Telegraph Avenue Shopping (Self Guided), Berkeley

In addition to other attractions, the colorful and joyful city of Berkeley, California offers a wide variety of places to shop. Perhaps the most notable among them is Telegraph Avenue, a vibrant and eclectic thoroughfare, featuring a unique blend of cultural diversity and youthful energy.

One of the standout landmarks on Telegraph Avenue is the Berkeley Hat Company. Here, you'll find an impressive selection of hats ranging from stylish and trendy to classic and timeless. Whether it's a hat to protect you from the California sun or a fashionable accessory to complete your outfit, this shop has you covered.

Moe's Books is a beloved independent bookstore that's been a staple of the Berkeley community for decades. Inside its welcoming walls, you can get lost among the shelves of new and used books, rare finds, and literary treasures. It's a haven for bookworms and anyone seeking literary inspiration.

Amoeba Music is a mecca for music enthusiasts. This massive record store boasts an extensive collection of vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and more. You can spend hours exploring its vast selection of music genres and discovering hidden gems.

For those craving a taste of international cuisine, Annapurna offers delicious Nepali and Indian dishes. From flavorful curries to mouthwatering momos, this restaurant delivers an authentic dining experience that's not to be missed.

Rasputin Music is another music lover's paradise, offering a wide range of music formats and collectibles; be it vintage vinyl or the latest releases, you'll find it here.

Big Al's is a unique shop specializing in smoking accessories, as well as other quirky gifts, novelties, and collectibles. It's the perfect place to find fun and offbeat items that make for great souvenirs or conversation starters.

Bear Basics is your go-to destination for all things Berkeley and Cal Bears-related. Should you want to show off your school pride or grab some Berkeley-themed merchandise, this store has it all.

Finally, Bancroft Clothing is where fashion meets campus style. They offer a diverse selection of clothing and accessories for students and locals alike, ensuring that you can stay both comfortable and stylish.

Indeed, Telegraph Avenue caters to a wide range of tastes and interests. So, come to explore this vibrant area and discover firsthand the treasures that make Berkeley's Telegraph Avenue a must-visit destination!

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Urban.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Berkeley

Guide Name: Telegraph Avenue Shopping
Guide Location: USA » Berkeley (See other walking tours in Berkeley)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.6 Km or 0.4 Miles
Author: AudreyB
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:

Berkeley Hat
Moe's Books
Amoeba Music
Annapurna
Rasputin Music
Big Al's
Bear Basics
Bancroft Clothing

1) Berkeley Hat

Berkeley Hat offers a wide variety of high quality men’s and women’s hats for any occasion. From classic fedoras to pirate hats, any color wool beret, Kentucky Derby hats, and even peculiar monkey and Medusa hats, Berkeley Hat offers it all.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and cplbasilisk.

2) Moe's Books

Moe's Books, founded in 1959 by Moe Moskowitz and his wife as a record store, is popular as one of the first stores to go online in 1993. It is also known for promoting its own workers, Joseph Fischer and Owen Hill. Moe's Books occupies four floors, featuring about one hundred thousand books of any kind imaginable.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Allan Ferguson.

3) Amoeba Music

Amoeba Music, established in 1990, is one of the best music stores in Berkeley. It features a very large selection of CDs, DVDs, VHS and laser discs from any era. Located in a large building known as the Forum Coffee House in the 1960s, Amoeba Music is one of the best and largest independent music dealers in the Bay Area.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and 3eyedmonsta.

4) Annapurna

Opened in 1969 on Telegraph Avenue, Annapurna is a gift shop where anything from cards, incense, hookahs and an assortment of pipes can be found. It is also known as one of the best dealers in funny greeting cards. Annapurna has won many awards and is considered one of the best gift and smoke shops in Berkeley.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Christian Lipski.

5) Rasputin Music

Rasputin Music is one of the largest independent music chain stores in the Bay Area. Known for its low prices on new and used DVDs, CDs and vinyl, Rasputin Music is also famous for its live in-store performances. It is the best place to find great music at great prices.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Eco84.

6) Big Al's

Big Al's sells pipes, bongs and other smoking accessories. It supports local artists by selling their glassware, as well as glass products from popular brands such as ROOR, Toro and Sheldon Black. Locals and tourists have been visiting Big Al's for years, as it is considered one of the best smoke and gift shops in the area.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Pepino1976.

7) Bear Basics

Bear Basics sells University of California apparel, including sweatshirts, socks, toys and other items devoted to the beloved sports team, the Berkeley Bears. Offering high quality merchandise at reasonable prices, Bear Basics also features the T-shirt Orgy, where all kinds of printed T-shirts can be found.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and CarbonNYC.

8) Bancroft Clothing

Bancroft Clothing offers the largest selection of licensed Cal items anywhere, from clothes and shoes to glasses and mugs, all at great prices. It also carries clothing and accessories for kids, including infant booties, small cups and earrings, all with the famous Cal logo.

Image Courtesy of Flickr and Melinda Egawa.

Walking Tours in Berkeley, California

Create Your Own Walk in Berkeley

Creating your own self-guided walk in Berkeley is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Berkeley's Historic Landmarks Walking Tour

Berkeley, California, boasts a fair amount of landmarks distinguished for their historical value and representative of the city’s architectural beauty.

One such gem is the Thorsen House, an iconic residence designed by the renowned architectural firm Greene and Green, showcasing the American Craftsman style.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is another notable sight. Its mixed design... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

University of California in Berkeley Walking Tour

The University of California, Berkeley, often referred to as UC Berkeley or simply Berkeley, is a part of the larger University of California system, known for its distinguished academics and vibrant campus life. The UC Berkeley campus is the core of Berkeley's attractions. Its design resulted from an 1898 architectural competition, with each building having its own story to tell.

Start... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles

Berkeley Introduction Walking Tour

The Ohlone people were the original inhabitants of the area that is now known as Berkeley, California. Many of them were casualties of the presence of the first settlers of European descent who arrived with the De Anza Expedition of 1776.

Among the soldiers in this expedition was Luis Peralta, who was gifted the land that would become Berkeley by the King of Spain. Peralta gifted the land to... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles