Oakland Scottish Rite Center

So, my school had a graduation and we came here to the fourth floor. I didn't know that such a floor existed. But it does and it was perfect for our group. I've been here for a performance, one time to pick up my bib and swag for a race, and this third time for the graduation. This is a nice center for communal events.The bathrooms are a throwback to olden times. The stalls are small and the lighting isn't great. The architecture is great and each time I come I see details that I hadn't noticed previously.I have to say that I was expecting a fantastic women's lounge and they didn't have that, but what they had did work out fine.

Always drove through here never really knew what it was. But wow this place is beautiful. Is a little old but the ceilings and whole set up is so nice in general the whole architecture of the building is gorgeous. And the balcony wow amazing view. I checked out a Muay Thai event and the set up was great. Matches in mats were down stairs while the main event was set up in the 4th floor. Multiple gyms that were participating had their small merch sections and even had a section where they sold Thai food. Had a great time here looking forward for more events at this center.

I'm in love with this building. I've been to many events here: an opera performance, dinners and meetings. The architecture has so much eye candy for people who enjoy 1920's buildings. Solid wood doors and paneling, decorative ceilings, vintage tile floors, expansive spaces. The women's lounge on the first floor brings me back to a by-gone era of "let's freshen our lipstick and powder our nose."If you have an opportunity to go to an event here, take it.

This place has a great event setting, huge rooms, auditorium massive and cute lounges and restrooms. Its a fancy huge place with great views of the lake. The only complain was the AC in the 3rd floor was not working so it was really hot and sweaty. We were at a company offsite of 700 people so it got unbearable in that floor after a while. The place has 4 floors, or at least we had access to 4 floors. The auditorium was the biggest win in my experience. It can hold more than 700 people I think... the chairs are little tight but the view from all spaces is clear and great.

The Oakland Scottish Rite Center, I used to remember it was called the Scottish Rite Temple in my youth, has been around since the 1920s. Situated across from the beautiful (except when you're breathing when jogging and or walking around the lake) Lake Merritt and near the Lake Chalet (Boathouse), the center is an art-deco throw-back to the post depression 20s. Beautiful interior while exterior is a bit bland.The center is perfect for galas, High School proms, special events, etc. walk in through the large sets of double doors, into a lobby, through another set of double doors, and you enter a large ballroom with a stage opposite the doors. Perfect symmetry as the ballroom has large side rooms on both the left and right. Wooden floor and 30 foot (?) ornate ceiling are impressive.Beautiful venue, parking in a back lot while there are two-hour spaces on the Lake Merritt side.

It's quite a lovely interior...BUT...they have disabled parking spaces in the rear of the building but no accessible entrance to the Center. The sign for a wheelchair ramp from the parking lot includes about 6 steps. That's insane. On the other side of the building is a ramp for a vehicle but the grade is far too steep and even if you aren't in a wheelchair but have mobility challenges, there's no railing.I attended a Facebook event. I know Kaiser has events there too.It is definitely not an ADA-accessible venue.

Super cool historic place! Checked it out see if I can host one of my work meetings and John gave my colleague and I an awesome your. Check out the pics!

Beautiful venue! I had not come to an event here in years but previously we had our church Thanksgiving banquets here every year back over 20 years ago and also attended a few school fairs here. This is our first wedding here and I noticed they have remodeled some of the building inside. The wedding we attended had over 350 guests so it was held in the Grand Ballroom and was catered by one of the in-house caterers. Parking can be a problem but if you are willing to walk 1-2 blocks, you can find parking near the Main Library. Just be safe as the area can be alittle seedy at night. The ladies lounge on the first floor is humongous like the old style powder rooms with large mirrors, with a big sitting room with sofas so it was perfect for the bride and her bridesmaids to have a place to relax and change or spruce up their makeup. The service was good and food was buffet style. There was plenty of food for seconds and we had a variety: salad, garlic bread, beef, chicken, salmon, grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes, rice, fruit, coffee and tea, water and iced tea. All in all, food was average, beef was tender, chicken was a bit dry, and salmon, slightly under-cooked. But we were here to celebrate and it was good fun.

A nice location directly across the street from Lake Merritt with ample street parking, however, the seats are made for very small people. There is no real width to them nor is there any leg room. If you are not small, the theater will be extremely uncomfortable. It is also on the 4th floor. The person downstairs told us to go to the fourth floor and we would still have to go up another flight of stairs. Baffling, since the elevator actually does go to the 5th floor, but we took her instructions and decided that the next flight of stairs maybe was between floors four and five. Nope, when we arrived at the top of the stairs we were right at the elevator letting out all the people we had just been in there with who had correctly taken it to the fifth floor. And yet there is still yet another flight of stairs to go up. Not ADA accessible at all. We won't be back to this venue.

The theater on the top floor is impressive and has historical character to it. We saw a ballet performance here and the atmosphere was quite magical.