Berkeley\u2019s restaurants have long been heralded for spearheading now-iconic culinary movements like farm-to-table seasonality and what\u2019s sometimes referred to as New American cuisine, but few would describe the city as a nightlife destination. Bar owner and consultant Dylan O\u2019Brien calls Berkeley \u201can interesting place. It\u2019s a college town, yes, but it\u2019s also so much more than a college town.\u201d Beyond the downtown watering holes favored by undergraduates, you\u2019ll find welcoming neighborhood bars with breezy patios and expert cocktail programs, juice bars from esteemed chefs, and pizzerias with destination wine lists\u2014if you know where to look. Leading the charge is Bar Panisse, a newly opened cocktail-centric offshoot of Alice Waters\u2019 legendary Chez Panisse restaurant. \u201cThe ethos of the bar flows directly from Chez Panisse, which a lot of people appreciate,\u201d says O\u2019Brien, who created Bar Panisse\u2019s cocktail program. \u201cThere\u2019s this vitality around everything connected to food and drinks in Berkeley.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bar Panisse<\/a><\/h4>\nSince its debut in December 2025, crowds of people line the sidewalk in front of Bar Panisse everyday before doors open at 5 p.m. The walk-in-only bar aims to provide \u201ca more casual, European-style bar and cafe space,\u201d says O\u2019Brien. \u201cIt honors a lot of the philosophies and traditions of Chez Panisse\u2014locality, organic produce, focus on quality ingredients\u2014and translates it into classic cocktails.\u201d The warmly lit interior has caf\u00e9 tables and an elegant wooden bar serving lemon verbena\u2013infused vodka Martinis, velvety Brandy Sours, Gimlets<\/a> with Meyer lemon cordial, and seasonal shrubs<\/a> with ingredients like Rangpur lime and fennel seed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to use really high-caliber products and ingredients,\u201d says O\u2019Brien. \u201cWe\u2019re following classic cocktail recipes and aim to execute them consistently and perfectly, every single time.\u201d The wines by the glass hail from nearby Mendocino and Sonoma Coast as well as Piedmont, Italy and France\u2019s Jura, while draft and canned beers and cider include limited-time options like Death & Taxes Black Lager from Santa Rosa\u2019s Moonlight Brewing<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/imbibemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/scenescout-berkeley-Bar-Panisse-with-Dylan-OBrien-crdt-Kristen-Loken-1024x869.jpg\")
Dylan O\u2019Brien at Bar Panisse | Photo by Kristen Loken<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBroc Cellars<\/a><\/h4>\n\u201cIt\u2019s natural wine, but not funky,\u201d O\u2019Brien says of the range of bottlings from this breezy urban winery.\u201d They\u2019re made in a very traditional method and absolutely delicious.\u201d Established in 2002, Broc releases more than 20 wines each year. All are made from organically grown California grapes with native yeasts, and the range includes sparkling Chenin, Vermentino, orange wine made from a blend of Italian grapes, and a perennially popular Zinfandel, Vine Starr, that was featured in the cult Japanese manga series Drops of God<\/em>. \u201cThey have this beautiful tasting room space where they do lots of pop-ups, and it\u2019s just a really nice place to hang out on the weekend,\u201d O\u2019Brien adds. Still thirsty? \u201cThey\u2019re in this area where there are a ton of wineries and breweries, so you can really make a day out of it.\u201d<\/p>\nCellarmaker Brewing Company<\/a><\/h4>\nStarted in San Francisco in 2013, Cellarmaker now has three locations in the Bay Area, including this welcoming Berkeley taproom in \u201ca nice, big, warehouse-y space,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. It hosts movie screenings with family-friendly picks every other Friday, and Wednesdays are slice and pint nights, serving Detroit-style cheese and pepperoni pizzas. There\u2019s also a full kitchen with shareable fare like mushroom tostadas, marinated olives, avocado and mandarin salads, and house-made pork and beef meatballs. The tap list is long and varied, spanning Czech-style amber lagers, pilsners, coffee porters, West Coast IPAs, and more. \u201cI think their hoppy beers are the best in Northern California,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. Cans and bottles include expertly made sours from The Rare Barrel, a renowned Berkeley label that Cellarmaker took over in 2022.<\/p>\n
