8 Bakeries for a Multicultural Tour of San Francisco
San Francisco is famous for its sourdough — and for good reason. There’s nothing like the crackle of freshly baked crust as you…
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Whether you’re a team of five or 500, taking time out of your busy work schedule to focus on team building is essential for any successful company. Activities that foster bonding and connection with coworkers can help you better work together and build trust.
There’s no shortage of team-building activities in San Francisco, from outdoor ropes course adventures and water bicycling to pottery classes and food tours. Here are our top recommendations for 19 team-building activities in San Francisco.
1. Private pottery classes
Tap into your creative side and get your hands dirty with your team at a two-hour local, instructor-led clay-making experience.
Clay By The Bay Pottery Studios, located in the vibrant Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, offers private instructions where you and your team can learn to throw pottery on the wheel and hand-build a cup or pencil holder. Four weeks after the lesson, your new clay creations will be glazed and ready to take home with you.
2. Mission District food and culture tour
Spend two hours with your team eating your way through the famed Mission District of San Francisco with a local expert as you sample authentic dishes, from tacos to pan dulce. On your private tour, your group will also learn the meaning behind the many vibrant street murals, and hear about the influences of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera on the neighborhood.
Along with sampling all the local Latin cuisine you can handle, there’s time to explore the unique local businesses scattered throughout the area as your guide helps you build connections with each other and the community.
3. Graffiti classes
Speaking of street art, it’s everywhere around San Francisco, not just the Mission District, so why not make your own?
With graffiti classes through 1AM art gallery, your corporate group can dive deeper into the art and culture of graffiti. Choose from a variety of activities to create your team’s own graffiti art, from a street art workshop to a laser letter workshop. Bonus points if you spell out your company name as shown above.
4. Paintball
If you’re willing to travel a bit further for some team-building fun, head to The American Canyon Paintball Jungle for paintball among the eucalyptus trees 35 miles north of San Francisco. With 30 acres to play and the ability to accommodate groups of over 250 people, this action-packed activity is perfect for team bonding.
5. Beekeeping classes
If you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary for your group to really get to know each other, get ready to strap on a hazmat suit at a beekeeping workshop with Planet Bee Corporation. Planet Bee offers a variety of experiences especially for teams, from virtual honey tasting to a native bee nest-building activity.
6. Escape rooms
You thought you were going to get through a listicle about the best team-building activities in SF and not hear about escape games. They’re already a well-known activity for groups, but we’d be remiss to exclude them. Nothing brings a team closer than having to solve a mystery together before the clock runs out.
Located in downtown San Francisco, The Escape Room features five uniquely themed rooms, ranging from a playground to a prison break. They can even bring the games to your office or virtually if your team is remote or hybrid.
7. Paint Nite
Grab your work crew and check out a Paint Nite event in San Francisco to access your inner artist and sip some wine or beer while you do it. Paint Nite events take place all over the city and can also be reserved for private groups.
Need a team-building activity for your remote team? They also host virtual events.
8. Water bike ride around SF Bay
SpinOut Fitness offers teams a way to see the city from a whole new lens — on a floating bicycle in the bay. SpinOut’s water bikes are not only a fun and safe way to get out on the water, you’ll also get a workout as a bonus.
Their events range from one to four hours, and while they’re not specifically geared toward corporate team building, they do accept group bookings.
9. Alamo Square tour
Pair your team outing with some iconic San Francisco views with a tour of Alamo Square, home to the famous Painted Ladies. Explore the Western Addition’s one-of-a-kind Victorian homes, and peek inside a local mansion. Looking for the best place in SF to take your team-building photo? We’ve got it in Alamo Square with the SF skyline in the background.
10. Office yoga or meditation
Work can be stressful on both your body and mind, so treating your team to office yoga or meditation can be a perfect way to reset and find some calm in a busy day. Enter Office Meets Yoga — a group of experienced yoga teachers and meditation professionals bringing classes and workshops right to your office.
Recharge with on-site or virtual yoga, meditation, boot camp, breath work, and more, or partake in an educational workshop on mind and body health.
