Berkeley’s Northside neighborhood is familiar to many associated with the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to its many housing options, Northside has quite a few places to grab some great food. Its campus-friendly location makes it a good choice for UC Berkeley students.

Location:

Northside doesn’t get its name by being in the northern part of Berkeley. In fact, Berkeley extends quite a bit further north beyond the limits of Northside.

Instead, the area is named for its location relative to the UC Berkeley campus: it’s directly north of the main campus.

The boundaries for Northside are as follows:

• The main UC campus to the south
• Arch Street to the west (though Spruce and Oxford are occasionally referred to as being part of Northside)
• Cedar Street to the north
• The end of the residential streets to the east (you can’t drive due east from Northside because all the roads dead-end)

Landmarks:

As mentioned before, Northside offers a great combination of residential options and food choices. You’ll find many student-oriented buildings here, especially in the areas nearer to the campus, since the neighborhood is an easy walk to the campus itself. However, you’ll also find quite a few homes of permanent Berkeley residents, especially as you go further north in this neighborhood.

The dining options here are plentiful and diverse, but similar in that they are all student-oriented. In other words, expect inexpensive and plentiful food that is typically good without being gourmet, served in restaurants with laid-back atmospheres.

Specific options include Mexican food at Celia’s, pizza at La Val’s (this one is a particular favorite among students), sandwiches and more at Bongo Burger, and Thai food at Jasmine Thai Cuisine (this list is by no means exhaustive). The convenient thing about eating here is that all the restaurants are on one block: the 1800 block of Euclid (this is the block immediately adjacent to the campus). Once you go beyond this block, most of the buildings you’ll find are residential.

Northside is also home to a hill informally known as “holy hill.” Here you’ll find:

• The Pacific School of Religion
• New Spirit Community Church
• The Chapel of the Great Commission
• The Franciscan School of Theology
• The Graduate Theological Union
• The School for Deacons
• The Yun Lin Temple
• The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS)

Of course, the Northside neighborhood is right next to UC Berkeley, which means it can be a great starting point for a stroll around the campus.

Getting There:

Berkeley in general is pretty public-transit-friendly. The simplest option for getting to Northside is to take BART to the Downtown Berkeley station. From there, head almost due northeast (cutting across the UC Berkeley campus in the process) to reach the intersection of Hearst Avenue and Euclid Avenue.

If you prefer to drive, take the University Avenue exit from 580. Head east on University Avenue, then turn left on Oxford Street. Turn right on Hearst Avenue and drive a few blocks until you reach Euclid Avenue.

Living There:

Northside consists largely of residences. These are a mix of single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, and some larger buildings (including many geared toward students). Because this area is so centrally located, you can expect to pay a premium, with prices here being even higher than prices in other parts of Berkeley.

This is a great neighborhood for aspiring foodies who can afford the high rent. In addition to the restaurants on Euclid, a Northside home will put you in walking distance of the wonderful selection in the Gourmet Ghetto as well as the plethora of restaurants in the heart of downtown Berkeley.