20 Best Things To Do In San Mateo, California

1. Take a trip to CuriOdyssey with the kids

CuriOdyssey is a totally interactive playground where kids can enjoy the wonders of science for a day, and feel like real scientists! Here, kids are free to observe wild animals, experiment, and get answers to their questions. There are plenty of different activities here for everyone to enjoy, such as science classes, summer camps, and weekly animal presentations, where you can even feed some friendly bobcats! Kids enjoy discounted rates of admission so don’t hesitate to bring your little ones here while you’re around San Mateo.

CuriOdyssey

Address: 1651 Coyote Point Drive San Mateo, CA 94401

Website: CuriOdyssey

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 13.50 USD

2. Go jogging at Sawyer Camp Trail

The Sawyer Camp Trail is a 6-mile (9.6-km) section of the bigger Crystal Springs Regional Trail, and is perhaps the most popular of the trails in San Mateo. Once open to cars, the trail was closed off in 1979 to protect the nearby reservoir from pollution and has remained a non-vehicular road since. Walking, jogging, and cycling are the main activities here, and is even accessible to people with disabilities. There are three restrooms along the path, two near each end and one near the middle of the trail. Don’t forget to bring your own water, as there is no fountain along the road.

Sawyer Camp Trail

Website: Sawyer Camp Segment

Opening hours: 8am (daily, closing time varies)

3. Visit Pulgas Water Temple

Built as a monument to a new water supply in California, Pulgas Water Temple is a unique kind of fountain. This water system once provided drinking water to the many of the residents of the Bay Area. The structure at the center of the fountain has an architectural design that pays tribute to the Greeks and Romans, whose technologies were borrowed to create the water system that stands there. Today, although water no longer flows through the temple, the beautifully preserved Pulgas Water Temple remains a popular tourist destination that is definitely worth a visit!

Pulgas Water Temple

Address: 56 Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062

Website: Pulgas Water Temple

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 3:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

4. Enjoy windsurfing at Coyote Point

The Coyote Point Recreation Area offers a rich variety of activities for you. You can bike or hike on the trails, swim in the pool or the bay, or even surf by the beach front. The San Francisco Bay Trail, a 500-mile (804.7 km) bike trail circling the whole bay, also passes through Coyote Point. The Magic Mountain playground provides tons of fun for the younger ones you may have with you. The science playground CuriOdyssey (mentioned in an earlier entry) is also located here.

Coyote Point Recreation Area

Address: 1701 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401

Website: Coyote Point Recreation Area

Opening hours: 8am (daily, closing time varies)

5. Pick up fresh local produce at 25th Ave. Farmers' Market

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Have your pick of the freshest farm goods and the best artisanal ingredients at the 25th Ave. Farmers’ Market! Held on Tuesday evenings from May to October, the 25th Ave. Farmers’ Market is a venue where local farmers and ranchers can sell their best goods. You can find everything from fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, live fish, and top-quality goods like eggs, honey, baked goods, and even flowers! Since most of the goods come straight from the farms, they’re also reasonably priced. By shopping here, you won’t just be supporting the local farmers - you’d also be saving yourself a pretty penny while treating yourself to the best food!

25th Ave. Farmers' Market

Website: 25th Ave. Farmers’ Market

Opening hours: Tue: 4pm - 7:30pm (closed Wed - Mon)

6. Unwind at Central Park

At almost 100 years old, Central Park is the first public park in San Mateo, located right in the heart of town. It has plenty of sights and venues spread across 7 hectares (17.3 acres), including a baseball field, tennis courts, recreation center, a rose garden, and the Japanese Garden (another must-see entry on this list). Kids can enjoy the small train that runs around the park, and have fun in the playground. Don’t forget to take a look at the sculptures around the park, including one of a dog and a giraffe.

Central Park

Address: 50 East 5th Avenue, San Mateo, California 94401

Website: Central Park

7. Hike through Laurelwood Park

Laurelwood Park is a quiet park in San Mateo, and when combined with the Sugarloaf Nature Area, is 225 acres (91 hectares) of forested land and nature trails. It is the largest park in the city. The park has a playground, picnic tables, an open play area, and restrooms, which are all perfect for a nice weekend. You can also walk your dog in this park, and along the trails. You can also hike along the trails in the Sugarloaf Nature Area, if you want to have a mini-adventure of your own.

