Alameda Elks Lodge

We’ve come here for about three events that were work related over the past few years, so I have gotten to know this venue decently well.
There is some parking in the back of the building, and if you arrive only to discover that the lot is full, there is also some street parking as well out on Santa Clara.
The building, much like many other buildings in the city of Alameda, is older. With that, lots of personality and charm! It is a beautiful venue to host meetings, dinners (formal or informal), events, fundraisers, etc. There is a ton of space! I am always surprised by the large numbers of people the lodge can accommodate.
There is a bar in the back of the room which is a nice feature. The people who have been hosting the events each time I have visited have been generally upbeat and professional, so the service has been a pleasure.
Overall, this is a nice venue for events– especially work related events. I think having the stage area, room for a photographer, and a mic are features that would make this the perfect location for many different kinds of gatherings.

Came here for a baby shower event. Nice how they rent out the bottom room. It’s a good size with a bar so you have access to a sink. Stage area was nice to have with a mic setup for announcements and games.
Wood floors. Nice big space. Bathrooms were decent too.

One of the nicest Elk’s lodges in the country, plus the people are all really nice. Super nice bar. Upstairs and downstairs halls are beautiful. You gotta see that stained glass dome. Looks like a state capital building.

I love this place. The people are friendly. The liquor is inexpensive. And the money goes to a charity. What’s not to love?
In my experience, they’re very accommodating. The facilities are very nice. The card-​room and Mahogany room are nice. The basement (they call it the Rathskeller) is also quite nice, and I’ve been to many of their public breakfasts there (which I heartily recommend).
The ballroom is downright breathtaking. It’s huge, with lots of stained wood, colorfully painted ceilings, and an amazing stained-​glass dome. Very classy.

A very generous neighbor of mine invited my husband and me to the Alameda Elks Lodge Annual Crab Feed, which was held yesterday evening. I’m giving the lodge a four star for my dining experience and an enjoyable evening.
My husband has been here more than a few times to play games of pool with our friendly neighbor and one of his friends. I have been here before for another event almost three years ago.
The interior is beautiful, but the walls are thin. One can actually hear people talking in the next room. Our meeting place was the Mahogany Room for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. I did not want to stuff myself with the appetizers and not have enough room in my stomach for the main entrée — crab. Nor did I want any libation before the meal.
After the cocktail hour, we were escorted to the Rathskeller (basement of the lodge) where the dinner was held. The gentlemen on the waitstaff were lined up in an orderly manner, serving us whatever we desired — be it the bowtie/​penne pasta, dinner rolls/​garlic bread, coffee, dessert. Presentation of the crab, the wines (red and white), Caesar salad and the antipasti plates was excellent… casual, yet classy. Dessert was a serving of raspberry sorbet. The only minor drawback was the bowtie/​penne pasta served on the same plate as the salad plate.
Even though I did not win any of the door prizes after making a donation of $ 20 for 20 raffle tickets, they had some nice ones, such as the $ 100 gift card from Scott’s Seafood, $ 100 gift card for Yoshi’s dinner and show, $ 50 gift cards from La Penca Azul, C’era Una Volta, 1400 Bar and Grill, Jim’s Coffee Shop, Pier 29. From what I heard, the lodge raised about $ 1,500 in raffle ticket sales.
I also have to give kudos to the waitstaff, many of whom were very tolerable and patient with this woman who sat at the next table behind my husband. She was in the wine (whine) mode. «I want penne pasta. I don’t want this dinner roll with butter. I want some garlic bread. Don’t you guys have any garlic bread?» On and on she went… egads…she had a sense of entitlement. Yes, there were two bottles of wine at each table, but her incessant whining almost had me do a «face palm» on her. Ooh, I wanted to offer her a piece of cheese, which would have complemented a glass of wine very well. (Now, quit your whining, lady… lol.)

Been here for all sorts of events. Small parking lot in the back. Lots of parking sopaces dedicated to the police on the other side of the block, and for big deal Elks. Impressive building from the front. Front door entrance is always unavailable. Entrance to all floors is in the back from their parking lot.
The basement is the Rathskeller. Remodeled with new walls and ceiling and lots more canister lighting. Bar at one end. Actually a nice place.
Ground floor is a decently sized room with windows which can be a nice reception area. Main Elks bar located on the ground floor too.
Upstairs is the main venue space. It’s pretty big and there’s a big stage too. The downside here is the walls and décor is dated and dark. The upside is the great stained glass rotunda above you. Very impressive. PA system.

Always a good time when we have our school crab feed or attend a wedding or party at the Alameda Elks lodge. You can feel the history in this building. almost a little creepy. Parking can be difficult so it’s a good idea to park in the parking garage on Oak St just around the corner.
The Lodge is 3 floors with a basement ballroom equipped with a bar and stage and well lit. I’m guessing it’ll hold around 150 – 200 people. The main floor is the lobby entrance, bar and offices. The top floor is the main Ballroom which will fit several hundred people no problem and has a large stage.
When you’re in this building the history of it is very evident everywhere you look and even the smell… lol. I recommend this place for your party or event… the bartenders here pour STRONG too!

The main ballroom upstairs is very impressive. The stained glass dome skylight is by far one of the nicest I’ve seen in a while. The staff I’ve encountered is friendly and the facility is well maintained. The 2^nd Tuesday brunch is something to check out if you have time. It’s down in the basement and they host an full bar… order the Bloody Mary.

****This is a review based on my experience as a guest at awedding reception.
From the outside, it looks very very nice. Inside, it’s a little musky when you walk in almost like an old library. However, the interior and random animal heads on the walls made this place seem very mysterious to me.
The main hall is pretty nice. What really makes is stand out is the beautiful stained glass dome. I loved that part of the hall. What really offset the beauty of that, however, was the elk heads mounted on the wall. They looked real, so real.
The plush seating on the perimeter of the hall was nice too to get a good view of things and just to sit and lounge.
There was also plenty of room for the dance floor, which all the guests enjoyed.
They also have a bar here, but I don’t think the bride and groom unitlized this. The restrooms are rather… uncirculated.
Altogether I enjoyed this venue.

I won’t bore you with paragraphs.
1. Friend’s wedding reception was hosted here
2. Very small parking lot — had to park on the street. Thought I got a ticket, gave me a heart attack. Ended up being a flier for the new fro-​yo place across the street.
3. Beautiful architecture inside with a glass dome. Reminds me of an old frat house in New England.
4. Big enough for about 250 guests
5. No AC? Or AC not on? Regardless, it was freaken hot. Unbearably hot. So not cool (literally and figuratively)
6. Woman’s bathroom kinda smells funny. Ok, it smelled really bad, like a gas station bathroom. But cleaner than a gas station bathroom.
7. Dead animal on the walls? uh… I guess?
8. Sign outside by the driveway that said «Elks Crossing.» cute.

Had my Wedding here. It was the most affordable venue I could find and we had worked with the staff before.
They have in house catering service that’s prices can’t be beat anywhere else. McDonough catering is the best! He will of course do a sample dinner for you and your family to pick your menu.
The room can seat up to 300. I ended up with 280 and there was plenty of dance floor left. The ceiling detail makes this place a romantic setting for a wedding reception.

The Mahogony Room bar is a nice setting, the bartenders are good[especially Mary], and the prices are an invitation to a serious drinking problem. The Friday night buffet and other dinner events are consistently good. The downstairs Rathskeller has a more low-​rent ambiance but again the lunches and dinners are tasty. The monthly facility breakfast is the best food-​related event of all, though it would be nice if they’d call it a brunch and extend the hours until after wake-​up time. Recommended for members and non-​members both.