Berkeley Rose Garden

Since 1937, this garden has provided a wonder experience for many individuals as well as families. No dogs allowed. There are steep stairs so be aware

🌹 Vast Rose Collection: Home to 1,500 rose bushes with 250 unique varieties. * vistas Stunning Bay Views: Offers breathtaking panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. * ✅ Free Admission: Open to the public with no entry fee. * ️ Recreational Facilities: Includes nearby sports fields and tennis courts. * 📍 Iconic Location: A popular and beloved landmark in the Berkeley Hills.

What a gorgeous assembly of beautiful blooms! I have been visiting this garden for over a decade and it delights me every time. The well-tended plants are so healthy, radiantly so. There are benches for sitting and gazing into the sea of flowers, and walkable pathways throughout the garden. The views are stunning and photo opportunities abound. The garden is accessible to the public via gates near the tennis courts; street parking nearby is available—just ensure you check the signage. :)

Great space full of different kind of flowers, very well maintained and colorful. You can take a walk and smell the different roses they keep there. You can get there by car and park outside, no animals allowed.

What an amazing garden with so many beautiful roses - I couldn't help but stop every other minute for pictures. There was also almost no one else around 8am on a Sunday when I visited.

While it does need a little more care and attention, the garden overall is a delight to visit and the roses are well tended to. Other parts of the garden need some attention, but for the Grand entry price of $0 it's a great place to visit. They have plenty of classic varieties as well as common and uncommon hybrid rose varieties. Lots of steps, so not very accessible. Great views of the bay from the top of the garden.

Lovely Rose Garden, def visit in the spring or early summer to see the beautiful roses.

Pretty nice. Gets busy with people and their children even on weekdays since it's also next to a park. Pretty roses but I wish a lot of them had a lot more fragrance because most lacked fragrance. There are some parts that need maintenance so people can walk more easily but there's plenty of pathways to walk around. You'll get to see lots of bees most likely. I would ago around later spring after the cold but before the summer heat starts. Though, the flowers would probably be more fragrant on hotter days. We also got to visit Oklahoma

The Berkeley Rose Garden is a beautiful place to relax and appreciate quiet beauty. It is up in the North Berkeley hills and is a respite from the busy flatlands and campus surroundings of vibrant Bezerkely. Being in the hills, that feature is blended in the landscape, so you will need to go uphill and downhill. When I came here to meet someone, I was still recovering from a minor foot injury, so I opted not to go down into the main flower bowl, but walked to an adjacent my area where there were picnic tables to sit and relax under the large evergreen trees in the shade, as it was a warm day. We spent a couple of hours chatting in nature. Very pleasant! Not to compare Rose gardens, but I think the Oakland Rose garden has a much bigger selection of blooming roses of all colors and types at any given time, whereas this Berkeley Rose Garden has a more diverse setting of nature that fits into the surrounding area. Either way, you can't go wrong making a trip to a Rose Garden to appreciate Nature, life and beauty, and reset your outlook in an ever changing modern technology world.

This is a great spot for a quiet time of reflection and a stroll among some beauty. The roses were in bloom many spots while we were there, and the benches along the edges gave both spots for stopping and places for reflection. I loved the set up and how you could get close to many of the blooms, as well as see all of the space from the top of you weren't inclined to walk around. They have a water feature at the bottom and some other aspects that helped add to the tranquility. It was a lovely visit and I would highly recommend going there often if you are in the area or live close.

The Rose Garden in Berkeley has everything for everyone. It has at least two pergolas where you can soak up the sun and read or spend time with someone to enjoy the view. It also had hiking trails for those who want to explore. For those who want to play sports, there are tennis courts, basketball courts, and soccer fields. Lots of picnic tables surrounded by lush greens for gatherings or just to eat al fresco. You can see the Bay from the street between the gardens when the weather is clear. Beautiful relaxing place to be.

