We had such a blast getting married at the Berkeley City Club!…read more The staff: Spencer helped with our room block. Brianne, Nicole, and Maria handled all the wedding details. Nicole was super responsive during planning. Nicole and Maria were amazing on the day of, checking in, helping with last-minute changes, and even making sure my husband and I got a plate of hors d'oeuvres. The whole team was awesome. The venue and logistics: It's an older building, so heat isn't always adjustable, but you can turn it to the lowest setting. Towels were soft, water was hot, and the honeymoon suite was quiet. There's always a coffee and tea bar near the lobby and fresh water with fruit in it. Pool sign-up is required. One person found it a bit cold, but others liked it. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, and makeup removers were provided. Location and vibe: Stunning historic building in the heart of Berkeley. Guests could walk around the city easily. Amazing Golden Gate Bridge views. Explore the courtyards and hidden spaces--you'll find new spots everywhere! Overall, a gorgeous, unique, and super fun place to get married. We can't wait to come back for our one-year anniversary!

THE CITY CLUB BAR…read more John treated me ! Thanks Johnny boy!! I started with a Gin Martini 2 olives & a twist on ice ... Unfortunately the ice wasn't in cubes so the flavor was so watered down that I couldn't taste the gin at all...We then were served some great little warm breads with delicious butter YUM! The split mixed iceburg lettuce salad arrived which was a generous portion & well dressed with some notes of tarragon ..nice! John ordered the braised short rib & he subbed out the mashed potato/roquefort for the fried potato disks that came with the rib eye. Good spuds! My beef bourguignon had wonderful toothsome wide egg noodles but weirdly, chunks of green pepper & undercooked pearl onions? The beefy gravy was perfect on the pasta BUT the beef's texture was terrible.. mushy without a smidgen of bite! YUCK! When John had me taste his beef the resuts were much the same... too soft & textureless.. then the opposite...the pretty split carrot halves were too hard & undercooked on his plate to bring out their sweetness....I assume these 2 long cooked meats styles had been sitting for god knows how long I left most of the dinner to take home & see if I could repair the dish... (I'll probably eat the noodles and use the beef in a taco?). so my suggestion is to order the rack of lamb (if I return....which John had had & recommended) & stay away from long cooked items (except beans)

My first visit to the Brazil room is going to be a memorable one. My husband and I were able to…read moreget on the reservation list for the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Brazil Room. Not only was the event, put on by the East Bay Regional Parks District, fun, educational and entertaining, the room itself is quite a room! The hall, which may be small by some standards, feels quite open and spacious with tall lofty ceilings. With a strong Tudor style on the inside and it's large rock fireplace, the rustic yet elegant charm is what draws you in. We were treated to guest speakers, live jazz band, light refreshments, champagne and cake. And since we were one of the first 75 people we received a free book that is fresh off the presses "Tilden Regional Park Queen of the East Bay Regional Parks" by Richard Langs. Not only did Richard entertain and educate us with a brief synopsis of the history of our area, he took the time to sign copies of the books generously given away. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the area's history to pick up a copy (contact EBRP in Oakland and I'm sure they will tell you how to purchase) to understand how, why, when the EBRP district was developed and how it came to be what it is today. Truly Tilden Park is one of those places that causes anyone who has visited to be awestruck and inspired. Going back is not a question but a must-do! California seems to be full of such places, luckily one happens to be in my back yard! I'm looking forward to finding other open events at the Brazil room. The evening function was absolutely delightful. My family will go visit the grounds during the day....just to take a look around and probably have a picnic by the pond. If you want to have your wedding here, be prepared to wait. The list is 2 years out if you want it in the summer on a weekend. "It's popular" is an understatement.

