I don't know who this woman owner is that everyone complains about - but when I was there the owner seemed to be a man. I had fit and style problems with a hat ordered online. Came to exchange it and ended up leaving with TWO fabulous hats. Not only that, but he personally tweaked the inside band for me until they fit perfectly. My boyfriend is a hat aficionado (he has a wall of them - fitting for any occasion or weather) and he loved it that the owner was a real hat guy. The inventory is large for that tiny space. And there's a section at the front of the store for Derby (as in Kentucky, not bowler) hats. They're gorgeous. One in particular, I'd hang in my house as art. There were three very busy employees there while we were shopping and they managed to keep a storefull of customers happy. One guy complimented a young female employee to the owner on the way out. And I saw the owner helping a young father who was buying his little girl a hat and he was just as attentive to them as he was with us. Also, I compare prices and bargain shop and I found the prices here very, very fair. read more

The people who run the store are kind of quirky, but if you're looking for a unique hat, party hat, tiny hat, any kind of hat, this is the place to go! The exchange policy is pretty good. 10 days with tag. They use an old-school system of bookkeeping, so make sure you have your original hand-written receipt with you if you want an exchange. Tip: Must leave beverages at the door. read more

Though I have a fine head of hair, I wear a hat every day: to work, to dinner, to the ballgame, to concerts and nights out on the town. All seasons, rain or shine. Usually a fedora, though I like Kangol driving and baseball caps as well. Berkeley Hat Company is a great place to shop for hats, my favorite, in fact. They have a nice selection, and you are welcome to try on any of them--self-service. Few items are "behind the counter" and need to be requested. Most are within hands reach and there are an adequate number of mirrors. Staff is young, friendly and usually knowledgeable. Prices are comparable to internet pricing, sometimes cheaper and many hats on sale. They have been in business a long time under the same ownership and stock the inventory to serve many tastes from costume to pimped-out. A good selection of fedoras including a nice selection of Borsalinos and other pricey items. Last, but not least, a festive atmosphere. read more

My husband and I went to the hat store today in Berkeley! We found this place by word of mouth and reviews on yelp! We loved all the hats and found our hat within 10 minutes! The staff was very helpful and gave us much insight into our decision! So it was easy to pick our Derby Hats as the staff looked at our outfits and knew exactly what would look good! Excellent selection and great prices! A must for hats! Can't wait to wear our hats! Thank You! read more

I took my Stetson here to see if it could be stretched a bit, as it was a bit small on my head. Boss lady was very informative; let me know it's possible it could rip. I asked her to proceed as it wasn't doing me much good on the shelf. She took her time and stretched it a few times, stopping to fit it to my noggin. I expected not to be about $20-25 bucks, and when I asked what I owned I owed, she said $5. Floored me. I will definitely be buying a replacement for my panama hat here when the time comes! read more

Earlier this year I went to Supercuts (don't laugh...ok fine, MOCK ME for my uncouth ways) and got a horrendous buzz cut of a haircut. Arg!! What is a guy to do in a situation like this? A bad haircut makes everyone lose his/her faith in your character and humanity. It's the first thing they see, damnit! Like most other screwed up aspects of my life, I do what I am best at: covering them up. So I went to the Berkeley Hat Company to look for a cap that would hide my near baldness of short hair. My, my, what a selection! I eventually settled on a nifty looking Goorin hat that has drawn many compliments. And compliments=more self worth=happier al l. Not bad for 14 bucks. Thank you, Berkeley Hat Company, for restoring society's respect for my cerebral composition. read more

In 30 min, my head sported: 1 conductor's cap 1 Robin Hood cap 3 cloches 2 pork pies 1 fedora 1 trilby 1 rasta dreadlock holder 3 dapper caps Leaving with 2 of the 3 dapper caps, I felt like I'd been to the It's a Small World of Hats Emporium. What a fun place! The proprietor IS on the dour/stern side as others have stated, but my sales assistant was not! She was more than happy to get me other colors/sizes from the stock in the back. read more

