Colusa Circle: Kensington's Shops, Food and Sunday Market

The Kensington Farmers' Market operates Sundays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., at Colusa Circle in Kensington. Contra Costa County lists it as year-round.

The operator describes produce, flowers, baked goods and ready-to-eat food, with musicians and spaces to sit. A visit can include grocery shopping and something to eat while you're there. The vendors and performances change; use the market's current updates if you have a particular stall or activity in mind.

The market also lists community activities such as a cookbook exchange and puzzle swapping. Those details make it a place to browse beyond the food tables. Check the organizer's description for the current offerings.

Market details checked November 4, 2026. Times are local; check the operator for holiday closures or schedule changes.

Semifreddi's bakery café, at 372 Colusa Avenue, gives the circle a permanent bread-and-pastry stop alongside the visiting market stalls. The company's bakery history dates to 1984, and its Kensington café is distinct from its Alameda headquarters.

Bread and pastries make this a useful stop even when the market stalls are packed away. Browse the operator's current products and café information before making a special trip for a particular item.

Benchmark Pizzeria, at 1568 Oak View Avenue, serves wood-fired pizza, homemade pasta and other dishes, with a dining room and patio. It provides an evening meal option around the circle, separate from the Sunday market's daytime schedule.

Around the corner, the same operator's Benchmark Portavia at 380 Colusa Avenue focuses on coffee, breakfast, provisions and food to take away. The two locations give a visit different possibilities depending on the time of day. Check their current menus and opening information rather than assuming both operate on the same schedule.

Kensington Circus Pub, at 389 Colusa Avenue, combines a pub and American grill with live music. Its menu includes British pub dishes, and the operator maintains an events calendar for upcoming performances.

The pub's music program adds an evening gathering place to the circle. Check the calendar for a specific night; music at the market and a performance at the pub are separate events with different organizers and times.

The circle also supports ordinary neighborhood errands. The merchants' directory lists a florist, a food market, photography, a salon and other services alongside restaurants. Those businesses make this a small commercial center with uses throughout the week.

The district also has a food-history connection: the merchants association's history credits the former Narsai's restaurant with helping revive the circle in the 1970s. The restaurant is long closed; today's businesses tell the next part of that story. For broader local history and places elsewhere in the community, continue with the Kensington guide.

Colusa Circle and Kensington's Arlington Avenue shops are separate commercial areas. Blake Garden is another destination in Kensington, rather than an attraction beside the market. Giving each its own place makes it easier to understand what a visit involves.

Start with the Kensington overview for the wider community, or Cerrito Village for the relationship with Albany and El Cerrito. If you're considering a move nearby, tell me what draws you to the area.

For other nearby outings, the Solano Avenue guide covers the Albany–Berkeley shopping corridor, and the Northbrae and Indian Rock guide explores Berkeley's rock parks and public paths.