El Cortez Don Room

The Don Room at El Cortez is a historic wedding and event venue located on Cortez Hill in downtown San Diego, inside a landmark building that opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1927. The venue features an octagon-shaped ballroom with a 24k gold leafed ceiling, an adjoining 10,000 square foot outdoor terrace with an urban fireplace, fountain, and vine-covered gazebo, plus a network of preferred caterers, DJs, and other vendors coordinated in-house. The Don Room has been hosting events for nearly 100 years, with Events Director Kathi Skillman on staff since 2000 and coordinator Jessica Beiriger joining the team after that. Located at 702 Ash Street, San Diego, CA 92101. Couples and vendors highlight the circular ballroom's grand scale, the massive outdoor terrace, responsive staff (particularly Kathi and Jessica), and smooth vendor coordination that keeps events on track.