Real Estate in the Berkeley: Gourmet Ghetto

A restaurant in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto neighborhood
Photo by Kathie Berg: Berkeley Real Estate

Why Live in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto

- walk to restaurants, cafes and upscale shopping
- classically beautiful architecture
- walk to UC Berkeley
- easy access to Solano Ave. and North Berkeley shopping areas

About Gourmet Ghetto

Gourmet Ghetto is located along Shattuck Ave., between Hearst and Rose streets. This is the heart of Berkeley’s Epicurean lifestyle: some of the best restaurants, cafes and shops in the East Bay are found here. And steps away from the shops on Shattuck are quiet, residential neighborhoods with some of the most classically beautiful houses in Berkeley. Not surprisingly, this is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods for homebuyers.

At the heart of the gourmet experiences are 3 institutions: Chez Panisse, the Cheese Board and Peet’s Coffee. Chez Panisse, with its focus on the cuisine of Provence, was established in 1971 by chef Alice Waters and is one of the most celebrated restaurants in America. Cheese Board Collective, with its vast offering of the finest cheeses, and the original Peet’s, with its focus on gourmet coffee, ushered in entirely new standards in culinary consumption. All three launched a gourmet revolution that spread throughout the Bay area, and beyond.

Today, gourmet establishments of all stripes can be found here. Many have sidewalk cafes; you can walk along tree-lined Shattuck Avenue and stop for coffee at the French Hotel Café; grab lunch at Chester’s Bayview Café or Gregoire; get a slice of pizza from the Cheese Board or Lo Coco’s; enjoy traditional diner fare (with Berkeley quirks!) at Saul’s. And for those looking for ethnic cuisine, the Laotian food at Cha Am and the Central American offerings at Café de la Paz are hard to beat.

And while food is the central attraction, there is much else to the neighborhood. There are good jewelry and clothing stores, including excellent places for children’s clothing; The Walk Shop is one of the best places in the East Bay for buying footwear; Black Oak books offers a wide selection of new, used and rare titles.

A couple of blocks east of Shattuck is the Live Oak Park. With its groves of majestic oaks, the beautiful Cordonices Creek, and numerous playgrounds and sporting facilities, the park is an invaluable oasis of tranquility. It has a recreation center and an indoor theater and is host to numerous community events. Adjoining it is the Berkeley Arts Center which presents exhibitions and programs by a diverse body of local artists, as well as numerous educational events, panel discussions and performances.