Greetings Cal!! Looking forward to coming to Berkeley when my Tar Heels visit your Cal Bears. Have never been and am requesting some info. Firstly, where is the best spot to grab some lunch before game as it is a 1 PM kickoff, and secondly, what sights should I see on your historic campus? Last year your fans were very gracious visitors and hopefully we were gracious hosts! Looking forward to roles reversed and I anticipate a great time. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

First of all, kudos for a great screen name. As for things to see on campus, I suggest you drop by Sproul Plaza by 1130 am where the Cal Band will play and our mascot Oski, the cheer and yell leaders will fire up the crowd. After that you should mosey north through Sather Gate and beyond until you see the Campanile (pronounced camp uh knee lee) to your right. It is our tall, clock/bell tower in the middle of campus. From there you can proceed up the hill and to your right over to the creek and Faculty Glade or wherever strikes your fancy. I am sure others will have some suggestions as well. These are a few that I think you will enjoy.

One more thing: If you really want to get a flavor of Berkeley, I suggest at some point you wander along Telegraph Avenue, where I am sure you will find a number of street merchants, many of whom still have a 60's vibe. It may or may not be your cup of tea, but you really shouldn't miss it and may want to take photos to show the folks back home.

Agree with RhetoriCal that the Sproul Plaza concert is worth doing. If you want a quick bite before going into the stadium, the Faculty Club sells food...nothing fancy...just burgers and the like served cafeteria style. They also have a couple of bars and are usually showing the early games on TV. The Faculty Club is located just a short walk from the stadium.

If you want a sit down meal, there are plenty of places immediately west of campus (on Shattuck and adjoining streets) and south of Campus (Telegraph Ave.). The Top Dog (on Durant) is a campus favorite...hole in the wall place, no seating, various sausages.

Yes just cruise Telegraph for cheap eats and shopping. Hang out to watch the band play if you want. Student commons (the ASUC) is there and buy some Cal gear for your friends back home. :P

Go eat at Zachary's Pizza on College Ave. after the game, and Fenton's Creamery (featured in the movie, UP) is nearby as well.

Campus: If you want to experience the historic core of campus, you'll want to enter through the main gates on Oxford St and go up the main road through the belly of the beast. All of the best architecture can be found on this walk.

Here's the main entry drive:


If you want high quality food you'll want to head to the gourmet ghetto in Downtown Berkeley right before the main campus. Very popular foodie neighborhood, if you don't mind spending a little more. Its cousin is College Ave, on the South East side of campus. Similar high end restaurants.

If you want traditional college eats and booze, then Telegraph Ave is where you'll want to go, immediately next to the aforementioned Sproul Plaza, site of every famous protest ever.

Bars you can find on and around Telegraph:

Raleigh's: great outdoor bar, it's a fan favorite
Henry's: Very old school bar, with massive beer garden area; long lines
Taphaus: German beer hall
Pappy's: Typical college bar, outdoor area
Kips: DIVE college bar, best for post game, dead pregame
Freehouse: Great large bar with large outdoor area, good mix of young fans and families, closest to stadium

All of these are within 3 blocks of each other.

Really enjoyed my trip to Chapel Hill last fall. The UNC fans we met were incredibly gracious hosts and I'm looking forward to the rematch. Thank you in advance for making the trip out west.

The Berkeley area is not large - the campus is very pretty and worth roaming around (you have a few good highlights listed above). Telegraph avenue, as noted, is also worth a peek but it is an acquired taste. If you are looking for a nice hotel, the Claremont is a beautiful Tudor style property located within walking distance of the stadium.

My one piece of information is that Berkeley is, by and large, very chill. I've seen posts from other fans who seem to be under the impression that Berkeley is dangerous - I think they have visions of groups of antifa warriors roaming the streets and attacking anyone sporting opposing colors. I saw groups (and really only groups) of Ole Miss fans running around last year and they seemed literally afraid for their lives.

Honestly, nothing could be further from the truth. Much as it pains me to say it, most denizens of Berkeley couldn't even tell you a football was happening on game day, much less who Cal was playing. Hell they probably couldn't tell you what a football looked like. If you get hassled at all it will be by a street person who will want to explain to you how they have developed a formula conclusively proving that Donald Trump is in fact undergoing Nietzsche's metamorphosis (they have the proof right here in their sparkly purple and gold knapsack) and by the way can you spare $5. The pressure Malik McMorris and Patrick Laird will put on the UNC secondary will not exactly be top of mind.

In any event, enjoy your trip and welcome!

