Went to tour this place when I was seriously considering having my wedding reception here. It is a bit hard to find, I would imagine ESPECIALLY difficult for those who had never been on campus before. The catering staff I met with were very nice and knowledgeable. The price was nice and I liked that if I had a daytime wedding we could start early with decorating and etc. The "glade" is really just a very nice medium sized lawn with a big tree at one end. I loved that the patio/terrace was adjacent and this would be where the cocktail hour would be as well as a place for people to hang out after dinner. Unfortunately it was the actual room where the reception would be held that was the deal breaker. It was big with a nice huge fireplace. but even in the middle of the day it was dark. And all those dead animal heads on the wall! Yikes! And right where the "sweetheart table" would be was a large one that would most definitely make it into the pictures. I checked out the smaller room, and it was nice and also had an adjacent patio and also had windows opening up to the atrium. But the room had a low ceiling that just screamed "meeting room" to me and it would have been a squeeze to get 60 guests in there. Nice place but not for me. read more

During lunch, the Faculty Club opens the Great Room for dining. It is a beautiful room for casual dining. There is a salad bar, a grill, and a sandwich station for your eating pleasure. They have waffle-cut fries that are to die for. The times I have been to the Kerr formal dining room (by reservation), the food was blah and the service was inconsistent. I have had to book a few events there since it is so close to work. Their event planning staff was not personable, but I understand that there has been some turnover, so maybe now things are better. The serving staff was unprofessional. Basically, I like going there to get a sandwich or a burger, but not for much else. read more

More students need to know about this place!! It may seem intimidating to see grown-ups in serious looking meetings through the windows, but the dining hall area feels very relaxed. For Lunch Hours: The Format: Self serve salad bar/ entrees & made-to-order items from the grill and deli For $10 you can have a all-you-can-pile salad bar (although don't be too obnoxious). The items on the menu changes everyday, and on most days they have seafood as part of their salad ingredients. And I don't mean shrimp, or itty-bitty-mussels- but I mean things like seared scallops, grilled salmon, or lobster. And don't think that you won't be full, because their "salad bar" usually have a carb-y item: one time I had the standard salad bar pasta salad but the other time I had a full on house made pizza. Their hot entrees are good quality, well seasoned, but not particular memorable in comparison to the awesome possum salad bar. Though the bread... you have to try it! Items from the Grill come with criss-cross fries. Housemade horseradish and Tartar sauce are available (can you get more legit than that?!) Tips: 1) You can get food to-go too! 2) $10 dollar min. for credit card purchases. Though one time I forgot to bring cash, and only had card with me for my $8 salad. The cashier was nice enough to let it slide. Bottom line: one of the top 3 places to eat in Berkeley GO BEARS! read more

I never got married here, but maybe I should have. I mean, why not? The building is a Maybeck and it is set in a stand of redwoods. What better to evoke the elegant arts and crafts heritage of glorious Berkeley, the storied Athens of the West? Okay, so I never got married at the Faculty Club but I've eaten lunch there. I've also enjoyed mid-afternoon cocktails there on any number of occasions. The food is serviceable enough, but is really aside from the point. The interior spaces are gracious and elegant, the fusty old waiters solicitous and competent. I can think of no better place to while away the mid-afternoon hours with friends, a drink in hand. One of the many perks of campus life and, like most, available to faculty and non-faculty alike. read more

Thanks to Amy and her team, my wedding ceremony and reception at the Faculty Club was absolutely perfect!!! I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful, historic venue for my spring wedding, and Amy was phenomenal to work with. After the Events Coordinator we originally started working left four months before our wedding, I was in a panic that all of the details we had discussed with her would slip through the cracks. In steps Amy a month later. She immediately began diligently working on our event to make sure that our event was as we had discussed with her predecessor. She calmed my nerves and answered my millions of questions with style and grace. She was extremely responsive and accommodating from the moment we started working together right up until the big day. She listened carefully and executed on my vision for the wedding. She is a HUGE asset to the Faculty Club. The venue itself, an old Bernard Maybeck building, is simply gorgeous. Our ceremony and dinner were inthe Great Hall, with cocktails in the Heyns Room. I've received countless compliments from guests not only on how beautiful the venue is, but also about how great the food and service was...and that was so important to us. Every staff member I encountered over the course of the evening was a pleasure to deal with and bent over backwards for us. I highly recommend the Faculty Club to any bride... You'll love it as much as I did. read more

