10 New Venues in Los Angeles for Fall 2023 Meetings and Events

In September, hospitality veterans Mark and Jonnie Houston, in collaboration with Mitchell Hochberg of Lightstone, launched a multilayered concept, Level 8. The dining and social experience features eight distinct venues that occupy the entire eighth floor of the Moxy & AC Hotel Downtown LA, which is located directly across the street from the Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 30,000-square-foot space tells a story through the eyes of its fictional founder, Mr. Wanderlust—and a highlight is the Mr. Wanderlust piano bar and jazz club (pictured). The two-room space is designed as a library adorned with intricate wood paneling and bookshelves; aerialists swing from a chandelier above, and globally inspired rugs, collectibles, paintings, and photos evoke souvenirs the fictional character may have picked up on his travels. Accessible via a hidden passageway is a lounge with booths and a stage, where guests can enjoy a global cocktail menu. Overall, Mr. Wanderlust can host up to 300 people for receptions.

After visiting Mr. Wanderlust, guests can enter two additional spaces via secret speakeasy-style entrances. The first leads to Maison Kasai, a 70-seat French Japanese teppanyaki restaurant helmed by chef Joshua Gil. The second entrance brings guests to Lucky Mizu (pictured), a seiro-mushi restaurant crafted by chef Hisae Stuck. The eatery, which is adorned with ethereal cherry blossoms, has a U-shaped bar with 30 blue and green upholstered stools where diners can watch their meal being cooked in front of them. The venue can also seat 20 in booths. Decor includes 777 traditional golden “lucky cat” figurines—and above the bar, musicians perform on a 40-foot earth harp that stretches from one corner of the room to the other.

Also at Level 8, chef Ray Garcia helms Qué Bárbaro (pictured), a restaurant showcasing the South American tradition of live-fire cooking. Diners can watch as meats, seafood, and vegetarian dishes are cooked live from a wood-fired grill in the center of the venue, which seats 60 or holds 150 for receptions. Decor includes lush greenery on the ceiling, tropical tone fabrics, and wallpaper showcasing birds and other wildlife. Attached is an outdoor bar and pool deck called Golden Hour, which includes a rotating carousel bar and cocktails drawn from classic tiki culture; the outdoor lounge can seat 186 or hold 775 for receptions.

Other venues at Level 8 include The Brown Sheep, a comfort food-centric vintage truck from chef Ray Garcia; Mother of Pearl, a 60-seat alfresco restaurant from chef Joshua Gil that resembles a Spanish Colonial gazebo; and Sinners y Santos, a 3,000-square-foot nightclub that resembles a 19th century cathedral with arched, barrel-vaulted ceilings and wrought-iron chandeliers. Overall, the 727-room Moxy & AC Hotel DTLA offers 45,000 square feet of event space.

Pinstripes—a massive entertainment venue offering chef-driven catering, bowling, and bocce—opened at Westfield Topanga in September. With multiple private event spaces, including a private dining room, a ballroom, and an event space with floor-to-ceiling windows, Pinstripes Topanga accommodates groups of 20 to 1,500 people for private events. The expansive space offers four bocce courts plus 11 bowling lanes for vintage-style bowling. There’s also an eclectic display of abstract art, fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling murals, a bar, and a restaurant with an open-concept kitchen and multiple big-screen TVs.

Hotel Dena, Pasadena Los Angeles, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, opened in September. The 311-room hotel is designed for creatives, with various touchpoints evoking art, dance, music, and culture. Close to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena Convention Center, and Old Town Pasadena, the space was designed by Dash Design and features a lobby mural (pictured) and guest room art from local street artist WRDSMITH—along with hand-painted outdoor murals from artists Ian Schuler and Leah Tumerman. Highlights include Lyric, a 44-seat eatery with a menu inspired by musicians and poets along with a vast vinyl record collection. There’s also Agents Only, a 42-seat bar and lounge with a vintage TV art installation and weekly live performances. Event space spans 29,000 square feet and includes a ballroom, a boardroom, and several outdoor options, plus a retro-inspired screening area that seats 15.

In August, restaurant and bar The Surfing Fox opened at The Pierside Hotel in Santa Monica. The eatery is described as “modern coastal California meets vintage surf culture,” with a sprawling bar serving California-sourced spirits, beers, and local wines. The kitchen is helmed by executive chef David Yamaguchi, following his most recent role at Michelin-awarded Chulita in Venice; the menu taps into the chef’s Japanese and Mexican heritage to offer unique twists on familiar classics. For events, the restaurant has 2,800 square feet of combined indoor and outdoor space and can comfortably accommodate up to 150 guests. (For the holiday season, The Surfing Fox is offering full or partial buyouts with custom catering menus; groups that book before Nov. 30 will get free sparkling wine toasts.)

Santa Monica's beachside Hotel Casa del Mar opened meeting and event venue The Conservatory in October. Designed by PHX Architecture, the new 1,750-square-foot space features floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The room, which is completely private and set off from the main lobby, seats 96 or holds 120 guests for receptions. It joins the hotel's existing event spaces, including the 5,125-square-foot Colonnade Ballroom, which holds 450, and the versatile Crimson Room, which holds 80.

A barbershop by day and a cocktail lounge by night, Blind Barber is a unique lifestyle brand founded in 2010; it currently has locations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Nashville. And now, the brand’s Culver City location has a sleek new look that debuted Nov. 10. The revamped venue maintains its hip and sexy feel, with a front room offering grooming services in a bright and inviting space, while a nondescript door leads into a ’70s-inspired speakeasy in the back. The dimly lit space's new look is anchored by red Venetian walls and wood paneling, complemented by red neon light details, red leather stools, and oxblood booths. There’s also a wood-paneled DJ booth, plus a cocktail menu (including a menu of elevated mocktails).

Looking for a group getaway? Located in Indian Wells in the Greater Palm Springs area, the first resort concept from lifestyle brand Tommy Bahama debuted Nov. 1 as Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa following a $20 million renovation and redesign. Situated against the Santa Rosa Mountains, the transformed resort boasts 215 guest rooms and reimagined villa suites infused with a custom tropical design aesthetic woven into 11 acres of olive trees, fragrant citrus groves, and flower gardens. The property features three saltwater swimming pools with cabanas; Grapefruit Basil, a new signature restaurant and bar; exclusive retail products at the new Rosa Boutique; and the 12,000-square-foot Spa Rosa. The hotel, which has connecting lawns and terraces providing views of the mountains, offers 35,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. There are eight meeting venues in all, including the expansive Grand Ballroom, the Great Lawn surrounded by ficus and cypress trees, and the Sunset Terrace with a grand stone fireplace and cathedral columns.

For another quick trip out of the city, The Steward opened in Santa Barbara in July. The new 87-suite boutique hotel is situated on 5 acres of lavish gardens, offering a serene retreat with access to both beaches and vineyards. The property was originally purchased in the late 1860s by horticulturalist Joseph Sexton; today, his family’s former estate, The Sexton House, still serves as an on-site historical landmark, and many of his signature trees and plants still grace the grounds. The new property balances California style with a Southern European farmhouse flair, and a nature-driven aesthetic that evokes a “secret garden” feel. Highlights include custom local artwork, a lobby library, an outdoor dining area, and even a wooden piano and intimate seating areas throughout the outdoor garden. There's also Terra, a signature restaurant that incorporates locally sourced ingredients. Several areas of the hotel can be rented for intimate events like corporate retreats, team-building experiences, micro-weddings, wine tastings, and more; on-site catering is available.