This is a long overdue review. My 5 year old daughter had her birthday here back in 2024. Highly recommend. We did the party package where you had play time in the playground, then time in party room, then arcade. We chose last time slot on a Saturday I think. Since the play time is timed I'd recommend warning all your guests about it and have them arrive early. We sent all the parents a schedule and heads up so things could run super smooth and the kids could enjoy every minute of play time. Parking is very limited since it's a super small lot and there's a party ahead of you too. The host family has a reserved parking spot out front but our guests definitely need to just find street parking, they came early and seemed to find parking fine. Staff will collect bday gifts in a cart which is super helpful. The indoor play structure is super big and spacious and has a toddler area too. A big kids track with basketball like area with soft balls is right next to play area and had some areas for adults to sit. Adults can chill upstairs in the lounge area too. Play area is gated. You have option to have staff lead the kids in a series of games at the track area which is great way to get the entire party together at end of play time which my daughter loved. Afterwards the kids line up n wash hands n everyone is led upstairs to the party room. The party room is like jungle safari theme decorated painted on the walls. Space is a bit tight/cramped but good air flow and fine. Staff will walk around serving the kids food which is great. Everyone can eat and enjoy without the adults spending time to serve and feed the kids. Afterwards we went down to arcade room and played and you get tickets and redeem for prize. Everyone was able to walk away with a prize which is perfect. Only downside is it gets hot. "Arcade area definitely needs a remodel with AC or at minimum very good fans. I would suggest the owners to highly consider this as it's a bit run down looking compared to the rest of the facility". But even if a remodel is not done, the arcade area is good as is. Maybe buying a few portable fans to hand out to the few guests who might overheat is good enough. Guests had so much fun !! and we got a lot compliments how well run everything was !! They have a food vendor which was perfect too. We plan to have our daughter's 7th bday here again this year as we can't find a better venue that can be so spacious and run so well. Definitely 5 stars. At end of the night, the staff loaded our car with gifts, leftover food. For us, the less work the better so we can actually enjoy the party while hosting. Thank you so much to all the staff and for leading that game time too. read more

Safari Run - Party & Event Planning Near Me - San Mateo, California

We've been here for camp, open play, and birthday parties. Always a clean play place! This review is specifically for the summer camp. My daughter really enjoyed it. As a parent, a few things that I really liked about this camp: 1) they provide snack 2) they make sure the kids wash their hands 3) they have a drive thru pick up/ drop off system. Very easy and convenient. You show your ID to pick up your kid - very safe. 4) the kids did so many activities throughout the day. They would play games and do crafts and it seemed like the workers were very engaged with the kids 5) they share pictures with you at the end of the week. You can also find pictures on instagram each day Great place, highly recommend! read more

Parking is very limited in the area and primarily street parking. Weekends are closed to the public for birthday parties. They run multiple parties at the same time and you rotate hourly between the gym, food, and arcade. Gym: Nice play structure with a small area for younger kids. Probably most ideal for kids 3-5. Food: Aside from cake, you have to utilize their food options. We had pizza, fried chicken, juice/water/soda and fruit. The dining area is quite small so if you are expecting more than 30 total people, you will feel like sardines. Arcade: Geared towards young kids, but they also have skeeball. Birthday packages are on the pricey side (starting at $750) so probably would wait until kids are at least 4-5 so that they can enjoy everything. read more

If I could give 6 stars, I would! This review is for my experience hosting my son's birthday party here. Pros: Online reservation system is straight forward Staff is extremely accommodating, pleasant and helpful on day of event (they handled party room set up, cake cutting/ serving, pizza serving (it is passed around butler style, not just boxes open for self serving which I thought was a nice touch) and clean up! The jungle gym is huge and fun! They also have a separate area for babies and toddlers. In between parties, I actually saw staff members disinfecting the gym! There is also a staff member who is inside the actual gym to ensure kid safety at all times. The added arcade experience after our pizza/cake time was a huge hit with the littles! Cons: Cannot bring any outside beverages (must purchase water, juice, soda etc through them which can get costly). Only guest food option is their vendor Seniores Pizza (GF pizza available) - no exceptions A lot of my guests showed up late (unfortunately) and the play time is timed which means the kids won't get the full 40-50min in the gym. I would REALLY emphasize guests to arrive 15 min prior for parking/check in. Overall highly recommend for a fun, clean, stress free party for your littles. Thank you to a well-trained, profession staff for making my son's birthday a great experience for all! read more

