babette to close

we just learned from our sick bed (we miss masks.) that berkeley's romantic little neighborhood cafe and restaurant babette will host its final day of service on october 31.

'it is with deep regret and sadness that we must announce the closure of babette,' the cafe's farewell letter begins on its website and instagram. 'like so many of our friends and fellow small business owners, we just could not make the numbers work. between three different locations, babette has served berkeley for 14 years. we will host our 22nd and final wedding at the end of the month.'

berkeley's babette from married owners patrick hooker and joan ellis started its life as a cozy, modern cafe space within the original berkeley art museum at 2625 durant avenue in 2012, and then moved when bampfa moved to its current center street location in 2016.

in 2022, as the pandemic lingered, the team took a leap and moved to the former lanesplitter pizza space at 2033 san pablo avenue, and truly made the most of the location's roomy interior and pretty outdoor backyard and redwood tree.

along with sustainable, farm-fresh, seasonal cuisine for dinner, their vision for the space in just a few short years included live music, local art, film, brunch and lunch (now ceased going forward), engaging the local community with a very berkeley sense of vibrancy.

babette is at 2033 san pablo avenue in berkeley, and will close after service on october 31.

october 7, 2025