Oakland is stacked with restaurants that know how to host a group without turning it into a logistics project. Across Uptown, Temescal, Jack London Square, and the older downtown pockets, you will find spaces built for birthdays, team dinners, rehearsal nights, and full-on celebrations.
The best part is that many of these Oakland restaurants offer buyout-friendly layouts, so you can match the venue to your headcount and your plan.
It doesn’t matter what your goal is. You’re guaranteed to find the perfect restaurant and event space on this list!
16 Event-Ready Restaurants In Oakland, CA, For Group Celebrations
Here are some top Oakland spots that are set up for private events, with practical details on how each space works for groups.
1. Kinfolx Oakland
Location: 1951 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA
Kinfolx's 2,375-square-foot layout gives you room to host a group without everyone being tightly packed, with seating flexible enough for either a mingling-forward setup or a seated program.
As a Black-owned coffee shop and wine bar, it also offers a distinctive setting for groups who want to foster connections among diverse groups.
Logistics are easy here. The 12th Street Oakland City Center BART station is a short walk away, and multiple AC Transit lines run along Telegraph, so guests can arrive without driving. If they do drive, street parking and nearby garages give you backups. For Oakland events where convenience matters, this location is a real plus.
2. Pizzaiolo
Location: 5008 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA
Pizzaiolo is a Temescal staple that handles private events better than most neighborhood spots because its spaces scale cleanly. The back patio can be reserved for gatherings up to about 50 guests, either as a seated dinner or a standing reception.
If your headcount climbs, a full restaurant buyout gives you room for roughly 90 seated or 120 standing, which is large enough for wedding-related dinners or company celebrations. The dining room and patio connect easily, so groups can move between them without splitting the party.
Menus are built for groups, with wood-fired pizza, seasonal pastas, and share-friendly starters that keep service smooth.
Transit access is practical: you’re about ten blocks from MacArthur BART and AC Transit line 1. Metered street parking runs only until early evening, so nights are simpler for drivers.
3. Farmhouse Kitchen
Location: 336 Water Street, Oakland, CA
Farmhouse Kitchen in Jack London Square is a strong option for groups who want a high-energy dinner with a bar program built in. The interior is colorful and lively, which helps set the tone for birthdays, rehearsal dinners, and friend gatherings that want a “night out” feel instead of a quiet private room.
Outdoor seating adds flexibility for warm-weather events or for splitting a group between a cocktail zone and dinner tables. The full bar and happy hour structure also make it easy to host a start-and-stay style event here.
Getting everyone there is straightforward. Jack London Square is well served by transit: BART to 12th Street Oakland City Center, plus a short walk, AC Transit lines that stop close by, and Amtrak at the Oakland Jack London station for out-of-town guests. Paid lots and street parking sit nearby, so you have multiple arrival options.
4. Noka Ramen
Location: 90 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA
Noka Ramen is a great fit for smaller group dinners that want a place with personality and an easy flow.
The space feels cozy and welcoming, with warm lighting, floral decor, and a bit of decorative whimsy, creating a memorable atmosphere. It’s the kind of room where people settle in, catch up, and let the meal stretch naturally.
The menu leans practical for groups: ramen bowls for individual orders, plus Japanese-inspired cocktails and beverages for a bar component.
Guests can arrive via BART plus a short walk or by AC Transit routes serving the Jack London area. Street parking and nearby garages cover drivers, so no one is stuck circling for too long.
5. Ramen Shop
Location: 5812 College Avenue, Oakland, CA
Ramen Shop offers a very specific private-event option that is perfect for intimate occasions. Hidden behind a locker-style door, the private dining room seats up to eight guests and comes with its own stereo, subdued lighting, and a tucked-away atmosphere that keeps the dinner focused on your group.
This is the right choice for small celebrations, client dinners, or family milestones where you want privacy without needing a large room. The main dining area also has a covered outdoor section, giving you a fallback if your party expands slightly.
Group dining here is structured and easy. Guests get build-your-own ramen bowls, paired with family-style appetizers that change with the season. The bar program includes rare whiskies and sour beers, which is a nice upgrade for a small group night.
Rockridge BART is close, and College Avenue has street parking, though weekends fill fast.
