If you ask the Telegraph Room for a drink menu with prices before you go to a show they act like it's an impossible thing to produce. After I got there and made my way up to the bar, I noticed that one of the other patrons had a drink menu with prices. So I asked to borrow it thinking that it was his own. It turns out that the bar had exactly 2 drink menus that everyone needed to share. Later, when the other guests ran off to the show (Jason Isbell) I grabbed a copy and took these photos. Outside of the snafu with the drink menu, everything was better than I expected. And everyone that works there is super friendly and welcoming. Keep up the good work TR people... read more

Telegraph Room - Bar menu with prices. - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

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Added this when we went to see Good Kid. I was tempted by the idea of a lounge to hang out in while we waited for the concert to start, access to additional bathrooms and a potentially less crowded, separate bar and seating. Expected to feel like we'd paid too much, but actually really enjoyed not waiting in a long line, getting a snack (pizza on this night), grabbing a few drinks and having comfy sofas to lounge on before going to find our seats. We also had access to a roped off area near the large bar just at the back of the general admission floor area, which was raised and where we had a clear view to the stage. We were also treated very well as we went back and forth from the lounge room to our seats, to the viewing area, etc. I'd do it again in a second. The only thing is I wish they'd announce what the snacks were going to be ahead of time. I feel like that could be easy to do and would be in line with their already good service. The concert was being shown in the Telegraph Room, too. read more

Telegraph Room - View of band from roped off viewing area (available with purchased Telegraph Room access during events with general admission). - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

Well, my gosh, it is a well worth it upgrade to attend a concert and add on the Telegraph room experience. It's a warm place with really good service. It's nice to have a restroom. I did not partake of the food, but they keep it coming and it looked like delicious stuff. I don't think I can go back to a regular experience now! read more

Amazing if you have floor tickets! We were able to get in like right when doors open after already getting a drink and using the bathroom (which are private and if you have a friend saving your spot easy to go to during the concert) bartender was super friendly! read more

Telegraph Room - The bar - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

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I came here for a Not For Radio concert, and the atmosphere was absolutely beautiful and relaxing. There was a personal bar and a table with snacks and small bites, which made the whole experience feel elevated and intimate. I also loved that they had someone there to hang our coats for us, and we were able to store our merch in a locker room while we enjoyed the concert -- such a thoughtful touch! It made the night feel seamless and stress-free. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

This ! Really makes a trip to the fix theater extra special ! No lines no hassle . 1000% worth it ! Thank you read more

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We recently saw Caravan Palace at the Fox Theater and booked the VIP room upgrade. The Telegraph Room is accessible from the street. Doors to the Telegraph Room open 30 minutes before the theater doors open for the regular crowd, so you can chill out before the show. Check your coat and grab some drinks and apps while enjoying a private bartender and private bathrooms. The appetizers this evening were supplied by a neighboring restaurant, and the food was great: egg rolls with sweet and sour sauce, chicken satay, Thai fried rice, tofu pad kee mao, and a cucumber salad. Drinks were creative and delicious, although when we first arrived, there was only one bartender, which made the line for drinks go slowly. Later, another bartender arrived, and the pace picked up substantially. When we arrived, we were greeted by Carla, and she was incredibly helpful as we hadn't been to the Telegraph Room before and didn't know the ins and outs of how things worked in conjunction with the concert. She showed us the viewing area (near the sound board on the main floor), which is open to Telegraph Room patrons. (Note: we were told that the viewing area is available when the concert is General Admission/standing on the floor - if the concert is fully seated on the first floor the viewing area is not available). There are a limited number of high tables and chairs in the viewing area and a few round ottoman seats, so if you want to watch the concert from the viewing area, head out there early. We watched the opening act from the viewing area before heading up to our seats for the headliner act. Overall, for a $60 upgrade, I thought the Telegraph Room was a nice addition to our concert experience. read more

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Great addition to the Fox Oakland experience. Viewing area available when the floor is not seated. Worth every penny read more

