We all the time love a university city for its youthful vitality, inventive considering, and fun-loving vibes, however Berkeley, California, is subsequent degree. They’re the activists who began the Free Speech Motion of the Sixties, the locavores who outlined farm-to-table and California Delicacies within the 70s, and at this time, they’re the creatives, movers, and shakers who make Berkeley one in every of a sort.
We’ve all the time been interested in this spunky Bay Space metropolis, so it was lastly time we made it throughout the Golden Gate Bridge to see what it’s all about. We spent 4 superior days exploring its 10 distinct neighborhoods. Between their historic Telegraph Avenue, legendary meals scene, ultra-biodiverse botanical backyard, cutting-edge music venues, and the most important regional park district within the nation, there’s a lot to discover!
Whether or not you’re going to San Francisco for a metropolis break or in your strategy to California wine nation, this dynamic metropolis is just too shut and too good to overlook. To profit from your time within the East Bay, observe our journey information on the very best issues to do in Berkeley.
Discover Cal Campus’ Hidden Gems
Contemplating the college was established earlier than the city of Berkeley, the campus is a good place to begin your journey. Based in 1868, California’s first college boasts some stunning historic buildings and redwood groves that evoke the early days and its path to being persistently ranked the #1 public college within the nation. In fact, you possibly can’t simply saunter right into a Poly Sci class, however there are various attention-grabbing sights open to the general public.
Morrison Library
This is without doubt one of the coolest libraries we’ve ever visited, due to its structure and ambiance. Inbuilt 1928 as a standard library studying room, it transports you again to the pre-digital period with a no-electronics coverage, and an unbelievable assortment of indie magazines, journey books, poetry collections, and a file participant to take heed to their LPs. Open to the general public weekdays from 10am-5pm, plan accordingly and put together to unplug.
Campanile Vistas
Head to Sather Tower (also called the Campanile) and take the elevator to the view deck for an unbelievable panorama of town, bay, campus, and the century-old bells overhead. At 307 ft, it’s the world’s second-tallest freestanding clock and bell tower! Attempt to time your go to with the Carrion recitals, the place the 61 bells ring in concord for each day reveals at 7:50am, 12pm, and 6pm, with a full 45-minute live performance on Sundays at 2pm.
Sproul Plaza & The Free Speech Monument
This plaza is the epicenter of Berkeley’s political activism, previous and current. The steps of Sproul Corridor are the place pupil Mario Savio began the Free Speech Motion in 1964. Pay homage to Savio and train your voice by standing within the splendidly quirky, Free Speech Monument: a 6-foot-diameter granite circle and the invisible 60,000-foot column of air above it, extending past the restrict of US-controlled airspace. The inscription reads, “This soil and the air area extending above it shall not be a part of any nation and shall not be topic to any entity’s jurisdiction,” and invitations the prospect to say regardless of the heck you need!
Get (or Give) Hippy Vibes in Telegraph District
Telegraph Avenue begins at campus and extends 4.5 miles to the neighboring metropolis of Oakland, however its hippie coronary heart lies throughout the first 5 blocks in Berkeley. In the course of the Sixties, when Civil rights protests have been in full impact, college students would transfer from Sproul Plaza down Telegraph to Individuals’s Park. Companies like Moe’s Books and Rasputin Data have stood robust ever since, serving as inventive assets, gathering locations, and symbols of free expression.
Along with these two retailers, remember to cease within the legendary Amoeba Music (one of many world’s largest impartial file shops) and linger exterior to investigate their mural of Berkeley’s political historical past. Hungry? Durant Meals Courtroom provides an unlimited array of ethnic meals at student-friendly costs. Even when you’re not hungry, discover some room for the most effective donuts at King’s.
Dine on the OG Farm-to-Desk Restaurant, Chez Panisse
Whereas this is perhaps the obvious place to eat in Berkeley, Chez Panisse is the place the farm-to-table motion and California delicacies originated, and it deserves all of the acclaim it has acquired (together with a Inexperienced Michelin Star and recognition as one of many world’s High 50 Eating places) since its founding in 1971.
