Breads of India

Small, fully fenced and built for toddlers, with cat-shaped stone sculptures to climb, a sand pit with water, and ride-on toys other families leave behind.

West Berkeley's go-to: a long hillside slide worth the cross-town trip, a restored creek older kids migrate to, and the Hidden Cafe right in the park so parents get real coffee without leaving. Basketball and tennis at the south end.

Two playgrounds cover different ages, including a fenced tot lot with water play and a bigger climber with a long tube slide.

Family-run Chinese restaurant where you can order a whole steamed fish ahead of time for the table.

Open art lab where kids can upcycle materials into new creations on Saturdays.

A taqueria where the beef tacos are such a hit that kids want to lick the plate clean.