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The Berkeley Rose Garden
Rating Details »
Category: Botanical Gardens [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Berkeley Hills1200 Euclid Ave
Berkeley, CA 94709
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
70 reviews for The Berkeley Rose Garden
It's impressive how one plant has become so inextricably linked with love and beauty, that we dedicate entire gardens to their cultivation. Yet witnessing the hovering sun begin its slow decent on the horizon illuminating the tiered chain of rambling roses, it's hard not to feel the power of the flower and a sense of gratitude for being on this planet.
Romance is in the air here, a perceptible sweet aroma permeates the space. Looking around, couples are glued to each other on benches, under lattice. Somehow no matter how many people wander through, the roses magically have scent for all.
If you can tear yourself away from the breathtaking view or your paramour's gaping mouth, stick your schnoz into these:
red planet
fragrant cloud
taboo
sunflare citrus
peace
double delight
french lace
Naming of the varieties weren't done without a sense of humor as evidenced by "touch of class." Need to get a point across? Give your gal a bouquet of "Impatient" or "command performance."
The place isn't exactly polished or impeccably manicured, but the slightly overgrown state is a flaw I'll gladly overlook for the experience. I like it a little wild, anyways.
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I could easily see this garden being a 4-star place, and I don't even penalize it much for most everything not being in bloom. The amphitheater arrangement was nice and there were a few trellises and benches that tried to create a romantic and picturesque atmosphere. However, several issues turned me off:
* Paths were uneven and broken, making me focus on my footing instead of the flowers
* By extension, not handicap accessible
* Gardening has clearly lapsed - bushes are overgrowing and some beds have gone mostly to weeds
* The thwock-thwock, grunts, and shouts from the adjacent tennis courts disrupt the serenity-that-could-be
* The bathroom building was dirty and smelly
I was sad to be so disappointed. I'd though maybe I'd found a great new date spot, but until they get the maintenance levels back up, I'll have to go elsewhere.
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i felt like i was in middle school on a first date with a guy trying to bring me out to the perfect make out spot! [there were at least 2 couples in full out suck face session while we were there!]
in any case, the rose garden is beautiful. great place to just bring out a book to read, take a lady out on a sweet date, or photograph the gorgeous blooms. love the quiet location.
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Beautiful, terraced rose garden. Wonderfully presented and well stocked. Really a nice place for a walk!
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I last visited the Rose Garden in, what i beleive, to be typical Northern California fashion. A friend of mine and I decided to empty a bottle of wine (Sangiovese) that i had. So we walked to Andronico's in North Berkeley and picked up some goat cheese and crackers and then walked up to the Rose Garden to have a picnic of sorts. For guys out there, this would be a good date idea.
It was quite good and very chillax. It would have been better if the roses were in bloom, but it was fun nonetheless. The rose garden is seet up kind of like an ampitheatre so it is all facing out towards the bay from the hill. It is quite lovely and i'm sure it would be even more so if the roses were blooming.
I love the north side of Berkeley. It's so nice. It's not like South Side. heh.
Nothing is better than cheese and wine. Delicious!
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The Berkeley Rose Garden is absolutely beautiful! It's free, has gorgeous roses, great photo opportunities, places to picnic, paths to journey on, a beautiful view of the bay, and no mountain lions to watch out for. It is safe, family friendly, tranquil, and offers one an escape from everyday city life.
Awwwww. My sister got married here. It was so beautiful. The roses were in bloom, the day was warm, and the views spectacular. It really is an amazing PUBLIC space.
Luckily, there were no problems with uninvited guests.
As for the pint sized invited guest's... kid at the wedding found the creek fascinating.
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Such a wonderful gem of Berkeley that I wish I knew about earlier. Go around May to see the roses in full bloom. I made the mistake of thinking that there would be flowers in "spring" a la March/April. Remember: April showers bring May flowers.
You get a wonderful view of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge (if it's on a clear day) and I've seen plenty of weddings in the area. It is such a romantic place with lots of beautiful flowers to look at and a little walkway with vines growing all over it. I'm sure many Berkeley couples have gotten married here.
When it's warm in Berkeley, it is a perfect place to come and relax and just take a break from the world... It's almost like a sanctuary during the weekdays and a good place to bring a book and take some pictures of the scenery.
There's also a tennis court although I'm not sure about the hours and rules of the courts. Street parking is easy but make sure you know how to park on a hill. Also... be careful sitting on the benches because jeans (cloth in general) rips a lot easier when wet, and benches may be wet. i speak from experience.
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This place is euphoria inducing, especially during late spring and early summer. The heady smell of roses and the lovely site of them bring back memories of my grandmother's garden and of wearing rose oil as perfume when i was just starting to want to perfume myself.
