Gourmet Ghetto

One of Berkeley’s most coveted neighborhoods, it’s located just North of the UC Berkeley campus. Beautiful residential streets are lined with mature trees and feature Craftsman era homes. Those blocks of Shattuck bordered by Rose and Hearst are lush with epicurean eateries that make the Gourmet Ghetto such a hot spot. Frequented by such events as the Arts & Crafts Cooperative, Spice of Life street festival, wine tastings and art exhibits, not to mention the weekly farmer’s market, this slice of Shattuck brings the community together. In the late 1960’s when my dad attended Boalt Law School, he rented an apartment on the corner of Walnut and Vine, and lived down the hall from coffee prodigy Alfred Peet. Not long thereafter, Alfred opened up his first Peet’s Coffee downstairs, at Walnut Square. Whatever your coffee fondness, there are plenty of places to grab a latte in the Gourmet Ghetto. Located near both Berkeley BART stations and close to Downtown, it’s no wonder this location is so highly sought after.