Many San Francisco restaurants are equipped with extra-special areas for meals that need privacy, whether that means a spacious group dining option or a discreet setting for a power lunch.
From underground wine vaults to al fresco nooks with Bay Bridge views, here’s the rundown on the most reliable SF reservations to book for key meetings, blowout events, or any exclusive occasion—call to reserve your private event.
Click on the categories below to jump directly to that section.
For breakfast meetings
La Société Bar & Café
Neighborhood: SoMa
Cuisine: French
Fits: One private room for 24 to 32 seated or 45 to 50 standing
What to expect: This sleek bistro (one of 2022’s hottest openings) sits in the lobby of the Hyatt hotel with a buffet-style morning menu of soft-scrambled eggs, vegetarian quiche, and more.
ONE65 Bistro
Neighborhood: Union Square
Cuisine: French/Californian
Fits: The Chocolate Room on the second story fits up to 30 people, is available for breakfast, and even features a flat-screen television for presentations.
What to expect: This elegant six-story emporium channels a department store (and houses O’ by Claude Le Tohic, a MICHELIN-starred stunner on its top floor). A breakfast gathering in The Chocolate Room includes seasonal Cali-French dishes from ONE65 Bistro, the building’s third-floor restaurant.
For power lunches
54 Mint
Neighborhood: SoMa
Cuisine: Italian
Fits: A wine cellar and outdoor patio offer private dining options.
What to expect: This under-the-radar Roman trattoria is ideal for more discreet lunches and an expert at classics like spicy bucatini all’amatriciana, freshly made in house.
Fang
Neighborhood: SoMa
Cuisine: Cantonese
Fits: Two private rooms for up to 12 or 20 people, plus three levels of dining rooms for 60 to 80
What to expect: The Fang family (of House of Nanking fame) is behind this fancier banquet spot where lunch includes a grand dim sum-style selection of pan-fried chicken corn wontons, chile sesame pork dumplings, and much more.
Harborview Restaurant & Bar
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Cantonese
Fits: Four private rooms for up to 20 to 50 seated, plus a patio for 200 seated or 250 standing
What to expect: Harborview is the place for a creative Chinese lunch (black truffle Peking duck sliders, anyone?) in a stunning setting, thanks to a huge deck with bay and Bay Bridge views.
Kokkari Estiatorio
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Greek
Fits: Two private rooms for up to 10 or 30 people, including a cozy wine cellar
What to expect: This iconic power-lunch spot promises world-class hearth cooking and a chic afternoon crowd.
Prospect
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Californian
Fits: One private and one semi-private room for up to 32 seated and 65 standing
What to expect: Fresh market-inspired salads and pitch-perfect cocktails—a winning lunch combo—are the draws at this lofty American spot on the ground floor of a high-rise.
Wayfare Tavern
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: American
Fits: Three private rooms for up to 20 seated and 80 standing, including a fun billiards room
What to expect: Celebrity chef Tyler Florence owns this black-and-white tavern, which serves some of the city’s best elevated pub grub like organic fried chicken and shakshuka deviled eggs.
For happy hours
Burma Love Downtown
Neighborhood: SoMa
Cuisine: Burmese
Fits: Two private rooms for up to 15 seated and 45 standing, plus a twinkly patio
What to expect: The colorful downtown location of this vibrant Burmese restaurant stirs up innovative tropical cocktails that pair well with snacky plates like skillet shrimp and deep-fried vegetable pastries.
Charmaine’s Rooftop Lounge & La Bande
Neighborhood: Downtown/Union Square
Cuisine: Cocktails & tapas
Fits: Charmaine’s for semi-private options; La Bande for up to 20 seated indoors and 100 standing, including a patio
What to expect: San Francisco’s most striking rooftop bar is sprawled on top of the Proper Hotel and serves cocktails from the team behind another iconic city bar, Trick Dog. But there’s also a can’t-miss tapas spot in corner downstairs.
Dirty Habit
Neighborhood: Downtown/Union Square
Cuisine: Cocktails
Fits: Three private rooms for up to 30 seated and 40 standing, plus an open-air patio
What to expect: This sultry rooftop restaurant bar is perched on the fifth floor of the Hotel Zelos and flickers with happy hour-friendly fire pits. Bonus points for the 640-bottle strong whiskey collection.
La Mar Bar
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Peruvian
Fits: One private and three semi-private rooms for up to 22 seated and 80 standing, plus a waterfront patio and recently renovated front bar
What to expect: For a quintessential SF happy hour, head to this massive waterfront restaurant on the dock of the bay for fresh ceviche and pisco cocktails.
Leo’s Oyster Bar
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Seafood
Fits: Two private rooms offer a couple of options.
What to expect: Over-the-top seafood towers and classic cocktails are the attractions at this Beverly-Hills-meets-Palm-Springs bar.
Tenderheart
Neighborhood: Tenderloin
Cuisine: Asian American
Fits: One lobby bar for up to 75 people, plus two venues for up to 120 or 150, including a rooftop bar with firepits
What to expect: The all-day cafe on the ground floor of the new Line hotel wows with modern design, globally accented cocktails, and bold dishes, many with Chinese American flavors.