Telegraph Room - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

My friend and I came here on a Friday for a concert and this was my first time trying the Telegraph room so I was excited to see what it had to offer. Pros: Private lounge area to come in and out of during the show Private entry Private bar Private bathroom Private coat check Private roped off area in the concert venue, not infront of the stage but you have a great unobstructed view of it. Cons: Only two bathroom stalls that you share with everyone who is also a VIP. Snacks were limited for what you pay for. One hot snack dish and some chocolates on the table. Only free water and hot coffee via a Keurig machine. Pepsi products, I prefer Coca-Cola. Everyone in the Telegraph room was really nice. Would I try it again for the price, maybe? read more

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Don't believe that bad reviews! This is the way to see a concert. You get your own bar your own bathroom never a wait for more then a minute at either and a cozy area to hang out if you want to. We met nice people and enjoyed not being packed like sardines and you have the option to go to the front when you want to. It's worth it ! read more

Telegraph Room - the marquee of the marquee - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

This waa a great experience for us. The room is nice with plenty of pre-show seating, staff was super helpful with everything from explaining what to expected to where the food and restrooms where and the process gor moving from the TR to the viewing area and moving sbout the theater. For food they had sushi, and gozya both veggie and carne options. Free water and great cocktails from the bar. We had Mezzanine tickets bit this alliwed us to walk right up to the stage and get close to the show. My wife couldn't jave been happier. The extra ticket price is really worth it as long as you use everything. We also met some great people as well which would only happen in such a nice relaxing space. In between the opening act there was fresh fruit and desserts which were tasty and refreshing. Highly recommend the TR for shows with GA down front. We'll do this again for sure. read more

I figured that the experience might be worth it, primarily because I would get a chair go sit in and a table to set my drink on. The Telegraph room itself had a few couches that were already taken and, a line at the bar for drinks that were about 3 times the price they would cost in a regular bar. We bought a couple of drinks and headed j to the theater before the rest of the folks who were still in the Telegraph room. We did get a couple of bar stools. And so did the few people who came into the floor soon after us. But that's the kicker. The overwhelming majority of patrons did not get tables or chairs. If you don't go into the theater early, you will be forced to stand for the show (standing up all night is the main reason I don't often go to shows anymore.) And the area you are standing in is under the balcony enough that you are in the worst spot in the room, acoustically. I'd say this: it was worth it. Because I was ok with the sun oar audio position I was able to relax and enjoy the show. But had I showed up a few minutes later, it would have been a complete rip off. Paying more, to stand in the worst place. Incidentally, while my wife was in the bathroom, a woman came up and out her jacket on my wife's chair. So when my wife came back, she had to choose between just sitting in this woman's jacket or, moving it onto the floor. (Guess which she chose lol!!) I'm just pointing this out to make the point that it's ridiculous to spend so much extra money for chairs, and then have ti compete for chairs.....) I'm gonna say, save your money and just go with the normal ticket. Stand toward the back of the room if you don't like crowds. The sight line and acoustic experience is just as good. read more

There is no better way to do a venue at Fox! The people here welcome you beginning at the security check and follow through all the way to holding doors for you as you come and go as you please. There is a fabulous bartender and a concierge hostess who makes sure your visit goes perfectly! The food is great, the drinks are perfect, and the people are amazing! It is a relaxing way to spend the concert. Two private bathrooms, lounge couches, tv screens and it offers a private concert viewing area. Hate to even share this treasure, but it's ideal! read more

After initially reading the reviews here I decided to pass on the upgrade. I'm sooooo glad I reconsidered and made the purchase! Last night was the show and when I arrived at the venue it was freezing cold and the line was already around the block 2 hrs before doors open. No way!! I purchased the upgrade while at a local restaurant for the sole purpose of having a warm place to wait for doors to open, and I'm so glad I did! The lounge is beautiful, the staff is superb. We took advantage of the complimentary coat check and private bathroom before the doors opened. Once they did, to our surprise, the upgrade included an upgrade of our seat tickets to floor passes! We were right in front of the stage instead of in the balcony. The perks were so unexpected and definitely worth the money. We had an amazing time and I recommend this if you are on the fence about purchasing! This upgrade made our whole night :) read more

