Maddie’s Guide to Northwest Berkeley
Northwest Berkeley: Cafes & Restaurants
Our favorite places to eat and drink in the neighborhood.
Hip, sunny coffee shop that serves salads, sandwiches, grain bowls and other healthy fare for breakfast and lunch.
42 locals recommend
Cafe Réveille
610 Long Bridge StreetHip, sunny coffee shop that serves salads, sandwiches, grain bowls and other healthy fare for breakfast and lunch.
Great coffee -- they roast their own beans on-site! They often host live music over the weekends.
23 locals recommend
Artís Coffee
1717 Fourth StGreat coffee -- they roast their own beans on-site! They often host live music over the weekends.
Delicious, inventive Japanese fare. Michael Pollan's favorite restaurant in Berkeley (after Chez Panisse).
35 locals recommend
Iyasare
1830 Fourth StDelicious, inventive Japanese fare. Michael Pollan's favorite restaurant in Berkeley (after Chez Panisse).
Cafe M
1799 Fourth StExcellent breakfast in a laidback atmosphere.
Fantastic Mexican food, to eat-in or take-out. We love the chicken tacos, the tortilla soup, and the ceviche.
60 locals recommend
Tacubaya
1782 Fourth StFantastic Mexican food, to eat-in or take-out. We love the chicken tacos, the tortilla soup, and the ceviche.
Our favorite coffee shop! They've got fantastic food (try the egg sandwich or the avocado toast) and on Friday evenings, they morph into a wine bar with small bites. A wonderful way to end your week, or kick off your weekend!
48 locals recommend
Bartavelle Coffee & Wine Bar
1621 San Pablo AveOur favorite coffee shop! They've got fantastic food (try the egg sandwich or the avocado toast) and on Friday evenings, they morph into a wine bar with small bites. A wonderful way to end your week, or kick off your weekend!
Fantastic Thai comfort food. You can eat in, take out, or order for delivery/pick up on Caviar.
Funky Elephant
1313 Ninth StFantastic Thai comfort food. You can eat in, take out, or order for delivery/pick up on Caviar.
Delicious Korean food -- their house specialty is the tofu soup, of which there are about a dozen varieties. Eat in or call ahead for pick-up.
Pyeong Chang Tofu House
1269 University AvenueDelicious Korean food -- their house specialty is the tofu soup, of which there are about a dozen varieties. Eat in or call ahead for pick-up.
A bit of a walk, but this is a lovely cafe that serves breakfast and lunch, with outdoor seating.
23 locals recommend
Standard Fare
2701 Eighth StA bit of a walk, but this is a lovely cafe that serves breakfast and lunch, with outdoor seating.
A delicious, authentic German restaurant with a real farm-to-table, home-cooked ethos.
26 locals recommend
Gaumenkitzel
2121 San Pablo AveA delicious, authentic German restaurant with a real farm-to-table, home-cooked ethos.
A popular, perennially packed tapas restaurant right on San Pablo.
36 locals recommend
La Marcha Tapas Bar
2026 San Pablo AveA popular, perennially packed tapas restaurant right on San Pablo.
CoRo Coffee Room
2324 Fifth StNorthwest Berkeley: Food Shopping
Where to pick up groceries (and wine) during your stay.
The one and only! Actually, this is the second Berkeley Bowl location, but it's bigger (and better, IMO) than the original. You'll find a huge array of fresh produce, including lots of esoteric varieties that are rare to find elsewhere.
371 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz AveThe one and only! Actually, this is the second Berkeley Bowl location, but it's bigger (and better, IMO) than the original. You'll find a huge array of fresh produce, including lots of esoteric varieties that are rare to find elsewhere.
Sometimes Berkeley Bowl West can get a bit crowded, so if you're looking for a quick/easy grocery run, Whole Foods is the place to go.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlSometimes Berkeley Bowl West can get a bit crowded, so if you're looking for a quick/easy grocery run, Whole Foods is the place to go.
A small independently-owned market that carries most of the essentials, and some produce!
16 locals recommend
Franklin Bros. Market
901 Bancroft WayA small independently-owned market that carries most of the essentials, and some produce!
A specialty food store that carries pastas, canned items, cheese and cured meats but no produce or fresh dairy.
17 locals recommend
Market Hall Foods Berkeley
1786 Fourth StA specialty food store that carries pastas, canned items, cheese and cured meats but no produce or fresh dairy.
Incredible Berkeley-based bakery for fresh breads and pastries. There's always a small line up outside, but it moves fast (and you can grab a coffee at Bartavelle next door while you wait).
107 locals recommend
Acme Bread
1601 San Pablo AveIncredible Berkeley-based bakery for fresh breads and pastries. There's always a small line up outside, but it moves fast (and you can grab a coffee at Bartavelle next door while you wait).