Had the blessing of going to the Berkeley Rose Garden in mid-June when the roses were in full bloom! It was a pleasure observing each of the color gradients and patterns of the different types of roses while also indulging in smelling each of them! It's crazy that some of them smell like citrus while others smell like alcohol, peach, or really gross hahaha. I'd love to visit again next year if I'm still in the area (:

When living in the Berkeley/Albany area a number of years ago (2017), I made time to come and explore The Berkeley Rose Garden alone. I chose to walk to the garden, and on my walk decided to come up with a different approach for viewing the flowers/vegetation in the spirit of staying mentally engaged. I came up with: when I see a flower, identify the color and any color patterns (such as speckles, stripes, or different coloring at a petal tip). I applied this approach for the duration of my visit. As an on foot visitor, I found the garden easy to access. It was quiet so I had ample time by myself trying to come up with specific shades/hues of colors to describe the roses to myself. The layout was such that it was easy to navigate between the rows and not lose sight of where I was in the garden. A few small birds hopped around the bottoms of the flower plants. A fun outdoor experience.

Beautiful oasis of flowers within Berkeley. You could fill an afternoon walking the paths and taking in all the rose cultivars. If you're not up for that level of research, hanging at the top and admire the view of the bay!

In a word, Stunning. From the roses to the views, what a memorable spot to walk around or share with loved ones.

I was blown away by how heavenly this place is. A must visit for all the rose lovers.

Wow, I really love this place! Free, beautiful, and as it plus it smells really nice. The roses are labeled with their species name so you can tell what kind of rose it is. Street parking is free, thought it can get crowded. Make sure you come in season so they're in bloom!

The view from up top was beautiful. We were fortunate to see all the flowers in full bloom. Not very big but worth the trip.

Beautiful roses!! I can just imagine what this place would look like at the height of the season. We came late in the afternoon on June 15th and the roses that were left were beautiful, but many of the plants had already reached the end of their season. Still, it's fantastic that this park is here and it's absolutely free for anyone who wants to enjoy it! I had just been to the Rose Garden at Golden Gate Park two days before and this place seems bigger than that, but maybe it's because the Berkeley Rose Garden is tiered. Regardless, this is a must visit for anyone who loves flowers. I only wish more of the roses had some scent; seems that the original rose scent has been bred out of modern day roses!

Innumerable roses in bloom during our late September visit. Incredible garden for all to enjoy free of cost. Many benches to sit and relax, some shaded. Quite tranquil.

What an awesome free park! I found this location on yelp and ordered some food to go and brought it here to eat. The park is very clean with lots of benches to eat. The views were amazing and it was quiet but also nice to watch people play tennis. Lots of different varieties of roses however when we went, it wasn't in season so not a lot of roses present. The park was still very fun and beautiful however. Also lots of parking everywhere!

Keep Your Rose Clean Built in 1933 and opened in 1937 as a product of the Works Progress Administration (which was part of Roosevelt's "New Deal"--which was neither "New" nor a "Deal," but I digress...) the Berkeley Rose Garden is a 3.64-acre park nestled in one of Berkeley's nicer neighborhoods. The Good: *1,500 Rose bushes and 250 varieties *Picnic areas *Restrooms *I love the multi-level amphitheater-style layout of the garden. *As promised, lots and lots of roses! *Free street parking but watch the signage as some of the parking is resident permit parking. The Meh *Aforementioned restrooms were closed when we visited on a Sunday, so I'm not sure if that's SoP or a SnAfU? *The park, as a whole, is in dire need of some TLC; everything is overgrown, and some walkways are completely covered up by the overgrowth, rendering them useless. *The water feature running thru the middle would be a really nice touch, but it too was a big mess Hill of plywood and other debris. The Ugly: *Park is adjacent to a tennis court, so you'll get to hear some nice yelling and souts of encouragement from Richard Williams, Juniors over there... TLDR: Nice place to visit if you're in the area, but it's not worth going out of your way. If you're looking for a truly superlative Rose Garden, I highly recommend San José's Municipal Rose Garden as an alternative suggestion.

