Elmwood

Home to some of Berkeley's finest old residences, Elmwood offers the self-contained, community-based character of a small town. With its close proximity to vibrant downtown Berkeley and the University, and access to San Francisco via Rockridge or Downtown Berkeley BART, it's also one of the best commuter neighborhoods.

Elmwood developed just before the turn of the 19th century as a fashionable suburb for San Franciscans. A few Victorians were erected before 1900, but the real boom came a few years later when a mixture of bungalows, shingled boxes, and period revival homes filled the neighborhood's quiet tree-lined streets. Some of Elmwood real estate's most sought-after homes are the stately shingled homes inspired by west coast arts and crafts architects Greene & Greene and Bernard Maybeck.

College Avenue, Elmwood's main shopping street, is home to a select offering of unique shops and restaurants. Some favorites include the recently refurbished Elmwood Theater, Nabolom Bakery, La Mediterranee, Ici Ice Cream, Sweet Dreams Candy & Gift Shop, Espresso Roma and Jeremy's.