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I don't even want to tell you how much I ...*ahem* ...I mean my son loves this place. It's clean, open space and, not overly crowded. If you ask my son what he loves the most about Safari run it's probably the multiple slides. There's a seating area for parents to chill while the kids burn the energy off (we all know parents need more downtime). The area is gated and secured so kids won't run off. There's also party packages available. The staff is super friendly and admission on weekdays are unlimited. read more

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The space is so clean. The staff were friendly and welcoming! The structure is so colorful, well cared for and plenty of climbing and sliding! read more

This might be one of my favorite indoor play places in the Bay Area, especially for the age of my kids at the moment. Pros: Feels clean, kept up well. Cute jungle theme. Because the play structure isn't too big, you won't be overrun with rowdy pre-teens. It's pretty perfect for the early elementary age group - even my 3 year old son was able to get through the play structure autonomously and safely. Still, it includes a good variety of covered and open slides, drawbridges and other obstacle course features. There is a tot zone, albeit really small (like a couple little slides and low climbing areas and wall toys). Price for open play is pretty good, especially if you can pay cash. Plenty of comfy seating in actual armchairs for parents! Cons: If you're considering a birthday here, the price seems more on the expensive end. Parking is VERY cramped. I showed up 10 minutes before open play opened and nabbed one of the 4-5 spots in front - by the time my kids wanted to leave, the lot was full of cars and it was tough to get out. read more

Thank you Safari Run for the best birthday party ever! Hands down the best service we could have had and I had several parents come up to me after saying how impressed they were with the service. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating and I would recommend for any parent looking for an easy birthday party! read more

I came here for a birthday party and the play structure is nice and I enjoyed it but I felt overall very rushed. The party includes some guided activities but it was very lack luster and I felt they weren't into it and really leading the kids. I would have preferred to not have those and just have free play. Also the lining up to get everyone upstairs took a while, then we finally sat down for cake and it just felt super hectic and rushed. Sat down, sang happy birthday, then cut distributed cake, then the staff started cleaning and rushing us out. Definitely felt like they crunched the time to squeeze in as many birthday parties as they could in a day. read more

We had our child's 4th birthday party here and it was great! Email communication before the event was timely and clear. They ordered the pre-selected food, so I didn't have to worry about picking up hot food or coordinating the delivery. My favorite part is that the staff took care of everything (games, corralling the kids, getting everyone to sing happy bday) during the event, so I could socialize and not worry about the small things. They also kept it moving; for the playtime and eating/cake it was 1 hour and 40 minutes. (We didn't do the arcade room.) Overall a great experience with no surprises or snafus. The kids had a blast. Highly recommend! read more

The play area was huge, clean, and very well run. The snacks were well priced. Wonderful front desk. My child got a small scrape coming down the slide and they immediately had a bandaid ready. read more

My son had his 4th birthday at Safari Run in Sunnyvale, and the day was fun and memorable. The experience was seamless from the initial booking to the day of the party. The play area was spacious and clean, and the party room was well decorated with animal theme wall art. The staff were friendly, well organized in their task, and ran the day efficiently. Overall a great experience for everyone! read more

I came here with my little cousins and they loved it. It reminds me of jungle gym when I was a kid growing up. Definitely a lot of nostalgia so I wanted my little cousins to experience something active and fun like it. I found out recently that the owners are the parents of Luke. I have been watching his videos for a long time and he is someone you guys should check out as well. Thank you for the great experience read more

Quite mechanical. No warmth. They say the party is two hour slot, they start rushing everyone out at 90 minute mark. Bad experience.