This garden is a good size and the view is quite pretty from afar (see photo). The large steps remind me of an Egyptian pyramid. During the Fall, most roses are gone replaced by rose hips and dried leaves. It's free and there are tennis courts across the garden and very clean bathroom. There's also a big park across with good hiking trails. Recommended when it's in season!

What a gorgeous place. We have been loving the Morcom Rosw Garden in Oakland so really wanted to check out the Berkeley rose garden. What views on top. Breathtaking. Clearly can see golden gate Bridge on a clear sunny day Beautiful garden with amazing smelling roses and such raw nature around it filled with trees and greenery! Beautiful for any age and deadly sunsets here I can only imagine!

Great hidden gem. I heard about this place randomly and decided to take a drive. Great little hike (stairs galore), but rises all over to take your mind off it and give your legs a break :=). Lot of the blooms were dormant when I went, but I could clearly see the beauty in the location. I also loved seeing the cards telling the rose variety. Lots of families out sharing the experience with their children. Very nice opportunity. Met some nice gentlemen who shared info about the rose garden and the park across the street. Great day.. will try again in a few months to see different variety of roses. There are also gems courts in the garden area. There were lots of budding tennis stars doing their class... it was very cool. Also, I thought it was cool that there were lots of dad's with their kids running up the stone stairs... the kids will sleep well tonight. Nice location... pretty views, and of course the roses smell delightful.

Can't believe it's taken me roughly a decade to finally write a review for the Berkeley Rose Garden. Even when off-season, this free garden is a delight to visit and walk around in and admire the view of the Bay Area from. There are a handful of benches to sit upon and relax, and there are a few paths to explore walking around. A wonderful and romantic date spot!

Free to visit, so you can't really complain. Plenty of street parking most days. This is a great place to take a casual stroll down the rows of roses. Good photo opportunity as well. When I visited, there was somebody tending to the gardens with a leaf blower so it was good to know that the garden is well taken care of even though I didn't like all that dust in my face. I would definitely come back to visit when the roses are at their peak.

We went during the off-season so there wasn't a lot of roses. But, it's a nice way to spend an hour or so just to walk around. There are lots of stairs here to get to the garden, but it does have a handicapped entrance. Across the street there's a park. Get to the park and there's a tunnel that will take you to the garden. Look for the handicapped sign. The view of the Golden gate was pretty cool and unexpected. Lots of seating, but not in the shade, so bring a hat! There is 1 cute bench in the shade under a tree and had people eyeing us just waiting for us to leave so they could snatch it. There are men/women restrooms here too and were pretty clean for being public restrooms.

The price is right at this great park: its free! The Rose Garden in Berkeley is a local landmark. Everyone local knows it. But most locals don't regularly visit. What a shame. The roses here are STUNNING. Roses are a lot of work to maintain and prune and water. I'm not sure who does all this work, but to whoever it is... THANK YOU. The roses are stunningly beautiful. But the secret is to use your nose as well to smell the roses. They have different scents and textures. So beautiful.

Very serene and peaceful. It is tiered steps like colosseum seating so wear comfortable shoes so you can walk around. It's a nice size and the whole place is beautifully fragrant.

This is the hidden gem in the Berkeley Hills that a lot of people know about!! I have never been here and seen it not somewhat crowded, this is definitely a favorite spot for east bay residents. All types and flowers and roses, multiple paths up, down and around the mini gardens with benches throughout. If you go down to the bottom, there's a small bridge and creek also. But no matter how many people are here, it is always quiet, peaceful, and serene. I like to come here and just take a stroll and find a bench and relax for a while, let time slip away. There are also very clean restrooms here along with a tunnel that goes underneath the road leading you to Cordonices Park, which is also a great place in its own right. It's definitely worth the trek to get here, you won't be disappointed!!!

I walked through the garden in the morning. It was so quiet and peaceful. The garden was beautiful!! The smell of the roses were heavenly. There were morning dew on all of the roses. It was amazing!!