My sister got married here.. it was absolutely beautiful! Their staff changed frequently during the year planning but everyone was always fantastic to work with. The venue was intimate and romantic. Loved this venue! read more

Love coming to the bar at The Faculty Club. The bartender (Fernando I believe) is very professional and friendly. Provided some amazing cocktails and good conversation. Definitely try the tacos on Tuesday! read more

I recently ate at the faculty club on the Cal campus. It's open to the general public. I ordered an impossible burger. I've enjoyed it two times before, once at a golf club and once at Burger King. Both times, it was really good but I could tell it was not beef. This time, at the faculty club, they cooked it medium and boy, was it good in fact, it was the best burger I've eaten in a long time, meat or faux meat! It was so good that I forgot to add any catsup nor mustard. It was just the bun, patty, onions, tomato, and pickles. And this time, I could not tell it was not meat. I also ordered the Manhattan clam chowder but it was only ok. The waiter was friendly but made a few minor mistakes with the orders from the four of us. read more

I've come to the club for lunch and beer. 1. Lunch is good. The burger meal is solid if you need a change from the ghetto, and the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet is good too. I think its less than $10 for the buffet, which includes greens, meats, pasta, desserts, and a drink. It takes skill, but once developed, you can sure build a mountain good for at least two meals. Only open for lunch at 11:30-1:30PM. 2. Nice quaint bar with a few tables. Not a place to get hammered, but if you need a cold brewskie with some older colleagues, the Club provides a nice venue for that. They have a number of IPAs, and prices are decent. read more

Summary based on several visits over years: --ok to better than ok food --great setting --ok service --best for events --typical Berkeley campus parking based on the caste system read more

I stayed at the faculty club for one night on some university-related business. I booked a room with a queen bed and shared bath. The hotel easily exceeded my expectations. The room and bathroom was very clean. The building, white a bit dark, was neat and nice to stay in. I found the room very relaxing and slept well although the bed was a little stiff. My compliments to the staff as well. I had to check out late and check my bags and they were very accommodating. FYI: one of the rooms is haunted. I didn't stay in it, but heard lots of random footsteps and creaking on the wooden floors at night. Adds to the flavor in my opinion! read more

A hidden gem of a restaurant in the forest! The first time I came here, it was before my interview at Berkeley. I was quite nervous, but the chicken tortellini from the Faculty Club quelled the butterflies in my stomach. And here I am today, yelping about how I got in to Berkeley. The tortellini did it. read more

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I've been here several times and every time, I was pretty impressed with their selection and food for a dining hall! Here's what I've eaten: -Salmon Burger -Buffet option: salad bar option and entree of the day -ham and applesauce -stuffed chicken -Chicken burger Food: Generally pretty good. The price is decent for lunch. A burger runs about $6-$7 and the buffet option is around $8. All the burgers come with these criss-cross/check board fries! Those are really tasty! The annoying thing about the buffet option is that it's not really a buffet. You get a choice of one entree and then you get ONE plate at the salad bar to fill up as much food as possible there and then that's ALL YOU GET! So it's not your typical definition of what a "buffet" is. It's a one time deal option! Otherwise, if you are pressed on time, this place is the best option for the price! Service: Generally no service, but you don't have to bus your plate after you are done! :) Ambiance: kinda rustic, old looking wooden building. Nice place to chill and enjoy a nice lunch. Very cute and cozy on a rainy day! Price: Decent for lunch. read more

Although I attended university here, I never gave the Faculty Club another thought, probably because the name intimidated me. It was like the one location on campus that I thought students were forbidden to enter the realm of. It was only after I've been a long time alumnus, and was conducting busines on campus, did my client say that we should have lunch here. Being that he was a member, I was happy to accompany him and some associates to find out what really was in the hallowed halls of this beautifully crafted building. The lunch selection was very good, and I appreciated the taste of my entree. I can't recall what the price was, but it seemed reasonable at the time. I'm sorry that I don't have more details of the meal, as I'm going by vague memory of my lunch there, but I do know that it was a four-star experience. read more

