Finding the right setting for a large group dinner in San Francisco can feel like a challenge. Between managing headcounts, coordinating menus, and making sure the space has the right ambiance for conversation and celebration, the options can quickly blur.
Luckily, the city is filled with restaurants for big groups, from historic landmarks with private dining rooms to lively neighborhood favorites with patios and bars made for gathering.
Whether you’re booking for colleagues, celebrating with friends, or planning a milestone party, these venues offer the flexibility and service to make group dining not just possible but enjoyable.
19 of the Best Restaurants for Big Groups SF Has to Offer
From the Mission District to Nob Hill, and from Hayes Valley to the waterfront, these are the best restaurants in the city to accommodate your next big dinner, private celebration, or casual night with friends.
1. Horsefeather, Divisadero Corridor
Location: 528 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Horsefeather is a versatile restaurant in SF that caters to large groups, combining creative cocktails with stylish design. The space feels both relaxed and refined, with arts and crafts-inspired details, soaring ceilings, and greenery that softens the modern edges.
Groups of all sizes can settle into the spacious indoor dining room or take over the plant-filled patio for a more casual group dining experience.
The menu blends New American flavors with global inspiration, offering dishes that change with the seasons. Guests can expect inventive small plates, hearty entrées, and playful desserts that suit both coursed dinners and shared platters.
The bar is a centerpiece, where bartenders craft cocktails with house-made syrups and fresh ingredients that feel as thoughtful as the food.
Located along Divisadero, Horsefeather is accessible by several Muni lines, making it easy for friends, coworkers, or visiting guests to arrive on time.
2. Azúcar Lounge, SoMa
Location: 299 9th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Azúcar Lounge brings Mexican street-food flair and agave-forward cocktails to the heart of SoMa. Known for its plush seating and warm lighting, the restaurant is built for big groups who want both energy and intimacy in the same night.
The private dining areas provide hosts with the option to create focused spaces for team dinners or birthday parties, while the main lounge maintains a lively atmosphere with its colorful décor and music.
The kitchen leans into comfort and shareability, serving tacos, burritos, churros, and snack plates that make it easy for groups to order and enjoy without overcomplicating the meal. Drinks are just as central to the experience, with margaritas, mezcal tastings, and seasonal cocktail flights that feel celebratory.
Civic Center BART is just a few blocks away, and Muni lines along Folsom Street connect the venue to the rest of the city, which keeps travel simple for people coming from across San Francisco.
3. Matterhorn Restaurant and Bakery, Cow Hollow/Marina
Location: 2323 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109
Matterhorn Restaurant and Bakery offers one of the most distinctive group dining experiences in San Francisco. Styled like a Swiss chalet, complete with ski memorabilia, wood paneling, and even a gondola chair, it transports guests to the Alps without leaving the city.
The interior strikes a cozy note, with booths and communal tables that suit everything from intimate gatherings to larger parties.
The food focuses on Alpine comfort dishes made for sharing: bubbling cheese fondues, crisp schnitzels, and hearty soups.
A curated wine list featuring Swiss and European bottles pairs naturally with the rich fare, and the attached bakery ensures that freshly baked breads and pastries are always part of the spread.
Located along Van Ness Avenue, the venue is easily accessible via Muni routes, such as the 47 and 49, although parking may be limited.
4. Gott’s, Ferry Building
Location: 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA 94111
Gott’s at the Ferry Building is a classic choice for restaurants for large groups in SF, offering a lively waterfront location and plenty of space to bring people together.
With flexible layouts accommodating groups of 24 or more, it works equally well for casual corporate lunches as for family celebrations. The venue strikes a balance between a relaxed counter-service vibe and an iconic setting inside one of San Francisco’s most visited food landmarks.
Menus feature modern takes on roadside classics, including burgers, fish tacos, seasonal salads, and California wines and beers. The mix is easy for groups because it caters to a wide range of tastes without complicated planning. Guests enjoy strolling the Ferry Building before or after the meal, adding to the sense of occasion.
Steps from the Embarcadero BART and Muni stations, it’s also one of the most accessible restaurants in San Francisco for large groups, especially when people are coming from across the Bay Area.
