East Bay Shopping Districts San Francisco Bay Area Shopping
These shopping districts are unique and special and if time permits while visiting San Francisco and the greater San Francisco Bay Area are well worth the visit. For more detailed information on each district...
Elmwood District
A rather small, neighborhood district with much of that Berkeley charm. There is a movie theater and more than 7 restaurants and 3 coffee houses in between some very unique shops. Two restaurants especialy worth the visit are La Mediterranee and Gordo Taqueria. The former is a sit down casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and the later is more of a take-out place with some limited seating. La Mediterranee has outdoor seating and if you stop at Gordo Taqueria, be sure to get a Super Burritto or the grilled quesadea.
Fourth Street
Very near the freeway exit, Fourth Street is more upscale, yet still with that Berkeley vibe. There is an Apple Store, Sur La Table, Peet's, Crate & Barrel, Aveda, Benefit, Antrhopologie, Keihl's, M.A.C., Jigsaw, Z Gallerie and Restoration Hardware with many unusual and exciting one-of-a-kind shops such as Stained Glass Garden, Molly b., Rabat and many, many more. You will find great restaurants and coffee houses as well. Parking is a bit tricky during the busiest times although there are a couple of free lots and a paid one - so there is plenty of parking if only the paid parking left on busy days.
Rockridge sits right on the edge of Berkeley and flows into Oakland. It's is populated with both upscale shops and restaurants as well as many unique one-of-a-kind and boutique shops and casual neighborhood restaurants. Great coffee houses abound up and down the street. The anchor for Rockridge is the Market Hall group of culinary shops. You will find great food to take with you, grocery items as well as fish and meat shops and two restaurants and a coffee and sweets shop.
Solano Avenue
Solano Avenue is a very long, multi block shopping area with upscale and neighborhood shops, restaurants and coffee houses. Littered with a vast aray of yummy restaurants, you will find a scrumptious bakery, hair salons and many shops for clothing, home and eyewear.
Telegraph Avenue
The ever electic and electric Telegraph Avenue. You can actually feel as if you have gone back in time if you find your way there by passing People's Park. This historic area from the '60's is still as iconic as ever with so many of the same type shops and it flows right into the entrance of UC Berkeley Campus. You will find the streets humming with college students and retro hippies as well as some of the colorful homeless. Berkeley embraces all types. Enjoy the legendary Rasputin Music store where you can still find some very unusual vinyl, CDs and all that is relevent to music lovers of that era.