Guidebook for Berkeley
Food scene
East Bay superstar---amazing wood fired pizza and excellent cocktails--try the gin and tonic with homemade tonic! Outdoor seating in the back, with bocce ball court and space for kids to run around.
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Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph AveEast Bay superstar---amazing wood fired pizza and excellent cocktails--try the gin and tonic with homemade tonic! Outdoor seating in the back, with bocce ball court and space for kids to run around.
Excellent cafe that sets the standard for Berkeley quality and culture. You can walk there in less than 30 min from our house by taking the hiking trail through Claremont Canyon to Dwight Way, then cross through Cal’s Clark Kerr campus and on to College Avenue’s Elmwood district.
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Baker & Commons
2900 College AveExcellent cafe that sets the standard for Berkeley quality and culture. You can walk there in less than 30 min from our house by taking the hiking trail through Claremont Canyon to Dwight Way, then cross through Cal’s Clark Kerr campus and on to College Avenue’s Elmwood district.
Solid fast ‘slow-food’ burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches and fries, plus salads that you can enjoy al fresco, and easily walkable from our house. Incredible beer selection. Great milkshakes.
The Station Burger Berkeley
2984 Russell StSolid fast ‘slow-food’ burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches and fries, plus salads that you can enjoy al fresco, and easily walkable from our house. Incredible beer selection. Great milkshakes.
Authentic, amazing haute-casual Mexican food in stylish but low-key setting.
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Comal
2020 Shattuck AveAuthentic, amazing haute-casual Mexican food in stylish but low-key setting.
Excellent ramen and other Japanese inspired dishes, as well as top-notch cocktails. Family friendly setting with a hipster vibe.
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Ramen Shop
5812 College AveExcellent ramen and other Japanese inspired dishes, as well as top-notch cocktails. Family friendly setting with a hipster vibe.
Authentic, foodie-worthy, actual Italian-owned gelato
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Caravaggio Gelato Lab
1797 Shattuck AveAuthentic, foodie-worthy, actual Italian-owned gelato
Excellent brunch with French inspired dishes. Get there early to beat the weekend crowds.
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La Note
2377 Shattuck AveExcellent brunch with French inspired dishes. Get there early to beat the weekend crowds.
Great brunch with comfortable outdoor space. Walkable from the house via a stroll through Cal's campus.
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Gather
2200 Oxford StGreat brunch with comfortable outdoor space. Walkable from the house via a stroll through Cal's campus.
Great salads, pizza, burger, and home-made chicken strips. Great for take-out. Order a half-baked pizza and bring it home to eat on the deck!
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Summer Kitchen +bakeshop
2944 College AveGreat salads, pizza, burger, and home-made chicken strips. Great for take-out. Order a half-baked pizza and bring it home to eat on the deck!
Best homemade Gelato outside of Italy. Period. Located in the heart of re-energized heart of downtown Berkeley, steps from the new BART station.
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Almare Gelato Italiano
2170 Shattuck AveBest homemade Gelato outside of Italy. Period. Located in the heart of re-energized heart of downtown Berkeley, steps from the new BART station.
Solid family friendly bistro with great service. Make reservations, especially on weekends.
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Zut!
1820 Fourth StSolid family friendly bistro with great service. Make reservations, especially on weekends.
So many great cafes in the area. These guys make a really smooth cortado.
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Artís Coffee
1717 Fourth StSo many great cafes in the area. These guys make a really smooth cortado.
Long standing Rockridge favorite. Solid, romantic and place with a refined but casual vibe for celebration meals or late night bites and drinks.
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À Côté Restaurant
5478 College AveLong standing Rockridge favorite. Solid, romantic and place with a refined but casual vibe for celebration meals or late night bites and drinks.
Thai Taste Kitchen
3814 Piedmont AveGreat spot for causal tasty Thai food or takeout.
Arguably the best French pastries in California. Head there early to stand in line—and when you finally get to the head of the line, place another order for no-wait pick up the next day.
That’s the only way to skip the line—keep placing orders for the next day! Their canales and croissants make it worth the effort.
