The places in Berkeley the guidebooks miss.
The places in Berkeley the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
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 goNo signage from the street; visitors who find it call it their best Berkeley food memory.
Japanese izakaya behind an unmarked B entrance off Telegraph. Seasonal small plates and yakitori with daily specials. No website or social media. $15 minimum.
Why locals goUnit B behind a Telegraph address; the entrance is easy to miss; no website, no social presence.
Kermit Lynch has imported French and Italian wines since 1972. Burgundy, Rhone, Provence and Italian growers he has worked with for decades. San Pablo Avenue.
Why locals goOff the Shattuck Avenue main strip; many visitors never venture to San Pablo Avenue for wine.
East Bay chef produce source since 1958. Chez Panisse has shopped here since the 1970s. California seasonal varieties at prices below specialty market prices.
Why locals goHopkins Street is not on the tourist circuit; most visitors go to Berkeley Bowl and miss this market where Berkeley chefs actually shop.
Acme Bread supplies Chez Panisse and Bay Area restaurants. The San Pablo Avenue retail window sells levain and walnut bread until sold out by early afternoon.
Why locals goMost visitors buy Acme bread at cafes and never visit the production bakery on San Pablo Avenue where all of it is baked.
Single-origin Chinese tea shop on Solano Avenue. Teas from Taiwan, Fujian and Yunnan. Tasting format lets you compare same cultivar from different farms.
Why locals goTea shops don't appear on typical Berkeley food lists; Solano Avenue is underrepresented in food media.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Embark on a wine tasting journey in Berkeley. Explore the nuances of locally made wines while gaining insights into regenerative farming, vintage variation, and tradit...
Guided tour · 9 hours
Stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. Taste local wines and food on this guided group tour to Sonoma and Napa Valleys from San Francisco. Visit 3 unique wineries. Have lunch...
Guided tour · 2h 30m
Explore Berkeley's North Shattuck neighborhood (formerly the Gourmet Ghetto) and UC Berkeley on a guided walking tour. Enjoy food stops, see the Campanile, and visit t...