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19 Great Private Dining Rooms in the East Bay

White tablecloths, pretty patios, and more

by Janelle Bitker@JanelleBitker Nov 14, 2018, 10:03am PST

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by Janelle Bitker@JanelleBitker Nov 14, 2018, 10:03am PST

Revival Bar + Kitchen/Facebook

The days of hosting elaborate dinner parties in your own home are over — at least, for most of us in the increasingly expensive East Bay and its complementary small living spaces. Luckily, more and more restaurants are building out their spaces with private dining options in mind. Whether you’re looking for a large space for a formal engagement, a lovely patio for a low-key party, or an intimate room for a family holiday gathering, one of these 19 restaurants with great private dining rooms in Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, and Alameda should suit your needs.

Looking for private dining rooms in SF? We have those recommendations, too.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Revival Bar + Kitchen

Local, seasonal, California fare is the focus at Revival, which offers a beautiful private room with exposed brick and white tablecloths — prime for a special occasion. It comfortably seats 15 to 40 guests.

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2102 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

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Gather

Located inside a LEED-certified building, hyper-sustainable restaurant Gather offers few dining options for large groups hankering for its Californian cuisine. The open-air patio — with a fire pit lounge — seats 24 guests. The bar area can be reserved for 30 people, standing, drinking, and nibbling on bites. And groups of 24 to 40 guests can be seated on a semi-private, separate end of the main dining room.

2200 Oxford St, Berkeley, CA 94704

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Gather

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Henry's

Burgers are a highlight at Chris Kronner’s follow-up to Kronnerburger, but Henry’s also serves a wide range of creative salads, small plates, and entrees befitting of a celebration. The old college pub has been totally redesigned into a bright, airy space, including the Durant Room, which can seat up to 50 people.

2600 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

Gio’s Pizza and Bocce

Gio’s is a hip Italian restaurant and amaro-focused bar — yes, with an indoor bocce court — in the former Giovanni’s space. A fire burned down most of that historic restaurant, but the new owners kept the entire back dining room intact, which now serves as an old-school, wood-paneled private room, seating about 28 guests.

Open in Google Maps

2420 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

Oliveto

Head to stalwart Italian restaurant Oliveto’s upscale Siena Room upstairs for groups of 12 to 28 people. You’ll collaborate with the chef on a four-course menu for dinner or a three-course menu for lunch, with the option of ordering a special cake through the restaurant’s pastry team or adding wine pairings.

5655 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

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A16

As with the San Francisco location, Rockridge’s A16 also serves lovely Neapolitan pizza, pasta, and wine — and offers a private dining room. This one seats 20 to 40 guests.

5356 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

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Also featured in:

Trader Vic's Emeryville

Perhaps no other restaurant on this list offers such festive environs. Trader Vic’s has four private and semi-private dining rooms, ranging from seating 10 to 100, with nautical, tiki, and old world decor. Within those rooms, there are also a lot of options for menus and service styles.

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9 Anchor Dr, Emeryville, CA 94608

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Also featured in:

Z Cafe & Bar

Z Cafe & Bar sits inside a 1925 Beaux Arts building, with huge windows and tile floors that echo a Parisian cafe. That extends to the private room, which seats up to 20 people.

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2735 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

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Mua Oakland

Thanks to its unusually expansive, industrial layout, Mua is a favorite for private events because it offers several rooms of varying sizes across multiple levels. The eclectic menu hits everything from bone marrow toast to chicken milanese to Moroccan lamb tagine.

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2442a Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612

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Hopscotch

Hopscotch has a whole annex located one door down from the main restaurant, with a full bar and a funky but elegant aesthetic. It seats 30 people, and the Hopscotch team will work with you on a pre-fixe menu or family-style feast costing anywhere from $28 to $60 per person.

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

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Also featured in:

Barlago

Italian spot Barlago is ready to host parties in its private room, which can seat 25 people, with a few set menu options ranging from $22 to $40 per person. Choose from deviled eggs, smoked salmon pizza, and spaghetti carbonara — plus access to a full bar.