This place was INCREDIBLE. If you are a busy parent who doesn't have time to think/plan but wants to make your kid HAPPY? This is the place. They take care of everything for you. Set up, play time, cake cutting, utensils, plates etc YOU JUST SHOW UP. Never had such a stress free experience anywhere else. There are different levels of packages you can choose. I paid $1150 for a party of 30 people adults and kids. That includes 2.5 hours of food & play. You can't bring outside food. It's only pizza and juice box, sodas and waters from them directly. (Which is fine with me). Thank you to all the wonderful staff. read more

Super fun find!! This San Mateo store is close to Coyote Point next to the CrossFit on N Amphlett Blvd (right next to the 101). There's a small free parking lot and street parking nearby. So I accidentally booked a session on Thanksgiving day - I thought I lucked out but no they weren't open that day. Someone caught the error and immediately contacted me to refund me. I figured that was that and oh well! But then they called back and offered to fit us in at another spot (they were sold out so they opened up times just for us). We found a time that works thankfully! On the day of, we filled out the waivers online. We had a few questions which we emailed and they responded super quickly. Such great service! Their email listed out all the rules and what to bring so there was no confusion. We had socks with us and the kids went straight in to play. We had a range of age 5-11 and it was absolutely perfect! We were concerned the oldest wouldn't have fun but he had a blast! There's lots of great climbing, obstacle courses, and fun slides for everyone! They have a tiny slide area for littles under 3 but I think they would just want to play with the bigger kids? Everything was super clean, and the staff were excellent with the kids. All around a fantastic time! There are bathroom facilities near the entrance, 2 sinks to wash hands, and lots of gifts to purchase at the store. Parents have a comfy lounge upstairs to hang out and watch and tables downstairs to sit at. It's not the hugest indoor play space we've been to but they've done a wonderful job with the space and it's definitely a winner with our kids! read more

Safari Run - Clean and fun! - Party & Event Planning Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place is amazing. I booked my sons 5th birthday party here and I cannot say enough good things. The place is very clean. They have a hand washing station close to the play area easy access for the kids. They wipe down and sanitize the play area before your party. The party hosts are great. The hosts instructs the kids what to do and plays with them during the party. They are very organized during serving time. You don't need any decorations the party room is already painted with a safari theme. All of the parents have told me their kids can't stop talking about how much fun they have. I highly recommend this place for a birthday party. read more

We have been here twice for birthday parties, most recently our daughter's. The staff works extremely hard and everything is very organized. The cleanliness is what really stands out. We see staff members cleaning before, during, and after each group of kids and it really makes a difference. It smells fresh and clean everywhere which never happens at these types of kid activity centers. Every kid had the best time. read more

This location was a little smaller than I expected but still ample enough of a playground for my toddler to burn off some energy and have a good time. They also have a section for the younger tikes. Safari Run is also a kids' gym - I like the concept of encouraging kids to move their bodies more. They have a small but fun lobby area where you can eat your snacks or purchase some retail Montessori toys to take home. The biggest con is the parking lot - super limited parking so if you don't get here early, you'll need to park down the street somewhere. read more

My grandkids love it. Every time we take them there , they get super excited. And it's always hard to leave the place.

The staff here is A+. They made having our birthday party for 10 yr olds just perfect. They've thought of everything and are so helpful. The kids always have a blast here. I would say it's really perfect for 5 yrs - 11 yrs....maybe 12. They have a refrigerator if your cake/cupcakes need refrigeration. Very clean - the staff was consistently wiping things down and sweeping. They made what can be a stressful event way less stressful. read more

Clean place for kids to have some fun! My children really enjoyed this place! We definitely will be back!

Love safari run as do the kids. The facility is clean and the workers are great. Have had multiple parties there and all ran smoothly.

We had our sons birthday here. The owner Jodi was a great communicator and had everything lined up and ready to go. Our son had a wonderful birthday and the kids had a blast. They were very accommodating and able to address our concerns, and took care all of the heavy lifting. It's a great experience and highly recommended for parents to have a great birthday for their kid with minimal effort. We also come here for open play and this place is always very clean. I highly recommend this place!! read more

