Unique Meeting Spaces

Long Beach has several unique venues perfect for offsite meetings, pre-convention retreats, or parties and celebrations. These spaces can provide visually stunning settings and ambience that encourages networking. Gourmet catering as well as high-end amenities will impress attendees, and a range of options can customize the experience to make for an unforgettable event.

Battleship IOWA

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC

The Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way) offers a beautiful setting and an in-house event planning team. Host a major presentation in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater, featuring stadium seating for over 300 and a 180-degree curved screen. Celebrate with a company party in the Great Hall with the three-story Honda Blue Cavern exhibit as a backdrop. For a smaller gathering, the Watershed Classroom provides a focused space for meetings or retreats. In-house catering and audio-visual services are available.

Credit: Tom Bonner

HISTORIC SHIPS

Book your next event on a historic vessel! Yes, the iconic Queen Mary (1126 Queens Highway) is a hotel and museum, but it’s also an events venue, offering several show stopping spaces rich with history; from the wood-paneled 720-square-foot Board Room to the 9,000-square-foot art deco Grand Salon, which originally served as the first class dining room. Event space is also available on the Battleship Iowa (250 S Harbor Blvd, San Pedro), including the well-appointed Captain’s Cabin, on-deck options with views of the harbor and Vincent Thomas Bridge, and the Wardroom, the formal dining area for junior officers.

MUSEUMS

Bring out your team’s creativity with an inspiring meeting or event at one of Long Beach’s world class museums. The Long Beach Museum of Art (2300 E Ocean Blvd) is a popular site for weddings in Long Beach, with its outdoor patios overlooking the ocean. Spaces inside the historic Anderson House, a Craftsman built in 1911, are also available for meetings, retreats, and seminars. At Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave), events can be held in the VIVA Events Center, the outdoor sculpture garden, or even the parking lot, which can accommodate food trucks.

PARTAKE COLLECTIVE

Partake Collective (456 Elm Ave) is a commercial kitchen facility and food hall where entrepreneur chefs can launch their concepts in a trendy, communal venue. Spaces for events include a private dining room for up to 30 people, a dining hall that can accommodate up to 50 people, and a chef’s kitchen. Partake’s roster of in-house restaurants can provide catering, and audio-visual equipment is available.

COMPOUND

Located in Long Beach’s design district, Compound (1395 Coronado Ave) is a converted warehouse that hosts contemporary art exhibitions and community events focusing on wellness and creativity. Spaces available include the warehouse/art gallery, courtyard sculpture garden, The Lab (a large, versatile event room), and the bar and restaurant with full-service commercial kitchen.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.