5. Amador Club, Financial District
Location: 550 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
The Amador Club offers a rare chance to host private dining events inside a fully restored 1908 Bank of Italy building. Spanning two penthouse floors, the club combines historic elegance with modern luxury.
From its rooftop deck, groups enjoy panoramic views of the Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, and the Ferry Building, making it a restaurant that caters to large groups, delivering both atmosphere and prestige.
Inside, the options are as varied as the events it hosts. The Pyramid Dining Room offers a formal setting for seated dinners, while the Wine Cave (a dim, stone-clad cellar housing over 2,000 bottles) feels tailor-made for intimate tastings.
The Coit Bar and Cigar Lounge adds further distinction, offering spaces rarely found in the city’s modern venues. Event menus highlight upscale small plates, craft cocktails, and a wine list that reflects the club’s cellar depth.
6. The Patio, Marina District
Location: 3232 Scott Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
The Patio blends the warmth of a neighborhood spot with the polish needed for large group dining. Its garden-inspired courtyard, complete with a firepit and string lighting, creates a cozy yet stylish place to gather in the Marina.
Inside, modern décor and layered lighting create a versatile atmosphere, equally suitable for brunch receptions, rehearsal dinners, or cocktail-style gatherings.
The menu features American small plates with seasonal ingredients, offering dishes such as butternut squash soup, braised short ribs, and flatbreads that are ideal for sharing. The bar keeps things lively with a wide selection of international wines and classic cocktails.
For access, Chestnut Street is just steps away, offering both public transportation links and parking garages within walking distance.
With its balance of atmosphere and flexible seating, The Patio is one of the best restaurants in San Francisco for parties that want both indoor and outdoor options.
7. Fly Trap, SoMa
Location: 606 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Established in 1883, Fly Trap is one of San Francisco’s oldest restaurants. And its legacy shows in the details: pressed-tin ceilings, historic photographs, and soft, golden lighting that gives the dining room an inviting glow.
Despite its heritage, the venue has been updated with modern comforts, including AV-ready spaces and semi-private areas, such as the 1906 Room, which can host medium-sized gatherings in a setting that blends history and intimacy.
The menu features Mediterranean-leaning dishes, including options like roasted beets, fried calamari, and hearty lamb entrées, complemented by an eclectic wine list. Its location near the Moscone Center and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA) makes it an easy walk for convention groups or post-museum dinners.
Parking garages along Folsom Street supplement the nearby Muni and BART access, ensuring smooth logistics for large groups.
8. Shuggie’s, Mission District
Location: 3349 23rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Shuggie’s Trash Pie + Natural Wine is as bold as its name suggests. The venue features vibrant décor with neon colors, disco touches, and two private rooms:
- the Cheetah Room, seating 20 with a chef’s counter
- the Green Room, holding 33 for tastings or receptions
For larger parties, the restaurant accommodates up to 120 guests with full buyouts.
The menu is driven by sustainability, with pizzas and small plates crafted from upcycled ingredients. “Trash pies” topped with seasonal produce make conversation starters, while the natural wine program highlights small-scale producers from around the world.
The atmosphere is lively, art-filled, and deliberately playful, making it a strong choice for group dining that wants to lean into creativity.
Accessible via the 16th or 24th Street BART stations, as well as Muni’s 14 and 49 routes, Shuggie’s is well-placed for Mission gatherings.
9. Joyride Pizza, Yerba Buena Gardens
Location: 730 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Joyride Pizza at Yerba Buena Gardens combines skyline views with a casual, modern design. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in natural light, while the dining room and outdoor patio offer views of the gardens' lush greenery.
For large groups, it’s a convenient choice: located above the Moscone Center, it serves convention attendees as easily as local office teams looking for a central location.
Menus focus on Detroit-style pizza with focaccia-like crust, plus sides such as garlic knots, tater tots, and fresh salads. Craft beers on tap and approachable cocktails round out the offerings.
Parking garages at Moscone Center South and 125 3rd Street keep logistics simple, and the Powell and Montgomery BART stations are each a short walk away.
10. Harborview Restaurant and Bar, Embarcadero
Location: 4 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111
Harborview Restaurant and Bar offers some of the most impressive private dining options in downtown San Francisco. Its sweeping patio faces the Bay Bridge, creating a dramatic backdrop for dinners and receptions. Inside, the restaurant spans seven different rooms, ranging from intimate lounges to a 200-seat main room.
