San Francisco: The Best 15 Group Dining Restaurants

San Francisco is a city that loves good food and good company. Whether you’re planning a dinner party in San Francisco for a celebration or just getting together with friends, the city offers plenty of restaurants for large groups SF locals and visitors rave about. The key is finding spots that combine delicious menus with roomy tables, vibrant atmosphere, and shareable dishes. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best San Francisco restaurants for groups – from lively banquet halls to trendy eateries – so you can enjoy a fantastic group dinner without the stress.

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What Makes a Restaurant Great for Group Dining?

Not all restaurants do group dining the same, so it helps to be strategic when picking a spot. The best restaurants for large groups in San Francisco tend to have a few things in common: plenty of space (think big tables or private rooms), a menu of shareable dishes (so no one goes hungry sampling tiny plates), and an upbeat ambiance that can turn a meal into a mini party. It also doesn’t hurt if the place takes reservations for large parties or has a dinner party vibe. Now, let’s dive into the top group-friendly restaurants in SF that check these boxes.

Top Group-Friendly Restaurants in San Francisco

Here are our favorite spots for group dining in San Francisco, each offering something special for you and your crew. From classic large party restaurants SF has loved for decades to hot new venues with communal feasts, there’s something for every group.

Liholiho Yacht Club

Ohana Table Feast in Lower Nob Hill

If you’re looking to kick off a group dinner with a bang, Liholiho Yacht Club is a must. This beloved spot serves Hawaiian-Californian cuisine with an Asian twist, and they offer an “Ohana Table” tasting menu experience specifically designed for groups (up to 9 people).

Situated near Lower Nob Hill, Liholiho’s vibe is stylish yet relaxed – perfect for gathering well-heeled friends. Start with their famous tuna poke on nori crackers and duck liver mousse on fluffy banana bread, then work through decadent family-style dishes that make everyone at the table happy. And don’t skip dessert: the Baked Hawaii (their spin on baked Alaska) is an over-the-top treat that’s ideal for sharing. (Personal tip: My wife and I hosted a group here for a birthday. The team surprised us with that flaming Baked Hawaii, and it absolutely felt like a dinner party in the best way.) Reservations are essential, but if you can snag that big table, Liholiho delivers one of the best restaurants for large groups in San Francisco in terms of food and fun.

Good Good Culture Club

Rooftop Small Plates in the Mission

Good Good Culture Club brings a casual party vibe to group dining. Tucked in the Mission District, this newer restaurant (from the Liholiho team) has a colorful rooftop patio and a menu of pan-Asian small plates meant for sharing.

Eating here feels like a laid-back backyard dinner with friends, if your backyard had funky neon decor and a killer playlist. Dishes draw from Thai, Filipino, Laotian, and more. You might be passing around sizzling skirt steak with tamarind one minute and crispy pork belly sisig the next. The cocktails come in fun, large-format options too, perfect for a group dinner SF gathering. Service is friendly and used to handling groups, so they’ll pace out the dishes to keep everyone happy and full. The atmosphere is lively and a touch irreverent, exactly what you want for a fun dinner with a big crew. (On our last visit, a group of us occupied a whole corner of the rooftop at sunset. We shared plate after plate. Every time we thought we were done, another delicious dish arrived. We toasted with a round of spicy mango cocktails. It was one of those unplanned, only-in-SF nights that felt special.)

Copra

Modern Indian Plates to Share

For a more upscale yet still group-friendly experience, Copra in Japantown is a standout. This is Indian cuisine reimagined in a modern, family-style format.

The restaurant is helmed by an award-winning chef, and the menu showcases dishes from coastal India and Sri Lanka. Think rich curries, wood-fired tandoori meats, and vibrant veggie plates, all designed to be shared. The dining room has a tropical chic feel (rattan chairs, lush plants) and enough space for groups without feeling cramped. It’s the kind of place where you can dress up a bit and make a night of it. Order a bunch of different curries (the coconut prawn curry is a crowd-pleaser) with baskets of fresh roti and rice. Your group will be passing bowls around and trading tasting notes in no time. Copra also crafts interesting cocktails with South Asian spices, so it’s great for a celebratory group dining SF outing. Just be sure to reserve for larger parties. Copra proves that one of the best restaurants for groups SF offers can also be one of its newest and most innovative.

