Neighborhood Spotlight in San Francisco Bay Area

Northside offers a convenient residence to those looking for a neighborhood in San Francisco near UC Berkeley. It’s just a ten-minute walk to the main campus, and many of the university halls are located within Northside itself.

This relaxing, tree-lined residential space is close to parks and gardens, such as the UC Botanical Garden. It’s also just a 10-minute bus ride to Downtown Berkeley and the BART Plaza, and a short walk to Shattuck Avenue and University Avenue bars, restaurants, and cafés.

Insider tip: The city of Berkeley and its corresponding neighborhoods are named in relation to UC Berkeley. Given this, Northside is located north of the university.

The Southside neighborhood, also called South Campus, is located south of the university and is home to top-rated coffee shops like Mezzo and Romeo’s Café, the Berkeley Piano Club, the famous outdoor Greek Theatre, and Berkeley’s historic People’s Park.

South Berkeley is known for its diversity, eclectic restaurants, and hipster vibe. It’s also preferred by some due to its close proximity to the Ashby Avenue BART station and Downtown Berkeley.

The Saturday flea market, referred to by locals as “The Berkeley Flea,” is a haven for treasures and delicacies from around the world. Top-rated global cuisines like Easy Creole are popular in this part of Berkeley.

Westbrae offers a nice balance between laidback shore living and convenient proximity to everything. It’s just a 30-minute trip west if you’d like to spend the day on the California coast and about a 20-minute bus ride northwest of the Cal campus.

The neighborhood is a gardener’s paradise, home to the Westbrae Nursery. Cedar Rose Park provides a vast green space for picnics, barbecues, and outdoor activities. For sustainable shopping, there’s Monterey Market and Berkeley Natural Grocery Company.

Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash

Russian Hill offers convenient access to the waterfront and iconic San Francisco views. In the middle of Russian Hill, you’ll find one of San Francisco’s postcard views – the famously crooked Lombard Streets.

The many San Francisco neighborhood hills in the area provide incredible views of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, among other landmarks. The skylines are simply breathtaking. North Beach, Union Square, the Marina, and Fisherman’s Wharf are all within walking distance.

Rockridge, known for being a safe neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a popular choice among families because of its low crime rate. This neighborhood features an array of single-family homes and bungalows on beautiful tree-lined streets.

There is an abundance of local boutiques, vintage shops, dining options, trendy bars, and yoga studios in the area. Commuting to and from work is convenient, given Rockridge’s close proximity to the BART Train Station and the Bay Area’s Rapid Transit system.

Across from Adam’s Point, on the other side of the 580, you’ll find Lakeshore – the hilly part of the city that rises up from the shores of Lake Merritt. Residents of this neighborhood enjoy magnificent views of Downtown Oakland and San Francisco Bay.

Some of the neighborhood’s amenities include the Oakland Davie Tennis Stadium, Oak Grove Park, Grand Lake Theater, shops on Lakeshore Avenue, and an array of excellent dining options.

Photo by Gintarė Kairaitytė