San Benito House
Half Moon Bay Wedding Location356 Main Street
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Phone: 650/726-3425
www.sanbenitohouse.com
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Description
The seaside community of Half Moon Bay (doesn’t that name sound just like a line from a Haiku poem?) has always been a popular destination for Bay Area folks who want to get away without having to go too far. The town combines ocean scenery and a laid-back feel, and it’s only a few minutes’ drive from San Mateo. Its tree-lined downtown, an ensemble of lovingly maintained old low-rise buildings, draws lively pedestrian traffic to its numerous bookstores, cafes and galleries. Right in the middle of all this pleasant bustle is the San Benito House, a century-old two-story stucco building that’s probably the most versatile—and inviting—business in town. That’s because it’s a noted restaurant, a bar, a twelve-room B&B and the site of one of the best deck-and-garden combinations in the Bay Area.
The restaurant, which once received a glowing write-up in Gourmet magazine, is headed by a chef who studied with the great French matre de cuisine, Jacques Pepin. After 25 years in business, San Benito House recently closed the restaurant to the general public and decided to focus on special events, such as weddings. The nice thing about this decision is that it has freed up the facility for single-party use—you can now have it all to yourself.
Rehearsal dinners, cocktail receptions and dinners often use both San Benito House’s redwood-paneled dining room and large adjoining wooden deck. The dining room, whose walls are covered with local landscapes, has a high ceiling, big brass chandeliers and direct access to the building’s venerable old bar. It also has double French doors that open onto the deck. On sunny days some parties set up buffet tables in the dining room and have their guests eat outside. The deck, shaded by ornamental fruit trees, is furnished with planter and flower boxes that have been arranged to create cozy recesses with built-in benches and tables.
This is all quite nice, but it’s really just a prelude to San Benito House’s major highlight. As you walk down a ramp off the deck, you have no idea what you’re about to see until suddenly, a strikingly lush lawn and garden comes into view. The surprise and delight you feel is the same as when you’re driving on vacation and, as you round a curve in the road, you catch sight of a perfectly beautiful lake or mountain peak. The lawn is bordered by ornamental shrubs and a kaleidoscope of boisterously blooming flowers: hydrangea, African daisies, baby’s breath, cosmos, marigolds, poppies, sunflowers, foxgloves and heather. At one corner of the lawn is a brick-floored pergola, swathed in big-leaf vines; couples often recite their vows under its sheltering form. Across the way, a large rosebush that gardeners have fashioned into a swooping arch often serves as a processional entrance.
San Benito House’s twelve rooms are ideal night-before-the-wedding accommodations for small wedding parties or close friends and family. Each room has a tub, Currier & Ives-type lithographs on the walls, Early American furnishings, and is named for its color scheme—"Seashell," "Daisy," etc. The wedding suite is painted an unabashed red, and features a shower, drawing room and view overlooking Half Moon Bay’s main street.
This venue’s combination of strengths is hard to match. In many ways San Benito House is like a champion decathlete: it’s very, very good at everything it sets out to do.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
|
Max. Seated Indoors: 80 Max. Seated Outdoors: 250 |
Max. Seated Indoors: 80 Max. Seated Outdoors: 150 Max. Standing Indoors: 100 Max. Standing Outdoors: 250 |
Max. Seated: 30 |
|
CEREMONY CAPACITY: The garden holds 250 seated guests, and the indoor area holds 80 seated guests. |
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Fees & Deposits
A $500 deposit is required to reserve your date. The estimated event total is due 3 weeks prior to the event. Rental fees range $500–2,900 depending on space rented, day and time of the event and guest count. Meals range $20–60/person. Tax, alcohol, and an 18% service charge are additional.
Availability
Year-round, daily, 11am-midnight.
CateringProvidedAlcoholProvidedBYO w/ Corkage Fee Sites UsesCeremoniesWedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners On-Site Accommodations Services/AmenitiesCatering: provided, no BYOKitchen Facilities: n/a Tables & Chairs: provided Linens, Silver, etc.: provided Restrooms: wheelchair accessible Dance Floor: redwood deck Bride's & Groom's Dressing Area: suites CBA Meeting Equipment: CBA, extra fee Parking: ample on site Accommodations: 12 guestrooms Telephone: house or guest phones Outdoor Night Lighting: CBA, extra fee Outdoor Cooking Facilities: yes Cleanup: provided View: garden, hills, mountains, grounds Other: event coordination |
MusicIndoorsOutdoors w/ Restrictions Wheelchair AccessWheelchair AccessibleSite ViewsGardenGarden Patio/Courtyard Hills Landscaped Grounds Mountains Other RestrictionsAlcohol: provided, BYO with corkage feeSmoking: designated areas Music: amplified OK, some restrictions Wheelchair Access: yes Insurance: not required |
Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
650/726-3425
www.sanbenitohouse.com
Email or request a proposal for your event from San Benito House
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