Perfect family place especially on a beautiful day! You can also take a glimpse of the bay bridge from the top of the park! :) it's a great place for family/ portrait pictures Great place to check out flowers and also get a quick work out read more

The Berkeley Rose Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Berkeley, California

Beautiful roses. Gorgeous view from the top. Sit on the rocky ledge and watch the sunset. read more

I never thought I would want to live in Berkeley, but that changed a bit on Friday evening after a visit to the Berkeley Rose Garden. Would absolutely love to be in walking distance of this place, and it's absolute inspiration for someone who loves flowers as much as I do. It's really a gem of a place, and the grounds are immaculately maintained. One glorious rose bloom after another. Close to campus yet perfectly out of way up a massive hill that I expect it to remain one of the Bay Area's best kept secrets. And that's A-Ok with me! read more

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Great place to take a stroll, have photoshoots, and relax. Definitely is a beautiful spot for a date. It's accessible by bus and car, has a few tennis courts nearby, and plenty of benches to sit and chill at. You'll find plenty of beautiful roses here and may learn to appreciate the spot in the midst of the hot summer sun! read more

Me and one of my close friends decided to go walk around the rose garden since we both haven't been there in forever. We went when it was raining and, there wasn't as many roses but there was still some there the white ones are my favorite! The way this place is built is magnificent, walking down the small hill with boots on a rainy day is quite tricky lol good thing my friend was there to hold on too, before going inside we walked to the bathroom and, went through the tunnel that leads to a park! I used to love coming to this park it was so spacey and it was nice especially the slide were you have to use cardboards to experience it! Anyway, then we walked back through the tunnel and, into the rose garden something about this place is so relaxing... there were so many stairs but regardless it was lovely. The small little waterfall was nice me and my friend walked to the bridge and just hung out there enjoying the view and reminiscing on old times or, when we came here when we were in middle school. The rain falling on our faces, lovely setting love love it. This place is super romantic you should experience this with someone you love or, starting to fall for (: read more

The Berkeley Rose Garden - A rainy day on the little bridge at the rose garden (: - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Berkeley, California

My favorite place to go in Berkeley. Went today 6/7. Peak beauty. Almost every bush with prolific blooms. Spoke to the rosarian/caretaker who was so excited and knowledgeable about roses. Very helpful and nice. Lovely view of the GG bridge and bay. So many roses for garden inspiration. I started taking pictures of each rose to catalog, but only got a third of the way through before my husband and F.I.L. went nuts and dragged me to the car. I could spend the whole day there. My 10 year old daughter loves the playground, slide and trail to the waterfall across the street at Cordonices park. read more

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This is such a cute place to walk around with a date (or just a friend) since there are multiple paths you can take around the rose garden. Lots of shady areas on hot days too. There were not too many roses in bloom when I visited but I'm sure it's much more picture-worthy during certain times of the year. I was frustrated by the amount of construction nets around the garden, blocking certain paths and forcing people to turn around and walk back the other way. I did enjoy the amount of benches there were. My friend and I were catching up and decided to sit down and chat for a few hours. It was quite lovely. We were staring at a void where there clearly used to be water but is now dried up... how sad. Overall nice place to visit. Just don't forget to take your allergy medicine before you go! read more

I wanted to get married here. I come here with a picnic of cheese and bread from the Cheese Board with a good book. With a bay view, and when the roses are in bloom, I'm hard pressed to find somewhere more pleasant to wile away an afternoon. The only con is the tennis courts next door pinging and ponging but if you put on some headphones, problem solved! It is an ampitheater setup and nice to walk down the different rows "smelling the roses." read more

The Berkeley Rose Garden - kickin back - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came up here for the first time a few weeks ago and got to enjoy the sunset on a beautiful (warm/mild) summer day. Picked up Zachary's Pizza and some dessert to eat. Good food + Good company + good view! P.S. Watch out for the ants...... they are quick....they got into our pizza box :( read more