Menus showcase refined Cantonese cuisine, with dim sum platters, seafood specialties, and signature dishes like truffle Peking duck sliders. Wine, beer, and cocktails support both casual and formal gatherings.
With Embarcadero BART just a block away and validated parking in the center’s garages, access is seamless.
11. Roaming Goat, Cow Hollow
Location: 1830 Union Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
Roaming Goat brings a Mediterranean flair to Union Street, offering indoor and outdoor spaces that make it a flexible option for large group dining. The indoor restaurant features rustic wood accents and soft lighting, while the outdoor Wine Garden patio sparkles with string lights and warmth. A parklet out front adds yet another layer of flexibility, giving hosts multiple ways to shape their event.
The kitchen highlights Armenian and Georgian influences, with dishes such as smoky muhammara, grilled halloumi, and hearty kebabs designed for sharing. A curated wine list explores vintages from Eastern Europe as well as California, giving guests plenty to explore.
With seating for up to 50 outdoors and 30 in the parklet, it’s a space that adapts to both casual celebrations and elegant private dinners. The Muni 45 bus stops a block away, keeping access simple for friends or coworkers meeting in Cow Hollow.
12. Harrington’s Bar and Grill, Financial District
Location: 245 Front Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
Harrington’s Bar and Grill carries Irish pub history into the modern era. Open since 1935, the restaurant has hosted generations of workers and visitors. Today, its private event spaces – “The Dark Side,” “The Light Side,” and a garden patio – are booked for everything from corporate mixers to alumni parties.
The venue can accommodate full buyouts for up to 200 people, making it a practical choice for restaurants in San Francisco that cater to large groups.
Menus stick to pub favorites: shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and hearty salads, all paired with perfect-pour Guinness and whiskey tasting flights. The interior is decorated with vintage Irish memorabilia and wood-paneled walls, while the patio offers a casual spot for mingling outdoors.
Located near the Ferry Building and Embarcadero BART, Harrington’s makes logistics easy for groups who want history and heart in the same night.
13. Osha Thai, Embarcadero Center
Location: Four Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA 94111
Osha Thai is one of the city’s most visually striking restaurants in the area, with chandeliers, floral walls, and Thai-inspired décor framing every space.
Event hosts can choose from the Main Dining Room, seating up to 120, the intimate Silver Room for 14, or the Golden Room, which glimmers with Ramayana artwork and seats 100. Each room feels distinct, allowing planners to match the space to the tone of their gathering.
The food blends traditional Thai dishes with modern presentation. Pumpkin red curry, spicy short ribs, and elaborate seafood platters headline menus, while cocktails and small plates make receptions just as dynamic as seated dinners.
With its location inside the Embarcadero Center, Osha is easily accessible from BART, Muni, and the F-line streetcar, while garages at the Ferry Building and Embarcadero handle parking needs.
14. San Francisco Brewing Co., Ghirardelli Square
Location: 3150 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
San Francisco Brewing Co. offers a versatile blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, situated in the heart of historic Ghirardelli Square. It’s hard to beat the versatility here: a dedicated Tasting Room surrounded by brewing tanks for up to 45 standing, a semi-private main dining area for 120, and a lively outdoor beer garden perfect for casual receptions with games and string lights.
The menu leans into upscale pub fare (warm pretzels, garlic fries, mussels, and charcuterie boards), while the beer program showcases house-brewed favorites like KARL Fog Hazy IPA and Alcatraz Amber Ale.
Its location makes it especially appealing for out-of-town guests, as the cable car turnaround, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the waterfront are all within steps. Public transit via Muni buses 8BX and 30 keeps it accessible for locals, too.
Whether you’re planning a milestone dinner or a casual networking mixer, San Francisco Brewing Co. combines good food, drinks, and atmosphere in a central, historic setting.
15. The Ramp, Dogpatch / Mission Bay
Location: 855 Terry A. Francois Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94158
The Ramp has transformed from a modest bait shop into one of the city’s liveliest waterfront restaurants.
Located along Terry Francois Boulevard, the venue’s string-lit patio overlooks the bay, with views of Oracle Park and Chase Center just down the street. Inside, the remodeled dining and bar spaces offer flexibility for both casual group dining and larger receptions.
