Chizu owns this cute and artful shop selling Japanese gifts and home goods. Stop in and pick up some authentic Japanese teacups or a silk kimono top. This whole area is cute, so leave some time to wander around.
Thousand Cranes
1803 Fourth StMy good friend Chizu owns this cute and artful shop selling Japanese gifts and home goods. Stop in and pick up some authentic Japanese teacups or a silk kimono top. This whole area is cute, so leave some time to wander around.
Arts & Culture
Local theater company that is always showing interesting and relevant original plays - check out their calendar to see what's on.
https://shotgunplayers.org/Online/default.asp
32 locals recommend
Shotgun Players
1901 Ashby AveLocal theater company that is always showing interesting and relevant original plays - check out their calendar to see what's on.
https://shotgunplayers.org/Online/default.asp
This museum, run by UC Berkeley, was recently redesigned by the architecture firm Diller & Scofidio, and have a good variety of rotating art exhibits. Definitely check their opening times before heading over, but it's a fun cultural activity right in downtown Berkeley. Every first Thursday is free admission!
171 locals recommend
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
2155 Center StThis museum, run by UC Berkeley, was recently redesigned by the architecture firm Diller & Scofidio, and have a good variety of rotating art exhibits. Definitely check their opening times before heading over, but it's a fun cultural activity right in downtown Berkeley. Every first Thursday is free admission!
Sightseeing
Weird and very "Berkeley" house designed to look like a fish. It's still an actual house, but drive by snap a quick pic!
Fish House, designed by Eugene Tsui
2747 Mathews StWeird and very "Berkeley" house designed to look like a fish. It's still an actual house, but drive by snap a quick pic!
Parks & Nature
Nice little park with a rock you can climb to watch the sunset - it has a great view of the whole bay area from up in the hills.
121 locals recommend
Indian Rock Park
950 Indian Rock AveNice little park with a rock you can climb to watch the sunset - it has a great view of the whole bay area from up in the hills.