One tip to make this superb eating expertise extra inexpensive and simpler to snag a reservation is to eat upstairs at Chez Panisse Cafe. Their à la carte menu was additionally a greater possibility for us vegans than the pre-fixe menu. With such contemporary native components (sourced inside 50 miles), our easy pasta dish with roasted eggplant, tomato, and basil was bursting with taste. Plus, the open kitchen, filled with busy cooks dedicated to their craft, added to the joys of the meal.
Kayak the Berkeley Marina
@honeytrek You won’t consider Berkeley, California as a kayaking vacation spot, however sitting fairly alongside the San Francisco Bay, with sheltered coves, a lush shoreline, and large metropolis views…we had an epic day of paddling! Making it even higher, my greatest good friend from school joined me for this girl-powered journey! To have your individual SF Bay paddling tour, head to the Berkeley marina and hire a tandem kayak or SUP for simply $20 bucks/2 hours with the UC Berkeley Recreation & Wellbeing Division. @visitberkeley #accomplice @UC Berkeley #kayaking #visitberkeley ♬ Sundown Reflections – Cosmo Kuma
You won’t consider Berkeley as a kayaking vacation spot, however sitting fairly alongside the San Francisco Bay, with sheltered coves, a lush shoreline, and large metropolis views…we had an epic day of paddling! Making it even higher, one in every of my greatest pals from school lives within the East Bay, and she or he joined me for a ladies’ journey! Along with the enjoyment of paddling and gabbing, we loved watching the sailors, windsurfers, and birdlife revel within the breeze.
To have your individual San Francisco Bay paddling journey, head to the Berkeley Marina and hire a kayak or SUP from Cal Adventures for simply $20 bucks/2 hours! The UC Berkeley Recreation & Wellbeing Division runs this extremely sponsored operation on weekends from April to November and recommends reserving your watercraft on-line 3-5 days upfront.
Get Your Probiotic Repair
The mom of all California pickle retailers, Cultured has been specializing in fermented meals for 28 years–from kimchi to kombucha. With enormous jars lining the floor-to-ceiling cabinets and an enormous open kitchen, this place appears like a science experiment in the easiest way. Come on a weekend to catch the husband-and-wife staff’s “Rice & Pickles” three-course tasting occasion, the place they speak by means of the method of the dozen lacto-fermented delicacies that can high your bowl. The one remorse from our total Berkeley journey is that we simply missed this lunch providing, however we nonetheless had a captivating chat with the founders, Alex & Kevin, and got here away with some seaweed kimchi as a tasty memento.
Go Round The World in One Backyard
Within the hills excessive atop Cal’s campus is the dwelling laboratory and wonderland of the College of California Botanical Backyard. With 10,000 species on simply 34 acres, it has a few of the most intense biodiversity of any backyard within the nation. Divided into areas of the world, the vegetation gave us the sensation of strolling the mountains of South America, the deserts of Australia, and the tropics of Asia. We additionally liked their Crops of the World Backyard, giving a glimpse into the staples of various nations’ cuisines.
Journey Tip: The beautiful Mather redwood grove and unique greenhouses (nurturing most of the 1,214 uncommon and endangered species) shut an hour sooner than the remainder of the backyard, so don’t be late!
Gilman Wine Block & First Fridays
Sonoma and Napa could also be simply 45 minutes from Berkeley, however you don’t want to go away city to get world-class winemaking. Donkey & Goat pioneered the pure wine scene right here in 2004, and this slice of West Berkeley is now dwelling to eight stellar wineries. The Gilman wine block is enjoyable any afternoon, however attempt to make it to their First Friday Wine Block Social gathering. That is when these back-to-back wineries throw open their doorways and fill the courtyard with meals vans, dwell music levels, and picnic tables for an additional glad crowd.
Journey Tip: If you happen to’re extra of a beer drinker, the Gilman District additionally has three craft breweries. We adored the convivial vibe and dwell music at Fieldworks, and Gilman Brewing provides Sunday beer yoga if that makes you wish to namaste.
Dwell Music at The Freight
We love every little thing about this music venue – from its scrappy Sixties beginnings, when the constructing’s “Freight & Salvage” furnishings signal was repurposed, to its dedication to music training for Bay Space Faculties. Overlook cowl bands; The Freight is dedicated to inventive expression from all corners of the world, fostering cross-cultural connection.
