Berkeley Marina

The actual walkway has been closed for some time now due to structural instabilities and, with no construction work being done on it, I highly doubt there will be a reopening in the near future. It’s a shame, but the rest of the Marina walkway is no less gorgeous and peaceful. Great place to wander around for some reflection and quiet or to catch a sunset. When the lights come on across the bay and the sky dims enough, it really is quite the view.
{{On a completely unrelated note, I finally hit my 100^th review! WOOHOOO!}}

bring a windbreaker, it’s usually always windy… which is GREAT to fly kites!
There’s so much to see here: the views of the bridges, and SF, people watching, the kites, drones or remote airplanes, watching people rollerskate WITH a parachute kite that’s pulling them all over the place, etc. Bring your dog, bring a blanket, bring a ball, bring BBQ (they have pits)
There are bathrooms as well.
I think the perfect day would be to go get a pie or two from cheeseboard collective, and come to the marina to enjoy the rest of your day flying kites or watching other people fly kites, lay on the blanket, watch the clouds, read, etc. Parking used to be dumb here but now there’s a huge parking lot so there’s always room. For some reason I always find a spot right in front though.

Date: 9÷28÷2015 Time: 1:00 PM 69° Sunny & breezy
One of my Facebook friends invited my husband and me to the Berkeley Marina to release balloons for the safe return of her beloved pet chihuahua, Chico, who has been missing for a month now.
It has been too many years since I last visited the Berkeley Marina. The only areas I remember are the Berkeley Pier for walking and fishing, the Hs Lordship Restaurant for brunch and dinner, and the kite flying area for the annual kite festival. Sadly, the Berkeley Pier is closed due to it being unsafe to do any walking or fishing.
The area we were in was by the water. It had two picnic tables and benches and a barbecue grill for a small family picnic. There was a paved walkway for walking, jogging, riding a bicycle. On occasion we saw a few people walking their dogs.
The Berkeley Marina is great place for relaxing, taking a stroll along the paved pathway, doing some kite flying, and admiring a beautiful view of the San Francisco skyline, the two bridges — Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge — on a clear day.
There are more restaurant options than what they had years ago. I noticed Skates by the Bay, Hana and two yachts from the Hornblower docked next to the Doubletree Hilton.
With the recent warm weather recently, Berkeley Marina is the place to be to get the cool windy breeze from the bay and then head to one of the restaurants for lunch and/​or dinner.

Came here for July 4^th Independence Day and it was pleasant. There were market stalls and food stands along the marina. Parking costed.
I laid down under the shade of tree and it was a breeze. Read a book and just simply enjoyed the afternoon being there in the moment.
Simple as that.

This is a really lovely place to chill with a book, take some photos, or just enjoy the sea breeze. Lots of benches and places to sit. Ample parking but it’s hard to get to if you don’t have a car. The dining options nearby are limited and mostly expensive — there’s a posh seafood place, the restaurant in the Doubletree, and another slightly more reasonable seafood place on the pier. I suppose that keeps the crowds away though which is good. This area seems to have a large homeless population at night, but they clear out during the day for the most part. There’s a really cool playground for kids but it was closed for renovations the last time I went.

You get a 360 view of amazingness here, especially at sunset. Imagine yourself standing in the middle of the pier. Looking from right to left, you have an amazing sunset, then the golden gate bridge, some skyline of SF, the bay bridge, then city lights and more skyline, and then the moon. We went on night there was a perfect sunset and a perfect full moon, so this view was breath taking and there was a lot to take in at once. Luckily the pier is long, so you definitely have quite a bit of time to stroll down to the end and take everything all in. There is graffiti everywhere, some of it’s cool but most of it’s dumb. Honestly still don’t mind it thought because it’s cool to look at while walking.

Beautiful! Went to the berkeley marina festival. Beautiful, clean park where dogs were off leash, clean bathrooms and a beautiful view. There were dragon boats and sailing but that was only for the festival.
Overall, beautiful quiet marina!