Prubechu

Island-Style Gathering in the Mission

If you want your group dinner to feel like a family backyard feast, Prubechu is the spot. This Mission District gem serves Chamorro (Guamanian) cuisine in a super welcoming, communal setting.

The outdoor patio is strung with lights and often filled with big groups digging into the island BBQ platter. Platters are the way to go here. You’ll get heaps of Chamorro-style pork ribs, chicken, red rice, finadene sauce, and more. They even do a whole suckling pig feast if you reserve ahead. Talk about the ultimate dinner party centerpiece. The vibe at Prubechu is casual and joyful. Don’t be surprised if you end up chatting with neighboring tables or clinking glasses with strangers. Try their addictive Spam fried rice and coconut milk-fueled sides, and definitely get a round of Guam’s beloved beer, Red Horse, to toast with your friends. Prubechu is one of the best restaurants for large groups in San Francisco when you want something a little different, a little off the beaten path, and totally fun. It’s the kind of place where everyone leaves full and happy, and maybe with leftovers for tomorrow.

R&G Lounge

Classic Cantonese Banquet in Chinatown

A list of restaurants in San Francisco for large groups wouldn’t be complete without a classic Chinatown banquet hall. R&G Lounge has been the go-to large group dining San Francisco spot for Cantonese cuisine since 1985.

This place is a multi-story maze of dining rooms with big round tables, many equipped with lazy Susans, perfect for family-style feasts. It’s famous as a backdrop for graduation parties and wedding dinners, and it still delivers an undeniably fun, celebratory atmosphere. Bring a crew and start ordering dishes to share. R&G’s salt-and-pepper Dungeness crab is legendary. A mountain of crispy fried crab legs arrives at the table and disappears in minutes. You’ll also want minced chicken in lettuce cups, honey-glazed walnut prawns, and Peking duck if it’s available. The beauty of R&G is that you can accommodate just about any group size, and the servers handle big tables with ease. For many locals, R&G Lounge is synonymous with group dinner SF memories. It’s loud, a bit chaotic in the best way, and absolutely delicious. (Pro tip: If you forgot to make a reservation for your large party, an old-school banquet restaurant like this or Superior Palace in the Richmond, which can often seat 12 or more walk-ins at a big round table, can be a lifesaver.)

Z&Y Peking Duck

Peking Duck Feast in Chinatown

Just across the street from the original Z&Y Restaurant, you’ll find Z&Y Peking Duck, a newer spot dedicated to the famous roast duck. This swanky two-story restaurant reserves its big round tables downstairs specifically for large parties.

So gather a dozen of your most duck-loving friends and settle in for a decadent meal. The star here is obviously the Peking duck. It arrives glistening and perfectly roasted, with skin so crispy and glossy you could practically use it as a mirror. They slice it tableside, and you and your friends can build your own duck pancakes with scallions and hoisin. Beyond the duck, Z&Y’s menu spans a variety of Sichuan favorites, from spicy chili pepper chicken to tender twice-cooked pork, all served in generous portions meant for sharing. The ambiance feels a bit upscale, with white tablecloths and elegant décor, but it’s still relaxed enough that your group can laugh loudly and make a mess assembling duck wraps. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just craving an interactive dining experience, Z&Y Peking Duck is one of the best restaurants for large groups in San Francisco to indulge in.

MuuKata 6395

Grill-It-Yourself Thai BBQ

Also known as Muukata6395, this Richmond District restaurant is a Thai charcoal BBQ joint that’s pure interactive fun for groups. Imagine Korean BBQ meets hot pot, Thai-style.

Each table gets a sloped charcoal grill with a ring of soup around it. You order plates of marinated meats, seafood, and veggies, then grill them right at the table while they infuse the simmering broth below. A night at MuuKata is organized chaos. The room is often filled with smoke and mouthwatering aromas as groups cheer on their designated grill-master friend. Come with buddies you don’t mind leaning over or shouting at a bit. Must-grills include the pork belly and shrimp, which develop a gorgeous char over the embers. As you cook and eat, the soup catches all those drippings and becomes a rich, savory broth to sip at the end. MuuKata 6395 is affordable, delicious, and about as hands-on as dining gets. If your idea of bonding is cooking together, this is the spot for a group dinner SF adventure. Just be prepared for everyone to smell like BBQ afterwards. Totally worth it.

Funky Elephant

Disco Thai Night in the Mission

Dinner under a disco ball? Sign us up. Funky Elephant, in the Mission, turns a Thai meal into a full-on party. The dining room is bathed in pink light with a disco ball spinning overhead, and the energy is contagious.

