In Orange County’s coastal areas, which greet groups with a warm embrace, one of the best ways for attendees to experience the local culture is via standout outdoor venues that highlight everything from tempting cuisine to stunning architecture.
While some sport ocean views and others have historic significance, and some are grounded while others enjoy a bird’s-eye vantage point, the following eight spaces are great ideas for an outdoor gathering in sunny Southern California.
5th Street, Huntington Beach
www.thestrandon5th.com
In Huntington Beach, also known as “Surf City USA,” there are a few venues that are unknown hidden gems that the typical meeting planner may not yet know about, according to Christopher Anderson, director of sales at the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau.
Options include Huntington Central Park, beaches and 5th Street.
“A great option for groups is the ability to close 5th Street for private events,” Anderson says. “During certain times of the year there is a stretch of hotels, shopping and eateries between the Pacific Coast Highway and Walnut Avenue that can be used for private events.”
He says the area has been used for an outdoor ice rink, movie premieres, concerts, art shows and yoga classes, among other events.
“For a planner looking to step outside the box or outside of the hotel setting, this is a great alternative to make the street their playground with the amazing backdrop of the iconic Huntington Beach pier,” he says.
Crystal Cove Historic District, Newport Beach
www.beachcombercatering.com
The Crystal Cove Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historical Places, provides a quintessential California experience amid the backdrop of historic cottage beach life, according to Tad Belshe, vice president, operations, at the Beachcomber at Crystal Cove.
“The cottages are an example of beach life frozen in time from the 1920s to the 1950s,” he says. “This area is a hidden jewel and protected for generations to come.”
Outdoor venues here include the famous “Beaches” Cottage featured in the Bette Midler movie of the same name, the Cultural Center perched on a bluff overlooking Crystal Cove State Beach, and the Beach Promenade and Commons, which both offer great views and are located just steps from the sand.
“Each venue has a unique feel with views of the crashing waves and Catalina Island,” Belshe says, adding that receptions and various corporate events are accommodated. “The outdoor setting, historic surroundings and ocean views provide the perfect site for any event.” PageBreak
Rooftop Lounge at Hotel La Casa del Camino, Laguna Beach
www.lacasadelcamino.com
Laguna Beach’s only rooftop perch, according to Chris Keller, owner of Hotel La Casa del Camino, offers endless panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, a nice ocean breeze and sightings of surfers, as well as whales during the winter months.
“It’s the quintessential representation of SoCal living that celebrates the sun, sea and surf culture,” he says of the venue, which accommodates up to 120 people.
Built in 1929, the hotel’s historic feel mingles with modern amenities and newly redesigned Spanish-style rooms, and the Rooftop Lounge has an expansive wooden deck with plenty of space for groups to enjoy private mixers or meals.
Brunches, banquets and receptions with full sit-down service or buffet-style stations are accommodated, Keller says, explaining that Chef Craig Connole specializes in small plates of California Mediterranean cuisine.
Meanwhile, the drink menu showcases handcrafted cocktails with fresh ingredients, including fresh berry mojitos, homemade sangria and festive seasonal drinks like candy cane martinis.
“We can create signature drinks for your group and design the right menu to complement the gathering,” Keller says. “Private groups can get creative in their plans for a party on the Rooftop Lounge with music, lighting and decorations, but this incredible setting is truly about the endless sky and sea.”
Cannons Seafood Grill,
Dana Point
www.cannonsrestaurant.com
Located on a cliff overlooking Dana Point Harbor, Cannons Seafood Restaurant is a longstanding eatery in Orange County.
Dishes from the sea, including grilled scallops in lobster sauce and Caribbean jerk salmon, make up the majority of the restaurant’s menu, which also includes delicious turf dishes such as herb-crusted prime rib and New Zealand rack of lamb.
While there is also an indoor banquet space with ocean views, the outdoor terrace is a favorite spot for events of up to 200 people. PageBreak
Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
www.missionsjc.com
Mission San Juan Capistrano is Orange County’s only mission in a chain of 21 California missions established by Spain. Known as the “Jewel of the Missions,” it was founded in 1776 by Padre Junipero Serra.
This historic landmark, according to Kari Ann Bracamonte, private events coordinator at the Mission, serves as a living outdoor museum with original Native American-crafted buildings, including the Serra Chapel and Great Stone Church.
“The Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano is more of an experience than just another venue or space for your event,” she says. “Attending an event here is a gift that will create a lasting memory for guests.”
Bracamonte describes the front courtyard as a beautiful place for attendees to gather for a reception, banquet or gala event among the Great Stone Church Ruins, historic Bell Wall, gardens and koi pond. Docent-guided tours are also available in conjunction with an event.
“When your guests are called to dinner, they will enter through our Arched Resurgam for their first view of their dinner set up in our beautiful central courtyard with a fountain full of water lilies and koi as its centerpiece,” she says, explaining that very little decor is necessary in a setting surrounded by lovely gardens and charming adobe buildings with arched corridors. “You may add some special lighting with warm color washes to highlight the beautiful architecture for your event.”
The central courtyard accommodates 800 guests for a seated event and even more for a reception-style gathering.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens,
San Clemente
www.casaromantica.org
Casa Romantica is a bluff-top estate with both stunning architecture and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, according to Michele Bogdanoff, private event coordinator at the venue.
“Casa Romantica provides an incomparable venue for private gatherings, where guests can enjoy every moment of a special occasion in the privacy and timeless beauty of our exquisite estate,” she says.
The 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival home, overlooking the historic San Clemente Pier, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Attendees here can take a tour of the 2.5 acres of coastal gardens, including a Native American garden, an herb garden and a butterfly garden that serves as a designated Monarch Butterfly Waystation.
Spaces include an ocean terrace for up to 100 people and a courtyard for up to 150 people. PageBreak
Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
www.scfta.org
The 46,000-square-foot Arts Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is surrounded by architecturally stunning performance venues, including the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Segerstrom Hall. According to Tim Dunn, spokesman for Segerstrom Center, the plaza is covered in brick pavers and features serpentine benches of Chinese sandstone.
“The centerpiece is Richard Serra’s monumental ‘Connector’ sculpture,” he says. “For an event, the Arts Plaza offers spacious vistas and almost unlimited potential, along with the beautiful Southern California weather.”
Along with the large Arts Plaza, which can accommodate tented events, banquets, movie screenings, fashion shows, concerts, staged performances and more, there are several other outdoor spaces available at Segerstrom Center.
Among the options are Argyros View Terrace, an intimate setting at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall that overlooks the Arts Plaza; the Orchestra Level Terrace, located just outside Segerstrom Hall and situated beneath the emblematic Grand Portal arch and “Fire Bird” sculpture by Richard Lippold; and Samueli Theater Plaza, located in front of the Samueli Theater lobby.
Chef Joachim Splichal’s Patina Restaurant Group is the exclusive caterer at Segerstrom Center, Dunn says, adding custom menus can be created for each event.
Patio at 6ix Park Grill, Irvine
www.hyatt.com/gallery/6ix/patio.html
Located at the Hyatt Regency Irvine is 6ix Park Grill, which has a patio that’s considered an outdoor oasis in Orange County, according to Don Hanson, the venue’s director of food and beverage.
“Groups enjoy fresh California coastal cuisine and the beautiful climate of Orange County on our lovely outdoor patio with stylish wood seating and a relaxing Southern California vibe,” he says. “We can accommodate a variety of gatherings, including meals, receptions and parties for up to 150 people.”
He adds that guests feel as though they are in a tropical venue due to its greenery and lush landscaping.
“In the evening, the fire pit adds to the atmosphere, making it intimate and cozy,” he says.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus West.