The Cavalier
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: British
Fits: Three private rooms for up to 22 seated and 50 standing, including a room called Marianne’s with a completely separate entrance, bar, and bathroom
What to expect: Tufted leather banquettes, taxidermied animals, and standout Scotch eggs set this clubby London-inspired brasserie (attached to Hotel Zetta) apart.
Tosca Café
Neighborhood: North Beach
Cuisine: Italian American
Fits: One private room for up to 22 seated or 35 standing in the legendary back room
What to expect: More than a century-old Tosca is still a beloved SF joint. Add a little kick to your happy hour with the house “cappuccino,” which ditches coffee for bourbon.
Waterbar
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Seafood
Fits: Two private rooms for up to 24 seated and 75 standing, including an outdoor deck
What to expect: Waterbar is one of the city’s most treasured happy-hour hangouts, best for slurping oysters and drinking in spectacular bay views.
For evening events
AKIKOS
Cuisine: Japanese
Fits: One semi-private room seats up to eight people
What to expect: A gorgeous new home for SF’s OG omakase experience means a sleek seafood-forward lineup with some theatrical flourishes, ideal for a small group.
Angler San Francisco
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: American seafood
Fits: Several spaces including the Game Room for up to 50 and a lounge for drinks, bites, and Bay Bridge views
What to expect: This MICHELIN-starred seafood restaurant serves live-fire cuisine in a flashy lodge-like atmosphere, and adds a dose of luxury to any occasion.
Aphotic
Neighborhood: SoMa
Cuisine: Fine-dining seafood
Fits: One private room for up to 20 seated or 35 standing
What to expect: Aphotic is where you go to impress just about anyone. The restaurant’s 10-course tasting menu dives deep into seafood and scored both a MICHELIN Star for excellence and a Green Star for sustainability.
Boulevard
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Californian
Fits: Four semi-private rooms for up to 12 seated and 70 standing, including a standout underground wine vault
What to expect: This San Francisco icon—renowned for its Berkshire pork chop—got a fabulous renovation in 2021, which means your exclusive dinner can unfold in a number of striking Belle Époque-inspired spaces.
China Live
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Cuisine: Chinese
Fits: Multiple options for up to 10 seated to 850 standing, including the Gold Mountain Lounge on the second floor
What to expect: There’s a good chance yours won’t be the only group celebrating at this loud and lively Chinese restaurant/marketplace, famous for its massive Dungeness crab, among other seasonal shareable hits.
Estiatorio Ornos, a Michael Mina Restaurant San Francisco
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Greek
Fits: One private room for up to 25 seated and 30 standing
What to expect: This fresh seafood destination is just as great for corporate events as it is for marquee birthday parties with playful perks like a roving fish cart in the dining room.
Miller & Lux
Neighborhood: Mission Bay/South Beach
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Fits: One private and one semi-private room for up to 14 seated to 35 standing, plus an outdoor patio
What to expect: Tyler Florence’s latest restaurant just outside the new Chase Center is a dazzler made for special occasions, serving prime steaks and salads tossed tableside.
Niku Steakhouse
Neighborhood: SoMa
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Fits: One private room tucked behind a glass wall seats up to 14 people
What to expect: When you’re closing a deal and only wagyu will do, head straight to Niku—one of the only MICHELIN-starred steakhouses in the country.
One Market Restaurant
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Californian
Fits: Three private rooms for up to 42 seated and 150 standing, plus a glass atrium for up to 1,000 standing
What to expect: One Market celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year, but it’s still a Cali classic with a jaw-dropping number of event spaces and farm-to-table favorites you can wine and dine with.
Roka Akor – San Francisco
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Japanese
Fits: One private and three semi-private rooms for 14 to 40 seated
What to expect: Roka Akor is the ticket for memorable group dinners—there’s exquisite sushi and steak at this over-the-top Japanese crowd pleaser.
Taksim
Neighborhood: SoMa
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Fits: Two private and two semi-private rooms for up to 10 seated and 65 standing, including a balcony bar.
What to expect: The team behind Lokma, a local go-to for top-notch Turkish breakfast, recently opened this industrial-chic restaurant known for an especially group-friendly Mediterranean menu.
The Empress by Boon
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Cuisine: Cantonese
Fits: Two semi-private rooms for up to 20 seated or 48 seated
What to expect: Star chef Ho Chee Boon took over this historic banquet hall in 2021, so you can now feast on modern Cantonese dishes in a regal space with city views.
The Vault Steakhouse & The Vault Garden
Neighborhood: Financial District/Embarcadero
Cuisine: Steakhouse & cocktails
Fits: The Vault Steakhouse has one private and one semi-private room for up to 20 seated to 75 standing; The Vault Garden offers several outdoor spaces
What to expect: This vibey underground steakhouse can do killer group meals, while the garden above is well-suited for a more low-key gathering filled with creative cocktails and oysters.
Becky Duffett is a food writer living and eating in San Francisco. Follow her on Instagram at @beckyduffett.
