5 New Venues in San Diego for Fall 2020 Meetings and Events

Arrived at Shelter Island in August, Triton Charters is San Diego’s newest and largest catamaran. At 75 feet long, it holds as many as 105 passengers. The Triton is an outdoor setting for events on the water with views of the San Diego Bay. It includes many luxurious amenities including a 13-seat wraparound bar; built-in running waterslide and trampoline; large dance floor; advanced sound system; and plush seating for 60 people. Water activities such as paddle boards and kayaks are also available. Triton offers full-service catering and bar packages, and there’s a Coast Guard-certified captain and crew members on board.

Opened in July at Westfield Mission Valley, Puesto Cervecería, is the largest in Puesto’s collection of restaurants and offers its first craft brewery with a focus on Mexican lagers. The 450-seat eatery underwent an $8 million buildout to create a space that spans more than 10,000 square feet indoors and outdoors within the shopping destination. San Diego-based designer Paul Basile reimagined the venue with pops of bright color and custom-fabricated interior elements using natural materials like walnut, steel, and brass. Design centerpieces include an entry chandelier made from 20-foot aluminum tubes and a steel rod LED light wall. But the piece de la resistance here is a four-tier, custom-designed hydraulic bar that lowers 3,000 pounds of liquor to bartenders at the push of a button. The space includes private dining rooms and a range of seating styles for events, as well as a large outdoor patio.

Mission Valley’s Town and Country reopened in August after a multimillion-dollar renovation. There’s a brand-new pool complex, refreshed rooms, three updated restaurants, and 258,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces. An abundance of smaller breakout areas make the space flexible for events of varying sizes, from the 6,600-square-foot Flamingo Lawn to the 40,700-square-foot Golden State Hall. Audiovisual partner AVMS offers a full suite of event technology solutions on-site, including the capacity for hybrid and virtual event conferencing, wide-screen projectors, concert-sound systems, and programmable LED lighting.

Opened in July, The Presley is the newest venture from Good Time Design, the hospitality group behind popular San Diego venues including Moonshine Beach, Moonshine Flats, and The Blind Burro. The mostly outdoor restaurant and bar occupies the space that previously housed Fireside by The Patio. The Presley features 3,400 square feet of dining space, with 2,100 square feet of dedicated outdoor dining space and three bars. It has a muted color palette and a vintage-tinged look and feel. The space has been reworked to play up the venue’s outdoor setting, adding elements like swing-bench seating, greenery, and string lights hanging overhead.

The Pearl Hotel reopened in June after a full renovation and relaunch. The hotel’s restaurant, lounge, pool deck, and private event spaces can be transformed for indoor or outdoor gatherings of as many as 50 people. Private dining on the back patio holds as many as 40 guests. Redesigned public spaces have a mid-century feel and a coastal, bohemian vibe. The Art Moderne oyster-shaped pool at the center of the property is surrounded by native plants. The pool deck flows to the bar and restaurant, Charles + Dinorah, which features a crystal green quartzite bar top, handmade ceramic tile, and walnut millwork. There are also flatscreen TVs and a 13-foot projection screen over the pool just right for showing videos, logos, and presentations.