39 Best Things to Do in Berkeley

👉 Jump to: Best Things | Streets & Neighborhoods | Sites & Attractions | Outdoors | Food, Drink, & Entertainment

I went to college at UC Berkeley and spent four years living there. It’s truly one of my favorite places in the world. This article is a compilation of my best Berkeley recommendations — cute neighborhoods, hiking trails, local markets, restaurants, bars, and more. 

It contains all of my hidden gems. A secret network of paths that lead to hidden waterfalls? Yep. The best spots for panoramic sunset views over the Bay Area? You betcha. I’ll also provide helpful tips on where to stay in Berkeley and how to get around. 

Now, let’s dig into the best things to do in Berkeley!

Best Things to Do in Berkeley

Tilden Regional Park

Explore Berkeley’s most famous park, complete with a golf course, steam train, petting zoo, and tons of trails.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 544-2747 | Website | Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Located in the Berkeley Hills, Tilden Regional Park is one of the best parks in the Bay Area. 

The 2,079-acre park has a petting zoo, a carousel, an 18-hole golf course, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a beautiful lake. Kids love the miniature steam train and the Tilden Little Farm, where you can feed goats, sheep, and piglets. 

Trail runners and cyclists also frequent Tilden Regional Park. Some of Tilden’s best trails have views over the San Francisco Bay and across to Marin. Make sure to check out Inspiration Point for a gorgeous out-and-back hike.

UC Berkeley Campus

Walk around the campus of the #1 public university in the world.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 642-6000 | Website | Entrance: Free

Walking around the UC Berkeley campus is a necessary part of any visit to Berkeley. 

UC Berkeley is known for many things — it’s the birthplace of the free speech movement, the #1 public university in the world, and the home of multiple Nobel Prize winners. 

The campus is open to the public, so stroll around to get a better feel for Berkeley life. Don’t miss the Campanile clock tower, Memorial Glade, the University Library, Sather Gate, and the Valley Life Sciences Building.

Telegraph Avenue

This iconic street is known for its street art, vintage shops, and strong community spirit. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 6 am – 7 pm Mon-Fri; Closed Sat & Sun | Entrance: free

Telegraph Avenue is the heart of the student-heavy Southside neighborhood. It’s a vibrant street filled with record stores, thrift shops, tattoo parlors, street art, and cheap eats. 

Telegraph is a cultural epicenter. You’ll often see live musicians busking, local artists selling their wares, and students hanging out between classes. 

Most shops along Telegraph are small, locally-owned businesses that have been on the street for years. Spend time poking around street merchant stalls, quirky vintage stores, and independent bookstores (like the adorable Sleepy Cat Books). Most of the main attractions are found in the four blocks closest to campus, from Dwight to Bancroft.

Greek Theater

Catch a show at the best outdoor concert venue in Northern California.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 871-9225 | Hours: Dependent on show times | Website

The Greek Theater is a must-visit concert venue. Immersed in the foothills behind UC Berkeley, this 8,500-seat outdoor amphitheater overlooks the iconic San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The theater is particularly active in the summer months with non-stop concerts. Past concerts at the Greek have included The Grateful Dead, Phish, Tom Petty, Joan Baez, Pearl Jam, and more.

Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve

One of the best easy hiking trails in Berkeley for panoramic views, native wildflowers, and gorgeous sunsets.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 327-2757 | Website | Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve is home to my favorite hiking trail in Berkeley: the Stonewall-Panoramic trail. 

Anytime I have friends or family visit, I take them on this trail. It has the best view in Berkeley, and it’s relatively easy to get there. The trail is only 0.75 miles long, and from the top you can see all of Berkeley, San Francisco, and Oakland. 

Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve is free to the public. The trailhead begins in the streets behind Clark Kerr, one of the UC Berkeley dorm halls. Street parking is available but limited.

👉 Local Tip: In March and April, this trail explodes with wildflowers. The end of the trail leads to a gorgeous meadow where wild mustard turns the whole hillside yellow, purple, and green. It’s gorgeous! 