The Berkeley Rose Garden - Sunset view - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a beautiful garden with rows of many different colored roses. It also has a tennis court. Good to avoid during graduation time when it can be crowded with people taking pictures. Nice at sunset, since it is in the hills and overlooks the bay! read more

According to their website, there are 1,500 rose bushes and 250 varieties of roses. That seems about right I guess. The garden is in the form of a terraced amphitheater nestled in a small canyon. At the bottom, there's a bridge with a small stream flowing underneath. Apparently, there is also a tunnel that connects the Rose Garden with Codornices Park. I didn't spot it though. The garden was serene and there were shaded benches for visitors to just sit back and relax. read more

Beautiful, can't wait until it's officially finished. Really nice little get away walk with really nice views.

"Sunsets or sunrises? Which do you prefer?" I was once asked. I couldn't give an answer. For one, I'm a Libra - indecisive. Most will find it difficult to ever get a straight answer to a "favorite" question from me. Favorite color? Favorite animal? Favorite artist? You'll have me wracking my brain. I can't just pick one. There's always some sort of list, some set of circumstances. I know what I like and what I don't like; I just can't pick one over another, especially when there are two to choose from, and both options are ones I enjoy. Secondly, sunsets and sunrises are two very different experiences. I associate a different set of memories to each. Choosing one over the other would depend on mood, timing, location, situation. If your mood is romantic and your timing is right, I have heard/read wonderful things about the sunset and view of the bay from the Berkeley Rose Garden. Breathtaking. Stunning. Gorgeous. A few words others have used to describe the view. I have not yet witnessed the sunset myself during my prior visits.. In fact, I hadn't even noticed the view of the bay from the garden. It's not that I am entirely oblivious to my surroundings. I was just preoccupied at the time - too busy smelling the roses, perhaps? read more

It's impressive how one plant has become so inextricably linked with love and beauty, that we dedicate entire gardens to their cultivation. Yet witnessing the hovering sun begin its slow decent on the horizon illuminating the tiered chain of rambling roses, it's hard not to feel the power of the flower and a sense of gratitude for being on this planet. Romance is in the air here, a perceptible sweet aroma permeates the space. Looking around, couples are glued to each other on benches, under lattice. Somehow no matter how many people wander through, the roses magically have scent for all. If you can tear yourself away from the breathtaking view or your paramour's gaping mouth, stick your schnoz into these: red planet fragrant cloud taboo sunflare citrus peace double delight french lace Naming of the varieties weren't done without a sense of humor as evidenced by "touch of class." Need to get a point across? Give your gal a bouquet of "Impatient" or "command performance." The place isn't exactly polished or impeccably manicured, but the slightly overgrown state is a flaw I'll gladly overlook for the experience. I like it a little wild, anyways. read more

I came here for the first time this weekend and very much enjoyed myself! While walking up to the rose garden, I had the most gorgeous views of San Francisco/Golden Gate. And then when I got to the entrance, I continued to get a fabulous view that makes me want to come back here again with my sketching materials and go crazy! It's early spring so none of the flowers were in bloom, which was a shame. I can tell from the layout it'll be a beautiful spot once they start though! My one complaint is there were quite a few areas on the sides that were blocked off with fences. This made navigating my way down to the bottom of the garden a BIT of a creative challenge. Once I got to the bottom, there was a very cute stream flowing through the middle with several benches for me to choose from along the pathway to the right side of the stream. I settled down and had a very pleasant experience reading for an hour. I came at an off time but I could see this getting quite crowed during popular hours! I'll definitely be coming back! read more

The Berkeley Rose Garden - Beautiful view! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Berkeley, California

