# Indoor places for a rainy day in Berkeley

8 places in Berkeley where the weather does not matter: a hands-on science museum in the hills, the children’s section of the central library, two climbing gyms, drop-in paint-your-own pottery, a small play space with a climbing structure and ride-on toys, a toy shop worth browsing, and a board game café.

Last updated 2026-09-12, from the newest confirmation among these places.

## The list

1. [Lawrence Hall of Science](https://ourplayday.com/places/lawrence-hall-of-science-berkeley) (museum). Design Quest for building and testing things, an Animal Discovery Room, and one of the best views of the bay from the terrace. Open Wednesday to Sunday; $20 covers everyone from three upwards. Confirmed: wheelchair accessible (Play Day, September 2026).
2. [Berkeley Public Library, Central Branch](https://ourplayday.com/places/berkeley-public-library-central-branch-berkeley) (library). A giant children's section downtown with storytime and artist-led sessions, and it costs nothing. The default when the weather turns.
3. [Benchmark](https://ourplayday.com/places/benchmark-94709) (attraction). A climbing gym near Downtown Berkeley recommended for rainy days.
4. [The Oaks](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-oaks-94707) (attraction). A climbing gym in North Berkeley suggested for a rainy-day outing.
5. [Brushstrokes Studio](https://ourplayday.com/places/brushstrokes-studio-berkeley) (attraction). Paint-your-own pottery with drop-in studio time, so you do not have to commit to a class or a date. A reliable rainy afternoon.
6. [Children’s Club House](https://ourplayday.com/places/children-s-club-house-94703) (attraction). A small South Berkeley play space with a climbing structure, ride-on toys, and a climbing wall geared toward young kids.
7. [Mr. Mopps' Children's Books & Toys](https://ourplayday.com/places/mr-mopps-children-s-books-toys-berkeley) (attraction). The toy shop people send you to for the thing you cannot find anywhere else. Browsing is half the outing.
8. [Victory Point Cafe](https://ourplayday.com/places/victory-point-cafe-berkeley) (restaurant). A board game cafe, so there is something to do at the table while you wait for food. Works for a birthday or for the stretch of afternoon nobody knows what to do with.

## About this list

Every place here is a listing on Play Day, and a place is listed only when something positive is known about it for kids. The facts come from published guides, parents who visited and OpenStreetMap, and each listing says which and when.

Page: https://ourplayday.com/guides/berkeley/indoor-places-for-a-rainy-day. All of Berkeley: https://ourplayday.com/places/in/berkeley