Sunnyside Conservatory

After the issues I had last Friday with the SF Recreation and Parks staff person, I emailed Amanda Lee, with the permits department. She called me the next day regarding the issue, and said she would look into trying to refund me for the staffing fee and sincerely apologized. She also said that she would speak to the staffing department and get the issue resolved.
Today Amanda emailed me and said that I would be receiving a refund for the staffing fee, and again apologized.
Like I said before, every interaction I had with any SF Recreation and Parks department staffer has been stellar with the exception of the staff member that was supposed to help me on my wedding day.
Overall, I would recommend Sunnyside Conservatory for a small wedding venue. Amanda has assured me that what happened to me will not happen again, and I believe her.
The venue is stunning and very well taken care of, the neighbors are friendly and there are lots of great photography opportunities in the area. And you probably won’t find a wedding venue in San Francisco for the same price, including tables and chairs. Perfect for weddings with less than 50 guests.

Went to the Sunny-​side in my current search for a wedding venue. The inside of the building is very well kept. The chandler room I think its called. Has a rustic feel to it. Enough to have a indoor ceremony maybe possible 4– 6 round tables but no more. and only one rectangle table for food… would barley fit a DJ.
When I called to get info this is what I got:
As of Oct 2014:
First two hours 590 there after every hour $ 120.00 so if you do seven hours $ 1190 total.
No insurance needed as long as you don’t bring tents. (there wouldn’t be no space anyhow) the outside is super small.
Everyone needs to be out by 10pm.
Music must stop at 8pm since its right next to homes.
You can bring your own caterer alcohol no kegs
can make payments in partial.

Is the facility nice? Yes. Is the noise that it is creating in the evenings with loud music in our neighborhood welcome? No! Originally, for those of us that live in close proximity to the Conservatory, we were told if there were any events they would not continue into the evening nor would there be loud music.
Our neighborhood (many of us have lived here for 30 years or more) was a nice and quiet neighborhood. We didn’t buy the homes we did to live next to an evening disco.
The day weddings are generally no problem –but when we come home to our neighborhood homes at the end of the day; we don’t appreciate having loud music bouncing off our walls into the evening. There’s a local family that owns a home near the conservatory who have a baby and I’m sure the busy mother doesn’t appreciate having the child jostled awake by the loud evening music.
Realistically too — there is no reason inside the small ‘bubble’ where the music is played for the music levels to be so high — in the enclosed ‘dome’ the music can be heard well at a modest volume. Cranking up the ‘noise’ until the neighbors have their windows vibrating is beyond rude and at the least; absolutely unnecessary. If you need a facility where music is played loudly — be it known that THIS venue is NOT the one you want to use. Be assured that the neighbors will complain and the instigators of the noise will be spending time talking to the police in response to our complaints/​phone calls, instead of happily enjoying their celebration/​event.
The sad part is the park department and event coordinators could risk being sued by the nearby residents who are having their quiet evenings ruined by this ‘disco’. We paid good money for our homes and hardly want to risk having housing values affected by living next to this late night ‘night club’ that has been unfairly foisted on us. I’m sure the park department and/​or event organizers/​participants don’t want to pay a bunch of loss of value claims in court. Much better to stop the loud evening nonsense and use the facility as the pleasant venue for an afternoon wedding or afternoon string concert. Most of us are more than willing to happily coexist with the Conservatory WHEN it is managed in a manner that is respectful of those that live and own homes in the neighborhood.

This place isn’t just for weddings, it’s also a public park that’s open from dawn to dusk every day. Though normally the building is closed (as is the bathroom) you can still enjoy the giant palms and the cute sculptures. It’s not very big so it’s probably not worth a detour but it’s a nice place to stop and relax when you’re in the area.
PS It might be hard to find because it’s between a bunch of houses and it’s not apparent that there’s a park there.

We had our wedding and a cocktail reception at the Sunnyside Conservatory. The space was beautiful and met all our needs perfectly. The staff was friendly and helpful. Thanks!!!