Come here at night and hold hands (or make out) with your sweetie, but keep in mind that the park closes at ten. I've been caught there after 10 and told to leave.
Go through the tunnel and under the street to hang out at Codornices Park. Make sure to shout things and experience the echos.
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I came here after a picnic at the park across the street in late Fall/early Winter of last year and while the roses were not in full bloom, it was still completely beautiful. The scent of the flowers in the air was amazing and I can only imagine how much more vibrant the place is in late Spring.
All of the different varieties of roses are labeled and while most of them you've probably seen in one form or another, there were some really unique/cool looking ones. I fell in love with the polka-dotted roses (I can't remember their name now) so keep an eye open for them when you visit.
I cannot wait to come back in May. Roses are definitely some of my favorite flowers and it's great to have such a gorgeous garden in Berkeley devoted to them.
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What better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon, than to wander around this beautiful rose garden! There were so many different varietals and colors, and they are ALL in perfect bloom. If I lived nearby, I would be here every day! This is my new favorite neighborhood in Berkeley.
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This place is absolutely beautiful. at the very top before you walk down into the garden you can see views of the bay. The neighborhood is so cute as well. It is so peaceful and tranquil. This was also coupled with the fact that it was super hot. and a beeautiful day. When you walk down there is an amphitheatre where my cousin happened to got married-which is such an awesome place. the rows of seats were pretty far apart from each other and it was nice not to be spread out and not jammed in and have some 6'6" giant sitting in front of your blocking your view. I am not sure what other types of events there are but it is so fun to sit and check out just how many types of roses there are. I have a black thumb so anything like this is so cool. I dont know if I will ever be up here to find this place again but I will always have fond memories of the gorgeous afternoon I spent here.
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I have such romantic memories of being in the Berkeley Rose Garden in early summer (watch the bees - I am phobic) with my "sanity man".
It's such a romantic place and a great way to escape reality for a while.
The flora is just magnificent.
Best place to stop and smell the roses, and when they're not in bloom, it's still a wonderful place to sit and look at the amazing Bay Area, multi-bridge view. For those who play, there are tennis courts, but just strolling and sitting, especially as the light fades...that's the ticket.
(There are even clean restrooms - good emergency go-to place, especially if you've been exploring the hills)
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Sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses. This place has a special place in my heart for obvious reasons. My now husband took me there more than a decade ago when we were dating. He definitely scored some points! Since then we've had meaningful visitations here over the years.
Great variety of roses, a few tennis courts, and an awesome view of the bay. You see couples, double daters, family, friends, all types strolling around this rose filled arena. So random, some Asian guy was carrying a trick or treat pumpkin in the middle of June....only in Berkeley. Thanks to him, my husband had a dream that night about Halloween.
Berkeley Rose Garden, thanks for reminding us to take time to enjoy the simple things in life.
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I would otherwise be completely in love with the place if it weren't for a few things:
- the flowers aren't always in bloom (sucks when you bring someone to a rose garden and you're like, "Well, it's not usually like this.")
-that weird feeling you get when you bring someone here and then you start feeling like you have to explain "this isn't a date or anything, I just came here to show you the gardens." .. and you don't want to actually SAY that because THAT would be awkward. But if you don't say that then you just settle with silently hoping that they're just into nature and all that.
-watching couples and children as you're meandering through the garden with your totally platonic friend who you hope feels that this is just what platonic friends can enjoy together.
But it IS a lovely place, so I see how it is a nice place to bring a date. I've enjoyed the view and have taken my fair share of nice strolls throughout. The wooded area adjacent reminds me of childhood camping days.
This is a horrible place to pick up on people because most are either married, widowed, or already on a date. But if you must, try to introduce yourself to the person enjoying a nice dinner-for-one up top, or the lone artist working on sketches, or anyone of legal age who doesn't appear to be with anyone at the moment.
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This is one of the most beautiful places in Berkeley, nay, the Bay Area.
I am an SAT tutor without a car and one of my lessons is at the top of Euclid. I always make sure I leave enough time to stop by the Rose Garden and look out at the view and listen to a little music. The other day I just had some free time so I took the trip up and explored the entire garden. It hadn't been in full bloom before so I had no idea how beautiful it was going to be.
Its about a 15 minute walk uphill from campus but sooo worth getting off your lazy ass and getting a little exercise and sunshine.
The top of the garden has a breathtaking view of the Bay, the Golden Gate bridge and the entire garden. I always see old couples holding hands or young couples drinking beer and picnicking while enjoying the romantic view. My fellow took me here yesterday and it was quite the gesture ;).