What an amazing, hidden gem hidden within the Berkeley Hills area. Being new to the East Bay, I never knew this place existed until my gf, having heard about this garden multiple times from friends, insisted that we spend our day off finally visiting this garden that she so much about. First off, this garden is very hard to miss. Because despite it being downhill, there is a very big sign at the entrance welcoming you to the Berkeley Rose Gardens. The garden grounds itself is very clean, well-lit for when you're roaming here at later hours, and there are plentiful selections of benches to use if you just want to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery. We saw a ton of foot traffic during our visit, but the garden is big enough that everyone is very spaced out. Lots of couples enjoying some peaceful, quality time together, as well as families just enjoying the to lovely weather. We went late into the season, so there weren't very many roses in bloom. However all flowers were labeled for easier identification, and there was certainly a large variety of types being cared for at the garden. In addition to enjoying the flowers, we saw some tennis courts off to the side that you can reserve. As well as restroom facilities and picnic benches if you wish to host an event. Parking is available for free on the street. And despite it being busy due to the holiday weekend that we went, we still were able to snag a spot right away.

Beautiful views used to visit frequently when my dad was alive. Love the new concrete area to sit and enjoy overlook of SF

Soooooooo pretty!! Glad I finally visited, the roses were just gorgeous and the smells unbelievable! All the flowers were beautiful honestly, couldn't turn my head without something new catching my eye. Pictures don't do it justice. Loved their little fun names too like Impatient, Scentmental Joey, Marilyn Monroe and Frida Khalo. Made me chuckle! Great spot for a date, a mindful walk through nature or just to do something new in your neighborhood outside! Can't recommend this spot enough!

Great, beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle! I loved walking or jogging here as a student whenever I had some free time and wanted to get away. I usually came during the spring time, so not sure how the place looks during other seasons, but in the spring there would always be so many flowers! I enjoyed walking between the rows and looking at all the funny and creative names for the flowers. Do have to note, the place isn't as big as I'd originally thought the first time I came here. Still definitely worth coming to though!

ROSES: Hubby always buys me roses, red , orange, yellow, pink. It always brings me joy ! He told me about the Berkeley Rose garden and we came here on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Located in the Berkeley hills across cornices park and as pretty as can be . It has a view of the bay on a recently clear day. We spent about 30 minutes here and literally took time to smell the roses all hundred and billion of them. Its a gorgeous piece of heaven in Berkeley and we left feeling very relaxed. I love discovering new places especially pretty places with beautiful flowers ! Offscreet parking, bring flat shoes because it's hilly and located on a slope and lots of walking lots of opps for photos ! ENJOY

Beautiful well maintained park! The roses are in full bloom right now and the terraced pathways smell amazing. Love to take a stroll, read the names of each variety, and take pics of the beautiful roses! Lots of benches and gazebo / trellis provide some filtered shade. Parking is free, on the street (2 hr parking) and there's a huge park (Cordonices park) across the street that is connected via a tunnel. Clean bathrooms too! Bring a book to enjoy the nice views and sights from the top - will be coming back for a sunset soon!

