Berkeley has a lot going on at any given time, and downtown is no exception. The city's vibrant urban hub is home to dining, live music, and plenty of quirky events, especially in the summertime.

Downtown Berkeley has a food scene all its own, flavored with international cuisines crafted by some of the best chefs in the East Bay. Who likes beignets and mimosas? Uh, we do! Bring your friends a Walking Brunch Tour and you'll find and excellent reason to get out of bed (not too early) on Sunday morning—in addition to feeding your belly, the neighborhood will satisfy your sense of place and history with skilled resident guides offering behind-the-scenes access to local chefs and restaurateurs.

In addition to food tours and pub crawls, downtown Berkeley is known for vivacious street parties such as the Persian Festival, Bay Area Book Festival, and Sunday Streets. During the lovely warm summer, the downtown Bart Plaza will be open with an outdoor eating area equipped with a stage and sound system for rotating live performances, music and theatre. Other summer events in the 'hood include Meet Me Downtown Week, with a series of events spanning all that Berkeley culture has to offer from food to music, all within a couple blocks of the downtown Berkeley BART station and next door to the UC Berkeley campus.

In addition to the many special events, there is something to enjoy and inspire here every day. You can catch a show at one of the longtime performing arts venues and concert halls, or immerse yourself at one of the many cinemas and museums in the booming Arts District. This is a destination for creativity, where you can experience unique local art, music, and conversations just by walking down the street.