Eat in South Berkeley, Berkeley

Wat Mongkolratanaram Sunday Market ★ 4.5

Thai Buddhist temple opens Sunday mornings for a home-cooked market. Pay with $1 tokens at the gate. Pad see ew, curry and mango sticky rice. Sundays only.

Roses Bar and Lounge ★ 4.1

South Berkeley cocktail bar and community space. DJ nights, live music and community events. Classic cocktails with modern interpretations on South Telegraph.

Wat Mongkolratanaram Sunday Thai Market ★ 4.0

Thai Buddhist temple open Sunday mornings for a home-cooked Thai market. Pad see ew, curry, mango sticky rice and sugar cane juice bought with $1 tokens.

Berkeley Bowl ★ 4.8

Converted 1940s bowling alley with a produce floor stocking 700+ fruit and vegetable varieties. Bulk bins, cheese counter and fish counter all exceptional.

Berkeley Bowl Produce Floor Exploration

Berkeley Bowl stocks over 700 produce varieties including dozens of heirloom tomato types in summer, 20 apple cultivars in autumn and rare citrus year-round.

Wat Mongkolratanaram Sunday Thai Market

Thai temple market. Full meal for $10-15 using $1 tokens. Pad see ew, massaman curry, mango sticky rice and fresh-pressed sugar cane juice. Sundays only.

Wat Mongkolratanaram Sunday Thai Market

Thai Buddhist temple open on Sunday mornings for a community food market. Pad see ew, curry, mango sticky rice and sugar cane juice bought with $1 tokens.

Why locals love it: No signage from the street; visitors who find it call it their best Berkeley food memory.

Starry Plough Pub

Irish pub and music venue on Shattuck in South Berkeley. Pints of Guinness, pub grub, pool table and live music most nights. No frills; genuine regulars bar since 1974.

Roses Bar and Lounge

South Berkeley cocktail bar and community gathering space with DJ nights, live music and a genuinely warm welcome. The neighborhood anchor on South Telegraph for a mixed local crowd. Drinks lean classic-cocktail with modern interpretations.