Spring Break 2015 in CA… Beautiful marina on the edge of Berkeley… facing the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco. The views here are really wonderful, and sunset can be one of the nicest as you watch the sun set behind the San Francisco skyline. The Cal Sailing Club calls this home also, as does a quirky little play area called Adventure Playground. Just walking around the marina and attached parks is restful.
On the edge of the Marina is the Berkeley Pier… a magnificent pier off which people can fish. This pier extends for about a half mile and makes for a delightful walk. The Marina also sports a couple of restaurants located in buildings built off the edges of the park into the bay. We didn’t try them so we cannot say anything about the food, but for location they are killer.
Tons of free parking and lots of room to hike top it off. Neat little marina and park means this place is well worth the effort to visit.

I can’t believe I’ve never been here before. This marina is so beautiful. You have an awesome view of the SF skyline, the golden gate bridge, and the bay bridge. The fishing dock extends to the point where I could almost touch the buildings. I was so surprised how long it took for us to get to the very end.
There is plenty of free parking and, as mentioned by others, a handful of restaurants right along it. I hope to revisit on a more sunny day!

The marina really is an awesome place. Apart from having one of my favorite places in the whole Bay Area — Cal Sailing Club — it’s also got some awesome walks, various restaurants, and several yearly, but insanely busy events.
I’ve never been to any of the resturants, despite spending a good portion of my week down there — the vegan options look very limited — I have been to the bait shop a few times, although what they have as «food» is pretty questionable. They do, sometimes have beer (maybe not right now), but it’s pretty low class stuff.
The repaving of the walk/​cycleway last year is pretty cool, and you can safely cycle all the way from 4^th street to the end of the marina, only having to avoid the occasional pedestrian. The road itself is pretty questionable, and it’s a bit of a rollercoaster, as it lies on top of the old pier, and there are some very obvious bumps in the road.
Also, don’t forget Cal Adventures, Adventure Playground (only in Berkeley), Dragon Boats (I hear it’s a cult), the Nature Center, or just drive/​walk around and look at the boats.
There’s also the Kite Festival and 4^th of July events, which pack the marina solid (don’t drive if you can avoid it), and other various events, which prove to be exceptionally popular.
One curious aspect of the marina is that if you dig a little below the surface (metaphorically, anyway), it proves to be representative of Berkeley micro-​politics — be careful what you ask — you might not like the answer ;-)
Finally, and most importantly, don’t forget Cal Sailing Club’s open days — the last one for the year is this Sunday 9^th November — come along at 1pm for a free boat ride!

Nice marina with a beautiful view of the bay.
You can see the outline of san fran, the bridges, and the view is really nice.
The sun hits the water, a breeze blows through, seagulls float around, it’s deeply peaceful.

Perfect day today without getting chilly with the sundress on, but usually it’s windy and chilly here. It’s beautiful though, you can see SF at the pier when it’s clear and large parking and plenty to walk around. Easy to get to as well.

Lovely marina with lots of docs and nice boats.
The bait shop runs out ice so bring your own!
There is even a sushi restaurant there. Not sure if it is good.

Berkeley Marina is such a beautiful place. Ahh and so under utilized by me!
Even though you have to get over a freeway, it’s so easy to get to by walking, biking or taking the bus (AC Transit 51B)
I’ve only been here a couple times, but I feel like you can enjoy the views of the Bay without the hustle and bustle of SF. It feels less touristy and really peaceful. Plus the marina is huge! Great for walking, jogging and getting some exercise. In the marina there is a small snack shack, a large seafood restaurants (Skates on the Bay), an adventure park (free for kids) and picnic areas with great views. I’m sure there is lots more stuff to do too, I just haven’t found it all.
I went during July 4^th to see the festival during the day. I missed the fireworks later that night, but I really enjoyed all the food stands, vendors and music that was playing before the fireworks started. I would definitely get there by bus or walking/​biking during July 4^th because parking is insane.
I usually get to the marina using the pedestrian bridge off of Addison Street. Quick and easy!
Gorgeous and breathtaking views of the Bay. Don’t visit Berkeley without stopping by at the marina. =)

Nice Pathways, Easy Hikes. Lots of Benches. Grand Vistas. Easy Parking, Worked well for me for morning walks from the nearby hotel. Note also you can catch the ferry and get a lift to SF as well!

