On an early-October global MICE familiarization trip, BizBash joined a group of 11 editors from destinations like Mexico City, Montreal, Vancouver, Seoul, the U.K., and Ireland to explore new venues, thriving neighborhoods, and up-and-coming projects from the Presidio to Embarcadero to Dogpatch, and everywhere in between.<\/p>\n
Below, we break down refreshed hotels, new and unique mingling spaces, authentic activities, and more that make the city\u2019s compact size\u2014and landmarks within reach\u2014a prime destination the next time you plan to convene.<\/p>\n
Where to Host<\/p>\n
Located just 0.2 miles from Moscone Center and opened in 2005, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star, 40-story The St. Regis San Francisco<\/a> hosts 260 hotel rooms\u2014including a magnificent residential-style presidential suite equipped for board meetings, intimate events, and brand showcases.<\/p>\n The St. Regis San Francisco. Photo: Courtesy of The St. Regis San Francisco<\/p>\n The rooms, suites, and 22,257 square feet of event space of the luxury quarters in the SoMa (South of Market) neighborhood were refreshed by Opus 365 in 2019; the ground-floor Astra Restaurant and St. Regis Bar were redesigned in 2021 by Blacksheep London; and the revitalized indoor pool and relaxation area from Gio Pagani and architecture by TEF debuted in 2024.<\/p>\n In April, the multi-phase reimagination project concluded with the opening of The Spa at The St. Regis San Francisco, offering a well-rounded refuge to hang your laptop bag after a long meeting day.<\/p>\n Additionally, The St. Regis San Francisco houses the Museum of the African Diaspora<\/a> (MoAD) and is planted directly across the street from the San Francisco Museum of Art<\/a>, or SFMOMA, which curates new exhibits every three to six months.<\/p>\n \u201cThis community has become incredibly vibrant,\u201d shares The St. Regis San Francisco director of sales and marketing Lilian Wagner<\/a>, who says the city is re-emerging and back on top thanks to reinvestment and new leadership under Mayor Daniel Lurie, following a downturn due to San Francisco\u2019s strict COVID-19 pandemic shutdown protocols.<\/p>\n Formerly Le M\u00e9ridien San Francisco, The Jay, Autograph Collection<\/a> opened in 2023 in the heart of the Embarcadero, near The Ferry Building, Chinatown, Oracle Park, and North Beach. The hotel has 360 modern rooms, a 24th-floor penthouse, and 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space spanning two floors, plus complimentary guest delights from local vendors and artists, offering an in-house way to connect with the destination.<\/p>\n The Third Floor<\/a> restaurant and lounge has a terrace and California-inspired cuisine, while ground-floor Shinka<\/a>, which just opened this month, serves French-Japanese fine dining from executive chef Fumio Yonezawa.<\/p>\n A stop along the historic cable car route, storied The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square<\/a> opened in 1904, and is an architectural marvel. The Green Key Global Four-Key and AAA Four-Diamond hotel boasts a whopping 1,187 rooms, 56,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor meeting and event space\u2014high-floor ballrooms in the Tower Building frame incredible panoramas\u2014a club lounge, and a Chateau Montelena wine tasting room.<\/p>\n The Eighth Rule. Photo: Tracy Block\/BizBash<\/p>\n In 2025, the hotel debuted two new food and beverage concepts: Michael Mina\u2019s refined Bourbon Steak San Francisco<\/a> and The Eighth Rule<\/a>, a moody bourbon bar by Golden State Warriors hometown hero Steph Curry.<\/p>\n Where to Meet and Mingle<\/p>\n Fog pending, we learned, breathtaking viewpoints are a hot commodity in San Francisco, which makes mingling more enjoyable than your average bar or lounge.<\/p>\n RH<\/a> (formerly Restoration Hardware), in the landmark Bethlehem Steel Building dating back to 1917, sits on Pier 70 in Dogpatch, and opened in 2022. A haute spot draped in decadence, the 80,000-square-foot, five-story structure is so much more than a showroom.<\/p>\n The main-floor marble-decked Palm Court Restaurant<\/a> is set in an atrium with suspended crystal, smoked glass, and brass chandeliers and towering palms, while the lush, landscaped Rooftop Park and Lounge is a stunning and serene garden refuge with sweeping views of the skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the Bay\u2014the perfect spot for a round of spritzes on a sunny afternoon or espresso martinis after dark.