Durant Ave, Downtown Berkeley

There is one main reason to come to this 2-block stretch of Durant Avenue in Berkeley: the Beta Lounge. The Beta Lounge is a very cool, slick looking little watering hole with a real modern look to it. Like every else near campus, it is pretty low key and laid back. (Yeah, that’s right both--it is also chill, so there redundancy police!) But it is packed with Cal students out on dates so you are just as likely to hear Heidegger brought up in casual conversation as Paris Hilton--just my kind of place to get my buzz on.

But it is not the only thing worth visiting on this two block stretch. You are right on Shattuck and just around the corner is Venus--a great place to go for breakfast. On the corner with Shattuck you will also find Pegasus Books, which would be a good place to browse for books if it were not so messy. There is also a Staples there if you are looking for office supplies. Okay those aren’t that exciting.

The main part I would stay away from is the Berkeley High end of the street--especially just when they get out; that’s when you get your occasional out of control street brawl. Ahhhh, high school in the big city, such sweet memories.

Overall though this is nice place to go for dinner and a drink. (Maybe even go over and catch a movie at one of the many movie theaters. or a play at the Berkeley Rep.)

Durant Avenue begins it's life at the intersection with Milvia Street, which is right in front of Berkeley High School. When lunchtime hits or school lets out, hordes of teenagers roam the area and it can get pretty hectic. As Durant crosses Shattuck, the intersection brings with it a great independent bookstore, Pegasus Books Downtown, right on the corner. Drop in to say hi to the resident cat!

The street returns to residential as you make your way up to Telegraph Ave. There's many larger apartment buildings that mostly house Cal students. It's actually pretty quiet for being so close to the school. Where Durant crosses Telegraph, you'll find Smart Alec's, Noah's Bagels, and T-Shirt Orgy, three of the more popular places in the area. Just up the street from that are a popular food court that is open late, as well as Top Dog, open late as well. Durant returns to being residential apartment buildings after that, and in this area east of Telegraph are many large Co-Op houses for Cal students.