The garden is built on a hill and you weave in and out of rows of roses as you travel down. There has to be at least 50 different species of roses in an explosion of different colors, shapes, sizes and fragrances. Educational!
I would suggest going before the end of spring, because the roses are just about at their peak and they will wilt soon.
I think I'm going put on a frilly dress and white gloves to host a tea party here!
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This place is gorgeous during full bloom and is nice to just walk through and enjoy the flowers. it leaves you feeling really at peace with everything. That is until you get back into traffic and hate life again.
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This is one of my absolute favorite places near my house. Sometimes I'll walk up Euclid with my books and lunch, and just sit at the top of the amphitheatre style setting to look out on the bay and individuals walking through the garden. In May, it's one of the most beautiful sights because everything is in bloom and you can see everyone.
Couples on dates
Individuals with family members
Friends
Children
Tennis doubles matches
Double dates
Et cetera.
There is so much to see and explore in the rose garden. The springtime beauty is captivating, and I can say from first hand experience that it is an AMAZING place to go for a first date. Very romantic and just the sort of atmosphere where lightening may strike.
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I have been going her for years - in my youth I worked just on the north side of campus and would walk here often on my lunch time.
And, when I had my first date with my beloved wife 13 years ago - we were supposed to meet at a cafe but then she said I could pick her up and take her to the rose garden so I did and we barely talked just looked at each other all goofy but we strolled among the roses and had a lovely time. Every time we return we are transported back to that wonderful, awkward first date...
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The majority of the roses didn't have much scent, it could have been the time of year. But they were beautiful.
Gorgeous views of the bay year round with a lovely park across the street. The roses bloom in all sorts of colors and shapes. you can't quite see the city cuz the trees are pretty tall. i really like sitting on the benches shaded by the vines on the trellises.
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"Sunsets or sunrises? Which do you prefer?" I was once asked.
I couldn't give an answer.
For one, I'm a Libra - indecisive. Most will find it difficult to ever get a straight answer to a "favorite" question from me. Favorite color? Favorite animal? Favorite artist? You'll have me wracking my brain. I can't just pick one. There's always some sort of list, some set of circumstances. I know what I like and what I don't like; I just can't pick one over another, especially when there are two to choose from, and both options are ones I enjoy.
Secondly, sunsets and sunrises are two very different experiences. I associate a different set of memories to each. Choosing one over the other would depend on mood, timing, location, situation.
If your mood is romantic and your timing is right, I have heard/read wonderful things about the sunset and view of the bay from the Berkeley Rose Garden.
Breathtaking.
Stunning.
Gorgeous.
A few words others have used to describe the view.
I have not yet witnessed the sunset myself during my prior visits.. In fact, I hadn't even noticed the view of the bay from the garden. It's not that I am entirely oblivious to my surroundings. I was just preoccupied at the time - too busy smelling the roses, perhaps?
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This is my secret garden.
This is my I-cant-take-it-anymore-and-I-need-to-get-away place.
There are roses, and there is a view.
What more could you want. I could blather on and on, giving you all sorts of delicious imagery, but this is a garden, and its meant to be enjoyed, not read about.
Go any time of year, even if the roses are not blooming.
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Lovely lovely place, walked here twice with my ex. i couldn't stop taking pictures of flowers, to his dismay...he wanted to sit back and enjoy for some reason, go figure.
but yes, there are pretty roses of all sorts of colors with biblical names and what not...this is really a must visit in berkeley. an alternative to eating stuff or drinking or stuDYING...sometimes you gotta take a break from it all.
the walk there is pleasant, up in the hills with clear air and a variety of beautiful foliage. hasn't been too crowded the 2 times i've been there...wouldn't exactly call it romantic either, but it's nice.
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The Berkeley Rose Garden is a great place to go on a lot of levels:
To stop and smell the roses (thank you ki v.) and the view.
Hiking around the back 40.
To spash around the creek at the bottom (and wonder where it goes behind the "curtain".
The tennis courts.
Clean restrooms.
The tunnel to Cordonices Park (across the road).
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"Worry looks around, sorry looks back, but faith looks up." And up is where I looked today.
After a wonderful lunch in the East Bay with the One, the Only Sean S., I decided to go for a drive. Unfamiliar with Berkeley, I really had no idea where I was going. I just drove upwards, drawn to the hills, not knowing where it would lead me, but just having faith that I would come across something beautiful. And sure enough, I did. I found myself at the Berkeley Rose Garden.