Lawrence Hall of Science

Discover hands-on exhibits about life science, environmental science, the solar system, physics, computer science, and more.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 642-5132 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Wed-Sun | Entrance: $25

The Lawrence Hall of Science is a kid-friendly science museum open to the public. It’s located next to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a prestigious UC Berkeley research center specializing in life and material sciences.

The Lawrence Hall of Science has hands-on science exhibits, a planetarium, and a 3D theater showcasing nature and science films. Kids enjoy activities like the Animal Discovery Zone, the Outdoor Nature Lab, and introductory Biotech builds. 

If you’re visiting Berkeley with kids, this is one of the best places to go!

Cal Football Game

Cheer on the Cal Bears at the UC Berkeley football stadium. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: depends on game times | Entrance: $30 – 110 adult ticket

Attending a college football game at UC Berkeley is a rite of passage for any Berkeley visitor. The Cal Bears play at Memorial Stadium, a gorgeous stadium in the hills behind the Berkeley campus. The football season is from September to November each year. 

You’re bound to know when a home game is happening if you’re visiting Berkeley on a fall weekend. The streets around the stadium will be packed, parking will be nonexistent, and students will be dressed in their best blue and gold. Join in on the fun and head to the stadium to watch the game!

Streets & Neighborhoods

Downtown Berkeley

Visit the heart of Berkeley’s cultural and social scene while discovering restaurants, bars, bookstores, and more.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: Free

Experience Berkeley culture at its finest with a trip to Downtown Berkeley. This area of Berkeley has the highest concentration of restaurants, trendy coffee shops, and bars, often with live music performances. 

Most main attractions in Downtown Berkeley are within walking distance. Stroll around Shattuck Avenue and University Avenue, the two main streets. You’ll stumble upon delicious restaurants, independent bookstores, boutique shops, and historic government buildings.

Elmwood

This quaint neighborhood flies under the radar, but it’s one of the best parts of Berkeley for shopping, dining, and strolling.  

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: free

Elmwood is my favorite area of Berkeley. It’s a little local gem, tucked away from the student-centric Southside neighborhood or the hubbub of Downtown Berkeley. In Elmwood, life slows down a bit. 

Here, you’ll find locally owned cafes where neighbors gather to read the morning paper and share a cup of coffee. Elmwood is mostly residential, but the main business area is around College and Ashby Avenues.

Take time to explore Elmwood’s boutique stores, specialty ice cream parlors, and delicious restaurants. Tuck in for a bite to eat, or just relax with a drink in hand and watch the world go by.

Gourmet Ghetto

Dine out in the heart of Berkeley’s culinary scene.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free

Also known as the birthplace of California cuisine, North Berkeley’s “Gourmet Ghetto” area is a food lover’s paradise. Since its beginnings in 1966 as the original spot of Peet’s Coffee, the area has since grown into a renowned Berkeley culinary hotspot.

Gourmet Ghetto has a global reputation and several restaurants that shouldn’t be missed. The most famous is Chez Panisse, where chef Alice Waters became one of the pioneers of the California Cuisine movement. 

Other notable restaurants include The Cheese Board Collective, which serves artisan pizza with unique flavors. Or, check out Gregoire for its famous potato puffs and aioli. If you prefer Japanese food, then Cha-Ya’s sushi and noodle soups are for you.

Berkeley Hills

Upscale living and urban outdoor rock climbing combine in Berkeley’s most expensive neighborhood.

📍 Google Maps | Entrance: Free

The Berkeley Hills neighborhood is one of the most desirable places to live in Berkeley. But it’s also great to visit even as a tourist. There are several hidden gem parks in the area, where you can hike, rock climb, and picnic with a view over the Bay. 

Scale some boulders in Indian Rock Park, or hike to its panoramic lookout point for the best view in Berkeley. Grotto Rock Park is another great park in the area that’s less crowded than neighboring Indian Rock.