Is the Telegraph Room worth an additional $50? It really depends on what you're looking for at a concert. Pros: -skip the long lines and check-in -complimentary hors d'oeuvres + free water -private bathrooms, no waits -private bar -private blocked off section of the Fox Theatre behind the AV/lighting guys -free to roam around to GA sections and come back and forth into the room/private seating Cons: -$50 on top of Ticketmaster's ridiculous prices -hors d'oeuvres were simply brownies, grapes, bite size crostinis, and paella (veggie + chicken) from Duende--I was honestly expecting more for the price tag -a bit far from the main stage, makes it hard to see the performers and be up close and personal I personally thought that the Telegraph Room would totally be worth the cost if you were a parent chaperoning your child during a concert or if you wanted to avoid the long lines and sweaty masses of people. Food-wise, I felt that they could've included more, but I guess most people add this feature for the convenience, not the food. Overall, I'd definitely consider the $50 upgrade for other concerts where I'd like to sit, relax, and watch the show! read more

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This "add on" is a scam. They don't allow you to transfer it with your ticket, so when my husband went to transfer our tickets he bought for my son and I to me, the Telegraph room add-on did not transfer with the tickets. I tried multiple times to contact the fox theater about it, but I kept getting the brush off from staff, saying "No transfers, no refunds". So the bottom line is don't fall for this scam. From all I have heard it isn't worth it anyway, but most importantly, if you are going to do it, make sure you have everyone in your party buy their own ticket so you don't have to try to transfer it. Now we are out $120 (PLUS TM fees!!) and didn't even get to use the Telegraph room. And if you can't go, they won't even let you give it away to someone else. I knew people who wanted the upgrade, but Ticketmaster kept saying "this add-on is sold out, check back later". Which is deceptive because they don't allow you to return the Telegraph room for sale, so how would you ever see more available later? At the very minimum, the Fox should've offered us a return visit to the Telegraph room since we couldn't use it this trip. Not impressed with the service and policies here. read more

The Telegraph Room is an exclusive side entrance and lounge to the Fox Theater, located on the ground floor to the left of the theater. Before you get in someone will scan your tickets and confirm you have access to the space. As you enter you will see the coat check on the left side and the "host" will greet you. Coat check is free as part of the upgrade. The lounge features a full bar (glass and plastic cups), lounge seating, two gender neutral bathrooms, and separate entrance to the Fox Theater. They also have a TV on the wall showing the stage, but with no sound. All the staff was very friendly and eager to assist. The bar featured signature cocktails (menu on the website), as well as beer and wine. All the alcohol was extra. The night I went for food they had empanadas in 4 different flavors. They were huge and very filling. You were able to eat as many as you'd like and they kept putting out more. But they were only sitting under heat laps and thus only room temp. Next to that was a sad looking coffee station. On a couple tables they had Hershey chocolates. Someone passing out hors devours would have taken it to the next level. The bathrooms were nice, clean, and modern. They also had mints in the bathroom. Up charge was $50+ per person to get into the Telegraph Room. Nice upgrade if your trying to impress a date or want to indulge. Come early to get the most out of it. Opportunities: The coat check was too close to the door with the greeter, fighting against the crowd upon the show ending to get back into the Telegraph room was a nightmare, the execution of the food and coffee needs to be improved. Hot food should be served hot. And a coffee station should have the coffee labeled with the type. read more

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I would recommend it. I went to see the Midnight and we walked over to the Telegraph room and skipped the line of waiting. They give you an explanation of what the room is. They have coat check there and they also have free food. There is 2 private restrooms. You can literally use the room the whole time the concert is on. They are playing the music and concert in the tv that is there. There is a bar and free water, coffee. They have some books to read, and chess. It was $50. I feel like it was completely worth it. My husband and sister in law enjoyed it as well they said it was very cool and that they would totally get the update next time we are at the Oakland Theater. I didn't read no reviews before I got the add on, and I know there is a group of people that say it is not worth it. But I thought it was. I was also sitting in the LODGE area not in the pit. You know people will complain for anything. How about you try it out yourself. read more