My review is for the Kerr Dining Hall, which is separate from the 'cafeteria' at the Faculty Club. The Kerr Dining Hall has nice tables, silverware, and an intimate feel with a server for your table. The menu is a little more gourmet and definitely unique. I was told by the staff, during off hours, to make reservations for the dining hall and it was a good idea, because people due tend to trickle in at lunch. (The dining area did seem small, 15 tables max.) I had the lobster risotto, vegetarian samosas, and the chocolate triology cake. The risotto was delicious! My friend agreed tremendously after her bite! The lobster risotto was a perfect blend of creaminess and buttery goodness from the lobster meat, topped with a distinctive texture of crisp green onions. The samosas were ok, but I loved the chutney that sprinkled them and the greens on which they lie. I was a bit disappointed by the chocolate trilogy cake, because it wasn't anything special. It did, however, taste good. It's simply a four tier mousse cake with your standard: white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and a chocolate cake layer. All this and a root beer for approximately $20! I would highly recommend this for those with a more gourmet palate and the willingness to splurge. Definitely a very scenic place to go as well, a seclusion from the campus crazies! Try it, you won't regret it! read more

We had an amazing time with our wedding at the faculty club. Erica is so nice and always willing to offer help and make suggestions. She is very busy, but is always receptive to phone calls and emails. We also had a day-of coordinator to help Erica make sure everything ran smoothly during the wedding. We are so lucky to have had such a great team of vendors that made this location really shine and made the night a fun experience for everyone. read more

I headed to The Faculty Club to style a wedding and getting there was tough. There was tons of construction for Saturday and it was very very hard to find. You would have to attend UC Berkeley in order to know about it. When I called, a lovely woman named Tiffany helped me in 3 separate phone calls to find the place. I had to hang up twice because I had no headset and cops were on the run. The place itself looks like a basement church banquet hall - but the decorations definitely fit my hippie clients vision of a wedding. I didn't stay here and don't know if I would - but the staff was so helpful. They even let me park in the "permit only" front space and waived the permit fee. Thanks Tiffany! read more

I've been invited here a couple of times by an emeritus I help out with things he can't do so well, like seeing. Even holding my arm, I don't know how the heck he gets into this place without bailing. Last night, we attended a presentation with other senior faculty and their guests. For me, most of my fandom stems from the sense of history that seems to emanate from the dark wood beams themselves. I am a fan of the Arts & Crafts aspect, but my attraction is more synthetic of my feelings when I'm in there--and has little to do with the food or service, which in my opinion are the weak points. The structure and its inhabitants - and their togetherness over the years, as evidenced by photographs in our dining room - are the real draw for me. At last night's event, we were given the option of a wild mushroom entree or a chicken entree. I placed my order for mushroom at the time we RSVPd. When a plate of caper-topped chicken was placed in front of me, I responded that I had ordered the mushroom entree, and was informed that there were no more, as was the ACTUAL vegetarian gentleman to my right. In the FC's possible defense, our RSVP was not made with the FC itself, so the disconnect could have been between the organizers and FC (but it seems more of a fail, as we were informed that they were OUT.) So, I ate my chicken. It was salty. So were the potatoes. Service is nice enough - I try to be easy on servers. I asked the jefe for ginger ale, and was given 7-up by a nice kid. No biggie, and I do not blame the messenger. They failed to reserve my (and others') mushroom entree. Letdown - I was looking forward to that. These little things add up to tarnish the operational aspect. The folks schlepping the food are not the problem here. They're quite nice and helpful. I hope to be back, and if sent on an errand to campus during lunchtime, I look forward to seeing the FC at a time where I'm not the youngest person in the room, and it's light outside. Should be a totally different experience. I look forward to it. read more

We hosted our daughter's wedding at the UC Berkeley's Faculty Club, and we could not have been happier. The venue is beautiful, the food delicious, and the staff friendly and professional. We worked with Erica-she has the perfect temperament for proving event planning services. read more

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$3 breakfast special is a deal! Pretty basic - toast (your choice), eggs (your choice), fruit, breakfast potatoes, and orange juice/coffee. For lunch, the hamburger with the criss-cut fries are yummy! read more

