12 New Venues in San Francisco for Spring 2022 Meetings and Events

Kissel Uptown Oakland opened in February on Broadway in Oakland with a design that channels the neighborhood's history as an automobile manufacturing hub. The exterior by BAR Architects preserves the hotel's historic 1910s Beaux Arts facade, while Parisa O’Connell Interior Design incorporated tones like aubergine and blue along with art deco elements. Inside, find over 10,000 square feet of flexible event space, including a mezzanine and rooftop. Event spaces include the 3,350-square-foot Gold Bug, which can accommodate 350 for theater-style seated events or 300 standing guests for receptions. The 1,500-square-foot The Showroom can accommodate 72 seated at round tables or 100 for standing receptions. A 3,800-square-foot rooftop bar and lounge called High 5ive can seat 150 or accommodate 160 standing guests for receptions.

The 3,300-square-foot Kaiyō Rooftop opened in February atop the Hyatt Place Hotel in SOMA, spotlighting Nikkei cuisine (a unique style of Japanese food that originated in Peru). Bluefin tuna toast and pork ribs with smoky barbecue sauce are on the menu here, the second location of Brick x Brick Hospitality Group's Kaiyō concept. The rooftop features its own Toki Highball Machine from Suntory, which whips up different styles of highball cocktails. Live palm trees and greenery transforms the rooftop space into an Amazonian oasis, not to mention ipe wood panels, Peruvian textiles, Japanese lanterns and an over-the-top bar covered with emerald green tiles. The rooftop's seating capacity is 120 or its standing capacity is 230.

Peruvian restaurant La Mar City Room transformed an old ticket office at the Piers into a fully private event space called City Room, which debuted in the fall of 2021. Located along the Embarcadero, the historic City Room space boasts oversize windows overlooking the Financial District and offers its own optional entryway, exit, powder room and coat check as well as full AV capabilities. The City Room can seat 50 for dinner or accommodate 65 standing guests for receptions.

Downtown Berkeley's new Residence Inn, Berkeley opened in December, and this Leed Gold-certified hotel features an interior inspired by University of California Berkeley's nearby campus. There's more than 13,500 square feet of event space, with six meeting rooms and two outdoor terraces. The 3,623-square-foot Berkeley Ballroom can host up to 300 for theater-style events or 517 for receptions, while the 3,480-square-foot third floor terrace can host up to 232 for receptions. Meeting rooms include the Telegraph, University and Shattuck rooms, which can each host 80 for theater-style events or 24 for conference-style events.

In San Francisco's Marina district, Jaranita specializes in rotisserie meat, including pasture-raised chicken rubbed with Peruvian spices (the menu includes organic vegetarian and vegan dishes too). Opened in January 2021, the restaurant includes a private space called the Yunza Room, which is anchored by a live tree decorated with lights and colorful streamers. The Yunza Room seats 60 or accommodates 75 for receptions. Other spaces for events include a semiprivate heated parklet that seats 24 or accommodates 50 for receptions, plus the bar area inside that can accommodate 12 for receptions.

Bottle Club Pub transports drinkers in Union Square to another era with throwback cocktails and food from the 1950s through 1970s, including an impressive collection of vintage ceramic whiskey decanters. Opened in March, this airy outpost from the Future Bars team highlights those collectible bottles in shelves stretching toward the ceiling, along with rotating shelves of liquor at the bar, vintage alcohol advertisements lining the walls and plaid-lined banquettes. Bottle Club Pub seats 50 guests or can accommodate up to 80 standing guests for receptions.

Tetra Hotel, an Autograph Collection Hotel, opened in March in Silicon Valley. The 186-room hotel's calming feel was executed by renowned designer Gabellini Sheppard, and the property includes an on-site restaurant called Adrestia, the Japanese whisky bar Nokori and a cafe by Coffee Manufactory. Tetra offers 9,000 square feet of event space, including three tech-equipped meeting rooms totaling 2,044 square feet (with an attached 1,500-square-foot patio). The 1,000-square-foot Nexus is a flexible, divisible outdoor space that can accommodate 40 for receptions, while the pool deck is also available for receptions of 75. Adrestia and Nokori can each host receptions for 50 guests.

Arcade bar Thriller Social Club opened in SoMa in October in the former Coin-Op space and is stock-full of entertainment options, from Skee-Ball to vintage arcade games. The more-than-10,000-square-foot space spans two levels and houses three bars, along with a state-of-the-art golf simulator. The menu includes carnival fare such as a 13-inch loaded hot dog with scallion sour cream and cotton candy-accented cocktails. Event space options include the Fortuna Lounge, an upstairs private lounge with its own bar that accommodates 70 standing guests for receptions. The Shooter Lounge is another upstairs private lounge, also with a bar and eight Skee-Ball machines for receptions up to 70. Thriller Social Club can accommodate a maximum of 500 guests for full buyouts.

Farmhouse Inn Wellness Barn, a Sonoma County boutique hotel, unveiled its new spa in December. The 3,000-square-foot Wellness Barn includes three treatment rooms, each with its own outdoor space. Host a private event with food and beverages in this zen space, offering spa treatments like a gem and stone massage and activities such as yoga. The maximum capacity for the Wellness Barn's indoor and outdoor spaces totals 35 guests.

New Napa luxury resort Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection opens in April and includes several venues for memorable meetings and events. The largest option is the 4,700-square-foot Glasshouse Barn, which seats up to 300 and is built with panoramic windows looking out onto the vineyards. The 2,200-square-foot Garden House is outfitted with warm wood tones and large windows boasting views of the flower gardens, and has room for 150 for receptions. The Cutting Garden is an outdoor lawn venue that can accommodate 150 guests, while the Lavender Lawn accommodates up to 250 and is situated above the resort's pool.

The Stavrand Russian River Valley is accepting group reservations after unveiling a major redesign in January 2022. Formerly known as the Applewood Inn near downtown Guerneville, this 21-room property is situated on six forested acres of orchards, organic gardens and redwood trees, and retains the charm of its Mediterranean Revival architecture. The Stavrand offers 36,000 square feet of expansive indoor and outdoor meeting space, including the 25,000-square-foot Chef's Meadow with apple trees, garden boxes and a grassy lawn filled with wildflowers. Another outdoor space is the 9,000-square-foot Bower with a forest backdrop, while the hotel's 900-square-foot Courtyard with fire pits can accommodate private dinners for up to 30 guests, or receptions for up to 75 guests. Stavrand Hall is a 1,000-square-foot, flexible indoor/outdoor space with an enclosed patio, which can accommodate up to 50 for private events. For tasting dinners or boardroom meetings, the 500-square-foot Sun Room with a communal table includes picture windows and a wood-burning fireplace made of river stone. The Sun Room seats 15 or accommodates 25 standing guests.

Gott's Roadside, the Northern California restaurant chain beloved for its burgers, ahi poke crispy tacos and milkshakes, just launched private wine country picnic experiences in March. Prior to this program, there was no way to have an event at a Gott's location. Available for groups of 24 or more, Gott's can now host family-style dinners for private groups at its locations including outposts in St. Helena, the city of Napa, Palo Alto, Marin and more.