4th Street in Berkeley
4th Street in Berkeley, Travel Photo Mondays
Every time I go back to visit my family in Alameda, California, I always have to visit one of my favorite local hangout spots in the East Bay at 4th Street in Berkeley. It’s a cool and trendy area of Berkeley fillled with clothing shops and galleries, gorgeous furniture and design boutiques, delicious indoor/outdoor cafes and coffee shops. There is always something new and exciting to see from the design forward shops and entertainment venues.
What’s hip and cool at 4th street in Berkeley
Specialty boutiques on 4th Street, Berkeley
Even for those that are not into shopping, it’s just a fun spot to have some coffee and enjoy the people watching or outdoor entertainment that happens in the area. Shopping itself is a refined art here with very hip clothing shops and specialty boutiques that cater to the hip Bay Area market.
Here are a few of my favorites and new shops that keep popping up along the strip.
The Gardener on 4th Street, Berkeley
The Gardener – a garden, lifestyle and home boutique and gallery
One of my favorite places that combines, garden focused products, books, artwork and just cool gadgets and locally handcrafted art or utilitarian one of a kind work for that special occasion or gift.
Gardener interior on 4th Street, Berkeley
Close by is another new eatery that just opened up called Iyasare – contemporary Japanese cuisine with minimal zen appeal.
Iyasare Restaurant, 4th street
Spenger’s Fish Grotto
The complete opposite of Iyasare is the old Berkeley seafood institution, Spenger’s Restaurant, which still has these amazing signs out in the front and some really cool retro marine and vintage fishing decor inside. Of course seafood specialties are really good to try at this establishment.
Spenger’s restaurant on 4th Street, Berkeley
Even the underpasses around 4th Street are colorful with inspiring quotes and written messages from popular artists or writers. On the other side of this underpass is a completely new section of 4th Street with a different set of shops, eateries, a sake factory and even a beer tasting room.
Freeway inspiration on 4th Street, Berkeley
I love this relatively new bakery/ice cream shop in the new section of 4th Street called Sketch Ice Cream. Serving freshly made pastries and ice cream right on the premises. I even love the simple collection of retro ice cream scoopers on the wall – pretty cool right?
Dessert and baked goods on 4th Street
Ice cream scooper art at 4th Street
Vintage posters on 4th Street, Berkeley
If you’re a fan of graphic vintage posters, then the Brandes printing Co carries some of the most gorgeous and colorful printed posters from all around the world. I love just browsing through some of these wonderful vintage designs, but the price tags are just a little too much for me to take some of these home with me.
A cool vintage poster on display
A relatively new spot to hang out and taste some of the brews made from their brewery in Chico is the Sierra Nevada Brewery. Located in a large modern loft-like building with simple, clean organic details, it’s all about tasting some of the specialties made at Sierra Nevada that are usually only served in Chico bought now available on 4th Street.
Sierra Nevada beer tasting room on 4th Street
Close by is Sho Chiku Bai Sake which set up its American production facility in Berkeley under the Takara Sake operations. There is a museum and tasting room at its Berkeley site where you can try many of their flavored sakes. To visit the tasting room and information on tours, check out their website here.
Sho Chiku Bai Sake factory on 4th Street
There are too many other cool shops to visit on 4th street, but if you still want more, there’s also 5th street with even more stylish galleries, boutiques and one of the most unusual shops in the neighborhood called the East Bay Vivarium. And if you don’t know what it is, just take a look at the pictures below and you’ll get it right away.
The East Bay Vivarium on 5th Street
East Bay Vivarium, creepy crawlies and snakes
East Bay Vivarium, pet turtles for sale
If snakes, turtles and spiders are not your thing, there are some more refined boutiques and galleries on the street including my favorite gallery which just specializes in art ceramics and jewelry called Shibumi Studio. It’s such a beautiful modern gallery that showcases the ceramics artists work’s so magnificently. They have regular art events at the Shibumi galleries so check out their website here for more information.