I picked up a fedora at this place and it was a good deal. I wanted a white band and most fedoras don't have a white band but they put it one on for me. Superb customer service. Highly recommend you stop here for your hat needs. read more

They have a variety of good hats here and accessories. I wanted a hat for a Kentucky Derby party and they had just the thing. The only downside is that their hats are a little on the expensive side. read more

Boy do they have a huge selection of hats!!! I had a fun time trying on some of their fascinators as well. My husband ended up buying an flat cap made in Italy for only $32. I deducted a star because street parking was horrible. We found parking about 3-4 blocks away on a Sunday afternoon! read more

This place is a true local treasure. It's packed to the brim with every kind of hat imaginable. They also have a huge collection of knit animal hats that are both adorable and affordable. They are friendly, patient, and don't mind if you try on just about every hat in the store (which I've done, on multiple occasions). I am a huge fan of said animal hats, and wanted to get my boyfriend one for the holidays. I ordered it on November 24th, and it was waiting for me at home on November 27th. And during the holidays, no less! Very impressive, guys! Just one more thing to love about the Hat Company. read more

Love this place! We took a long time to select the hats we wanted to buy (as there are SO MANY to choose from!!). We picked and chose, looked at ourselves in the mirror, discussed, put them back, picked up yet another one... All the while, the shop owners did NOT give us any pressure at all. Besides a polite smile and an occasional "Is everything alright for you?" There were NO pressure of buying, no rushing whatsoever. This is absolutely wonderful especially for customers in a small shop like this. As a customer, I feel that I can browse and try out their wide selection of hats at ease, taking as much time as I like till I find the perfect fit, and if I don't, I don't feel like I *must* buy something at the end of all the trying-outs just to appease the shop owners or in exchange for the time I spend at her shop. Having said that, we DID buy our lovely hats from them! No regrets! I love my new hat :) If you need a hat, I absolutely recommend this little shop. It has a huge variety of styles to choose from - amazing wide range of selection for such a small shop - and the owners are cool with you taking time to try each and every one on. Price: Reasonable. Ranging from $15 to maybe $70. Most of them are in the $30s range. read more

this place rocks! came here on a rainy day...couldn't get my reader cuz Krishna Copy was closed, but instead I got a fluffy cat hat...with pompoms! I look ridiculous in it but I sure feel happy. $24, not cheap but super cute...though i probably shouldn't advertise it or i'll be seeing other ppl in my same cat hat. there are all sorts of other crazy cool hats here...the pretty ones were a bit expensive though, $50 ish, with feathers and lace and netting, etc...this store is quite full, surprising for its randomness. read more

I am a pretty serious hat wearer. At 52, soon to be 53, most of my hair is growing out of my ears, so I need all the help I can get. You know - a hat to create a little interest above the eyeball level. And I own three, all purchased here, at the Berkeley Hat Company. This place is a Berkley Icon and his been around since 1060 A.D. when they supplied helmets to the Norman conquerors. They have tons of hats at all different prices. Sure the owner, Carol is kind of a nut, but, they will work as hard as you want in order to find something that works for you. I got a really nice American made grey fedora for $34. And a summer pork pie (technically made out of paper) for less than $20. read more

Medium prices for custom hats, but hopefully you'll never get rid of them. I have several and wear them rather frequently because they are unique, fun and fashionable. If you want something special, you'll find it here. If you want something really unusual, you'll definitely find it here. read more

some cool, unique hats. Great selection for Halloween, which is around the corner. some pricey than others. very small, and cluttered store. the sales floor guy was very attentive. made sure we didn't have a question by the time we were browsing in the back of the store (where most of the different Halloween / fun hats were located. read more

Love this place. The manager was hillarious with a great sense of humor. Has always helped me: hat bands, stretching and advice.