Read a lot of mixed reviews for the Telegraph room about people saying it's not worth it and others saying it was really cool so I figured we'd check it out for ourselves. We went to watch the Marias the other day and wanted a really nice experience with the concert so we added the Telegraph room to our tickets. When we got to the venue there was already a HUGE line wrapping around the theatre and thankfully we asked someone who worked there where the entrance to the Telegraph room was and we bypassed the entire line and went in through a separate entrance. Right away this was worth it for me to not wait in that massive line. When you go inside it's really pretty and two people are waiting for you to walk in. We were the first people there so it was empty to take pictures in and explore. There was a host who greeted us and let us know we could go eat the food sitting under the heat lamp and walk around soon once doors opened. Another perk is they let you into the theatre about 10 minutes before everyone else so we were first to get merch too. There's also a special seating area inside the actual theatre with chairs and tables so you can have a private area to watch the concert. I liked being able to go back and forth between the private area and the Telegraph room when I wanted to get away from the loud crowd. You can also bring back food from the Telegraph room to the private area which was cool but I honestly felt bad eating in front of others and often got asked by other people where I got the food from and how I got into the private area. The food was also pretty good, they had garlic noodles, artichoke salad, elote, and brownies which were complimentary. We definitely plan on doing this again anytime we go to a concert at this venue and glad we tried it for ourselves. read more

We really enjoyed our concert at the Fox and our access to the Telegraph Room. The photos available online do a good job of showing what the Telegraph Room itself looks like. But I was completely baffled by the online description of the exclusive Telegraph Room Orchestra area within the theater itself. Chairs, for instance. Sooo.... In an exclusive area, with roped off access manned by a full time staffer, there is an exclusive Orchestra area 2 levels higher than (about 6' higher) than the General Admission (standing room) floor of the theater. It is easy to see over the heads of everyone to the stage, except for others who have access to this exclusive area, too. If the TR was crowded, the view could be obscured by heads in front of you, unless you were standing at the rail. The area is level, and located about 100' back, on the left side (facing the stage, and it is about 80' x 30'). There were about 6 ottoman style seats (4' round, too low to see the stage) and about 20 high backed stools with small high tables located at the rear of this area (good vision to the stage). These were 'cabled' to the wall to ensure that they were not moved forward toward the rail facing the stage. That is the full extent of seating available in the Orchestra area. It is mainly a standing area. Since you have to buy a ticket to the concert, you may want to buy a seat, too (not GA, standing), if you don't want to stand the whole concert (you cannot hear the music in the Telegraph Room). Your Telegraph Room wristband grants you access to anywhere in the theater, so you could easily run up to your actual seats, and come back down for the relaxed enjoyment of the TR amenities at any time. The entrance to the Telegraph Room is located on the Telegraph frontage, just to the left (about 40') of the main doors, and the entrance is well marked. Simply entering the theater, it was so much more relaxing to quickly check in through security, and lounge in the TR, rather than queue up in a long line around the bldg (The TR is opened for access about 30 minutes before they open the doors for everyone waiting outside). Access to 'merch'(andise) was granted at the moment they began processing guests waiting outside, which with security takes some time for each person. We were first in line for merch, which was nice, too, as we watched the line form quickly behind us. Probably the best part of the experience is the kind, helpful and eager care provided by Telegraph Room staff. They are dedicated to making sure you enjoy your experience. Katie, our hostess (#1 in charge) was very nice, and made sure that she understood how we wanted to enjoy the TR, and made sure that we got it. The bar experience was much better in the TR, the casual seating was comfortable and the exclusive restrooms were spotless. Every door is physically opened for you, as you transit about. The bartender was very nice and sociable. Even the free coat check person was engaged and solicitous. We had eaten beforehand, and we would only recommend snacking on the food, rather than counting on the free food to sate a dinner appetite. There was food, but we ate chocolates and drank cocktails. The cost of the TR was considerably higher than the cost of our tickets. But we were there to enjoy the experience, and the TR added a very nice dimension to that experience. For that reason, we give it 5 stars, and when we visit the Fox in future, we will enjoy the Telegraph Room again. BTW, parking at the Rotunda 16th St Garage (entrance on 17th) was convenient and secure. $20 cash at the gate. (524 16th St). They stay open until midnight on show nights. read more

