12 New Venues in Los Angeles for Summer 2022 Meetings and Events

Technology-enabled golf entertainment company Topgolf Entertainment Group opened its 76th location in El Segundo in April. The open-air, three-level Topgolf El Segundo features 102 outdoor hitting bays, a restaurant and sports bar, and tech-forward offerings like a giant TV wall, large HD screens, and the brand’s signature ball-tracing technology. There’s also a 10-hole, par-3 golf course. For events, the entire venue can be bought out for groups as large as 1,000 people. For smaller gatherings, offerings include the rooftop terrace, which holds 178; the mezzanine lounge, which holds 50; the veranda, which holds 42 inside and 52 outside; and the semiprivate Overlook, which holds 60 and offers direct access to giant HDTVs. An outdoor patio holds 300, while the luxury Chairman’s Suite holds 140. All events can include chef-crafted menu items, live leaderboards, professionals providing swing tips or group lessons, and more.

Opened in late March, Benny Boy Brewing is L.A.’s first combined brewery and cider house. It’s located in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles and specializes in clean, dry ciders and classic, European-inspired beers with a California twist. On site is a 3,200-square-foot brewery and tank bar, which has a bow truss ceiling from the 1920s along with a 55-foot bar made from reclaimed wood. The event-friendly cider house, meanwhile, holds 51 people and features a barrel-aging wall and a giant apple tree installation with red globe flights. Connecting the two buildings is an urban beer and cider garden, an outdoor space offering fire pits and food vendors. For buyouts, the entire venue holds 300 people.

Chefs Yoshiyuki Okuno and Enrico Merendino, along with consulting chef Tony Messina, have teamed up to debut the Japanese-Italian eatery Magari in Hollywood. Open since March, the restaurant offers a selection of crudos, house-made pastas, and signature dishes from a wood-fired grill. There are a number of standout spaces for events, including the indoor upper deck, which offers flexible seating arrangements for as many as 46, and an outdoor area with fire pits (pictured) that seats 16 or holds 20 for receptions. The entire patio is available for buyouts of 46 to 60 people, or an outdoor dining table can be booked for 12. There’s also an intimate 10-seat private dining room.

Gusto Green, a new multistory space from the team behind Gusto 54, opened downtown in January. The menu from chef Michael Magliano emphasizes plant-forward cuisine along with sustainability and wellness. Although the eatery is not considered a cannabis consumption lounge, it does have an exclusive relationship with hemp grower Ziese Farms, and many menu items make use of hemp. The 6,500-square-foot space’s main dining room—which evokes a greenhouse with lofted glass ceilings—seats 200 or holds 300 for receptions. There’s also an 18-seat private dining room (pictured) and a flexible penthouse event space that holds up to 300 people.

Children’s Institute plans to open a new 20,000-square-foot campus designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry on June 25. The new $25.79 million space in Watts marks the 116-year-old nonprofit’s first purpose-built home. And the simple, light-filled design intends to feel approachable and useable by the local community. The social service organization intends to operate the space as both a neighborhood center and a therapy center for the Watts neighborhood; it will include group meeting spaces, offices and workspaces, and an array of other indoor and outdoor event areas that will be available for rent beginning in fall 2022.

De Buena Planta, a plant-based Mexican-food concept from the team behind The Butcher’s Daughter, opened in Silver Lake in April. Comprising a large patio and a live music setup, the colorful outdoor venue—which began as a pandemic-era pop-up in a Venice Beach parking lot—spans 5,000 square feet. The restaurant serves 100% gluten-free and vegetarian dishes that highlight seasonal produce from local farms. Also on site? La Casita, a Mexican cocktail bar tucked through a doorway in the garden that offers hand-shaken tequila and mezcal-based cocktails. The restaurant and cocktail bar are available for events and buyouts; there’s space for 120 people seated or 200 standing. For semiprivate group gatherings, a fire pit space can seat up to 15 people, or two side-by-side farm tables located near the live music stage can hold up to 20.

The Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, located close to Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Convention Center, debuted a $33-million renovation in April. The upgrade included a refresh of its 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, which accommodates up to 1,100 guests for meetings and events. Ballroom enhancements include an updated neutral color palette, soundproofed air walls, and new lighting elements. The hotel’s 490 guest rooms also got an update, which included new bespoke furnishings, enhanced climate control, new entertainment packages, and extended bathrooms. Striking new artwork is visible throughout the property, including a large commissioned sculpture bathed in light that anchors the lobby space—which, together with other art pieces throughout the public space—is inspired by Anaheim’s geography, architecture, and community. Also on site? A variety of food and beverage options including Splash!, a poolside bar offering cocktails and bites.

Asterid opened on the bottom floor of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in March. The new fine-dining restaurant from celebrated chef Ray Garcia offers a range of group-friendly options, including an outdoor lounge (pictured) and a 16-seat private dining room. Overall, the restaurant can seat 182 people. Groups larger than 10 are asked to select from a list of prix-fixe menu options, which are served family style. The adjoining Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by architect Frank Gehry, is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has a seating capacity of 2,265.

The buzzy new Melroseplace LA opened in West Hollywood in April. The stylish space spans 8,000 square feet and three stories, with a bright and airy design from Franklin Studios that incorporates a gold, cream, and tan color scheme and midcentury modern touches. Patterned booths offer semiprivate seating for groups, while various areas—including the rooftop patio, which has its own bar, fire features, and panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills—can be bought out for indoor-outdoor events.

Looking for a quick getaway? Azure Sky opened in Palm Springs in January. The 14-room, adults-only property offers a number of spaces for events, including the design-forward, 800-square-foot lobby (pictured) and a patio that can be booked for small gatherings. For larger events, the entire hotel can be bought out, which offers access to the 4,500-square-foot pool courtyard and the 3,400-square-foot meadow courtyard. Azure Sky features standout views of the San Jacinto Mountain and a midcentury modern design.

Nostalgia Bar & Lounge is the first brick-and-mortar concept from The Herbal Chef founder Chris Sayegh. The casual restaurant, bar, and live music venue serves CBD- and terpene-infused cocktails, along with gourmet bar bites. According to owners, the menu avoids any inflammatory seed oils or chemicals that disrupt the body’s natural functions. Fun, playful items include a PB&J-inspired chocolate cake, a dessert inspired by the old Push Pop candies, and cocktails intended to evoke the 1980s and ‘90s. For events, there’s 5,000 square feet of bookable space, including a large outdoor patio (pictured) featuring string lights, wooden picnic tables, and AstroTurf. Inside is a playful space with a mural of cartoon characters plus old-school board games like Operation, Jenga, and Battleship. A large white oak bar has 18 stools, and there’s also an intimate stage for musical performances.

Alma Cocina de Mexico opened at The Grove in May. The new restaurant—the U.S. debut from Mexico City-based hospitality group Group Hunan—comprises a casual, ground-floor taqueria, cocktail bar, and market, plus a second-floor fine-dining concept. For events, the upstairs space boats a 2,650-square-foot open floorplan, with neutral tones contrasted with rope, wood, and cloth details. Patios on both levels offer outdoor space with retractable awnings.