From the owner: We offer four rental facilities to host your special event including weddings, birthday parties,…read morebusiness meetings, retreats, and memorials. Each facility is in a different park within the East Bay Regional Park District. We have flexible reservation options that range from fully catered events to completely DIY (do-it-yourself) depending on the facility and time block you choose. Tables and chairs are included. **Our Brazilian Room in Tilden Regional Park accommodates up to 150 for a fully seated reception indoors or up to 225 standing room and includes an outdoor patio for ceremonies and/or appetizer hour with a view of the surrounding Tilden Park hills. **Our Temescal Beach House at Lake Temescal accommodates up to 80 for a fully seated reception indoors (56 in the Fireside Room and 24 in the connecting Lakeview Meeting Room) or up to 130 standing room and includes an outdoor patio for ceremonies and/or appetizer hour surrounded by a vertical garden and views of Lake Temescal from inside. **Our Fern Cottage in Kennedy Grove accommodates up to 60 for a fully seated reception indoors or up to 130 standing room and includes a private backyard with covered back deck that overlooks a landscaped lawn and garden. **Our Shoreline Center at the MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline accommodates up to 60 for a fully seated reception indoors or up to 125 standing room and includes a deck with views of the San Leandro Bay and East Bay hills. **Contact us today for a tour!**

I adore everything about Lovey Day! Their food is…read moreincredible. Tasty, unique, and totally delightful. (Related to Grace Street Catering, of which I was a huge fan.) Their outdoor patio takes advantage of the awesome Oakland weather and their multiple high-ceiling indoor areas are secret worlds of raw brick industrial + live plant art installations. Don't even get me started on the craft cocktails and bespoke wine list. (Take my money!) Jen and her team go above and beyond with thoughtful & attentive service. They're a hidden gem and I'm so glad to know them for event rentals and the restaurant!

From the owner: We offer fun, unique and often cuisine-centered events…read more Or rent our space, where we can bring your unique imaginings as a host to your guests. With fully staffed industrial kitchens on site, full bar service, tasteful furnishings, discounts from partnered vendors, sound and lighting, and more — we’re here to make your special gathering delightful and unforgettable.

Local iconic cocktail bar with a standout whiskey and mezcal collection. Always enjoy the warm…read moreambience and impeccable service available here. We hosted my wife's 40th Birthday party at Acme for 40+ guests and worked directly with Jennifer (owner) to plan the whole thing. Jennifer did an absolutely knockout job ensuring the party had the best variety of tasty finger foods (including platters of fresh oysters from Monterey Fish Market with champagne to start), a hosted bar with specialty cocktails (Terence's drinks are always ), and incredible staff to keep my wife - and all our guests - incredibly happy. We were able to reserve a cute patio area with private bar and a private large room for our guests. I cannot wait for the next opportunity to host an event here again!

I'm not sure whether it was the bartender who assisted me that evening, but unfortunately the…read morecustomer service I experienced was very disappointing. I tried to start a friendly conversation and ask a few questions about the drinks, however the responses I received were very brief and limited to only the drink names, which made the interaction feel unwelcoming. I also noticed that we were the only Latino guests there at the time, and throughout our visit we felt largely ignored. As a result, the overall atmosphere did not feel comfortable or inclusive to us. Based on this experience, I did not feel welcomed at this bar in Berkeley and would not recommend it. Even though we live only a few minutes away, it didn't feel like a place worth returning to or spending our time and money at.

If you've ever fantasized about spending the night in a Bernard Maybeck structure here's your…read morechance. The Faculty Club, on the UC Berkeley campus, was designed by the legendary Berkeley architect and is many things to many people. Most notably, it's: * A place to eat and drink; * A venue to rent out for events; and * A place to spend the night. I ate and drank there* but I also spent the night there and that's the reason for my 3-star rating and the focus of this review. The Faculty Club rents out rooms, some with private bath and some with communal bath, all situated along a long hallway up a set of stairs. If you've drank too much below, are in town to visit a student at UCB, or are just hankering to spend the night on campus it's not a bad option. The rooms for rent are functional (not fancy) and clean (but not new). "Utilitarian" is an apt description. A friend and I stayed in a room with 2 beds and its own bathroom and shower at a cost of $215. Rooms with shared baths are (obviously) less and an additional $15.40 will buy you a parking pass valid until 2 p.m. the following day at a nearby, on campus lot. I don't track the cost of lodging in the Bay Area but this rate seemed reasonable, especially considering the inclusion of a continental breakfast for 2 the following morning. Before falling asleep the night of my stay my friend wondered whether the Campanile's toll would wake us. Fear not; it didn't. Instead, 52 beeps from a garbage truck backing up was followed by the crash of glass recyclables being collected, all before sunrise. So, be sure your room is on the west side of the building if you desire a quieter experience. I can't imagine returning for an overnight here but I'd certainly be comfortable recommending it to others. It was fun and serene to step outside in the morning, right onto the beautiful Faculty Glade of the UCB campus. I can well imagine others enjoying the reasonably-priced experience. * Food and drink are reviewed under Faculty Club Kerr Dining Room

