11 Large Venues Beyond San Francisco

You won’t have to travel far to find the Cow Palace, which sits on San Francisco’s border with Daly City. This famous (and memorably named) indoor arena has hosted the Golden State Warriors, countless rodeos, the Democratic National Convention and even The Beatles on their first U.S. tour in 1964. Today, the Cow Palace offers ample parking and multiple buildings comprising 250,000 square feet of flexible event space.

Host Your Event At Cow Palace

Give high-powered events a dash of breezy Pacific charm at this spectacular waterfront venue. Together, the Monterey Conference Center, Monterey Marriott and Portola Hotel & Spa form the Monterey Conference Connection, totaling 85,000 square feet of meeting space, more than 19,000 square feet of exhibition space and 700 hotel rooms – all a stone’s throw from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, historic Cannery Row and lively Fisherman’s Wharf.

Host Your Event At The Monterey Conference Center

Whether booked as an ancillary meeting space to the adjacent Oakland Convention Center or reserved as a standalone venue, the Oakland Marriott City Center makes a welcoming home base for attendees. Renovated in 2016, the hotel offers 90,000 square feet of meeting space across 36 rooms, plus full A/V capabilities, 500 modern guest rooms and convenient BART connectivity. Just beyond the lobby, the charms of Chinatown and Jack London Square await.

Host your event at Oakland Marriot City Center

This sprawling San Mateo venue has bowling lanes, bocce courts, private patios, and customizable ballrooms to fulfill your needs. Pinstripes can accommodate groups of up to 1,500 people, and all private events are enjoyed over their excellent Italian/American cuisine.

Host Your event at pinstripes San Mateo

Certainly a more adventurous option, Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, California, will take you back to the 1800s. Start at the historic Roaring Camp depot, where you can find Bret Harte Hall, which offers 6,120 square feet of meeting space, and their forested picnic grounds, which accommodate groups of up to 2,500. Then, ride one of their historic trains, which snake through the redwoods on separate routes to Bear Mountain or the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. 

Host your event at roaring camp railroads

Located on the top floor of San Francisco's historic Fraternal Hall, the San Francisco Wine School provides a 180-degree view of the San Bruno Mountains, City Hall, and the San Francisco Bay. Their sunlight-filled education and event center offers 4,000 square feet of space, with two sets of moveable acoustic walls, modular furniture, and the ability to host walk-around gatherings of up to 400. Plenty of seated educational experiences are offered, from blind-tasting workshops to food and wine pairing labs. 

host your event at the San Francisco wine school

Housed in an architecturally significant Ford Assembly Plant building from 1931, the Craneway Pavilion is an excellent, visually striking choice for your next meeting or event. Seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor spaces with their industrial chic 45,000-square-foot facility and adjoining 20,000-square-foot patio. Enjoy an unobstructed, column-free space with stunning waterfront views of San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. The Craneway can accommodate up to 2,500 seated guests and 5,000 standing. 

host your event at craneway pavilion 

Conveniently located minutes from San Francisco Airport and a short drive from downtown San Francisco, the South San Francisco Conference Center is a great space to host your meeting or event. This large, single-level event venue has 20,500 square feet of conference room space for rent, private offices/rooms available for event staff, and complimentary shuttle services to major transportation stations. Their experienced team will handle everything, from custom menus to audio-visual services.

Host your event at South San Francisco conference center

Situated in a beautiful location overlooking Oakland's waterfront, Plank is a great place to gather, with over 50,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor dining space. With a beer garden, arcade games, billiards and bowling, and a capacity of 1500, Plank can satisfy team-building, meetings, and corporate events. 

Host your event at Plank