My advice? Take a self-guided walking tour around Indian Rock, Grotto Rock, Mortar Rock, and Cragmont Rock. You’ll see gorgeous homes and super unique parks. Plus, walking up those hills will give you a good workout!

Berkeley Marina

Stroll around the Berkeley waterfront while admiring views of the harbor and the San Francisco Bay.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: Free

The Berkeley Marina is just a 15-minute drive from downtown Berkeley. The waterfront area is filled with parks and walking paths with gorgeous views towards downtown San Francisco. It’s also the best place in town to find delicious seafood restaurants.

Boat tours and sailing clubs regularly depart from the Berkeley Marina for a day on the water. If you’re interested in kayaking or paddleboarding, many tour companies offer rentals at the Marina. 

The Berkeley Marina is also the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

Fourth Street

Shop some of Berkeley’s more upscale store brands in this hidden gem shopping district. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Entrance: Free

You’ll find Fourth Street in an unlikely spot — wedged between the railroad tracks and warehouses close to the freeway. However, this is one of Berkeley’s hippest streets for finding upscale brand stores. 

Fourth Street encompasses just about three blocks of shops, restaurants, and wine bars. Wander between famous stores like Apple, Tesla, Anthropologie, Madewell, and Lululemon. Afterwards, dine at one of the locally-owned restaurants. Oceanview Diner is my fav. 

Rockridge

Venture to the border of Berkeley and Oakland to find this hip neighborhood laden with restaurants and bars. 

📍 Google Maps | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: Free 

The Rockridge neighborhood straddles the border of Oakland and Berkeley. College Avenue is the main drag, with about eight blocks of fantastic restaurants, coffee shops, and beer gardens. 

Check out Cole Coffee for the best coffee, and Boichik Bagels for bagels that the New York Times called the best in the United States. Meanwhile, Kitchen Story serves inventive Korean fusion brunch food that has become a cult favorite in the Bay Area.

Sites & Attractions

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden

Wander through serene gardens filled with plants from around the world.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 643-2755 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily; Closed Tue | Entrance: $18 adult, $12 seniors and non-UC Berkeley students, $8 youth, Free to UC Berkeley students and children under 4

I love the UC Botanical Garden. This 34-acre garden is located in the hills behind the UC Berkeley campus and is open to both students and the general public.

The garden invites you on a botanical journey around the world, with over 10,000 types of plants from Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas, and more. Go here in the spring and summer for peak blooms.

Grizzly Peak Vista

Drive to this huge overlook for the best sunset views over the Bay Area. 

📍 Google Maps | Hours: 24 hours | Entrance: Free

Grizzly Peak Boulevard is an easily accessible road in the hills behind Berkeley, and it offers sweeping vistas of the whole Bay Area. It’s one of the most popular sunset spots, so get here early for the best spot! 

There are numerous spots to turn out and park along Grizzly Peak Boulevard. Some viewpoints have benches, but most of the time you’ll just be sitting on the ground. 

The road is pretty windy and narrow, so stay alert while driving. It’s a popular spot for road biking, so go slow around the blind turns and watch out for bikers. 

Once it gets dark, Grizzly Peak has a reputation as a spot for smoking, drinking, and late-night dates. If you’re trying to keep it family-friendly, leave after sunset.

Campanile Tower

Climb to the top of the iconic clock tower on UC Berkeley’s campus for the most unique view over Berkeley. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Mon-Fri; 10 am – 5 pm Sat; 10 am – 1 pm & 3 – 5 pm Sun (closed for the 2-3 pm concert) | Entrance: $5 adults, $4 youth (ages 3-17) and seniors (65+), free for UC Berkeley students 

The Campanile is an icon of UC Berkeley’s campus. This is the second-tallest freestanding clock and bell tower in the world. Take the elevator to the top for one of the best views in Berkeley! 

You can take the elevator most of the way up, but there are 38 steps up to the viewing platform, so, unfortunately, it’s not wheelchair-accessible.

