In January, Joie de Vivre property Galleria Park Hotel revealed a multimillion-dollar renovation and redesign to its entrance, lobby, and mezzanine. This is part of a phased renovation for the financial district hotel, which refreshed all 177 guest rooms in 2017 along with its meeting and event spaces. San Francisco-based interior design firm BAMO drew interior design inspiration from the building's history, which dates back to the early 1900s. The new entryway opens into an expansive, two-story lobby area, inclusive of a mezzanine. Decor accents include marble tile floors, antiqued mirrors, colorful abstract artwork, and carpeting in charcoal and brandy shades. The hotel's 2,003 square feet of meeting space feature neutral walls and carpeting in lush blues and greys. There's the 923-square-foot Buena Vista room, which can accommodate 100 for receptions or 75 for a theater-style event. Then there are two 540-foot spaces, the MacArthur room and the Lafayette room, which each accommodate 40 for receptions or theater-style events.
Hotel Nia, a Marriott Autograph Collection property, is slated to open in Silicon Valley in early April. The 250-room, 11-story glass tower will offer more than 15,000 square feet of tech-enabled indoor and outdoor meeting space. The Influence boardroom will seat 14, the divisible 4,968-square-foot Brilliance ballroom will hold 516 guests for receptions, the 1,000-square-foot Clarity room will hold 96 for receptions, the 1,456-square-foot Vision room will be able to host up to 94 for receptions, the 620-square-foot Inspiration room will hold 64 for receptions, and the 1,180-square-foot divisible Connectivity room will be to host up to 95 for receptions. Take a meeting outside on the Terrace, with space for 20 for receptions, or the Courtyard Center, with room for 150 for receptions, or the Courtyard South, with room for 30 for receptions. The sleek property will also offer a California-Mediterranean restaurant, Porta Blu, a lobby bar and lounge, and a café serving Exclusively Verve Coffee Roasters.
In February, the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay announced the debut of the resort’s newly renovated oceanfront restaurant, the Conservatory. The restaurant channels the beaches and sunsets of Half Moon Bay, with a palette featuring earthy tones and hues of grey. Decor accents include woven rattan, custom designed area rugs on warm hardwoods, and burnished bronze finishes. The Conservatory spans 4,081 square feet with room for 130 sitting and standing guests. It is not available for full buyouts. The hotel also debuted its newly renovated meeting spaces in February, with 19,800 square feet of indoor meeting and function space. The Ritz-Carlton boasts the largest ballroom on the Northern California coast, with 17-foot vaulted ceiling and room for 810 for theater-style events. The Observatory (pictured) seats 60 guest theater-style or at rounds of 10.
Craft brewery and tasting room Original Pattern Brewing Company is getting ready to open this month in Oakland's Jack London District. The cavernous, industrial space includes fun accents like colorful seating and twinkle lights. The capacity for private events in the space is 30 to 35 seated guests indoors, with room for an additional 50 seated guests outside. The total event space for both outdoors and indoors is 1,100 square feet, with 500 square feet indoors and 600 square feet outdoors.
Admiral Maltings announced the opening of its new onsite pub, the Rake, in January. The Rake serves beers brewed with Admiral malts, including 20 beers on draft and two cask conditioned ales, along with pub food. Beer fans can watch the malting process from a perch overlooking the floor-malting production while enjoying beers brewed with the very malt produced onsite.
Oakland's new source for tandoori classics and Indian street-inspired dishes is Dosa by Dosa, a restaurant from husband and wife owners, Anjan and Emily Mitra, who own the Dosa restaurants in San Francisco. The Oakland outpost opened in December and includes large-scale murals and colorful chairs in a soaring space. The 3,600-square-foot restaurant can seats 112 guests.
In November, Sheraton Palo Alto announced the re-opening of its popular Poolside Grill after a six-month renovation. The restaurant's design is inspired by the renovation of the hotel’s lobby, bar, and public spaces, both projects from Oakland-based design firm Arcsine. The Poolside Grill's new look includes a restored wood plank ceiling, a communal table, booths, and walnut and brass accents. The restaurant seats 75 inside and 24 outside.
Lifestyle expert, author and wife of N.B.A. star Stephen Curry Ayesha Curry and chef Michael Mina opened International Smoke in November on the bottom floor of the Millennium Tower, which was formerly home to Mina's RN74. The restaurant serves barbecue with a global bent, in a sophisticated space decorated with untreated and blackened wood. For a semiprivate dining option, the restaurant's atrium space holds nearly 50 guests for a seated function or 150 guests for a standing reception. Alternatively, the restaurant is available for full buyouts, and can seat 120 guests or hold 250 guests for a standing reception.
For a Santa Barbara wine country getaway, there's newly remodeled boutique hotel Santa Ynez Inn. Each of the Victorian-inspired property's 20 rooms are decorated with antiques, fireplaces, and balconies or patios overlooking tranquil gardens. For events, the recently refreshed Coach House includes large barn doors, exposed brick, and a spacious back patio; it holds 80 guests for receptions. The inn's lawn and gardens also are available for outdoor events for as many as 120 guests.
Husband-and-wife team Nick and Anna Cobarruvias opened Son's Addition in October in the Mission District's historic 24th Street corridor. The menu is built around fresh California ingredients prepared with Latin and Asian flavors, like kimchi bacon deviled eggs or five spice braised lamb shank with goat cheese polenta. Son's Addition's welcoming space includes blue-patterned tiles and art from Anna's sister. The restaurant is available for buyouts and can accommodate 50 seated guests, or 75 to 100 for a reception.
