I love Berkeley. And not just for our great academic programs. There are tons of places on and off campus where I love to hang out, relax, or even study.

On campus:
The Dwinelle court: It's a little hard to find (go to the bottom floor of Dwinelle and find your way into the maze of the 1000s faculty rooms) but it's very peaceful and a great place to do work.
Random benches: Our campus has tons of cute little benches surrounded by trees and shrubbery. Great for us Natural Resources people! Plop yourself down on a bench and do some reading.
North and East Reading Rooms: It's quiet and has a grand, university feeling to it, so it'll inspire you to get some serious work done!

In Berkeley:
College Avenue: I'm a sucker for cute coffee shops and little restaurants. La Mediteranee and Filippo's are great places to have a nice weekend lunch or dinner, and you can do some shopping at Jeremy's while you're there.
Botanical Gardens: It's a beautiful place where you can enjoy nature and take a break from studying.
Rose Garden: another naturey place where you can enjoy the scenery and let out your romantic side.
99 Ranch (actually in El Cerrito): It's kind of hard to get there (take the 43, or better yet, get someone to drive you), but everything there is so much cheaper than Safeway! It's a good place to get some cheap vegetables and stock up on groceries.

Go out and explore our wonderful city and find your own little favorite corners where you can escape from school!