For WEDDING CEREMONY PROS 1. BEAUTY The rose garden is beautiful any day, but when set up for a wedding it is just stunning, even magical! I had my wedding here June 2011. As I walked down the stairs and saw my groom in front of me, surrounded by our loved ones in the setting of all the beautiful roses, I was overcome with emotion and teared up. There's hardly any other setting as beautiful for a wedding. Lots of great photo op backgrounds here! On a clear day you can even see the bay and the bridge in the distance. 2. AFFORDABLE Cheaper than most other gardens, parks, golf courses, or hotels for wedding ceremony rental. Less than $700, it's even cheaper for Berkeley residents. Also you have to purchase event insurance for a modest fee, if you don't already have it with your car or housing insurance. CONS 1. STAIRS Warn your guests and party to wear comfy shoes. There is some uneven pavement and you just have to watch your step walking down the aisle. Also not easily accessible by wheelchair or for folks who may have trouble with stairs. 2. CHAIR RENTAL The city of Berkeley does not privide chairs so you have to go with a chair rental company. Most rental companies will charge additional set up fee due to all the stairs, you can get around this by arranging for some of your party to help with this. Easily accommodates 150 chairs, there's additional seating with the existing benches. 3. PARKING No parking lot or nearby garage, just street parking. Warn the guests to come early. However, you can make arrangements with the Berkeley parking and transportation department to get temporary no parking placards in order to reserve a few spots for your bridal party and immediate family. 4. OUTDOOR ELEMENTS Risk of rain. It rained heavily the day before our wedding, we almost canceled the ceremony here. Fortunately it didn't rain on our day, it was gorgeous! Warn those with seasonal allergies to plan accordingly. 5. GAWKERS When you reserve the garden you reserve from the bottom up to the trellises, meaning the public can still come past the gates to watch your wedding, they just can't sit to watch among your guests in the terraced area. SO-SO 1. SOUND Guests can hear you without a mic if you speak up and project, but they cannot if you use your regular volume voice. However at the top by the trellises there are 3 electrical outlet sets where one can string an extension cord and set up a sound system with mic. Recommend: paper parasols. The guests loved them for sun shade and as keepsakes and they were beautiful in pictures. I wish I purchased more from online. read more

Plenty of street parking the two times I visited, and free entrance, too! The flowers were in bloom the past two weekends (end of May, early June) and super pretty. It was surprisingly busy - must be prom season, as there were several high school couples getting their photographs taken amongst the flowers. Cute place to take a stroll and take pictures. read more

This is my secret garden. This is my I-cant-take-it-anymore-and-I-need-to-get-away place. There are roses, and there is a view. What more could you want. I could blather on and on, giving you all sorts of delicious imagery, but this is a garden, and its meant to be enjoyed, not read about. Go any time of year, even if the roses are not blooming. read more

Best place to stop and smell the roses, and when they're not in bloom, it's still a wonderful place to sit and look at the amazing Bay Area, multi-bridge view. For those who play, there are tennis courts, but just strolling and sitting, especially as the light fades...that's the ticket. (There are even clean restrooms - good emergency go-to place, especially if you've been exploring the hills) read more

I last visited the Rose Garden in, what i beleive, to be typical Northern California fashion. A friend of mine and I decided to empty a bottle of wine (Sangiovese) that i had. So we walked to Andronico's in North Berkeley and picked up some goat cheese and crackers and then walked up to the Rose Garden to have a picnic of sorts. For guys out there, this would be a good date idea. It was quite good and very chillax. It would have been better if the roses were in bloom, but it was fun nonetheless. The rose garden is seet up kind of like an ampitheatre so it is all facing out towards the bay from the hill. It is quite lovely and i'm sure it would be even more so if the roses were blooming. I love the north side of Berkeley. It's so nice. It's not like South Side. heh. Nothing is better than cheese and wine. Delicious! read more

Was driving by the Berkeley Rose Garden. Had to stop for the gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Since it is winter, there aren't many flowers in bloom. However, it is still a beautiful place to stop and enjoy the scenery and smell the roses.. There were many families and joggers nearby. Take the time to enjoy what mother nature has to offer. read more