A few things. Football traffic management and parking are poor, so I would arrive early or take the train called BART. Wherever your staying can fill you in. I'm not sure how effective ride share is to games, maybe others can answer. Berkeley is very foodsie, and where "California cuisine" was said to start at Chez Panisse (if you go there, get your reservation now). Whatever your taste is, you can find it. If you stay at the Fairmont Claremont as suggested above, there is a great lunch spot across the street called Rick and Ann's, and you can work off the meal by joining every one walking to the game (about a 15 minute walk which includes Greek Row). In any event, Berkeley is known for great food so you will not go hungry. The campus is on a hill and the stadium is toward the top. Don't forget to look back at the great views of the Bay. In terms of what to do on campus, the prior posts nailed it.

The Bay Area has many great areas to see. The City, Marin, Wine Country, and on and on. Just depends on what you like. Since I went to North Carolina for the game, I feel obliged to tell you, prices are much higher than back home, and traffic is far worse. But there are amazing, once in a life time, places to visit.

Ridesharing after a game is an absolute nightmare. Rides take forever to reach you and the surge pricing is the highest ive ever seen. Avoid at any and all cost (Or walk several miles away from campus and call for a ride). Agree with taking BART

Although there's no central area for tailgating at Cal, there's still plenty of tailgating going on... especially for the first game of the season. Whenever we see friendly fans in Berkeley to support their team, we typically invite them to partake in some food and (adult) beverage. Wear your colors proudly, smile as you approach our tailgates, and a good time will be enjoyed by all... Go Bears!

luvUNChatedook said:

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Greetings Cal!! Looking forward to coming to Berkeley when my Tar Heels visit your Cal Bears. Have never been and am requesting some info. Firstly, where is the best spot to grab some lunch before game as it is a 1 PM kickoff, and secondly, what sights should I see on your historic campus? Last year your fans were very gracious visitors and hopefully we were gracious hosts! Looking forward to roles reversed and I anticipate a great time. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

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I am surprised that no one has recommended taking the elevator ride up The Campanile. When you get to the observation level you get a spectacular 360 degree view of the Campus, the East Bay, San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

touchdownbears43 said:

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Ridesharing after a game is an absolute nightmare. Rides take forever to reach you and the surge pricing is the highest ive ever seen. Avoid at any and all cost (Or walk several miles away from campus and call for a ride). Agree with taking BART

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I honestly walk below Shattuck and have no problem getting one there.

I second Wife's recommendation about Chez Panisse. The restaurant is on the expensive side (worth it though), but the cafe is more reasonable. They take reservations 28 days in advance so make reservations NOW.

http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/restaurant/

Robocheme said:

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I second Wife's recommendation about Chez Panisse. The restaurant is on the expensive side (worth it though), but the cafe is more reasonable. They take reservations 28 days in advance so make reservations NOW.

http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/restaurant/

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Moonpod and I shall be there Friday night before the game!

NYCGOBEARS said:

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Robocheme said:

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I second Wife's recommendation about Chez Panisse. The restaurant is on the expensive side (worth it though), but the cafe is more reasonable. They take reservations 28 days in advance so make reservations NOW.

http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/restaurant/

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Moonpod and I shall be there Friday night before the game!

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Ew. I'll be at Commis.

wifeisafurd said:

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A few things. Football traffic management and parking are poor, so I would arrive early or take the train called BART. Wherever your staying can fill you in. I'm not sure how effective ride share is to games, maybe others can answer. Berkeley is very foodsie, and where "California cuisine" was said to start at Chez Panisse (if you go there, get your reservation now). Whatever your taste is, you can find it. If you stay at the Fairmont Claremont as suggested above, there is a great lunch spot across the street called Rick and Ann's, and you can work off the meal by joining every one walking to the game (about a 15 minute walk which includes Greek Row). In any event, Berkeley is known for great food so you will not go hungry. The campus is on a hill and the stadium is toward the top. Don't forget to look back at the great views of the Bay. In terms of what to do on campus, the prior posts nailed it.

The Bay Area has many great areas to see. The City, Marin, Wine Country, and on and on. Just depends on what you like. Since I went to North Carolina for the game, I feel obliged to tell you, prices are much higher than back home, and traffic is far worse. But there are amazing, once in a life time, places to visit.

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Taking BART is a great Recommendation you can get to the Downtown Berkeley station from San Francisco Airport or Downtown San Francisco or Oakland Airport or almost any where else in the East Bay Area.

Once you exit BART You can the walk past many fine eateries on the two-block walk to Campus.

Then take the very leisurely walk through campus to the Campanile (feel free to stop at Doe/Bancroft Library and take in the exhibits). From there you can turn right and head for Sather Gate and the Student Union or keep going straight up to the Greek Theater. When you reach the Greek Theater you should be able to see Memorial Stadium on your right.

Overall it a very pleasant walk past some exquisite buildings (provided you ignore the monstrosity known as Evans Hall).
I park next to the big semicirclar lawn near West Gate (see photo of the "University of California".) I love walking from there to the Stadium.

