Head southwest to Emeryville for shopping, dining, movies, and waterfront trails.
Just a short bus ride away from the UC Berkeley campus, Emeryville offers some of the best shopping and entertainment locations I’ve found. The Bay Area has a lot to offer when it comes to exploring cities. If you ever need an escape from the bustle in Berkeley, consider exploring one of the closest cities to the southwest, Emeryville. I’ve used AC Transit bus lines, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), shuttles, and a car to explore the city. Here is what it has to offer.
Getting to Emeryville from UC Berkeley
By bus
The AC Transit F line from the UC Berkeley campus is usually the fastest way to get to Emeryville on public transportation. The line starts at the Bancroft Way & Dana St. stop and ends at the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco. That means the bus goes through all the main areas of Emeryville on its way to the Bay Bridge.
The 36 line heading towards West Oakland BART also takes you through Emeryville, and the 27 line is the quickest way to get to the Emeryville Amtrak station if you are traveling on the train. There are many more options for public transportation to Emeryville, including the 22 line and BART, but be aware of the time it takes to walk to different Emeryville locations from the bus stop when not taking the main bus lines.
From the graduate student housing at University Village, take the 72 or 72M bus lines down San Pablo Ave., or take the 12 bus line that connects with the F bus to get through the main areas of Emeryville. For help navigating the public transportation around Berkeley, check our blog about Urban Travel 101: Around Berkeley.
By car and shuttle
If you have a car, the shopping centers all have plenty of parking close by. But if you don’t want to move your car throughout the day, the Emery Go-Round shuttle is a great free public transportation option for getting around the city once you get there.
The F bus line goes down 40th St. and Shellmound St., two of the main roads surrounding the shopping centers in Emeryville.
Bay Street Mall
The Bay Street Mall is one of the top attractions in Emeryville. The mall features a modern outdoor shopping space with a plethora of outlets and eating options. Clothing outlets and other shops fill up the bottom-level space, while the backside of the mall is occupied by an AMC theatre, one of the closest large movie theaters to UC Berkeley. There is also a Barnes & Noble for book lovers and a brand new Japanese grocery store, Tokyo Central, which opened in 2026.
If you are looking for a fun night out with friends, the shops and eats along Bay Street offer great options. Mumu Hot Pot and Fogo de Chão are unique restaurant experiences, and the Red Door Escape Room or Tipsy Putt are great options for large friend groups looking for an activity.
The outdoor environment makes the Bay Street mall a great place for a nice sunny day!
Just outside the mall on the corner of Shellmound St. and Ohlone Way is the Emeryville Shellmound Memorial — an important piece of history recognizing that the city of Emeryville was home to the Ohlone Native American people long before the modernization of the city in recent years. If you are interested in the history of the land that the cities near Berkeley and the UC Berkeley campus sit on, check out the memorial!
Public Market and Christie Avenue Park
Just a short walk north of Bay Street are the Public Market and Christie Avenue Park, sandwiched between Shellmound Street and Christie Avenue.
The Public Market is a foodie hotspot, with many options such as ramen stands, coffee shops, and southern fried chicken. There are always live sports games playing throughout the market and open seating, making for a fun and lively experience. If you ever have time before or after a ride on the Amtrak, hopping over the train track bridge from the Emeryville station takes you directly across the street from the Public Market.
Just behind the market is the Christie Avenue Park, which is a great place to picnic after a stop at the Public Market. It also has a playground and a lot of park benches for hangouts on a sunny day. The Public Market and Christie Avenue Park also host events such as a movie night on Aug. 15, where there will be a showing of Pixar’s “Cars” under the stars!
The Public Market is within walking distance of the Bay Street mall, the Powell Street plaza, and the Emeryville Amtrak.
Powell Street Plaza
If you wrap back around from Public Market down Christie Avenue, you’ll find yourself at the Powell Street Plaza. Powell Street starts from Stanford Avenue, which is the quickest route from Berkeley to Emeryville via car, and it leads right to the Powell Street Plaza shopping center!
With Marshalls, Ross, and Old Navy shops, the Powell Street Plaza is the spot for shopping fanatics to get out for a day. The plaza has food spots and a Trader Joe’s for grocery shopping, and it’s just across the street from the Bay Street mall. There is also an IKEA right down the road — perfect for residence hall and apartment shopping!
I go to Ross and Marshalls in Emeryville to get apartment decor and discounted clothes!
40th Street shopping center
The 40th Street shopping center is the largest shopping area in the city. Spanning 10 city blocks along 40th Street, there are department stores for everyday needs. It is right down the street from the Pixar headquarters.
A large Target and Safeway are great for necessities, while Office Depot and Best Buy can cover school supply and tech needs. For art or architecture majors, the Michaels and Home Depot are good spots for materials needed for models and projects.
This shopping center is the easiest to access via public transit, as the F and 36 buses go up and down 40th Street.
The 40th Street shopping center is right beside the bus lines coming from Berkeley.
Emeryville Marina
If you want to slow down the fast-paced environment of the inner city, the Emeryville Marina is an escape into nature, great for picnics and sightseeing. Right down Powell Street, the Marina has green spaces along the water and park benches for picnics.
The nature at the Marina is a stark contrast to the shopping centers and city streets, perfect for spending time with friends in a more calm environment. There is a walking trail around the marina and views across the Bay Area. If you are looking for a less crowded viewing experience of the Bay Area fireworks on July 4, the Emeryville Marina would be a good option.
Whether you are walking around or picnicking, you’ll get a taste of nature from the Emeryville Marina.
Get out and explore!
Emeryville is close to Berkeley, but much different as a city. Get out and explore the area if you haven’t already, and use this blog as a short tour of the top places to visit! If you are curious about the history of the city, the Emeryville Historical Society has a free self-guided tour around the historical areas of the city, so get out and explore it for yourself!
Ethan Teeguarden, Class of 2027, is majoring in English and minoring in journalism.
Want more?
- Explore Albany, the city north of Berkeley!
- See what the Bay Area as a whole has to offer.
- Can’t find time to travel outside of Berkeley? See how to manage a busy schedule!