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I could easily see this garden being a 4-star place, and I don't even penalize it much for most everything not being in bloom. The amphitheater arrangement was nice and there were a few trellises and benches that tried to create a romantic and picturesque atmosphere. However, several issues turned me off: * Paths were uneven and broken, making me focus on my footing instead of the flowers * By extension, not handicap accessible * Gardening has clearly lapsed - bushes are overgrowing and some beds have gone mostly to weeds * The thwock-thwock, grunts, and shouts from the adjacent tennis courts disrupt the serenity-that-could-be * The bathroom building was dirty and smelly I was sad to be so disappointed. I'd though maybe I'd found a great new date spot, but until they get the maintenance levels back up, I'll have to go elsewhere. read more

Great place to take the folks or visitors. Beautiful roses and a magnificent view on a clear day, The roses were at their peak a couple of weeks ago. The amphitheater setting is beautiful, anytime of year. Steps may be a problem for the less nimble, but there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views. Cordinices Park is across the street with picnic areas, playground, baseball field and many lovely paths. read more

Roses resurrects memories so divine- our greatest writers used them to inhabit their works with its power to elucidate its infinite meanings- as it is so intertwined with our very own feelings... from the romantics to the symbolists- its the potent potion that casts a spell to its beholder. Rilke noted in his diary "I invented a new form of caress: placing a rose gently on a closed eye until its coolness can no longer be felt; only the gentle petal will continue to rest on the eyelid like sleep just before dawn." This resulted in his chef d'oeuvre work beginning - Rose, o pure contradiction, desire to be no one's sleep beneath so many lids My afternoon here placed me under the sun whose rays filtered through each petal beneath the other, changing colors as it traversed through each petal- vibrant , bright, and alive. I could just smell the fragrant bouquet under each petal as I moved from rose to rose.... I discover myself as each eyelid opened before me...Almost like a dream- of the star crossed lovers beckoning the other to wake up from this sweet reverie. Who can forget these lines from Romeo and Juliet "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Ah now how I wished my name was Arossa :-) SO the tip here is- guys you can never go wrong with a rose- bring one to her or take her to the garden- then watch her smile brighter than the midday sun! Every woman remembers her first rose ;-) To the ladies- you can never go wrong smelling like a rose ;-) Frida Kahlo adorned her hair with roses... Coco Chanel used it for the best selling perfume:-) PS- Of memorable roses I fancied (love that english 'tude)- The Golden Celebration, Gertrude Jeykll, The Pilgrim and Rosa Taboo :-) read more

Sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses. This place has a special place in my heart for obvious reasons. My now husband took me there more than a decade ago when we were dating. He definitely scored some points! Since then we've had meaningful visitations here over the years. Great variety of roses, a few tennis courts, and an awesome view of the bay. You see couples, double daters, family, friends, all types strolling around this rose filled arena. So random, some Asian guy was carrying a trick or treat pumpkin in the middle of June....only in Berkeley. Thanks to him, my husband had a dream that night about Halloween. Berkeley Rose Garden, thanks for reminding us to take time to enjoy the simple things in life. read more

i know it's not a business but... it's magical... i don't know how else to put it. the berkeley rose garden is a city owned park situated in one of berkeley's nicer residential neighborhoods. i spent many years going there as a kid, as an adult i appreciate it even more. the view is stunning, the ambiance is unique, the history is in plain view. this is one place you are sure not to for get. it's shaped like an amphitheater & their are benches at the top where you can see most of berkeley & the lower parts of s.f. the north side of the garden includes a set of tennis courts, just past that is a pedestrian tunnel that leads to codornices park. it's a old city park, i think about 1915 or so. this place is a can't miss if your coming to berkeley. read more

The Berkeley Rose Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is one of the most beautiful places in Berkeley, nay, the Bay Area. I am an SAT tutor without a car and one of my lessons is at the top of Euclid. I always make sure I leave enough time to stop by the Rose Garden and look out at the view and listen to a little music. The other day I just had some free time so I took the trip up and explored the entire garden. It hadn't been in full bloom before so I had no idea how beautiful it was going to be. Its about a 15 minute walk uphill from campus but sooo worth getting off your lazy ass and getting a little exercise and sunshine. The top of the garden has a breathtaking view of the Bay, the Golden Gate bridge and the entire garden. I always see old couples holding hands or young couples drinking beer and picnicking while enjoying the romantic view. My fellow took me here yesterday and it was quite the gesture ;). The garden is built on a hill and you weave in and out of rows of roses as you travel down. There has to be at least 50 different species of roses in an explosion of different colors, shapes, sizes and fragrances. Educational! I would suggest going before the end of spring, because the roses are just about at their peak and they will wilt soon. I think I'm going put on a frilly dress and white gloves to host a tea party here! read more

