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10 Spots to Host Holiday Parties on a Shoestring

Here's where to plan a fete without breaking the bank

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Like most things in San Francisco, hosting a holiday party isn't cheap. The month of December is prime time for restaurants, bars, and event venues to make some money before the tediously slow months ahead by hosting swanky soirees. However, unless you're a tech giant or a Rockefeller, that can be more difficult than you think. Before you resort to renting out a room in your local church basement, check out this list of ten places that are reasonable enough to get your boogie on under budget.

Requirements for making it onto the list included: feeding people for $30 per person and under, no or low booking fees, and flexibility to meet a variety of group's needs. If you plan ahead and are prepared to negotiate a little, you can book out one of these spots for your next event and toast to money well spent. Now round up your book clubs, chess teams, mom groups, or whatever you're into, and get to partying. — Renee Lynn Frojo

Have another great low-cost option for holiday party planning? Drop it in the comments.

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Dear Mom

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Dear Mom might just be the most flexible spot to host a gathering on the cheap. As long as you have a party of a least 20, there are few, if any, restrictions. There are no food and beverage minimums and no booking fees. The bar is happy to work with parties to throw a casual shindig or elaborate party complete with a menu that includes bites like crostini with marinated mozzarella, chili-lime wings and homemade breadsticks wrapped in salami starting at $5 per person.Capacity: 220 standingRental fee: NoneMinimum: None

SoMa StrEat Food Park

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With a variety of rotating food trucks to choose from, SOMA StreatFood Park might be one of the best, budget-friendly options to host picky eaters for the holidays. The park lets you reserve up to 50 seats at no charge. Alternatively, you can book the Bus — a converted school bus that’s heated and can hold up to 70 people — for an hour at $75 or $255 for up to four hours. They’ll let you decorate it however you want, to boot. Capacity: 50 seatedRental fee: None to $255Minimum: None

Royal Exchange

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One of the most popular spots to watch sports in the FiDi also might be one of the cheapest to host a group in the neighborhood. To reserve a spot, Royal Exchange only charges a $25 per person minimum that all goes toward food and drinks. Food can be customized for groups over 100 people, but anything smaller must choose from pre-ordered apps on the bar’s menu (think pretzel knots and sliders). On the weekends guests can do private buy outs to rent the entire space for $6,000, all of which can be used toward food and drinks. Capacity: 200 seated, 250 standingRental fee: NoneMinimum: $25 per person

The Liberties Bar

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Liberties has wide variety of private booking options. The best deal for those on a budget is the back room, where you can host a group of 20 people or more with nibbles from the restaurant's party menu. Passed appetizers start at $22 a head, and include dishes like lamb sliders and bacon croquettes. To keep it even more affordable, you can request a no-hosted bar.Capacity: 35 standing, 20 seatedRetal fee: $350Minimum: $750 for drinks

Marla Bakery

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Brunch holiday party, anyone? Marla Bakery might be the spot. The restaurant books out its quaint garden patio for private events with a sweet deal on the weekdays starting at $15 per person for a menu that includes house made bagels with cured trout, herbed cheese and pickled vegetables, as well as scones, pan au chocolate and the beloved Marla Bun. Lunch starts at $25, while dinner can be done for $30 per person. Capacity: 20 seated, 40 standingRental fee: $250 during the week, $350 on the weekendMinimum: None

Fiorella

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In September, Fiorella unveiled a new stylish (and heated) garden patio. The restaurant is now offering up the space as a private dining area for people looking to host a fun, family-style feast at $30 per person of antipasti, pizza from their wood-fired oven, pasta and other classic mains. An additional $27 per person will get you a beverage package that includes juices, wines and some bubbly for a couple of hours.Capacity: 30 seated, 40 standingRental fee: NoneMinimum: $1,500

Bar San Pancho

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From the people who brought you Tacolicious, Bar San Pancho is a fun, casual gathering place with a foosball table and flat screen that will be showing Miracle on 24th Street all December long. If you fill the space, you can get away with meeting the minimum on food and drinks at $22 per person. Alternatively, you pay a $250 room charge and order what you want from a menu of crispy tacos, hot wings and tortas. Capacity: 35 standingRental fee: $250 OR meet the minimumMinimum: $800

Uno Dos Tacos

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Few things says fiesta like a taco. Uno Dos Tacos is happy to host a holiday party for 10 to 60 people at one or all of its community tables. Starting at $20 per person, the restaurant will serve tacos or a family-style spread with beer and margaritas by the bucket or pitcher. Capacity: 60 seatedRental fee: NoneMinimum: $20 per person

Uva Enoteca

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For a party of 20 to 30 people, you can book the private dining room at Uva Vinoteca with a prix-fixe food menu starting at $30 per person and $25 for unlimited drinks. Minimums vary depending on the day of the week and start at $1,200 for the weekday and up to $1,400 for the weekend. Expect salumi boards, wild boar lasagna and smoked mozzarella pizza. Capacity: 30 seatedRental fee: NoneMinimum: $1,200 to $1,400

