16 Things to Do in Berkeley, California

We all the time love a school city for its youthful power, 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 right this moment, they’re the creatives, movers, and shakers who make Berkeley one in all a sort.

We’ve all the time been inquisitive about 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 biggest regional park district within the nation, there may be a lot to discover! 

Whether or not you’re going to San Francisco for a metropolis break or in your option to California wine nation, this dynamic metropolis is just too shut and too good to overlook. To benefit from your time within the East Bay, comply with our journey information on one of the 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 start out your journey. Based in 1868, California’s first college boasts some lovely 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 fascinating points of interest open to the general public. 

Morrison Library

This is among the coolest libraries we’ve ever visited, because of 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 (often known as 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 toes, 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 day by day exhibits 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 house 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 inside the first 5 blocks in Berkeley. Through the Sixties, when Civil rights protests had been in full impact, college students would transfer from Sproul Plaza down Telegraph to Folks’s Park. Companies like Moe’s Books and Rasputin Data have stood robust ever since, serving as inventive sources, gathering locations, and symbols of free expression.

Dine on the OG Farm-to-Desk Restaurant, Chez Panisse

Whereas this may be 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 obtained (together with a Inexperienced Michelin Star and recognition as one of many world’s Prime 50 Eating places) since its founding in 1971.

One tip to make this positive eating expertise extra reasonably priced 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 substances (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 fun 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 finest buddy from faculty joined me for this girl-powered journey! To have your personal 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 #partner @UC Berkeley #kayaking #visitberkeley ♬ Sunset 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 all my finest mates from faculty lives within the East Bay, and he or she joined me for a women’ journey! Along with the enjoyment of paddling and gabbing, we loved watching the sailors, windsurfers, and birdlife revel within the breeze. 

To have your personal 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 backed operation on weekends from April to November and recommends booking your watercraft online 3-5 days upfront.

Get Your Probiotic Repair

The mom of all California pickle outlets, Cultured has been specializing in fermented meals for 28 years–from kimchi to kombucha. With enormous jars lining the floor-to-ceiling cabinets and a giant open kitchen, this place looks 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 discuss by the method of the dozen lacto-fermented delicacies that may high your bowl. The one remorse from our complete 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 University of California Botanical Garden. 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 crops 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 attractive Mather redwood grove and unique greenhouses (nurturing lots 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 depart 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 house to eight stellar wineries. The Gilman wine block is enjoyable any afternoon, however attempt to make it to their First Friday Wine Block Party. That is when these back-to-back wineries throw open their doorways and fill the courtyard with meals vehicles, stay music phases, and picnic tables for an additional completely happy crowd. 

Journey Tip: Should you’re extra of a beer drinker, the Gilman District additionally has three craft breweries. We adored the convivial vibe and stay music at Fieldworks, and Gilman Brewing gives Sunday beer yoga if that makes you need to namaste.

Stay 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 schooling 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 attractive, and the viewers is absolutely engaged, clapping, dancing, and enlivening the vibe of this arts non-profit and group house. 

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 unbelievable wood-fired pizza and craft beer. It’s additionally an excellent place for post-show drinks. We swung by once more, and there was a full home having fun with their stay music. Revival Bar & Kitchen prides itself on California fare crafted with native and sustainable substances. Extremely advocate 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 critical about their farmers’ markets. Hosted by the awe-inspiring Ecology Center in Downtown, North, and South Berkeley, they’re dedicated to supporting small-scale farmers training 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 great Berkeleyite, along with your tote, reusable cutlery, and tupperware, and eat up! To provision on your sundown picnic (see under), Obour Meals has fabulous Center Japanese dips, and Kashiwase Farms has the sweetest peaches!

Journey Tip: The Ecology Retailer additionally runs a unbelievable zero-waste store, the place you possibly can refill most any family product and get quite a lot of hip recycled items.

Store Elmwood Neighborhood

After we biked to the Elmwood neighborhood, I received the sensation…I might stay 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 resolve 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. You’ll want to try Elmwood Stationers for native souvenirs, Previous Salt Retailers for culinary delights, Cousin Dwelling 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 had 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 previous Nippon-fashion, as had been their bartenders. We ordered a flight and completely loved the array of choices and the self-guided museum.

From there, our Japanese date night time 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 biggest 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 alleged to be the crown jewel. After we requested the workers which hike would give one of the best range of terrain and vistas, they mapped us a route from Laurel Canyon to Wildcat Cat Peak, returning by way of 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 also be house 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 dedicate three days of their week to making 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 visitors in only a few hours (10am-1pm), with a token system and buffet-style servings.

Within the courtyard of their lovely 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 lots of of individuals fortunately picnicking collectively on the garden.

Journey Tip: Should you come in direction of the top of the bunch, contemporary meals, like summer time rolls and papaya salad, go on hearth 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 Gather restaurant and introduced it to the highest of Cal’s campus. At Lawrence Corridor of Science, there may be 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 house for 20 sunset-seekers. Fairly than feeling crowded, it felt like a pleasant group expertise as we opened a bottle of wine, nibbled on apps, and let loose a comfortable sigh because the solar dipped behind the bay. 

Journey Tip: Indian Rock Park can also be a well-liked bouldering spot if you wish to attempt 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 Hotels is sensible. This boutique lodge chain is solely positioned in college cities, capturing the distinctive spirit of every establishment. In Berkeley, which means your suite may be adorned with designer bong lamps, streaking hippy images within the toilet, 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 City Club

Structure buffs will go ga-ga for this 1930 landmark hotel 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 in case you don’t keep at this lodge (having access to their gorgeous indoor swimming pool is sort of cause sufficient), make a reservation at Julia’s restaurant for a superb meal and a cause to poke round. 

Getting Round Berkeley

Not solely is that this metropolis extremely walkable, however it’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 one of the best routes and added Cesar Chavez Park to benefit from the bayside paths. Berkeley can also 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 Events; 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 because of Visit Berkeley for inviting us to discover their metropolis and supporting our work. To point out our gratitude to the group, we’ve donated to those unbelievable native nonprofits: The Ecology Center, The Freight, and Girls Garage.