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Kimberly Motos
Gatherings
19+ of San Diego's Coolest Holiday Party Venues
‘Tis almost the winter holiday season, and it’s never too early to start planning the most memorable work party yet. Toast to your team at one of these unique San Diego party venues fit for a day or night of merriment....
‘Tis almost the winter holiday season, and it’s never too early to start planning the most memorable work party yet. Toast to your team at one of these unique San Diego party venues fit for a day or night of merriment. From casual craft breweries and a Tuscan-inspired vineyard to rooftop bars and skyline-view museums, we’ve gathered 32 of the best San Diego venues made for the perfect 2019 holiday gathering.
Reporter: Jené Shaw & The Veneu Report | Location: Clara
Photo by The Venue Report
Using ancient and primitive live-fire cooking methods inspired by the idea of sharing food with friends around the fire, Campfire is sure to heat up your holiday party (pun very much intended). Located in the heart of Carlsbad, this whimsical eatery creates a welcoming space to enjoy classic cocktails and honest rustic food, all reminiscent of the camping experience.
The Lane is one of San Diego's premier waterfront venues with fabulous views, modern amenities, and versatile indoor-outdoor spaces. Winter in San Diego allows your guests to lounge outside on their 3,500 sqft waterfront terrace or dance the night away inside the 6,000 sqft modern, minimalist interior. Ideally situated close to hotels, the airport and downtown San Diego, The Lane is the perfect venue for your company holiday party, family reunion, or NYE celebration.
Fear not, North County San Diegans. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, located in Escondido, also hosts corporate events and offers a full itinerary of exclusive attractions like a caravan to take you and your crew through the African plains to feed giraffes. Plus, when you book your event, you are supporting San Diego Zoo Global's wildlife conservation efforts at home and around the globe. Win-win!
Photo by Meg Evans Photography
Break the routine of typically holiday party themes with a vintage, bohemian soiree at this North Park urban jungle. Pigment Studio comes fully stylized with bohemian rattan chairs, pink velvet couches, and fresh plants to create a vintage dreamland for your festivities.
Turn your holiday party into a mini end-of-the-year retreat at this 7-bedroom Spanish estate overlooking the beautiful San Diego Harbor and cityscape. With ample outdoor spaces and sleeping accommodations for up to 18, Frida is ideal for small teams looking toast to the new year in a homey, yet chic venue.
In the heart of East Village, this industrial-style urban loft features vaulted ceilings, a full wall of 15-foot tall windows, and a recently updated Scandinavian Farmhouse kitchen that is perfect for prepping hors d’oeuvres or a signature cocktail. The minimalistic design and expansive space, allows you to make this Brooklyn-styled loft all your own as you celebrate with up to 150 colleagues.
Cheers to the end of a productive year with over 40 taps of exceptional craft beers at one of the eight unique event spaces inside the Stone Brewery World Bistro & Garden. Located at Liberty Station in Point Loma, this expansive restaurant features indoor and outdoor dining and bars, fire pits, koi pond, and landscaped patios that your whole team will love.
New to the Carlsbad Village scene, Clara's interiors are serene, casual and comfortable making this spot pretty ideal for a dinner feast with your team. The neutral interiors and menu offerings work for vegetarians and carnivores alike from the chili braised cauliflower tacos to skirt steak skewers, there is a little something for everyone here.
Photo by The Venue Report
Expansive, award-winning gardens, hacienda-style architecture, lush lawns give this Spanish-style estate it’s zen vibe. Recently named a "Best of the West" winner by Meetings Today, Estancia La Jolla is “purpose-built” with a layout that maximizes retention and minimizes distraction, allowing your team to communicate and celebrate secluded from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
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Photo by The Venue Report
Upscale but casual, historic but modern, Temecula’s Ponte Vineyard is the closest you can get to Tuscany within a short drive from San Diego. Throw a private holiday dinner surrounded by hundreds of oak barrels, ring in the winter season with panoramic vineyard views or hide away in the plush decanter room with a team of 12 at this eco-friendly winery.
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance event space that has no shortage of photo-worthy backdrops, Flora is just the spot you’re looking for. This elegant, event-ready space offers amenities such as tables, chairs, a catering space, and an event organizer to help keep your planning minimum. When you step in the venue be sure to check out the gorgeous preserved olive tree imported from the South of France that makes the space all the more dreamy.
Feel extra good about booking your winter party here, since proceeds support art exhibits and programming for families. The 50,000-square-foot urban space is an architectural knockout, with an outdoor garden, art studios and terraces that can accommodate up to 1,000 people—complete with skyline views.
10 Barrel Brewing checks off all the boxes when it comes to throwing a memorable and sophisticated corporate event. With a rooftop featuring city views of downtown San Diego, this East Village brewhouse offers a diverse list of exclusive beers inspired the brewmaster's home town.