Starting in high school i had this unhealthy obsession with bowler hats and i bought my very first one here. A few years of constant wear and it started getting soft and old, so i bought a new one. here. then i thought i'd change it up and i bought a fedora. here. then i bought a brown bowler hat here, then a red one. so now i have 4 hats that i don't really wear that often anymore. but this store is great for all kinds of hats. not only that but they range from cheap to super expensive. i would always shop in the $40-$50 range. These are the classic brimmed hats, but for those whose tastes range in the wackier side, the berkeley hat company has all sorts of costume hats, hats with animals on em, and crazy giant hats. they even have baseball caps and kangols for those so inclined. this store basically suits everyone's needs. they'll even stretch out your hat for $.01 with your purchase. read more

Nice little hat shop with tons of diff. style hats from beanies to brim caps and almost everything between. Plenty of staff to help with questions. They even have a hat stretcher if your hat gets a little tight for your dome. Going back soon, somewhat good prices too compared to other hat shops. * Don't come hear if you like or expect fitted baseball caps* read more

I am an avid Kentucky Derby attendee and every year I try to find a beautiful hat. Not only did I find an amazing hat but, the customer service was by far exceptional!!! Payton was my rep and he tended to every need and request I had. I will add photos of this hat after the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Thanks again and I will be back. read more

Love this place and the selection. Prices are reasonable. My experience with staff is this: The owner isn't very nice to people. The younger staff are fabulously helpful, kind, make great recommendations, and offer a level of professional advice that was surprising. I will go again and again, just avoid Her. Even took my son, now his addiction to hats is complete. Two hats later, he is already talking about the next hat that he needs. :-) My work is done here. read more

This is a miracle find. If I am looking for a hat, I come here. Their selection is astounding. There are hats floor to ceiling (and they have a very high ceiling). The prices are reasonable, and they probably have something for just about every price range. Just remember that these are quality hats. The service is wonderful. There is always someone ready to help you. These people know their hats, and they are more than willing to help you find what you are looking for, or something even better. I'm hooked. Don't forget to check out the clearance baskets. I was able to find one hat style that I adore, and get it in five different colors because the price was so good! read more

We came here to shop for hats for a "Derby Thirty" party. This shop is clearly a gem in Berkeley and appears to be a long standing establishment. The staff is not only friendly, attentive and knowledgeable, but a pinch quirky as well, which adds to the charm and authenticity. The store had constant energy and a buzz about it. The selection of hats was extraordinary. I would highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for a hat for a special occasion, or everyday wear. read more

So this review is skewed on account of my massive head. Yes, its true, my head is large. I'm now cool w/ it, and realize beanies are much easier to buy for me noggin. Such a dope selection, but ones that fit my head well... not so much. I need to balls up, and next time I go there, I will flat out have to ask for his X-Large hat selection. After a small round of chuckles I will hopefully find the right accesory for my freakish cabeza. For all normal sized-head folks, you'll love this place. read more

After irreparably damaging my faithful hat of nearly five years, I set out on a quest for new fashions for my head. If anyone has looked for a good hat, you know how tough it can be. These days you're unlikely to find anything other than baseball caps at the average department store. For those of us who still value the power of a good hat, it is worthwhile to find a place that specializes. Berkeley Hat Co. is such a place. Wall-to-wall hats, in varying designs and prices, this was the right place to go and console my lonely head(I swear, that phrase made sense when I thought it). After doing a few laps around the store -- my apologies to Vanessa, who must have nearly got heat-stroke waiting for me -- something grabbed my eye and I went with it. Whereas I previously had only one hat as my mainstay, I've decided it's time to move on and develop and broader repertoire of headgear, and I'm sure I'll come back here many times as my collection expands. read more

I like straw (pork-pie-style) hats---preferably yellow. And I look damn good in them, despite my middle-agedness. I could go topless with my pasty, midriff hanging over the beltline of my pants and 22-year-old chicks would still want me on them---so long as I was busting the straw (pork-pie-style) hat. My point? I have owned two straw (pork-pie-style) hats in my life. I purchased them about 10 years apart, and both times, they were purchased at the Berkeley Hat Company. If you are approaching middle age, have a pasty midriff, and want chicks to dig you on sunny days, Berkely Hat Company has your back. read more

This place is great! It has nearly everything you could ever want to put on your head! I was looking for a very specific hat to wear to a theme party and April (and a number of other employees) helped with suggestions and ideas. The prices run the range from inexpensive to pricey for the really fancy hats. You could spend hours in here trying on everything. Also check out their website since it has some hats that aren't always on display at the shop. You can go in and tell them you saw something on line and they will get it for you. Everyone should stop here first if they're looking for a hat! PS. I was bummed that I missed their event when the guy who designed Aretha's inaugural hat was there! read more

Fantastic hat collection. very helpful sales people. fair prices. the owners Ed and Carol are the best.

