Jupiter

House-brewed beer, live music, a European setting, and a spacious, two-level patio with a fire pit and flower-covered walls make Jupiter one of the most popular spots in Berkeley. Twelve house brews range from the Jupiter Hefeweizen, a wheat beer with a light finish, to the Jupiter Porter, a dark beer and Gold Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival. In addition to the house brews, you can choose between 20 regional craft beers to enjoy with delicious wood-fired pizza.

The energy is always lively at Jupiter, whether you sit on one of two indoor floors or find a spot on the heated patio. It’s always nice outside, where the fountain, flowers, and brick walls make you feel like you’ve escaped to Europe. Performances take place on the outdoor stage, so it’s also the best place to hear the live music.

But there’s no less ambiance inside, with its Gothic décor, evident in pressed tin walls, antique church lights, and heavy wood furniture. Upstairs a picture window overlooks the garden and the sounds of live alternative jazz float into the room. The crowd here ranges from college students playing drinking games at one table to families playing “I Spy” at another, though there are fewer of the latter towards the late evening hours.

Whether you come for lunch, dinner, or a late-night drink, the atmosphere is always casual and the food is delish. Try appetizers like barbeque rib tips or bruschetta, or go for the lemony spinach & albacore tuna salad. You’ll need something while you wait, because though the pizzas are good, they often take up to 45 minutes to arrive on your table.

The front of Jupiter faces Shattuck Avenue, and you can watch downtown Berkeley passers by from the windows on this side. There’s typically live music at Jupiter on weekend nights, but summertime brings additional performances beginning on Wednesdays. Appearances from performers from around the country make this a premier music venue for a range of styles, from Brazilian jazz to Bluegrass.

HelloOakland tip: Reservations are limited to groups of 10 or more. Guests seat themselves outside and are waitlisted inside.
 

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.