6 New Venues in San Francisco for Fall 2023 Meetings and Events

Last fall we highlighted Union Square's Beacon Grand for its impressive renovation and redesign of all public spaces and guest rooms. This fall, our spotlight turns to The Post Room, the new Mediterranean-inspired bar and lounge that opened inside the hotel in November. The name comes from the property’s original glass-front mail chute, which stretches from the 20th floor to the basement, allowing guests to mail postcards to anywhere in the world. Menu highlights include Spanish octopus, roasted whole branzino, and a jamón Ibérico and fig salad. The Post Room can be a semiprivate space and accommodate a maximum of 40 guests for a seated dinner. The adjacent Beacon West Room also serves as an ideal space for a dinner of up to 30 people and is completely private.

Nov. 9 marked the grand opening of Convene's newest venue and first-ever San Francisco location, Convene 100 Stockton. The 53,000-square-foot meeting and event venue has a total max capacity of just over 1,900. Along with a dedicated lobby on the ground floor, the venue features seven meeting spaces that can be custom-configured to accommodate various event types, from town halls to classroom-style learning, corporate and social events, and more. Each room is also tech-enabled with built-in video cameras, video screens, microphones, and speakers.

Although the Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco officially debuted last year, it began hosting private events in earnest this past summer. The museum features civically engaged local artists and curators, while also bringing international artists to the Bay Area. For events, ICA SF can accommodate 30 to 300 guests. The 76,000-square-foot space features three distinct galleries, along with a patio space—all of which can be rented separately. Renting out the entire facility can accommodate 300 standing guests or 175 seated guests.

Chotto Matte is a new Japanese Peruvian-inspired Nikkei restaurant off Union Square that opened in October. It's one of the largest rooftop restaurants in San Fran and offers both indoor and outdoor event space. This includes a private dining room, a live robata grill, an open sushi bar, and an expansive patio (pictured) overlooking the downtown skyline. The restaurant offers a variety of different private and semiprivate event configurations that can seat up to 400 people at once. Its location is near Union Square, the Financial District, Moscone Center, and more, making it an ideal event space for everything from large corporate gatherings and holiday parties to intimate parties and celebrations.

Last month, the heart of SoMa welcomed Movida Lounge, a Persian and Mexican fusion restaurant that offers unique bites and craft cocktails in a trendy, lively environment thanks to local DJs spinning nightly. The food menu was developed by local chef Hoss Zaré, while the cocktail program was curated by Carlo Splendorini. Planners can work with three private dining rooms that range in capacity from six to eight guests to 10 to 12 guests respectively.

Located just 18 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County, San Rafael recently welcomed AC Hotel San Rafael in August. The hotel features 140 guest rooms, indoor and outdoor meeting space, and several food and beverage outlets, including the city’s first rooftop bar, Above Fifth (pictured). Public spaces throughout the lobby level were designed with the modern workspace in mind and include versatile seating areas and a library space. The new property offers 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. The 1,100-square-foot Innovation Lab can host up to 50 people and offers an adjacent 1,560 square feet of furnished outdoor patio space. The library can create space for small team-building activities and activations with room for up to 10 people. The 2,500-square-foot Above Fifth rooftop bar also lends itself to corporate events, meetings, and small receptions.