Laurelwood Park

Address: 3471 Glendora Dr, San Mateo, CA 94403

Website: Laurelwood Park

8. Go biking at Skyline Ridge Preserve and Horseshoe Lake

The Skyline Ridge Preserve is nature area located 28 miles (45 mi) south of San Mateo. With over 2000 acres (809.3 hectares) of forest, meadows, ponds, and other natural features, there is plenty for you to explore! The preserve also features 10 miles (16 km)of trails, with much of them available for hiking and biking, with some of them even available for equestrian riding. After going on a hike or biking around, you can also take a stroll around the Alpine pond and Horseshoe Lake. You might even spot fish from time to time there!

Skyline Ridge Preserve

Address: Highway 35, La Honda, CA (south of Alpine/ Page Mill Rd)

Website: Skyline Ridge Preserve

Opening hours: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset (daily, check calendars for exact time)

9. Admire the picturesque beauty of San Mateo Japanese Garden

The San Mateo Japanese Garden is one of California’s most beautiful gardens. Added to Central Park in 1966, the garden consists of a koi pond, bamboo, and a pagoda made of granite. The trees are also of Japanese variety, and these include cherry blossoms, Japanese maple, and the diminutive bonsai. The most significant event here is when the cherry blossoms bloom, to signal the start of the spring season. The Japanese Garden is a can’t-miss destination on your trip here to San Mateo!

San Mateo Japanese Garden

Address: 50 East 5th Avenue, San Mateo, California 94401

Website: Japanese Garden

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 4pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 4pm

10. Enjoy a custom-blended cuppa at Philz Coffee

Whether you can’t get enough of coffee for its great aroma and taste, or the buzz you get from it, you should definitely check out Philz Coffee on your next trip to San Mateo! Philz Coffee is a local chain of coffee shops known for their laid-back vibe and their custom-made coffee. You can choose from their unique blends - some of which even include flavors like Blackberry, Butterscotch, and Tobacco, among many others - or customize your own! You can choose what you’d like to include in your own blend and ask the friendly baristas to help you prepare it. At Philz Coffee, you can indulge in a cup that’s designed to perfectly suit your tastes!

Philz Coffee

Address: 113 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA

Website: Philz Coffee

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 5:30am - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 6am - 9pm; Sun: 6am - 8pm

11. Browse through the shops along El Camino Real

El Camino Real (which translates to “Royal Road”) is one of the most storied and longest roads in California, at over 600 miles (965.6 km) long. It once served as a religious outpost during the Spanish Period. In San Mateo, this road is the busiest, as it contains all the premier shops and diners, ranging from coffee shops to shoe stores. The most prominent structure along this road is the Hillsdale Mall, a popular mall that has been around for over 50 years (it is also present on this list). It is shop-til-you-drop here at this beloved district!

12. Savor fresh seafood at Pacific Catch

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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Pacific Catch is a restaurant that aims to serve sustainable and high-quality seafood in a unique style. They explore new dishes and use ingredients found throughout the Pacific Ocean. They also offer a variety of Fresh Catch specials that showcase the best of the Pacific and the seasons. Sushi, Thai curry, Hawaiian teriyaki, and Korean barbecue are some of the great dishes served here. There are many more dishes, like shellfish, tacos, and Alaskan cod. You can try out the full menu when you visit Pacific Catch.

Pacific Catch Westcoast Fish House

Address: 243 South B Street San Mateo, CA 94401

Website: Pacific Catch

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm; Happy Hour: 4pm - 6pm (Mon - Fri)

13. Get your Mexican food fix at Pancho Villa Taqueria

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Savor some mouth-watering tacos here at Pancho Villa Taqueria, one of the most popular Mexican food places around here. A wide range of food is available for you, from tacos and burritos, to quesadillas. Sides like salads, nachos, and churros add even more variety to a great meal experience. Most dishes here cost less than 10 dollars, making it very wallet-friendly. Located in the heart of town, it is a perfect place for dinner after a long day around San Mateo.