For an extra $50 (on top of a $35 ticket), you get early entry rather than waiting in line, a bar, some hor devourers, use of a nice 2 stall bathroom and a viewing area with some seats but mostly standing. The staff were all very friendly. I don't know that it was worth the money but frankly (and stick with my logic here), it was $85 combined. I happily would've paid $50 to see Jason Isbell so I looked at it as $35 to not wait in line and have a closer bathroom. Truth be told, the wait at the Telegraph bar was longer than the line at the bars in the venue but the Telegraph bar was open after. Long story short, it's not quite a no-brianer and may even require rationalization but it's not a complete ripoff. read more

Did the Telegraph Room VIP option for the Miguel concert last night. Read mixed reviews about whether it's worth it or not, so I decided to try it out myself. I thought it was definitely worth it, and I plan to do it again for any other concert I see at Fox Theater. The venue in general is already nice, but this experience made it even better. Other than the fact that they only have a small two stall unisex bathroom (-1 star) for VIP guests, everything else was enjoyable. Its own entrance, greeted upon arrival, TVs with the concert playing, a private bar with their own cocktails, comfy couches and horderves that kept being refilled, and most importantly, a private concert viewing area with a few areas to sit. This alone made the experience completely worth it. Like I said, I'd do it again, but I only figured this out by trying it myself. So if you're on the fence like I was just try it out once for a concert you're willing to drop a little extra on, and see for yourself if it's worth it. read more

Telegraph Room - Telegraph room cocktails - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

$50/person concert VIP access = small private room w/ limited seating, no host bar w/2 bartenders, free coat check, small shared bathroom w/2 stalls, 2 appetizers (meatballs (good) and vegetarian egg rolls (meh)), brownies (avail after show), coffee, Hershey's chocolates, no viewing area as stated w/other reviews so depends on the show)= so my opinion = not worth it = plan to eat somewhere else nearby before the show ( Flora across the street would have been a much better value) ----- you have been warned Yelpers = (John Legend Concert 12/21/18) - 0 stars for Telegraph Room (not sure who to blame here - Ticketmaster or the venue manager for charging $50) - btw 5 Stars for the Fox Theatre - historic, beautiful! read more

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***BUYER BEWARE*** We had seen the Telegraph Room offer on many other ticket purchases, but never pulled the trigger. We were very interested in the early entry and VIP viewing area. We finally made the decision to try the Room out for last nights King Crimson show, what a mistake. When we get to the show we are told we will still have to use our seats because there is no VIP viewing when the show is seated. There was no warning when we made the purchase from Ticketmaster, nothing on the ticket and when I looked today nothing on the website. What Bull Shit. The whole reason for the extra fee was the VIP viewing area, To make matters even worse we had 3 rounds of 2 Bulleit Rye Manhattans, all from the same bartender, but all 3 rounds were different prices. When I questions why the 3rd round was more expensive than the 1st and 2nd I was told, I dunno it's what the computer told me. To which I replied well I guess the computer just lost you some tip. The only reason I didn't give them 1 star is because most of the staff was really nice, the food was decent and there was no wait for a nice restroom. read more

