If you're a student at Cal, these are the places to go grab a coffee, treat yourself to something sweet or go to dinner with your friends. Berkeley has a ton of fabulous food to offer, but be careful because the freshman fifteen is real.
On Campus
When you get tired of the dining halls, but then you remember you're a broke college student and can't afford real food, do not fear! There are places on campus that will take meal points for actual food, cooked specially for you and not served with a ladle.
Golden Bear Cafe
Located in square, the GBC is the busiest place to eat on campus. You will see all the friends you want to see and all the random hookups from last weekend that you don't want to see. The burrito bowls are almost as good as Chipotle and you can get coffee and a pastry or a smoothie and bagel before your 8am.
Pat Brown’s
With local and healthy ingredients, Pat Brown’s has the best food on campus. The chicken pesto panini and a dirty chai from the Pete’s coffee is the perfect boost to get you through your last few classes.
Qualcomm CyberCafe
There is a view of the campanile, the wraps are amazing and there's a Pete’s coffee, you couldn't ask for more.
The Terrace
It sounds fancy. It isn't. The terrace is a small store by Evans Hall that sells snacks, the perfect place to go in between classes because it's never very busy.
Free Speech Cafe
Unfortunately, they do not take meal points. But, they're cupcakes are delicious and it's a great place to do homework when you get tired of being inside the library.
‘Za
Pizza is the most important meal of the day and there are plenty of places around campus to get your slice - or four.
Artichokes
Artichokes is the place to go when you have the drunchies at 2 am after a long night of frat parties. If there are people who eat here sober, I don't know them.
Sliver
When I first heard of Sliver, I thought it was impossible that a restaurant could survive by only serving one kind of pizza per day. As soon as I ate here, I understood. No matter what the pizza of the day is, it's amazing.
Pieology
You get to design your own personal pizza. That's the dream.
Jupiter
I'm pretty sure they have other things than pizza, but tbh as soon as I see pizza on the menu I get tunnel vision. There have been times when I went here two nights in a row because I needed more of their pizza. The atmosphere at Jupiter is just as good as the food, making it a fun place to go out to dinner with your friends or to take your parents when they visit.
Sweet Treats
Yogurt Park
Yopo is what Cal students call froyo because this is the only place to go when you need frozen yogurt. It's a fun spot to go with friends, especially because the portions are huge so you can share.
King Pin Donuts
Located in the Asian Ghetto, King Pin doesn't look like much but their donuts are killer. Seriously, I have never had a better donut in my life.
Cream
Cream specializes in ice cream sandwiches, with freshly made, still warm cookies. It's amazing.
Cinnaholic
The cinnamon rolls at Cinnaholic are great because they count as a breakfast food, but they taste like dessert. You can choose your flavor of frosting and all the toppings you want.
Ici Ice Cream
Ici is a cute little ice cream shop in Elmwood that serves fun flavors. But there's always a line, so you might have to wait!
Dinner Date
Manpuku
My favorite restaurant and the place featured in the cover photo, Manpuku offers many different sushi rolls, rice, and noodles, and it's super affordable so you don't have to spend all your summer savings to get sushi (which you would totally do, be honest).
Joshu-ya
The sushi here is to die for, but it's kind of pricey. This is definitely the place to go when your parents come visit or when you're on a fancy date.
Gather
The food here is amazing, the atmosphere is super fun and they make cute mocktails that are perfect for pictures with your girls.
Brunch
Brunch is my favorite meal. Brunch is everyone's favorite meal. It is vital to have a good brunch spot for Sunday mornings with your girls, so you can hear all about Saturday night.
Bette’s Oceanview Cafe
To get to Bette’s you have to take the bus to fourth street, but the 20 minute ride is definitely worth it. While you're waiting for your table, you can walk around the cute shops. Then, when you finally sit down, the menu has everything you've ever dreamed of. From my favorites - eggs benny and soufflé pancakes - to pie and milkshakes, you will have the brunch of your dreams.
The Sunny Side Cafe
Sunny Side is super close to campus and has amazing breakfast. It's the perfect brunch spot for when you don't want to break the bank and don't want to go very far.
Coffee
You're in college, which means coffee is now a necessity. While you can pour yourself a boring cup of black coffee in the dining hall, it's always good to have a place to meet friends or study where you can count on a perfect fat free vanilla latte with soy milk and extra foam.
Caffe Strada
If you ever need to meet anyone for anything, it will be at Strada. Tinder date? Strada. Potential apartment for next year? Strada. Person from your hometown that you've never met, but you got their number from a friend of a friend? Strada. I recommend their lemon poppyseed bread and a large coffee, you'll need it to get through all that talking.
Sack’s Coffee House
I love going to Sack’s to study. Their coffee is decent, their paninis are amazing and it's located just enough off campus that you feel like you actually went somewhere today.
