Here's a look at new San Diego eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this summer. The new and renovated San Diego venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Within Downtown’s new Pendry San Diego hotel is Oxford Social Club, which calls itself a “swanky boutique nightclub.” Open since February, the late-night venue boasts 6,000 square feet of space, complete with a dance floor. Clique Hospitality plans to make the venue, which has a capacity of 417 guests, a frequent host of art shows, activations, music gatherings, and cocktail demonstrations.
Red O Restaurant—a Mexican chain of restaurants with outposts in Los Angeles and Newport Beach and, most notably, attached to award-winning author and Mexican food authority chef Rick Bayless as the culinary director—opened in the city's La Jolla area in May. The 9,000-square-foot space includes a lounge area with a wraparound bar, two adjoining patios, and an elegant dining room with three portrait-sized windows peeking into the kitchen. It seats as many as 332 banquet style.
Open since April, the bright and airy 2,200-square-foot tasting room You and Yours Distilling Co. in East Village features marble-topped countertops highlighted with bright blue tiles. Banquet-style seating accommodates as many as 60 guests, or the space can hold 95 guests reception-style; it includes a mix of counter space, tables, and lounge seating.
The newest dining destination at the former Point Loma’s Naval Training Center is Officine Buona Forchetta. Open since March, the 2,600-square-foot Italian restaurant with front and rear patios features two matching wood-burning ovens, seated counter space, individual tables plus a vintage Fiat converted into a table for two. Occupancy is up to 200 seated or 410 standing.
Tapas & Beers, Downtown’s newest gastropub specializing in Spanish cuisine, has been open since April. Located next to Horton Plaza, the 1,700-square-foot space features an outdoor patio overlooking the street and a wraparound bar. The dining area is filled with counter-height stools with a loft overlooking the space. There is seating inside is for 60, with additional patio space for 25.
Mission Valley’s Hotel Circle is home now to Lot 8, an outdoor venue that opened in May. The fully customizable 4,200-square-foot space, located next to the Atwood Hotel, features tall walls with a vertical garden, an onsite kitchen specializing in seasonal menus, and an upcycled horse trailer converted into a cocktail bar. Total capacity is as many as 250 standing guests.
Downtown’s Kimpton Palomar is home to Curadero. Open since April, the ground floor of the Mexican restaurant features exposed brick walls painted with colorful murals. A long community table anchors the center of the restaurant with bar seating and individual tables scattered throughout. The Mexican eatery spans 1,750 square feet, with seating for 60 banquet-style. Upstairs from the Curadero is the Arriba Room, a game lounge featuring classic arcade games. The 1,600-square-foot space accommodates as many as 100 guests.
The newest lineup to the Cohn Restaurant Group is Harbor Float. Open since May, the 6,000-square-foot floating venue features minimalist design with overhead shade. Food is provided by Coasterra, an adjacent restaurant specializing in Baja cuisine. The space is 90 percent powered by green energy. The venue accommodates as many as 250 standing guests.
Open since June is Bo-beau Kitchen by Cohn Restaurant Group. The new California-French-inspired eatery incorporates rustic farm elements in 2,943 square feet of space that was formerly occupied by the 100 Wines restaurant. Banquet-style seating accommodates as many as 136 guests.
La Jolla’s Pantai Inn completed a multi-million dollar renovation in May; included in the remodel is a 400-square-foot meeting room. Amenities for the meeting space include access to the courtyard for receptions. The space accommodates 14 guests for board meetings, 18 classroom-style, or 30 theater-style. The inn’s rooftop accommodates 40 guests for a reception.