It’s the kind of place where a big group can walk in and immediately feel the fun. The food is fiery Isaan Thai cuisine, bold and spicy flavors that are great for adventurous eaters. Try the sticky charred party wings, which are dotted with Thai chilies for a sweet and spicy kick. The papaya salad here has a slow-burn heat that might have your table fanning their mouths, but there are mellow options too, like a super-umami pad Thai or soothing poached chicken with garlic rice. Wash it all down with natural wines or soju cocktails, and you’ve got yourself a festive evening. Funky Elephant is perfect for birthdays or any night you want dinner to feel like a celebration. Keep the large group dining San Francisco vibes going by ordering a bunch of dishes to share. Here, the more people you have, the more of the menu you can try.

Chao Pescao

Colombian-Cuban Fiesta

Big group dinners should be fun, and Chao Pescao nails the brief. This Civic Center spot is big, bright, and always lively, which makes it ideal for a friends’ night out.

The walls are painted in tropical teal and pink, salsa throwback tunes fill the space, and the bar is shaking up frosty mojitos by the batch. Your group might even find yourselves dancing in your seats between bites. The menu is a blend of Colombian and Cuban comfort food, meaning lots of shareable, hearty plates. Definitely get the pan de bono, which are warm cheese bread bites that vanish fast. Follow up with platters of Tajín-fried chicken, chicharrónes, and rice and beans. Portions here are generous, so even a big group might end up with leftovers. Chao Pescao also makes excellent cocktails, from classic caipirinhas to creative tropical concoctions. If your crew loves to mingle, drink, and dine all in one go, this is your spot. It’s casual, high-energy, and embodies that grand good time feeling that defines the best restaurants for groups SF has in its downtown core.

Montesacro Pinseria

Pizza and Friends in SoMa

Sometimes the simplest formula for a group dinner is pizza and wine, and Montesacro provides exactly that with a Roman twist. Montesacro is a pinseria, meaning they specialize in Roman-style pinsa, which is like a lighter, airier cousin to pizza.

Their SoMa location is fantastic for groups, with extra-long rustic tables that can accommodate your entire entourage. It’s the go-to spot if you’re planning to catch a show at the Orpheum after. Montesacro’s pinsas come oval-shaped and sliced, perfect for sharing. The Margherita is classic, but they also offer creative toppings. The burrata-topped pinsa is an instant hit. One of our favorites is the Tormarancio, with spicy soppressata and a rich tomato sauce, paired with a round of Negronis or a carafe of red wine. The beauty of Montesacro is that it’s casual and easy. Walk in with a large group, push a couple of tables together, and let everyone dive into comfort food. They have a Marina location too, which is also group-friendly. For a no-fuss, convivial night, this is one of the best restaurants for large groups in San Francisco. You really can’t go wrong with good pizza and good company.

Um.ma

Korean BBQ and Soju in Inner Sunset

At Um.ma, a Korean BBQ feast awaits you and your crew. Located in the Inner Sunset, Um.ma has a modern look and a semi-private mural room that’s perfect for groups of 6 to 10 who want a bit of their own space.

The menu is packed with Korean comfort dishes that are ideal for sharing. Start with a round of seafood pancakes, crispy and huge, and cut into wedges for the table. Then go big on BBQ plates like the citrus gochujang pork belly and the unbelievably crunchy Korean fried chicken wings. You’ll likely want multiple orders of those wings. In the private mural room, there aren’t tabletop grills, but the kitchen sends everything out perfectly cooked and ready to devour. Wash it all down with soju cocktails or a few bottles of soju for the table. The vibe at Um.ma is convivial and a bit loud in a good way. It’s pretty much impossible to have a bad time here, as the Infatuation noted. Pro tip: end the meal by sharing a bowl of bingsu, a shaved ice dessert. If your group still has room, it’s a fun, sweet cap to the K-BBQ experience.

La Mar Cebichería

Waterfront Views and Peruvian Bites

When your group includes out-of-towners or locals who just appreciate a Bay view, La Mar is a top pick. This spacious Peruvian restaurant sits right on the Embarcadero waterfront, and it’s tailor-made for group dining SF style.

