As a hub of free expression, culture and academia, the Northern California town of Berkeley has a lot to offer. From the influx of students attending the University of California, Berkeley, to those drawn to living there because of the socially active vibe, it’s a place for inspiration and ideas.
Nowhere else is it better to sit down and have a good, intellectual conversation than in a coffee shop. For all the java lovers in Berkeley, here are the best neighborhoods for coffee.
5. West Berkeley
Source: Facebook/ArtisCoffee
Also known as the Waterfront, West Berkeley is full of restaurants, stores and parks. Settle into one of the many coffee shops, like Artís, which not only roasts its own beans but sells supplies for at-home coffee brewers.
You can also grab a cup and head outside to the Aquatic Park which not only has an ultimate Frisbee course but a great playground for kids. The average rent prices in West Berkeley are around $3,249 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Apartments for rent in West Berkeley
4. Claremont Elmwood
Source: Facebook/bakerandcommons
Actually two separate neighborhoods, Claremont Elmwood is in the southeast part of Berkeley. A combination of residential and commercial areas means there are plenty of options when you’re in need of a quick cup of coffee.
Among the independent coffee shops is the landmark cafe recently renamed Baker & Commons. With an extended coffee menu, the cafe draws in locals as much for the drinks as the food.
Apartments for rent in Claremont Elmwood
3. North Berkeley
Source: Facebook/PeetsVineStreet
Home to the very first Peet’s Coffee, which opened in 1966 on Vine Street, North Berkeley is proud of its coffee heritage. Touching the northern corner of UC Berkeley, this part of town is known as the Gourmet Ghetto due to its high volume of innovative restaurant owners.
Apartments for rent in North Berkeley
2. Downtown Berkeley
Source: Facebook/BerkeleyCoffeeCo
As the central business district and mass transit hub, Downtown Berkeley has a lot going on every day. A highly eclectic area, many small businesses, including coffee shops have taken up residence here.
Some even double as restaurants, like People’s Cafe, which is known for its coffee and Mediterranean food. Dining, shopping and entertainment are in large supply in this area, making it a lively place to live. Apartment rents average around $3,344.
Apartments for rent in Downtown Berkeley
1. Southside
Source: Facebook/Romeos.Coffee
Known for its large student population, Southside in Berkeley is the neighborhood most closely connected to UC Berkeley. It’s also the most densely populated neighborhood in the area, full of sidewalk vendors and stores.
To cater to all these students, coffee shops like Romeo’s Coffee offer quiet corners for studying or catching up with friends.
Apartments for rent in Southside
Grab a cup of Joe
Even if you don’t call Northern California your home, there are amazing coffee shops across the country. Check out what other cities go above and beyond in their coffee selection and see if your hometown made the list.
Methodology
To determine the best neighborhoods for coffee in Berkeley, we scored every neighborhood on Apartment Guide by business density (coffee shops divided by land area) and coffee shops per capita (coffee shops divided by population). Each score was weighted at 50 percent and combined to come up with an overall coffee score for each neighborhood. The neighborhoods with the highest combined score were determined to be the best neighborhoods for coffee in our quantitative study.
Neighborhoods with fewer than five coffee shops and 500 residents were excluded.
Coffee shop totals come from commercially licensed business listings and my not reflect recent openings or closures. Population and area come from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Rent prices are based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.com’s multifamily rental property inventory from June 2019 to June 2020. We use a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
