Best Restaurants for People Watching in Berkeley

15 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt restaurant

1. Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

4.7

Exceptional(663)

Price: Moderate

• American • Oakland

Booked 49 times today

May and David Wasem's flagship location Grand Lake Kitchen location offers American classics and warm hospitality. An all-day cafe specializing in brunch and dinner! Maximum party size for regular reservations is 8 at Lake Merritt and 15at the Dimond location.Grand Lake Kitchen at Lake Merritt has a full bar, bustling dining room, outdoor patio, take-out counter, and The Bubble Room (private dining)

2. Boulevard

4.7

Exceptional(9097)

Price: Very Expensive

• Californian • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 34 times today

Chefs Nancy Oakes, Chef Dana Younkin and our entire team, look forward to welcoming you to a refreshed and reimagined Boulevard! The dining room features a 3 course prix fixe menu with a multitude of choices. For the more spontaneous sorts; our bar, lounge and chef's counter is available on a walk-in basis and limited reservations. An a la carte menu is offered in these areas. For private events and larger groups, please check our our website.

3. Bon Delire

4.6

Exceptional(108)

Price: Expensive

• French • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 50 times today

Bon Délire’s chic yet approachable atmosphere draws inspiration from the cafés, lounges, and bistros of Paris. The interior boasts a sculpted horseshoe-shaped wooden bar, plush banquettes, and vibrant, European-imported furnishings that invite intimate dining and lounging. Guests can enjoy indoor seating with views of the Bay Bridge, or relax at the outdoor cafe-style seating, framed by planter boxes and umbrellas, perfect for people-watching along the Embarcadero.At night, the space comes alive with flickering projections of vintage French films and a relaxed, nostalgic soundtrack of throwback French and American tunes, making Bon Délire a sophisticated yet cozy setting for private and semi-private events.

4. Starlite

4.4

Awesome(160)

Price: Expensive

• Cocktail Bar • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 61 times today

Starlite is a historic San Francisco cocktail bar with nearly a century of vibrant stories. Renowned for hosting lively parties and attracting iconic figures like Alan Ginsberg, Starlite invites guests to the Beacon Grand’s 21st-floor, featuring refreshed interiors by San Francisco designer Alice Crumeyrolle. The atmosphere is set with rich velvet fabrics and a jewel-tone palette inspired by the Art Deco Era, paying homage to the city’s icons. Crafted by Scott Baird of Trick Dog fame, the cocktails are both playful and meticulously made. Michelin-award-winning chef Johnny Spero curates a menu that celebrates San Francisco’s culinary artistry, drawing inspiration from international fare. Enhancing the experience are nightly, all-vinyl DJ sets by music director Nina Tarr.

A photo of STK - San Francisco restaurant

5. STK - San Francisco

4.0

Excellent(1286)

Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 89 times today

STK Steakhouse is “not your daddy’s steakhouse,” offering a high-energy dining experience that artfully combines the superior quality of a traditional steakhouse with a Vibe Dining atmosphere unlike any other. Delectable cuisine, upscale cocktails and an elevated Happy Hour, along with an in-house DJ and chic décor, all come together to offer a memorable fine dining experience that keeps guests enjoying their evening from drinks to dinner to late night. STK’s menu features reimagined classic American cuisine for lunch, brunch and dinner with unique local flair infused into each location’s menu. The brand’s beef program focuses on the highest quality, delicious and craveable steaks while emphasizing transparency and traceable sourcing practices.

A photo of COQUETA - San Francisco restaurant

6. COQUETA - San Francisco

4.7

Exceptional(3367)

Price: Very Expensive

• Spanish • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 56 times today

Brought to you by Award Winning Chef Michael Chiarello and located at Pier 5 on the bustling San Francisco Waterfront, Coqueta is inspired by the cuisines of Spain. Chef Chiarello feels that Spain’s signature ‘small plates’ coupled with the social vibrancy of their dining scene is the perfect combination for San Francisco, which has its own deep-rooted history with the country. Focusing on regional dishes from Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country and beyond, the menu will feature Chiarello's interpretation of traditional Spanish cuisine and, as has always been his tradition, will highlight the bounty of fresh, local ingredients from land and sea.Coqueta means “flirt” or “infatuation” in Spanish, and represents Michael Chiarello and his team’s exploration and interpretation of Spanish Cuisine, wine and inspired cocktails, while highlighting the bounty of Northern California.

A photo of Chotto Matte San Francisco restaurant

7. Chotto Matte San Francisco

4.3

Awesome(66)

Price: Very Expensive

• Asian • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 19 times today

Situated in Downtown San Francisco, Chotto Matte is renowned for its signature Nikkei Cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails, and electric atmosphere. Chotto Matte’s chic, contemporary interior is inspired by its Japanese & Peruvian roots, making it a unique dining experience, every time. Key highlights include Chotto’s recognizable bold design, tropical foliage and theatrical robata grill.