We had a small intimate wedding ceremony and reception at the conservatory in late February. The venue rental rate is extremely reasonable and the space itself is lovely. It was remodeled in 2009, and the windows allow for ample sunlight to shine through. At night, the conservatory looks beautiful illuminated in light. The conservatory and the surrounding garden is well-​maintained and manicured. Padded chairs and tables (both round and rectangular) are included in the rental as well.
My main point of contact was Amanda of SF Rec and Park. She was extremely helpful — always courteous and very responsive both via e-​mail and on the phone. She provides you with very detailed instructions on what you can/can’t do or have at the venue. On the day of the event, Jason from SF Rec and Park was on site from start to finish. He was there when we had questions and/​or needed him, but also made himself scarce during the event.
We had about 70 guests, and everyone fit comfortably inside the conservatory since it was a cold winter evening. I would highly recommend this venue for small weddings and other events.
Note that the rates currently posted on the website are inaccurate. The current rate is $ 590/​first two hours and $ 120/​additional hour.
Five stars all around for the venue itself, the amenities, the staff, and the location.

Amazing special find off Monterey… rich with history, unique that one is found in this area, hanging off one of the most gorgeous neighborhoods to be found in San Francisco.
Don’t miss the staircase off to the side. Connects to more hill jaunt!

I was having difficulty finding a place to hold my wedding… I didn’t want to do the Church route and have to go elsewhere for the reception, and I also didn’t want a venue that would require a lot of decoration because I’m just not that creative and I’ve never been one of those girls thats had my wedding planned since I was in the 4^th grade.
My friend and I went for a walk and we decided to veer from our regular route. We came across a garden and stairway, so of course we had to follow it! When we got to the end of the stairway, we came upon the most beautiful building with such creative details! We both looked at each other and I said, «This is it! I found my wedding venue!» As soon as we got back to my house I emailed Amanda at the Recreation and Parks dept. and within a few days I had my wedding venue all set.
The venue is very small; max sitting capacity is 71 and standing is 153. They have all the tables and chairs and there is a small «kitchen» which is pretty much a closet with a sink, so if you’re going to have catering they’ll need to bring a small grill. Just make sure to get approval! You can’t beat the price. Wedding venues in San Francisco cost an arm and a leg, but the conservatory was very inexpensive compared to all of the other places I had looked at.
The best thing about the venue is that it is so beautiful on its own, you really don’t need any decorations. The only decorations I used were my floral arrangements along the window sills and in the bottom cubbies that were behind my husband and I when we did our vows. After the ceremony everyone went outside for hors d’oeuvres while the caterers set up the tables inside of the conservatory. The floral arrangements were moved to the tables and some were left in their original places. It was absolutely beautiful.
If you’re planning on having a small wedding (we had 60 people) I would definitely check this place out.

We had our wedding ceremony here and it was perfect. We lucked out with the weather — it was sunny and gorgeous, so beautiful light streamed through the windows of the conservatory. Tables and chairs were included in the rental, so we had friends help us set up and break down the event. The neighborhood behind the conservatory has some great spots for photos, which was an added bonus.

We had our wedding reception here after our City Hall ceremony. We had so many compliments on the venue, and it fit our 40 person party. It has no kitchen, but our caterer worked around it well. I love the pictures we have and how easy it was to work with Amanda Lee (permits and reservations) and Cynthia (site coordinator). They even let us add another hour day of. And tables and chairs are included in the rental. Woo!

Beautiful, relaxing, so… just you and the conservatory. There are several selectively placed benches through the small ish park space.
Perfect for a picnic lunch or sunny afternoon. Great space for a small private event as well. 2-​hour free parking is convenient on the street and usually always available out front.
Love!

I don’t get it.
Small building looks interesting. But locked.
A few tall palm trees.
An outside bench.
Like a small humble guest house in someone’s palatial estate but there’s no estate.

We had our wedding here in October 2011. It was fantastic. We originally were going to have it at Golden Gate Park, but I’m glad we chose this place because it rained on our wedding day — in October! It turned out to be a misty cool day and the space was perfect for it. We fit in about 65 guests for a really special, intimate wedding. Amanda from GGP was super nice and helpful and so was the site supervisor on the day of; can’t recall his name. They provided the wooden chairs, we had passed hors d’oeuvres catered by Hugh Groman Catering; which were AWESOME!!! They had a portable grill outside with little hamburger sliders. Drawbacks were that you can’t get in to scope out the place except for certain Sundays once or twice a month, the Facilities management don’t know much about the space such as where we should plug in electric devices, and parking seemed tight since one doesn’t want to encroach on the neighborhood. That being said, on the day of the wedding, my best friend of honor and I were parking and a super nice lady who lived there offered to move her car for us. We got our pictures back and looking at them now makes me realize how pretty the space is and how glad I am that we had it there.