The Day, Site, & Service Was Beautiful (Update To 8/17/09 Review) My husband and I selected TFC in February 2009 seeking a beautiful outdoor ceremony setting and elegant indoor reception. TFC was a lovely choice for both. Although the front entrance and lawn adjacent to TFC outdoor ceremony site was blocked due to construction; which I reported in my earlier review, TFC management took active steps to mitigate the potential eyesore including adding planters and decorative lattice fence. My Fiance and I GREATLY appreciated TFC management's consideration and although we were disappointed with the construction we were able to move forward with a good feeling that the Day and Service would be lovely Mother Nature blessed us with the most perfect warm sunny September afternoon and evening for our outdoor ceremony in the TFC Glade. The Glade was so lovely with sun streaming through the oaks and lush green everywhere you turned.- - it was gorgeous. Our reception was in the Great Hall - a beautiful and dramatic backdrop that we set off with tall white flowers, white/champagn hanging lanterns, and candlelight. TFC day of service was great. The food was well prepared and service was attentive. Thank you Kenna Richards, Barbara Luke, and Felix Solomon, for all your efforts on our behalf !! read more

Amy Lovlien helped us plan and coordinate our wedding reception here in July 2012. My wife and I met at Berkeley in undergrad, so we were looking for a venue that reflected that campus experience. As undergrads, we remembered walking by the Faculty Club and occasionally seeing signs for other couples' wedding receptions. Once we got engaged and we were looking around for venues, we immediately thought of the Faculty Club as our first choice. We weren't looking for anything particularly fancy or over the top, so the Faculty Club was a good fit: it is a beautiful, stately venue with plenty of space and not too many frills. We also liked that the venue offered a combination of indoor and outdoor space that we could use for our reception. Amy Lovlien and the rest of the staff were a pleasure to work with. When we first booked the Faculty Club in October 2011, we actually didn't meet with Amy, we met with another woman, Danielle. A few months later, Amy told us that she was taking over for Danielle as the new coordinator. Although we had heard warnings about venue coordinators changing while others had planned their weddings, Amy was great because she honored all of Danielle's prior commitments to us. It was a smooth transition. Amy helped us create a timeline for our reception, select food and drinks, and arrange a seating chart for our dinner. She patiently accepted several revisions until we got everything just right. She even helped us find our DJ only a month before our wedding when our plans had to change at the last minute. Amy did a fantastic job getting the venue ready. She took all the items that we dropped off (pictures, decorations, table cards, place cards, etc.) and all the items from the vendors (cake, flowers, etc.) and decorated the Faculty Club in just the way we wanted. If we left out a detail for where something should go, she figured out a nice place for it. Dinner and bar service went smoothly and everything tasted great. We had a simple, served 2 course meal (salad and an entrée) with 3 different options: a seafood pasta, a stuffed chicken breast, or a vegetarian stuffed bell pepper. They even provided a special kids meal (chicken fingers) for our 12&under guests! The Faculty Club also coordinated an open beer and wine bar for all of our guests throughout the reception. We were very fortunate to work with Amy and to enjoy the beautiful Faculty Club venue on our special day, and we highly recommend it to others! read more

As a hotel, not good. Large room, but that's the only plus. The building is right on campus, so there was noise until 11 or 12 with students walking by. The room is right on a walking path, so very noisy. The water heater made a hammer like noise ever few minutes, all night long, even when off. Sleeping was impossible. Water pressure in the shower was the lowest I've ever experienced in a hotel, and oscillated between hot and cold. Threadbare towels. Lots of noise at 6 am with massive clattering outside, possible industrial trash cans being emptied. Avoid unless you need to stay here. read more

