Hamlin Mansion
2120 Broadway
San Francisco CA
Moira Gubbins:
415.389.8069
Hamlin Website
| Now and then you may come across a school that occupies a
mansion,
but only the Hamlin School has a Pacific Heights address
with a spectacular panoramic view of the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay.
Granite steps, flanked by two gray marble lions (nicknamed Leo and Leona by Hamlin students),
lead to a mosaic and marble vestibule and a pair of oak-and-plate glass doors. Beyond the
vestibule is the two-story Great Hall, a space with columns and wall-to-wall oak paneling that’s
practically custom-made for ceremonies. The bride makes her entrance by walking down a
magnificent staircase, illuminated by a large art glass window with four chipped glass "jewels"
embedded in it. Guests are seated throughout the hall, and there’s room on the balcony above
for an additional group of onlookers.
For Eliot's Photos of Hamlin Mansion, Click Here
|
Claremont Resort and Spa
or Claremont Hotel
41 Tunnel Road
Berkeley, CA 94705
800.551.7266 ext.# 3 |
This great old Claremont Hotel can host several weddings at the same time.
Some of the ballrooms have views of the Bay and San Francisco, while a few have
few or no windows. This is a grand resort convenient to anywhere in the Bay Area,
and it has an incredible spa. I photograph several weddings a year at the
Claremont Hotel. You'll love the view of the Bay Area from the honeymoon
suite!
You can have your ceremony outdoors, but the real splendor is
inside.
|
Hillside Club
2286 Cedar Street
Berkeley, CA 94709
510.848.3227
| When I was in sixth grade, I attended a dance class in this
great hall. I couldn't appreciate the Maybeck architecture then, but you
will when you spend your special day here. The Hillside Club is in a
quiet north-Berkeley neighborhood, just a few blocks from Chez
Panisse. It has an exquisite dance floor and a big stage.
Accommodates up to 125, no catering restrictions.
|
Miyako Hotel
in San Francisco's Japantown
1625 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.922.3200
| Whether wedding, Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah, the festivities will go
well in the Miyako Hotel. The food is outstanding, the service fabulous, the staff
super friendly, and the parking convenient. What more could you ask. Japanese
style cuisine available. Accommodates 45 to 400, catering provided.
|
Lake Merritt Hotel
Downtown Oakland
1800 Madison
Oakland CA 94612
510.832.2300 |
Return to another era of the Bay Area, complete with great food and a wonderful
view of Lake Merritt. This cozy Art Deco venue is just across the street from Lake
Merritt and the food is fabulous. This has a look and feel so different from what you
would expect in downtown Oakland - It really is unique.
Accommodates
50-300, Catering provided.
Valet Parking
|
Bancroft Hotel
2680 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
510.549.1000
| Yes! A hotel that lets you bring in your own caterer! Like the Lake
Merrit Hotel, this is an unusual location with no downside. It's across the street
from the University of California, so you could have an outdoor ceremony at the
foot of the Campanile then walk to the Bancroft Hotel
Or, use one of the
raised areas in the Great Hall for your ceremony, and go into the cocktail hour and
meal seamlessly
|
Cafe de la Paz, Berkeley
1600 Shattuck Avenue
PO Box 9144
Berkeley, CA 94709
Reservations 510.843.0662
Cafe de la Paz
|
Well known for its tapas in the delightful upstairs restaurant, this north Shattuck
Avenue establishment also has a beautiful room on the first floor for an intimate
wedding in the heart of Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto.
Visit them at Cedar and Shattuck for lunch or dinner. Cafe de la Paz is across
Shattuck from Elephant Pharmacy. It's half a block from Chez Panisse, and a few
blocks from the Hillside Club, mentioned in this guide.
|
Haas Lilienthal House
2007 Franklin
San Francisco CA 94115
Read This
First 
Then call: 415.441.3000 | You will be getting ready for your wedding in
an upstairs bedroom of a Queen Anne style house. Then you will descend the
gorgeous staircase and see your guests gathered in the parlor of this wonderful
home built in 1886. Yours will be a classic affair in this San Francisco landmark,
where every room is an architectural treasure from floor to ceiling. Accommodates
40 to 175, catering provided.
Cautions: difficult parking, small rooms,
but if you fall in love with the architecture, it all fits together perfectly.
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