Guidebook for Kensington
Food Scene
The best pizza ever! They also have vegan and gluten free options!
247 locals recommend
Zachary's Chicago Pizza
5801 College AveThe best pizza ever! They also have vegan and gluten free options!
Also great pizza. We took a friend from NY here and he was really in to it!
113 locals recommend
Jupiter
2181 Shattuck AveAlso great pizza. We took a friend from NY here and he was really in to it!
The best Indian Chaat in Berkeley. It's a Indian grocery store in the front and cafeteria style seating in the back. Get the dosa!
84 locals recommend
Viks Chaat
2390 Fourth StThe best Indian Chaat in Berkeley. It's a Indian grocery store in the front and cafeteria style seating in the back. Get the dosa!
Fat vegan is a real thing at this place. They have a deli counter with vegan meats and cheeses plus a killer brunch menu. I took a meat eater here and he swears the "egg" sandwich is legit.
29 locals recommend
The Butcher’s Son
1954 University AveFat vegan is a real thing at this place. They have a deli counter with vegan meats and cheeses plus a killer brunch menu. I took a meat eater here and he swears the "egg" sandwich is legit.
Saturn Cafe Berkeley
2175 Allston WayA vegetarian retro diner great for a boozy brunch.
Underrated Thai food. The pumpkin curry, drunken noodles and veggie spring rolls are where it's at!
Plearn Thai Restaurant
1923 University AveUnderrated Thai food. The pumpkin curry, drunken noodles and veggie spring rolls are where it's at!
Vegan soul food (think cornbread, fried "chicken" and collard greens) with live jazz (some nights) - enough said.
40 locals recommend
Souley Vegan
301 BroadwayVegan soul food (think cornbread, fried "chicken" and collard greens) with live jazz (some nights) - enough said.
Part comfort vegan food, part car show, part art gallery, part beer garden. With outdoor seating and a ping pong table, this place is great for getting together with friends for a breezy weekend brunch.
7 locals recommend
Hella Vegan Eats
411 26th StPart comfort vegan food, part car show, part art gallery, part beer garden. With outdoor seating and a ping pong table, this place is great for getting together with friends for a breezy weekend brunch.
Hearty salads that change with the seasons. The warm pesto portobello bowl is my favorite when I'm trying to be good.
18 locals recommend
sweetgreen
1890 Shattuck AveHearty salads that change with the seasons. The warm pesto portobello bowl is my favorite when I'm trying to be good.
Picante
1328 Sixth StHomestyle Mexican in an open floor plan, great for large groups.
La Mission
1255 University AveCrispy tacos!!!! Quick Mexican counter service that's open late.
There is only one thing on the menu and it changes seasonally. You can order a large or small portion. The meal comes with a cup of soup and an entree of various vegetable dishes and rice. I usually get the large portion if I want to have leftovers. This is a great economical meal.
16 locals recommend
Shangri-La Vegan on Telegraph
4905 Telegraph AveThere is only one thing on the menu and it changes seasonally. You can order a large or small portion. The meal comes with a cup of soup and an entree of various vegetable dishes and rice. I usually get the large portion if I want to have leftovers. This is a great economical meal.
Drinks & Nightlife
The oldest bar in Berkeley with table games, darts, pool. They also host live music and trivia on Mondays.
61 locals recommend
Albatross Pub
1822 San Pablo AveThe oldest bar in Berkeley with table games, darts, pool. They also host live music and trivia on Mondays.
A small place with creative cocktails owned and operated by all women! There's also a taco truck permanently parked next door for late night eats.
45 locals recommend
Hotsy Totsy Club
601 San Pablo AveA small place with creative cocktails owned and operated by all women! There's also a taco truck permanently parked next door for late night eats.
Probably the best karaoke bar we’ve ever been to. It’s in the El Cerrito shopping plaza and doesn’t look like much from the outside, but that all changes once you step inside. Pick a song and sing to a crowd of dancing fans (90’s hip hop is usually a big hit, because people dance more than they pay attention to your voice).