The hotel is in terrible shape, smells bad, and is very shabby. It is also almost impossible to find if it is your first time there. But this would not be a problem in itself, if it was was not for the extremely poor customer service. When we arrived, my taxi driver could not find it, it took a long time to reach customer service, but finally a disgruntled voice picked up and explained to us where the entrance was. When I checked in, he behaved as if I was a huge burden, not a tired customer who just flew from the East Coast and was exhausted and jetlagged. The next day got worse. it was pouring and I was trying to get an Uber to go to town, but all the Ubers kept canceling on me, as they could not find it. I was standing outside, locked out. Finally, I rang the bell, and the blond girl from the front desk - all of them are barely 20 - came up to open the door for me, very disgruntled. I asked her if she would mind giving directions to the driver who was nearby and could not find them. She was extremely rude about it and said, literally I quote, "I have been here since 7am (it was about 11 am), and all I want to do now is to eat my lunch." She could not be bothered to help me with directions. Why are these students working there? Who trains them? Are they not paid? If the manager is reading this, I hope for a response. I am an academic who was there to give a talk, but will certainly advise my colleagues not to put up their guests there. Now: the food. The "continental" breakfast (included) was so laughable - it was literally prepacked sugary cereal, artificial orange juice, milk and some kind of white bread pastries. So I had to order from the menu (not included). They know this, so it's kind of a scam. I ordered an overpriced omelette. It was so disgustingly oversalted that I just could not eat it. read more

Five stars for the architecture, 3.5 for the food, which was good but not exceptional. Service was sweet and attentive. The occasion was the retirement party for a former colleague. This is the third occasion we've celebrated here, the first being a belated college graduation, the second a wedding reception. The building is a Bernard Maybeck gem, dark wood, moose heads and stained glass combining in a feast for the eyes. Thank you to Wilhelm Y. for the gentle correction after I mistakenly attributed it to Julia Morgan. Dinner was served in the larger of the rooms. As I ate dinner and chatted w/ my dining companions I was also taking in the architecture. One of my favorite discoveries was that the ends of the beams had eye holes drilled and an open mouth carved into them. It took me until this afternoon to realize that they probably represented bears. Hors d'oeuvres were served before dinner, but Alan and I were so full from a hamburger and shake (me, not him for the shake) w/ Tam and Kevin that we passed on sampling them. Wine and beer were available at the no host bar, a generous pour of an Australian Cabernet that was very smooth and tasty for only $6. Dinner started w/ a salad, then moved to an assertively spiced, but very moist chicken breast accompanied by roasted potatoes and steamed mixed vegetables and ended w/ a brownie served w/ ice cream. Tea was available, but cups were quite small and no pots were offered, so it was one skimpy cup w/o refills. I prefer tea served in pots so I can have more than one cup. That's my only complaint. This is really a lovely place to celebrate an occasion. Parking was available in the parking structure across from the art museum for $10. New since I'd been on campus last was the Jean Gray Harwood music library. It looked lovely lit at night, as did the campanile behind it silhouetted against the night sky. read more

Ate here last night with my 91 yr old mom and my 4 siblings. I thought it was going to be a pow-wow, and some important message was going to be imparted, since we all hadn't been at the same dinner table for about 33 years. It was just dinner. It was good too. I had the duck breast...nice, but no particular sauce. Great powerful zinfandel along side packing about 15% alcohol content. I love the Cal campus, and this building has some great history. Plus, I always run into people I know, and 2 separate people bought me beer before I sat down with the family. Fat Tire on tap at the Faculty Club!! Go Bears! read more

The pro about the Faculty Club is that it is like a secret gem of a funky hotel right on the UC Berkeley campus. And its open to the public--you don't have to be a faculty member or even an alum. The cons are numerous: aging facility, sloppy service, small rooms, poor amenities, dark and dank. On my recent visit (June 2014), they did not even give us two bars of soap--we had to carry one bar from the sink to the shower. And when I left a note asking for another bar of soap, it never came--despite a generous tip for the maid.When we needed more towels, they gave us a bath mat instead of a bath towel. Their "buffet breakfast" was totally unappetizing--worse than at a Best Western. I have stayed here before and thought it had a certain funky charm but now it has gone totally "el cheapo." The shower was the strongest I've ever encountered. A strong shower is fine if that's what you want. But there was no way to graduate the volume of the water--it was like being hit with the water from a fire hose. And it blasted some in my ear that took a long time to get rid of. Water in the ear can actually be a serious problem and it was very uncomfortable. The worst part was they booked us right over the large room that would be used the next day (AND NIGHT) for a LOUD wedding party--without informing us so we could ask for another room or even think about another hotel. The noise, including the bass reverberations through the walls, was horrible. When i went down to the clerk to complain (in my pajamas), the noise was so loud I literally had to shout to the clerk one foot away. I don't blame the happy couple and their guests--I blame the hotel for no fair notice we were going to be put right over this. The good part was the clerk refunded one night of our stay for this problem. That was the right thing to do, and much appreciated, but we were still left with a long drive back on no sleep. Thanks to the clerk for the refund but i think it will be a long time til i come back. How does "never" sound? Unless they really fix all these problems, which seems doubtful. read more

