New Cali’s Sports Bar & Kitchen joins mainstays like Raleigh’s and Henry’s in catering to all sports fans.
February 13, 2024
BERKELEYSIDE — Blake’s on Telegraph. Pappy’s. And now, Cali’s.
Regardless of the name you know it as, the watering hole at 2367 Telegraph Ave. has been an anchor for the Telegraph District and the wider Berkeley community ever since 1940, when Larry Blake opened his storied bar and subterranean nightclub. Blake’s closure in 2011 after 71 years left a hole, but the space was quickly filled by Pappy’s Grill and Sports, which entertained students, residents and visitors for more than a decade before shuttering in 2022.
Now a new sports bar has opened on the spot, under the experienced leadership of Wilson Wong, manager and second-generation family business owner of Kips Bar and Grill, around the corner on Durant Avenue.
“Our vision is to be a destination not only for all-things-sports, but also live music, DJs, dance parties and other entertainment,” Wong said during an interview on Cali’s sunny outdoor patio on a recent January afternoon.
The newly remodeled space certainly has the setup to be multiple things to multiple people. Upstairs, is Cali’s Sports Bar & Kitchen, a classic sports bar with an extensive menu featuring the expected fried foods alongside on-trend items like smashburgers, Detroit-style pizza and fried chicken sandwiches.
Downstairs is Club Cali, which comes alive on weekends with DJs and themed events during the day like Salsa Sunday, as well as weekend brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wong said he has plans to further activate the downstairs space, including hosting local bands.
Calling all sports fans
The constantly rotating calendar of major sporting events keeps the bar and kitchen busy. While Cal athletics dominate the atmosphere — paraphernalia such as the jerseys of Cal players who have gone pro and sheet music for the school’s fight song, “Fight for California,” adorn the walls — Wong emphasized that Cali’s is for sporting fans of all stripes. “We’re loyal to California sports, but everyone is welcome,” he said.
Cali’s opened in May 2024 just in time for UC Berkeley’s graduation season. Wong recruited Alex Mendoza and Amanda Espinoza, previously managers at Cornerstone Berkeley, to oversee the bar and food programs, respectively. “They’re veterans of the industry, but also veterans of this space,” Wong said. Both had worked at Pappy’s.
Wong’s own industry credentials run deep. Growing up in Alameda, he spent afternoons and weekends working in his parents’ Chinese restaurant, Sun Hong Kong, at Shattuck Avenue and Berkeley Square in Downtown Berkeley (where Pizzeria da Laura is now). As Wong became more active in the family business, he persuaded his parents to expand into nightlife. The family purchased Kip’s Bar and Grill in 2000 and Wong became general manager, a role he’s held ever since.
Cal game days reliably pack the stools at Cali’s, but Wong said the venue also draws big crowds for other events like UFC championships, which it broadcasts free for all customers — sound and all. “It’s a pretty intense fanbase,” Wong said. “Everybody likes to listen to the audio and the commentary. I think for most sports, if people are really into the game, they want to hear the audio.”
Soccer is another draw — not surprising, considering UC Berkeley’s international population. For last summer’s World Cup matches, fans from around the world gathered at Cali’s as early as 9 a.m.
Wong sees the rebirth of the historic space on the corner of Telegraph and Durant avenues as part of a broader renaissance for Berkeley’s Telegraph District. He’s already working with District leaders for a Game Day block party to draw in fans. He also wants to draw more people to the summertime Second Sundays event series, and other Telegraph Ave events like Boba Day, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary on April 26th.
Where to watch the NBA All-Star game
The next major sporting event is the 74th NBA All-Star Game. This Sunday, Feb. 16, Chase Center in San Francisco will host the league’s annual exhibition game of its star players. For basketball fans who haven’t been able to score a ticket to see the game in person, the Telegraph District in Berkeley offers several venues to enjoy the game live.
In addition to Cali’s, Henry’s, a staple of Berkeley’s sports bar scene that’s been open since the 1940s, will be broadcasting the game on a projector screen and will run specials on beer, pizza, appetizers and more. Raleigh’s Pub, which has been home to thirsty undergrads, grads, and Berkeley natives for over 30 years, is another excellent option to catch the game accompanied by some craft beer.
And Cali’s will present the game on its many TVs and wall-sized projection screen — sound on, of course.
WHAT NEXT
- Use Berkeley Bucks gift cards at Cali’s or more than 100 other Berkeley businesses.
- Check out Visit Berkeley’s NBA All-Star Weekend blog for other venues to watch the game and celebrate local sports teams.
- Continue the fun with basketball-themed events like Berkeley Restaurant Week’s “March Munch Madness” (March 21-31), where more than 50 restaurants citywide will bring the magic of chocolate to their menus.
- Visit the Discovered in Berkeley Stories page to find more articles about innovative local businesses.
