Here's a look at new San Diego eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces to open for events this winter. The new and renovated venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fund-raisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, teambuilding activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
New downtown dining destination the Smoking Gun has been open since August. The bright and playfully decorated 6,000-square-foot restaurant specializes in cocktails and American comfort cuisine. It seats 75 guests or holds 350 guests for receptions.
San Marcos is home to new entertainment venue Bowlero, which opened in October. The center’s 40 bowling lanes is the centerpiece of the 35,244-square-foot space, but it also includes an arcade, several billiard tables, a lounge area, and sports bar. Standing room is 500 guests for the entire space.
Stella Public House opened in San Marcos in October. The restaurant serves wood-fired pizzas in its 1,280-square-foot space, with an additional 1,000 square feet in the adjoining plaza. Total seated capacity is 140, split between 70 guests inside and 70 guests outside.
Halcyon is the sibling restaurant to adjacent Stella Public House in San Marcos but has an emphasis on coffee. The café-like setting with bright blue tiles is 1,580 square feet with a shared 1,000 square feet for the patio. It seats 60 guests.
The Bar is the newest addition to Liberty Station’s Moniker General. Open since October, the cocktail space encompasses 1,400 square feet of the total 4,700-square-foot venue, with seating for 50 guests on the patio.
Style meets substance at Little Italy’s new Born & Raised. Open since October, the two-story restaurant specializes in steaks and cocktails in an Art Deco setting. The 10,000-square-foot space can be divided into the main dining room, which spans 5,000 square feet, or the 2,5000-square-foot rooftop space. Total seated capacity for the venue is 250 guests.
B-Side Bar in East Village is a recently converted concept restaurant that opened in September. The 1,700-square-foot space includes giant-size checkers, Jenga, corn hole, two-player Pac-Man, and other games. An additional 700 square feet of outdoor space overlooks an adjoining park. Capacity is 50 standing guests inside, or a combined 120 total with the patio.
Fine Italian cuisine is the highlight at Giardino Neighborhood Cucina. The new La Mesa restaurant is slated to open this month. The space is 2,700 square feet with a standing capacity for 100 guests or 89 seated. The space includes a chef’s table in a private room for 10 guests.
La Jolla is home to Himitsu, a Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and Asian tapas. Opened in October, the snug and cozy space decorated with dark woods and traditional Japanese decor includes a wraparound sushi bar in its 600-square-foot space. The restaurant accommodates 30 seated guests.
Open House is a multi-concept restaurant in Encinitas that opened in September. The 7,000-square-foot venue is anchored by Asian Kitchen, a concept that incorporates a variety of different Asian cuisines, and flanked by Driftwood, a cocktail bar; Saltwater, a raw bar; and the Crafty Egg, a casual breakfast and lunch concept. The combined capacity for the venue is 290 seated guests or 500 for receptions. A private dining room is available for 35 seated guests or 50 standing.