Echoing John 6/22/14: ". . .The cons are numerous: . . ." And Breann 6/23/2014: "I thought that if I waited to write this review, I would feel better about... The Faculty Club" I, for one, don't feel better. Agreeing: my husband. In spring I stayed at the Faculty Club. The dining, breakfasts and lunches are amazing of the meals I've had. My 4 non-stars are for the place itself. The first night: accommodations were minimal but outwardly comfortable as was the larger room my husband and I stayed in later. I had talked up how nice it seemed, a cool Berkeley secret. It could stay a secret, as far as I care. The sequence: first, check-in. Perhaps when that part of the eastern campus was more woodsy and camp-like, the redwood building would seem fancy yet secluded. Guests shared (and share) dorm-like bathrooms. Still, it's a high price for selective comfort. Anyway, find the circuitous road off Piedmont and park temporarily in one of few spaces by the back entrance, drag your luggage trekking down the lobby toward the concierge desk. (Have older alums already commented on this route?) The older man clerk multi-tasked giving me an over-copied blurry local map, talked low and fast, and gave the parking pass so I could move from the temporary space. Fine. The second time. . . I called to confirm our reservation. The same clerk could not find it or wasn't sure and sounded either sleepy or distracted. After dicing the same information a few ways, he found it. Clue one. With my husband's work schedule, we adapted to spend one night together at the Faculty Club. He'd then leave, I'd stay requiring two cars. We parked one nearby, unauthorized. The young male clerk kept talking to someone nearby plus the first older clerk . His distraction got annoying; we just wanted the key and move our cars. NOTE: the online instructions stress unauthorized parking gets ticketed. I manage asking for two parking permits. The clerk remarked, "Oh, I thought you were married." My husband and I were taken aback: how rude, as if we were illicit, it was such an unprofessional, unnecessary remark. My husband snapped, "We ARE." I started to explain then just stopped: why did I have to explain needing two cars?? We got the same hardly-discernible local map, no fast talk, till at last, in the room, we relaxed a few minutes before going to eat, stressed, but thinking about ticketed cars. The phone rang: "Someone forgot to print out the check-in papers. Come back to the desk." So odd. We would have to pass him anyway to leave the building. Back at the desk, he said, "Don't park in any other building than the one on the map." I said that's why we have to hurry to move our cars from the Eye Clinic out back. He shot back, "That's not our lot. You can't park there." By then, my husband was getting hot, "That's why we want to move them as soon as possible!" The guy got snarky: "How was I supposed to know that?" We were again surprised. What a jerk. It was such a hot day, the cars, and now this? The bar served food, so we asked another employee now with the older clerk Jerry when food would be served. They exchanged looks (it was not yet 4:30). But as we left, Jerry echoed the employee's very audible remark: "Don't they know?" It's a very cavernous and quiet lobby. That evening we set up the odd TV angle in the console to face the bed. The layout was weird, huge, with a dark walk-in shower, no toilet seat. Again: a scaled-up camp setting on university grounds. The (large) peephole in the door directly faces the bed (!); a clunky table cuts the room in half -- a strange setup. In the morning, we had a great breakfast. Back in the room, I packed early for the 11am checkout so I could work in the room till the last minute on my laptop. My husband, antsy to start back home, left earlier. Given the car and permits and rudeness, I knew he did not have a relaxing time. I hoped to continue working in the lobby with internet access after checkout, till a call came into my room at 10:45 asking if "everything was okay". I said yes, and the female clerk said, "Checkout is at 11." That tipped me right over. I said I was on my way down, grabbed my bags, and exited, no longer interested in finishing my work there. Not even 30 seconds to the lobby, I had to be the very next person at the desk where both Jerry and female clerk stood. (Checkout, unfortunately, requires returning a physical key vs electronic checkout). She still asked my room number and name. After I gave them, Jerry snarked, " 'How was I supposed to know that?' " (!!!) Such blatant sarcasm and mockery--what happened to plain courtesy for paying guests?! The Club may impress others who've been there or will; I won't say, don't stay. But we don't need rude service, and they don't need selected guests to insult. We just won't stay again. read more

