Rent an event venue in San Diego, CA

Are you in search of venues in San Diego for events? You’ve come to the right place—this is our detailed overview of everything you need to know about event venues in San Diego. Regardless of whether your event will be a personal celebration like a birthday or anniversary party, a professional gathering like a team building event or corporate conference, a charity event, or a live performance of some kind, there are tons of spaces throughout San Diego to choose from that are sure to be the perfect fit for your needs.
San Diego has a rich history that stretches all the way back to the middle of the 18th century. What is now Old Town San Diego was the first area settled by Europeans (the Spanish, to be exact) not only within San Diego, but in California as a whole. In other words, San Diego is widely considered to be the “birthplace” of California, and this means there are numerous examples of historic architecture to discover throughout the city (many of which you can rent by the hour via Peerspace and use as your event location)! For example, this creative event space in the Gaslamp Quarter offers 5,700 square feet and two levels of beautiful wood floors as well as exposed brick, vaulted ceilings, open beams, and other architectural details. There’s also this eclectic historic home near Balboa Park, which was built in 1906 and won San Diego Home and Garden’s “Home of the Year” award in 1986.
Each of San Diego’s neighborhoods has its own unique feel, history, culture, and offerings, especially when it comes to public spaces and unique event venues. Keep reading and we’ll do our best to capture what this beautiful coastal city has to offer, neighborhood by neighborhood—and how you can get around best in each area, whether by public transportation, car, or bike.
We’ll also help you prepare for logistical concerns surrounding your event venue rental, including what to expect in terms of an hourly budget for venue rental as well as weather and seasonal considerations based on the city’s mild Mediterranean climate. Last but not least, to help you begin to navigate the more than 340 event spaces in and around San Diego available for rent on Peerspace, we’ll recommend several of our favorite Peerspaces in the area. (When you start searching for yourself, don’t forget to use Peerspace’s in-depth search filters—from hourly price to essential amenities to event date and time—to make the hunt for the ideal venue easier and more efficient.)

Downtown San Diego, which includes San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, has a combination of modern skyscrapers and more historic buildings. This area offers historic theaters, rooftop bars with views of the city skyline, and easy access to the San Diego Convention Center. This is also the neighborhood where public transportation is most comprehensive, including the San Diego Trolley’s numerous routes and many bus lines to help you get around without a car.
Next up is Chula Vista, a diverse suburb that’s growing quickly and located to the south of downtown San Diego. The Trolley’s Blue Line runs through Chula Vista, making it easy to reach downtown San Diego as well as the Mexican border. There are bus options to choose from in this neighborhood as well.
La Jolla is an especially wealthy area on the coast, which has gorgeous beaches as well as high-end shopping options and amazing restaurants. La Jolla is convenient for drivers, with quick access to major highways, and the area is also serviced by Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses. However, public transport is not as thorough here as it is downtown.
North Park is hip and bustling, with a cool arts scene and a range of great dining choices that includes lots of craft breweries. There are galleries and art spaces for rent in North Park as well as smaller music halls and other spaces that are well suited to small gatherings and cultural events. The walkability and bike-friendliness of North Park is a particular benefit of being in this area. If you’d prefer to take the bus, there are MTS bus lines in this area as well.
Head to Pacific Beach if you’re looking for a lively beach town with plenty of outdoor activities and outdoor venues. There are lots of waterfront restaurants and beach clubs to explore here, some of which are available for rent as event venues through Peerspace. It’s also well-connected by bus routes, and it’s a fun and easy place to get around via bike.

Although San Diego tends to be more expensive in terms of its overall cost of living—which is 40 percent higher than the average for the United States as a whole, and 3 percent higher than California’s overall average—those planning events will be relieved to learn that this priciness doesn’t extend to its event venues.
The gist: it’s easy to find shockingly affordable yet high-quality venues in this city. The most popular Peerspace event spaces in and around San Diego are all under $150 per hour. On average, spaces range from about $75 to $125 per hour.
This estimated average includes a smaller number of luxury spaces that cost several hundred dollars per hour to rent (like this large downtown loft for $195 per hour, or this art gallery in the historic Gaslamp Quarter for $400 per hour). On the other end of the “bell curve” of pricing, there are dozens of spaces to choose from, including this dance studio in Liberty Station for only $40 per hour, this spacious 2,000 square foot studio for $50 per hour, and this private beer garden with capacity for up to 100 guests for $50 per hour.

The weather in San Diego is by far one of the best aspects of living here, as well as of planning events here. The city’s Mediterranean climate means warm and dry summers, as well as generally mild temperatures with lots of sunshine throughout the year. Highs reach the mid-60s Fahrenheit in winter and the high 70s in summer on average, which means that most seasons are suitable for outdoor events.
Although San Diego is one of the best places to plan outdoor events throughout the year, there are still some seasonal considerations to be aware of. Winters aren’t terribly cold, but they tend to be rainier than the summer, so winter events should have a backup in case of rain. Watch out for heat waves in the summer, especially as you get further from the coast, and choose an indoor and air conditioned event venue if you expect it to be very hot. If you’re planning an event well ahead of time, we’d recommend checking the average San Diego weather during that period to get a sense of what to expect.

Not sure where to begin in your search for the perfect event space? Check out our favorite examples for a range of event types and needs:

• This green space in the heart of Pacific Beach is an open concept backyard with plenty of privacy that’s equally well suited to business functions and private parties, according to the hosts. It’s also a fabulous example of outdoor event venues in San Diego, of which there are many—taking full advantage of the region’s mild climate and typically pleasant weather. This venue is great for larger events, with capacity for up to 150 guests and as many as 120 seats at a time. Amenities include plenty of seating, tables, restrooms, and a built-in music system. The fact that it only costs $125 per hour (note the three hour minimum) is the cherry on top of this ideal event space in San Diego.
• Also located in picturesque Pacific Beach, this bar and event space is a great choice for those in search of a live music venue in San Diego! They’re open to hosting events of all kinds, including birthdays and social gatherings, team building and corporate events, baby showers, and beyond. As for the space itself, the open layout means it’s perfectly designed to foster interaction between guests. The space also has live music and catering options, in case you’d rather not have to figure all that out for yourself, and additional amenities like a full bar, audio/video setup, a photobooth (for an extra cost), a projector, dancing, karaoke, and more! And amazingly, it only costs $50 per hour to rent.
• This beach-inspired event venue, located just 14 blocks from downtown San Diego, is actually a full mile from the beach—but you’d never know, thanks to the high quality silica sand that surrounds the venue and creates the perfect beachy aesthetic. The Beach Boardwalk event space is part of the larger Good Life Vacation Rental Resort and has a capacity of 100 guests that can expand to 300 guests when you add in the extra spaces that connect to the beach. There’s a Beach Bar, an assortment of beach games to choose from, cool mood lighting, and many other amenities to enjoy at this location. They are also a certified legal hotel and event space, ensuring no need to worry that your event will be shut down early for violating local event regulations.
• This fun, spacious lounge is situated only a few minutes from downtown. It has everything you need for all kinds of events with up to 50 people: seating for 25, a private balcony, pool and ping pong tables, arcade games, and a kitchenette with a sink and refrigerator. It’s particularly well suited to team events, presentations, and parties, and reasonably priced at just $115 per hour.