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Pâtisserie Rotha
1051 San Pablo AveArguably the best French pastries in California. Head there early to stand in line—and when you finally get to the head of the line, place another order for no-wait pick up the next day.
That’s the only way to skip the line—keep placing orders for the next day! Their canales and croissants make it worth the effort.
Solid cafe & bistro that just opened in this space with relaxing back patio. Solid California casual food and desserts. Very friendly and capable waitstaff.
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Babette Cafe
2033 Center StSolid cafe & bistro that just opened in this space with relaxing back patio. Solid California casual food and desserts. Very friendly and capable waitstaff.
Excellent Northern California cuisine in relaxed setting with generally impeccable service. Great for lunch or dinner. Reservations recommended for both meals.
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The Wolf
3853 Piedmont AveExcellent Northern California cuisine in relaxed setting with generally impeccable service. Great for lunch or dinner. Reservations recommended for both meals.
Where California cuisine was invented. Still open after many decades of innovation and local, farm to table meals celebrating simplicity of excellent ingredients. Reservations far ahead usually required for both the cafe and main dining room.
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Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck AveWhere California cuisine was invented. Still open after many decades of innovation and local, farm to table meals celebrating simplicity of excellent ingredients. Reservations far ahead usually required for both the cafe and main dining room.
A true izakaya experience. Great sushi, skewers, and Japanese delicacies.
Reservations recommended for popular dining times.
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Ippuku
2130 Center StA true izakaya experience. Great sushi, skewers, and Japanese delicacies.
Reservations recommended for popular dining times.
Amazing take out food.
Opened by a pair of Chez Panisse alums as a tiny lunch counter. Great flatbread sandwiches filled with spicy chicken, herbs, cabbage, yogurt, and harissa; pints of soup; and beautiful salads made with the Bay Area’s best produce, perfectly arranged. (FYI: this is take out. There’s nowhere to sit.)
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FAVA
2114 Vine StAmazing take out food.
Opened by a pair of Chez Panisse alums as a tiny lunch counter. Great flatbread sandwiches filled with spicy chicken, herbs, cabbage, yogurt, and harissa; pints of soup; and beautiful salads made with the Bay Area’s best produce, perfectly arranged. (FYI: this is take out. There’s nowhere to sit.)
Amazing California-inflected middle eastern food. Fantastic brunch—but make reservations as it’s a small place and people love to linger at their tables here because the mezzo is sooo good!
Lulu
1019 Camelia StreetAmazing California-inflected middle eastern food. Fantastic brunch—but make reservations as it’s a small place and people love to linger at their tables here because the mezzo is sooo good!
Excellent French patisserie with prepared sandwiches for lunch as well. Arrive early and ready to stand in line.
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Fournée Bakery
2912 Domingo AveExcellent French patisserie with prepared sandwiches for lunch as well. Arrive early and ready to stand in line.
Rick & Ann's Restaurant
2922 Domingo AveSolid diner-style food and take out.
Old school, no frills spot for traditional donuts and straightforward ‘egg and cheese’ sandwiches.
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Dream Fluff Donuts
2637 Ashby AveOld school, no frills spot for traditional donuts and straightforward ‘egg and cheese’ sandwiches.
Shopping
Great independent bookstore with excellent customer service and gifts
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Mrs Dalloway's
2904 College AveGreat independent bookstore with excellent customer service and gifts
Excellent curated wine shop where you can find unique wines from around the world. Very friendly and helpful staff can entertain you with back stories on every single wine they sell. Be careful—you might spend a lot more time here than you thought!
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Vintage Berkeley
2113 Vine StExcellent curated wine shop where you can find unique wines from around the world. Very friendly and helpful staff can entertain you with back stories on every single wine they sell. Be careful—you might spend a lot more time here than you thought!
Olive oil specialty store. Lots of selections that make great gifts.
Amphora Nueva: Berkeley Olive Oil Works
2928 Domingo AveOlive oil specialty store. Lots of selections that make great gifts.
Expensive, curated, beautiful French country inspired housewares, accessories and stationery
Ellington & French
2942 Domingo AveExpensive, curated, beautiful French country inspired housewares, accessories and stationery
Great gift store, featuring nice jewelry by the owner and other local artisans, plus interesting and unusual gifts.