Don't worry about finding your way. There will be plenty of people walking uphill. If for any reason you get turned around, head for the Campanile then keep walking uphill.

I also feel that Commis > Chez Panisse. I've been to each twice and have been much more impressed with Commis (although I respect Chez Panisse's long history and what Alice has done to the bay area food scene, and it's still pretty darn good).

OP - the food scene has changed drastically around campus in the past 10 years. There are lots of places with good, cheap eats around campus, particularly centered around Telegraph and Durant. Despite being born and raised in the area and spending my undergrad in Berkeley, I find myself Yelping places because of all the new additions in recent years.

One tradition that most will agree with: Top Dog on Durant. I personally think it's overrated, but all my friends love it and so do most on this forum.

travelingbears said:

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I also feel that Commis > Chez Panisse. I've been to each twice and have been much more impressed with Commis (although I respect Chez Panisse's long history and what Alice has done to the bay area food scene, and it's still pretty darn good).

OP - the food scene has changed drastically around campus in the past 10 years. There are lots of places with good, cheap eats around campus, particularly centered around Telegraph and Durant. Despite being born and raised in the area and spending my undergrad in Berkeley, I find myself Yelping places because of all the new additions in recent years.

One tradition that most will agree with: Top Dog on Durant. I personally think it's overrated, but all my friends love it and so do most on this forum.

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I have had hot dogs all across the US and granted that hot dogs are not fine cuisine. Top Dogs are easily among the best I have had.

travelingbears said:

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I also feel that Commis > Chez Panisse. I've been to each twice and have been much more impressed with Commis (although I respect Chez Panisse's long history and what Alice has done to the bay area food scene, and it's still pretty darn good).

OP - the food scene has changed drastically around campus in the past 10 years. There are lots of places with good, cheap eats around campus, particularly centered around Telegraph and Durant. Despite being born and raised in the area and spending my undergrad in Berkeley, I find myself Yelping places because of all the new additions in recent years.

One tradition that most will agree with: Top Dog on Durant. I personally think it's overrated, but all my friends love it and so do most on this forum.

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You're not gonna spoil my Chez Panisse experience!

NYCGOBEARS said:

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travelingbears said:

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I also feel that Commis > Chez Panisse. I've been to each twice and have been much more impressed with Commis (although I respect Chez Panisse's long history and what Alice has done to the bay area food scene, and it's still pretty darn good).

OP - the food scene has changed drastically around campus in the past 10 years. There are lots of places with good, cheap eats around campus, particularly centered around Telegraph and Durant. Despite being born and raised in the area and spending my undergrad in Berkeley, I find myself Yelping places because of all the new additions in recent years.

One tradition that most will agree with: Top Dog on Durant. I personally think it's overrated, but all my friends love it and so do most on this forum.

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You're not gonna spoil my Chez Panisse experience!

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I'll always have love for CP.

GivemTheAxe said:

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luvUNChatedook said:

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Greetings Cal!! Looking forward to coming to Berkeley when my Tar Heels visit your Cal Bears. Have never been and am requesting some info. Firstly, where is the best spot to grab some lunch before game as it is a 1 PM kickoff, and secondly, what sights should I see on your historic campus? Last year your fans were very gracious visitors and hopefully we were gracious hosts! Looking forward to roles reversed and I anticipate a great time. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

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I am surprised that no one has recommended taking the elevator ride up The Campanile. When you get to the observation level you get a spectacular 360 degree view of the Campus, the East Bay, San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

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Agree 100%. When I first went to Cal, I had no idea what a unique location it had in the Bay Area. Fantastic view of San Francisco, Oakland, the bay, the Golden Gate and the campus. Strawberry Creek is right nearby and there are Redwood trees (small ones), if you've never seen those.

Food : Lots of options. For early games, our crew prefers to avoid the lunchtime crowds and grab an early brunch (either take-out or a picnic basket), so we can find a nice quiet spot on campus to eat. Telegraph Ave. & Durant St. has a lot of spots to grab a snack before the game.

When, I visited UNC, I wanted to get a bit of local flavor, so I found a pick-up basketball on campus & played for a couple of hours. For the Cal campus, I suggest going to Sproul Plaza where the Free Speech movement was born, stand on the steps of the administration building, and speak freely about whatever topic you want for a while.

