The Poet's Corner Suite in Walkable West Berkeley

A peaceful, private, comfortable, ground floor guest suite in a friendly home in a fabulous location close to San Francisco and the best of the East Bay. Amenities include your own entrance, bedroom with comfortable queen bed, desk, closet, TV, bathroom, kitchenette, sitting/dining nook, washer/dryer and shared patio/yard. Your upstairs-dwelling hosts, Shira and Rumen, are a hospitable couple in their early 60s who are international musicians, cultural workers, and longtime Berkeley residents. The space Our classic Berkeley bungalow was built in 1919. In 2020 and 2021 we did major renovations, including many thoughtful upgrades to our guest quarters. We transformed what was our popular, 5-star rated "Peaceful Blue Bedroom" into a private guest suite with all the creature comforts needed for a short or long-term stay. Our guest suite amenities include: - Comfortable queen-sized bed with Tuft and Needle mattress and quality bedding linens - Bedside desk and chair with task lamp, a practical remote workstation - Wall mounted heater/air conditioner with remote control - Privacy curtains (bedroom faces our driveway, and sometimes we pass by) - Strong, steady, and speedy Sonic Wifi (password provided) - An armoire/closet where you can hang and store clothes, luggage, and personal items and where you can find plenty of extra towels, blankets, etc. - ROKU Smart TV - Bathroom with tub/shower, plenty of towels, hair dryer and straightener, and basic toiletries - A sunny sitting and dining nook with loveseat, round marble-top table, and two dining chairs - Kitchenette with all the essentials you need to prepare and store simple meals. - Washer and Dryer - Shared backyard with outdoor dining area Also available upon request: -Yoga mats -Iron and ironing board Because this is a ground floor in-law unit in our two-story home, you may hear some sounds of life and foot-fall from your hosts who dwell on the upper floor. Our house is also 7 blocks from the Berkeley Amtrak station so you may also hear the sounds of train whistles from time to time. We provide earplugs for anyone who is a light sleeper and might be disturbed by these ambient sounds. The wonderful and friendly Franklin Brothers neighborhood corner market is conveniently located just steps away. Here you can find fresh locally roasted coffee, pastries from the Hopkins Street Bakery, house-made soups, salads, and sandwiches, a thoughtfully curated selection of healthy groceries including wine, beer, and basic pharmaceuticals. The market is open daily from 8am to 8pm. Guest access Our West Berkeley location, nestled between the fashionable 4th Street Shopping District and Bohemian Poet's Corner, is considered a "Walker's Paradise" with fabulous restaurants, markets, shops, yoga and dance studios, and parks just steps away. There are also several bike rental stations within a few blocks. We are also very close to bus lines for easy access to UC Berkeley, the Berkeley Cultural District, San Francisco, and Oakland. The Berkeley Amtrak station is just 7 blocks away. The closest BART station (North Berkeley) is a 20 minute walk from our place, or a 5 minute drive. While we are unable to provide dedicated parking for our guests, there is plenty of free, unlimited parking on the street. Be sure to heed street-cleaning signage. Street cleaning is in effect for 3 hours on each side of the street, once a month. Other things to note A NOTE ABOUT MUSICAL TUESDAYS: Rumen leads a Balkan folk music ensemble class in our upstairs living room on most Tuesday evenings from 7-10pm. Many of our guests love to listen and experience this peek into our musical lives, but if you require absolute peace and quiet on Tuesday evenings, you might consider other lodging options. On all days of the week, we adhere to the City of Berkeley noise ordinance and observe quiet hours between 10:00pm and 8:00am. We ask our guests to do the same. Our house is 8 blocks from the Berkeley Amtrak station, very convenient for trips to Silicon Valley, Sacramento, and other destinations. You may hear occasional train whistles in the distance.