550 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

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Shinmai

Shinmai serves nontraditional izakaya fare, ramen, sake, and cocktails in a sleek, dark, and moody setting. The private room in the back can seat up to 24 guests.

1825-3 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Duende

For tapas, paella, and other Spanish fare in a gorgeous Art Deco building, look no further than Duende. The restaurant’s mezzanine can seat 45 people, and you can add the bodega side to seat an additional 15.

468 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Duende

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Itani Ramen

Decked out in red lanterns and a private bar, Itani Ramen’s Genki Room is a festive spot for ramen and izakaya plates. It seats 26 people, and menu options start at $25 per person.

1736 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Also featured in:

20 Fantastic Bay Area Sushi Restaurants That Are Open for Takeout and Delivery

Mockingbird

With its exposed brick walls and tasty bistro fare, Mockingbird makes for a warm and welcoming private party destination. Events take place upstairs on the mezzanine overlooking the rest of the restaurant, and it seats up to 30 people.

Open in Google Maps

416 13th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Peony Seafood Restaurant

Whether it’s for dim sum or large Cantonese banquets, Peony has remained a staple in Oakland Chinatown. The restaurant does plenty of private events — and weddings — and has an opulent private room with gold walls and 60 seats.

Open in Google Maps

388 9th St #288, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

Lungomare

Lungomare not only attracts diners for its solid Italian fare but its enviable waterfront views on Jack London Square. It also comes with multiple private dining options, including a dining room that seats up to 40 people and a large patio that seats up to 80.

1 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

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Lungomare’s outdoor seating at night

Also featured in:

Pacific Lighthouse

This enormous Cantonese banquet restaurant sits along the water in Alameda and can fit 500 people across its many private rooms on two different floors. With its size and huge chandeliers, it’s popular for weddings, but Pacific Lighthouse’s delicate dumplings, roasted meats, and seafood fetched from a tank suit many occasions.

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1051 Pacific Marina, Alameda, CA 94501

Visit Website

Trabocco Kitchen and Cocktails

Alameda’s best Italian restaurant offers a small private room for up to 16 guests, ideal for a family gathering over a few blistered pies and wine.

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2213 S Shore Center, Alameda, CA 94501

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Revival Bar + Kitchen

2102 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Local, seasonal, California fare is the focus at Revival, which offers a beautiful private room with exposed brick and white tablecloths — prime for a special occasion. It comfortably seats 15 to 40 guests.

Open in Google Maps

2102 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

Gather

2200 Oxford St, Berkeley, CA 94704

Located inside a LEED-certified building, hyper-sustainable restaurant Gather offers few dining options for large groups hankering for its Californian cuisine. The open-air patio — with a fire pit lounge — seats 24 guests. The bar area can be reserved for 30 people, standing, drinking, and nibbling on bites. And groups of 24 to 40 guests can be seated on a semi-private, separate end of the main dining room.

2200 Oxford St, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

Gather

Henry's

2600 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Burgers are a highlight at Chris Kronner’s follow-up to Kronnerburger, but Henry’s also serves a wide range of creative salads, small plates, and entrees befitting of a celebration. The old college pub has been totally redesigned into a bright, airy space, including the Durant Room, which can seat up to 50 people.

2600 Durant Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

Gio’s Pizza and Bocce

2420 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Gio’s is a hip Italian restaurant and amaro-focused bar — yes, with an indoor bocce court — in the former Giovanni’s space. A fire burned down most of that historic restaurant, but the new owners kept the entire back dining room intact, which now serves as an old-school, wood-paneled private room, seating about 28 guests.

Open in Google Maps

2420 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

Visit Website

Oliveto

5655 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Head to stalwart Italian restaurant Oliveto’s upscale Siena Room upstairs for groups of 12 to 28 people. You’ll collaborate with the chef on a four-course menu for dinner or a three-course menu for lunch, with the option of ordering a special cake through the restaurant’s pastry team or adding wine pairings.

5655 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Visit Website

A16

5356 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

As with the San Francisco location, Rockridge’s A16 also serves lovely Neapolitan pizza, pasta, and wine — and offers a private dining room. This one seats 20 to 40 guests.