The first thing to keep in mind is that the rooms are priced on par with the Berkeley TraveLodge and the Berkeley Super 8 motels south of campus. For the same price, you can be located smack in the middle of UC Berkeley in a Maybeck-designed Craftsmen building which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Having said that, it is not luxurious. My bed was not the most comfortable I have had, neither was it so awful that I could not sleep. The furniture was Craftsman in style and well worn. The shower was oddly configured with a very low head, but it worked and had good water pressure. The towels were the thin white towels you might be given in a Holiday Inn in the sixties. There was a fair amount of noise - students, early morning workers and sanitation trucks, the bells of the Campanile, but it abated by about ten. Earplugs would be useful, although I did not use mine. Being in the middle of campus, I expected it to be noisy and I wanted to hear the sounds of the University. It was hot when I was there and there was no air conditioning. Normally it cooled down at night, and the fan helped. The wifi was tricky but it worked most of the time with small quirks, like it wouldn't let me remotely access my work system and the Gmail app didn't work (although I could sign on to gmail using Google on the internet). Overall it worked well and when it didn't I used my Iphone as a hotspot. I only ate breakfast in the Club. I had the continental breakfast a couple of times - it was meagre but serviceable (coffee, cereal, small pastries, juice). But more often I would order the $6 eggs/bacon/toast/potatoes breakfast, which was very good and very reasonable. I did not have lunch or dinner there given the other dining options on offer in Berkeley. There is wonderful deck that overlooks the Faculty Glade where you can have breakfast and watch the students pass by on the way to class. The place does have a rabbit warren quality which I enjoyed. I was always getting lost. It is very dark, as you would expect from a Craftsmen building. Not a good choice if you have mobility issues, both because it is a little hard to get to the Club itself and also because the rooms are upstairs with no elevator. The people who work there are friendly but not particularly helpful or effective. Since Berkeley has no hospitality major, they may not even be students. But if you ask for specifically what you need, you generally get it eventually. I would stay here again. For me, its charm and location outweigh its shortcomings. read more

When I attended Cal my mom and step dad alway tried to book a room at the faculty club when they visited for the big game. The rooms are small but well maintained and the staff is very helpful. It's a very comfortable place to stay and doesn't feel like you're on campus at all! It's set amongst mature trees and surrounded by the lush faculty glade. The building itself was designed by Bernard Maybeck (a well known Berkeley architect) who is famous for using natural and indigenous materials, which explains the wooden interior and exterior. It reminds me of staying in a quaint and cozy lodge. I would highly recommend this as a hotel. read more

I had my wedding here about a month ago. Michelle was amazing, the staff were awesome and everything went on without a hitch! I had lights strung in the Faculty Club and it really brightened up the whole place. I definitely recommend the Faculty Club if you are thinking of getting married in the East Bay! read more

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I had my 2007 Vegan wedding here in the Seaborg room. They were accommodating on the menu. It was very affordable. The food was tasty and I love the way the room looks with the balcony. The staff was ok to work with. The wedding was held outside on the lawn facing the building and that was also very nicely done. read more

We were recently married and had our reception at the Faculty Club and loved it. Once you begin the process of planning your wedding you realize that everything with the word "wedding" attached to it is expensive and everything is an "adder". However, the Faculty Club was so willing to work with every detail you could possibly want without extra charge. Yes it's true they charge for lighting the fireplace...but it's $50. In the grand scheme of the evening that's nothing. The food is actually excellent and we were very particular about our food. We went back for several tasting because we wanted to make sure we had exactly the dishes that were excellent. We selected a plated dinners with three options, seared marinated duck breast, stuffed chicken salinas and mushroom strudel. Everyone loved dinner. The architecture of this beautiful building allows you to minimize decoration because the building itself is beautiful. If you reserve the main hall, the outdoor glade is included along with the louge. It's well worth the $1800 which is really low to reserve a reception in the greater Bay Area. Yes, they will charge you for 100 person minimum, but if your party is significantly smaller than that, there are other areas of the Faculty Club you can reserve. We can't speak highly enough of the Faculty Club. We were married on the Glade outside under the oak tree and it was beautiful. This is a remote area of campus, so you do not get many passer bys, but those that do, like to watch and share your beautiful day. There is a lovely deck that opens into the main hall that works great for an outdoor reception hour after the ceremony, then guests can walk in through the many double doors to the main hall. Highly recommended!! read more

