40 mid-range places in Berkeley, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Berkeley, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Berkeley food.
Fournee Bakery ★ 4.6
elmwood · 2913 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
French bakery on College Ave. Croissants from Strauss butter. Seasonal tarts, quiche and pain au chocolat. The line forms before the doors open on weekends.
Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant ★ 4.6
gourmet-ghetto · 1605 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Kermit Lynch has imported French and Italian wines since 1972. San Pablo Avenue shop for Burgundy, Rhone, Provence and Italian small producers.
Rose Pizzeria ★ 4.5
downtown · 1960 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Nationally acclaimed. A 22-seat room: vegan dough, nine rotating thin-crust varieties, rose garden patio. Natural wine. Book on Resy; fills fast.
Bar Panisse ★ 4.5
gourmet-ghetto · 1515 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
From the Chez Panisse team, opened December 2025 in the former Cesar space. Walk-in only, open daily. Aperitivo cocktails and seasonal small plates.
Bar Panisse ★ 4.5
gourmet-ghetto · 1515 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Bar Panisse serves until 10pm daily. Walk-in only. Aperitivo cocktails, natural wines and Mediterranean plates. Bar fills from 9pm with post-dinner drinkers.
Great China ★ 4.4
downtown · 2190 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025. UC Berkeley institution: Peking duck, Double Skin noodle salad, hand-made dumplings and an award-winning wine list.
Third Culture Bakery (Eighth Street) ★ 4.4
downtown · 2701 8th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Original mochi muffin bakery from Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu. Ube, matcha and black sesame flavors rotate weekly. National food press covered.
Third Culture Bakery ★ 4.4
downtown · 2701 8th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Original mochi muffin bakery from Sam Butarbutar and Wenter Shyu. Ube, matcha and black sesame flavors rotate weekly. Matcha lattes and ube drinks available.
Artis Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4
fourth-street · 1625 5th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Production roastery and cafe in West Berkeley. Science-led roasting. Ethiopian, Colombian and Guatemalan single-origins from beans roasted on-site this week.
Book Society ★ 4.4
elmwood · 2898 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
Natural wine bar on College Avenue with rotating small plates. Low-intervention California and European wines. Board games and a library corner on-site.
Funky Elephant ★ 4.3
fourth-street · 1313 Ninth St Suite 120, Berkeley, CA 94710
Michelin Guide Thai in an unmarked West Berkeley industrial building. House-made curry pastes, non-tourist menu. Corn fritter and massaman lamb essential.
Bar Panisse ★ 4.3
gourmet-ghetto · 1515 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Opened December 2025 by the Chez Panisse team. Walk-in only, no reservations, open daily. Seasonal small plates and natural wine in the former Cesar space.
Tupper and Reed ★ 4.3
downtown · 2271 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
The most refined cocktail bar in Berkeley. Classic and original drinks with obscure spirits and house modifiers. Live jazz Thursday through Saturday nights.
Tupper and Reed ★ 4.3
downtown · 2271 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Speakeasy bar named after a former Shattuck music store. Classic and original cocktails, curated California wine list. Live jazz Thursday through Saturday.
La Note ★ 4.2
downtown · 2377 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Provencal breakfast and lunch since 1997. Lemon gingerbread pancakes, house-made preserves and lavender iced tea. Terracotta patio. Berkeley best brunch.
Tane Vegan Izakaya ★ 4.2
downtown · 1956 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Berkeley 100 percent plant-based Japanese izakaya. Vegan nigiri, mushroom karaage and seasonal small plates. California organic produce. Sister to Shizen SF.
Kiraku ★ 4.2
downtown · 2566 B Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Hidden izakaya behind a Telegraph address (unit B at the back). Seasonal small plates, yakitori, nightly specials. No website. Minimum $15 per person.
Masse's Pastries ★ 4.2
gourmet-ghetto · 1469 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Gourmet Ghetto patisserie since 1986. Opera cake, Paris-Brest, caneles, macarons and a seasonal tart case. Croissants made with cultured butter.
La Note ★ 4.2
downtown · 2377 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
A Provencal cafe on Shattuck with a courtyard. Pain perdu, house-made jams, lavender lemonade and eggs with herbes de Provence. Cash-friendly.
Artis Coffee Roasters Cafe ★ 4.2
fourth-street · 1625 5th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Production roastery cafe in West Berkeley. Espresso, pour-over and batch brew from beans roasted on-site this week. Long communal tables and reliable wifi.
Sightglass Coffee (Berkeley) ★ 4.2
downtown-berkeley · 2169 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Sightglass Coffee East Bay debut opened May 2026. Farm relationships in Ethiopia, Colombia and Kenya. Adds a food case not available at SF locations.
