King Pin Donuts

King Pin Donuts is a moderate walk from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. Head south on Shattuck Avenue toward Allston Way, and take a left on Durant Avenue. If you prefer to enjoy the sites of the university, walk up Bancroft Way to Telegraph Avenue, turn right and proceed one block to Durant Avenue.

Established in 1939, King Pin serves the college student community seven days a week and is open 20 hours a day. Baking begins at 6pm to accommodate the late-night crowd who depend on donuts to get them through writing papers and studying for finals, or for those who want a late-night bite.

King Pin Donuts has a following and draws customers from close by and from afar. A pastry chef from Petaluma I met there (purchasing a variety of donuts inside a pink box) told me she drove to this donut shop at midnight one night just to sink her teeth into a hot, raised-glazed, fresh from the fryer!

Although King Pin Donuts is small (two tables inside and accessibility in a wheelchair is tight), it’s always busy so plan to wait in line to order your rustic-looking, extra fancy apple fritters, fancy raspberry jelly donuts, or regular cake donuts such as old-fashioned or chocolate cake donuts with coconut, nuts or sprinkles on top.

Try something new – a popular maple bacon cake donut that always sells out early.