The Claremont neighborhood straddles both the Berkeley and Oakland borders. The landmark of this area is the majestic Claremont Hotel, a vast white wedding cake of a Victorian edifice perched on 22 acres in the hills. Two outdoor pools, ten tennis courts, a full-service spa, a completely equipped health club, and three onsite restaurants deliver stunning views and is popular with generations of locals as a luxurious getaway, and a traditional Mother’s Day breakfast.
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The Claremont district was originally developed as a “city in a garden,” and featured lush landscaping, curving streets that hug the canyon hills, and open space. Homes on the leafy side-streets here provide a sense of old fashioned Berkeley elegance, with turn-of-the-century brown shingles, revivals and prairie-style houses sited on landscaped yards bursting with flowers.
Local shopping is centered on the Elmwood shopping district on nearby College Avenue. Old fashioned shops, friendly merchants, BART, the bank, grocery stores, bookshops, flower stands, cafes, restaurants, movies, the bakery, and the cleaners are all a short walk away.
The canyon is preserved as open space, with 150 acres owned by the University of California and 200 acres managed by the East Bay Park District. Garber Park, a 13-acre oak and bay tree woodland south of Claremont Avenue, is owned by the city of Oakland. Hiking trails reward ambitious hikers with panoramic views of the bay.
The community is served by John Muir Elementary and Claremont Middle School, which feature an active PTA and a new administration dedicated to providing more opportunities for students including a digital media lab, music program, and community garden.