Berkeley Rose Garden

Visit 3 acres of roses in this stunning park in North Berkeley.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 981-6637 | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free

With over 1,500 rose bushes, the Berkeley Rose Garden is a natural paradise. Nestled high in the Berkeley Hills, this garden has sweeping views over the Bay. 

The Berkeley Rose Garden offers much more than roses. There are also tennis courts, hiking trails, picnic tables, a gazebo, and an amphitheater. It’s the perfect spot for a leisurely lunchtime picnic. 

The best time to visit is during peak bloom in May.

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

Explore Berkeley’s largest Asian art and film collection.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 642-0808 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 7 pm daily; Closed Mon & Tues | Entrance: $18 adults; $12 disabled, seniors, non-UC Berkeley students; Free to UC Berkeley students and all children under 18

BAMPFA is internationally recognized as one of the leading museums for art and film, especially Asian art. This museum has more than 22,000 works of art and hosts more than 450 film screenings annually.

Examples of collections at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive are the Ming and Qing Dynasty Chinese paintings, Old Master works on paper, and Abstract Expressionist paintings. The museum also holds the largest collection of Japanese cinema outside of Japan.

I’d recommend allocating between 1 and 3 hours for a visit to BAMPFA.

Shorebird Park Nature Center

Explore native birdlife down at the Berkeley Marina.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 981-6720 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Tue-Sat | Entrance: Free

The Shorebird Park Nature Center is a scenic park on the waterfront with educational exhibits, picnic areas, and play areas. This unique wetland ecosystem is home to a variety of native bird species, which you can spot in the park.

Group tours at the Shorebird Park Nature Center include informational videos, group workshops, and a tour of the facilities.

Codornices Park Concrete Slide

Find this hidden slide at a quiet park in North Berkeley. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 7 am – 8 pm | Entrance: Free

Codornices Park, located next to the Berkeley Rose Garden, is a fairly normal park. It has softball fields, play structures, and picnic areas. But take a closer look at the trees, and you’ll find this unique cement slide that’s become a favorite for all ages. 

The shaded cement slide never gets too hot, and it’s not just for kids. The area around the slide is littered with cardboard from past slide-users, so just grab a piece and slide down!

Oxford Tract Farm & Gardens

Volunteer at this huge urban farm in the heart of downtown Berkeley. 

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: vary seasonally | Entrance: Free

The Oxford Tract holds a special place in my heart. I spent many days volunteering here to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for the surrounding community. 

This urban farm hosts workshops, volunteer days, and gardening opportunities for both UC Berkeley students and anyone in the community. For anyone with a green thumb, the Oxford Tract is an incredible place to spend a day! 

The farm is mostly run by Berkeley student groups, and it’s sometimes difficult to find out when volunteer days are. I’d recommend emailing the group if you’re interested.

Outdoor Adventures

Fire Trails

Hike in the shady hills behind UC Berkeley’s campus. 

📍 Google Maps | Hours: sunrise – sunset | Entrance: Free

The fire trails are one of the most popular hiking areas in Berkeley. There are two main trails: Lower Fire Trail and Upper Fire Trail. 

The lower fire trail is a quick workout and is pretty flat. It’s mostly shaded, so it’s a great option for hotter days. The upper fire trail has a steeper elevation gain. It goes much higher into the hills and takes you above the trees for sweeping views. 

The fire trails cross over into Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, so it’s easy to tack on some extra mileage on your way down. 

👉 Pro Tip: Parking at the trailhead for Lower and Upper Fire Trails is extremely limited. If visiting on a weekend or after 6 pm on a weekday, try parking at this Lower Fire Trail trailhead instead, or hiking in from the Stonewall-Panoramic Trail in Claremont Canyon.

Lake Anza

Picnic by the water, go fishing, or swim at this sunny lake hidden in Tilden Park.   