The Spanish Table
1814 San Pablo AveGreat spot to pick up Spanish beers, wines, or jamon!
A small but wonderful wine shop down on Fourth Street. The staff is incredibly knowledgable and always has great recommendations.
7 locals recommend
Vino
1778 Fourth StA small but wonderful wine shop down on Fourth Street. The staff is incredibly knowledgable and always has great recommendations.
If you're a wine geek, this is a must-visit. This is the only retail outpost of famed French/Italian wine importer Kermit Lynch.
19 locals recommend
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
1605 San Pablo AveIf you're a wine geek, this is a must-visit. This is the only retail outpost of famed French/Italian wine importer Kermit Lynch.
Berkeley: Outdoor Exploring
Some of our favorite hikes and walks in Berkeley.
A large park up in the hills. Many of the hikes have beautiful views across the Bay.
495 locals recommend
Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak BlvdA large park up in the hills. Many of the hikes have beautiful views across the Bay.
A nice, easy but gently hilly walk along the water. Enjoy views of San Francisco and all sorts of native wildlife.
75 locals recommend
Cesar Chavez Park
11 Spinnaker WayA nice, easy but gently hilly walk along the water. Enjoy views of San Francisco and all sorts of native wildlife.
Inside, you'll find a science museum & planetarium...but outside, you'll get gorgeous views of Berkeley, the San Francisco Bay, and Marin.
65 locals recommend
Lawrence Hall of Science
Inside, you'll find a science museum & planetarium...but outside, you'll get gorgeous views of Berkeley, the San Francisco Bay, and Marin.
30+ acres of botanical specimens from around the globe! Also includes admission to an adjacent redwood grove.
13 locals recommend
Centennial Drive:UC Botanical Garden station
30+ acres of botanical specimens from around the globe! Also includes admission to an adjacent redwood grove.
A gorgeous terraced rose garden...worth a visit, when it's in bloom.
140 locals recommend
Berkeley Rose Garden
1200 Euclid AveA gorgeous terraced rose garden...worth a visit, when it's in bloom.
Northwest Berkeley: Self-Care & Exercise
Where to get in a quick workout or pamper yourself.
Popular yoga studio with dozens of classes each day and an emphasis on fitness-oriented/heated classes. Just a short walk from our home.
9 locals recommend
CorePower Yoga
2295 Shattuck AvePopular yoga studio with dozens of classes each day and an emphasis on fitness-oriented/heated classes. Just a short walk from our home.
A very reasonably priced massage parlor in the same building as CorePower Yoga. It's not fancy, but the technicians are incredibly thorough!
Zen Day Spa
775 Haight StA very reasonably priced massage parlor in the same building as CorePower Yoga. It's not fancy, but the technicians are incredibly thorough!
A solid nail salon that also offers nail art and gel manicures/pedicures. Appointments recommended.
Lacquerbar
2040 Fourth StA solid nail salon that also offers nail art and gel manicures/pedicures. Appointments recommended.
Benefit offers brow, facial & body waxing services. Appointments recommended.
Benefit Cosmetics Boutique & BrowBar beauty lounge
1831 Fourth StBenefit offers brow, facial & body waxing services. Appointments recommended.
SoulCycle
2095 Union StreetThe one and only. Indoor cycling with a dose of spiritual motivation.
Independently-owned yoga studio right on Fourth Street with a variety of gentle & restorative classes. Drop ins welcome!
4th Street Yoga
1809 Fourth StIndependently-owned yoga studio right on Fourth Street with a variety of gentle & restorative classes. Drop ins welcome!
Northwest Berkeley: Wineries & Breweries
Northwest Berkeley is home to an "urban wine trail" and several great breweries. Here are our favorites.
Our favorite. Broc makes natural wines with grapes from all over California. They showcase unique varietals have a gorgeous, modern tasting room with a small outdoor seating area.
6 locals recommend
Broc Cellars
1300 Fifth StOur favorite. Broc makes natural wines with grapes from all over California. They showcase unique varietals have a gorgeous, modern tasting room with a small outdoor seating area.
Another fantastic winery. This one has a large back patio with picnic tables and lawn games.
13 locals recommend
Donkey and Goat Winery
1340 Fifth StAnother fantastic winery. This one has a large back patio with picnic tables and lawn games.
Another nice brewery, with a wide selection and ample seating.
15 locals recommend
Gilman Brewing Company
912 Gilman StAnother nice brewery, with a wide selection and ample seating.
Windchaser Wine Co
1352 Fourth StA laidback spot where you'll often get to taste with the winemaker himself.
An awesome brewery featuring tons of award-winning beers. This place is always lively (and crowded) over the weekends, but it's worth a visit.
91 locals recommend
Fieldwork Brewing Company
1160 Sixth StAn awesome brewery featuring tons of award-winning beers. This place is always lively (and crowded) over the weekends, but it's worth a visit.