CEREMONY/RECEPTION

Il Fornaio at the Hotel Sainte Claire

Tell a Friend
Add to MyGuide

San Jose Wedding Venue
302 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
View Map

Contact: Catering
Phone: 408/271-3350
www.ilfornaio.com

Request more information from Il Fornaio at the Hotel Sainte Claire

if you would mention that you found Il Fornaio at the Hotel Sainte Claire on the Here Comes The Guide website.

Why We Like This Place

In 1992, when the stately Sainte Claire was undergoing a major refurbishing, workmen broke through a false wall and stumbled onto something that had been completely forgotten for years: an exquisite little Mediterranean courtyard with graceful arches, hanging terracotta planters and intricate, jewel-like geometric tile work that an Italian noblewoman would envy. The crowning achievement of the multi-million-dollar project was enclosing the courtyard with a vaulted atrium ceiling. The restoration of this beautiful 1926 hotel returned the registered National Historic Landmark to its former glory.

Today, the hotel is called the Sainte Claire, and the dining and event rooms are operated by Il Fornaio. Together, they have resurrected the nostalgic glamour of the historic rooms. The most spacious is the luxurious Grande Ballroom, which features wrought-iron chandeliers and candelabras that complement the hotel’s Jazz-era sophistication. French doors topped with arched cutaways open to the Courtyard, the pinnacle of the hotel’s vintage majesty. Leafy saplings thrive in the dappled sunlight, while narrow arched leaded-glass windows add Deco flair. A curved marble-topped bar is shared with the adjacent Palm Room, named for the potted palms spread throughout the lounge-like space. Decked out in dark wood, gold-leafed moldings and velvet furnishings, the Palm Room is reminiscent of the high-society clubs from the Roaring Twenties. With wrought-iron chandeliers hanging from a hand-painted leather beamed ceiling and a fire blazing in the hearth, the Palm Room makes a gracious setting for a cocktail hour. The Sala Del Vino, named for its rows of wine racks, is a stylish private dining room framed in glass. In the Sala Del Fornaio, the chef’s personal dining room, culinary accouterments are on display, and a wall of windows looks out to the boulevard.

Such appealing and diverse spaces present a variety of wedding scenarios. One possibility: Imagine saying your vows in the sunlit Courtyard. An opaque skylight casts a diffused glow, subtly highlighting the room’s rich granite floor. Follow the ceremony with a champagne toast, then serve cocktails and tasty appetizers in the Palm Room. Perhaps hire a pianist to entertain guests with old-time tunes on the Palm Room’s black baby grand. Continue the festivities with dinner and dancing in the Grande Ballroom. Finally, gather once more in the pretty Courtyard for that favorite wedding ritual—cutting the cake. If you’re staging an entire wedding weekend, why not have the rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch in the Sala Del Vino or Sala del Fornaio?

Flexibility and understated elegance are also in evidence when Il Fornaio hosts business events in any of their well-appointed, state-of-the-art conference rooms on the second floor.

Il Fornaio is a full-service restaurant/caterer, offering packages at price levels for every kind of event, business or pleasure. And eating the authentic Old World dishes brought to you by Il Fornaio is a pleasure all its own. Their culinary creations blend the fresh bounty of seasonal foods with Italian flavors, accompanied by their award-winning, fresh-baked bread and olive oil. The Sainte Claire can also accommodate all your out-of-town guests, while you and your new spouse lounge in the Jacuzzi tub in your own junior suite. If you’re looking for an all-in-one facility that can handle everything with a touch of class, Il Fornaio at the Sainte Claire could be the place for you.

Capacity

Ceremony

Reception/Special Events

Meetings

Max. Seated Indoors: 300
Max. Seated Outdoors: 160

Max. Seated Indoors: 350
Max. Seated Outdoors: 80
Max. Standing Indoors: 350
Max. Standing Outdoors: 80

Max. Seated: 350

CEREMONY CAPACITY: The Courtyard holds up to 160 seated guests; other indoor arrangements can be made to accommodate up to 300 seated guests.

EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: Various rooms hold 120–350 seated without a dance floor or 80–300 with one. The courtyard seats 80 outdoors.

MEETING CAPACITY: There are 8 rooms which hold 35–350 seated theater-style or 24–165 seated classroom-style.

Fees & Deposits

For weddings, a $1,500 nonrefundable deposit is required 2 weeks after making reservations. The estimated event balance is payable 3 working days prior to the event; the balance is due at the event’s conclusion. The Courtyard rental fee is $750. Three all-inclusive wedding packages include hors d’oeuvres, champagne toast, wine with served meals, cake cutting, tax and service charges. Wedding packages start at $85/person. Menus can be customized. Luncheons start at $20/person and dinners start at $30/person. Tax, alcohol and a 20% service charge are additional.

For other special events, deposits range $250–1,500 depending on the room and services selected. Meals and cocktail/hors d’oeuvres parties vary in price. Meeting packages include a continental breakfast, lunch and 2 mid-meeting breaks and room rental; call for more details.

Availability

Year-round, daily, anytime until 1am. Saturday weddings in the Grande Ballroom usually take place 10am–4:30pm or 6pm–1am.

Catering

Provided

Alcohol

Provided
BYO w/ Corkage Fee

Location Uses

Ceremonies
Wedding Receptions
Special Events, Parties
Business Functions/Meetings
Rehearsal Dinners
On-Site Accommodations

Services/Amenities

Catering: provided by Il Fornaio, no BYO
Kitchen Facilities: n/a
Tables & Chairs: provided
Linens, Silver, etc.: provided
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: provided
Bride’s & Groom’s Dressing Area: CBA
Meeting Equipment: full range including AV
Parking: nearby lots or valet
Accommodations: 170 guestrooms
Telephone: emergency use only
Outdoor Night Lighting: no
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: n/a
Cleanup: provided
View: no
Other: full event coordination

Amplified Music

Indoors

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair Accessible

Site Views

No View

Venue Type

Banquet Hall/Events Facility
Historic/Landmark Building
Hotel
Restaurant

Restrictions

Alcohol: provided, or wine and champagne corkage CBA
Smoking: outdoors only
Music: amplified OK indoors only
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: not required
Other: decorations must be approved

Wedding Venues > Northern California Wedding Venues > South Bay / San Jose Wedding Venues

Want to search again?

Wedding Vendors You Might Like

A Touch of Grace, Coordinator / Wedding Planner

LucieXYZ Photography, Photographer

Storkie Wedding Invitations, Invitations

Sasha Photography, Photographer

Lani Elizabeth Fine Design in Flowers & Events, Flowers

(What's this?)

The vendors listed above work in the South Bay / San Jose region and are displayed randomly. They may or may not be preferred vendors at Il Fornaio at the Hotel Sainte Claire.

Search for more wedding vendors who work in South Bay / San Jose or all of Northern California.

Register for your MyGuide account

Wishing you could save a list of the places and services that interest you? You can. Register for MyGuide and save your favorite locations and services. You can even share your list with family or friends or post to your Facebook account.

Just getting started?

Know what questions to ask when evaluating a wedding venue and what questions to ask wedding vendors:

Where will your wedding guests stay?

6–9 months before your wedding: Arrange hotel room blocks for out-of-town guests and book your own suite for the wedding night. Find your guest accommodations here! Northern California Wedding Venues With Guest Accommodations

Beach Weddings

Love the idea of a beach wedding in California? We provide detailed information on dozens and dozens of beachfront wedding venues in California.

HELP

Help Introduction
First Time Visitors
Search Tips
Key to Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding Our Information