All That 4th Street Has to Offer
After visiting a few times, 4th Street has quickly become one of my favorite places to visit in Berkeley. This shopping district is located in West Berkeley, near Albany where University Village student family housing and the UC Berkeley xučyun ruwway Apartments are located, and it is just a 20-minute ride from campus on the 51B bus. UC Berkeley students can use their EasyPass Clipper Card to easily access transportation around Berkeley. The street provides a great escape from campus life when you just want to relax and enjoy a sunny afternoon, or try out a different cafe for study time.
Shopping on 4th Street
Photos by Rachel Holmes
The district has the cutest collection of shops, galleries, cafes, bookstores, and more. My personal favorite is the Paraíso Plant Studio which sells a variety of plants and art pieces and truly feels like you’ve been transported to a different world inside. Art lovers will adore the Stained Glass Garden, which displays beautiful mosaic pieces in their gallery and even offers classes for those looking to make their own stained glass designs. There are also brand-name stores like Nike, Anthropologie, and Sephora for those looking to get some shopping done.
Photos by Enrique Ortiz
4th Street is always lively, bringing the community together in a beautiful way. There is almost always some sort of live music playing from local bands and artists.
Monthly Brunchfest
Photos by Enrique Ortiz
Additionally, 4th Street hosts events throughout the year to bring local makers and the community together. I recently attended Brunchfest, which is held on the third Sunday of every month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free! This event brought together Bay Area businesses, makers, and food vendors to sell their goods on Maker’s Row, located just behind Cafe Réveille. I got a Breakfast Dole Whip and Orange Dream drink from Fruitopia Fruit Bowls, a local woman and vegan-owned business, and both were absolutely incredible.
Flowers on display at Brunchfest. Photo on the left by Enrique Ortiz; right photo by Rachel Holmes
We also stopped at the Bright Moments Flower Bar, where you could pick from a variety of breathtaking flowers that are all grown hyper-locally, and have them assembled into a bouquet. There was even a booth for California Pit Bull Rescue where we were able to pet the sweetest pitbull puppies.
All of the vendors were so eager to talk about their crafts and share in good conversation. I had such an amazing day at this event, and you can catch up on all my experiences on Berkeley Life Instagram.
Come with us to Brunchfest held on the third Sunday of every month on 4th Street in Berkeley! 💐🍽️
➡️Check out this event and more @fourthstmakersrow ⬅️
#berkeley #berkeleyeats #bayarea #ucberkeley #ucberkeleylife @fruitopia_fruit_bowls @brightmomentssf @californiapitbullrescue @madveganco @anesweessence @fourthstreetshops
Festivals & Markets Throughout the Year
There are also plenty of other events held on 4th Street throughout the year, including a Creative Communal on select Saturdays each month which also brings local makers together on Maker’s Row. They host sidewalk sales, live music and dancing, and events for holidays like Mother’s Day, Earth Day, and Halloween. During the holiday season, they deck out the streets with strings of lights and host parades, and they hold a big Lunar New Year Festival every year.
Check out all of the upcoming events and celebrations on 4th Street. Which events will you attend?
Rachel Holmes, Class of 2026, is majoring in media studies with a minor in theater & performance studies.
Want More?
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- Discover Elmwood, another shopping hub in Berkeley.