Places to Host Special Events and Milestones: Social Events Under 50 People

Last Updated: October 23, 2025

Planning a birthday dinner, engagement party, rehearsal soirée, baby shower, retirement celebration, or just an excuse to get your favorite people together?

Seattle Southside has many intimate spots with great food, easy parking, and flexible spaces that work beautifully for groups under 50. Here are some local favorites (all found in the Explore Seattle Southside venue directory) to spark ideas and make planning a breeze.

Restaurants & Fun Hangouts
Hotel Spaces

Restaurants & Fun Hangouts

Duke’s Seafood (Tukwila)

Duke’s Seafood, located at Westfield Southcenter, has a welcoming vibe that feels special without being stuffy. The menu is locally famous for its Pacific Northwest seafood classics, including award-winning chowders, wild salmon, and giant tacos. The nautical theme makes dining feel festive and fun, and people of all ages will feel comfortable.

Special Event Spaces: Duke’s at Southcenter has several private event rooms that can accommodate 20-50 guests. It also offers sectional buy-outs.

Learn more.

Sharps RoastHouse (SeaTac)

Sharps RoastHouse is renowned for its slow-roasted meats, made-from-scratch sourdough pasta, and impressive bar menu. You’ll find plenty of hearty comfort food to satisfy guests. Located minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), it’s a great spot for gathering locals and out-of-towners.

Special Event Spaces: Sharp’s offers a private dining room for up to 30 guests for BBQ Buffet-style events and up to 36 guests for seated, plated-style events, which the banquet manager can help plan. There is also an 80” Smart TV for presentations and entertainment.

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13 Coins (SeaTac)

The SeaTac location of 13 Coins is a go-to for celebrations, with multiple private rooms and a stately midcentury vibe that makes any occasion feel special. The menu offers a range of classic American fare, from steak to fresh veggie sides. Live music many nights adds built-in ambiance.

Special Event Spaces: 13 Coins SeaTac offers five private dining spaces accommodating between 12 and 56 people.

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Bahama Breeze Island Grille (Tukwila)

Bahama Breeze at Westfield Southcenter offers bright, tropical energy with a laid-back Caribbean-inspired menu—perfect for festive dinners and mixers. The cocktail menu alone makes this spot worth it, with colorful margaritas and pina coladas that guests can enjoy with or without booze. Nothing says “party” like sipping juice from a real, carved-out pineapple!

Special Event Spaces: Bahama Breeze has a variety of spaces and can fully customize your experience. The Gazebo and Sunset Deck both fit up to 50 people cocktail-style (and 30-36 seated), making them great fits for smaller events.

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Bowlero South Seattle (Tukwila)

Make the party an activity-packed night, with private lanes, party packages with food and drinks, and plenty of room to socialize. It’s an easy win for mixed-age groups or low-key celebrations. Cater the party with a buffet of shareable plates, or get a party platter of crowd-pleasing pizza or nachos. There’s also a variety of beer, wine, and craft cocktails.

Special Event Spaces: Bowlero offers private rooms, catering, and packages to make your event a success.

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Max’s Restaurant (Tukwila)

Max’s Restaurant is famous worldwide for its authentic Filipino comfort food. The Tukwila location has a warm, welcoming feel, ideal for milestones and family gatherings. Treat guests to their iconic Filipino fried chicken, shareable plates of lumpia, BBQ pork skewers, and special desserts like halo-halo, which will make the guest of honor feel truly celebrated.

Special Event Spaces: Max’s Restaurant offers a semi-private room in the back that’s great for a party under 50 people.

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Hotel Spaces: Great for Maximum Flexibility

Aloft Seattle Sea-Tac Airport (SeaTac)

Check out Aloft Seattle Sea-Tac Airport for an intimate meet-up that can spill into the lively lobby/game area. This sleek, modern hotel is much more than a place to stay. People regularly host events in the lobby, where foosball, billiards, and other games keep people mingling.

Special Event Spaces: The Tactic room is about 609 sq. ft., A/V-ready, and easily lends itself to having the party extend into the lobby.

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Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Sea-Tac Area (Tukwila)

Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Sea-Tac Area offers flexible hotel event space for roughly 10–70 guests, with multiple rooms to scale down nicely for smaller events.

Special Event Spaces: This hotel has three event rooms. The Chinook and San Juan rooms both fit just under 50 people banquet-style, making them a nice choice for small to mid-sized parties.

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Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Southcenter (Tukwila)

Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Southcenter, located in the heart of Tukwila’s retail district, has several private rooms that you can customize to fit your needs, from a casual reception to a catered lunch.

Special Event Spaces: This hotel offers three event rooms that would work well for groups of 50 or fewer people.

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Hilton Garden Inn Seattle Airport is a modern hotel extremely close to SEA Airport—handy when your guest list includes travelers. It has one room that’d be great for a small, intimate gathering.

Special Event Spaces: The Rainier Room can accommodate up to 24 people, either reception or banquet-style.

Learn more.

Planning Tips for Small to Mid-Sized Celebrations

Lock the vibe first. Activity-forward (Bowlero) vs. foodie-forward (Duke’s, Sharps, Max’s) will shape your layout, timeline, and budget.

Right-sized rooms matter. If you want to have toasts or speeches, consider private rooms so you can control sound and flow.

Pre-set menus keep things smooth. Many restaurants and hotels offer group menus, which simplifies ordering and helps you forecast cost.

Confirm catering policies. Hotels differ on outside catering; it’s best to ask the venue’s sales team what’s possible for your date and headcount. (The Explore Seattle Southside venue listings make this outreach easy.)

Want help matching your exact headcount, vibe, and budget? Explore Seattle Southside’s team can suggest venues, connect you with group-friendly restaurants, and share cost-saving ideas for planners.

P.S. If your “small” event suddenly grows, the broader venue directory has options across sizes so you can scale without stress.

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