La Mar’s lively dining room and huge outdoor patio can accommodate large groups with ease. The ambiance strikes a balance between upscale and fun. You can dress up a bit for dinner here, but you’ll also see people laughing, taking selfies by the water, and having a great time. The menu is all about shareable Peruvian classics. Start with a few ceviches and empanadas that are flaky and delicious. La Mar also offers Chinese-Peruvian fusion dishes and fantastic cocktails, especially pisco sours. For a group, order a bunch of small plates so everyone can taste a bit of everything. The bar program is strong, and if you have to wait for a big table, the cocktails will keep you entertained. La Mar is especially great for mixed-age gatherings or work outings where you want a lively spot that still feels polished.

Zuni Café

Iconic SF Dining for a Crowd

Zuni Café isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a San Francisco institution. For decades, this Market Street icon has been the place where locals celebrate birthdays, graduations, or just Friday night with friends.

The interior is warm and bustling, with a long brass bar and a mezzanine level that works well for group seating. Zuni’s menu is California-Mediterranean, seasonal, and meant to be shared. The whole roast chicken for two, which easily feeds three to four, is famous and absolutely perfect for the table. Other shareable hits include the shoestring fries and whatever seasonal pastas or salads are on special. Zuni’s vibe is a bit more laid-back than some trendier newcomers, but that’s part of its charm. Service is professional and very accommodating to groups. If you have a big party, Zuni may be able to seat you in their semi-private upstairs alcove. It’s ideal for food-loving friends who want a leisurely, convivial meal with classic San Francisco charm.

Taksim

Upscale Turkish in a Swanky Space

Taksim is a relatively new Turkish restaurant in SoMa with a dining room that spans multiple levels, making it great for groups. The space is filled with natural light and stylish décor.

The menu takes you on a tour of Turkish flavors. Start with muhammara and warm pita at the bar. Then settle in for butter-poached king prawns wrapped in phyllo or grilled branzino served whole, perfectly seasoned, and plated beautifully. Taksim offers set menus for larger parties too. It’s an ideal pick for a group dinner that feels elegant without being stuffy. The wine list is well curated, and the location puts you in a great spot to continue the night downtown.

Bix

Supper Club Vibes in Jackson Square

If your group has a taste for the finer things and a bit of nostalgia, Bix will be a home run. Hidden down an alley in Jackson Square, Bix is an old-school American supper club where live jazz piano fills the air and martinis flow freely.

The two-story dining room, curving grand staircase, and Art Deco charm make this a truly memorable setting. For a group, Bix can push tables together or seat you in a semi-private space on the mezzanine. The menu is classic. Think oysters, steak tartare prepared tableside, and seared filet mignon. The piano player might even play Happy Birthday if you’re celebrating. Bix offers one of the best restaurants for groups SF has to offer when you want a night that feels timeless, elegant, and celebratory.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are some of the best cafés to check out in San Francisco?
Sightglass Coffee in SoMa is a favorite with great espresso and an airy space. Blue Bottle Coffee is a local classic with locations across the city. For bakery-coffee combos, Tartine Manufactory in the Mission and Jane on Fillmore are always worth the stop.

What are the best spots to see in San Francisco for a group outing?
Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park, Crissy Field, Ferry Building Marketplace, and the Lands End trail are all perfect for group strolls and photo ops.

Which up-and-coming restaurants should we try next?
Check out Dalida in the Presidio, Shuggie’s Trash Pie in the Mission, and the Michelin-recognized Nari in Japantown. Ernest in the Mission is still a tough reservation and totally worth it.

Final Thoughts

Planning a group dinner in San Francisco might seem daunting with so many options, but it’s hard to go wrong in this city. Whether you choose a lively ethnic eatery with shareable plates or a swanky lounge with live jazz, the key is the company you keep. The best restaurants for large groups in San Francisco offer more than just ample seating. You should also check out our list of casual San Francisco restaurants as well. They bring a special vibe that turns a meal into an experience. Gather your favorite people, pick a spot from this list, and enjoy the diverse flavors the city has to offer. Here’s to good food, good friends, and many delicious adventures ahead in the City by the Bay.

Download our Curated Map of San Francisco 🔗 (Don’t forget to grab our custom map for this guide. It makes navigating these spots a breeze.)

Further Reading

For more inspiration on dining and exploring San Francisco, check out Condé Nast Traveler’s latest roundup of the city’s top restaurants. You might also enjoy browsing the Monocle Travel Guide, which offers insider tips on San Francisco restaurants and local experiences. These publications are a great way to discover the next hidden gem before it hits the radar.