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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Berkeley

26 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Berkeley, California

Updated June 11, 2025

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Shops 4
Museums 3
Collections 3
Purveyors Of Curiosities 3
Eccentric Homes 3
Homes 3
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

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Stories About Berkeley

The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants

In greenhouses from Berkeley to Santa Barbara, a little-known rescue network protects endangered cycads from poachers, smugglers, and extinction.
by Julie Zigoris

Podcast: Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour

A unique Bay Area walking tour led by community historians.
by The Podcast Team
Chunks of ice floating in water? Nope: coarse salt.

The Microscopic Majesty of Sugars, Salts, and Spices

A molecular biologist turned food writer put kitchen staples under the microscope.
by Anne Ewbank
Spectators to the power struggle can come from miles around.

Acorn Woodpeckers Have Multi-Day Wars, and Birds Come From All Around to Watch

A window into complex avian sociopolitical lives.
by Luna Shyr
“The Tails of Two Kitties” was an award-winning entry at UC Berkeley’s 2019 Edible Books Festival.

Edible Book Festivals Are for Pun and Food Lovers

It's been widely celebrated for almost 20 years.
by Anne Ewbank
Louis Trevino (left) and Vincent Medina (right) get ready to serve a meal in the Ohlone Cafe.

Indigenous Cuisine Is Being Served in the Back of a Berkeley Bookstore

Café Ohlone features traditional recipes and foraged ingredients.
by Richard Foss
The view from the top of a staircase that helps make up Berkeley’s Covert Path.

Caring for—and Expanding—Berkeley's Hidden Network of Hillside Paths

The California city has over 130 different woodsy shortcuts cutting through its hills and streets.
by Cara Giaimo

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