A beautiful rose garden... in BERKELEY of all places? I mean, who would have thunk it?! My heart melts for these types of local hidden gems. I guess it's not super "hidden" but it's located high up in the North Berkeley Hills. High enough to make it a small journey for some, but I guess that's why it isn't super crowded. This garden is truly stunning. Even in the dead of summer, the roses were still full and as vibrant as ever. The variety is pretty insane too. All different shapes, colors, sizes, and even smells. Simply a rose and flower lover's dream. What's also neat is that every species of rose is clearly labeled. Upon entry, you'll find a few concrete benches that overlook all of the gardens down below. You'll also have an amazing view of the San Francisco Bay when there are clear skies if you squint hard enough. The sunsets are really magical too. There are stairs that will take you down into the amphitheater. Here you'll find several pathways surrounded by roses. You can wander aimlessly throughout the amphitheater and explore as long or as little as you want. When you reach the bottom, you'll see a small waterfall that flows into a tiny manmade creek. The sounds of the water running are so peaceful. Don't forget to look back up at when you're down there. The views here are truly priceless. There's a small altar about midway and a few trees in the opposite direction. You can connect here from a walking path via Cordonices Park across the street. Behind the gardens are a few large tennis courts. The setting is so tranquil and relaxing. People seem to come here mainly to study, read, and relax. You can sit anywhere in the amphitheater which makes this rose garden all the more accessible. You'll find photographers here looking for that perfect photo and people using the roses as a backdrop for their perfect shot. I'm amazed that this place wasn't busy when I went, but hey... I ain't complainin'. I can't wait to return in the spring to watch the new flock of beautiful roses bloom. If you haven't seen this amazing rose garden yet, you're really missing out.

"Though seasons change, The beauty of the Rose, vital and pure, In the warm light of spring's morning, Like the sun, lives forever Eternally warming the hearts of us all." - Thomas Wadsworth Roses... So beautiful and sweet! Just walk amongst them and feel happy and refreshed! Well... That's how I felt when we strolled through this free garden! We parked on the street, right at the entrance! So lucky! We walked down the stairs, to the end where there's a bridge and a waterfall! There were benches here and there for resting or for spending some time with a friend or two! 4.5 overall because a wheelchair wouldn't be able to access this garden and there was no handrails in some parts of the garden. Thanks for coming with me, Hazel! We made a wonderful memory together!

Beautiful with blooming flowers. Many paths to walk around! There's a smalls stream and a path that goes through the trees. Thank you to those who maintain this beautiful park.

This has been one of my favorite parks from childhood. There is a small creek at the bottom of the park where you can see dragonflies. Each rose is labeled and unique. A perfect place for a wedding tucked away in Tilden park. All ages will love to visit this park.

There are easy parking spots around the rose garden, can see the water view from the top. The roses are not open yet, still nice view! Will come back in the summer for picnic

This is such a Berkeley gem! I love this rose garden, it's so beautiful and serene, perfect for pictures and a short stroll to destress, pause, and smell the roses! Did some yoga with a buddy right by the divine staircase, perfect shady nook to get some meditation and stretches in!

Always a pleasure to take a casual walk around the Rose Garden to smell and see the amazing, old vine, roses. You can tell there are no hybrids, because they are all afragrant.

So beautiful!! I went last weekend to play tennis and the roses are in full bloom! You could smell the scent from the courts as you played; it was so nice we had to walk around to admire once we were done. A great place for a family outing or a date, there is a nice view of the bay and the bridge from the top too. Now is the perfect time to go, go while you can while the roses are still there!!

Catch it while in full bloom! Just beautiful...drive and park though you will still have stairs. Or get your steps in and stroll up through the neighborhood. A free gem!

I love how this rose garden has a view at the top of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. At 3.5 acres it's about half of the size of the one in Oakland designed in an Amphitheater-style layout with different levels. There are a lot of benches which makes it easy to stay for a while and read, contemplate life decisions, or catch up with friends. This seems like the perfect place for Cal students to take visiting parents. The garden is located in the Berkeley hills so it can be a good stopping off point for a stair hike in the area. It's featured in walk #9 in Charles Fleming's Secret Stairs East Bay Book. For a double rose pleasure get a rose latte at Rasa Caffe to drink while strolling around the garden.