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 327-2757, option 3, ext. 4562 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 6 pm | Entrance: $5 adult, $3 child (age 2-17) and senior (62+), free under 2  

Lake Anza is Berkeley’s favorite swimming hole, tucked away in Tilden Park in the hills above the city. 

Summer is the most popular season at Lake Anza because the swim beach opens. From May to September, there is a nice sandy shore with lifeguards on duty. You do have to pay to enter, and capacity is limited, so try to get there early (especially on the weekend). 

Outside of the summer season, Lake Anza is a favorite place to walk, picnic, or go fishing. 

👉 Pro Tip: Be sure to check the current conditions at Lake Anza. The lake sometimes has algal blooms that make it unsafe to swim.

Secret Paths of Berkeley

Walk a system of hidden neighborhood trails that pass through gardens, creeks, and waterfalls.

Website | Entrance: Free

One of my favorite hidden gems in Berkeley is the network of paths that weave between residential areas. 

Located throughout all the neighborhoods of Berkeley, the paths often create shortcuts between major streets, wind through neighbors’ side yards, and even take you past hidden waterfalls or creeks. 

You could be walking down any normal street when you spot a secret staircase that leads to one of the most beautiful and private views over the Bay. It turns a simple neighborhood walk into a scavenger hunt! 

There are 126 named pedestrian paths, and the best way to explore them is to consult the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association website.

San Pablo Reservoir

Rent boats, host a barbecue, or go fishing in this huge reservoir in the Berkeley hills.  

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 223-1661 | Website | Hours: sunrise – 1 hour before sunset, closed Nov – Jan | Entrance: Free, boat rentals start at $15 / hour

The San Pablo Reservoir is my favorite secret spot to go on a hot day in the summer. It’s a fantastic body of water with grassy shores and several huge picnic areas — and the best part is that it never seems to be crowded. 

Nestled in the hills between Berkeley and Orinda, you can get there in less than 30 minutes from Berkeley. The visitor center rents motor boats, row boats, and occasionally kayaks (though kayak rentals have paused in 2025). Unfortunately, no swimming is allowed. 

The reservoir is stocked with trout and catfish, making it a favorite spot for fishing. Make sure to pick up a fishing permit from the visitor center. 

Cruise Around the San Francisco Bay

Enjoy uninterrupted views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz Island in these boat tours departing from the Berkeley Marina.

📍 Google Maps | Hours: 10 am – 6:30 pm Mon-Thu; 10 am – 7:30 pm Fri-Sun | Entrance: $40 – 150 |👉 Browse Tours on Viator

Taking a boat tour of the iconic San Francisco Bay is one of the best things to do in Berkeley! Visitors can enjoy picturesque views on a luxurious cruise around the bay, complete with meals and drinks included. 

Also one of the top things to do in San Francisco, the most popular Berkeley boat tour is a cruise over to the Golden Gate Bridge, only a short ride away. 

The Berkeley Marina has several options for tours of the San Francisco Bay, so it’s possible to tour the Bay directly from Berkeley. However, most cruises leave from the San Francisco piers. If you don’t mind driving 30 minutes over to San Francisco, you’ll have more tour options to choose from.

Adventure Playground

Encourage your little ones to unleash their creativity at this unique family-friendly park.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 981-6720 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Sat & Sun; Closed Mon-Fri | Entrance: Free during weekends & summers, $10 per child for the after-school program

Located on the waterfront of the Berkeley Marina, Berkeley’s Adventure Playground is a unique, low-budget, artsy playground for children. Here, children have the opportunity to build, create, and learn self-confidence. 

Adventure Playground encourages kids to build different aspects of the playground themselves, meaning the unique structure is always changing. There are many forts, boats, towers, a zip line, and building tools for children to utilize.  

There is always a supervisor on the premises to regulate the usage of building tools. Adventure Playground is free during regular hours, which are 11 am – 5 pm on weekends.

Sibley Volcanic Regional Park

Hike around the site of an ancient volcano just 10 minutes from Berkeley.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (888) 327-2757 | Website | Hours: 7 am – 10 pm daily | Entrance: Free

Sibley Volcanic Regional Park is only a short 10-15 minute drive from Berkeley, located in the Oakland Hills. 