For cheap eats, Top Dog is a one of a kind experience. Two shops. One on Durant Ave., just a block south of campus and just east of Telegraph. Very crowded before games and nowhere to sit. They do so much business before football games that they have the dogs ready on tables on the street. This means that they are not hot off the grill, which is a shame. The other outlet is on Center Street, just west of campus, this is still crowded before games, but a little less so. When you squeeze in you may enjoy all the radical Libertarian posters they've been using to proselytize since the place first opened in 1966. Don't worry, no one will hassle you. (Except maybe up on fraternity row where drinking starts early and opposing fans may be subject to insult and ridicule.) From the Center Street Top Dog you can follow the crowd up the hill (it is an uphill climb) to the stadium as recommended by other posters. Once inside the stadium gates and before you enter, go to the southwest corner of the building and look up at the facade. The whole place was remodeled a few years ago, but the historic facade was preserved. At section KK I believe you can still see a noticeable crack in the wall way up high. That's where the Hayward Fault, the earthquake fault that's due for a big one any time now, exits the stadium. The crack was created be earth movement on either side of the fault since the original stadium was constructed in 1923. The recent has made the stadium earthquake safe, Supposedly.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned I-House for an inexpensive pre-game meal. International House is the building directly south of the stadium. Its cafeteria gets crowded before games, but if you get there before noon you should be able to get a burger or a good sandwich and actually find a table to sit down and enjoy your lunch. This is the absolute closest restaurant to the stadium, only steps away. I-House Berkeley and two similar structures at the University of Chicago and Columbia University in New York City were built in the 1920's and '30's by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to house international students and promote cultural understanding.

La Note (French) is a great spot for brunch especially if you get there early (it will be busy). And it is very close to the downtown BART station

Berkeley coffee shops, anything but Starbucks will do.
My pick is Cafe Strada on College and Bancroft.
Watch people watching other people while they're pretending to study.

Also, avoid the other out of town idiots if you happen to see them. Just walk the other way.

socaliganbear said:

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NYCGOBEARS said:

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Robocheme said:

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I second Wife's recommendation about Chez Panisse. The restaurant is on the expensive side (worth it though), but the cafe is more reasonable. They take reservations 28 days in advance so make reservations NOW.

http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/restaurant/

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Moonpod and I shall be there Friday night before the game!

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Ew. I'll be at Commis.

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we'll have to compare notes with NYC and moon. i'd bet now we're going to have the better time/food

beeasyed said:

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socaliganbear said:

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NYCGOBEARS said:

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Robocheme said:

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I second Wife's recommendation about Chez Panisse. The restaurant is on the expensive side (worth it though), but the cafe is more reasonable. They take reservations 28 days in advance so make reservations NOW.

http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/restaurant/

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Moonpod and I shall be there Friday night before the game!

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Ew. I'll be at Commis.

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we'll have to compare notes with NYC and moon. i'd bet now we're going to have the better time/food

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Perhaps, but sentimentality plays a large role in our choice.

faculty club is close to the stadium and has tons of seating. thats where we go.

oskidunker said:

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faculty club is close to the stadium and has tons of seating. thats where we go.

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Great recommendation. Placed in Faculty Glade, it is a pastoral setting (for an urban campus), an architectural gen (typical of when it was built) and looks toward the Campanile.

Thanks for all the helpful insights about Berkeley and Cal game day.
I'm flying from ATL and staying in downtown SF for the long weekend. Taking the BART to downtown Berkeley on Sat morning and will try and fit in as many experiences as possible. The UNC booster group, Ram's Club. Is sponsoring a pre game lunch at Cornerstone. I look forward to visiting that venue and trying the local brews?

Any recs on where to purchase authentic Cal gear/souvenirs?
Any local beer recs (I like all kinds).

Thanks and I look fo my visit.

Dlc83 said:

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<snip> Any local beer recs (I like all kinds).

Thanks and I look fo my visit.

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Before there was Sam Adams, there was Anchor Steam. If you can squeeze in a tour of the brewery and a visit to the tap room (Anchor Public Taps) - do it! Otherwise, enjoy it at any of a number of locations in downtown.

If you go in to a bar in SF and they do not have Anchor Steam on tap, leave immediately!

Agree with AunBear89, a visit to the Anchor Steam Brewery is well worth it. 1705 Mariposa Street at De Haro in the Potrero Hill area, which is not too far from the Financial District in SF. Enjoy!

Quote:

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Any recs on where to purchase authentic Cal gear/souvenirs?

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Bancroft Clothing on Bancroft directly across the street from campus half a block up from Telegraph.

25To20 said:

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Quote:

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Any recs on where to purchase authentic Cal gear/souvenirs?

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Bancroft Clothing on Bancroft directly across the street from campus half a block up from Telegraph.

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Let's not forget the Student Union Store at the corner of Tekegraph and Bancroft and its annex across Bancroft Avenue.

sonofabear51 said:

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Agree with AunBear89, a visit to the Anchor Steam Brewery is well worth it. 1705 Mariposa Street at De Haro in the Potrero Hill area, which is not too far from the Financial District in SF. Enjoy!

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Darn, all of those years at Cal and all of those SF visits since with my family and I never thought to go to the brewery. So many missed opportunities

Thanks. I love me some Anchor Steam and had no idea it has a brewery in downtown SF. I'm going to try and fit that in.