10 New San Diego Venues for Meetings and Events

Among the restaurants to open at the Headquarters at Seaport District is Puesto, which debuted in November. The 4,500-square-foot eatery serves Mexican street food made from organic and sustainable ingredients. The colorful space was designed by Thomas Schoos of Tao Las Vegas fame and includes two massive art walls by graffiti artist Chor Boogie. Puesto features a dining room, a mezzanine, and patio seating.

Open since November, the Headquarters at Seaport District transformed San Diego’s historic Old Police Headquarters into a retail, dining, and entertainment destination. The $40 million project includes four buildings, set around an outdoor courtyard, that house retailers and restaurants. The massive complex measures 100,000 square feet, and the courtyard holds as many as 2,000 guests. Fountains, colorful landscaping, and Spanish revival architecture contribute to the seaport-inspired atmosphere. Adjacent to San Diego Bay, the Headquarters is within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center and numerous hotels.

The Southern Brazilian steak house Fogo de Chão opened its 20th location in August in the Gaslamp Quarter. The serving concept is esparto corrido, or "continuos service," in which servers carve 16 different cuts of meat table-side. The venue's 12,000-square-foot space seats 350 guests and includes five dining rooms with private and semiprivate options.

Atop the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, the rooftop Altitude Sky Lounge has opened an indoor venue called City Sights. With nearly 360-degree views of downtown San Diego, events at the space can take advantage of the view or use blackout shades. The hotel caters the event space, which holds as many as 68 for meetings or 80 for receptions. The entire rooftop complex is 4,000 square feet. The space debuted in December.

BO-Beau Kitchen & Garden opened in October in La Mesa. Sister restaurant to popular BO-Beau Kitchen & Bar, it is designed with an industrial aesthetic and includes a custom wall filled with chalkboard art and a children's area with a retrofitted school bus. Buyouts of the 250-seat venue are available, as are a number of semiprivate options. The garden seats 120 guests.

In October, DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego Mission Valley opened the Gallery, a free-standing structure designed to host ­meetings and events. Just steps from the hotel’s main building, the 5,000-square-foot column-free space holds as many as 681 guests and is equipped with state-of-the art lighting and sound systems. On one wall, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors open onto a spacious patio. Inside the 300-room hotel, 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space were also recently ­renovated.

Venga Venga Cantina & Tequila Bar opened in September in Chula Vista. The 6,000-square-foot space seats 218 guests and features a patio with panoramic views, a waterfall, and fire pits. The concept serves modern Mexican cuisine alongside a variety of tequilas and mescals. Buyouts are available.

Buyouts are available at Pizzeria Mozza, which opened in November. The 130-seat restaurant has a pizza bar, a beverage bar, and an 18-seat private dining room that opens onto a patio. In addition to pizza, the restaurant serves other Italian fare such as antipasti, salads, paninis, and desserts.

Blends Coffee & Wine Bar opened in January off of the lobby at the Pechanga Resort & Casino. The 3,244-square-foot space, which holds 152 people, previously occupied a retail store, and its opening is part of a multimillion-dollar renovation to the resort. In addition to coffee drinks made from beans sourced from a local roaster, the restaurant serves pastries, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and wines by the glass and bottle. It also offers free Wi-Fi and device charging.

The bubbly-centric Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room opened January 15 in the historic Hill Building in the Gaslamp District. To accompany the selection of champagnes, seasonal cocktails, and craft beer is a menu of shared plates, oysters, and caviar. The 4,000-square-foot interior is split into two spaces: Encore Act I, with a floor-to-ceiling backlit wall showcasing an array of champagne and a U-shaped bar, and Encore Act II, a lower-level dining room with banquette seating, Pullman booths, and an open kitchen. The entire space accommodates 150 guests.