5356 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Visit Website

Trader Vic's Emeryville

9 Anchor Dr, Emeryville, CA 94608

Perhaps no other restaurant on this list offers such festive environs. Trader Vic’s has four private and semi-private dining rooms, ranging from seating 10 to 100, with nautical, tiki, and old world decor. Within those rooms, there are also a lot of options for menus and service styles.

Open in Google Maps

9 Anchor Dr, Emeryville, CA 94608

Visit Website

Z Cafe & Bar

2735 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Z Cafe & Bar sits inside a 1925 Beaux Arts building, with huge windows and tile floors that echo a Parisian cafe. That extends to the private room, which seats up to 20 people.

Open in Google Maps

2735 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Mua Oakland

2442a Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612

Thanks to its unusually expansive, industrial layout, Mua is a favorite for private events because it offers several rooms of varying sizes across multiple levels. The eclectic menu hits everything from bone marrow toast to chicken milanese to Moroccan lamb tagine.

Open in Google Maps

2442a Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Hopscotch

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Hopscotch has a whole annex located one door down from the main restaurant, with a full bar and a funky but elegant aesthetic. It seats 30 people, and the Hopscotch team will work with you on a pre-fixe menu or family-style feast costing anywhere from $28 to $60 per person.

1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Barlago

550 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

Italian spot Barlago is ready to host parties in its private room, which can seat 25 people, with a few set menu options ranging from $22 to $40 per person. Choose from deviled eggs, smoked salmon pizza, and spaghetti carbonara — plus access to a full bar.

550 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

Visit Website

Shinmai

1825-3 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Shinmai serves nontraditional izakaya fare, ramen, sake, and cocktails in a sleek, dark, and moody setting. The private room in the back can seat up to 24 guests.

1825-3 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Duende

468 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612

For tapas, paella, and other Spanish fare in a gorgeous Art Deco building, look no further than Duende. The restaurant’s mezzanine can seat 45 people, and you can add the bodega side to seat an additional 15.

468 19th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Duende

Itani Ramen

1736 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Decked out in red lanterns and a private bar, Itani Ramen’s Genki Room is a festive spot for ramen and izakaya plates. It seats 26 people, and menu options start at $25 per person.

1736 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Mockingbird

416 13th St, Oakland, CA 94612

With its exposed brick walls and tasty bistro fare, Mockingbird makes for a warm and welcoming private party destination. Events take place upstairs on the mezzanine overlooking the rest of the restaurant, and it seats up to 30 people.

Open in Google Maps

416 13th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Related Maps

Peony Seafood Restaurant

388 9th St #288, Oakland, CA 94607

Whether it’s for dim sum or large Cantonese banquets, Peony has remained a staple in Oakland Chinatown. The restaurant does plenty of private events — and weddings — and has an opulent private room with gold walls and 60 seats.

Open in Google Maps

388 9th St #288, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

Lungomare

1 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

Lungomare not only attracts diners for its solid Italian fare but its enviable waterfront views on Jack London Square. It also comes with multiple private dining options, including a dining room that seats up to 40 people and a large patio that seats up to 80.

1 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

Lungomare’s outdoor seating at night

Pacific Lighthouse

1051 Pacific Marina, Alameda, CA 94501

This enormous Cantonese banquet restaurant sits along the water in Alameda and can fit 500 people across its many private rooms on two different floors. With its size and huge chandeliers, it’s popular for weddings, but Pacific Lighthouse’s delicate dumplings, roasted meats, and seafood fetched from a tank suit many occasions.

Open in Google Maps

1051 Pacific Marina, Alameda, CA 94501

Visit Website

Trabocco Kitchen and Cocktails

2213 S Shore Center, Alameda, CA 94501

Alameda’s best Italian restaurant offers a small private room for up to 16 guests, ideal for a family gathering over a few blistered pies and wine.

Open in Google Maps

2213 S Shore Center, Alameda, CA 94501

Visit Website

Related Maps