Donkey & Goat<\/a><\/h4>\nNatural wine lovers and the people who drink with them flock to this airy tasting room in West Berkeley for crisp orange wines, peppy p\u00e9t-nats, and crunchy chilled reds made with grapes from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards in Mendocino County, Napa, and Sierra Nevada. The space also hosts events including low-intervention wine conferences, Sapphic speed dating, pop ups from local chefs, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
East Bay Spice Company<\/a><\/h4>\nAn OG cocktail destination in downtown Berkeley, this bar and restaurant has been serving crunchy chaat, chicken tikka empanadas, and signature drinks like Love and Other Demons (mezcal, green chile-infused vodka, carrot syrup, and lemon) since 2012. It recently relocated to larger digs less than a block away from the original location.<\/p>\n
elaichi co.<\/a><\/h4>\nNamed for the Hindu word for cardamom, this chai specialist brings beautifully spiced teas and standout pistachio cake to a sunny corner lot in downtown Berkeley. Ample seating makes it an ideal spot to catch up with friends, settle in with a book, or idly people-watch through the large picture windows. Open since 2024, elaichi recently debuted a second location in San Francisco\u2019s SoMa neighborhood.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/imbibemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Elaichi-Summer-Menu-crdt-courtesy-of-elaichi-1024x682.jpg\")
Summer offerings at elaichi | Photo courtesy of elaichi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFava<\/a><\/h4>\nIn a space formerly occupied by longtime Berkeley staple The Juice Collective lies this sunny caf\u00e9 and lunch counter opened in 2019 by Chez Panisse alums Sylvie Osborne Calierno and Jeremy Scheiblauer. Located around the corner from Bar Panisse, \u201cit\u2019s such an asset to the neighborhood,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. \u201cFresh ingredients, nice people, and great food and juices to go.\u201d In addition to fresh-pressed juices, Fava serves Meyer lemon and mango lassis plus an array of spiced and herbal teas, including a crowd-favorite almond milk chai tea latte with turmeric, ginger, cardamom, and cloves. <\/p>\n
The takeaway food menu is seasonally driven and might feature pita sandwiches stuffed with tender braised lamb and parsley; escarole salad with asparagus, almonds, kumquats, and feta; spicy chicken flatbread; and angel food cake with whipped cream, lemon curd, and blueberries. \u201cIt\u2019s the kind of thing you see a lot in LA but not as much here,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. \u201cIt brings a lot of people down to this area of Berkeley at lunchtime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Great China<\/a><\/h4>\nCome for the double skin mung bean noodle salad, stay for the grand cru Montrachet. Burgundy fiends rave about this northern Chinese restaurant, which just so happens to have one of the strongest French-accented wine lists in the Bay Area. Best of all, bottles on the 350-strong list are incredibly priced\u2014just a whisper above retail plus corkage.<\/p>\n
Prizefighter<\/a><\/h4>\nCalled \u201ceasily the best bar in the area\u201d and \u201ca neighborhood bar that punches way above its weight\u201d by area critics, Prizefighter has been an institution for beers and craft cocktails since 2011. Co-owned by O\u2019Brien and Polly Hancock, it sits in a boxy brick building on an industrial stretch straddling the Berkeley-Emeryville border\u2014\u201cthe dividing line is right across our patio,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. The low-lit space has boxing memorabilia on its walls and a breezy patio where people can sip beneath a leafy pergola. The bar serves an impressive craft beer and cider selection plus classic and original cocktails such as Abuela\u2019s Old Fashioned (bourbon, bitters, mole syrup), Prescription Julep<\/a> (Spanish brandy, rye, mint), and the Negroni-style Reconquista (mezcal, Punt e Mes, Cappelletti). In 2023, O\u2019Brien and Hancock opened Prizefighter Bottle Shop<\/a> next door, selling glassware and bar tools alongside local and far-flung beers, wines, and spirits.<\/p>\nRose Pizzeria<\/a><\/h4>\n\u201cIt\u2019s a really high-quality pizza place with a tight wine list in a cute storefront,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to see a show at The UC Theatre downtown, it\u2019s a perfect place to go first.