Berkeley

900 Grayson

For a sinfully pleasurable brunch try the Demon Lover - fried chicken served atop a buttermilk waffle with your choice of gravy or Vermont syrup.

Mon-Fri 8AM-10:45AM, 11:30AM-3PM; Sat 8AM-2:30PM

924 Gilman

Alternative Music Foundation

North Berkeley is home to one of the world's most famous punk rock clubs, known simply as Gilman, after the street it is located on. Shows are Friday and Saturday evenings, and sometimes Sunday afternoons. The Gilman is an all ages venue, with a harsh no drugs or alcohol policy, and operates as a private club, requiring you to purchase a membership card to attend a show, though in practice this is only a minimal fee on top of your ticket price.

Acme Bar & Company

An entire wall of whiskey options and a considerable menu of beers and mixed drinks and cocktails. A neat mix of dive bar and hipster. Online orders, same day delivery. Food orders through sister restaurant.

Daily 3PM-closing·$15 and under

Acme Bread Company

One of the key bakeries in the Bay Area Bread Renaissance. baguettes, rustic loaves, some sweet and savory pastries.

Mon-Wed Sat 8AM-4PM, Thu Fri 8AM-5PM, Sun 8:30AM-3PM

Adventure Playground

This "junkyard" playground for school-age kids is a top-10 playground according to the National Geographic magazine. Kids can build with real tools, paint their creations, and play in the water and mud. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and clothes that you don't mind being ruined. Tools are collected 30 minutes before closing time. Zipline is taken down 15 minutes before closing time. Reservations are required (and expensive) for groups of five or more children, including if you plan to meet another family at the playground.

Year-round Sat Sun 11AM–5PM, and summer Mon–Fri 9AM–5PM, closed on holidays and for rain·Up to 4 children with parents: free; more than 4 children: $75 to $180; one child without parents: $10 for three hours

Aftel Archive of Curious Scents

More of a "smell" than a "see", this one-of-a-kind archive includes all manner of interesting scents. For a full sensory experience, you can touch many objects and experience dozens of smells. Tickets include four sticks dipped into displays to take home. The archive includes objects that are centuries old, covering alchemy books, botanical specimens, perfumes, and other aromatics. Reservations in advance are recommended; expect to spend about an hour.

Sat 10AM–6PM·$25, minors are $15, babes-in-arms are free

Ajanta

Indian food. Many dishes are organic and sustainable. Rachel Ray listed Ajanta as one of only two "world class" restaurants on Solano Ave. Online reservations. Online ordering and delivery.

Tue-Sun 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5-9PM

Amoeba Music

Large selection of music from a long list of genres, Whole section of movies and TV shows on DVD and Blu-Ray. Trade counter closes at 8PM.

Wed-Sun 11AM-7PM

Anchalee Thai Cuisine

A Thai restaurant in a modest brick building that is full of the favorites and its own delicious works. Happy Hours both weekdays and weekends. Vegetarian-friendly.

Daily 11:30AM-3PM, 4-9PM

Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen

Every Cajun item on the menu is a hit. The oyster po' boy sandwich and the crawfish etoufee are highly recommended, the hush puppies with honey butter are sinfully delicious, and be sure to wash them down with some sweet tea. Online reservations for large groups. Online ordering.

Tue-Sun 11:30AM-9PM

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center

If you can name a type of dance, than the odds favor it being done here, and possibly taught as well. Music and dance from the world. Veggie-friendly food, wine and beer, and kids are always welcome.

Tue-Sat 10AM–5PM

Bageltopia

Excellent bagels, with a variety of spreads ranging from classic cream cheese to "sushinova" to "vegan sunshine".

Tue–Sun 7:30AM–2PM

Barney's

A small California sit-down burger chain that makes good burgers, curly fries, and milkshakes. Try the specialty shakes. Online ordering and delivery.

Sun-Thu 11AM-8:30PM, Fri Sat 11AM-9PM

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

BAMPFA

As a visual arts venue, BAMPFA is dedicated equally to art and film. Its art collection and exhibitions reflect the diversity of the UC Berkeley campus and San Francisco Bay Area, with particular strengths in 20th- and 21st-century work. The museum, run by the University of California, is in a building that is itself an impressive work of modernist architecture, incorporating a 1939 Art Deco-style building. With one of the most extensive film archives in the world, the PFA offers many film series throughout the year, focusing on directors, eras, or artistic movements. It also screens some of the films during the annual San Francisco International Film Festival.

Wed-Sun 11AM–7PM·$18, free for BAMPFA members; UC Berkeley students, faculty, staff; 18 & under; one adult per child 13 & under; and artists with exhibits

Berkeley Bagels

A blackboard full of bagels, coffee, tea and sandwiches. Vegan options.

Mon-Fri 6:30AM-5PM, Sat Sun 7AM-5PM

Berkeley Bowl Marketplace

Good place for fresh fruits and vegetables. Deli with hot bar for take-out food ($10–12 for a salad or sandwich). Vegan options. A second store is about 1.5 mi to the west, at 920 Heinz Ave.

Mon–Sat 9AM–8PM, Sun 10AM–7PM

Berkeley Hat

A wide variety of normal and eclectic hats. Online ordering and shipping available through Yahoo Live Store.

Tue-Sat 10:30AM-6PM, Sun noon-4PM

Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Berkeley Rep

With its consistently high-quality productions of contemporary and historical plays, Berkeley Rep is one of the primary centers of theater on the West Coast. The theater is also very pleasant, in a modern way.

Hours vary, normally Tue-Sun 8-11PM, Sat Sun 2-4PM (matinee)·$35-55 (varies by night; half-price students and seniors, $20 under 30)

Berkeley Rose Garden

A half-hour's walk north of the UC Berkeley campus. Especially nice for watching the sunset, with a view of the bay.

Daily 6AM - 10PM, Unless otherwise posted

Bombay Music

This is one of the best Bollywood and Indian music stores in the bay area. You can find Indian classical music CDs to Bollywood latest DVDs and CDs. Prices are discounted. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly.

Breads of India

Regional Indian restaurant whose menu changes from day to day, each entree on the menu has its own bread recommended with it.

Wed-Mon 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5:30-9:30PM

Cafe Milano

Milano is a few blocks away from UC Berkeley. No outdoor seating here. A haven for studying students.

Mon-Fri 7AM-10PM, Sat Sun 8AM-10PM

Caffe Chiave

Excellent coffee, quiche, desserts and sandwiches. The elderly owner drops by every Sunday afternoon to belt out Italian ballads. Check website for events.

Daily 7AM-3PM

Caffè Strada

Practically located on the UC Berkeley campus, Strada is a second home to student and professor alike. It's a popular meeting place, and often busy. Great outdoor seating.

Daily 6AM-midnight

Café Leila

Great egg dishes, Mediterranean entrees and sandwiches made with organic ingredients are best enjoyed on a sunny day in Leila's large outdoor patio, and sip on a house-brewed tea.

Daily 8AM-3PM

California Golden Bears Football

Above the Berkeley campus, Memorial Stadium plays host in the fall season to UC Berkeley football games. But if you want to watch a game for free, head above the canyon to Tightwad Hill, a hill where students and the public gather to watch games. It's also an ideal location for spectacular views of the Bay Area when there's not a game going on. Anyone is free to come as long as they pick up their own trash and don't wear the colors of Stanford University (red).

Cheese Board Pizza

Collective serves pizza two doors down from its gourmet cheese and bread shop in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto. Only one kind of pizza is available each day, always vegetarian. You can buy pizza by the slice, portion of a pizza, or buy a half-baked pizza. Often considered the best pizza in Berkeley. Lines can be long in the evenings, and their hours are short. You will often see students and locals seated in the grassy median of Shattuck eating their pizza.

Wed 8AM-4PM; Thu-Sat 8AM-4PM, 5-8PM

Chez Panisse

Chez Panisse is the origin of California Cuisine, and still is the best representation of the style that focuses on local produce in season. Named "Best Restaurant in America" in 2001 by Gourmet Magazine and is one of the entries in the book 1000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz. Fixed price menus downstairs ($175), which usually require a reservation a month in advance. It's worth it, though. The cafe upstairs offers more variety in à la carte form, and it's easier to get a table. Still, if your parents are paying, try to book downstairs.

Check website for hours·$175 and up

César Chávez Park

A bike and pedestrian path runs around the water's edge to the bay side from the back of the peninsula this 90-acre (36-hectare) park shares with the Marina and Pier, revealing an incredible view of the bay, the city, Alcatraz, the GG Bridge, and Mt. Tamalpais. With steady winds coming off the bay, a large field, and low hills, this is a kite flying Mecca (the first scene in the film adaptation of The Kite Runner was filmed here, though labeled as San Francisco). There is also a kite shop in a truck that parks here most afternoons that sells kites and parts. The park also has picnic areas with BBQ pits, an off-leash dog area, a wetland and wildlife sanctuary.

Daily 6AM-10PM, unless otherwise posted

East Bay Vivarium

One of the best reptile specialty stores in the nation. Also has a large selection of amphibians and invertebrates. Staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Reptile boarding services available.

Mon-Fri 11AM-7PM, Sat Sun 11AM-6PM