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| Private dining room at Herringbone |
With the holidays upon us, ‘tis the season to find the perfect space for family gatherings, office holiday parties and anything in between. In addition to San Diego’s legendary beautiful weather year-round, San Diego neighborhoods boasts an array of private dining venues perfect for any occasion.
Whether you're looking for the beach, the Gaslamp, or anywhere in between, there are many spots to host your holiday gathering this winter located throughout San Diego.
Del Mar:
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| Burlap's private dining room |
Guests of Davanti Enoteca in Del Mar can take a hint from the Italians and dine family style for their holiday celebration. Davanti has a variety of areas available for special events, including a charming outdoor courtyard, a communal table perfect for smaller groups and an elegant private dining room perfect for any occasion.
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| Mia Francesca |
Downtown:
This holiday season, San Diegans can celebrate at The Commons, San Diego's newest watering hole. Located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, the 2,800 square-foot venue is ideal for groups ranging from 10 to 200 guests and features a 500 square-foot private, upstairs Mezzanine game room with a private bar that allows for specialty drinks to be created for exclusive events. The Commons is all about customizing a party to fit the hosts' needs, from a special feature on the restaurant’s vintage drive-in movie theatre sign that stretches across the bar to a completely tailored menu of casual and conversational bar fare. Those interested in booking a party at The Commons can email [email protected].
Located in San Diego’s Gaslamp District only steps away from the San Diego Convention Center, Donovan’s Prime Seafood provides world-class accommodations for private events for up to 300 guests as well as elegant private dining rooms. The Ocean Room is the perfect location for an exclusive reception and dinner to follow, accommodating up to 80 guests comfortably. Wooden dividers are also available to break the room into two intimate spaces. Donovan’s Prime Seafood offers custom menus for any special occasion, implementing the very best ingredients available each season.
Created by the dynamic pairing of Master Chef Katsuya Uechi and global design icon Philippe Starck, the recently opened Katsuya by Starck San Diego is an innovative and unique venue for exclusive events. The cutting-edge Atrium private dining room can accommodate up to 60 guests under a roof open to fresh air, and boasts dramatic illuminated imagery contrasted with elegant white furnishings. A second-floor Mezzanine dining room provides another exclusive venue, offering space for up to 45 guests. On-par with the exquisite space is a highly-revered menu boasting Japanese-inspired cuisine including sushi and non-sushi dishes as well as a robata bar and exceptional specialty cocktails. Both private dining spaces are available for group buyouts during the restaurant’s premiere New Years Eve celebration, which will rival downtown’s best happenings with a live fashion show, DJ and dancing.
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| Private dining at Searsucker |
Ideally placed in the wine cellar of the iconic US GRANT Hotel, The Grant Grill offers an intimate private dining room perfectly suited for any exclusive special occasion or business meeting. Seated among floor to ceiling wine cabinets, guests can enjoy a custom menu aimed to please even the most discerning diner. This unique private dining room accommodates up to 12 people.
The Gaslamp District’s favorite destination for a casual and fun time, Whiskey Girl is a unique venue to relieve friends, family or coworkers of holiday stresses. Set amongst a casual, pop art-inspired atmosphere with a spirited and friendly staff, private celebrations can be held in Whiskey Girl’s sidebar for up to 70 people, main bar for up to 400 people, or relaxed patio area, which comfortably accommodates 35 people. While the regular menu is available for special events, guests also have the option of arranging tray passed appetizers, buffets, or a custom menu courtesy of Executive Chef Brad Hightow. Those interested in hosting a private event at Whiskey Girl can email [email protected] for more information.
Hillcrest:
The new and improved location of Hillcrest’s The Range Kitchen & Cocktails offers a plethora of options for holiday celebrations paired with recently introduced Executive Chef Jacob Cureton’s playful and delicious American cuisine. With a fun and unique atmosphere, the restaurant has a variety of party accommodations from the one-of-a-kind semi-private “chicken-coup” dining space to the outdoor patio that can fit over 150 people among cozy fire pits. Another rare aspect of the Range’s special event offerings is access to neighboring nightlife and entertainment venue 1202, which can be rented out for private events accommodating up to 650 people. Those interested in hosting a private event at The Range can email [email protected] for more information.
La Jolla:
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| Brockton Villa restaurant |
A mainstay La Jolla dining destination, Donovan’s Steak & Chop House offers eight unique Private Dining Rooms that celebrate the best of San Diego. An ode to San Diego’s famed racetrack, the Del Mar Room is located behind double mahogany doors to ensure the ultimate privacy for up to 50 dinner guests and has been the chosen venue for the greatest jockeys to grace the Del Mar track. An exclusive venue for up to 28 dinner guests, The Chargers Room is a popular private dining destination for NFL players and fans alike, showcasing great Chargers players through photos and memorabilia. A unique working cellar accommodating up to 16 guests, The Wine Cellar is possibly the most desirable of Donovan's private dining rooms, featuring vertical vintage collections of an assortment of fine wines.
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| George's has some view! |
La Jolla's hotspot helmed by Top Chef alums Brian Malarkey and Amanda Baumgarten, Herringbone boasts vintage beauty and modern openness to make the ideal setting for any private event. Featuring six ancient olive trees and an open kitchen, Herringbone has a semi-private "loft dining" space that can seat up to 22 guests. Perfect for anything from an intimate dinner to a buy-out event, Herringbone's delicious menu and inventive Pick & Rocks Cocktails will leave a lasting impression on guests.
Little Italy:
Recently nominated by Bon Appétit as one of 50 best new restaurants of 2012, Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy will wow private parties with an enchanting atmosphere and delicious Italian cuisine. The restaurant’s outdoor courtyard is the perfect place to host large parties, while an elegant private dining room fits smaller groups. Custom menus are available for special occasions from family gatherings to office parties. For more information, guests may call the restaurant at 619-237-9606.
Rancho Santa Fe:
Nestled in the beautiful community of Rancho Santa Fe, Delicias restaurant is an ideal location for a number of private dining occasions, from holiday luncheons to dinner celebrations. The recently redesigned restaurant offers a charming outdoor courtyard with a cozy fireplace and overhead awning that seats up to 30 people, an enchanting outdoor patio that seats up to 35 people, and the elegant main dining room featuring French doors, a large fireplace and space for a dance floor and live music for up to 75 people. Chef de Cuisine Steve Molina offers custom menus of exquisite seasonal cuisine for private parties, which can be arranged by emailing [email protected].
The award-winning Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, which recently re-opened its doors following a $30 million transformation, features more than 12,000 square feet of newly designed indoor/outdoor events space and caters to groups of all sizes for holiday entertaining. Rancho Valencia's variety of newly designed, multi-faceted event spaces include The Ballroom accommodating 250-300 guests, The Croquet Lawn accommodating up to 400 guests surrounded by lush landscaping and sunset views, The Hacienda accommodating up to 180 guests in a 5,000 square-foot cottage-styled private space featuring a private pool and garden, The Upper Lawn accommodating up to 400 guests in one of the properties most beautiful gardens, and The Wine Room, a secluded room available for guests small private events or wine tastings upon reservation.
Get your private dining area booked before it is too late. For more information, or to contact SanDiegoVille with specific questions, email [email protected], and be sure to follow SanDiegoVille on Twitter and Facebook.
