10 San Francisco Private Event Venues Planners Need to Know

California Academy of Sciences

Your next event may take place under a T. Rex skeleton! The California Academy of Sciences, located in iconic Golden Gate Park, has 15 unique event spaces for you to choose from. With the ability to accommodate anywhere from 50 to 300 guests in one of their select venues and up to 3000 guests in multiple venues, Cal Academy offers jaw-dropping settings from the Planetarium to the Living Roof. Host your next event in one of the greenest museums on Earth, or bring the museum to you via a virtual event experience curated by the experts on staff. 

Chase Center 

Since opening in 2019, this multi-purpose, award-winning, special event venue has become one of the most popular private event spaces in the Bay Area. With more than 10 unique spaces within the arena and two outdoor areas, there are endless opportunities for providing your attendees with unique and memorable experiences. From outdoor spaces for thousands to the intimate and grand Skybar venue capable of hosting an event during a Warriors game, Chase Center has something for everyone. With top-notch culinary experiences from Bon Appétit, easy access to public transportation, and a world-class event services team, who wouldn’t want to host an event in the same arena where NBA history is still being written?

City View at METREON 

Located on the fourth floor of the iconic METREON, City View lives up to its name, with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing an unobstructed look at San Francisco's renowned cityscape. Between the expansive 18,000-square-foot interior and 12,000-square-foot outdoor terrace, City View at METREON makes every event—whether it's a product launch or conference, cocktail party or wedding—a special occasion. 

Exploratorium 

With more than 600 hands-on exhibits, the Exploratorium is regarded as one of the world’s foremost interactive science museums. Don't forget that the stunning views of the bay available to you from anywhere on Pier 15 are just as stimulating! This LEED Platinum, sustainably designed facility is an unforgettable venue for everything from intimate gatherings to large events. From wide open gallery spaces to outdoor terraces overlooking the Bay Bridge, The Exploratorium is capable of hosting a wide array of events from weddings to keynote presentations and more. Choose from six unique event spaces or rent the full facility with 100,000 square feet of event space. 

Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture 

A National Historic Landmark on the San Francisco waterfront, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture offers venues unlike any other. With more than 150,000 square feet of venue space across nine distinct venues, hosts can take advantage of space that accommodates groups from five to 3,800. Flexibility is the name of the game at Fort Mason. The breathtaking bay views and lush greenery make any space within Fort Mason a meeting planner’s dream.

The Masonic 

An icon of mid-century modernist architecture, The Masonic has renovated its stage, sound system, and a new open floor, providing capacity for up to 4,000 guests. Surrounded by world-class hotels on San Francisco's swanky Nob Hill, The Masonic has been a proud, cultural institution of the San Francisco event scene for more than 50 years. Featuring more than 74,000 square feet of flexible event space, The Masonic’s full-service event production team will utilize state-of-the-art lighting and sound along with delicious food and beverage options to impress and delight your guests. In addition, the team at Live Nation also operates many more turnkey event venues in San Francisco, including The Fillmore.

Oracle Park 

Called "baseball's perfect address," Oracle Park offers sweeping views of the City and Bay, modern amenities, and a virtually unlimited array of creative options. Home of the San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park offers exclusive insider access to this iconic San Francisco landmark. With 10 distinct event spaces inside the ballpark to go along with multiple piers and two upscale luxury yachts, the team at Oracle Park delivers everything you need to host events that are second to none.

Presidio Officers' Club 

The Presidio Officers’ Club, featuring the massive 2,995-square-foot Ortega Ballroom, offers the complete event experience. Known for its Spanish colonial revival architecture, this location gives the public a unique historical and cultural experience. Guests will love the panoramic views of San Francisco Bay as they enjoy their conference, theater presentation or company gathering. Guests can better take in the view from the ballroom’s deck or simply make their way to the attached open-air courtyard, which is perfect for receptions, meetings, and small gatherings. Adjacent to the Presidio Officers' Club are three other venues, including the Inn at the Presidio, making it easy to plan a memorable occasion in the park.

The Regency Center 

Located in lower Nob Hill and situated on one of San Francisco’s most famed thoroughfares, The Regency Center provides three unique, historic, and stunning venues totaling more than 15,000 square feet. All told, the venue can accommodate 2,300 guests and provides the ability to host multiple functions simultaneously with private, separate entrances. The main space, The Regency Ballroom, can accommodate up to 1,400 guests. The speakeasy-style Social Hall SF, located on the bottom floor, allows for another 600 guests. Situated on the top floor, The Lodge is an architectural masterpiece that features 31 hand-painted backdrops and classic Gothic accents, including elaborate stained-glass windows. If you’re in the mood for a truly historic concert hall that doubles as an unforgettable event venue, The Warfield is operated by the same team. 

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

SFMOMA is not only one of the leading contemporary art museums in the world, but it also offers a multi-level venue experience that includes the Pat and Bill Wilson Sculpture Terrace, which has an incredible 30-foot living wall (the largest in the Bay Area); outdoor sculpture gardens on the fifth floor; a massive terrace with citywide views on the seventh floor; and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Atrium, which fits 400 guests for theater presentations. SFMOMA has unique event spaces that work for a variety of event types: large cocktail receptions, corporate dinners, product launches, film premieres, meetings, galas, or weddings.