Guidebook for Berkeley
Essentials
Is this the best place to buy produce on the planet? Great cafe too.
People may call this a supermarket, but there's a long history to the 'Bowl'. It all started in a Bowling Alley.
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz AveIs this the best place to buy produce on the planet? Great cafe too.
People may call this a supermarket, but there's a long history to the 'Bowl'. It all started in a Bowling Alley.
Food Scene
Great coffee and continental breakfast. Live music on many evenings. Beer and wine available. Two minute walk.
99 locals recommend
Caffè Chiave
2500 San Pablo AveGreat coffee and continental breakfast. Live music on many evenings. Beer and wine available. Two minute walk.
Good food. Friendly place. Next door to Longbranch. Three minute walk. Good pizza and appetizers.
66 locals recommend
Paisan
2514 San Pablo AveGood food. Friendly place. Next door to Longbranch. Three minute walk. Good pizza and appetizers.
Anchalee Thai Cuisine
1096 Dwight WayYummy Thai food. Two minute walk.
Classic breakfast place. Go early, less waiting. Go later, on a weekend and be ready for a long wait. Sadly, the owner Bette died recently--but the place is run by her loving staff and continues to put out great food. A classic West Berkeley locale.
76 locals recommend
Bette's Oceanview Diner
1807A Fourth StClassic breakfast place. Go early, less waiting. Go later, on a weekend and be ready for a long wait. Sadly, the owner Bette died recently--but the place is run by her loving staff and continues to put out great food. A classic West Berkeley locale.
Picante
1328 Sixth St A bit pricey, but high quality Mexican food. A West Berkeley institution.
It's all about the bread. Some of the best. 5 minute drive. There's all kinds of good baked items here. Nice cafe next door for coffee.
107 locals recommend
Acme Bread
1601 San Pablo AveIt's all about the bread. Some of the best. 5 minute drive. There's all kinds of good baked items here. Nice cafe next door for coffee.
Really good food. Usually a wait to get in. Open for breakfast. Then close and reopen for lunch. Five minute walk from our house.
20 locals recommend
900 Grayson
900 Grayson StReally good food. Usually a wait to get in. Open for breakfast. Then close and reopen for lunch. Five minute walk from our house.
Tomate Cafe
2265 Fifth StGood food, pretty cheap.
Great Indian food. Close at 6:30 midweek. Open till 8 on weekends. 5 minute walk from the house.
84 locals recommend
Viks Chaat
2390 Fourth StGreat Indian food. Close at 6:30 midweek. Open till 8 on weekends. 5 minute walk from the house.
The classic. People come to Berkeley just to eat here. Many a restaurant around the East Bay has had a chef spend time here. This is truly a dining experience.
337 locals recommend
Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck AveThe classic. People come to Berkeley just to eat here. Many a restaurant around the East Bay has had a chef spend time here. This is truly a dining experience.
Drinks & Nightlife
Specialize in whiskey and good beers on tap. Really good food, too. Three minute walk.
33 locals recommend
Longbranch Saloon
2512 San Pablo AveSpecialize in whiskey and good beers on tap. Really good food, too. Three minute walk.
Missouri Lounge
2600 San Pablo AveDive bar. Good cheap food late at night.
Such good beer here. That's all one really goes here for, but they do have some snacky foods that are pretty good. It's all about the beer. It's really good. Did I say the beer is really good? Six minute drive.
91 locals recommend
Fieldwork Brewing Company
1160 Sixth StSuch good beer here. That's all one really goes here for, but they do have some snacky foods that are pretty good. It's all about the beer. It's really good. Did I say the beer is really good? Six minute drive.
Formerly the place to go see a movie, including midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show--the place went under. Now refurbished into a music venue, it's the place to see a show.
http://www.theuctheatre.org/
9 locals recommend
The UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall
2036 University AveFormerly the place to go see a movie, including midnight showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show--the place went under. Now refurbished into a music venue, it's the place to see a show.
http://www.theuctheatre.org/
Shopping
Fourth Street
Fourth StreetLot's of shops and food on fourth street. Ten minute walk.
Parks & Nature
Want some fresh breeze? Salty air? Head across Highway 80 toward the bay. There's walking paths, lots of grass, and good kite flying. Near the bay--bring a windbreaker or layers. See the Golden Gate.
If the Berkeley pier is open, that's worth a look see, just on the other side of the Berkeley Marina.
75 locals recommend
Cesar Chavez Park
11 Spinnaker WayWant some fresh breeze? Salty air? Head across Highway 80 toward the bay. There's walking paths, lots of grass, and good kite flying. Near the bay--bring a windbreaker or layers. See the Golden Gate.
If the Berkeley pier is open, that's worth a look see, just on the other side of the Berkeley Marina.
Lot's of trails in Tilden. The merry go round is a good one if you have young children or if you just like merry go rounds.
If you want to hike--try Wildcat Gorge or get on the Sea View trail for spectacular views of the entire Bay Area.
54 locals recommend
Tilden Park Merry Go Round
Lake Anza RoadLot's of trails in Tilden. The merry go round is a good one if you have young children or if you just like merry go rounds.
If you want to hike--try Wildcat Gorge or get on the Sea View trail for spectacular views of the entire Bay Area.
There's a concrete slide in a really pretty setting. Great park for all ages. Berkeley Rose Garden across the street.
34 locals recommend
Codornices Park
1201 Euclid AveThere's a concrete slide in a really pretty setting. Great park for all ages. Berkeley Rose Garden across the street.
Everything Else
Lot's to see here. Cheap food surrounds the campus to the west, north and south.
427 locals recommend
University of California, Berkeley
Oxford StreetLot's to see here. Cheap food surrounds the campus to the west, north and south.
Arts & Culture
Recently moved and redone. Architecturally interesting spot. See their website for current shows. http://bampfa.org/about/about-bampfa
171 locals recommend
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
2155 Center StRecently moved and redone. Architecturally interesting spot. See their website for current shows. http://bampfa.org/about/about-bampfa