Give your team a taste of the island life at Lowes Coronado Bay Resort, a private oasis with shimmering water views everywhere you look. Upon the whopping 65,000 square feet of coastal property are several restaurants, bars, and lounges featuring locally grown, farm-fresh ingredients prepared by award-winning chefs.
Treat your colleagues to an evening that includes a dinner party, a custom bar, and a beautiful backdrop at The Pannikin Building. The spacious, urban warehouse can be set up to host 165 guests who will be in awe of the old-time beauty only found in some of San Diego’s most historic buildings.
Royale is a groovy, midcentury gem tucked away between Point Loma and Ocean Beach. Located on the corner of Voltaire, the space is a haven from the noise of the street and a great space for entertaining and gathering with your entire team.
The open-air rooftop of this Little Italy restaurant is a huge draw for locals, with the only private cabanas and ocean views in the neighborhood. Standing parties of up to 400 can celebrate with Kettner Exchange’s innovative cocktails and sophisticated bites; if you’re hosting a smaller team, consider the hidden chef’s table for a five-course dining experience.
There are no curfews or noise ordinances at this historical Point Loma space, which is yours for a full 24 hours (seriously!). Create a versatile event for up to 450 in the modern industrial space, which features market lights, exposed beams and—duh—natural brick walls.
This luxury oasis covers 45 beautiful acres of Rancho Santa Fe, providing eight garden-filled options for celebration spaces. Each space—from the popular croquet lawn to the private rose garden—can work for a low-key day party or formal nighttime affair.
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If you’re celebrating with a team who appreciates a quality craft brew, head to this space attached to Vista microbrewery Booze Brothers. The venue—which can accommodate 130 seated, 200 standing—has the feel of a quirky-cool cabin, with geometric wood patterns, a chalkboard wall, an outdoor patio with stringed lights and plants galore.
Chill, fun-loving teams will feel right at home at this order-at-the-counter San Diego staple restaurant with locations in Little Italy and Encinitas. The food—crazy good sandwiches and surprising chicken and egg specialties—is incredible, and the atmosphere is all fun and games (literally—there’s a bocce ball court).
Cathedral ceilings, exposed brick and market lights create the perfect urban party backdrop, and you can customize the rest (including booze—it’s BYOB). Pick from one of 10 catering vendors—from nearby restaurants to food trucks—and get the party started with a DJ and photo booth.
A good boss is always trying to teach employees new things, right? Be a quality leader and take your team (of up to 75) on an interactive wine tasting with the sommeliers at this South Park space attached to The Rose Wine Bar + Bottle Shop.
In the heart of Rancho Santa Fe village sits this quaint, luxury inn with dreamy indoor-outdoor event spaces. You could host up to 600 colleagues around the 21-acre property, which might leave some colleagues thinking they spent a night in the countryside.
This spacious warehouse located in the historic and vibrant Barrio Logan neighborhood lets you and your team go behind the scenes for a one of a kind celebratory experience. Whether you mingle in the tasting room or rent out the private mezzanine, your crew can enjoy a front-row view of all aspects of the brewing process while listening to live music from local talent.
Photo by The Lodge at Torrey Pines
In an endless-summer city, it’s not always easy to create a festive wintery ambiance but at this craftsman-style resort, that’s a different story. The Lodge features a variety of indoor-outdoor venue options (up to 400 people), with Pacific Ocean views, cozy fireplaces and rare Torrey Pine trees that pretty much guarantee to put everyone in the holiday mood.
Reward your hard-working colleagues with a holiday dinner at chef Richard Blais’ high-end restaurant in Little Italy, where he pushes the limits of fine dining. Enjoy the former Top Chef winner’s menu on Juniper and Ivy’s patio, in a private dining room or at the exclusive chef’s table (max capacities range from 14–65).
Throw a lively dinner party for 26 in the study or take over the restaurant (150 people max) at Prepkitchen Little Italy, where family-style home cooking makes up the seasonal menu. Do dinner here first, followed by more celebratory drinks after at one of Little Italy’s many watering holes.
You dream it and they can probably do it at this multi-purpose venue in Temecula (seriously, they do luxury weddings, mud runs and music festivals, all here). Wedgewood Galway Downs started as an equestrian center but morphed into one cool place to throw a big shindig—lawn games, lily pad ponds, carriage rides and a roaming bar? Heck yes.
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The playful details of the Farmer and the Seahorse give it a naturally festive vibe—from the vintage Airstream to the telephone booth to the inviting corn hole games on the lawn. Combining the best produce from the restaurant’s gardens and local farms with the freshest catch from the Pacific, the menu from celebrity chef Brian Malarkey is all kinds of delicious.
Don’t reveal too much to your team about this Gaslamp District speakeasy and they’ll be pleasantly surprised. The quirky décor has been compared to Alice in Wonderland—picture oversized, cushy booths and botanical chandeliers—and the entertainment options go beyond a live cover band. Reserve a burlesque show, a tarot card reading or an illusionist and your coworkers will never forget the Holiday Party of 2019.
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