\u201d Thin-crust pizzas feature classic margheritas as well as red sauce and burrata with garlic confit, or fig jam, leeks, goat horn peppers, and mozzarella on creamy white sauce. In addition to the natural-leaning wine list, which has by-the-glass and bottle options from California, Italy, Oregon, and Georgia, the bar serves aperitivo cocktails like The Spritz (Cappelletti and sparkling wine over crushed ice) as well as zero-proof drinks and craft beers. In 2024, The New York Times<\/em> named this longstanding Berkeley favorite one of the 22 best pizzerias in the country; co-owners Gerad Gobel and Alexis Rorabaugh just opened an outpost in San Francisco\u2019s Inner Richmond neighborhood this spring.<\/p>\nTeance<\/a><\/h4>\nFounded in 2002 by Winnie Yu, a trailblazer in artisanal tea culture in the United States, this sleek shop sells teaware and painstakingly sourced teas from the mountains of China, Japan, Taiwan, and beyond. Pop in to look for the perfect whole leaf pu-erh or hojicha powder, or pick up teaware like hand-painted tasting cups and bamboo matcha whisks.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cWe want to use really high-caliber products and ingredients,\u201d says O\u2019Brien. \u201cWe\u2019re following classic cocktail recipes and aim to execute them consistently and perfectly, every single time.\u201d The wines by the glass hail from nearby Mendocino and Sonoma Coast as well as Piedmont, Italy and France\u2019s Jura, while draft and canned beers and cider include limited-time options like Death & Taxes Black Lager from Santa Rosa\u2019s Moonlight Brewing<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s natural wine, but not funky,\u201d O\u2019Brien says of the range of bottlings from this breezy urban winery.\u201d They\u2019re made in a very traditional method and absolutely delicious.\u201d Established in 2002, Broc releases more than 20 wines each year. All are made from organically grown California grapes with native yeasts, and the range includes sparkling Chenin, Vermentino, orange wine made from a blend of Italian grapes, and a perennially popular Zinfandel, Vine Starr, that was featured in the cult Japanese manga series Drops of God<\/em>. \u201cThey have this beautiful tasting room space where they do lots of pop-ups, and it\u2019s just a really nice place to hang out on the weekend,\u201d O\u2019Brien adds. Still thirsty? \u201cThey\u2019re in this area where there are a ton of wineries and breweries, so you can really make a day out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Started in San Francisco in 2013, Cellarmaker now has three locations in the Bay Area, including this welcoming Berkeley taproom in \u201ca nice, big, warehouse-y space,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. It hosts movie screenings with family-friendly picks every other Friday, and Wednesdays are slice and pint nights, serving Detroit-style cheese and pepperoni pizzas. There\u2019s also a full kitchen with shareable fare like mushroom tostadas, marinated olives, avocado and mandarin salads, and house-made pork and beef meatballs. The tap list is long and varied, spanning Czech-style amber lagers, pilsners, coffee porters, West Coast IPAs, and more. \u201cI think their hoppy beers are the best in Northern California,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. Cans and bottles include expertly made sours from The Rare Barrel, a renowned Berkeley label that Cellarmaker took over in 2022.<\/p>\n Natural wine lovers and the people who drink with them flock to this airy tasting room in West Berkeley for crisp orange wines, peppy p\u00e9t-nats, and crunchy chilled reds made with grapes from organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards in Mendocino County, Napa, and Sierra Nevada. The space also hosts events including low-intervention wine conferences, Sapphic speed dating, pop ups from local chefs, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n An OG cocktail destination in downtown Berkeley, this bar and restaurant has been serving crunchy chaat, chicken tikka empanadas, and signature drinks like Love and Other Demons (mezcal, green chile-infused vodka, carrot syrup, and lemon) since 2012. It recently relocated to larger digs less than a block away from the original location.