Berkeley is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in the United States.

Berkeley has a reputation for being perhaps the most liberal city in the United States. Rooting from the Free Speech Movement of the 1960's, visitors will find an eclectic mix of cultures and viewpoints. Berkeley's free-thinking environment has seen the birth of quality attractions, great food from many cultures, and of course the 30,000-person large University of California, Berkeley.

Get In

By plane
 • Oakland International Airport (OAK) is preferred. Take the AirBART shuttle to the Bay Area Rapid Transit Oakland Airport station, and then take a Richmond-bound train to the Downtown Berkeley station. Alternatively, you can use a rental car and drive up Interstate 80 to the University Avenue exit.
 • San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is also convenient but will take a little longer. Similarly, take a BART train to Berkeley. Driving is a bit tougher, but is possible: take the US Highway 101 north across the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Take Interstate 80 north and exit University Avenue.
 • San Jose International Airport (SJC) is in the region but tougher. Rental car will probably be easiest, but public transit is possible. Consult the 511.org website for more.

By train
 • Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) offers excellent service to Berkeley from other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area.
 • Amtrak offers service to Berkeley from other parts of the United States via the Berkeley station, Emeryville station, or Richmond station. Consult 511.org for details on how to get from the Amtrak stations to your destination; sadly the Berkeley station is in an out-of-the-way location of the city. If you are traveling to downtown Berkeley or the University, transfer to BART at the Richmond station and travel on BART to the downtown Berkeley station.

By car
 • From San Francisco, Berkeley is a simple 10-minute drive across the Bay Bridge and up Interstate 80 to University Avenue.
 • From Sacramento, Berkeley is a 1-hour drive south Interstate 80.
 • From Los Angeles and Southern California, Berkeley is a 7+ hour drive up Interstate 5, then west Interstate 580, and finally north Interstate 80.

By bus
 • Greyhound offers bus service to nearby Oakland and San Francisco.
 • Local bus service is provided by AC Transit. For specific itineraries, visit the 511.org website.

By boat
 • Good luck. There are ferries from Marin County and San Francisco to nearby Oakland, but are probably most useful as a scenic method of travel.

If you are traveling by private boat or charter yacht, Berkeley has a 1,000 berth marina, the largest municipal marina in the Bay Area. Both the Berkeley Marina and the Berkeley Yacht Club offer guest berthing. http://www.BerkeleyWaterfront.org

Get around

 • Driving. If your destination in Berkeley is anywhere other than the campus or downtown, the car is king. Berkeley, however, is notoriously hostile to cars, especially if you plan to drive either downtown or near campus. Turning left (and sometimes right) is nearly impossible at some busy intersections. Be sure to stay on the main roads unless you know your way because of the many road barriers to prevent through traffic in residential areas. Also, be mindful of cyclists and pedestrians; many cyclists often ride in the middle of the road and pedestrians will just move into fast moving traffic expecting you to stop. Resist the urge to make obscene gestures or to run these people down and yield the right of way.

 • Parking is always difficult and expensive near campus and downtown. The easiest and most expensive means of parking is in one of the several garages. The biggest garage near campus is the Durant/Channing garage, but you must pay in advance. Many stores on Telegraph (such as Cody's Books) will validate your parking if you ask. Most street parking is either metered or 2-hour. If you are fortunate to find a non-metered street parking close to your destination, you can park for free -- some people are known to wipe off the chalk mark left by the meter maid (normally back of rear tire) every three hours or so. Be warned: This probably isn't legal. In an extreme emergency (i.e., ten minutes late for your final exam), you can almost always find parking near the Berkeley police station near Sproul Hall. You might get a ticket, but you'll definitely get a kick-ass parking spot.

 • Bicycles. Weather permitting, the best way to get around quickly near downtown Berkeley or near campus is on bicycle. Berkeley requires residents to register bicycles with the City of Berkeley in an attempt to deter theft. Bicycle theft is a serious problem in Berkeley. If you ride your bike, make sure that you lock everything, including tires. Also removing the seat wouldn't be a bad idea either, especially if your bike will be outside for any time at night. AC Transit has racks on the front for bicycles. You may have to lower the rack yourself. Bicycles are allowed on BART, but only during certain times, and always bring your bike to the last car. Check with BART before you leave or you'll get a warning from BART Police and forced to wait until permitted or else face a fine and a stern look from Officer Forehand.

