Previews

Peek Inside Oakland’s Lake Chalet

Photo: Adam Martin

The folks who brought you Park Chalet and Beach Chalet are moving into another city-owned building in Oakland with Lake Chalet, due to open August 11. We stopped by yesterday to check on the construction and came away with a singular takeaway impression: This place is massive. Four bars, three dining rooms, an outdoor patio, and a banquet room share the roof of the old Lake Merritt Boathouse. The main bar is 80 feet long and backed by windows overlooking the lake. There’s a deck/dock (with its own bar) where you can paddle your rented boat up, and a formal dining room with a fireplace where you can propose to your date. Overall, this behemoth seats 390 people inside and out.

Owner Gar Truppelli said one of the biggest reasons for undertaking the three-and-a-half-year project was because of the building itself. “Being able to go into a building that’s 100 years old, that’s kind of run down in an area that’s kind of neglected… it’s great to be able to take something like that and really make it the way it’s supposed to be, a place where people can go.” You can’t go in yet, but check out our slides for an idea of what the City of Oakland is in for next month.

Peek Inside Oakland’s Lake Chalet