Here is a list of some of our favorite places to eat in Berkeley and Oakland:

Taqueria Talavera (North Berkeley) - best Mexican food in the Bay Area

The Cheeseboard Collective (North Berkeley) - great pizza and live music

The Noodle (Downtown Berkeley) - the pineapple fried rice is our favorite!

Jupiter (Downtown Berkeley) - more pizza! and beer! modeled after a German brewery, with a beautiful garden in the back

The Wolf (Piedmont Ave, Oakland) - French and American cuisine, delicious cocktails and oysters

Snow White Coffee (Piedmont Ave, Oakland) - we love to sit on the windowsill and pet all the cute dogs that come by!

Grand Lake Kitchen (near Lake Merritt in Oakland) - the perfect spot for brunch!

Vegan Donut Gelato - all vegan, all delicious

These are some of our regular hangouts, and a few extras to check out while you're here!

Touchstone Climbing Gyms (multiple locations in Berkeley and Oakland) - day passes are available to do some bouldering or top rope climbing

The New Parkway Theater (Oakland) - a community-centered movie theater that shows both blockbuster and independent films, featuring comfy couches, snacks, and local beer

Tilden Regional Park (Berkeley) - miles of hiking trails, a petting farm, lakes, and steam trains. Great for a picnic with kids or a peaceful walk through the eucalyptus trees

Redwood Regional Park (Oakland) - another great hiking spot. We recommend parking at the Skyline gate and taking the Stream Trail down through the redwoods.

Children's Fairyland (Lake Merritt, Oakland) - one of the first amusement parks in the U.S. Great for small children, with rides, animals, puppet shows, and more!

Half Price Books (Berkeley) - our favorite bookstore. They sell new and used books of all genres, as well as games and records.

Oakland Zoo (Oakland) - another great one for kids and adults alike! We recommend taking the Sky Ride for a beautiful view of the bay.