Exploratorium, an interactive museum, moved from the Palace of Fine Arts to Pier 15 in Embarcadero. With more than 330,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space, the facility has standing room for 4,000 guests and seats 1,600 for events. Smaller spaces are available, as well, including the observatory terrace, which seats 100 or holds 190 for receptions, and a 200-seat theater.
Inspired by European nightclubs, Audio Discotech opened in mid-August in the SoMa neighborhood as a haven for dance enthusiasts. The 3,500-square-foot venue, designed by Josh Rowland, will have a sunken, spring-loaded dance floor, gold and mirror accents, and a 45-foot-long tufted wall embedded with more than 1,000 LED lights. DJs will spin on a Funktion One sound system that is installed and tuned by Sound Investment; the space also features 1,200 square feet of acoustical paneling and 3-D projections. The venue is available for buyouts.
Novela, a literary-theme bar, opened May 31 at the intersection of Union Square and the SoMa district. The 3,500-square-foot space juxtaposes old and new with a vintage book collection lining the walls and artwork representing historic novel characters. The bar is divided into dedicated areas including the Hemingway Room, which accommodates 40 and features a large birdcage lighting fixture and a mosaic tile bar.
The Chanric Inn reopened in the spring following a renovation from new innkeepers Joel Haddad and Jim Dollard. For corporate retreats or other overnight events, the seven-room inn can be bought out. The inn has exterior patio space with a fireplace, a swimming pool, and a whirlpool.
Mason Pacific, an elegant 850-square-foot bistro at the intersection of Nob Hill, Russian Hill, and Chinatown, seats 48 and features leather banquettes and bistro chairs, along with a small marble-topped bar. Chef Sean McTiernan's menu focuses on simple, seasonal dishes.
Roka Akor's newest outpost opened in Jackson Square June 27. The staple in the restaurant is the central robata grill that offers open charcoal cuisine and is surrounded by a shou-sugi-ban counter which seats as many as 10 guests. The two-level, 8,681-square-foot steak, seafood, and sushi restaurant can hold 110 guests for a sit-down dinner, 16 in the private dining room, 400 for cocktail receptions in the dining room and Roka Bar, and 150 for a cocktail reception in the Roka Bar.
Opened at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa in August, the Park Bistro & Bar replaces the 27-year-old Duck Club. A renovation of the space imparted a European country farmhouse look, and the new menu emphasizes steaks and shared plates. The main dining room seats 120 while the private Wayside Room seats 15. The covered patio was also renovated and now has two fire pits and lounge seating.
Located adjacent to the buzzy new Hotel Zetta, Cavalier is a 135-seat restaurant with an equestrian theme. Designed by Ken Fulk, the interior is divided into four unique spaces with leather banquettes, white tablecloths, and framed prints and statues of horses and British dog-hunting scenes. The menu serves a modern take on British cuisine. The Cavalier comes from the same team behind Marlow and Park Tavern.
The popular burger chain Umami Burger continues its expansion with the opening of an Oakland outpost in July. The 100-seat restaurant has a full bar with cocktails, beer, and wine, and offers a specialty burger called the Queso Fundido Burger topped with house-made queso and chorizo fundido sauce.
Opened in August, La Urbana serves contemporary Mexican cuisine in a setting designed by Garduño Arquitectos to reflect urban Mexico City. Its L-shaped bar is a focal point of the space and the Mezcal-focused bar menu features more than 30 different varieties of the spirit. The restaurant seats 90, and the glass-walled private dining room, the Mezcaleria, seats 10. Later in the fall, an adjoining space dubbed the Mercado with folding tables and chairs will open.