I stayed at The Faculty Club for one night for business. The setting is beautiful, serene, and in…read morethe middle of the Berkeley campus. The atmosphere I loved, the hotel room not so much. I tried to embrace the history and think of all the families and students who have stayed here over the years, and that worked somewhat. I did have a good stay and ultimately enjoyed my room for what it was. Things to know: - The building is challenging to find and GPS is marginally helpful. - There was no place available to park to check-in so I had to risk it and park in a 30 minute loading zone up the hill. - It was hard to find the right door to get the lobby - no helpful signage at all. - After checking in you have to navigate to one of the parking lots they allow you to park in, which is not right at the Club. - You have to navigate your way back to the place after parking - I was lugging my bags. - You have to lug your bags up a significant flight of stairs to get to the rooms - no elevator. - The rooms are like an old cabin - not updated, dark wood, very basic accommodations. - If you get a room with your own bathroom, the bathroom is tiny with nowhere to set your toiletries or even hang your hand towel. - The bed is just okay - nothing like nicer hotels. The bedding is very thin and looks like something you'd find in a Motel 6. They could at least give you a nice mattress and comfy bedding even while keeping the basic/historic look of the rooms. - There is a flatscreen tv, but it's small and uses Dish network - remote is somewhat confusing. - There was a small fridge, but it wasn't plugged in. - There was a glue trap for rodents in my room which didn't instill confidence. Some positives: - The room was very spacious and had a high ceiling. Although it felt very old, it was clean. - The windows open wide letting in a nice breeze and adding a serene feel. - The price is reasonable in my opinion. - The atmosphere is relaxing and the area is safe. - The restaurant has good food and also reasonably priced in my opinion. - Free breakfast.

I found a jewel! It's a beautiful event space. I'm so pleased with the owners, who happen to be a…read morelovely married couple that are super easy to work with. I'm a small business owner and stylist so I'm always scouting locations for shoots or events and pop ups, this spot is all encompassing. It's huge!!! Im certain you won't be disappointed by the high level of customer service you'll receive.

Probably one of thee greatest, yet most professional experiences I've had in a while. Planned our…read morevow renewal and this beautiful couple were involved in every step. Extremely helpful, very articulate and punctual. Will continue to do business with 1219!!!

My student organization at Cal had their end of semester banquet at Hillside Club, and we couldn't…read moreask for anything better. Not only is the venue beautiful and spacious, but the organizer is super nice and accommodating. There are high ceilings, great audio, a nice stage, and lots of useful equipment. We pretty much didn't have to decorate at all on our end because when we got there, it was already beautifully adorned with holiday decorations and a huge Christmas tree! For such an amazing venue, it's amazing how inexpensive the total cost was! Aside from the venue itself, the planning involved to secure the venue and set everything up was made incredibly easy by the manager. She was very responsive by email and helpful in suggestions for what can be done with the event. She also owns a super cute doggo that's Instagram famous! All in all, great experience and couldn't ask for more.