I had my wedding ceremony and reception here on July 14, 2013. What a special place! We got married under the beautiful old oak tree on the glade outside the building. Cocktails on the deck was followed by dinner and dancing in the Great Hall. The building is beautiful and has so much character ... our guests commented all night on what a wonderful and interesting space it was. Michelle did an awesome job coordinating our wedding. She is organized, friendly, and easy to work with, and kept my stress low throughout the planning process. She has a great eye, too, and helped transform our dining tables and cake table into beautiful pieces of art! I would strongly recommend TFC for any special event! read more

I came here to scout out the "lawn" for a possible wedding ceremony spot. My problem is that I want an outdoor ceremony. Unfortunately, we have around 250-300 guests attending our wedding and not many outdoor venues (Brazillian Room, Rose Garden, etc) will not be able to accommodate us. This place is affordable, I think an $800 rental fee plus a $2 per chair fee, but it doesn't have a great wow factor. I think if I have to have my wedding ceremony here, I can make do with the spot. It just isn't ideal. The lawn looks awfully tiny, but apparently can fit 300 people. (Come see the lawn, you'll see what I mean) Anyway, the wedding coordinator Kenna has been helpful, but I think she is a bit absent minded. I emailed her about RETURNING to visit the faculty club glade (my fiancee and I had visited it about 3 weeks before) and specified I was returning with my parents. When we arrived, she reintroduced herself like we'd never met. It was quite funny. Anyway, I give 3 stars for the lawn only because it is 1. On my alma mater's campus, where my fiancee and I hung out a lot back in our collegiate days 2. Is big enough for a larger wedding ceremony (up to 300 guests) 3. Decently priced I definitely would not have my reception here, as it would have to be held in the great hall. The great hall is good for less than 200 (?) people I think, but if you have more (they say they can fit 300), you'd have parts of your guests in different "rooms" (it's kind of shaped like a T). Don't do it. I think some of your guests would feel neglected in the back of a room that doesn't really open up into the great hall. Plus, the rooms are very dark and there are antlers and moose heads everywhere. I guess it'd be good for a smaller wedding reception, if you want a hunting theme! read more

If you don't cook home but wanna eat a homemade meal at least once a while, this is the place. So far there hasn't been one hot meal item that I didn't like. Plus, the seating area inside is extremely charming, giving you the feeling of a medieval hunting lodge. And if you sit outside it is always pleasant to enjoy the sun. I love this place, a lot of times it is my number one choice for a lunch. read more

I was invited for a special lunch with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Business & Administration at the University of California, Berkeley for being one of the high performers along with 12 other employees from the various department's on campus and ofcourse the meal was paid the AVC. I'm very fortunate to receive such opportunity to meet with the AVC and being the youngest from my department to receive this opportunity and to represent my department. Little did I know that this place was so beautiful and served breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also host event's such as weddings and parties. I was running late for the luncheon so decided to order something that wouldn't take too long to prepare. I got myself crab cakes for lunch and some salad on the side. The service and the food was excellent!! Would come back to this place anytime. By the way, it's open to the public so do feel free to check out the menu and hours on the faculty club website. Here's the link: http://www.berkeleyfacultyclub.com/ read more

Nice place to stop by for lunch & dinner. Food was great quality and dessert was a pleasant surprise.

Quality, inexpensive breakfast in a great arts and crafts building on the Cal campus. LOVE it!

I love the Faculty Club for before and between class drinks. However, the food isn't great, and the service is really really REALLY slow. Juan is amazing, he's like a family member, but they don't worry about getting us served quickly. Also, the chef walks in sometimes and is really very rude to us. But still, it's the FC and we'll always love it. read more