All United States California Berkeley

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Berkeley

25 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Berkeley, California

Updated July 16, 2024

Email

Unusual Attractions in Berkeley

See All 25 Things To Do in Berkeley

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Berkeley

In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Berkeley, California

Shops 4
Unique Restaurants & Bars 2

Berkeley Leaderboard

Recent Berkeley Activity

Stories About Berkeley

Podcast: Berkeley South Asian Radical History Walking Tour

A unique Bay Area walking tour led by community historians.
by The Podcast Team
Chunks of ice floating in water? Nope: coarse salt.

The Microscopic Majesty of Sugars, Salts, and Spices

A molecular biologist turned food writer put kitchen staples under the microscope.
by Anne Ewbank
Spectators to the power struggle can come from miles around.

Acorn Woodpeckers Have Multi-Day Wars, and Birds Come From All Around to Watch

A window into complex avian sociopolitical lives.
by Luna Shyr
"The Tails of Two Kitties" was an award-winning entry at UC Berkeley's 2019 Edible Books Festival.

Edible Book Festivals Are for Pun and Food Lovers

It's been widely celebrated for almost 20 years.
by Anne Ewbank
Louis Trevino (left) and Vincent Medina (right) get ready to serve a meal in the Ohlone Cafe.

Indigenous Cuisine Is Being Served in the Back of a Berkeley Bookstore

Café Ohlone features traditional recipes and foraged ingredients.
by Richard Foss
The view from the top of a staircase that helps make up Berkeley's Covert Path.

Caring for—and Expanding—Berkeley's Hidden Network of Hillside Paths

The California city has over 130 different woodsy shortcuts cutting through its hills and streets.
by Cara Giaimo

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More