Pancho Villa Taqueria

Address: 365 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401

Website: Pancho Villa Taqueria

Opening hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)

14. Enjoy the views from Sugarloaf Nature Area

Sugarloaf Hill is a nature reserve right beside Laurelwood Park and is composed of different trails. Most of these trails are easy to hike, and you can even bike along some of them. The trails are just over a mile long (less than 2 km) to the top. The summit itself is around 567 feet (172 m above sea level), and you can easily see the bay and the city of San Francisco in the distance. You can also spot San Mateo in the foreground. Would you be able to spot your place from up here?

Sugarloaf Nature Area

Address: 3471 Glendora Dr, San Mateo, CA 94403

Website: Sugarloaf Park

15. Take part in Bicycle Sunday

If you happen to be around San Mateo on a Sunday, make sure you attend one of these leisurely trips. Every Sunday, a 3.8-kilometer section of Canada Road from Filoli entrance to the Highway 92 exit. The road is open to cyclists, skaters, joggers, and even leisure walkers. There are restrooms at Edgewood Park and Reserve, and parking is available at the ends of the trail.

Bicycle Sunday

Address: Cañada Road, Woodside, CA 94062, USA

Website: Bicycle Sunday

16. See the Junípero Serra Statue

This statue is a regular sight along the I-280, and is popular mainly because of its strange proportions. Serra was a friar who is considered by many as a founder of California. The nine-sided base represents the nine missions Serra did during his expedition in the area. The statue’s hand notably points west towards the Pacific Ocean, for reasons still unknown. You can see all of these for yourself when you pass by Crystal Lake.

Junipero Serra Statue

Address: I-280, Hillsborough, CA

Website: Junipero Serra Statue

17. Work out at Seal Point Park

Seal Point Park is a good place for jogging, biking, and even dog-walking. It is located along the Bay, which always gives the park a breeze during the day. With many cycling and jogging paths, and a 3-acre (1.21-hectare) dog walking area, you won’t be competing for space with the locals. You can also bird watch, and catch a glimpse of species like the red-tailed hawk, belted kingfisher, and even the occasional brown pelican. And don’t forget to watch the sunrise from here, as it is a great sight.

Seal Point Park

Address: 1901 J Hart Clinton Dr, San Mateo, CA 94401

Website: Seal Point Park

18. Grab a cool drink at Grape & Grain

Editor’s note: Establishment is permanently closed

Grape & Grain Bar is one of the coolest places in town to hang out. Inside, it feels very much like a classic pub, thanks to the wine rack display to the wooden tables. You can choose drinks that are on their daily draft board, and pair them with any of their great sides. Some of these sides include goat cheese, salami, cracked corn, and olives. There are even board games here, which really makes the place a perfect spot for you and your friends after a long day.

Grape & Grain Bar

Address: 227 S San Mateo Dr San Mateo, CA 94401 United States

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 3pm - 12mn; Fri - Sat: 3pm - 1am; Sun: 3pm - 10pm

19. Enjoy shopping at Hillsdale Shopping Center

Located along the famous El Camino Real, the Hillsdale Shopping Center is the area’s crown jewel. Hillsdale Shopping Center has been around since 1954, and has since remained the premier mall in the city. The shopping center is so popular among the residents of San Mateo and its surrounding areas that there is even a train stop in front so that residents from neighboring towns can visit! Here, you can find over 100 stores within its walls, ranging from upscale diners to electronics hubs, to specialty clothing stores. You won’t run out of shopping options here at all!

Hillsdale Shopping Center

Address: Sixty 31st Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403

Website: Hillsdale Shopping Center

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 7pm

20. Dance the night away at Vinyl Room

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Dance the night away at Vinyl Room, one of the hottest spots in this part of town. The place is reminiscent of an 80s disco, which is really befitting of the name. Refreshing drinks like their draft beer, bourbon, and cucumber tequila are available, along with many more items. You can rent out the whole place if you have your own happening here. Happy hour, party, birthday, or any celebration–this place is ready to rock and roll!

Vinyl Room

Address: 221 Park Road, Burlingame, California 94010, United States

Website: Vinyl Room

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 6pm - 2am (closed from Sun - Tue)

Enjoy the best of nature and the city at San Mateo

Along with neighboring San Francisco and San Jose, San Mateo attracts many visitors each year. This city is not just rich in natural beauty with its parks, mountain passes, and bay trails, it also boasts metropolitan comforts like shopping malls, markets, and top-notch food and drink establishments. With so much to offer, a visit to San Mateo is definitely an adventure any urban warrior should consider taking!