Gorgeous view of the San Francisco skyline! The park is very big with grassy areas and walking trail. BBQ pits and tables are scattered throughout. Benches along the water facing SF are great for a break to admire the scenery. It’s the perfect spot to catch the sun as it sets into the city. Because it’s quite windy, it’s a great location to fly kites. There’s even a small truck that sells kites at the loop.
~ Plentiful free parking
~ Dog friendly
~ Portable toilets (if you dare)

Awesome flat walking path for all levels of walkers and gorgeous views on benches all along the path look out at the water. This is one of my favorite spots in Berkeley.

Biked from end to end and all around last weekend, just before sunset. Ahh, the glisten of the warm sun, gentle breeze, and the myriad sailboats bobbing out on the water. Appreciate the new bike pathway next to Seabreeze store… bike around the Adventure land and Cal kayak kiosk, around Hs Lordships, loopDloop around the Doubletree hotel to Skates and Cesar Chavez…
Kite Runner had a scene filmed on the kite hill (Patang)! Glorious views. Grabbed a bench and appreciated the fullness of just being in such a warm, cozy spot, looking out on the water. Spotted Brooks Is. and the Albany Bulb. we cycled back, just before the chill set in.
Love that dirt road shortcut to get back onto the trail close-​by to the soccer fields in front of Gilman. Exercise and million $ views… we, the lucky ones.

To tell you the truth, the first time I came to the Berkeley Marina, I thought it was kind of run down. The long pier seemed tattered and unclean. However, after I explored more of the marina, I found an oasis of fun things to do! Perhaps the marina has grown on me… but as of now, I give it four stars!
There is the lovely Cesar Chavez Park, perfect for lounging in the sun, flying kites, or running around without a care in the world. The long pier is great for fishing, walking, and enjoying the Bay breeze. There are a few restaurants around, namely, Skates on the Bay! They have great happy hour with delicious foods and a yummy mojito. You can rent sailboats or take sailing lessons from the marina! Adventure Playground is nearby for a very interactive and imaginative outlet for kids. There are multiple playgrounds, picnic areas, a pedestrian path leading to the Aquatic Park, and a nice running/​biking trail.
Most recently, I was able to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July from the marina shore. I could see fireworks from not only Berkeley, but also San Francisco, Sausalito, etc. My friends and I joked that the Berkeley fireworks were on Berkeley time because they started ten minutes late. (At UC Berkeley, classes begin ten minutes past the hour). The rocks at the marina shore can be a bit tough on your bottom, though. I wish those guys that were selling multi-​colored light sabers had some blankets or foldable chairs for sale. Those items would have actually been useful for the crowds of folks chafing their bums on the rocks of the marina.
TIP FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY: Take a bus (51B, which stops running at 7:30PM on the 4^th) or walk. Pedestrians will take over the overpass and you will be stuck in your car until the stampede of pedestrians have cleared out. Not only will you have paid to park right at the marina, you’ll leave late, too D:

One of my favorite little hidden east bay gems to go to. Seriously this place is awesome for a day to chill and rock around at.
Want to have a day to just grab a picnic with that someone special without it being overly hot during the summer? Do you just like to watch the boats going by? Well this is where you want to go without a doubt.
Pro Tip: There is tons of free parking out here but make sure that you read the street signs if you park on the street. They do ticket regularly here.
Bring your puppy on a leash or a bicycle with you and you will be amazed at what kind of fun you can have. Definitely bring a coat in your car to be on the safe side as you never know what kinda weather will suddenly appear there.
So schedule a bit to slow down and come and check out this wonderful lil special hangout =)