University of California - Berkeley - Local Atmosphere

Berkeley: a Cultural Hub

Berkeley is a great place if you're looking for cultural diversity. As a relatively large city it has a wide variety of events occurring at all times of the year. If you're into the arts and film scene, there's the Berkeley Art Museum right across from campus that provides access to multiple world renowned artists exhibits throughout the year. There's also the Pacific Film Archive which puts on film series open to students and the public throughout the semester. There's also a wide variety of delicious restaurants in the city, including some great Thai, Indian, sushi and even a few great Falafel places-whatever you're in the mood for Berkeley, has it. There's also a number of community events that occur on a regular basis, including the Berkeley Farmers Market and Flea Markets which occur monthly. And the great thing about Berkeley is that it's only a BART ride away from the multitude of opportunities available in San Francisco across the bay!

The city of Berkeley is really...

The city of Berkeley is really cool. It's its own little college town but with enough of a break from the campus that you don’t feel stuck. There’s a laid-back sort of vibe in some areas, and others have a more upscale feel. There are tons of restaurants and shopping in the area, as well as the nearby Tilden Park and Berkeley Marina. People’s Park can be a little scary at night, so it’s best to keep your distance. Stanford’s one of the closest universities and also our biggest rival.

There is always something to do...

There is always something to do here, and it can be quite distracting when you’re trying to study! My favorite things in Berkeley are the fire trails. Berkeley can be overwhelming sometimes, and hiking on the fire trails really allows me to clear my mind. San Francisco is just a short BART ride away–there’s Chinatown, Powell Street for tons of shopping, Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Garden, the list goes on! I also really like trying all of the restaurants near the Berkeley campus. Another fun thing to do is go to a jazz club. There are performances throughout downtown Berkeley in restaurants like Jupiter’s and Anna’s Jazz Island that offer affordable performances. My favorite, however, is Yoshi’s Jazz Club in SF and Oakland. They have amazing sushi and have really entertaining performers.

The city of Berkeley is full of...

The city of Berkeley is full of personality and very diverse. Although we are known as a “hippie town,” the city has much more depth and can’t be easily stereotyped. Most people are able to feel comfortable here. There are several venues to watch live music, including Zellerbach, Anna’s Jazz Island, and Blake’s, plus San Francisco is easily accessible through BART. There are tons of mom and pop restaurants throughout Berkeley with delicious food, and there are a lot of bars around. College Street is worth checking out with its cute stores and restaurants. Hiking through Berkeley’s hills and the fire trail are a nice change of scenery from the city itself, and they are very close by.

The city of Berkeley has a very...

The city of Berkeley has a very relaxed feel to it. People just tend to be friendly here and that makes the town and University a great place to be. Between Salsa classes, comedy magazines, and parties, there is always something to do here as long as you are willing to go out and do it.