Jupiter's two-story venue and beer garden is always a-buzz, pouring 12 house brews, as well as 20 other regional craft beers. Gothic influences accentuate Jupiter's main room, where bronze-hued pressed tin lines the walls, and pews from the St. John's Presbyterian Church in Berkeley (now the Julia Morgan Theater) serve as patron seating. Antique church lights illuminate the atmosphere, the bar itself is topped with copper, and the beer taps glow from the front of a huge old-style wooden ice box. Jupiter's glow is equally fed natural light from sliding doors to the beer garden patio out back. Jupiter offers several large round tables where parties of 6 or more can gather for a bite to eat, and a cold libation.
A staircase leads to the second floor which features a front window view, exhibiting the comings and goings of life on Shattuck Avenue in Downtown Berkeley. Stroll to the back of Jupiter's second floor and witness a "bird's eye" view from a picture window that overlooks a huge heated two-level beer garden (complete with central fire-pit). When sunlit, the lower patio seating is packed with lunch patrons enjoying the outdoor seating. After dusk, heat lamps keep the patio full, as the scene converts to an eclectic nightlife, where hours are spent listening to great jazz. Jupiter is well known as a premiere alternative jazz venue, and features a year round music schedule which runs Tuesday - Saturday. Check out the events page for more information about the year-round live jazz programming, and the critically-acclaimed "Americana Unplugged" Summer Bluegrass series which runs every Sunday afternoon, April through October.
The food at Jupiter is truly unique, prepared before your eyes at the end of the downstairs bar. Wood-fired pizzas and baked foccacia sandwiches are a perfect compliment to the fresh microbrews, lunch favorites include the open-faced Neptuna Melt sandwich, and the Zeus, Odysseus, and Andromeda pizzas are joined by new (seasonal) pizza recipes year round. The dinner menu expands after five o'clock, with seasonal plates for patrons to share. Everything on the menu is created with Jupiter customers in mind, and each item can be complimented by a Jupiter House Brew. Jupiter is the creation of John Martin, founder of the venerable Triple Rock Brewery in North Berkeley and co-owner of Drake's Brewing in San Leandro. Jupiter will accommodate small to mid-sized groups for your private event, office party, and special occasion. For more information and pricing, go to the contact page. See you at the JUP!