To VIP or not to VIP? That is the $50 question! I had looked at the Yelp reviews of the Telegraph Room prior to ordering my VIP tickets and decided to give it a shot. My expectations weren't that high, I was just hoping that I would get an experience that would at least somewhat justify the entry fee. My girlfriend and I arrived quite early, assuming we could get in the door and hang out. Right we were: The Telegraph Room usually opens around 6:30PM. Upon entering, we were great by extremely friendly staff. They explained what was available to us: Free hors d'oeuvres, private restrooms (2 unisex), VIP bar area and VIP seating inside the Fox Theatre. The Telegraph Room itself is very nice. Super comfortable couches and chairs everywhere, big TV that would switch between the NFL game and broadcasting the main stage. Again, staff was extremely friendly! Early on in the night we were told exact set times for the show. Huge bonus! The bar itself was tended by two friendly and professional bartenders and stocked with top-shelf spirits and bottled beer that costs $7/beer - The bottled beer part is actually the reason I took off 1 star on my review. I'm actually kind of baffled by this. Why you ask? Because on the floor of the Fox Theatre is an awesome draft beer selection at every bar! So, draft beer fans beware. The next niggle was the Hors d'oeuvres themselves. They're put out when the Telegraph Room first opens and they are not replenished. So by the time the actual show starts, they're gone and you're left picking through a single tray of candy (Hershey's, kitkats, common candy, etc). That was kind of disappointing, but at admittedly I didn't go for the food. A nice perk that came up in the earlier part of the evening was complimentary massages. That was really cool. Prior to the show we grabbed our seats in the back of the VIP section. It was comfortable for the opener, but I can see why some people would complain about the positioning of the VIP area. If you're sitting down, you're not going to see over someone who is standing in front of you at the railing. However, if you are one of those people standing in the front of the VIP section at the railing, it's a GREAT view! Over the course of the night we were able to put the private restrooms to use without waiting in any lines. It turned out to be a truly useful perk. After the show, we didn't return to the Telegraph Room, we just headed home. My girlfriend asked "Why don't we do VIP for every show?", so she certainly enjoyed it. I feel that $50/person is just shy of justifying the price. If it was $40/person, it would be a no-brainer. The Telegraph Room could, however, step up just a couple elements of what they offer their VIP guests and the $50 price would be totally worth it. read more

Tons of couches. No line at the bar. Private bathroom. Separate area to watch the concert. Need I say more? We upgraded our tickets to see the XX. The entrance is on Telegraph past the main entrance and opens into a large room with leather couches and chairs, a private bar and a separate bathroom. They have appetizers and water with slices of cucumber out for people as well.There is also a tv in the room where you can watch the act on stage if youd prefer to do it from a leather couch.Then, if you go into the venue itself, the mezzanine between the back bar and the floor itself is roped off if you'd rather have more room instead of getting as close to the stage as you could get. There are a few tables and chairs in this section but its mostly standing room. Everyone who works at the Fox Theater, as always, was very friendly and helpful. I wish every concert could be at the Fox but at least other venues make me more grateful for the Fox when i go back. read more

Telegraph Room - The ultimate lounge area - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

I average around 40 live shows a year at all of the major and minor venues. (Fillmore, GAMH, Bottom of the Hill, Slim's, etc) I've only been to the Fox Theater twice since it reopened. Mostly because I think the sound is subpar. (see my separate review for that) I wanted to see Empire of the Sun at Coachella but the Sahara tent was absurdly packed so we changed our plans and walked over to see Queens of the Stone Age instead. When I saw that the Fox Theater released more general admission seats for Friday's Empire of the Sun show I jumped on it. I'm also going to more shows next month at the Fox and was curious about the Telegraph Room so I decided to give it a try. The main draw for me was "preferred seating". The other benefits sounded nice but not enough for me to pay for it. We arrived at the Fox and my first thought walking into the separate Telegraph Room entrance was, "this is nice". I was excited to see what it was all about. The design and style of the private room is nice. There was a small bar and the staff was very nice. There was also a person giving chair massages. There were 2 separate single person bathrooms that were pretty nice but probably aren't all that much nicer than what's in the venue. They also provided a coat check. The free hors d'oeuvres were disappointing. 2 versions of paella (meat/seafood and veggie) that was very dry and overcooked and was hard to get out of the pan. (It was burned on the bottom) There were also little bread/cheese bites and a tray of brownies. I didn't expect much but the quality could've been quite a bit better. My date didn't even touch the paella because it didn't look appetizing. It didn't look like many others were digging in either. All of the couches were taken (4 or 5 of them) and there wasn't much going on in the Telegraph Room, and I was anxious to check out the "preferred seating", so we walked into the venue with our drinks. I was rather disappointed to see that the special "preferred seating" area was on the 3rd terrace back, of 4 floor terraces. (the back half of the venue) The only real redeeming thing about it was that it wasn't crowded at all and they had seats. The seats would've been obstructed by standing patrons as soon as the music started and it didn't look very crowded in the front half of the floor with the rest of the general admission crowd so we moved closer to explore further. The first two terraces weren't that packed (the GA floor was previously sold out until the day of the show) and it was considerably closer so we decided to stand a few feet back from the railing on the 2nd terrace. I think to warrant charging $50 extra, per ticket, they need to move the "preferred seating" down to the 1st or 2nd level/terrace somewhere. I was expecting it to be on the 2nd one. For $50, I wouldn't recommend it and definitely wouldn't do it again. The atmosphere in the Telegraph Room wasn't all that special compared to the venue itself or the bar on the corner, The Den. The "preferred seating" was not only considerably worse than expected, it was further back than probably 3/4th of the people with GA tickets on the floor. "I"m paying $50 extra for this?!" I'm not trying to be harsh with my 2 star rating but the 3 star rating says, "A-OK" and I really didn't feel that it was worth the price at all. "Meh" feels accurate. read more