There are 11 major hiking trails in the area, ranging from 1 to 7 miles round-trip. The RoundTop Skyline Trail is the most popular trail and is suited for individuals of all hiking levels.

Food, Drink, & Entertainment

La Note

Dine at this long-standing French restaurant in downtown, known especially for its brunch offerings and quaint backyard patio. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 843-1525 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 2 pm Mon-Fri; 8 am – 3 pm Sat-Sun | Price: $$

Berkeley knows how to do brunch. And if there’s one place that always has a line out the door, it’s La Note. 

Come here for fantastic French eats, fresh pastries, gourmet pancakes, and more. If it’s nice weather, you can dine outside on the backyard patio amidst flowers and Mediterranean-inspired tableware. 

La Note is incredibly popular, so try to snag a reservation in advance if you can. Otherwise, the wait is usually only 30-45 minutes (longer in good weather and on a weekend). 

Cornerstone

This lively club in downtown Berkeley boasts an excellent selection of craft beer, an outdoor seating area, and an indoor dance floor with regular live music. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 214-8600 | Website | Hours: 11:30 am – 12 am daily | Price: $$ 

Like live music and good beer? Come to Cornerstone. 

Cornerstone is separated into a restaurant and beer garden space, and then a concert area. You can eat at the pub or enjoy drinking on the patio without needing to buy a ticket to the live music. But I’d highly recommend going to a show! 

Check Cornerstone’s calendar to see the full live music schedule, but there are typically concerts at least once a week here. They also host popular DJ nights, where the dance floor is in full swing.

Chez Panisse

Dine at Berkeley’s most famous restaurant, where chef Alice Waters pioneered the style of cooking known as California Cuisine. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 548-5525 | Website | Hours: (lunch) 11:30 am – 2:30 pm Tues-Thurs; 11:30 am – 3 pm Fri-Sat; Closed Sun-Mon; (dinner) 5 – 10 pm daily; closed Sun | Price: $$$$

Chez Panisse is the restaurant that put Berkeley firmly on the culinary map. It’s known for pioneering the California Cuisine movement that focuses on utilizing local and seasonal ingredients. 

The downstairs dining room offers a 4-course prix fixe meal that changes daily. Upstairs, the Chez Panisse café offers à la carte dining, where guests can have more flexibility in their desired food choices. It’s very good, but it’s not the same as the dining room. That’s the real deal. 

Reservations are coveted and incredibly difficult to get. You need to reserve one month in advance of your desired dining date, and be on the website at 9 am as soon as reservations go live. Best of luck — it’s worth it!

Ecology Center Farmers’ Markets

Taste local produce, meats, cheeses, and more at these thrice-weekly Berkeley markets. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 548-3333 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 2:30 pm Sat | Entrance: free

Farmers’ markets in the Bay Area are more of a social activity than a grocery trip. The markets are a community gathering, a celebration of local food, and a way for farmers to connect with their customers. 

The Ecology Center, a Berkeley nonprofit, puts on three Berkeley markets per week. The market comes to South Berkeley every Tuesday from 2 – 6:30 pm, North Berkeley every Thursday from 3 – 7 pm, and Downtown Berkeley every Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm. 

These Berkeley Farmers’ Markets offer patrons the chance to taste sustainable local foods while getting to know the local community. This is especially true at the North Berkeley Farmers’ Market, where “Thirsty Thursdays” feature live music, craft beer and wine, and family-friendly activities.

Starry Plough Irish Pub

Nightly events like Trad Irish Music and Funk Night draw a crowd at this local favorite pub. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 977-5819 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 2 am Mon-Fri; 2 pm – 2 am Sat & Sun | Entrance: Free

The Starry Plough has long been a favorite watering hole for Berkeley locals. The pub has a long history of Irish political activism and is known for hosting live music and arts events that celebrate Irish culture and revolutionary spirit. 

