Dance clubs, live music, rooftop bars, speakeasies, LGBTQ+ nightlife, listening bars and late-night dives across Berkeley, with where to go and what is worth the late night.

Dance Clubs in Berkeley

Shattuck Down Low

Downtown

A basement club below Shattuck Avenue with rotating DJ nights covering hip hop, R&B, house and reggae. The capacity is around 200; the atmosphere is sweaty and unpretentious. No dress code beyond reasonable standards. Live performances and themed nights complement the DJ calendar. Covers typically $10-20.

Live Music in Berkeley

Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse

Downtown

A nonprofit performance venue in downtown Berkeley presenting folk, bluegrass, roots and world music since 1968. All-ages; no alcohol served. The Freight hosts 250 shows per year in a purpose-built 550-seat theater. One of the most important folk and traditional music venues on the West Coast.

Jupiter (Live Music Evenings)

Downtown

Jupiter presents live music in its outdoor beer garden most evenings. The format is acoustic or small-band performances rather than amplified concerts; the bar provides a relaxed setting with food available throughout. No cover charge; the music is ambient rather than headline.

924 Gilman

Fourth Street

The all-ages punk club that launched Green Day, Rancid, The Offspring and Operation Ivy. Member-supported, no alcohol, democratic programming. The most historically significant music venue in Berkeley. Covers $5-15.

Rooftop Bars

Speakeasies in Berkeley

Tupper and Reed

Downtown

A speakeasy-aesthetic cocktail bar in the former Tupper and Reed music shop space on Shattuck. High-backed booths, low lighting, expert cocktail program, live jazz Thursday through Saturday. Reservation recommended on weekends. The most sophisticated bar in Berkeley.

Lgbtq in Berkeley

Albatross Pub

Downtown

Berkeley's oldest bar, open since 1940, with a long history of LGBTQ+ welcoming space. Dark wood, board games, darts and a jukebox: an unpretentious neighborhood pub that has served a mixed and inclusive crowd for decades. No dress code, no attitude.

Listening Bars

Late Night Dives in Berkeley

Starry Plough Pub

South Berkeley

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

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.

Book food experiences in Berkeley

Berkeley Food & Counter Culture Tour★ 5.0 (1)

Guided tour · 2h 30m

Berkeley Food & Counter Culture Tour

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...

from$79 Check dates

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