VIP for the Fox Theater - I'm glad my husband wanted to pay for this. It's not just a private bar with its own bathroom. There was also food when we arrived - veggie and meat paella - and more importantly, you get access to the section next to the sound guy. It's a great view to the stage from a bit higher behind general admission. The private bar area has plenty of comfortable seating. The bathroom is only two stalls (unisex) so sometimes there's a line. The bar itself had a line a few times but the service was good. I'll definitely pay for this again! read more

Telegraph Room - Music Venues Near Me - Oakland, California

Splurged for the $50 upgrade to hang out prior to the Bill Maher show last Saturday. The room itself is nice, several seating areas with comfortable sofas and plenty of room on coffee tables / end tables for drinks and snack plates. The complementary appetizers were two trays of Paella (one vegan) that I was told were from Duende and a tray of croutons with hummus spread. We were there early and able to have a decent nosh, I did not check on status closer to show time. The bar is well stocked, but at about 15 minutes before the show the line was about 12 people deep (I later saw that you could bring your drink into the theater. Overall though I don't think it's worth the price. For $100 my friend and I could have had a nice meal at a spot around the corner and walked over to the Fox. read more

Best extra money ever spent. If you're wondering wtf is that should I add it on? Yes, do it. Side entrance with coat check, you get a wrist band, and free run basically. Private bathrooms with no lines, no line bar with friendly servers who answer all of your dumb questions. Intimate setting. Lots of seating. Small plate appetizers and all the VIP Hershey's nuggets you can eat. Got a ginger ale for $3 and talked up one of the assistants who cued me in on a cover duet to expect later in the night. Also has a special plat form seating section within the theater. Offers a good view and a quiet space for those who prefer to peacefully observe a concert from a far. I was able to break away from the show and watch the last two songs from the telegraph room, thus avoiding a heard flowing from the general section. Also, was able to use the bathroom, eat some brownies, drink some water, add some concert photos to Instagram and take my sweet time getting out of there. The employees answered any remaining questions on my way out. tl:dr do it, $50 well spent for a peaceful, classy VIP experience. read more

Watch the prices of your drinks here. I was only getting one type of beer all night and it went from 8$ dollars to 20$ after the third one. I asked them about it and said it was a computer error and they'll reverse the charge, which they didn't at all. Still charged to my account. Other than that it was an average, at best 'vip' experience. If you'll notice from the other reviews I'm not the only person this happened too. Watch it closely here. read more

seperate entrance, private bar, bathrooms. food and preferred viewing section just above GA. Super chill vibe, well worth the extra $50 bucks. Do it again in a heartbeat read more

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Not forth $50 for a couple of poor appertizers and a bathroom with no crowds. You also get to go to the bar at anytime during the "Den" bar closes when the event starts. The bar wasn't crowded like the "Den" bar but we enjoyed the "Den" crowd and vibe we left the Telegraph room. read more

