2106 Spaulding, Berkeley, CA

This charming and bright bungalow with vintage Art Deco touches is ideally situated close to BART, University Avenue and downtown Berkeley. Features include a large living room with a custom built-in entertainment center, full dining room, hardwood floors throughout, 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom with tub, dual-pane windows and plenty of gardening space with a backyard perfect for barbecues.

• Formal entry foyer
• Living room features built-in entertainment center and display shelving
• Spacious dining room
• Kitchen includes maple cabinets, gas oven/range, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher
• Office area off kitchen
• 2 good-sized bedrooms
• Front yard features low-maintenance succulents
• Backyard patio perfect for barbecuing
• Original oak floors throughout living areas and bedrooms, tile in bathroom
• Brand-new double-paned windows
• Exterior has been recently restuccoed
• Washer/dryer hookups in kitchen
• Garbage included in the rent
• Street parking
• On the border of North Berkeley and West Berkeley
• 1 block from shopping and dining on University Avenue
• Walking distance to North Berkeley BART station
• Sorry, no pets

North Berkeley, also called the Gourmet Ghetto, is centered along Shattuck north of University. It is considered the birthplace of innovative California cuisine. This movement was led by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse, a restaurant that continues to thrive to this day.

The real estate surrounding this foodie haven is quintessential Berkeley: single family homes overflowing with lavender and jasmine. It’s a great place to raise a family, or just eat great food!

Several culinary destinations have risen up around Waters’ famous restaurant, including César, the Cheese Board Collective and Cheese Board Pizza, Cioccolata Di Vino, the Juice Bar Collective and Cha Am. New, savory experiences include take out from Gregoire and Poulet, Brazillian food at Café de la Paz, a good old Jewish deli at Saul’s, cooking classes at Kitchen on Fire, delicious pastries at Masse's, cupcakes at Love At First Bite, vegan sushi at Cha Ya and Berkeley’s version of a food court, Epicurious Garden.

And if that isn’t enough there is a weekly farmer’s market and annual North Berkeley Spice of Life Festival.

Of course, there’s no shortage of shopping in the neighborhood, with Elephant Pharmacy, North Berkeley Wine, Vintage Berkeley (in the historic Vine Street pumping plant), Black Oak Books, and plenty of groceries (Andronico’s and Safeway are both in the neighborhood). Stop for a coffee at The French Hotel, or the very first location of Peet’s.

Whatever you do, North Berkeley and the Gourmet Ghetto are great places to live – and live well.

West Berkeley was strictly an industrial neighborhood for most of its life. Artists moved their studios there, attracting a creative crowd. This brought several sizable retailers, restaurants and beautiful real estate like loft developments to West Berkeley, resulting in the very fashionable Fourth Street in Berkeley.

Within 3 blocks of 4th Street in Berkeley you will find some of the most high-end shopping in the East Bay. Consider stopping into Rabat, Asiantique, Builder’s Booksource, Design Within Reach, Sur La Table, Zinc Details, Z Gallerie, Hear Music, Cody’s Books, Crate & Barrel Outlet, Restoration Hardware, Aveda and Kiehl’s. You’ll also find wonderful food at restaurants such as Café Rouge, Eccolo, O Chamé, Tacubaya, Sketch Ice Cream, Bette’s Oceanview Diner and the old standard, Spengers. And don’t forget the artists’ studios, which are still alive and well.

For more information contact Jeanne Zimmermann: jzimmermann@mcguire.com or 415.901.2773