5 New Venues in San Francisco/Northern California for Fall 2024 Meetings and Events

Monterey Beach Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel, debuted in August after a dramatic transformation and rebranding effort. Originally built in 1967, the beachfront property is located along the Monterey Peninsula, including over 600 linear feet of exclusive shoreline. It offers 188 guest rooms and four suites with unobstructed ocean views situated just 60 feet from the water’s edge. The hotel’s design transformation, led by Los Angeles-based studio Indidesign, aims to capture the essence of California living with bespoke furnishings, local artwork, and natural materials. There are three on-site dining venues: signature restaurant The Lantern Room, with its coastal California cuisine and stunning ocean views; the Lobby Lounge, offering everything from morning coffee to sunset cocktails; and Tidewater, a new beachfront spot for dining, drinks, and live music. Planners can work with over 7,500 square feet of meeting and event space, in addition to 32,500 square feet of private beach. Venues include the 4,500-square-foot Del Monte Ballroom or the 750-square-foot Seascape Room.

This past June, one of Napa Valley's top wineries reopened its doors after being destroyed in 2017 by wildfires. Signorello Estate is now open, sporting an eco-friendly, solar-powered design that it says features the highest level of future-proofing against climate change and fire challenges. Known as an esteemed cabernet and chardonnay producer, Signorello Estate is spread across 60 acres and boasts an 8,304-square-foot winery and an 11,431-square-foot fully refrigerated, insulated, waterproof underground cave. The estate can accommodate groups of 10 to 200 people and can provide rentals, glassware, world-class wines, and hospitality staff. Venues include the Tank Room with views of the valley (ideal for larger receptions) and Hope's Chardonnay Cave, a more intimate space for private tastings, luncheons, and dinners. If a planner is looking to get a group outdoors, they can utilize the Sunset Overlook for sunset dinners, a more casual lobster bake, or a reception with food trucks and wine tastings.

Chicken Ranch Casino Resort held its grand opening in November. Located in Jamestown near Yosemite National Park, the all-new casino resort features 175 guest rooms, 22 suites, a variety of restaurants and bars, and an expansive gaming floor. On-site F&B outlets include Proper & Plume Cocktail Lounge for happy hours, and TWLV Kitchen & Bar, serving up farm-to-table fare like chicken birria tacos and blackened salmon. Planners can work with 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space, all located on level three of the nine-story resort. This includes a ballroom, three meeting rooms, a boardroom, and two prefunction areas. The largest venue is the 8,670-square-foot Brahma Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,253 attendees. There's also a large patio for 80 guests that offers pristine views of the valley.

San Fran hospitality titans Michael and Lindsay Tusk, owners of Quince and Cotogna, leaned into private events over the pandemic, and they’ve doubled down since. Their newest space for private dining is Officina, located above the historic Vesuvio Cafe (once a haunt for Jack Kerouac) in North Beach. Meant to serve as both an open test kitchen and a private event venue, Officina features an enormous skylight and a dining table set with vintage Tobia Scarpa chairs. Decor also includes the Tusks' ever-growing collection of cookbooks and vintage copper cookware. The space can accommodate 18 seated or 35 standing.

Palm House, a beloved fixture in the San Francisco dining and nightlife scene, unveiled a refreshed and reimagined look in celebration of its 10th anniversary in September. With a retro '70s-inspired, beachside bungalow aesthetic, Palm House is rebranded with brand-new menu items like jerk fried chicken and the Palm Whip Slush, its spin on the Disney Dole Whip. Local designers Alexa d’Argencé and Sheyna Ochs led the refresh of Palm House, sourcing retro-inspired neon signs and wallcoverings, custom-designed vinyl prints by James Van Kriedt of Outerlands Studio (who also did the rebrand), and a vintage disco ball. The bar and restaurant offer semiprivate spaces for events—ranging in capacity from 14 to 50—or full buyouts.