TL;DR: Perfect for concert-goers like me who value personal space and prefer a more intimate, subdued experience. Pros: The Telegraph Room itself's space is great - nice decor, comfy couches for seating, a secluded bar, and a private bathroom. The private/VIP bathroom is unisex and has two stalls. Beyond the room itself, once inside the theater, Telegraph Room wristband holders can access a cordoned off standing area for preferred viewing inside the venue. This is great if crowds make you anxious and you prefer personal space, like I do. Cons: The bathroom is a nice concept, but the issue I'm having with the space is that the entire bathroom smells *terrible* right now to the point that I cannot use it. It has smelled this way for the past 45 minutes or so, and I'm wondering whether the sewage system is backed up/whether it's a plumbing problem. (Of note: I'm a nurse and I am NOT easily grossed out by smells). Furthermore, the bar prices are absurdly high. I am the DD for the evening. The bartender charged $4 for a ginger ale, and she poured less than half the can into my cup. read more

Do you like spending extra money to stand around in a room without enough seats? Then the Telegraph Room is the experience for you! At least lighting a c note on fire would have been entertaining. read more

Really nice place to hang out before a show. It would be nice if they offered more vegan items in the food bar and also nice if they had glasses of wine for less than $12. The cucumber water is delicious and also the restrooms are very nice. Friendly staff and nice proximity to the stage/viewing area. read more

Decided to go with the telegraph room VIP upgrade for Primus New Years Eve 2016. There was no line to get in which was cool. It was nice to have a low key bar and place with couches to chill outside of the main concert. The food was sub par, barely appetizing. The preferred viewing area was too far from the stage for my taste. Would have liked better access and food for the 125$$ extra VIP cost. It was kinda Meh. read more

Amazing service, craft cocktails, incredible bartenders and staff, and quality VIP seating. Hands down the best way to see live music.

This was my first time to the Telegraph Room to see The Kills. I thought, "Why not?". I like to be up close to bands, so was hoping it would get me a jump on the people in line who weren't VIP. It does do that as VIP gets in, I believe, 30 minutes earlier than the other ticket holders. The space was smaller than I had expected, but that was actually a nice surprise. It was more intimate, and it also meant not that many people were going to be competing for the front section spaces. There were plenty of nice nooks with comfortable couches and chairs. i liked the warm lighting. The viewing area for the VIP ( three levels up) is way too far back for my taste, and the sound board lights that are directly in front of the section were a distraction for me when we watched the first band from that area. It was nice to have seats for that, but the bar seats that are at the back of the section fill up quickly so grab one if you want to sit through a show and be elevated to see over the other people in that section. As it was, we didn't take advantage of getting up close for the opening band just so we could experience the perks of the VIP section, but we ended up going down to the floor section in between bands and got a pretty decent 4th row view from the side. Basically, it was nice having a place to chill and sit for the first band. The Telegraph Room itself was a great home base. If you needed to go to the bathroom (which have private stalls!), it was great to run back there. Same with getting a drink (although that night the bars on the floor weren't crowded and they were closer), you have your own personal bar tenders. The snacks before the show were what everyone else said: Paella (meat and veggie) and some pita with hummus. They did refill the Paella when it got low! It was nice to eat before the show. The best part for me was having a place to chill out after the show and rest, eat a little more, and use the restroom before hitting the road home. So was the $50 worth it? It does make the evening a little more special and the perks of the bathroom and bar are nice. I'd say it's a great way to go on a date with someone. Getting in early to have a drink and sit is a luxury and if it's luxury you enjoy, then yes, pay the extra money. I will do it again in the future for shows. I'm giving it 4/5 stars only because the viewing area is too far back in my opinion for VIP status. read more

This was a nice surprise!...was a bit anxious heading into Oakland on Sat night...but for Satriani-you just gotta do it!...while everyone was in line waiting for the doors to open, I got to slide right into the Telegraph Room for a very nice and cool vibe...sofas, and tables all around, private bar and restrooms (!), snacks and desserts, TV with the W Series-then it shows the concert while it's going on..the people could not have been any nicer or more accomidating!...and when it was time time for the show, there were reserved tables with the best view in the house that we were able to use/or opt for the seats that we already had...I stayed at the reserved tables all night and used the private bar and restrooms-this is a great idea, the people were super nice and I will do it again for the Fox shows-Nice Idea Guys!! read more