This is a fun place for kids 3+ to play. There is a small section with a slide for those under 3. There is a sign that states the area is for 3 and under but the only issue is that the older kids run over and get wild in the under 3 area and it scares some of the babies. The sign is there but it is not enforced. Other than that it seems to be a really fun place. My 7 year old loved it. There's are some slides and a jungle gym. It is Safari animal themed. It does get busy on rainy days and during the pandemic so come early at opening. We arrived around 11 and we had to wait for someone to leave before my son could go in due to the pandemic. They do a good job at cleaning the place and it is good that the limit the number of kids. If you are looking for something fun to keep your kids entertained or off screens then this is the place. read more

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I had my daughter's 5th birthday party at the San Mateo location and I can't stop raving about it. All of our guests were impressed by how clean the gym was and how well run it was. The party was a complete success with a well coordinated agenda. The staff went above and beyond to accommodate us, they even served the cake to the guests! The staff were extremely friendly to the kids and rallied them up. They communicated smoothly before the event and made sure all logistics were taken care of, including setting everything up, having a designated space for gifts, packing all food up for us, and bring it back to our car. I'm impressed by it all - the cleanliness, coordination, beautiful party room and arcade. This was by far the best experience I've had at a party venue. 100% recommend for parties. read more

They deleted my review off google.. Honestly guys you're better off celebrating your children's birthday party at a near by public park. I came here for my friend's child's birthday party and the staff here seemed RUSHED. They could use more enthusiasm and the owner was giving my friend horrible attitude.. I heard her mocking my friend's accent. On top of that this place is very EXPENSIVE and OVERCHARGES. You can't bring your own drinks you would have to buy it from them at a more pricier cost. read more

As a full-time nanny in this area who has been to every indoor play place in Burlingame, San Mateo, Redwood City, SF, and more, none come close to the cleanliness and ambiance of Safari Run! The play structure feels ideal for children of all ages, as I even enjoy climbing throughout the play structure and joining in the fun! For those who do not feel like embracing their wild sides, they have the most comfortable setup for working (connected to their free wifi) in three locations that all allow for supervision of the children (up top with an ariel view, on the sidelines in comfy chairs, or a table setting at the front). You genuinely cannot go wrong with bringing your children here for an open play session, offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: from 10-1, and Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3-6! Additionally, we hosted our 4-year-old's birthday party here and couldn't ask for more! The offered packages took care of everything!! They provided an ideally themed party, in a high-quality setting (clean, superior play area, jungle-themed dining room), with friendly staff who contributed to the positive vibes and fun time! read more

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We visited here recently for a birthday party - ages 2.5-5, approximately 10 kids. The kids had a great time - myself as well (I joined in for a bit). We would definitely visit this place again for a party or during open hours. read more

We went to Safari Run for multiple camps this summer, and we use it for open play as well! Our favorite part is how clean it always is! I enjoyed the pick up and drop off routine in the camps, as it made it super easy to not have to get out with my second child. Additionally, the photos we received at the end of camps were amazing and a nice surprise! I loved the bead method of recognition, as I could always learn what my daughter did well. We will continue to utilize Safari Run for both camps and open play! read more

This is an amazing place to bring your littles and their friends. We've had many parties at this location and will continue to go back. This place is so family friendly, clean and the staff goes over and beyond to ensure that the kiddos are safe and having fun. Oh, did I mention the classes offered for adults? Call or go on/line for class information. You will not be disappointed by what personal trainer Jodi has to offer. read more

For parties: It's just ok. It's very expensive as is any party place for your child. The part that bothered me is I had ordered enough food for the people that were coming (kids and adults). We had some adults drop off so we had less people than originally planned and we still didn't have enough food! They over-served these young kids spaghetti and I had one child that didn't get ANY food at all. They throw parties, this is what they do. How can you not ration the food out properly? Disappointed. read more

Had a blast!!! Private party, very clean, well kept, and so much fun for both kids and adults. Rob was pleasant and very accommodating. Party of 12 and it was just perfect for my daughters 6th birthday!! read more

I am very happy with the outcome of my party. All my guests left with their hearts full of joy. Facility is neat and clean. Staff are super helpful and did all the work and planning along the way. I really felt the sit back and relax. My other child has already mentioned his next birthday celebration needs to be at Safari Run. read more