The gorgeous view is what took my breath away and caused me to pull over and get out of my car. As I looked out, I saw the sunken rose garden with hundreds of roses in bloom. I walked over to one of the benches and let my senses soak it all in. The sun beat down on my Yelpertone protected skin, and the light breeze swept through my hair. I brought the strawberry shortcake I got from Bakesale Betty's with me and ate it, savoring each bite. I felt like a kid again. For the first time in weeks, I felt at peace. This is exactly where I was supposed to be and needed to be.
I've learned that life is full of twists and turns, and you may get dragged down along the way. But if you keep your head up and have faith, something spectacular will be presented to you at the most unexpected moments.
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"To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.."
~William Blake
I know roses aren't wild, but I hope to someday be proposed to by my second husband and/or lady life partner here
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I really love the Berkeley Rose Garden. We took a walk there today -- just minutes from my house. It's one of those places where you can really take in the view of the Bay (sunsets and sunrises), the beautiful roses below, and remember just how great Berkeley is! I almost got married here (it only costs $500 to rent!), but then we decided to do it in our backyard, which was probably for the best. The garden is beautiful in the spring and summer, where you can take in numerous types of roses! Only Drawback: there's a loud tennis court right next to the Berkeley Rose Garden! Who the hell thought of having some sweaty tennis players hitting their bouncy balls next to such an oasis of beauty?!?!@@#$%%!@^&*&!!!
P.S. Cordonices Park is across the street, which is pretty fun, b/c it has a huge cement slide, basketball courts, and a great playground. Note that you can walk through an underground tunnel near the Berkeley Rose Garden to get to Cordonices Park without having to cross the street! Also note that the tunnel smells like urine most of the time!
P.P.S. Even though we didn't get married here, we took some pictures here after our wedding. I'll post one here, just for the YELP community.
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Massive coliseum filled with thousands of species of roses.
Creak included. When you get bored, talk a walk through to tunnel to Cordonices Park.
You can easily spend an entire afternoon here (and you won't regret it.)
Great place to take the folks or visitors. Beautiful roses and a magnificent view on a clear day, The roses were at their peak a couple of weeks ago.
The amphitheater setting is beautiful, anytime of year.
Steps may be a problem for the less nimble, but there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views.
Cordinices Park is across the street with picnic areas, playground, baseball field and many lovely paths.
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The Rose Garden holds so many memories for me. I discovered it when I was a student at Cal, and it was such a world away from campus, books -- a refreshing change and a place to get back in touch with the world outside of college life. To enjoy the glorious space , the bowl scooped out of the hillside, full of the smell of roses, looking out to the bay. The most beautiful setting for tennis courts is located here, and when my knees used to allow me to play, it was my favorite spot. It was really a retreat for me then, and for the other stages of my life.
My kids played at Cordinices park across the street & had Little League games there over the years. But I think they really liked the Rose Garden Best-- they never admitted it though. Ben used to bring his GI Joes along & have adventures in the pond & creek. And Laura & her girlfriends liked to play here.
This was a great place for me to escape to, to take time out to contemplate some difficult times in my life. It seems only when I'm troubled I take time to journal write, and I filled many pages here.
I was fortunate enough to enjoy a 2nd marriage, and our wedding took place here in 2002. I knew the risks of a ceremony in a public place, but we put doubts aside, had the ceremony at 10am on a gorgeous May morning with all the roses in bloom. [it certainly saved on florists fees] We were advised to rope off the access aisles into the amphitheater, so we had some curious observers. There was 1 fellow who came to practice playing his sax during our ceremony, and 2 of our friends jumped up to convince him that it wasn't a great time for it. I honestly couldn't have wished for a more perfect place for our wedding.
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Roses resurrects memories so divine- our greatest writers used them to inhabit their works with its power to elucidate its infinite meanings- as it is so intertwined with our very own feelings... from the romantics to the symbolists- its the potent potion that casts a spell to its beholder.
Rilke noted in his diary "I invented a new form of caress: placing a rose gently on a closed eye until its coolness can no longer be felt; only the gentle petal will continue to rest on the eyelid like sleep just before dawn."
This resulted in his chef d'oeuvre work beginning -
Rose, o pure contradiction,
desire to be no one's sleep
beneath so many lids
My afternoon here placed me under the sun whose rays filtered through each petal beneath the other, changing colors as it traversed through each petal- vibrant , bright, and alive.
I could just smell the fragrant bouquet under each petal as I moved from rose to rose.... I discover myself as each eyelid opened before me...Almost like a dream- of the star crossed lovers beckoning the other to wake up from this sweet reverie.
Who can forget these lines from Romeo and Juliet
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Ah now how I wished my name was Arossa :-)
SO the tip here is- guys you can never go wrong with a rose- bring one to her or take her to the garden-
then watch her smile brighter than the midday sun!