Mel-O-Dee Cocktails
240 El Cerrito PlazaProbably the best karaoke bar we’ve ever been to. It’s in the El Cerrito shopping plaza and doesn’t look like much from the outside, but that all changes once you step inside. Pick a song and sing to a crowd of dancing fans (90’s hip hop is usually a big hit, because people dance more than they pay attention to your voice).
Kensington Circus Pub
389 Colusa AveDrinks, brunch, live music and the occasional trivia night!
We love this place on a weekend afternoon. Bask in the sun on their rooftop patio or play a game of darts. This place is massive with tons of seating and a connecting counter-service BBQ place.
67 locals recommend
Mad Oak Bar
135 12th StWe love this place on a weekend afternoon. Bask in the sun on their rooftop patio or play a game of darts. This place is massive with tons of seating and a connecting counter-service BBQ place.
Fieldwork Brewing Company
1160 Sixth StCraft Beer and small plates
Waterfront bar with outdoor seating.
21 locals recommend
Brotzeit Lokal | German Restaurant & Waterfront Biergarten
1000 EmbarcaderoWaterfront bar with outdoor seating.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Room
2031 Fourth StSierra Nevada Brewery good for beer flights
Parks & Nature
A ton of hiking trails here. We recommend downloading the app "All Trails" for information on trail intensity, distance and reviews.
495 locals recommend
Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak BlvdA ton of hiking trails here. We recommend downloading the app "All Trails" for information on trail intensity, distance and reviews.
Redwood Regional is truly majestic! One hike here convinced us to move to the bay area in the first place. You really can't beat the nature in the bay area.
373 locals recommend
Redwood Regional Park
7867 Redwood RoadRedwood Regional is truly majestic! One hike here convinced us to move to the bay area in the first place. You really can't beat the nature in the bay area.
Lake Merritt Amphitheater
Lake Merritt BoulevardA beautiful lake with walking path.
Shopping
This street has a lot of good options for shopping and dining. The street is long and you'll find everything from Safeway to quaint bookstores.
7 locals recommend
Solano Avenue
Solano AvenueThis street has a lot of good options for shopping and dining. The street is long and you'll find everything from Safeway to quaint bookstores.
The El Cerrito shopping plaza is next to the BART station and has a lot of big name stores (Trader Joe’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Borders, etc.)
89 locals recommend
El Cerrito Plaza station
6699 Fairmount AveThe El Cerrito shopping plaza is next to the BART station and has a lot of big name stores (Trader Joe’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Borders, etc.)
They have a large sitting area (indoor and outdoor) and good WiFi perfect working remotely. Like any other Whole Foods they have a good selection of ready made food and deli.
553 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
230 Bay PlThey have a large sitting area (indoor and outdoor) and good WiFi perfect working remotely. Like any other Whole Foods they have a good selection of ready made food and deli.
A newly developed shopping destination with major brands (uniqlo, ikea, sephoa, etc)
11 locals recommend
Powell Street Plaza
5701-5795 Christie AveA newly developed shopping destination with major brands (uniqlo, ikea, sephoa, etc)
Entertainment & Activities
Great for adults and kids alike. We went to a Star Trek themed party here and reenacted a space mission in a life size space station replica, complete with white lab coats and space experiments. Highly recommend.
122 locals recommend
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline BlvdGreat for adults and kids alike. We went to a Star Trek themed party here and reenacted a space mission in a life size space station replica, complete with white lab coats and space experiments. Highly recommend.
This is a great bowling alley. They don't serve alcohol, but there's a bar connected that you can get drinks from and bring back to the bowling alley.
419 locals recommend
Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon StThis is a great bowling alley. They don't serve alcohol, but there's a bar connected that you can get drinks from and bring back to the bowling alley.
Getting Around
$2.25 fare in exact change for adults will take you to Barrett Ave and San Pablo Ave.
AC transit stop station
$2.25 fare in exact change for adults will take you to Barrett Ave and San Pablo Ave.
Easy option for getting to downtown San Francisco, downtown Berkeley and Oakland.
89 locals recommend
El Cerrito Plaza station
6699 Fairmount AveEasy option for getting to downtown San Francisco, downtown Berkeley and Oakland.