The purpose of this review is to highlight the service that Safari Run provides. Safari Run was an excellent choice to use for a weekend party of 45 people. Prior to booking Safari Run, I checked it out on and open play night. While children were at play, Mason took some time to show me around the facility and explain the process for booking a party. Mason is an excellent host. A party was booked online for a 4 year olds birthday party. Roughly 20 kids and 25 adults. Food was ordered a week before the party (Señores Pizza is the catering host) , all details were in order. Day of the party, time slot was on time, the employees greeted everyone, assisted with our goodie bags and cake. They set everything up while the kids were being entertained in the Jungle. After the play time was over they escort everyone upstairs to the dining area where the staff takes care of the food prep and cleanup. They interact with the crowd and stay engaged. After eating they professionally pack up any left overs and everyone heads downstairs to the arcade room (if you chose the arcade package). Games are really good for young kids and after play they can pick out prizes from the counter with the tickets they win. Overall, the place is great. The staff really shines and works well together. The place is extremely clean and accommodating. Bravo to everyone that assisted with the party. I recommend this business one hundred percent. read more

I stumbled on a Groupon sale which made the 10 visit pass an amazing deal. Brought my son here for open play during winter break from school. It's great to have something to keep him busy as it gets cold playing at the park outside and I hate having too much screen time. Bringing him here means I can mostly just let my son go play on his own, get a break myself and tire him out enough for a good nap. This place is optimal for age 4+ to maybe 9 year olds. I think younger kids would get runned over in the play structure and older kids might think it is too kiddish. There is a small corner with a slide and some foam gym pieces for age 3 and under. Wish the area for under 3 was bigger or there was more play options for littles. I don't feel like I am getting my money's worth for my younger son. Parking is not ideal, the dedicated lot only has like 6 spots and street parking is limited especially during peak times. The afternoon we came here there was a short wait as the gym reached maximum capacity. The staff was very nice and efficient as we checked in. Remember to bring socks for kids/grown ups, a water bottle, a couple of snacks and you should be golden. read more

One of the cleanest indoor play structures there is. I like how they require kids to wash hands, right after entering the gates. And there's a restroom right when you enter that is right next to the sinks-this is super convenient because they still have their shoes on and can use the restroom before taking them off. Parents can leave their shoes on downstairs or can go upstairs to their parent lounge which is super comfy (shoes also on up here). Theres couches, a tv, wifi and computers up there. And this lounge is overlooking the play structure. I've always had this place on my list but never made it out here because they close early. But we loved the place and would absolutely come back :) FYI a child is $13 There's are a few small tables in the front (before you enter the gate) that kids can eat at. They also sell a nice variety of snacks. I like how their snacks are on the healthier side - example chips are pop chips , sun chips, baked chips. They even have apple sauce, string cheese :) read more

Safari Run - Party & Event Planning Near Me - San Mateo, California

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It was our first time here and I must say that it's a fun and wonderful atmosphere for children. It's awesome to see little people running around enjoying themselves! I'd like to add that their slides are super fast and they have pretty cool obstacles! Moreover, I thought they served some sort of food here, but they only serve snacks, so I did not have anything to feed my little friend! They have a rule that once you walk out of the premises, you can't come back in... Got it now! I'd like to thank Mason, for his professional customer service, for being attentive, friendly, understanding and for letting us step out to grab food and come back inside the facility! He also recommended a Papusa food truck 3 blocks down the street and we appreciated that recommendation because it was tasty good! So remember to BRING YOUR OWN FOOD FOLKS ! It's representative like Mason that has made our day and our first experience at Safari Run positive! Right on Mason! read more

Safari Run - Party & Event Planning Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Went here to celebrate my nephew's daughters' birthday party. Yes, I'm getting old. Pretty soon, they're gonna be calling me grumpy old man. On second thought....my kids already call me that. But back to this place. Usually, if you attend kids parties, it can get pretty boring for adults and older kids. My kids are at the stage now where they are too cool to hang out with the parents and can't really do much at kid parties - except to play with their portable game system or text away on their cellphones. This place is different and I quite enjoyed myself...as well as my older kids. For starters, they have the playground for the little kids as well as a track to run themselves silly. The safari concept and design is incorporated on everything. For the adults, they have large screen monitors on every room. They have a lounge on the second floor to relax in and get away from the kids but still keep an eye on them. They also have two computer terminals which my son and I took quick advantage of. When they ushered us in the dining area, having a monitor there helped us keep track of the Giants game. But we all know how these places work: everything is timed so one party gets ushered in from one place to the next. However, with all these little touches, they really factored in the experience for the adults as well as the kids. Both kids and adults would leave very happy. read more