<\/p>\n EPIC Steak. Photo: Courtesy of EPIC Steak<\/p>\n Speaking of Bay Bridge views, refreshed in 2025, it doesn\u2019t get any closer than waterfront EPIC Steak<\/a> in the Embarcadero, known for its hardwood-grilled and dry-aged prime steaks, locally sourced seafood, and California wines. The second-story Bay Room + Terrace is a space with an indoor private dining room and a spacious outdoor terrace along the Bay with a front-row show of the Bay Bridge illuminated at night with \u201cThe Bay Lights\u201d by artist Leo Villareal and produced by Ben David.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s upscale caviar and champagne service your group fancies, perhaps ring the bell at Holbrook House<\/a>, a Financial District lounge with an upscale club vibe inside The Conservatory at One Sansome that opened in 2023.<\/p>\n The aesthetics are the brainchild of Jeff Schlarb Design Studio, and the space is bathed in jewel tones with plush banquettes, accented by jungle-themed wallpaper, Murano glass chandeliers, and gold finishes. Holbrook House\u2019s sister lounge, recently named Alto 88 on the roof of 88 Spear, aka The Spear<\/a>, will debut in 2027.<\/p>\n What to Do<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a short block of free time for the group or an off-site to unplug, there\u2019s no shortage of activities to schedule around town.<\/p>\n Legend has it that San Francisco is the birthplace of the martini. For spirited, thirsty groups, embark on the Martini Trail<\/a>, a 25-stop adventure through shaken, stirred, dirty, and dry potables. Nurse notable pours at the aforementioned Holbrook House; Starlite at the Beacon Grand Hotel<\/a>, which sits perched on the 24th floor; Bar Iris<\/a>, which also serves bites from chef David Yoshimura\u2019s Michelin-starred neighbor Nisei<\/a>; and renowned fan favorite Bar Sprezzatura<\/a> at One Maritime Plaza from master mixologist Carlo Speldorini and another Michael Mina-backed favorite, serving Venetian-inspired small bites.<\/p>\n For padel and pickleball enthusiasts, head to Bay Padel Dogpatch<\/a> indoors and outside of Building 12 at Pier 70. Polish up on team building with coaching clinics or reserve a court for groups of four for padel or two for pickleball at a time. The surrounding industrial area is undergoing a major rehabilitation project (more on Elevation Sky Park below); Building 12 itself was raised 10 feet to protect the structure from future rising sea levels.<\/p>\n The new Outpost Meadow at Presidio Tunnel Tops. Photo: Courtesy of Presidio San Francisco<\/p>\n Nothing beats a commemorative group with the Golden Gate Bridge in the backdrop, so why not plan a waterfront picnic at Presidio Picnic Place? You can cater the day with the rotating outdoor food court of food trucks and street food vendors, or reserve a grill to fire up local delicacies. Tables range in length from 16 to 23 feet, are shaded by pines, and are wheelchair accessible. Or, rent the 500-capacity Presidio Tunnel Tops East Meadow lawn venue<\/a>, adjacent to Picnic Place, for a private event.<\/p>\n How to Get Around<\/p>\n San Francisco\u2019s sustainability is one of the destination\u2019s most prized accolades, and you\u2019d be hard-pressed to find another city as dedicated to sustainable transportation. Sure, it seems like every Lyft is a Tesla, but you can also opt for the more affordable Muni Metro<\/a> and electric trolley buses, light rail, and historic streetcar and cable car routes\u2014many of which are committed to zero-emission operations (visitor passes are available through MuniMobile).<\/p>\n As San Francisco scales up to 100% renewable energy, BART<\/a> (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is a green way to get from San Francisco International Airport<\/a> to the East Bay, or ride the electric Caltrain<\/a>, which runs down to San Jose. And the low-wake San Francisco Bay Ferry<\/a> is a scenic, zero-emission way to get around by sea.<\/p>\n If you really want to embrace the AI capital of the world, brave the driverless (or autonomous) car options. Waymo via the Waymo One app launched throughout the destination in 2024 and is popular around town\u2014often costing less than an Uber or Lyft.<\/p>\n Zoox, on the other hand, is Amazon\u2019s new robotaxi service that lacks a driver cabin, gas pedal, brake, dashboard, and steering wheel (gasp!) and is designed to transport passengers by way of symmetrical cabins (like train cars). Zoox is currently offering free rides through its public testing phase with full commercial service underway\u2014it went fully commercial in Las Vegas in September.<\/p>\n What\u2019s on Deck<\/p>\n Still, there\u2019s much more in store for San Francisco slated through 2028. First up is Elevation Sky Park<\/a>, an immersive entertainment venue at Pier 70 (by Building 12) in Dogpatch with four versatile geodesic domes of various sizes, to start.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/STR_SFOXR_bar1_69691.newstools.jpg\" "\\"\\"\/")
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