Undiscovered event space gem in Redwood Shores

There is a great, little restaurant tucked away in Redwood Shores that may not be on your radar, but it should be — especially if you are hosting an event soon.

Mistral is located on the same lagoon as the Sofitel in Redwood Shores, and has an outstanding all-seasons patio. The patio wraps around the entire lagoon-facing portion of the restaurant, and comes complete with a giant outdoor fireplace and an adjoining fire pit with hangout space.

The Wine Room at Mistral

After dining at Mistral, I thought the subsequent site visit would be all about the patio, and as great as it is, it wasn't the star of the day. The Wine Room was the space that really surprised me!

This private dining room is decorated like a wine cellar and has its own private entrance. The decor feels rich with beautiful finishes and walls of wine racks, and it can seat up to 42 people. This room would be perfect for a small business meeting or a special occasion meal. Guests can use the separate sound system for this room to customize the music. A luncheon business meeting would be tough in this room because it is adjacent to the kitchen and there is residual noise during their busiest service hours.

The Chalk Room is a second, smaller private room that opens onto the fire pit area on the patio. This room would be perfect for an event that was one part meeting and one part social, renting out the fire pit area too. Such a great match for an event under 20 people. The food was good, and when someone in our party asked for a vegetarian, gluten-free option, the kitchen whipped up a vegetarian risotto that was greatly appreciated.

Visit EventCounselor for other undetected event spaces in Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Redwood City.

Sofitel is a luxury hotel with some surprising spaces

Amazing glass chandelier in the lobby of the Sofitel

The Sofitel brand is elegant and upscale. The Redwood Shores Sofitel property has layers of event spaces, all very luxurious. There were several spots that evoked warm feelings worth a special mention!

The Dock is a deck located outside, next to the lagoon, and it is a very pretty place to have a 50 person wedding ceremony. It was sunny when I saw the location, and it was so picturesque.

The Red Room in Bay 223 Restaurant is a unique place for private dining. It will only accommodate up to 12 people, and it is very chic. Sofitel has some great executive suites for recruiting sessions or closed-door conversations for a small group (under 5 people). The rooms are comfortable and sophisticated.

The Fountain area is a giant circular driveway with a beautiful, huge fountain in the middle, and events can be held here with or without a tent erected. This area is tucked away from the main entrance of the hotel, outside the conference spaces and ballroom. This outdoor space is sheltered from the wind and can accommodate up to 200 seated guests. An evening event surrounding The Fountain would be stunning!

Their peak season for events is July through October, and although this property caters to business travelers and their events, it has a great deal to offer social event organizers too.

Visit EventCounselor for more places to host your next business or social event in Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Redwood City.