San Francisco known for its rolling hills, charming Victorians, cable cars, and bridges, boasts a pretty spectacular skyline. Wondering how you can host your celebration in an outdoor space with a skyline view at a stunning rooftop wedding venue in San Francisco?
Hey, I’m Sonya and I’ve been photographing weddings in San Francisco for two decades. Let me tell you, venues with views never get old! If you’re searching for a wedding venue with a city view for either your full wedding or wedding reception only, below are my top five favorite San Francisco rooftop venue recommendations for celebrating al fresco with a view.
Rooftop at 25 Lusk
Location: SOMA
Rooms and Capacity: Rooftop up to 125 guests seated. Indoor dining room seats up to 150 guests.
Style: Historic, urban, and modern.
Once a manufacturing warehouse in the south of Market district, 25 Lusk and its Rooftop 25, bring a modern feel with a nod to the industrial heritage of the building. Its wood and metal textures honor the old-world feel but with a contemporary aesthetic. Rooftop 25 has gorgeous, west-facing city views to be enjoyed by you and your wedding guests as you dine and dance the night away. The entire 25 Lusk building is 13,000 square feet encompassing dynamic spacing for events. This rooftop wedding venue in San Francisco is also well known for its craft co*cktails and sustainable and locally-focused California cuisine.
If you have a smaller guest count, like a post-City Hall elopement celebration, they offer semi-private groups from 10-50 on the rooftop. We all know that San Francisco can have chilly weather, so the rooftop also has protected seating, with overhead panels that retract. There are also string lights for ambiance and heaters, so the rooftop can be enjoyed year-round.
Location: Financial District
Capacity: Up to 50 guests seated and 80 standing.
Style: Historic Penthouse Gem!
The Newhall Nest’s loft-like layout boasts 4000 square feet in total, with 2000 of that dedicated to the rooftop terrace. The rooftop has an outdoor commercial bar built-in, and has amazing views of downtown San Francisco. You’ll feel immersed in a private oasis amongst the modern skyscrapers of FiDi. The wraparound terrace has a great corridor for a long farm table for dining al fresco with your wedding guests. The penthouse, formerly a private residence, has a kitchen, full bathroom, living room, dining room, and a game room.
This is such a unique and totally private rooftop space in the heart of downtown San Francisco!
3. The Pearl
Location: Dogpatch
Capacity: Up to 300 rooftop, and 700 total.
Style: Industrial Chic
Close to the waterfront in the Dogpatch neighborhood, sits the huge 9000-square-foot Pearl. The street-level floor is a spacious blank canvas and can be set up with endless configurations. There are permanent art installations by Alexis Laurent to be enjoyed, and a feeling of understated, sweeping elegance. When you gaze up at the high ceilings you’ll see massive reclaimed cedar beams, suspended lush plants, and skylights bringing in natural light and adding to the dynamic feel of the space. The beams also hold lighting and A/V equipment for your event.
On the way up to the rooftop there is a mezzanine level, where guests can enjoy looking out over the main floor with a co*cktail in hand. And at the very top, is the largest rooftop wedding venue in San Francisco on my list, at over 4600 square feet. It can be easily tented, exclusively through Bright Event Rentals. The rooftop has views of the surrounding neighborhood, the Bay, and the Oakland hills. It is accessible by both a staircase and an elevator and offers bistro lighting, outdoor lounge furniture, heating, and umbrellas.
4. Waterbar
Location: Rincon Hill
Capacity: Looking Glass - Up to 24 guests seated and 50 standing.
Bridge Tower Room - 60 guests seated and 75 standing.
Style: Classic Waterfront Elegance
While not technically a rooftop, this is the most waterfront terrace on the list. Waterbar has the best close-up and panoramic views of the Bay Bridge, it’s practically sitting underneat it! The restaurant sits along the Embarcadero waterfront, which is a great spot for a stroll and for taking some gorgeous wedding photos.
At the time of this article, San Francisco eagerly awaits the return of the Bay Bridge light installation, set to return in the spring of 2025. That sparkling Bay Bridge backdrop for your wedding will be hard to beat! Cue Journey’s “Lights,” and you’ll get the vibe.
If you are a seafood-ie and craving oysters for your wedding reception, then this is the place. The second floor is entirely dedicated to private dining, and has a separate kitchen from the main floor restaurant. And don’t skip the dessert, Eater San Francisco just named Waterbar as one of the best destinations for dessert!
Location: 9th Floor of the Chase Center
Capacity: Up to 200
Style: Sleek, Modern, Waterfront
Perched on the 9th floor of the Chase Center, Above the Rim is an event space of 4000 square feet. This rooftop wedding venue in San Francisco includes a spacious and private outdoor terrace. The space curves along with the lines of the rounded Chase Center, so you’ll have sweeping views of the Bay out of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Also, the space gets tons of beautiful natural light! Your wedding photographer rejoices! The terrace has a glass railing so the views are unhindered and is a perfect spot for an intimate ceremony. Then come on inside for dinner and dancing, and watch the glow of the city nighttime light up as the sun goes down.
Also, here’s hoping you bump into Steph Curry on your way to your wedding — go Warriors!
Want to learn more about photography for your wedding or event at one of these venues?
Contact Sonya:
Wedding
Sonya Yruel
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