Seafood takes center stage with mussels, oysters, and seasonal specials, though the menu also includes crowd-pleasers like Brussels sprouts and cocktails mixed behind a state-of-the-art bar.
On weekends, events can incorporate live Latin and Brazilian music, adding energy for friends or colleagues who want something beyond a typical dinner.
Muni’s T Third Street light rail stops close by, and the 22 Fillmore connects the neighborhood to the rest of the city.
16. Greens Restaurant, Fort Mason
Location: 2 Marina Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94123
Greens Restaurant is a national landmark in the vegetarian dining scene, and its setting inside Fort Mason makes it a standout for large group dining in San Francisco.
Panoramic windows overlook the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands, while the Main Dining Room and Bay Room accommodate events ranging from intimate dinners to weddings. An Outdoor Pavilion with heaters adds an all-weather option that combines fresh air with comfort.
The cuisine is entirely vegetarian and vegan, drawing from organic produce grown at Green Gulch Farm. Seasonal menus might include summer squash gratins, wild mushroom pâtés, or hearty soups, paired with a thoughtful wine program. The warm wood interiors and high ceilings create an ambiance that feels both elegant and approachable.
With Muni bus lines 30 and 45 dropping off nearby, and Fort Mason parking lots available for drivers, Greens is an easy place to book when you want a balance of sustainability, scale, and scenic views.
17. Atlas Café, Mission District
Location: 3049 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Atlas Café combines a neighborhood vibe with ample group dining space, making it ideal for casual celebrations or mixers.
The café features a heated patio, a spacious indoor room with exposed brick and steel beams, and a parklet that adds extra seating along 20th Street. The atmosphere is relaxed and community-oriented, bolstered by live jazz nights that bring energy to weekend gatherings.
Menus feature California-American fare with an eclectic twist, including beet loaf sandwiches, smoked trout bagels, vegan pizzas, and salads that cater to a diverse range of tastes. Coffee, kombucha on tap, wine, and cocktails expand the beverage options.
Close to Valencia Street’s nightlife and murals, Atlas Café fits easily into a larger evening in the Mission District. Transit via 24th Street BART makes it accessible, while street and garage parking provide drivers with options.
18. Curio, Mission District
Location: 775 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Curio, attached to The Chapel music venue, blends Southern-inspired bar bites with cocktails in a vintage-chic setting.
High ceilings, patterned tile floors, and eclectic furniture create a stylish atmosphere for group dining before or after shows. With both indoor dining and a lively bar, this restaurant in San Francisco caters to both seated dinners and cocktail-style events.
Menus feature fried chicken sandwiches, biscuits with honey butter, and seasonal vegetable sides. The cocktail program emphasizes bold flavors, often tied to the live music calendar next door.
Located on Valencia Street, Curio is easy to reach via Muni’s 14 Mission and 49 Van Ness/Mission lines, or a short walk from 16th Street BART.
19. Public Works, Mission District
Location: 161 Erie Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Public Works is one of the most adaptable restaurants for large groups, functioning as an industrial-chic canvas for events up to 1,000 people.
The space is divided into the Main Room, Loft, and Gallery, each with its own capacities and layout options. High ceilings, hardwood floors, and exposed beams give the venue a raw energy, while professional sound, lighting, and AV systems transform it into a full event environment.
Food and drink are handled through preferred catering partners, with in-house bar service offering beer, wine, and cocktails. DJs, projection mapping, and custom lighting let hosts shape the ambiance to match anything from corporate all-hands meetings to weddings.
Located near Mission Street, Public Works is easy to reach by Muni’s 14 and 49 buses, or by car via nearby garages on 14th Street.
Conclusion
San Francisco has no shortage of restaurants for big groups. Each of these venues balances menus, service, and atmosphere with the ability to accommodate large groups smoothly.
The key is matching the style of your group in San Francisco, whether it’s corporate, celebratory, or casual, to the restaurant that best fits your size, taste, and vision.
Ready to bring your large group together in San Francisco? With the Perfect Venue Marketplace, you can compare and connect directly with venues that can accommodate your party.
Start your search today and find the perfect venue for the perfect event!