8. Taksim

4.9

Exceptional(380)

Price: Expensive

• Turkish • SOMA

Booked 17 times today

Taksim is inspired by a modern approach to authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Our team has a profound love for Mediterranean gastronomy, a dedication to refinement, and a commitment to using the best ingredients.Taksim focuses on contemporary and often playful versions of classic ideas. Our seasonal menu reflects a fresh gastronomic outlook rooted in memories, where each dish is conceived with a specific culinary philosophy.

9. Acquolina

4.5

Awesome(479)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 16 times today

In Italian, Acquolina means “mouthwatering” – illustrating what happens when you see a delicious, inviting dish. This phenomenon can only happen when food is made with passion and love. For us, food “is a social matter. ” In turn, Acquolina weds a passion for food with a real respect for the community in which it stands – welcoming a mix of locals and visitors, singles and families, welcoming guests of all ages and lifestyles.At Acquolina, we endeavor to create a vibrant and lively atmosphere where our patrons can revel in the experience of an authentic and “regional” Italian meal. The Tuscan-infused menu is meant to pair with an assortment of wines, with samplings from Italy and California. In the spirit of the Tuscan Trattoria, everything is meant to be authentic – the pasta boiler and the pizza oven came direct from Italy, brought here to guarantee a perfect plate of “al dente” pasta and a perfect slice of thin crust pizza.

10. Tosca Café

4.7

Exceptional(152)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • North Beach

Booked 16 times today

A legendary hangout in North Beach since it opened in 1919, and even more so from the 1980's onward when Jeanette Etheredge took over Tosca. Locals including Willie Brown, Lars Ulrich and Francis Ford Coppola were regular fixtures, Hunter S Thompson wrote his column for the SF Examiner in the corner booth, Bono, Lauren Hutton, and Mikhail Baryshnikov played pool in the back room, singing Opera and drinking Tosca House Cappuccinos. When Restaurateur Anna Weinberg and Interior Designer Ken Fulk heard Tosca Cafe was closing they joined forces to save it. As the new owners and passionate fans of the original establishment their goal was to return Tosca to its rightful place as a San Francisco institution. As Mikey Rapin wrote in Bon Appétit magazine: “It’s the kind of joint Beats got bounced, Bono belted opera, and a bullet hole memoralizes the night an A-LIST actor disagreed with a rockstar's choice of music"

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

E
Eloice
San Francisco Bay Area •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
This was the first time we've been back since the last remake. It has been a decades long family tradition to visit during the holiday season. We were not disappointed. The drinks were good and the tuna crudo was especially delicious.
More info
StarlitePrice: Expensive• Cocktail Bar• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.4
J
Jason
Phoenix / Arizona •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
We did the Christmas Eve three course tasting menu. Absolutely delicious! Service was immaculate and the atmosphere was spectacular. In a world where restaurants aren’t afraid to charge first class prices for third class food, this was a nice find. Not cheap, but absolutely worth every penny.
More info
BoulevardPrice: Very Expensive• Californian• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.7
M
Marcia
San Francisco Bay Area •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
It was a very special Christmas Eve dinner! I first heard about this restaurant when it was reviewed in the SF Chronicle 11/3/24. It was as good as it possibly could be. The food was absolutely delicious. My daughter & I ordered the steak & frites & I asked for my frites to be very crispy & for 2 dishes of aioli to dip them in & they easily accommodated me. The steak with peppercorn sauce was tender and a perfect medium rare.
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Bon DelirePrice: Expensive• French• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.6
D
Daniel
San Francisco Bay Area •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Brunch today was our (3 adults + 3 teenagers) first experience. Great in every respect! Chose GLK Lake Merritt based upon Open Table info and patron reviews. A follow up visit is a must!!
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Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake MerrittPrice: Moderate• American• Oakland
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4.7
C
Cherene
San Francisco Bay Area •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Great experience and accommodations were easily made. The atmosphere was fun, definitely good vibes. We celebrated my husband’s birthday and their staff was very accommodating with our few needs as we had our 3 month with us along with her stroller. Portions were generous and food was delicious.
More info
STK - San FranciscoPrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Financial District / Embarcadero
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4

Best Restaurants for People Watching in Berkeley

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Award-winning

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15 restaurants available nearby

1. Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

2. Boulevard

3. Bon Delire

4. Starlite

5. STK - San Francisco

6. COQUETA - San Francisco

7. Chotto Matte San Francisco

8. Taksim

9. Acquolina

10. Tosca Café

See what locals rave about

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