Philippa Roberts
4176 Piedmont AveGreat gift store, featuring nice jewelry by the owner and other local artisans, plus interesting and unusual gifts.
Nathan & Co
4025 Piedmont AveGreat gift store featuring locally-themed items.
Maison D'Etre
5640 College AveGreat housewarming gifts
The most amazingly complete supermarket in the United States. Astounding assortment of produce and products from around the world.
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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StThe most amazingly complete supermarket in the United States. Astounding assortment of produce and products from around the world.
Great gift shop with a collection of local/Bay Area/California items including everything from housewares to jewelry.
Palm + Perkins
2950 College AveGreat gift shop with a collection of local/Bay Area/California items including everything from housewares to jewelry.
Everything Else
Closest BART station if you're parking or picking someone up.
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Rockridge Station
5660 College AveClosest BART station if you're parking or picking someone up.
Entertainment & Activities
Excellent pool and spa facilities a 5 minute drive (or 25 minute walk) away. Impressive lunch or dinner spot for a more formal business meal, or to celebrate with family and friends.
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Claremont Club & Spa - A Fairmont Hotel
41 Tunnel RdExcellent pool and spa facilities a 5 minute drive (or 25 minute walk) away. Impressive lunch or dinner spot for a more formal business meal, or to celebrate with family and friends.
Great kids museum—about 6 min drive from the house—incorporating science, natural history, and interactive exhibits. Amazing expansive views of the bay from it’s hillside campus.
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Lawrence Hall of Science
Great kids museum—about 6 min drive from the house—incorporating science, natural history, and interactive exhibits. Amazing expansive views of the bay from it’s hillside campus.
Day pass for $5 for a sunny, heated lap pool with amazing views of the Bay! You can walk here from our house in 10-15 minutes
Cal Gymnastics Club
Sport Lane 25Day pass for $5 for a sunny, heated lap pool with amazing views of the Bay! You can walk here from our house in 10-15 minutes
Fun and educational place to spend an afternoon hiking among plants from around the world
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Orto Botanico dell'Università della California
200 Centennial DrFun and educational place to spend an afternoon hiking among plants from around the world
Apple 4th Street
1823 Fourth StClosest Apple store to the house
Fun outing for the kids. Plus endless hiking trails nearby.
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Tilden Park Merry Go Round
Lake Anza RoadFun outing for the kids. Plus endless hiking trails nearby.
A classic steam train experience taking you on a tour through the redwoods and East Bay hillside. Fun for little kids and those who are young at heart!
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Redwood Valley Railway (Treno a vapore Tilden)
2481 Grizzly Peak BlvdA classic steam train experience taking you on a tour through the redwoods and East Bay hillside. Fun for little kids and those who are young at heart!
Arts & Culture
Teatro Berkeley Repertory
2025 Addison StBest Theater House outside of Broadway.
Great space to see internationally acclaimed performances
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Cal Performances
101 Zellerbach HallGreat space to see internationally acclaimed performances
Great live performances by acclaimed musicians and other artists in a coffeehouse theater setting
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Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
2020 Addison StGreat live performances by acclaimed musicians and other artists in a coffeehouse theater setting
Closest IMAX theater—15 min drive.
Next closest are in SF and Walnut Creek.
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AMC Bay Street 16
5614 Bay StClosest IMAX theater—15 min drive.
Next closest are in SF and Walnut Creek.
Landmark's Shattuck Cinemas
2230 Shattuck AveMovie theater showing major productions
Great independent movies in an authentic & classic theater surrounded by great restaurants and retail.
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Rialto Cinemas Elmwood
2966 College AveGreat independent movies in an authentic & classic theater surrounded by great restaurants and retail.
Famous for its concerts for decades... you can walk down the hill from our house to the concert!
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The Greek Theatre
2001 Gayley RdFamous for its concerts for decades... you can walk down the hill from our house to the concert!