Oakland, CA 94610
(map) Phone: 510-451-1000
Reviews for The Bellevue Club
What a gorgeous setting and decor for the happiest day of a couple's life! The wedding parties at two recent weddings I have seen here were delighted with The Bellevue Club. Each chose their own themes, color scheme, table flowers, and ceremony. One was rather formal, and the other more casual. The professional in-house caterers matched the menu to the couple's taste and budget - the food was delicious! I heard many guests say they never knew this unique place existed, in such a scenic setting on Lake Merritt.
This club is a magical spot. We had our son's rehearsal dinner here last November, and everything was great. It's in the park, right on the shore of Lake Merritt, and at night you can see the necklace of lights circling the lake. The building is 80 years old, and everything is so elegant -- high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, fine artworks.
They have a great new caterer, and the food was wonderful. So was the service. The catering manager, Angel, takes care of all the details and makes sure everything runs like clockwork. There are rooms for the bridal party to change clothes and get ready, and they also have about 10 hotel rooms, which is great for out-of-town guests. Many of the rooms have large balconies overlooking the lake. They have two very large rooms for big weddings and receptions, as well as smaller rooms for meetings and smaller events.
Plus, they have plenty of secure parking right under the building. Go take a look. You won't be sorry.
This place has a ridiculous amount of potential as an awesome wedding venue. Architecturally, the building is a gem and the ballroom and pink parlor on the fourth floors have old-fashioned charm. Something that's not even advertised about the place is that Lake Merritt across the street is all lit up at night. Like I said, potential galore.
Unfortunately, the place is way past its prime. The carpets are all noticeably stained on the stairs and in the wedding venues themselves. In fact it's super obvious in the pink parlor (or whatever they call it) and that's supposed to be the designated room for ceremonies.
Also, I tried calling this place every day for five days in a row, leaving messages with different people (3 with the catering manager who apparently quit). I finally got a call back a week after my initial call. Apparently there's a lot of confusion since the catering manager left (and the calls weren't transferred over like they should have been). The Bellevue Club only allows in-house catering for weddings and right now they're not sure if or when they're hiring a new catering manager. I asked if the carpets were going to be replaced any time soon and the manager admitted that they and the curtains (hadn't even noticed those) were in terrible shape.
If someone put a little money into this place and did a little advertising, the Bellevue Club could charge $1000 more than it is now.
Vendor response to review
This review, though somewhat accurate at the time, is now outdated. The commentary regarding staffing and response time to client inquiries has been addressed. Our location has been an Oakland focal point since it was built in the late 1920's, and holds the title of a Historical Landmark. Our members and staff take much time, care, and pride in the ongoing maintenance and restoration process of the building. We are sure that if the party who wrote this review revisited The Club today, they would have a very different response.
GUEST
The club is a very elegant location to be married. They are very organized and have the wedding thing down but that means that they are not very flexible with things. They have a set and very basic menu and you must use them as your caterer. Other then that a nice location to have an event
About The Bellevue Club
Designed by architects Roeth and Bangs, this six-story building is more of a grand, Louis XIV-style French manor than a clubhouse. You enter a spacious, elegantly furnished lobby and take an elevator to the fourth floor for your celebration. You have your choice of four lovely rooms which, depending on the size of your party and budget, may be used in a number of combinations.
The Mural Lounge and the Main Dining Room (the two largest rooms) have billowing draperies, gilded moldings, marble fireplaces and two-story high ceilings, all reminiscent of a European castle. In fact, a 1949 book about the Club’s history describes the interior decoration as “inspired by Marie Antoinette’s Petit Trianon.” The Mural Lounge, a picturesque place for a ceremony, is named for the pastoral scenes painted over the fireplace and entryway. Other treasures fill the room: a whimsically hand-painted Mason Hamlin grand piano (that works), delicate porcelain figurines and a pair of bronze cherubs who sit atop a marble mantle clock. Rose-colored walls are punctuated with gilded moldings and decorative flower baskets done in gold relief. An additional benefit is that both the Main Dining Room and Mural Lounge have sweeping views of Lake Merritt.
The Main Dining Room is the Bellevue Club’s pièce de résistance. Hand-carved ornamentations, including small reliefs of women’s faces, grace the walls between enormous arched windows framed by flowering draperies. A crystal chandelier and wall sconces cast a soft glow over evening parties. And if you want to give your wedding a truly regal flair, conduct your toasting or bouquet-throwing from the fifth floor interior balcony, a lofty perch from which to survey your “kingdom” below. It’s also a wonderful vantage point for a photographer to capture aerial photos of your event.
Two smaller spaces, connected by a sunny enclosed terrace, are also highly detailed. The Wisteria Room is named for the flowered pattern on the hand-blocked linen drapery that frames two large brass windows with lake views; the Terrace Room is distinguished by a hand-painted mural above a black marble fireplace. And if you and some of your guests want to extend your stay, five guestrooms with full baths and some with private lakeside balconies provide pleasant and convenient overnight accommodations
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