6. Arthur Mac’s Tap & Snack
Location: 4006 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Oakland, CA
Arthur Mac’s is one of the easiest places in Oakland to host a laid-back but organized group event. The beer garden has communal tables, booths, fire pits, heat lamps, and a retractable awning, so you can plan for a year-round outdoor gathering without gambling on the weather.
It also has a dedicated kids' party room and a tot lot, which makes it unusually good for family celebrations where adults want bar access, and kids need space. Full buyouts are available for larger groups.
For food, the setup is simple and reliable for parties: handmade crispy pizza, wings, salads, and soft serve, with gluten-free and vegan options that keep ordering smooth. Drinks cover local craft brews, wines, and hard seltzers.
MacArthur BART is about 500 feet away, so transit guests have a quick walk, and drivers can use nearby street spots.
7. Bocanova
Location: 1111 Broadway, Oakland, CA
Bocanova has multiple hosting zones:
- two heated outdoor patios for cocktail-style gatherings
- a glass-roof atrium that seats about 55 in a semi-private format
- a main dining room that can be bought out for groups up to roughly 150
That range makes it useful for anything from a mid-size birthday dinner to a full company celebration where you want a single, contained venue.
The kitchen focuses on Pan-American food, so groups get shareable plates and a broad flavor range without a narrow fixed menu.
The location near Old Oakland and the Fox Theater district is a bonus for guests coming from other parts of town. Transit is easy via 12th Street BART, and drivers can use the Marriott valet across the street with a flat rate when they show a Bocanova receipt.
8. alaMar Dominican Kitchen
Location: 100 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA
alaMar is a good fit for groups that want a full meal with a clear cultural backbone and a lively bar presence. Uptown’s Grand Avenue location puts you close to Lake Merritt, which helps if your event plan includes a walk-in arrival window or a pre-dinner meet-up nearby.
The setup supports private dining and group seating for celebrations that want everyone in one shared zone rather than split across the restaurant.
Chef Nelson German’s Dominican menu is built for groups because it naturally leans into big flavors, shared plates, and a “try a little of everything” approach. That makes ordering simple, and it keeps the dinner from feeling rigid.
For arrivals, guests can come by AC Transit along Grand, rideshare from BART, or drive and use nearby street parking and paid lots around Uptown.
9. Jaji
Location: 422 24th Street, Oakland, CA
Jaji is a strong option for groups who want a private dinner with a defined point of view. The restaurant’s enclosed private dining room seats about 30, which works well for birthdays, client dinners, or small corporate gatherings that need separation without going full buyout.
If your event is larger, the main dining area and the adjacent Bak Bar speakeasy can be reserved together for a reception that transitions into dinner.
Food is modern Afghan with shareable starters and plated mains, and the cocktail program uses spices and fruit to match the cuisine.
Guests can walk from 19th Street BART in about ten minutes, and Uptown garages plus street parking give drivers workable options.
10. Viridian
Location: 2216 Broadway, Oakland, CA
Viridian is a practical choice for groups who want a restaurant that can be converted into an event space without losing its nightly energy. The venue offers partial and full buyouts with in-house catering, so you can host anything from a cocktail-forward reception to a full seated dinner.
Its Uptown location near the Fox Theater makes it especially good for pre-show group dinners or company nights out, where guests might continue elsewhere after the meal.
The menu is modern Asian-American with small plates designed to share, and the cocktail program is a centerpiece for events. Service style works well for groups who want rounds of food and drinks rather than a single fixed dinner rhythm.
Guests can arrive easily via 19th Street BART or AC Transit on Broadway, and paid garages around Uptown handle overflow when street parking is tight.
11. Bombera
Location: 3459 Champion Street, Oakland, CA
Bombera is built for full-venue events, so it is best for groups that want one private location for the whole night. A buyout typically accommodates 40 to 90 seated guests, with space to stand and circulate for a reception-style event.
The former firehouse layout includes two patios and a large dining room that can shift into a dance floor after dinner, so you can schedule a clear meal window followed by an open celebration without moving venues.
Food is Cal-Mex with wood-fired cooking and a menu that supports family-style service, including strong vegetarian and vegan coverage. The bar program leans toward mezcal and margaritas, which fit a party flow well.
