36 minutes in North Berkeley

Historic and charming shopping and dining on Hopkins St. Photo courtesy of Sophia Markoulakis.

Berkeley’s northern stretch of Shattuck Ave is known for being a foodie mecca (Chez Panisse, Cesar, The Cheese Board, etc) but it’s not the only gourmet food hub in town. Closer to the North Berkeley station (0.6 miles) is the area around Hopkins St, also known as Berkeley’s Northbrae neighborhood. Northbrae’s charming Craftsman bungalows, lush landscaping and gently curving streets contribute to the neighborhood's friendly, small-town vibe. Within one block, residents and visitors can shop for locally grown and humanely raised produce and proteins, in addition to splurging on fine cheese and imported specialty foods. Berkeley Hort is just around the corner and there’s no rule against bringing plants on BART trains so pack smart and get shopping!

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The tantalizing fruits and flowers at Monterey Market. Photo courtesy of Sophia Markoulakis.

Tom Takumi Fujimoto and Mary Nobori Fujimoto opened Monterey Market at 1550 Hopkins St in 1961. Today the iconic produce store and market is run by their sons, Bill and Ken. Since its inception, Monterey Market has always been about selling what is in season and supporting farmers, their employees and the loyal customers who pack the isles every day of the week. And what was once a produce-only market with three cash registers is now a bustling gourmet food–lovers market where you can pick up passion fruit, locally made bread, a nice pinot noir and imported specialty items like pasta and pizza flour. Don’t leave home without your rolling shopping cart! 

Patrons hover around the fresh fish selection at Monterey Fish Market. Photo courtesy of Sophia Markoulakis.

Wholesalers dedicated to sourcing and selling local and sustainably caught fish and seafood are a dying breed, so when you come across a place like Monterey Fish Market at 1582 Hopkins St, you know they're doing something right. For 45 years, this small San Francisco-based wholesaler has offered local fish like rockfish and halibut and live items like razor clams, Dungeness crab, spot shrimp and sea urchin to grocery stores and restaurants. Lucky Northbrae residents can access the fruits of their labor at their retail shop. Their clam chowder, made fresh and served Friday through Sunday, is pretty stellar, too.

Magnani's is the place for poultry but also carries a small selection of groceries. Photo courtesy of Sophia Markoulakis.

Magnani’s Poultry and the city of Berkeley go back more than a century. The shop moved to its Hopkins St location in 2003. The butcher counter has morphed a bit from just poultry to Neiman Ranch beef and house-made pork sausage. And it’s a great place to pick up the holiday turkey. The shop also has a good selection of specialty foods and freezers full of house-made stocks and soups. Find them at 1576 Hopkins St.

Old-school and old-world breakfast pastries sit alongside cookies and cupcakes at Hopkins Street Bakery. Photo courtesy of Sophia Markoulakis.

Hopkins Street Bakery specializes in cakes, cookies and breakfast pastries. Everything is made from scratch, including the apple turnovers filled with freshly cut apples and cinnamon. Jam- and cream-filled donuts are popular (and delicious) and there’s a small selection of loaf bread that they’ll slice for you. It’s old-school and they celebrate it. Grab a treat at 1584 Hopkins St.

Raxakoul's impressive selection of aged balsamic vinegar fills the shelves. Photo courtesy of Sophia Markoulakis.

Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese at 1578 Hopkins St is known for its cheese and coffee bean selection but there is so much more than that crammed onto its ceiling-high shelves. Their global selection of premium chocolate bars can compete with the best specialty food stores in the Bay Area. From local brands like Charles Chocolates and Dandelion to regional U.S. brands like Seattle’s Frans and Vermont’s Lake Champlain, they’ve got plenty of milk, filled and dark chocolate from which to choose. They also have hard-to-find international brands like Omnom and The Chocolate Society. 

Grab a slice of pizza while you walk back to the station. Photo courtesy of Gioia.

It’s been 20 years since Karen and Will Gioia conceived Gioia Pizza, their version of a New York-style pizzeria. You can either order a whole pie or pick up a slice and enjoy it outside on a bench. Not too many pies to choose from but all are classics like funghi, salsiccia and formaggio. The limited menu also includes a couple of salads and sandwiches. Don’t forget the house-made cannoli. Grab your pie at 1586 Hopkins St.

Berkeley Hort's iconic entrance. Photo courtesy of Berkeley Hort.

Berkeley Horticultural Nursery at 1310 McGee Ave is a plant-lovers paradise. It’s also an invaluable resource for backyard gardeners, professional landscapers and botanists. Specifically, it’s the place to find plants suited for the East Bay’s Mediterranean climate. The nursery, which opened in 1922, is now run by founder George Budgen’s great-grandson. Fuchsia hybrids and Malaysian rhododendrons were cultivated at this gem almost a century ago and they continue to be propagated here. There’s always something educational happening so check their website for special events.

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