Berkeley Food & Counter Culture Tour

4.3 (4 reviews) 2 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

4 reviews

4.3

Berkeley Food & Counter Culture Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Berkeley Food & Counter Culture Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This walking tour reveals Berkeley as the unsung powerhouse of American food and modern politics.

We begin in the North Shattuck neighborhood (formerly the Gourmet Ghetto), where culinary revolutions happened simultaneously. You'll discover how Alfred Peet birthed specialty coffee, the Cheese Board Collective popularized the French baguette, and Alice Waters pioneered farm-to-table dining at Chez Panisse. The tour features five distinct food stops, including the Cheese Board’s cult-favorite vegetarian pizza and Gregoire's famous potato puffs.

Next, we explore the UC Berkeley campus, passing through the world’s densest grove of Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus. We'll admire the towering Campanile and architecture. We'll stand by the Mario Savio Steps and learn how this became the epicenter of the 1964 Free Speech Movement.

Finally, we head down Telegraph Avenue and grab a sweet treat as we walk by Rasputin & Amoeba Records before concluding at People's Park, a famous protest site.

Private and Luxury Historical Tours Walking Tours Small Group Short term availability Weather Dependent - Weather-Proof Agent Low Quality Product

At a glance

Duration: 2 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 12 people
People per booking: 1–12
Guide: English
Operated by: igniTours

Ages: Infants (0–3 years) · Children (4–17 years) · Adults (18–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Lunch: 4-5 food stops

Not included

Not included: Alcoholic beverages are available for you to purchase on your own if you choose
Not included: Parking
Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Berkeley

2 hours

Berkeley gets overshadowed by its bigger neighbors, but a lot of what people love about American food and a fair chunk of modern political life started right here.
University of California, Berkeley

30 min

Founded in 1868, it’s the flagship campus of the University of California system. It has a reputation for being intellectually intense, innovative, diverse, and highly competitive — often described as having “Ivy League-level academics with public school energy.”