Guidebook for Berkeley
Food Scene
Kirala
2100 Ward StExcellent Japanese restaurant, nice ambiance, delicious food.
A sweet local cafe, none of your chains, just good coffee, teas, and nice folks.
29 locals recommend
Mo'Joe Cafe
2517 Sacramento StA sweet local cafe, none of your chains, just good coffee, teas, and nice folks.
A great local Mexican restaurant--fresh and delicious food, not too expensive. Nice atmosphere, quick service. Early evening tends to be kid hour, but after 7:30 or so it gets more civilized...
45 locals recommend
Picante
1328 Sixth StA great local Mexican restaurant--fresh and delicious food, not too expensive. Nice atmosphere, quick service. Early evening tends to be kid hour, but after 7:30 or so it gets more civilized...
Cancun has fresh and tasty Mexican food, much of their produce is from their own farm, a great place for lunch. Can be noisy in the evenings.
18 locals recommend
Cancun Sabor Mexicano
2134 Allston WayCancun has fresh and tasty Mexican food, much of their produce is from their own farm, a great place for lunch. Can be noisy in the evenings.
Lalime's is on a par with Chez Panisse but is less well known. The food is almost always excellent, the ambiance is relaxed and lovely, the service is great. A great place for a higher-end meal.
23 locals recommend
Lalime's
1329 Gilman StLalime's is on a par with Chez Panisse but is less well known. The food is almost always excellent, the ambiance is relaxed and lovely, the service is great. A great place for a higher-end meal.
This Indian restaurant has a great ambiance and excellent fare. Solano is a nice spot for an evening stroll, and there's a great bookstore just down the street (Pegasus).
30 locals recommend
Ajanta
1888 Solano AveThis Indian restaurant has a great ambiance and excellent fare. Solano is a nice spot for an evening stroll, and there's a great bookstore just down the street (Pegasus).
Gather, relatively new, is becoming a Berkeley institution. They have great salads, novel pizzas, a good burger if you like that kind of thing and a vegan charcuterie platter that can be great.
77 locals recommend
Gather
2200 Oxford StGather, relatively new, is becoming a Berkeley institution. They have great salads, novel pizzas, a good burger if you like that kind of thing and a vegan charcuterie platter that can be great.
If you're in the campus area, this is a very nice cafe to hang out in for a while and check out the campus scene. Great folks working here, good coffee.
7 locals recommend
Café Milano
2522 Bancroft WayIf you're in the campus area, this is a very nice cafe to hang out in for a while and check out the campus scene. Great folks working here, good coffee.
Sightseeing
The botanical garden is a lovely spot to take a walk along winding pathways through plant groupings from all over the world.
77 locals recommend
The University of California Botanical Garden
200 Centennial DrThe botanical garden is a lovely spot to take a walk along winding pathways through plant groupings from all over the world.
Arts & Culture
A gem of a museum, recently refurbished, with a great new section on California history. Also has other great permanent and rotating exhibits.
547 locals recommend
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak StA gem of a museum, recently refurbished, with a great new section on California history. Also has other great permanent and rotating exhibits.
This is a great old theater that is a sight in itself, but is also a great place to see a movie.
382 locals recommend
Grand Lake Theater
3200 Grand AveThis is a great old theater that is a sight in itself, but is also a great place to see a movie.
This is a great theater, comfortable, with a nice selection of movies for thinking adults.
65 locals recommend
Landmark's Shattuck Cinemas
2230 Shattuck AveThis is a great theater, comfortable, with a nice selection of movies for thinking adults.
Another Landmark theatre, this one is not quite as comfy (as Shattuck) but it's still a great place to see good movies.
23 locals recommend
Landmark's California Theatre
2113 Kittredge StAnother Landmark theatre, this one is not quite as comfy (as Shattuck) but it's still a great place to see good movies.
Berkeley Rep has consistently excellent productions. Recommend highly!
127 locals recommend
Berkeley Repertory Theatre
2025 Addison StBerkeley Rep has consistently excellent productions. Recommend highly!
Everything Else
Moe's Books is a Berkeley institution, four floors of books used and new, with a great antiquarian and fine art department but also just great coverage in general.
14 locals recommend
Moe's Books
2476 Telegraph AveMoe's Books is a Berkeley institution, four floors of books used and new, with a great antiquarian and fine art department but also just great coverage in general.
Our recently renovated main library is a great place to read, work, or browse among the stacks.
18 locals recommend
Berkeley Public Library
2090 Kittredge StOur recently renovated main library is a great place to read, work, or browse among the stacks.
Shopping
If you're reading this, you're probably a tourist, and if so you're probably walking a lot. Need great comfortable shoes? This is the spot.
Walk Shop
2120 Vine StIf you're reading this, you're probably a tourist, and if so you're probably walking a lot. Need great comfortable shoes? This is the spot.
Essentials
Berkeley Bowl is the best grocery store on this planet. They have great fresh organic produce, bulk goods and spices, humanely raised meats, an excellent selection of cheeses, a great deli with prepared food, a terrific section of wine, cider, beer, sake etc. And of course your basic grocery store stuff, toiletries, cleaning stuff, and kitchen knick-knacks.
419 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StBerkeley Bowl is the best grocery store on this planet. They have great fresh organic produce, bulk goods and spices, humanely raised meats, an excellent selection of cheeses, a great deli with prepared food, a terrific section of wine, cider, beer, sake etc. And of course your basic grocery store stuff, toiletries, cleaning stuff, and kitchen knick-knacks.
Parks & Nature
Tilden has a lot to offer, from short scenic strolls to good long strenuous hikes, from wooded shady streamside trails to ridge top views of the whole Bay Area. The Little Farm and Nature Area are great for families or just a nice stroll up a shaded path; The Nimitz Trail from Inspiration Point is a rolling, paved trail with great views.
495 locals recommend
Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak BlvdTilden has a lot to offer, from short scenic strolls to good long strenuous hikes, from wooded shady streamside trails to ridge top views of the whole Bay Area. The Little Farm and Nature Area are great for families or just a nice stroll up a shaded path; The Nimitz Trail from Inspiration Point is a rolling, paved trail with great views.