Oh, my sweet (and sketchy) mem'ries of Telegraph Avenue. My friend has a stand on the Ave. for about a year in the mid '90's. You really have to get to know the vendors and be careful. But you can score some great deals. The aggressive pan-handling has GOT to stop though. read more

Great vibrant place to wander around. One should come visit this avenue before it quickly loses its bohemian character of the hippy era and become urbanize with retail chains. Gone are the iconic shops as Cody's Bookstore, Panache Hair & Beauty (both whom been a Telegraph merchant since the 70's) and mom & pop's stores and in are the Walgreen, American Apparel, Chipotle, and Sprint stores. In fact don't walk, but RUN here to experience this unique ave. before its eclectic style disappears. Best time to come are during the weekend on sunny days (all the street merchants line the sidewalk selling their crafts) and the winter holidays when 3 blocks are closed and filled with merchants selling their hobbies. If you want a kick, stop by People's Park where you can purchase natural herbs ;-) read more

I loved Telegraph Avenue! My baby's father is from Clayton, so he, knowing me especially well, knew I would love the atmosphere around here. Let me just start off by saying that I haven't traveled in ten years. I am terrified to fly and this was my first real trip out of Idaho in a long time, so take that into consideration. I am just happy to experience something totally different than what we have to offer here. We checked out all the shops -- I thought the hat shop, print shop, Fat Slice pizza, the Berkeley sweat wear shop on the corner were especially great. It was nice to be in a Buffalo Exchange again as well. Our Boise bit of the chain didn't last long. I didn't think it was that dirty, just had a hard time finding a restroom. I am also not accustomed to having to check my bags at doors either. Never had to do that before. This was a great way to end our nine-day California vacation. For anyone out there that hates tourists, suck it. read more

The culture here is amazing! It's a cross between worlds from classy food establishments, thrifty and boutique shops, and novelty shops like old record stores, city themed shirt stops and a lot more. Be sure to come here with an open heart and an empty stomach. No to mention to try and find the 8 hour street parking stalls. read more

My parents always kept me away from Berkeley and Telegraph Ave. when I was younger. So obviously I HAD to check it out once I was older, hehe. While I wish I could have been around when it was in its heyday, I'm perfectly satisfied with how it is today. Telegraph Ave. is one of my favorite places to go to. For the most part, I walk around, browsing shops before and after going to Zebra (because whenever I'm on Telegraph, I'm going for my piercings initially) and just enjoying the street. Telegraph Ave. is worth a visit at least once if not more often. read more

Wow, what happened to Telegraph?! It used to be fun, lots of places to eat, lots of artists, book stores, music stores. Now it's vacant lots, boarded up businesses, and a few chain stores. How can a campus with 30,000 students not bring enough business to merchants just a few blocks from campus? I don't get it. The other UC campuses like UCLA and Davis have nice towns next to campus, why can't Berkeley? Is it too anti-business? I went to Berkeley in the early 80s and loved Telegraph. It's always been gritty but it was thriving back then. Now it's hardly worth a visit. read more

I lived on Telegraph during college, and have grown to love it. yeah, there's bums, yeah it smells sometimes, yeah sometimes I trip over the homeless guy sleeping in my doorway, yeah there's the crazy man running down the street screaming at the top of his lungs...wait, that was a good thing, because it allowed my roommate and me to unleash some frustration and yell back: ROWRRRRRRRRRRR out the window! I loved just walking down from campus and seeing the usuals: Subway, Rexalls, Blondies, Tako Sushi, Fat Slice, Naan N Curry, Joy's... Aw, the memories. read more

Telegraph is great around Christmas time when they close down the street and all the craftspeople come out... the rest of the time, though, it's dirty, crowded, overrun by students, and mostly overpriced. The restaurants are all mediocre quality, and the shopping, while eclectic, is mostly uninspiring. There are a few exceptions (like Moe's books), but all in all Telegraph Ave. isn't somewhere I like to hang out. read more

I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy being on Telegraph. I have to think back to my days as a repressed Midwestern teen, dying for any element of counter-culture, ready to overlook all the bad for any little good thing that would stimulate my mind and my creativity. I find that sometimes on Telegraph. Interesting people-watching, to be sure, always someone or something to catch my eye and make me wonder. I like to imagine people's stories, whether they are students hurrying to class, old intellectuals at Mediterraneum, or dirty gutter hippies in front of Rasputin's. The funniest things happen there, like the homeless guy who stared at me and then advised, "Girl, you need some vitamins or somethin'!" (I guess am pretty pale) Or the crazy old hippie who stopped me--in the middle of the street as we were crossing--to yell that I needed to stop studying for my finals and get out and enjoy the sunshine and quit working for The Man. This was despite the fact that I'm not a student, I actually was out in the the sunshine, and we were, you know, in the middle of the damned street. (I happen to be working for The Woman, thanks.) But most time, I just get annoyed by how dirty, loud, and smelly it is, and full of bums hassling me at every street corner. I can think of more pleasant ways to expend my energy. I wouldn't be afraid of Telegraph by any means, so if you're visiting, sure, go see it. You're just going to see some unsavory types mixed in among the ordinary residents and college kids. Enjoy the hat shop, the bookstores, the record stores, the herb and spice shop, the street vendors selling their tye-dye and incense. But if you're harboring delusions that Telegraph is what it was reported to be in the sixties, well ... the world is a different place now, including Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. read more

one of my favorite places to shop in the world. for those of you who live in los angeles, its like venice beach without the beach. its a crazy world of shops, restaurants, hippies, cal students, and street vendors. parking is a bitch, you can park in the neighborhoods but you risk getting your car broken into - which i can say from experience the shops i like to visit: - urban outfitters - the "t-shirt orgy" in the cal berkeley store - the yogurt shop (changes flavors everyday) - blondies pizza - intermezzo - amoeba records - rasputin - sway - american apparel - zebra tattoo read more

