Oceanview / Fourth Street

In Berkeley's northwest corner is Oceanview, a neighborhood once considered to be the city's frontier. It has since become an exciting mix of reinvestment, renovation and retail.

The neighborhood's historic character is evident in its architectural legacy. South of Cedar, Fourth Street's real estate is made up of early Victorians and Neo-Colonial houses, along with newer Craftsman bungalows and shingled cottages of the 1910s, '20s, and '30s. North of Cedar, the housing stock of Oceanview consists mostly of pre-war bungalows mixed with small cottages of the 1940s and '50s.

Oceanview's attractively landscaped Fourth Street has become one of the East Bay's most successful new commercial areas with dozens of innovative boutiques, upscale shops and interesting cuisine. A popular gathering place for friends and families, this intimate tree-lined avenue resembles an open-air promenade popular with locals and visitors alike.

We especially enjoy the East Bay's best congregation of home decor stores combined with a visit to Betty's Oceanview Diner is an absolute must. On just about any day you can tolerate the wait in line with a nearby Peet's coffee and some live music.

Oceanview is also home to a quaint park and the Berkeley Marina lies just a stone's throw away, as are all of the major Bay Area freeways.