Our youth choir, Kairos, produces a musical theater/opera performance every season. This year, our…read moreusual venue was closed for renovation and we were faced with the need to find a new theater. We knew about the Berkeley Hillside's affinity for classical music, so we thought our program would be a good match. The Hillside Club's manager Araceli was very responsive and informative about their availability, requirements and willingness to accommodate us. Not only did Araceli understand our needs but she was extremely supportive and volunteered to help us with anything we might need in order to offer a highly successful and professional production. We recommend this venue, not only for the amazing architecture and splendid acoustics, but also for the great communication of our hosts; their openness and their flexibility to accommodate our very specific needs. The venue has a beautiful stage, with ample backstage (a green room upstairs and one downstairs - with access to a bathroom) and it is great for small productions such as ours, or small chamber music concerts that they host often. If you do visit the Berkeley Hillside, be sure to make the acquaintance of Bella - the Boston Terrier of the club whom we adopted as our mascot. She is a real drama queen and will definitely brighten your day

A little urban winery with back and front patios. They offer really unique and well-produced wine…read more Came for a break between jobs near by and enjoyed two glasses of the Greco Bianco. This was s totally new varietal for me and its so unique with beautiful color. They do offer little snacks but its more of a curation of prepackaged things that they them bring to you to open and enjoy vs a kitchen where they're producing the food themselves. Prices a little steep but I think thats just bay area things....

We used to like this place enough that we were actually members for several years, but definitely…read morenot anymore. The biggest reason is how extremely unwelcoming most of the staff are. We regularly felt ignored, talked down to, or just uncomfortable. We also got repeatedly over charged for things and would have to get it fixed. We went back for an event today for the first time in 5 or 6 months, and were reminded of why we stopped all over again. We got 2 glasses and the pours were tiny, and we got over charged TWICE. Even after catching it the first time, they messed it up a 2nd time that we noticed once we saw the emailed receipt. I just can't go back counting on an unpleasant or frustrating experience almost every time at this point.

The Brazilian Room was the perfect venue for our wedding. Obviously it's a gorgeous space…read moresurrounded by natural beauty, and it has a lot of other perks which made it ideal for anyone who is trying to stick to a budget or just likes including lots of DIY elements in their big day. Feel free to reach out if you're planning a Brazilian Room wedding and you have any questions about the logistics of doing certain things yourself! Also I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Jasmine Catering and Katharina Stuart for floral design. Jason from Quantum Party Productions also did an awesome job transforming the venue with lighting. -We brewed the beer for the wedding and also made our own desserts which our awesome caterer accommodated no problem! -We picked up the flowers the morning of the wedding and set up all decorations ourselves with the help of family, friends, and the catering staff. -Since we brought so much ourselves, we stayed at an airbnb near the venue and used a moving service to transfer everything over the morning of the wedding. -Instead of hiring a DJ we made a playlist and brought our own sound equipment and our own wireless microphone. This worked pretty well but did require a bit of in-the-moment troubleshooting to get things loud enough! -We did photos before the wedding in the botanic garden just down the hill from the Brazilian Room - note that you need to get a permit to do this in advance. -The Brazilian Room building managers are so nice and answered lots of questions throughout the planning process!

They did a terrible job for my family members Wedding. So many things were subpar. And I know…read moreWeddings well. First of all, their alternate plan for possible rain was non existent. It rained before the Wedding ceremony started. As guests were arriving, it was very unclear where to even stand while waiting for the "rain". I asked... multiple employees, and nobody knew. Elders were left standing in a crammed space just inside, waiting, not knowing. Chairs outside were wet. Rain was on and off. We couldn't sit at our tables yet. Some elders clearly needed, at the very least, a chair. Very soon after eating they took our tables down for dancing. Where were we all expected to sit? Our entire row of tables gone. Several long tables. Lots of people were misplaced. Including dome that needed a chair more than others. Yet, there was plenty of space for the few people that did dance before they rudely made us give up our seats. The DJ was unprofessional. He didn't announce anything adequately, nor did he "work the crowd" in any way. So, few people joined the Bride & Groom in the traditional fun stuff.

5 stars $27.26 for a…read more2 "salad" lunch plus Spanish omelette. Grilled purple cabbage was warm, beautifully charred and seasoned. Potato and radish salad was light, flavorful and really focused on bringing out the ingredients flavors Spanish patata was a hell of a potato omelette creation. Is it a little expensive? Sure. But is every $ on the plate? Yes.

Amazing food and staff are very welcoming! Love the change of menu weekly and the meals are always…read moredelicious and healthy!