The best way to describe Telegraph Ave is gross. There's nothing too spectacular about it except it's really close to most student's dorms. It has food, some shops, some street vendors, and a bunch of homeless. None of the restaurants I would go out of my way to visit if I wasn't in the area. Maybe if they took a sand blaster to the grim covered side walks and got the homeless out it would be kind of nice. read more

I'm not a true Berkeley-ite, but I've visited a few times. This past weekend around late afternoon / early evening, I was on Telegraph Ave. heading toward UC Berkeley. On one hand, I can see the appeal of the interesting shops in the area. On the other hand, I have to wonder how many reviewers on here find it "fun" to step over homeless people littering the sidewalk. In one of the last blocks, it looked like a mini Tenderloin over there - literally a WHOLE block of homeless people all lying one after another like dominos all the way down the sidewalk... And for good measure, a bunch of young, seedy guys hanging out under walkways and in doorways, eyeing me as I go by. It felt really safe and not at all dangerous. Maybe the place is different during the day, but at least when I was there, it was like hanging out on Turk & Taylor. read more

Some of us are privileged enough to have a Telegraph Avenue address. That is all I have to say. Do you know what I am saying?

Telegraph Ave. is crazy. There is no other place quite like this. During one walk down Telegraph, I was offered crack, was propositioned for a threesome and was confronted by some crazy Jews for Jesus guy. Yep - all that in just one day. It gets a little sketchy the further you walk away from campus and yes, some of the homeless people are rude. But it definitely doesn't lack charm! read more

Telegraph is definitely an interesting place to walk around. I love the random vendors that sell jewelry, t-shirts, etc and there are tons of eateries. I especially love naan and curry, the durant square, and crepes a go go. The street is usually crowded with students which gives it a nice energy. On the downside it's a little on the dirty and there are often homeless people as well. read more

EWww Telegraph. I don't really like it, BUT not because of the element or anything. None of the stores are any good, either bad chains or overpriced vintage BS. The street gets 1 star for the shopping and 4 stars for the food and I am going to average that out to 2 because most of the places I enjoy around here aren't even on Telegraph, they are on the sidestreets. read more

If it's your first time in Berkeley, you must begin with a walk down Telegraph Ave. It's fun to walk down with tourist family members, watching them seem somewhat confused by the friendly homeless people, the wares being sold on the street, and the slightly dirty sidewalks. Sure, it's somewhat run down now, but it's a nice way to see a slightly dirtier slice of what Berkeley was like in the 60s. There's also decent bars, restaurants, and shopping on this block. read more

On one of many late night hypes, I stoped off on Telegraph to grab some window pain acid from one of the local gutter punks." in which I fried balls" Great place to stop off & score some dope especially if your from outa town try peoples park college kids etc..If you cant score in this town than you must be a dope. read more

This review is more from a local's standpoint, but Telegraph Ave. I'm not even sure where to begin. If you are a local it's nothing special, in fact you probably despise some of the street's qualities. For one the street is always overflowing with herds of UC students. As well, there are too many beggers; homeless or non-homeless somebody wants spare change. Telegraph also tends to attract a lot of people with bad attitude, people who think they are "the shit". Walk around and observe and you'll see what I mean. Back in my early teen years I absolutely loved this street. I enjoyed the vibe, culture, and people, I loved it all. Now that I'm grown up a bit I don't really care for it quite the same. And that's not just my opinion changing with age. A lot of corporate stores have moved in and some of the better business have had to close. (RIP Blakes!) Don't get me wrong though, it's still worth checking out if you've never been. It's fun for tourists because of the street's unique traits. There are still some restaurants I like to eat at, as well as go to Rasputin or Amoeba from time to time. That's about all I ever do on Telegraph now, get food and maybe check out some music. I guess locals are just prone to getting desensitized. Good luck finding a clean bathroom anywhere near by. read more

Definitely a place for out-of-towners to visit at least once. You can't go to Berkeley without walking down Telegraph. For us (as teenagers), it was heaven, hell, a distraction from our problems, a place to be yourself, a place to be someone else, and a definite "kick-it" spot. You, of course, have to accept that you are in Berkeley, and therefore in homeless "territory". Nevertheless, this area is rich in history dating back to the 60's. Why not go to a place where you can find anything and everything from one of the many stores, or support local vendors. You will definitely be entertained walking down Telegraph any day of the week. Also, during the first few weeks of December they usually close off most of Telegraph for a Street sale where vendors set up shop in the street. Great place to get unique Christmas gifts. Haven't been to that in a few years, hope they're still doing it. Though Telegraph may change, I still have fond/crazy memories and I heart Telegraph! read more

nice mix of fun things to buy and look at and crazy, smelly, usually drunk, homeless people walking around screaming. it doesn't get any better! read more