10 Awesome Team Outing Ideas in San Francisco

Northern California is home to invigorating cities that offer a ton of incredible things to do. When it comes to team-building exercises and workshops, there are few places that can top the greater San Francisco area. You can easily find dozens of team outing ideas in San Francisco to keep your colleagues energized and entertained. Try a challenging, yet rewarding sushi-making workshop or blacksmithing class. Whichever activity your team decides to take on, you all will walk away with new skills and fresh perspective on your craft!

1. Take an offbeat tour with Museum Hack

You may be surprised how many people have visited famous museums all over the world but never one in their hometown! Take your team to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the de Young Museum, the Asian Art Museum, or the Musee Mechanique on an offbeat tour hosted by Museum Hack. Instead of the dry spiel you’ll get from a standard tour guide, Museum Hack will keep things interesting, and they’re even able to tailor the tour to suit your industry, such as including a focus on health care in the ancient world or technology in art.

2. Book an unforgettable Peerspace

To enjoy the most creative freedom when coming up with your team outing ideas in San Francisco, consider customizing your outing. Choose a location on Peerspace and arrange for your own catering or entertainment. You can find unique spots like a lively yoga studio, historic jazz lounge, or 50-seat theater to host your team outing. Correspond with a local host to arrange for additional services or equipment rentals, or call the Peerspace Concierge service for personalized help in designing an activity at one of hundreds of locations in SF.

3. Paint graffiti art with 1AM

You won’t get in trouble for spray-painting graffiti with a team-building workshop by 1AM. Your team will learn about the history of street art and enjoy a walking tour of local murals. Then, you’ll practice your skills on a 2’ x 3’ canvas and end the tour by painting directly on an outdoor wall. Other activities include a “History of Hip Hop” workshop that includes hands-on practice using mics, drum machines, and turntables. This is a great activity that combines creativity and an inside look at San Francisco’s art and music culture.

4. Host a noir-themed party with The Racket

The Racket is a role-playing party straight out of a mafia movie. Each player starts off with a fixed amount of cash and assumes an identity. Over the course of the night, you’ll compete to earn the most money by robbing banks, stealing elections, or playing the black market. The game is 75 minutes long and can include drinks and appetizers. Host the event at a Peerspace venue to find an appropriate noir-themed location, and make sure everyone dresses the part for the most authentic experience!

5. Find your reflection at Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze

SF Weekly calls it “the most psychedelic place one can legally reach within the city limits.” Take your team on a day trip to the Infinite Mirror Maze at Pier 39, where you’ll get lost in 2,000 square feet of mirrors and black lights. Although you can visit the maze on its own, combine this activity with some of the other fun activities at Pier 39 for an all-day team outing. This is an excellent activity for teams visiting from out of town with limited time to travel outside of the city.

6. Learn to sail with Captain Kirk’s SF Bay Sailing

San Francisco’s beautiful location makes it one of the best cities in the United States for learning to sail. With a Captain Kirk workshop, you can spend the day on the water working together as a team and navigating your own sailboat. Learn to trim the sails on the Bay Wolf, which fits up to 24 people. If you have a larger team, choose a multi-boat regatta and compete in a boat race. You can also combine this activity with a trip to Angel Island for a scavenger hunt or barbecue.

7. Make your own sushi with Breakthrough Sushi

If you’re looking for a relatively unconventional cooking class, plan a workshop with Breakthrough Sushi. The three-hour lesson includes all of the tools and ingredients you’ll need, including aprons and towels. The menu includes vegetarian options, and the ingredients are organic and sustainably sourced. For a more competitive activity, make it an Iron-Chef-style sushi competition. Or, sit back and let the professionals do the work with a customized sushi bar at your office or Peerspace venue.

8. Experience an improv workshop with Leela

Improv workshops are perfect when you want to escape your comfort zone during a team-building experience. Leela stands out with its unique improv classes that incorporate movement and music. Corporate teams can create their own custom workshops focused on public speaking, networking, conflict resolution, and more. They even offer a “Take Recess Back” option for recurring 30-60 minute sessions.

9. Try your hand at a futuristic escape room at Reason

Reason combines the latest technology with a traditional escape room format. Choose to escape from a malfunctioning reactor or alien satellite. The puzzles include hi-tech solutions that may include holograms, 3D printing, virtual reality, lasers, robots, and more. Reason offers a refreshing twist on escape rooms.

10. Become a blacksmith at The Crucible

Get into the Game of Thrones spirit with a blacksmithing class at the Crucible, a 56,000-square-foot workshop in Oakland. You can also learn clay sculpture, aluminum sand casing, glassblowing, enameling, and fire-eating! Workshops typically result in a small souvenir that your team can bring home. Or, you can work on a larger custom project, such as a collaborative sculpture to display in the office. Conclude your workshop with a wine-and-cheese reception to debrief about the project. Workshops are suitable for up to 150 people.

Though there is a plethora of exciting team outing ideas in San Francisco, you don’t have to limit yourself to the city. Book a Peerspace anywhere in the Bay Area for an all-day getaway or overnight retreat. Many of the options on this list are suitable for teams of all sizes, but for especially large teams, you may need even more space. Browse our Bay Area listings to find the perfect location for a customized team outing.

Find unique event spaces in San Francisco on Peerspace