Verve Coffee Roasters (Berkeley) ★ 4.2
downtown · 2323 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Verve Coffee Roasters from Santa Cruz on Shattuck. Direct-trade coffees from Ethiopia, Colombia and Kenya. Espresso, cold brew and seasonal specials menu.
La Note ★ 4.2
downtown · 2377 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Berkeley's most in-demand weekend brunch. Provencal courtyard with pain perdu, lavender lemonade and eggs with herbes de Provence. Waits run 30-45 minutes.
Saul's Restaurant and Delicatessen ★ 4.1
gourmet-ghetto · 1475 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Gourmet Ghetto deli since 1986. House-made pastrami, Acme rye bread, smoked fish and matzoh ball soup. California answer to New York Jewish deli. Open daily.
Gregoire ★ 4.1
gourmet-ghetto · 2109 Cedar St, Berkeley, CA 94709
Michelin Guide French takeout since 2002. Seasonal potato puffs, duck confit sandwich and potato gnocchi. Counter service, outdoor seats, no indoor dining.
The Butcher's Son ★ 4.1
downtown · 1954 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
California's original vegan butcher shop. Plant-based Reuben, BLAT and Chicken Parm all made in house. National food press-covered deli innovation.
Sightglass Coffee Berkeley ★ 4.1
downtown-berkeley · 2169 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Sightglass Coffee East Bay debut opened May 2026. Farm relationships in Ethiopia, Colombia and Kenya. Adds a food case not available at SF locations.
Urban Legend Cellars ★ 4.1
fourth-street · 1628 2nd St, Berkeley, CA 94710
West Berkeley urban winery sourcing from Napa, Sonoma and Sierra Foothills. The tasting room pours 6-7 wines by flight or glass with seasonal snacks on site.
Roses Bar and Lounge ★ 4.1
south-berkeley · 2323 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
South Berkeley cocktail bar and community space. DJ nights, live music and community events. Classic cocktails with modern interpretations on South Telegraph.
Solano Cellars ★ 4.1
solano-avenue · 1580 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
Wine shop and tasting bar on Solano. California small-production and European wines. Staff pours by the glass Wednesday through Sunday. Free corkage in-store.
Urban Legend Cellars ★ 4.1
fourth-street · 1628 2nd St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Berkeley urban winery using California grapes from Napa, Sonoma and Sierra Foothills. Zinfandel, Syrah and skin-contact whites. Flights and glasses available.
Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen ★ 4.1
downtown · 2261 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Cajun weekend brunch: shrimp and grits, biscuits and red-eye gravy, New Orleans French toast and eggs Creole. House-spiced Bloody Marys. Live music Sundays.
Saul's Restaurant and Deli ★ 4.1
gourmet-ghetto · 1475 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Berkeley Jewish deli for weekend brunch. Lox and bagels, matzo brei, pastrami eggs and Dr. Brown's soda. Open from 09:00. Booths fill by 10:30 on Saturdays.
Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen ★ 4.0
downtown · 2261 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
New Orleans-style kitchen downtown: gumbo, etouffee, fried catfish. Weekend brunch includes Boudin Benedict and live music. Reliably loud, reliably fun.
Zachary's Chicago Pizza ★ 4.0
solano-avenue · 1853 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
Berkeley institution for deep-dish stuffed pizza since 1983. Cheese first, toppings second, sauce on top: upside-down build. Order stuffed; expect a wait.
Jupiter ★ 4.0
downtown · 2181 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
1890s livery stable turned downtown brewpub with a fire-pit beer garden and live music most evenings. House ales, wood-fired pizza until 11pm on weekends.
Cha-Ya ★ 4.0
gourmet-ghetto · 1686 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
100 percent vegan Japanese in the Gourmet Ghetto: sushi, tempura, rice dishes. Cash or Venmo only. One of Berkeley's longest-running vegan restaurants.
Song Tea ★ 4.0
solano-avenue · 1539 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
Chinese specialty tea shop on Solano Avenue with single-origin teas from small farms in Taiwan, Fujian and Yunnan. Side-by-side tasting. Gong fu service.
Jupiter ★ 4.0
downtown · 2181 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
An 1890s livery stable turned downtown brewpub with a heated outdoor beer garden and live music. House-brewed ales, lagers and IPAs. Wood-fired pizza kitchen.
Jupiter Brewing ★ 4.0
downtown · 2181 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Brewing since 1996 in a converted 1890s stable. Outdoor fire-pit beer garden and live music make Jupiter the East Bay's most social brewery destination.