Guests can use AC Transit along MacArthur or International, rideshare from Fruitvale BART, or drive and rely on nearby street parking.
12. Marzano
Location: 4214 Park Boulevard, Oakland, CA
Marzano is a dependable option for groups that want a private room without giving up the buzz of a neighborhood restaurant. The upper dining room seats up to about 40 for a semi-private dinner, or can shift to a cocktail reception setup for a larger standing crowd.
If your event is bigger, a full buyout is on the table, and there is also a heated outdoor parklet that works well for a second zone or a more relaxed portion of the night.
The menu is rustic Southern Italian, which plays nicely with group service. Wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and antipasti make it easy to create a shared table plan, while the bar handles wine and cocktails without slowing things down.
Guests can reach it via AC Transit along Park Boulevard or a short walk from the Grand Lake BART area, and street parking is usually available within a few blocks.
13. Burdell
Location: 4640 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA
Burdell is ideal for small group events where the goal is a shared meal in a contained setting. With about 40 seats total, it does not operate like a typical private-room venue. Instead, groups of roughly 10 or more are served together family-style, often through a multi-course family dinner or brunch format.
That makes it a great fit for birthdays, team dinners, or friends’ nights where you want everyone on the same menu and timeline.
The food is elevated California soul, so the group experience centers on a paced meal with courses designed to be passed and discussed. Cocktails and a compact wine program support the dinner instead of competing with it.
Burdell is walkable from MacArthur BART, which helps guests coming from across Oakland or Berkeley. Street parking in Temescal is usually availble if people arrive a little early.
14. D. Monaghans On The Hill
Location: 2820 Mountain Boulevard, Oakland, CA
D. Monaghans On the Hill is one of the more straightforward “book a room and relax” venues on this list. The private banquet room seats up to 50, and a small attached patio can extend capacity by roughly 25, which is helpful for welcome drinks or a second gathering pocket.
The room has TVs, a fireplace, and an easy lounge layout, so you don’t need to bring in rentals or extra equipment to make the space event-ready.
This spot works well for casual celebrations, sports-leaning events, and business dinners that want a low-pressure environment. The kitchen supports catered hors d’oeuvres or plated meals, and the full bar keeps service simple for groups.
AC Transit routes through Montclair and Woodminster stop nearby, and the venue has on-site parking plus street spaces, which is a big plus for Oakland Hills guests.
15. NIDO’s Backyard
Location: 104 Oak Street, Oakland, CA
NIDO’s Backyard is fully open-air, and the layout is divided into three reservable zones: a large private plaza that scales from about 30 up to 200 with its own bar and AV, a smaller bar area for roughly 20 to 50, and a semi-private table for 15 to 20.
Food and drinks are set up for celebrations. You can run a reception menu built around seasonal Mexican dishes, while the agave-forward bar handles margaritas and mezcal cocktails for group rounds.
Because it sits at Jack London Square’s edge, guests can arrive by rideshare, AC Transit, or BART plus a short ride. Parking is the usual Jack London mix of street spots and paid lots, so sharing arrival guidance helps.
16. Daughter Thai Kitchen
Location: 6118 Medau Place, Oakland, CA
Daughter Thai Kitchen in Montclair fits groups who want a calmer, neighborhood-centered dinner with a clear food focus. The restaurant is best suited to private dining through grouped table reservations rather than a large buyout, which makes it ideal for birthday dinners, family celebrations, or team meals in the 10 to 25 range.
The menu leans into authentic Thai flavors that are easy to share, so setting a group spread works well even for mixed diets. Pairing dinner with wine or cocktails keeps the night celebratory without pushing into nightclub territory.
Guests can reach Montclair via AC Transit, or by BART to Fruitvale or MacArthur with a short rideshare up the hill. Street parking in the area is generally manageable compared to central Oakland.
Conclusion
Oakland gives you a rare mix of event formats in a tight radius: private dining rooms for structured dinners, patios and beer gardens for open-flow receptions, and full buyouts for groups that want one exclusive home base for the night.
When you’re ready to turn this plan into a real date on the calendar, hop over to Perfect Venue Marketplace. You can scan photos, check capacities, and see what each spot offers for groups, then send an inquiry right from the listing!
