The letters on Sign Hill proudly declare "South San Francisco the Industrial City." Home to companies like Core-Mark and Genentech, "South City" (pop 62,502), as locals call it, is a regional hub for business and industry. Some 10 miles south of San Francisco proper and close to busy San Francisco International Airport, the event venues in South San Francisco further recommend this friendly city.
Twenty-eight carriers offer flights from San Francisco International Airport, which is five miles from South San Francisco. With a newly completed stop in South San Francisco, the BART train system offers quick, affordable transportation to San Francisco, the airport and all over the Bay Area.
The largest of South San Francisco meeting venues, the 20,500- square-foot South San Francisco Convention Center, has a four-story atrium with 6,300 square feet of space for gatherings of up to 450. The Grand Ballroom and Baden Room boast no visual obstructions and offer flexible arrangements for 1,200 guests.
Among the hotels in South San Francisco with event space, the modern, 312-room Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport has 12,000 square feet of space for up to 450; it features a beautiful outdoor patio and 12 meeting rooms. Nearly 5,000 square feet of space in seven meeting rooms are available at the 206-room Best Western Plus Grosvenor hotel, where groups of up to 400 can meet. For intimate gatherings, the 169-room Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Airport North's two meeting rooms seat up to 60 with a total of 1,400 square feet of space.
Special event venues in South San Francisco include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which has four event venues for up to 350 attendees. The Magnolia Recreation Center in downtown can seat 100 in its multi-purpose meeting room, and nature lovers can host gatherings of up to 50 in one of Orange Park's scenic picnic areas.
Two private dining areas for up to 40, plus traditional Italian fare, are available at Ristorante Buon Gusto in downtown South San Francisco. Meeting space is offered at Basque Cultural Center, where up to 100 guests can also savor delicious French cuisine. For a taste of something different, groups of 20 can plan a gathering at Villa del Sol Argentine Restaurant.