Lovely. Tranquil and perfect for walking around and contemplating life. But really, this place is totally romantic. There's hundreds of rose bushes. EVERYWHERE. All different colors too and even if you don't go during the peak seasons, it's still a really nice place for a casual walk. Go with someone you love. Go with someone you want something more with. Or in the words of my friend, "Take her there if you want to get laid" 4/5 read more

I came here for my first ever CMYE for east bay. I would never know about this place if it wasn't for Yelp. When we arrived here, Nique greeted us with open arms. We then traveled down the walk way to view the many roses. The best part of this place is, it's FREE!! They have many roses but during the time we went it seemed as if the flowers had already fully bloomed and fallen, which is kind of weird to me since we went to SJ Rose Garden weeks after and they had several variation of open/closed flowers. Hmmm...maybe it's the weather. Who knows. Nonetheless, this place is beautiful. I can see a wedding taken place here. They also have a "woodsy" path to the left of the garden for those who are daring. If you time it perfectly you can see the breath taking sunset at the entry way of the garden. Sit and cuddle with your honey and if you're lucky like we were, a guy was playing soft music on an instrument. It made the night magical. This place is not the ideal place to pull up a blanket and lay it down. They have a few benches scattered around the area but no "blanket area zone". If you want to lay on a blanket with your honey...go across the street at Codornices Park. Check out my photos of the event and the Rose Garden at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/cmye-take-time-to-smell-the-roses-picnic-berkeley#hrid:x_5ZeJ8bmXqma4PT7Vf4VQ read more

I HAD my wedding here three months ago........and I arranged for several friends to come early and keep an eye on things so that no one would ruin it by yelling or trying to be funny, etc. It went very well and the garden was a perfect setting. To Jehan and others who may go here to check out weddings- it sucks that the older couple gave you dirty looks, esp if you were being respectful and WEREN'T sitting below the wooden terrace. FYI- when wedding parties pay for the permit to have a wedding there, they are given exclusive use of the garden in the lower area, from the large wooden terrace on down. The upper area is still open to the public. If you come into the reserved area, they have a right to ask you to leave. read more

When I say that the Berkeley Rose Garden is the center of my universe, I am not exaggerating. It is probably the best place in the world...or at least the best place in the Bay Area. We East Bay residents like to joke that it's better to live on this side of the Bay because we can see the San Francisco skyline from here, which you can't see when you're living in the middle of the city. The view from this lofty garden is jaw-droppingly, stunningly, make-your-heart-cry-out-with-joy-ingly beautiful. Not only can you see the Golden Gate Bridge and skyline, but the whole mountainous coast of Marin is visible, too, in what I can only describe as complete and utter natural glory. Summertime and early fall are the best months to visit the Garden. The scent of warm roses positively radiates from this place, and if you're so inclined to play tennis on one of the courts nearby, you might feel as if you're sporting in a rose-scented heaven. (Though who would want to sweat in a theoretical afterlife, really?!) The amphitheater of flowers contains just about every type of rose you could hope for, and winds down to a positively charming little creek. It leads you through a small wooded area that basically borders some of the back yards of the houses nearby. Perhaps the best part of the Garden is the almost-hidden WPA-style tunnel that cuts underground across the street to Cordonices Park, which is charming in and of itself. (Look for the hidden pathway, the "Stairway to Heaven" -- it is phenomenal!) Berkeley has a very Alice in Wonderland feel to it in all of the right ways, but many of the wrong ways, too. The Rose Garden, fortunately, showcases the splendor of a more genteel side of Berkeley, replete with old fashioned, elegant charm with a hint of demented magic and mystery. The Garden is a complete gem -- a tattered, lovely secret tucked away in the hills above the hubbub below. read more