Every woman remembers her first rose ;-)
To the ladies- you can never go wrong smelling like a rose ;-) Frida Kahlo adorned her hair with roses... Coco Chanel used it for the best selling perfume:-)
PS- Of memorable roses I fancied (love that english 'tude)- The Golden Celebration, Gertrude Jeykll, The Pilgrim and Rosa Taboo :-)
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I'm not really sure how to go about reviewing a rose garden. I came in April when things were barely starting to bloom. I can tell that this place must be absolutely stunning later in Spring. To summarize:
1. Incredible view out to San Francisco Bay, sunsets inclusive.
2. Beautiful roses.
3. Wonderful, well-kept paths.
4. Nice tennis courts, adjacent play areas for the kiddies with a less-developed aesthetic sense, etc.
Downsides? There's a decent climb from downtown Berkeley, and it's all up-hill through residential areas. That's the biggest downside I can come up with. Seriously. Go.
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Perfect for a midnight stroll with that special someone. Just a whiff of all the floral aromas and incredible views of the Bay is true romance.
Men, take note. The ultimate date is a surprise trip/picnic dinner to the Rose Garden. You can thank me later.
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I HAD my wedding here three months ago........and I arranged for several friends to come early and keep an eye on things so that no one would ruin it by yelling or trying to be funny, etc.
It went very well and the garden was a perfect setting.
To Jehan and others who may go here to check out weddings-
it sucks that the older couple gave you dirty looks, esp if you were being respectful and WEREN'T sitting below the wooden terrace. FYI- when wedding parties pay for the permit to have a wedding there, they are given exclusive use of the garden in the lower area, from the large wooden terrace on down. The upper area is still open to the public. If you come into the reserved area, they have a right to ask you to leave.
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When the roses are in bloom you can't beat this place for picture opportunities. It is absolutely beautiful. The terraced walkways offer multiple levels of botanical bliss. Every time I have been here it's pleasantly peaceful. You can bring a book and camp out on a bench and become entrenched in your favorite novel if that's your thing or simply enjoy the sights and smells. Across the street is Codornices Park and I've read there is a waterfall hike behind the wooden trolley in the playground. I have not done this yet but it is on my list. This is what I read "Start by taking the set of stairs to the left which lead to a path, which leads to a second set of stairs and then a small gate. Beyond that gate is another world: a lush green canyon with a grove of redwood trees, a rushing creek, and a 40-foot series of cascading waterfalls. Walk across the creek via a wooden slab to get a better perspective on this hidden oasis."
Lovely way to spend a Mother's Day afternoon (especially if your mom is big into gardening, like mine is). The majority of the roses didn't have much scent, but they were beautiful, and the garden is easy to navigate.
The views of the city and the bay are wonderful.
A lovely place to spend an afternoon, and definitely a good place to end or begin a date. I won't rehash others' praises, but it may be worth noting that the walk up to the garden from downtown Berkeley/the UCB campus is also beautiful, if you don't mind the hills.
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excellent place to catch a sunset.
I seriously like coming here in the winter as well because it's empty and a little sad.
there is also an awesome park across the street.
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OMG..do you know how many dates I brought up here?? =)
That was my ROUTE MAN! I'd drive the girls to the Rose Garden during sunset and then up to Tilden and get a night view of the Berkeley area and the Bay Bridge... If you couldn't swoon girls w/that..then you had some problems! =)
On the South Side of berkeley (telegraph ave) encompasses the URBAN portion of Berkeley w/lots of small food shops(really good btw)..and young kids who wreak of cheap incense, not showering, and bad hemp clothing ..mixed in w/some scarey kids from Oakland who filter in. It's quite an experience on that side.
On the NORTH side of Berkeley..you'll find a more sterile environment.
Lots of small and quiet restaurants..as opposed to the hustle and bustle of the south side. Lots of older graduate students discussing molecular cell biology and the latest pixar movie over a slice of LaVal's pizza or some overpriced latte.
You drive up Euclid ave and twist and turn the hills and you'll find this little nook of a garden overlooking the bay. It's got tennis courts that are usually open(not the greatest..but still can play there).
Surrounding the tennis court are several tiered walkways and a valley of planted and stilted rose bushes. It's very unassuming on cold days..but on a sunny summer day...the way the sun warms the area and reflects is really nice...
The sunset there w/the combined view of the horizon of the SF bay makes it a nice stopover for anyone. Even at night..just walking the rose garden is a peaceful place to roam.
If you live around Euclid, you have a real nice gem there...
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