Best Kept Secrets: Best Event Venues in San Francisco (2025 Edition)
San Francisco isn’t just where Bash Creative originated, it’s home to some of the country’s most innovative and unforgettable events. From historic icons to cutting-edge spaces, the city offers venues that can transform an ordinary gathering into a powerful cultural moment. The right venue isn’t simply about location; it’s about aligning your company’s goals, culture, budget, and guest experience.
Here are six of our favorite San Francisco venues that blend history, innovation, and impact. Not to mention, they are also a dream to work with.
Palace of Fine Arts
A San Francisco icon, the Palace of Fine Arts offers a rare combination of grandeur and flexibility. Originally built for the 1915 World’s Fair, its architecture is both historic and inspiring. It’s situated on the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge with sweeping views of the Bay, Bridge, and even Alcatraz! While its grandeur can be a challenge with your audiovisual acoustics, the unique decor, attached theater, outdoor space, and giant attached parking lot make it a rare combination of spaces hard to find in San Francisco city proper. This space is best suited for groups of 500+ for an all-day event or evening soiree.
Hotel pairing: For an experience that matches the elegance of the Palace of Fine Arts, consider Cavallo Point. Nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, this historic property blends understated luxury with breathtaking views, offering guests a refined retreat that feels as iconic as the venue itself.
Shack15
We know firsthand how powerful SHACK15 can be. Located inside the Ferry Building with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island, this members-only cultural hub delivers modern elegance, stunning architecture, and a built-in energy that elevates any corporate gathering. Bash has produced events in the space when it was a raw buildout and now in the beautifully appointed Shack15, and we prefer it in the current iteration. Working in a historic building like the Ferry Building can be complex and feel restrictive with all of its rules and requirements, but Shack15 has really brought in the hospitality aspect and can handle small to mid-size groups without a planner. However, if you want something larger or more complex, don’t worry, Bash Creative is on their preferred vendor list.
Hotel pairing: Elevate your guests’ experience with 1 Hotel San Francisco, just steps away, offering sustainable luxury and panoramic bay views.
Convene 100 Stockton
For corporate groups that need turnkey space in the heart of downtown, Convene 100 Stockton delivers. With multiple locations across the U.S. and UK, Convene has perfected the art of the modern plug-and-play venue — flexible meeting rooms, state-of-the-art tech, and seamless onsite support. Their San Francisco property puts you just steps away from Union Square, making it an ideal choice for everything from executive off-sites to multi-day conferences.
Hotel Pairing: Pair Convene with one of San Francisco’s grand historic hotels, all within walking distance: The Palace Hotel, The Westin St. Francis, Fairmont San Francisco, Four Seasons, or The Ritz-Carlton. Each offers timeless luxury, five-star service, and easy access to the city’s most iconic downtown experiences.
The Mint
Known affectionately as The Granite Lady, The San Francisco Mint is one of the city’s most versatile historic venues. Built in 1874 to house and print money as San Francisco was growing at an exponential pace, this landmark combines rich history with expansive, flexible event space. Its grand halls, vaults, inner courtyard, and unique architectural details make it a backdrop unlike any other. This space plays extremely well with specialty lighting and a choose-your-own-adventure style event, where guests can roam the halls and discover new spaces along the way. Ideal for conferences, galas, product launches, and immersive activations, especially if you want to be located in the heart of the city or near the Moscone Convention Center.
Hotel pairing: For a seamless guest experience, pair The Mint with The Proper Hotel, a short distance away, offering striking design, high-touch hospitality, and group-friendly accommodations.
*Fair warning that both of these properties are in the heart of the city, which comes with some additional color of the character of the city, which at times can be unsavory. The best way to combat this is to be upfront and honest with guests so they can be aware, vs surprised.
San Francisco Private Dining Venues
Sometimes the best venue isn’t a ballroom or grand hall — it’s a private dining room. Executive dinners and intimate gatherings have become essential for doing business, building connections, and creating impact. San Francisco Private Dining Venues (SFPDV) offers a curated collection of the city’s hottest spots, from Michelin-starred restaurants to hidden gems. These spaces prove that small format can deliver big results. Long gone are the days of calling and emailing restaurants directly. Working through SFPDV you can send your RFP to dozens of restaurants at the same time, and the ones that can accommodate your request will respond. This is a great time saver!
Hotel pairing: For a pairing as refined as your dinner, you have your choice of all of the familiar brands and keystone properties in San Francisco like Hotel Drisco (Pacific Heights), The Battery (Financial District/Embarcadero) or Palihotel San Francisco (Union Square), offering five-star service and easy access to top dining neighborhoods.
Coming in 2026: Elevation Sky Park at Pier 70
San Francisco is about to welcome a game-changing destination: Elevation at Sky Park, a waterfront dome venue on Pier 70. This soon-to-open experience hub will set a new standard for immersive corporate events, featuring state-of-the-art projection, sound, and scale. If you’re looking to be ahead of the curve, this is the kind of venue that will make headlines AND memories.
Hotel pairing: Looking for a nearby stay? We recommend The Clancy, Autograph Collection, just a short ride away in SoMa with modern design and group-friendly amenities.
Choosing the right venue is one of the most strategic decisions you’ll make in planning your event. From immersive new builds to historic landmarks and intimate dining spaces, San Francisco has options that set the stage for unforgettable experiences.
At Bash Creative, we don’t just book venues. We curate environments that align with your company’s vision and goals.
Ready to talk about where your next event belongs?
Bash Creative is an event planning company that specializes in incredible gatherings that go beyond just great design. We’re known for teasing out smart goals for your event and serving up a stylish execution that will keep your guests buzzing. Located in San Francisco, but often found in Miami, Las Vegas, New York, Austin, and beyond.