Shibumi Studio on 5th street in Berkeley
Shibumi Studio on 5th Street, Berkeley
There’s so much to see and explore on 4th and 5th streets, it’s such a wonderful area to find some beautiful art, clothing, design inspired home and lifestyle products along with a variety of cafes, markets, bars and restaurants to enjoy a delicious meal. To check out more of the shops and cool galleries in the area, you can visit the 4th Street galleries here, and if you are in the area, this is a fun spot where East locals love to hang out.
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Vibrant photos! (except for the snakes photo).
These are some fantastic shots! They are really making me homesick for California.
I love little streets like that with unique shops and cafes. It’s totally my kind of place. My boyfriend.. on the other hand, has no patience for those kinds of places, though he probably could be convinced to check out the brewery or vivarium. 🙂
Wonderful shots Noel… looks like a splendid way to spend an afternoon! Love the vibe of this street, but not so sure I’d visit the Vivarium 😉
Looks like the street to hang around in Berkley!
Thank you so much for banishing my Monday blues once again with your crisp, clear and colorful photos! This looks like a place I would love to hang out at as it has everything! I love the photo of the turtle, you can keep the snakes 🙂
If I ever return to northern California again I plan to visit Berkeley now that I’ve read your post. Looks like you could spend a whole day wandering in and out of the shops but deciding where to eat might be difficult as it looks like there are a lot of choices. All of your photos are beautiful but I was really taken with the one of the signs with the quotes and messages under the freeway. Great idea!
Great Berkeley photos! Only time I was there was for dinner at Chez Panisse. Will have to go back.
Well you definitely went to one of the best places to visit with Chez Panisse as your Berkeley experience, that’s not too shabby.
Thanks for this look at Berkeley, Noel. I’d never seen any pics of Berkeley before, and all that comes to mind when I think of it is the university! It looks trendy and intriguing!
This is far away from the University of Berkeley, an neglected area close to the railroad tracks and industrial area that has been reclaimed into a cool and trendy gathering spot for locals and visitors to enjoy some wonderful local restaurants and social outlets.
Now I know how much exotic snakes cost and will add that to my reasons for not buying any. I just love the antique ice cream spoons and how many styles they came out with.
All of the years we lived in the bay area, we rarely got to Berkeley. I’m not sure why, traffic maybe. Anyway, thanks for the tour. I love the photo of the ice cream scoops on the wall, but I hurried past the snakes! 😉
Okay, so that turtle was pretty cute, but those snakes. . .yikes! That’s the thing nightmares are made of but otherwise enjoyed that tour you gave us today, Noel.
Wonderful photos! So casual and inviting! I must stop by and visit there! Thank you!
Love your exploration of my home town’s exceptional Fourth Street area. Here’s another spot there to check out next time you visit, http://weekendadventuresupdate.blogspot.com/2013/04/80-north-berkeley-chocolatier-blue.html
Oh snap. Thanks. Now I want a mushroom empanada.
Love the pictures, especially the muffins and the multiple ice cream scoops!
Noel, Looks like a great place to hang out for a few hours. Those are some expensive snakes!
4th and 5th Street in Berkeley are my kind of small city destinations. I love the vibe and all of their offerings – trendy boutiques, old and modern restaurants, bars, art galleries, etc. I’ve been to have to stop by next time I’m in Bay area. The Vivarium came as a big surprise though. Lovely photos as usual.
Wonderful photo Noel. I love the clarity and tone. Thanks for showing me a place I’ve never been.
Am not a shopaholic, but I love specialty stores like these! Thanks for making us aware:)
Beautiful street 🙂
I have not been in real life but after that virtual photographic tour I feel like I have at least a feel for the area. It has a great vibe and I wish I was there having a coffee right now.
Aah. NICE 😉
Interesting views as always! Ah, I love the tortoise….I had one once. Great photo.
Noel, 4th Street really does look like a very nice area, no wonder you always have to stop by when in town. But I am not so sure what to think of the Vivarium. Who on earth wants to buy a 600 dollar snake? Although the Superfly Ball Python seems quite popular as it appears to be sold out already… 🙂
I wish I was there right now!