Best Idea Ever: A Playground with Coffee in Berkeley

The next time someone asks me — as they often do — what’s a hidden gem you want to tell every new-to-town parent about, I’m pretty clear on my answer: Strawberry Creek Park: A playground with coffee in Berkeley.

With ample parking, a huge field in which to scamper, a creek to explore, a playground updated in 2020, and a cafe onsite, Strawberry Creek Park is a perfect destination for a lazy Saturday. Especially if your Saturday is so lazy that you cannot pack a picnic.

We’re all about keeping a waterproof blanket in the car for exactly this situation.

Strawberry Creek Park profile

Location: 1260 Allston Way, where Allston dead ends right after Bonar.
Unique Features of Playground: A climbing structure with a slide for 2-5-year-olds, a more challenging climbing structure with ropes for older children, and a steep metal slide. There is a sand play area too.
Fenced in? No, but set back and protected in a natural way.
Swings: Two bench swings and a basket swing.
Surfaces: Play area is mostly wood chips.
Bathrooms: Yes, by the basketball courts.
Unique Features of the Park Overall: The park has plenty of grass, basketball courts, and a creek for exploring.
Lunch tables & seating: Benches and tables are scattered throughout the playground area.
Parking: Free street parking, weekday parking usually isn’t a problem, weekends are a bit more difficult.
Shade: Yes, lots of trees.
Pros: Hidden Cafe; bathrooms; updated play structures.
Cons: A very popular park, so it can get crowded.

Sure, Frog Park has College Avenue and Live Oak Park has North Shattuck, but this location offers access to coffee inside the park perimeter.

Hidden Cafe will hook you up with coffee and pastries. They sell snacks such as banana chips and other dry goods items. Let’s stay tuned to see what they come up with for the playground guests!

There is a terrace with bistro tables, indoor seating, and of course, a huge square of grass on which you can spread a blanket.

Find more creeks to stomp in >>

If you frequently head out on playground-seeking adventures with a preschooler, treat yourself to lunch at Hidden Cafe.

Find Strawberry Creek Park Playground and Cafe

Strawberry Creek Park is one block south of University Ave on Addison. Also accessed where Allston dead ends right after Bonar. Strawberry Creek Park has no relation to Strawberry Canyon Pool. 

Check out Hidden Cafe here >

Cyclists and strollers can use the West Street path to navigate into the park.