 • Walking is the least expensive and most effective means of getting around downtown and near campus. Take BART or AC Transit and take glee in watching the poor saps who thought driving would be better. You will very quickly outpace most drivers near campus.

 • Public transportation is thus an important consideration in getting around downtown and near the university. Check 511.org for trip planning for more information.

Dining

Budget
 • Cheese Board Pizza, 1512 Shattuck Ave, 549-3055, Tu-Fr 11:30AM-2PM, 4:30PM-7PM. Sa 12PM-3PM, 4:30PM-7PM. Collective serves pizza by the slice from a gourmet cheese and bread shop in the middle of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto. One of many candidates for best pizza in the universe. Ridiculously short lines, gruff service, and short opening hours, and a choice of one or two toppings per day.
 • Top Dog, 2534 Durant, (510) 843-5967. A Berkeley institution, with locations on 3 sides of campus (Hearst, Durant Ave, and Center St.) Amazing hot dogs for $2.50 and walls filled with libertarian political writings. The Durant location is the original, and is, really the only one worth going to. Open until 2 am M-F, and until 3 am on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
 • Ozzy's Soda Fountain, 2900 College Ave., (510) 843-1300. Inside the Elmwood Pharmacy, lies a Berkeley treasure since 1921, a real old-style soda fountain with great shakes and sandwiches and breakfast food.
 • Blondie's and Fat Slice pizza, Telegraph Avenue at Durant. $2.50 for a slice of pizza in the heart of Berkeley's Southside. Has fed an uncountable amount of undergraduate stomachs.
 • Arrinell Pizza, Shattuck Ave. near University Ave. and Berkeley BART, "authentic" New York style pizza that attracts the faithful around the Bay Area. Spartan facilities, but $2.25 for a slice of Neapolitan and $2.50 for a slice of Sicilian.
 • Vik's Chaat Corner, 726 Allston, inexpensive and authentic Indian food

Mid-range
 • Saul's, 1475 Shattuck Ave., (510) 848-DELI. Sun-Thu 8:00am to 9:00pm, Fri-Sat 8:00am to 9:30pm. In the Gourmet Ghetto. A really good Jewish deli (well, about as good as you get in these parts) with outstanding pickles.
 • Zachary's, 1853 Solano Ave., (510) 525-5950. Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm. No credit cards or checks accepted -- just cold hard cash. Just under $20 for a decently sized pizza. Pizza like you dream about. Available in deep-dish or regular. A second location is nearby in Oakland on College Avenue. A local and regional favorite with notoriously long lines.
 • Tanaka, Shattuck at University. Superb Japanese food in a beautiful ambience. The head chef, Tanaka, is there most of the time and very friendly. Catch him in a good mood (i.e. Friday night) and you might get some free sake.
 • Au Coquelet, 2000 University (Downtown at Milvia, between Shattuck and Martin Luther King), (510) 845-0433. Open till 1:30 AM Sun-Thu, and till 2 AM on Fri-Sat. The late-night student crowd and the weekend brunchers come to Au Coquelet to enjoy food, coffee, and a constantly revolving art show. You can get a delicious piece of pie here.
 • Cha Am, 1543 Shattuck Ave (at Cedar), (510) 848-9664. Berkeley is known for good Thai cuisine, and Cha Am is one of the best. Eat delicious soups and more in a restaurant made up or many nooks and crannies, both in and out of doors.
 • Venezia, 1799 University Ave, (510) 849-4681. Dinner Mon-Thu 5:30pm-9:30pm. Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30am-1:30pm. An high-quality, upscale, but not too expensive Italian restaurant with great d'or.
 • La Mediterranee, 2936 College Ave., (510) 540-7773. A fun pan-Mediterranean restaurant in the Elmwood District.
 • Blue Nile, 2525 Telegraph Avenue, 510-540-6777. The ambiance is interesting, with pictures of Ethiopia and beaded curtains. The presentation isn't proper Ethiopian; you get individual plates, instead of all the food on one injera in the middle.
 • Cafe Colucci, 6427 Telegraph Ave, 510-601-7999. Hands down the best Ethiopian food in Berkeley. Served traditionally, with an excellent selection of vegetarian dishes, friendly wait staff and excellent decor. Try the mitten shuro.
 • Kabana, on the corner of University Ave. and San Pablo Ave., this great Pakistani restaurant is one of the anchors of West Berkeley. The daily specials are always good. Goat curry is outstanding.
 • Toyo, 1463 Shattuck Ave., (510) 843-3768. Great Japanese food in a small restaurant in the Gourmet Ghetto.
 • Spenger's Fish Grotto, 1919 Fourth Street (at University), (510) 845-7771. Spenger's is a Berkeley Institution, a huge Fish Market and wood-paneled restaurant that serves the fresh catch of the day in many ways. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner, or sit at the bar and experience the colorful and competent bartenders. The crab cakes are delicious.
 • Breads of India, 2448 Sacramento. Excellent Indian food, menu changes from day to day, each entree on the menu has its own bread recommended with it