11. Bubble soccer
Put a twist on office field day with bubble soccer. Play bubble soccer (with an official referee) anywhere in San Francisco with The Air Suits. Or head to Mission Bay Field to play a round with your teammates on the SFF Soccer turf, and enjoy some delicious food from Spark Social afterward. (Bonus: The food can be included in the rental price.)
12. Dandelion Chocolate tasting
Treat your team to all the chocolate they can handle at San Francisco’s well-known chocolatier, Dandelion Chocolate.
Through Dandelion’s guided tastings — offered either at one of their locations in San Francisco or brought right to your office — you’ll taste five chocolates and learn more about the flavors and techniques of chocolate-making. You’ll even get a free chocolate bar to take home when you’re finished.
13. McLaren Park Ropes Course
Outward Bound’s rope course at John McLaren Park in San Francisco offers both a mental and physical challenge for team building.
At the ropes course, you’ll enjoy a series of challenges high up in the trees (while secured in a harness for safety) that will encourage you to put your trust in your fellow coworkers. The course route can accommodate up to 30 people at a time and can be customized to your group based on your desires and goals.
14. Mixology class
Taking a mixology class is an easy way to spice up a ho-hum happy hour. SoMa Bartending in San Francisco offers two-hour cocktail-making classes led by the company’s founder and director at their facility. These interactive classes cover the principles of mixology and the basics of making a craft cocktail anywhere. Everyone will create three specialty cocktails chosen from a custom menu.
15. Mini golf
Bond with your teammates through a little friendly competition at one of San Francisco’s beautiful mini golf courses. If your corporate group prefers their mini golf indoors, head to Urban Putt’s interactive and creative 14-hole course. Book a private event and don’t forget to try a local craft beer as you play.
Should you prefer to enjoy the great outdoors on your golf outing, check out Stagecoach Greens in Mission Bay, San Francisco. This 18-hole course offers a look into the history of the West and San Francisco. As a bonus, Stagecoach Greens also offers beer and cocktails on-site.
16. Volunteering team building in SF
Taking time to serve the greater good through volunteering is a meaningful team-building experience. You create close bonds with coworkers, and you feel good about helping others. It’s a win-win!
The Bay Area has an abundance of organizations accepting corporate group volunteers, whether you’re interested in aiding the parks through the Parks Conservancy, building homes through Habitat for Humanity, or protecting and restoring the San Francisco Bay through Save the Bay.
Stumped for ideas? Visit Hands On Bay Area to find the perfect project for your team.
17. Fisherman’s Wharf visit
Fisherman’s Wharf is the perfect bustling destination for a group outing, filled with shops, entertainment, Ghirardelli chocolate, and of course, famous San Francisco sourdough bread. Learn about the history of the area, spot the many adorable sea lions at Pier 39, and, if there’s time, hop on the ferry to Sausalito to explore the quaint and idyllic seaside town. Guides work with corporate groups of 3-4 up to 400 or more.
18. Axe throwing
Axe throwing has become increasingly popular over the years, and it’s a perfect activity to let loose with your team and release any work-related stress.
San Francisco-based Split the Wood brings axe throwing to you, including setups for small or large groups. Alternatively, head across the Bay Bridge to AxeVentures Berkeley, where you’ll have 75 minutes of unlimited axe throwing — you can even opt for glow-in-the-dark axe throwing if your team is up for a challenge.
19. Museum tours with Museum Hack
Museum Hack’s quirky and unique team-building events are hugely popular throughout the Bay Area.
Entertainers, comedians, and musicians doubling as tour guides lead groups through tours of some of the top museums in San Francisco, from the de Young Fine Arts Museum to the SF Museum of Modern Art. These tours are far from ordinary, offering up facts and pieces of history usually glossed over on typical museum excursions.
Team-building activities in San Francisco
There’s truly something for every team and individual when it comes to team-building events in San Francisco. Whether you’re learning the history of a San Francisco neighborhood or hurling axes at a target, these activities are sure to bring your team closer together and make work more enjoyable for everyone. No matter which activity your team decides to try, the important thing is that you try it together.
Looking for some place to take the team for a bite to eat while you’re in town? Check out our guide to the eight best multicultural bakeries in San Francisco.
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