It's alright. I wish the bushes were fuller. But the flowers and environment is calming

Awwwww. My sister got married here. It was so beautiful. The roses were in bloom, the day was warm, and the views spectacular. It really is an amazing PUBLIC space. Luckily, there were no problems with uninvited guests. As for the pint sized invited guest's... children at the wedding found the creek endlessly fascinating. read more

I've been here a couple of times with both family and friends and each time I always find myself enjoying the serenity and the beauty of the place--even when there aren't any roses blooming! The best times to go if you want to see roses are in April and May. Even without roses, the garden is a great place to relax, read a book, enjoy some nature, and dare I say, smell the roses. ;) I'll admit the garden is a bit small, but the beautiful terraced landscaping makes up for it. Lastly, if you came here looking for the stone slide (like my friends and I did), you are in the wrong place!! Just walk across the street to the park. For anyone who makes the trip to the rose garden, I highly recommend that you take a few extra minutes to experience the 40 ft slide. It's 5 seconds of pure joy. read more

Came here last week on a nice sunny day. All of the roses were in full bloom and the view was spectacular. Before entering the rose garden, there's a vista point were you can sort of oversee the bay and sf. I didn't realize how many different kinds of roses there were. It was pretty amazing, though I wish they had more explanations next to the different types of flowers to let people know a little more about their history/background. But I guess since there's no entrance fee, it's as good as you can get. Also, there's also 6 tennis courts right next to the rose garden if you're into some sports. It's a nice place to come to get away from the ghetto berkeley area, enjoy the beautiful flowers, and maybe a nice picnic. :D read more

Beautiful Rose garden. Great place to visit and take awesome pics! The roses smell great! There are many different varieties of roses here. There are picnics tables and close to park. read more

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This place is euphoria inducing, especially during late spring and early summer. The heady smell of roses and the lovely site of them bring back memories of my grandmother's garden and of wearing rose oil as perfume when i was just starting to want to perfume myself. Come here at night and hold hands (or make out) with your sweetie, but keep in mind that the park closes at ten. I've been caught there after 10 and told to leave. Go through the tunnel and under the street to hang out at Codornices Park. Make sure to shout things and experience the echos. read more

The time to visit the Berkeley Rose Garden is: not now. There's nothing in bloom yet!! I'm definitely going to be back in a few weeks to see what's in bloom. read more

The quintessential romantic spot. All you Berkeley-ites listen up. If you have a gal you want to impress take here. The garden is terraced like a coliseum effect (think Greek theater) and there are some secluded trails off to the sides that make the whole experience more private and personal. The roses are in full bloom right around mother's day, but heck it's nice year round. The ideal date involves buying a picnic style lunch from Gregoire's on Northside by the old Elephant Pharmacy. Drive up the hill and eat under the redwoods across the street from the garden. Take her underground through the tunnel to the 'secret' entrance to the garden. Don't have a date? That's okay, I know you still want to see the roses. Grab your tennis racquet and a hitting buddy and come here to play. This is one of the places I miss most from undergrad... read more

I'm grateful to have been introduced to the Berkeley Rose Garden a number of years ago, within my first year in the Bay Area. What an amazing result and legacy from the Civil Works and Works Progress Administrations, the two organizations which funded its original construction in the 1930s. There are many varieties of roses here, so many both expected and unexpected that throughout the year there's always something to enjoy in the garden. I've encountered a number of weddings in the garden on various visits, as well as many others enjoying the environs. For those needing an athletic outlet besides enjoying the Rose Garden, there are tennis courts just next door. In a health vein, the garden has offered me solace during the difficult times in my life, the beauty giving me respite, if just for an afternoon. read more

The Berkeley Rose Garden - Sunset from Berkeley Rose Garden, Golden Gate view, Dec 2007 - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Berkeley, California