Splurge
 • Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck Ave, (510) 548-5525. Chez Panisse is the origin of California Cuisine, and still is the best representation of the style that focuses on local produce in season. Named "Best Restaurant in America" in 2001 by Gourmet Magazine. Fixed price menus downstairs ($65 as of Jun 2004, reduced prices on Monday), which usually require a reservation a month in advance. It's worth it, though. The cafe upstairs offers more variety in a la carte form, and it's easier to get a table. Still, if your parents are paying, try to book downstairs.

Drink

 • Acme Bar, new bar down the street from Lanesplitter. Great vibe. 2115 San Pablo Ave.
 • Albatross, what a fantastic bar. It has several dart boards, a pool table, and lots of board games behind the bar. Sunday nights they run a trivia contest. 1822 San Pablo Ave.
 • Beckett's, New Irish pub decorated to look like an old pub. Multiple floors, plenty of nooks, plenty of whiskey. 2271 Shattuck Ave
 • Blake's, filled with undergraduate students. Telegraph & Durant.
 • Brennan's, Working-class pub with cafeteria-style food. 4th & University.
 • Jupiter, the inside of Jupiter smells like old beer. The backyard patio is fantastic, though. They have a huge selection of beer, including their own microbrews. 2181 Shattuck.
 • Lanesplitter, This is a fantastic new bar on San Pablo Ave. Lots of great beers, a large backyard patio, and superb pizza. 2033 San Pablo Ave.
 • Pyramid Brewery, massive brewery/restaurant, serving local Pyramid Ales. 901 Gilman St.
 ? Raleigh's, has a wonderful beer garden (which closes later in the evening) and good burgers. Another student favorite.
 • Starry Plough, Relaxed atmosphere. The walls are decorated with fantastic anti-government posters. They have Irish dancing on Monday nights, and local bands during the rest of the week. 3101 Shattuck Ave.
 • Thalassa, a billiards hall of grand proportion with a nice jukebox and a couple of pinball machines. Open from noon to 1 AM. 2367 Shattuck Ave at Durant (near Downtown)
 • Triple Rock. Good brewpub with light pub fare. 1920 Shattuck Ave.

Mid-range
 • Bancroft Hotel, 2680 Bancroft Way, (510)-549-1000. Located across the street from the University of California campus. Located in a history 1928 Arts & Craft building and is a National Landmark hotel.
 • Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way, (510)845-7300. Located close to campus and just a few steps from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Historic 1910 downtown hotel has gone through an extensive renovation/restoration in recent years. Hotel bar features happy hour and karaoke on selected nights. Elegantly restored restaurant just off the lobby serves mid-priced Afghan cuisine, with fast and affordable vegetarian lunch specials.
 • Doubletree Hotel, 200 Marina Boulevard (in the Berkeley Marina, at the west end of University Ave.), (510) 548-7920. Hotel is in the marina.
 • The Faculty Club at UC Berkeley offers accommodations right on campus. See .
 • Hotel Durant is great if you want to be next to the University of California campus. On Durant Avenue between College Avenue and Telegraph Avenue.
 • Nearby Emeryville has a few more chain hotels such as Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Four Points by Sheraton.

Splurge
 • The Claremont Resort and Spa. Don't let the Shining-esque grandeur scare you. Special deals run around $170/night, but you can spend as much as you like.

Links

 • Convention and Visitor's Bureau 
 • City of Berkeley official website
 • Shop In Berkeley locally produced business directory
 • University of California official website