An ideal instance is the band we caught, “Mireya Ramos & The Poor Selections.” A celebration of the 5,525-mile Mexican-American border and its shared musical traditions throughout ranchera, jarocho, bluegrass, jazz, and nation genres. Mireya has a voice that may shake your soul and your tailfeather. To not point out, the freshly renovated venue is beautiful, and the viewers is totally engaged, clapping, dancing, and enlivening the vibe of this arts non-profit and group area.
Journey Tip: Inside a five-minute stroll from Freight are two nice pre-show dinner choices. Jupiter’s patio, anchored by an enormous redwood tree and cafe lights, is a delight, they usually serve implausible wood-fired pizza and craft beer. It’s additionally an amazing place for post-show drinks. We swung by once more, and there was a full home having fun with their dwell music. Revival Bar & Kitchen prides itself on California fare crafted with native and sustainable components. Extremely suggest their craft cocktails and mezze platter!
Graze The Nation’s First Zero Waste Farmers’ Market
Being the birthplace of the farm-to-table motion, Berkeley is severe about their farmers’ markets. Hosted by the awe-inspiring Ecology Middle in Downtown, North, and South Berkeley, they’re dedicated to supporting small-scale farmers working towards sustainable agriculture and ensuring none of their produce goes to waste! From accepting each sort of meals stamp to working with Meals Not Bombs to show unsold produce into meals for these in want, it’s an inclusive and aware market.
Berkeley’s farmers’ market was the primary within the nation to ban single-use plastic baggage and packaging, plus they recycle and compost every little thing doable. Come ready, like a very good Berkeleyite, together with your tote, reusable cutlery, and tupperware, and eat up! To provision to your sundown picnic (see beneath), Obour Meals has fabulous Center Jap dips, and Kashiwase Farms has the sweetest peaches!
Journey Tip: The Ecology Retailer additionally runs a implausible zero-waste store, the place you possibly can refill most any family product and get a wide range of hip recycled items.
Store Elmwood Neighborhood
After we biked to the Elmwood neighborhood, I received the sensation…I may dwell right here. Strolling their part of School Ave, popping into charming boutiques, passing bustling cafes, checking the old-school Rialto cinema’s lineup, and attempting to determine which delicacies of the world to decide on for lunch, we felt the vibrancy of this group and needed to be a part of it. Make sure you try Elmwood Stationers for native souvenirs, Previous Salt Retailers for culinary delights, Cousin House for stylish decor and uniquely Cal clothes, and Casa de Chocolate for handmade Mexicana treats.
Japanese Date Night time: Sake Distillery & Vegan Sushi
This was whole serendipity. We have been biking to a Japanese restaurant, and we got here throughout an enormous sake distillery. The Kyoto-based Takara Sake has one US distillery, and it occurs to be in Berkeley! Not like most industrial buildings, this one had murals of samurai and a zen backyard out entrance, and it lured us in. Their tasting room was adorned in outdated Nippon-fashion, as have been their bartenders. We ordered a flight and completely loved the array of choices and the self-guided museum.
From there, our Japanese date evening continued to Tane Vegan Izakaya. We bellied as much as the sushi bar to see the cooks slice, cube, ignite, and garnish our plant-based rolls. It was fairly the present, and this meal introduced us again to our uncooked fish-eating days, with out harming a single Nemo.
Hike The Gem of The East Bay Regional Parks
Berkeley is a part of the most important regional park district within the nation, with 65 parks encompassing 120,000 acres and 1,250 miles of trails…and their very personal Tilden Park is claimed to be the crown jewel. After we requested the employees which hike would give the very best variety of terrain and vistas, they mapped us a route from Laurel Canyon to Wildcat Cat Peak, returning through the Jewel Lake Path.
Wild Cat Peak yielded a spectacular 360-degree view of Mount Diablo, the SF Bay, and San Pablo Reservoir. To make it an much more becoming Berkeley expertise, this peak can be dwelling to the Worldwide Peace Monument. When you’ve got youngsters, they’ll love Tilden’s farm petting zoo, carousel, and Lake Anza swimming space.
