Spend the day in Downtown Berkeley

Public art displayed at the Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza. Photo courtesy of BART. 

When you take BART to the Downtown Berkeley Station, located at 2160 Shattuck Avenue, you can easily stay busy while staying within blocks of it. With plenty of vibrant restaurants, shops, and activities—plus the sprawling UC Berkeley campus just around the corner—spend an entire day exploring the immediate neighborhood of this bustling East Bay stop. Favored by longtime locals and international college kids alike, Downtown Berkeley has a variety of fun and tasty fare for everyone. Here’s a guide of signature things to do, listed in order from a morning-to-night schedule. 

Use BART's Trip Planner for detailed routes and transit options.

Start the day with breakfast staples from La Note. Photo courtesy of La Note.

Eat breakfast at La Note

Full breakfast flavors like lemon gingerbread pancakes with poached pears keep patrons happy at La Note, which has hit its 25th anniversary. You’ll start your day with a warm, inviting bistro atmosphere at this Downtown Berkeley restaurant where woven baskets hanging from the bar ceiling have you feeling ready for an early picnic in the South of France. Go 0.3 miles to 2377 Shattuck Avenue.

Find vintage clothes from the last 100 years at Mars Mercantile vintage. Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Shop at Mars Mercantile vintage

Browse through two floors of clothing meticulously sorted by decade and color. Find dresses from the roaring 20s, jerseys from the early 2000s and even vintage costumes. Finding the perfect piece requires time, so allow yourself enough to shop all of the racks and try on a few things. People have been known to spend hours here! The store is at 2398 Telegraph Ave., 0.8 miles from the Station.  

Photo courtesy of Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.

Explore Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA)

When you’re ready for some museum wandering BAMPFA will wow you—from its stunning external architecture to its inside exhibits. Take a guided tour or experiment with new art mediums during "Open: Art Studio." On display throughout the museum are abstract artworks, film and visual pieces expressing social commentary and UC Berkeley’s commitment to education and diversity at this extraordinary museum. Go 0.1 miles to 2155 Center Street.

This decadent banana split is just one of the possible concoctions from Endless Summer Sweets. Photo courtesy of @keneats_ on Instagram.

Grab a treat from Endless Summer Sweets

Endless Summer Sweets exists to revive the kid in everyone, bringing back memories of the neighborhood fairs with family and friends. They use local ingredients and offer fun, fair food at its finest. Get ready for some sweet, sweet nostalgia at this one-of-a-kind restaurant and bakery located 0.3 miles from the Downtown Berkeley Station. You'll find everything from corn dogs to funnel cakes and everything in between.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Ruck.

Take in panoramic views from UC Berkeley’s Sather Tower

To catch panoramic city scenes, head to the top of UC Berkeley’s signature Sather Tower (pictured to the right above) and take in a bird's-eye view of Berkeley or the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day. This third-largest bell tower in the world is a gem of the college campus. You can enjoy the vistas after the tower’s elevator brings you right up. Go 0.6 miles to South Hall Road and South Drive at UC Berkeley.

Find classic comics or support local artists at Fantastic Comics. Photo courtesy of Naval Shah.

Flip through pages at Fantastic Comics

Berkeley’s go-to for comics and graphic novels, Fantastic Comics, not only has a vast and organized array of publications but it’s also known for supporting the works of local artists and hosting author and artist events for the community. Friendly staff will help you discover your next portal to new lands. Comic figurines and posters are also on hand. Go 0.7 miles to 2026 Shattuck Avenue.

Photo courtesy of Yelp.

Eat dinner at Comal

Whether or not you’re a fan of Phish, you’ll be a fan of former Phish manager John Paluska for opening up this seductive Mexican spot where the feasts are as striking as the environment they’re served in. Stargaze by the fire pit and heat lamps steps from the open-air back bar or enjoy Oaxacan cuisine beneath the canopy. Go 400 feet to 2020 Shattuck Avenue.

Photo courtesy of Visit Berkeley.

See a play in the Downtown Arts District

To end your night at a concert or other stage performance, Downtown Berkeley has got you covered. Check the calendar for the beautiful UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall (operated by the nonprofit Berkeley Music Group) that’s just around the corner from BART. Along with the expected state-of-the-art sound system, this 1,400-capacity venue is outfitted with bars and a full kitchen. Find your favorite touring artist or discover a new act listed on the mult-genre schedule. Go 0.2 miles to 2036 University Avenue.

Photo courtesy of Tupper & Reed.

End the evening with cocktails at Tupper & Reed

Dimly lit and tucked away behind a wrought-iron gate, Tupper & Reed houses a speakeasy vibe with plenty of signature drinks in Downtown Berkeley. Canoodle by the upstairs fireplace or post up at the dark bar for craft cocktails before dinner. Daily happy hour runs Tuesday-Friday from 5pm-7pm at this romantic spot that resides in a former music store from the early 1920s. Go 0.2 miles to 2271 Shattuck Avenue.

Don't lose track of time! The last trains depart from Downtown Berkeley at 12:21 a.m. (Northbound) and 12:42 a.m. (Southbound).

What's your favorite thing to do in Downtown Berkeley?

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