Create your own social bubble to celebrate a special (or not so special) occasion by booking a private dining room. From live entertainment Moroccan-style to British gastropub vibes, the city has plenty of cool and utterly unique options. More than a wonderful atmosphere, it’s also an ideal solution for an intimate gathering of friends, family, or colleagues, allowing the host to set protocols to standards that all the guests are happy with.
Featured Photo: The Cavalier
The Cavalier
A Modern British Brasserie
To set the clubby atmosphere, classic English fox hunting prints hang on dark wood paneling above handsome leather Chesterfield banquettes and white linen tablecloths at The Cavalier at Hotel Zetta. The Wine Stables is a private room for up to 26 seated guests and 30 reception-style. Alternatively, ask about Marianne’s and its private bar (up to 50 reception style), where the British beat is set to Carnaby Street 60’s juxtaposed with cozy sofas. Order Fish & Chips, the Marlowe Burger, Steak Frites, or Marianne’s Rack to savor chef’s tasty fries. thecavaliersf.com
Berber
A Moroccan Supper Club with Live Entertainment
In Russian Hill, Le Souk Supper Club is a Moroccan-inspired speakeasy that stages its own live performances (think talented cirque-style belly dancers, acrobats, and aerialists). Immerse guests in entertainment with a Moroccan accent. Seating can accommodate up to 60 for cocktails and dinner at tables and booths surrounding the circular stage. Upstairs, private performances can be booked in the lofty, skylight mezzanine dining room with its own bar, available for parties up to 25. Better yet, a Berber buyout will include the front dining room and long, sleek bar for up to 300 guests for an experience quite unlike any other in San Francisco. berbersf.com
Ula Mediterranean Seafood Dining & Cocktails
Steps from Union Square, jellyfish-themed chandeliers set the whimsical tone in this authentic Art Deco space specializing in Mediterranean-style dishes and seafood. In the former space of Farallon, Ula is adjacent to the Kensington Park Hotel that houses the SF Playhouse theater. There are several private dining room options ranging from the Wine Cellar Room for 12 guests, the Library with a candlelit fireplace and hand-blown glass aquarium for up to 16, the Peacock Room for 45 and the Grand Ballroom for 120. Open daily until late. ulasf.com
One Market Restaurant
A San Francisco Landmark
From an enviable location across from the Ferry Building, the landmark One Market Restaurant has been hosting private dining functions of all sizes for nearly three decades. The Club Room, Atrium Room, Wall & Wine Room can be combined in a variety of flexible spaces and the soaring glass-ceilinged Pavilion can hold up to 500 guests seated or 1,000 guests at a reception. One Market is widely recognized for its outstanding cuisine and wine program and a director of special events is on staff to assist planners. onemarket.com
Waterbar
Views for Days on the Embarcadero
An in-house director of special events is always a bonus. And at Waterbar, there’s another bonus as well — the unbeatable close-up views of San Francisco Bay and Bay Bridge are spectacular by day and by night. The entire second floor is dedicated to private dining, including the Bridge Tower Room (for up to 60 seated and 75 standing reception) with wall-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace. With a contemporary accent on sustainably-caught, classic fish dishes and raw bar, the kitchen also produces family-style dinners like a Dungeness Crab or Lobster Feast. And let’s not forget about the19-foot-tall indoor aquarium in the main dining room. waterbarsf.com
25 Lusk
A Dynamic Venue with Indoor and Rooftop Options
A spacious, casual, Covid-ready Rooftop 25 can accommodate up to 350 guests for an outdoor gathering under heat lamps and retractable covers between the exposed wood beams to shield the wind. There’s an outdoor bar and a wood-fired oven for upmarket pizza parties. Or, book one of the interior rooms for a private dining party, just like Obama did when he was POTUS. Consult with the team’s in-house private dining expert for the right option across all three floors in this historic building in SOMA. 25lusk.com
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