Thai Temple Sunday Brunch
You may get Thai meals in each metropolis within the US, however not like this. The monks of Wat Mongkolratanaram commit three days of their week to getting ready dozens of conventional Thai dishes for a Sunday-fundraising feast. Working for 45 years, the monks and their military of volunteers are effectively ready to feed 300-500 company in only a few hours (10am-1pm), with a token system and buffet-style servings.
Within the courtyard of their stunning temple backyard, there have been totally different traces for meat dishes, veg dishes, soups, Thai Tea, and dessert. We scored a towering plate of eggplant and tofu stir fry, plus Pad Thai for $10, and joined the tons of of individuals fortunately picnicking collectively on the garden.
Journey Tip: If you happen to come in the direction of the tip of the bunch, contemporary meals, like summer time rolls and papaya salad, go on fireplace sale.
Sundown Panorama Picnic
Berkeley faces west towards the bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and San Francisco skyline, making for unbelievable sunsets. To soak this up, we had two separate picnic dates throughout our journey. We ordered dinner to go from the farm-to-table Collect restaurant and introduced it to the highest of Cal’s campus. At Lawrence Corridor of Science, there’s an odd tower of concrete that makes for an ideal perch for sundown.
One other spot for epic vistas and distinctive geological options is Indian Rock Park. Tucked among the many homes of posh North Berkeley, this hunk of rock’s hand-carved stairs has sufficient area for 20 sunset-seekers. Relatively than feeling crowded, it felt like a pleasant group expertise as we opened a bottle of wine, nibbled on apps, and set free a tender sigh because the solar dipped behind the bay.
Journey Tip: Indian Rock Park can be a well-liked bouldering spot if you wish to strive your climbing abilities or simply watch these Spidermen in motion earlier than the solar goes down.
The place to Keep in Berkeley
The Graduate
The idea of Graduate Motels is good. This boutique lodge chain is solely positioned in college cities, capturing the distinctive spirit of every establishment. In Berkeley, which means your suite is perhaps adorned with designer bong lamps, streaking hippy images within the lavatory, and a Golden Bear with crib notes in your desk. Set within the 1928 Resort Durant, the foyer options excessive ceilings, expansive home windows, and a bar from a bygone period, serving craft cocktails and strong meals.
Berkeley Metropolis Membership
Structure buffs will go ga-ga for this 1930 landmark lodge by Julia Morgan, the visionary California architect behind Hearst Citadel. Mixing Moorish and Gothic influences, it has vaulted ceilings, carved archways, leaded glass, and manicured courtyards. Even when you don’t keep at this lodge (gaining access to their gorgeous indoor swimming pool is nearly motive sufficient), make a reservation at Julia’s restaurant for a wonderful meal and a motive to poke round.
Getting Round Berkeley
Not solely is that this metropolis extremely walkable, but it surely’s additionally very bike-friendly and well-connected by public transit. We used the Graduate’s complimentary bicycles to get round, following the Bike Boulevard indicators for the very best routes and added Cesar Chavez Park to benefit from the bayside paths. Berkeley can be linked to SF by the BART gentle rail, so you possibly can simply pop into town if you wish to use it as your Bay Space base. Get a Clipper Card, it really works for each BART and native buses.
Extra Issues to Do in Berkeley
For extra ideas, images, and movies from our Berkeley journey, try our Instagram highlights and Go to Berkeley’s Calendar of Occasions; you’ll discover block events, motion pictures within the park, flea markets, gallery openings, artwork workshops, wine tastings, and a myriad of how Berkeley is celebrating its numerous group and serving to guests have a good time.
Not gonna lie, we didn’t actually consider Berkeley as a trip vacation spot, however between its legacy of social good, sustainable delicacies, and everyone-is-welcome ethos, it’s precisely the place we needed to be!
Many due to Go to Berkeley for inviting us to discover their metropolis and supporting our work. To indicate our gratitude to the group, we’ve donated to those unbelievable native nonprofits: The Ecology Middle, The Freight, and Women Storage.
