8 New Venues in San Diego for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events

The 511-room Omni San Diego Hotel, located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, debuted a propertywide renovation in June, just in time for its 20th anniversary. The reimagined property features refreshed interiors, including guest rooms, meeting and event spaces, and the lobby, along with a redesigned pool deck experience with sweeping views of San Diego’s skyline and two new Baja-inspired restaurants: Ace Porter (pictured) and Tortuga. Situated directly across from the San Diego Convention Center, Omni San Diego Hotel offers 32,000 square feet of flexible event space spread across 24 versatile indoor and outdoor meeting areas—including the expansive Grand Ballroom, capable of hosting up to 1,200 attendees. There's also a newly designed 8,000-square-foot rooftop pool with shaded daybeds, private cabanas, and outdoor fire pits.

Open since July is Leila, the newest concept from CH Projects that pays homage to co-founder Arsalun Tafazoli’s Middle Eastern roots. The North Park restaurant brings together a variety of Middle Eastern flavors, from Morocco to Iran, with a menu led by executive chef Wesley Remington Johnson. The cocktail menu also taps into the flavors and aromatics of the region. The stunning, 4,800-square-foot restaurant features a ceiling that evokes a star-filled night, along with trees lit by Moroccan lanterns, tapestry-covered walls, a waterfall, and more. Leila has 100 seats.

Tucked away in the rolling hills of North County San Diego, the 100-year-old Inn at Ranch Santa Fe reopened in late 2023 after a comprehensive, multimillion-dollar renovation—and this month, unveiled five new luxury residences and villas ideal for leadership retreats, wedding suites, and other small-group stays. In total, the 11-acre property offers 85 suites, bungalows, and residences, plus more than 24,000 square feet of newly refreshed indoor and outdoor event venues. The Azalea Ballroom holds 200 people and has access to the Azalea Lawn, while the 80-person Croquet Cottage offers a cozy vibe with vaulted ceilings, tile floors, and a fireplace. Just off the lobby, the Vintage space features 300-year-old Parisian wood flooring and is ideal for private dining, while the Catalpa Cottage boardroom has a secluded back patio and a 72-inch television. There are also a variety of lush outdoor lawns and courtyards available for events.

Fox Point Farms opened in Encinitas in August. The 14-acre dining and shopping development is billed as an “agro-neighborhood” with a farm-to-table market along with Haven Restaurant (pictured), a zero-waste full-service restaurant; both showcase produce from on-site farming operations. Haven, which has 120 seats, is styled after a modern greenhouse. San Diego-based design firm Tecture is behind the project, which also includes a farm-to-tap organic brewery called Fox Point Farms Brewing Co., a roastery, an apothecary, and wellness classes led by farmers and chefs.

Cellar Hand, the first full-service restaurant from the Perr Family (the family behind Pali Wine Co.) opened in June in the Hillcrest neighborhood. Chef Logan Kendall’s menu is hyperlocal-focused, with farm-to-table dining featuring dishes made with fresh ingredients sourced from the nearby Hillcrest Farmers Market and a wine selection including options from Pali Wine Co. The local theme continues beyond the food; the space was designed by local firm Tecscape Design, while SoCal artist Nick Perr created the artwork and other local artists made the handmade ceramics. The casual restaurant has a 960-square-foot indoor dining room that seats 60; there's also a 1,100-square-foot patio with fire pits that seats an additional 60.

The Pearl Hotel, a midcentury modern gem in San Diego’s Point Loma neighborhood, has a rich history dating back to 1959, when it was originally designed by local architect Robert Platt as a sportsmen’s lodge. Following a renovation that retains its original architectural charm with updated interiors and vintage touches, The Pearl now offers 23 guest rooms surrounding a unique oyster-shaped pool. The Pearl's new cocktail bar and restaurant, Ponyboy, opened in August under the guidance of Service Animals, a hospitality group formed by Addison alumni. Named for the iconic character in The Outsiders, Ponyboy’s menu plays with classic dishes and cocktails, bringing a creative, rebellious spirit to familiar flavors. The Pearl’s spaces, from the restaurant and patio to the pool deck, lend themselves to a variety of events, including happy hours, poolside weddings, and brand activations.

The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina has completed the next installment of its $100 million-plus propertywide renovation with a newly transformed lobby and the opening of three dining concepts. Open since February, fine dining restaurant Rumorosa (pictured) presents Cali-Baja cuisine with sweeping views of the marina; the space has a 16-seat private dining room. And new since July is Brewery X Harbor Island, the first San Diego location of the Orange County-based brewery; it boasts a taproom with maritime decor, panoramic harbor views, and space for large groups. Along with the refresh of the property’s three pools, the new Sunglow Cabana Bar offers frozen drinks for all ages. Overall, the hotel offers more than 132,000 square feet of event space spread across 50 rooms; the largest space holds 2,500 people.

An hour north of San Diego, Hilton Garden Inn Dana Point Doheny Beach, formerly DoubleTree Suites, completed an extensive renovation and rebranding in November. Managed by HRI Hospitality and designed with Studio 11, the hotel now offers reimagined guest rooms, updated bathrooms, and stylish public spaces that blend coastal aesthetics with comfort. The renovation includes upgraded food and beverage venues like Doheny Surf, its restaurant featuring fresh, local ingredients, and the Longboard Rooftop Lounge with ocean views and seafood-focused dishes. Public areas, including a modernized atrium lobby and an expanded fitness center, have also been redesigned—as has the hotel’s exterior, which now has a fresh blue-and-white color scheme, lush landscaping, and a circular driveway. The 198-room hotel has 8,821 square feet of event space spread across eight rooms.