10 Cool Retreat Activities in San Francisco to Bond Your Team (2024)

Looking for special retreat activities in San Francisco to bring your team closer together? We get it. San Francisco is a cultural hot spot, boasting a vibrant art, food, and entertainment scene that people come from all over the world to experience. On top of that, it’s surrounded by beautiful beaches and mountains that offer an escape from the busy city life.

Whether your team is located in the Bay Area, or you’re visiting from out of town, make the most of your time here with a team retreat and spend some time away from the office. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace connects you with incredibly unique spaces across San Francisco that are ideal for customizable team retreats.

Ahead, we’ve chosen 10 great retreat activities in San Francisco to give your group a chance to relax and build team spirit. After taking part in fun outdoor or artsy activities, your team will return to the office refreshed and inspired.

1. Book an unforgettable retreat venue on Peerspace

Peerspace is your go-to option for location rentals all over the Bay Area. Whether you choose to rent an entire mansion, a private home with a pool, or an events space, retreat venues are a great way to get your team out of the city. Plus, you’ll have the freedom to design your own customized retreat activities.

So what types of Peerspaces can you book for your San Francisco retreat? Here are a few of our favorite options:

• This Hydeout Home mansion in Sonoma (pictured above) with an airy, open house, a pool table, an outdoor lounge, a swimming pool, and more.
• This Livermore wine country private tasting room on a private vineyard with indoor and outdoor space and gorgeous views.
• This iconic North Beach gathering space with tables, chairs, A/V equipment, and plenty of space to meet and gather.
• This Potrero Hill garden pavilion with indoor and outdoor space, meeting equipment, a catering kitchen, and several verdant areas.
• This industrial warehouse venue in Oakland with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, seating for 60, a kitchenette, and a whiteboard.

As you can see, Peerspace offers you access to a variety of retreat-worthy venues that can help you meet your objectives. All spaces are also owned by locals who can help you make your event a success. Hire a caterer or workshop facilitator, or just let your team have some time to enjoy the outdoors. Peerspace makes it a breeze to enjoy retreat activities in San Francisco that provide you with unique settings and bespoke services.

2. Enhance your skill set and learn printmaking at 3 Fish Studios

Hands-on activities are a great way to foster collaboration without being too heavy-handed about it. This Outer Sunset art studio offers collage and printmaking workshops for small groups. With art, music, and refreshments available, this studio will help your team relax and get creative.

How well do you and your team know these cool secret spots in San Francisco?

3. Make your own mozzarella at The Cheese School

The Cheese School is a fun, hands-on team-building activity located in Ghirardelli Square. Their expert instructors will get everyone working together to make mozzarella, cook pizza in a wood-fired oven, and learn all about artisan cheese. Combine this with a visit to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop or a nearby wine-tasting room for an all-day corporate outing.

4. Level up communication skills with Moment Improv

Improv classes can be intimidating, but Moment Improv makes it easy with workshops designed specifically for corporate teams. You’ll participate in an array of activities, such as collaborative storytelling, which fosters creative thinking and active listening. Whether you’re planning an event for a sales or software team, workshops can be tailored specifically to suit your group’s needs.

Moment Improv workshops are both online and in-person, so they can come to your office, conference center, or private, off-site venue courtesy of Peerspace. One option we love especially for improv workshops is this downtown theater for off-sites in Lower Nob Hill. It offers you access to two black box theaters with seating for 108 and 60 respectively, a stage, a screen and a projector, two bars, and an outdoor courtyard. It’s the perfect space for gathering with your team and the pros at Moment Improv and honing your skills with one of their tailored workshops.

5. Bond as you challenge yourselves with bouldering at Movement

Overcome obstacles in a whole new way after an afternoon at Movement, an indoor fitness facility in the Presidio. You can book the whole facility for a corporate party or retreat, and take part in rock climbing, a yoga class, and other adrenaline-pumping sports.

This is a great retreat activity in San Francisco that’s centrally located and suitable for groups of all sizes. It’s sure to get your team out of the office and away from work-related stresses.

6. Band together to solve clues with The Murder Mystery Co.

The Murder Mystery Company offers customized mysteries tailored to your team. They have 25 themed stories available that will take your team size, company culture, and location into account. Book a mansion on Peerspace for a masquerade, like the luxurious and fun (and aptly named!) Misfit Manor in Oceanview, or bring your team to a bar for some after-hours fun, like at this private luxe Castro lounge.

While The Murder Mystery Company is not a game, your teams will work together and compete with each other to solve clues, question suspects, and work out the solution to the mystery.

What sets Murder Mystery Company apart from similar activities is that the stories incorporate details from your own company. For example, you can choose a story designed to build teamwork and problem-solving skills or throw an awards banquet with speeches worked into the plot. You can even craft a story designed to introduce your team to a new product or process.

7. Show off your skills when you hit the waves at Surf Office

For an extended out-of-town getaway, book your retreat with the Surf Office, an all-in-one retreat experience within walking distance of the Santa Cruz beaches. Your retreat package includes a modern meeting space with Wi-Fi, projectors, and all the office supplies you’ll need.

Plus, you’ll have private or shared accommodations for your team, as well as curated workshops and activities tailored to your company. This is a great way to enjoy a true company retreat that includes a healthy balance of work-related activities and downtime on the beach.

Check out these corporate event ideas in San Francisco to prepare for your next large-scale business event!

8. Enjoy a segway tour through Golden Gate Park with Golden Gate Park Segway Rentals

Golden Gate Park is a world-famous landmark that gives you more than 1,000 acres of things to see and do. Create a fun and active day for your team by booking a Segway tour through the park that explores all of the park’s must-see sites with Golden Gate Park Segway Rentals. They offer everything from 1.5-hour segway rides that allow you to see most of Golden Gate Park to three-hour see-it-all tours that include a lunch stop. Never driven a Segway before? No problem! Your booking includes a free, no-obligation lesson. Exploring one of the city’s most stunning and historic spaces on Segway is a fun retreat idea that will give you so much to talk about.

9. Explore the waters when you go kayaking at Nick’s Cove

Head north to Nick’s Cove for a company retreat just an hour’s drive north of San Francisco. This space is perfect for small teams, with a 12-seat conference room perched on the end of a pier overlooking Tomales Bay.

You can also schedule team-building activities, such as a kayak outing or a trip to an oyster farm. Spend the weekend outdoors enjoying Port Reyes National Seashore and other stunning locations along the California coast.

10. Create a bespoke event tailored to your team at The Tehama Grasshopper

When you use Peerspace to book retreat activities in San Francisco, you can stumble upon awesome options, like The Tehama Grasshopper. It is a stylish and modern three-story event space in SoMa designed to help you provide a personalized event for your crew. Enjoy an indoor picnic, then head to the rooftop for city views while sipping wine. Invite a guest speaker to motivate your masses, then watch the latest blockbuster film on the large screen. It’s all possible here and sure to lead to a retreat filled with special memories.

Retreat activities in San Francisco: conclusion

San Francisco is home to dozens of great retreat venues, both within the city and only a short drive of it. Whether you venture far from the office or stay close to the city, we think these 10 great corporate team activities are a good place to start.

And remember, you can create your own personalized retreat at your private Peerspace location. With Peerspace, you get access to a stylish venue of your choosing stocked with amazing amenities, hosted by a local who can help with any part of your event planning. Sounds like the easiest way to relax and enjoy your time together, in our opinion!

Find unique event venues in San Francisco on Peerspace