Some popular weekly events are Irish Trad Music, Irish Dancing, Open Mic Night, and a Poetry Slam. 

Thursday night at Starry Plough is “Funk Night,” which is by far the most popular event of the week. Live funk bands grace the stage, and the crowd packs the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning. 

Berkeley Bowl

Berkeley locals obsess over this huge marketplace’s incredible selection of local fruits, veggies, cheeses, meats, and bulk goods. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 843-6929 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 8 pm Mon-Sat; 10 am – 7 pm Sun | Price: $$

Many people in Berkeley have a cult-like obsession with Berkeley Bowl — myself included. This local marketplace has one of the largest selections of fresh produce that I’ve ever seen. There are fruits and vegetables I didn’t even know existed until I went here. 

Berkeley Bowl’s range of products is incredible for an independently owned market. It has a huge produce section offering goods from local farms and a wide selection of international products you can’t typically find at a chain grocery store. 

Head here to grab some local cheese, fruits, and breads, then go to a nearby park for a picnic! 

Monterey Market

This independently-owned market specializes in produce selection — plus the fishmonger next door is the best in Berkeley. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 526-6042 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 7 pm Mon-Fri; 8 am – 6 pm Sat-Sun | Price: $$

If there’s one thing that sets Berkeley apart, it’s the focus on hyper-local, sustainably-grown food. Monterey Market is yet another place to find locally-grown fruits and vegetables, with a focus on providing only what’s in season. Across the street, Monterey Fish Market is the best fish market in the city. It’s fairly small but offers a great selection of high-quality and sustainably-caught fresh seafood.

Comal

This upscale Mexican eatery in modern digs offers excellent cocktails and fresh eats. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 926-6300 | Website | Hours: 5 – 9 pm Sun-Wed; 5 – 10 pm Thurs-Sat | Price: $$$

Comal is my go-to spot for a dinner that’s going to be slightly fancier but won’t break the bank. It has a huge, modern interior as well as a gorgeous garden patio. 

The food is delicious. Think modern Mexican food from the Oaxacan region, with an emphasis on the fresh ingredients Berkeley cuisine is known for. They also offer an excellent selection of craft cocktails, with particularly good mezcal.

Baker & Commons

Elmwood’s 100-year-old corner café is a neighborhood favorite. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 843-1300 | Website | Hours: 7:30 am – 6:30 pm Sun-Thurs; 7:30 am – 8 pm Fri-Sat | Price: $

Baker & Commons has been around for over 100 years. What began as a soda shop has turned into a community gathering spot serving pastries, sandwiches, and drinks in the cozy Elmwood neighborhood. 

The vibes here are local through and through. Neighbors regularly gather to chat, read newspapers, or sit outside in the brightly colored parklet. On Saturdays, the café often has live music. The food and drinks here are good, but what you’re really coming for is the local community.

Raleigh’s

This laid-back backyard beer garden in Berkeley caters to students and adults alike. 

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (510) 280-5319 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 1 am Tue & Thu-Sat; 12 pm – 12 am Wed, Sun & Mon | Price: $

Raleigh’s is the perfect example of a college bar that’s fun for all ages. Both students and adults come here to take advantage of the spacious backyard beer garden, watch a sports game, or indulge in one of the bargain happy hour deals (particularly Taco Tuesday). 

Raleigh’s has about 20 varieties of beer, cider, and hard kombucha on tap, plus craft cocktails. There’s also a full restaurant, so it’s a great place for lunch or dinner. 

If the menu isn’t appealing to you, don’t fret — you can also order from Mezzo, the next-door café, which serves up gigantic salads and sandwiches. Both Mezzo and Raleigh’s share the backyard patio. It’s one of the most epic collabs in Berkeley.

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Thanks for reading! I hope you get to love Berkeley as much as I do. 

Next, check out our list of the best things to do in Northern California to continue exploring hidden gems in NorCal.