<\/p>\n Named for the Hindu word for cardamom, this chai specialist brings beautifully spiced teas and standout pistachio cake to a sunny corner lot in downtown Berkeley. Ample seating makes it an ideal spot to catch up with friends, settle in with a book, or idly people-watch through the large picture windows. Open since 2024, elaichi recently debuted a second location in San Francisco\u2019s SoMa neighborhood.<\/p>\n In a space formerly occupied by longtime Berkeley staple The Juice Collective lies this sunny caf\u00e9 and lunch counter opened in 2019 by Chez Panisse alums Sylvie Osborne Calierno and Jeremy Scheiblauer. Located around the corner from Bar Panisse, \u201cit\u2019s such an asset to the neighborhood,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. \u201cFresh ingredients, nice people, and great food and juices to go.\u201d In addition to fresh-pressed juices, Fava serves Meyer lemon and mango lassis plus an array of spiced and herbal teas, including a crowd-favorite almond milk chai tea latte with turmeric, ginger, cardamom, and cloves. <\/p>\n The takeaway food menu is seasonally driven and might feature pita sandwiches stuffed with tender braised lamb and parsley; escarole salad with asparagus, almonds, kumquats, and feta; spicy chicken flatbread; and angel food cake with whipped cream, lemon curd, and blueberries. \u201cIt\u2019s the kind of thing you see a lot in LA but not as much here,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. \u201cIt brings a lot of people down to this area of Berkeley at lunchtime.\u201d<\/p>\n Come for the double skin mung bean noodle salad, stay for the grand cru Montrachet. Burgundy fiends rave about this northern Chinese restaurant, which just so happens to have one of the strongest French-accented wine lists in the Bay Area. Best of all, bottles on the 350-strong list are incredibly priced\u2014just a whisper above retail plus corkage.<\/p>\n Called \u201ceasily the best bar in the area\u201d and \u201ca neighborhood bar that punches way above its weight\u201d by area critics, Prizefighter has been an institution for beers and craft cocktails since 2011. Co-owned by O\u2019Brien and Polly Hancock, it sits in a boxy brick building on an industrial stretch straddling the Berkeley-Emeryville border\u2014\u201cthe dividing line is right across our patio,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. The low-lit space has boxing memorabilia on its walls and a breezy patio where people can sip beneath a leafy pergola. The bar serves an impressive craft beer and cider selection plus classic and original cocktails such as Abuela\u2019s Old Fashioned (bourbon, bitters, mole syrup), Prescription Julep<\/a> (Spanish brandy, rye, mint), and the Negroni-style Reconquista (mezcal, Punt e Mes, Cappelletti). In 2023, O\u2019Brien and Hancock opened Prizefighter Bottle Shop<\/a> next door, selling glassware and bar tools alongside local and far-flung beers, wines, and spirits.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a really high-quality pizza place with a tight wine list in a cute storefront,\u201d O\u2019Brien says. \u201cIf you\u2019re going to see a show at The UC Theatre downtown, it\u2019s a perfect place to go first.\u201d Thin-crust pizzas feature classic margheritas as well as red sauce and burrata with garlic confit, or fig jam, leeks, goat horn peppers, and mozzarella on creamy white sauce. In addition to the natural-leaning wine list, which has by-the-glass and bottle options from California, Italy, Oregon, and Georgia, the bar serves aperitivo cocktails like The Spritz (Cappelletti and sparkling wine over crushed ice) as well as zero-proof drinks and craft beers. In 2024, The New York Times<\/em> named this longstanding Berkeley favorite one of the 22 best pizzerias in the country; co-owners Gerad Gobel and Alexis Rorabaugh just opened an outpost in San Francisco\u2019s Inner Richmond neighborhood this spring.<\/p>\n Founded in 2002 by Winnie Yu, a trailblazer in artisanal tea culture in the United States, this sleek shop sells teaware and painstakingly sourced teas from the mountains of China, Japan, Taiwan, and beyond. Pop in to look for the perfect whole leaf pu-erh or hojicha powder, or pick up teaware like hand-painted tasting cups and bamboo matcha whisks.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nBroc Cellars<\/a><\/h4>\n
Cellarmaker Brewing Company<\/a><\/h4>\n
Donkey & Goat<\/a><\/h4>\n
East Bay Spice Company<\/a><\/h4>\n
elaichi co.<\/a><\/h4>\n
Fava<\/a><\/h4>\n
Great China<\/a><\/h4>\n
Prizefighter<\/a><\/h4>\n
Rose Pizzeria<\/a><\/h4>\n
Teance<\/a><\/h4>\n