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Safari Run is *the* best place to have a kid's birthday party! I recently booked Safari Run to celebrate my daughter's birthday, and everything went so smoothly. Safari Run is a well-run machine when it comes to birthday parties for kids. I booked about three months' in advance to ensure I secured the date/time I wanted for my daughter's 9th birthday party, and I recommend anyone do the same because they fill up rather quickly (and now I know why!). A week leading up to our party, a staff member, Mason (who is super friendly and professional!), sent me an email and followed up with a phone call to let me know I could place my food order and when they needed to receive the order. He also helped answer a lot of my one-off questions and was so patient. The email and their website very clearly state the maximum capacity for your party (my party had 20 kids and 22 adults), start time, end time, costs, etc. There are no surprises when it comes to the billing because all of those details are so clearly stated. On the day of the party, we arrived about 15 minutes in advance, and there was a staff member available to help us unload our car--a huge help because, as with any birthday party you're hosting, there will be a lot of stuff. They labeled our stuff with a sticky note and asked clarifying questions on what I preferred (i.e., do I want the cake refrigerated prior to the party or do I want it room temperature? Are the goodie bags I prepared gender-neutral or gender-specific? [so the staff knows how I'd like to distribute them], etc.). I brought my own serving utensils, but one of the staff members kindly told me that they had those things available and asked if I preferred to use what I had in my paper bag or if I wanted to use theirs. Of course, I opted to use their serving utensils, wipes, and sanitizer because it's a few less things for me to remember to bring back home. When the party started in the huge play structure area, there was another staff member named Tory who was on hand to help around the area, so the parents, for the most part, were able to sit around and chitchat while all of the kids played. About 30 minutes in, Tory rounded up all of the kids and gave the birthday girl the choice of whether to play hide-and-seek or treasure hunt. My daughter selected hide-and-seek; Tory facilitated the game with the kids, and all of the kids played and had so much fun! It was a nice little break to have all of the kids play together, versus them all running happily and crazily around the huge play structure area. When it came time for the food to be served, the staff rounded up the group to put back on their shoes and wash hands before they marched upstairs where the party room was, and--this is the best part--the various staff members (including Mason) had set up everything for me! I'm talking the pizza, the fruit trays, the cake, the place settings--everything was done! I thought I had to be on hand to help, but they knew exactly what went where. The space was so beautiful! Once all the kids and parents sat down, the staff members--and there were several--started serving the food. The pizza from Seniore's Pizza was still piping hot. I've had cold pizza at other birthday parties held at other venues before, but at this Safari Run, they managed to keep the pizza hot and fresh upon serving. I'm not sure what their trick is, but the pizza tasted *so* good that I even had parents ask me where the pizza was from after the party. The staff members walked around the room with a pizza tray or a fruit tray a few times, offering my guests more pizza or more fruit and helping with anything my guests needed. Ceylon, another wonderful staff member, helped me position the candles and roll the birthday cake out to the birthday girl for the happy birthday singing. When it came time to cut and serve the cake, the staff members, to no surprise to any of you by now, did that too. All this to say, the staff at Safari Run took care of everything for us. It was low-stress because they clearly knew what they were doing. They also helped me box all of the leftovers back up and helped us get them loaded into the car with all of the gifts my daughter received. The service was so exceptional that I felt compelled to leave this place a review. My daughter and all of her friends had the best time. I was able to sit back and enjoy some delicious pizza with our guests, and it's all because Safari Run took care of us. Safari Run is so fun for kids with wonderful staff and they all shine; if you want to host a low-stress kid birthday party, I cannot recommend Safari Run highly enough. Thank you to Mason, Tory, Ceylon, Gabe, and all of the hard-working staff here for such a high-touch experience. It far exceeded my expectations. read more