My friend held her baby shower at the conservatory. The flora, the sunlight, and the beautiful Victorian redwood octagonal building was a great environment for the intimate event. It was newly remodeled and clean, and a real nice getaway on a busy boulevard. Great gem in the neighborhood.

We’re a non-​denominational couple so we had a lot of options for picking a venue — so many that it was hard to make a decision! Fortunately a little park near our house had just been renovated and the 100-​year-​old conservatory on the property had been rebuilt, so we had the perfect wedding location for us and it was right around the corner!
The conservatory once housed the rare plant collection of a large estate, and it has been renovated to exceed it’s former glory. It’s a little-​known San Francisco landmark with as much character as other city sites like the Shakespeare Garden, and a unique charm. The interior is paneled in redwood, tall windows capture loads of sunlight (which can be scarce in the neighborhood.), and pristine grounds are anchored by giant palm trees. There are even playful little bronze statues sprinkled through the site. The space easily fit our 65 guests and everyone commented on the beauty of the space.
One thing we were worried about was parking, since the site does not include any and it is in a residential neighborhood. But our guests that drove had no problems finding a space and some even walked from the nearby BART station. Another disadvantage is the fact that the space is entirely blank (there are no chairs, tables, or other accouterments) but for our purposes it was easy to rent what we needed, and the beauty of the space speaks for itself. Amanda Lee at the Park and Rec Department was a pleasure to work with and was available for everything we needed.

This place has been here since 1900!!! (no, I was not at the groundbreaking =) and over the years, with changes of ownership, complacency… well, lets just say time was not kind to the conservatory! However, even in a state of decay, there was something beautiful and proud about the place… you could easily imagine all the various events that had taken place there, men in morning suits and ladies in white gloves… sigh…if those glass panels could talk!)
Anyway, imagine my DELIGHT when I stopped by Sunday to see it RESTORED to the HILT!!! It’s gorgeous! The buzz is that they will start hosting jazz nights in the summer! AND the conservatory is available for rent for events! She’s a beauty! Come admire!
BONUS: There is a little park just a stone’s throw from the conservatory, check it out, as with the conservatory, someone is finally paying some long overdue attention and TLC!

I read about the 111yr old Sunnyside Conservatory in the Chronicle and read they had a Grand Reopening on Sat 12÷5÷09. I couldn’t make it and since I was going to be at Glen Park Bart station on Sun 12÷13÷09 decided to check it out.
It’s less then 15 min to walk here from Glen Park Bart station. It’s on Monterey Blvd between Baden & Congo, look for the gate w/​sign & Palm Trees.
It’s FREE to enter & look around though it’s a small garden, maybe worth 5−15min to look around. Building is Locked & only open for private events, etc. Bathroom was locked too.
Some small sculptures to look at, Palm trees, some plants.
Worth checking out if in the area, not worth a special trip.

The grand re-​opening just past. I attended of course :) The conservatory is gorgeous now.
They are apparently going to start hosting jazz nights, but I’m not sure on what day at this point… thinking Friday or Saturday. Other than that it’s open daily from dusk till dawn.
You can rent it out for parties; $ 300 for first two hours, $ 100 each additional hour.

This used to be my happy place when I lived in the Sunnyside neighborhood. My son & I would go here to make a wish or just pretend we were in the middle of the jungle and out of the City. It was a few blocks from our house and on the way home from Bart. I recently went home for a visit and walked down Monterey to find this place. It made me sad to see it was torn up and under construction or renovation. I kinda liked it the way it was even if it was a little overrun. Amazing there is often no one here. I hope on my next visit it is open to the public again.

An amazing little spot. I don’t know the history, except that it must be interesting. All that remains is a two lot park with amazing trees and a large abandoned conservatory.
Unfortunately, it is undergoing a massiveoverhaul so hopefull the city gets this right and it is as good or better in October 09, when it is scheduled to open again.
Truly a hidden treasure that highlights San Francisco’s often paved over history.