Zeitgeist

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With over 40 beers on tap, a BBQ grill and a full kitchen serving up food all day long, Zeitgeist is a great spot to cheers to the holidays. The only catch: they don’t take reservations. Big groups are welcomed, but the staff encourages interested parties to arrive at least half an hour before their event to scope out seating. Capacity: As many as you can save a table forRetal fee: NoneMinimum: None

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Dear Mom

Dear Mom might just be the most flexible spot to host a gathering on the cheap. As long as you have a party of a least 20, there are few, if any, restrictions. There are no food and beverage minimums and no booking fees. The bar is happy to work with parties to throw a casual shindig or elaborate party complete with a menu that includes bites like crostini with marinated mozzarella, chili-lime wings and homemade breadsticks wrapped in salami starting at $5 per person.Capacity: 220 standingRental fee: NoneMinimum: None

SoMa StrEat Food Park

With a variety of rotating food trucks to choose from, SOMA StreatFood Park might be one of the best, budget-friendly options to host picky eaters for the holidays. The park lets you reserve up to 50 seats at no charge. Alternatively, you can book the Bus — a converted school bus that’s heated and can hold up to 70 people — for an hour at $75 or $255 for up to four hours. They’ll let you decorate it however you want, to boot. Capacity: 50 seatedRental fee: None to $255Minimum: None

Royal Exchange

One of the most popular spots to watch sports in the FiDi also might be one of the cheapest to host a group in the neighborhood. To reserve a spot, Royal Exchange only charges a $25 per person minimum that all goes toward food and drinks. Food can be customized for groups over 100 people, but anything smaller must choose from pre-ordered apps on the bar’s menu (think pretzel knots and sliders). On the weekends guests can do private buy outs to rent the entire space for $6,000, all of which can be used toward food and drinks. Capacity: 200 seated, 250 standingRental fee: NoneMinimum: $25 per person

The Liberties Bar

Liberties has wide variety of private booking options. The best deal for those on a budget is the back room, where you can host a group of 20 people or more with nibbles from the restaurant's party menu. Passed appetizers start at $22 a head, and include dishes like lamb sliders and bacon croquettes. To keep it even more affordable, you can request a no-hosted bar.Capacity: 35 standing, 20 seatedRetal fee: $350Minimum: $750 for drinks

Marla Bakery

Brunch holiday party, anyone? Marla Bakery might be the spot. The restaurant books out its quaint garden patio for private events with a sweet deal on the weekdays starting at $15 per person for a menu that includes house made bagels with cured trout, herbed cheese and pickled vegetables, as well as scones, pan au chocolate and the beloved Marla Bun. Lunch starts at $25, while dinner can be done for $30 per person. Capacity: 20 seated, 40 standingRental fee: $250 during the week, $350 on the weekendMinimum: None

Fiorella

In September, Fiorella unveiled a new stylish (and heated) garden patio. The restaurant is now offering up the space as a private dining area for people looking to host a fun, family-style feast at $30 per person of antipasti, pizza from their wood-fired oven, pasta and other classic mains. An additional $27 per person will get you a beverage package that includes juices, wines and some bubbly for a couple of hours.Capacity: 30 seated, 40 standingRental fee: NoneMinimum: $1,500

Bar San Pancho

From the people who brought you Tacolicious, Bar San Pancho is a fun, casual gathering place with a foosball table and flat screen that will be showing Miracle on 24th Street all December long. If you fill the space, you can get away with meeting the minimum on food and drinks at $22 per person. Alternatively, you pay a $250 room charge and order what you want from a menu of crispy tacos, hot wings and tortas. Capacity: 35 standingRental fee: $250 OR meet the minimumMinimum: $800

Uno Dos Tacos

Few things says fiesta like a taco. Uno Dos Tacos is happy to host a holiday party for 10 to 60 people at one or all of its community tables. Starting at $20 per person, the restaurant will serve tacos or a family-style spread with beer and margaritas by the bucket or pitcher. Capacity: 60 seatedRental fee: NoneMinimum: $20 per person

Uva Enoteca

For a party of 20 to 30 people, you can book the private dining room at Uva Vinoteca with a prix-fixe food menu starting at $30 per person and $25 for unlimited drinks. Minimums vary depending on the day of the week and start at $1,200 for the weekday and up to $1,400 for the weekend. Expect salumi boards, wild boar lasagna and smoked mozzarella pizza. Capacity: 30 seatedRental fee: NoneMinimum: $1,200 to $1,400

Zeitgeist

With over 40 beers on tap, a BBQ grill and a full kitchen serving up food all day long, Zeitgeist is a great spot to cheers to the holidays. The only catch: they don’t take reservations. Big groups are welcomed, but the staff encourages interested parties to arrive at least half an hour before their event to scope out seating. Capacity: As many as you can save a table forRetal fee: NoneMinimum: None

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