Beautiful Rose Garden when I went on June 1, 2019 and it was a nice sunny day in the high 70s degree weather. All the roses were in bloom and people viewing the flowers and taking photos like myself. I brought my sandwich and found a bench to sit on to rest, enjoy views and eat my lunch. You can smell the fresh fragrance of roses in the air which was great. I wish I could stay there all day! Always pack water with you so you don't dehydrate yourself. It is quite a walk toward the garden if you get off at DowntoBerkeley BART, it will be a 32 minute walk roughly. I did the walk with a group of people and was chatting along the way, so time flew by quickly. Berkeley has nice looking restaurants, a nice university, and nice homes along the route I took to get to the Rose Garden which has a tennis court attached to it and restrooms. It is in the Codornices Park area where there are cement slides and A softball field. There is a tunnel that links the Rose Garden to the Cordornices Park without crossing the street which was interesting and long. Good thing it was daytime because I would have second thoughts about going through it at night. Berkeley Rose Garden reminded me of Portland, Oregon's rose garden in a much smaller size.

An absolutely gorgeous place!! I came to the rose garden on a whim to celebrate the end of finals and my 21st birthday with one of my friends, who presented me with a beautiful bottle of rosé here too. So fitting! I've only ever heard tales from classmates about the Berkeley Rose Garden, and it's totally worth a visit. Though it's quite small (you'd probably be able to take a look at all the roses within half an hour), it's a beautiful place to take pictures, spend some time with loved ones, and get a picturesque view of the bay at the very top of the rose garden before entering! The pictures attached down below do not do the subjects justice. A bonus feature is that every row of roses has a multitude of rose varieties, each with their own unique (and often really cute) names, such as "Love" or "Sexy Rexy"! Something I found that was also quite nice was that there are several outdoor sports / park locations right next to the rose garden. Its neighbors are several tennis courts, and right across the street are a playground and a very recently repainted basketball court. There are plenty of different hiking trails, winding staircases and bridges across still-flowing streams of water, and the crisp sound of birds all around. It's an all around wonderful area to visit, and it's a wonderful place for families. Though it's not as extensive or as fascinating as the Berkeley Botanical Gardens farther up in the hills, the rose garden is still a hidden gem. Find some time away in nature here at the Berkeley Rose Garden!

Rose gardens are always nice! This garden is average size and has several levels of rows to showcase the flowers. There are many varieties to see but depending on your interest in flowers, you may only take about 30 mins to walk around. Parking is hard because it's Berkeley, so you'll have to drive around a bit to find nearby parking. Overall it's a free rose garden, can't go wrong with that!

Beautiful area, serene feeling throughout. Looks like the experience varies based on the time of year you visit, so I'll mention that I came September 2021. There were a decent number of roses in bloom, no construction obstructing the views (there was for a while before), and a decent number of people walking around -- not too many either. Great place to spend an hour (or more!) and get away from it all. Would recommend.

Nice public park, but about half closed in April and not quite rose blooming season. Parking is pretty tight, but I expect people come and go pretty quickly.

Excellent rose garden and it is FREE! I had heard of the Berkeley Rose Garden before and was determined to check it out since it's only 15 mins drive from me. Came with a hiking group in February and left a little disappointed b/c there was no roses in sight. Apparently we were too early. So I came again this past weekend in mid-June and the roses were in full bloom. Although some of them started to look a bit sad with colors fading away so I suppose May would be the perfect month to check this place out. Regardless I had a relaxing Sunday afternoon looking at all the flowers here. There were deff great varieties. I was amazed by some of their names: bewitched, taboo, etc. Wow, those are some awesome names! And the roses here deff lived up to their names. They were so beautiful and smelt great, too! All in all, the Berkeley Rose Garden is a cool spot that should not be missed. I'll deff come back next year! And you should, too!

Great view. Quiet. Good for walking around and decompressing. Parking usually ok except on weekends. Toilets ok.

The. Weekly Rose garden to be appreciated needs to be visited by botanists and rose enthusiasts because the common people like me - of course it beautiful, unique with great names and all but it is a rose garden. However the park across from the said rose garden with its maze of secret stairs and slips will keep anyone happy for hours.

A nice spot to visit to sit and chat with a friend, lots of benches. It doesn't take long to walk around the whole place, the park across the street has some trails though if you're looking for a hike. Roses are always pretty and I liked reading all the funny names of them.