Got a party or special occasion that you want a certain hat for? Looking for something to keep the sun out of your eyes? Having a bad hair day and want something to hide your mop? Got a bald spot that blinds people on sunny days? This is the place for you. All kinds of hats to choose from, hundreds of different styles, colors, of all sizes, at good prices. Helpful friendly service. On June 22 Belinda Salvidge will be playing some traditional Irish music here as part of the Berkeley World Music Festival. read more

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Be aware of berkeley hat store on telegraph ave. I went in looking for some aviator goggles and decided to put them back and browse others stores. What i didnt know was that i was going to be accused of stealing the goggles after i was already half a black away. The old lady at the front desk forced me to come back and look for the googles because she didnt see me putting them back. Honestly i wasnt the only one looking at the aviator glasses, but i was the only minority in the store. So thanks old lady for running after me and falsely accusing me of stealing in front of a crowd of people. Which they didnt even apologize for. I know im not returning for sure! read more

A wide selection of hats for any occasion! I have been a customer here for over 20 years. I love supporting local business, but these guys make it so easy to love them read more

Great inventory. Told the woman at the desk that I needed a Basque/Catalonian beret and a younger gal came out and helped me find the right size. Great service. read more

How does this place stay is business??? The woman behind the counter is a TOTAL BITCH!!! Went there once to buy a hat and I nearly walked out. Bought my Burning Man ticket here and the woman almost refused selling me a ticket. WTF!?!?!?!?!? read more

This place has a fairly good selection of hats but they go out of your way to make all potential customers to feel unwelcome. Try the Oakland hat guys instead. They rock. read more

Your hats are so great & I have bought hats there before, until I was in there last week and realized to my dismay that you sell fur! Rabbit fur and beaver fur is what I saw and maybe there are other tortured animal skins there. I am so bummed you sell fur, you dont need ANY fur to make great hats. My friend and I were ready to buy many hats until we saw that dreadful fur. I will never shop at your store again until you remove all fur from the sales. Again, you have so many great hats, you really dont need any of that cruelty to be profitable. read more

3.5 stars Would have given it 4 but the service and some prices, knock it down a little. I have purchased about 8-10 hats over the years and is usually the 1st place I think about when I am looking for something specific. The store is cramped and overflowing with different styles. My last visit, I was offered assistance after about 5 minutes. And given an opinion on 2 different styles I was contemplating. The overall experience was fun, especially when trying on grand hats. Then I got to the cashier. She was not a friendly lady, had no smile and only said 2 things to me: How much my total was and asked if I wanted a bag. That is it. Not a good ending impression to what was a pretty good shopping experience up until that point. I would most likely go again. And hopefully someone is there that is more customer service oriented. read more

My heart says 1 star and my head says four. The interactions I've had with the proprietor of this business have been lousy, but I suppose when you have the selection that she does, you can afford to be ornery. If it's hats you want, this is the store where you will find them. Just wear your iPod to avoid interaction as much as possible. read more

I bought a hat, put it on in front of the mirror at home, did not like it, and tried to return it a few days later with the receipt. They saw it was still brand-new. But they would not even do an exchange. Once these people take your money, it is all over! read more

A friend just suggested you so I just took a peek at the site and am really excited - this is exactly the kind of store I needed. They have more options than I'd hoped to find at prices lower than I'd hoped for, too. I'm carving out time in this weekends calendar to get myself there in person! read more

I bought my wolfie hat here. Nuff said.