SF TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES

15 SF Team Building Activities That People Actually Like in 2023! 

 

Finally, after years of trial and error, team building exercises no longer have to follow the same old team-dinner formula that feels more like a mandatory assembly than a fun get-together. We have team building down to a science. With San Francisco’s bustling food scene, our legendary laid-back vibes, and about a million offices to experiment on, we’ve produced a dizzying array of options to make your group happier, more productive, and, dare we say it…real friends. 

 

Stretchy Pants is no stranger to quality San Francisco team building. We’ve led thousands of guests to eat and drink their way through the city’s best neighborhoods and watched team after team leave happy, bonded, and FULL! Luckily for your group, we’re giving away our secrets. Whether they’re more into food and drink, exploration and history, or a uniquely San Francisco sightseeing outing, these picks will give you the right recipe for team bonding instead of team boring. 

 

Note: while some of these options have different maximum or minimum group sizes, they are all available for private bookings.

SF Team Building #1: Stretchy Pants Tours

  • Location: Chinatown, North Beach, Mission District, or Hayes Valley
  • Time: 3 hours
  • Group rate: $85/person with optional add ons

Ok, admittedly, this was a gimme. Progressive foodie adventure while a charming local host guides you through one of the city’s most cultural, historical, and delicious neighborhoods? There’s a reason so many companies choose us for their team building events!

Everyone likes food, and breaking bread together is proven to build camaraderie. Add to that a dose of historical intrigue and a walk through the local scene, and your team will leave full of fine food and fun facts to fuel their bonding experience. We can accommodate special requests for different food, neighborhood, time, and group size options. Just let us know when you fill out the request!

Sharing pizza on the best food tour in San Francisco: Stretchy Pants food tours
SF Team Building Activities : Stretchy Pants Food Tours

Photo Courtesy of Google my Business

SF Team Building #2: Exploratorium

  • Location: Pier 15 (Embarcadero)
  • Time: Half day, full day, or evening
  • Group rate: fill out this form to request 

50% art, 50% percent science, and 100% fun, the Exploratorium offers an interactive learning experience perfect for team building. As they say: “Here at the Exploratorium, you don’t look at exhibits—you play with them.” Not only do they have hundreds of engaging, hands-on exhibits, they have two excellent restaurants known for health, sustainability, and an unmatched view of the bay. Private rentals are welcome and can be in the evening to accommodate a team happy hour or dinner. 

SF Team Building #3: BiteUnite Thai Cooking on the Rooftop

  • Location: Mission District
  • Time: 2 hours
  • Group Rate: $96/person (min. 10 guests)
Bond your group over mouth watering Bangkok-style street food made al fresco overlooking the beautiful Mission district. Nothing brings people together like food, and cooking it themselves allows your team to work together for fun instead of for a deadline. They’ll savor the journey through this delicious team building as they taste faraway flavors right at home in San Francisco. BiteUnite can accommodate dietary restrictions and customize their menu with expanded options for private events.
Best bagel in NYC: Frankel's

Photo Courtesy BiteUnite

SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy JB Walking Tours

SF Team Building #4: Presidio Walking Tours

  • Location: Presidio 
  • Time: 2-4 hours
  • Group Rate: $35-49/person
If your team is looking for a casual, social walk through one of the city’s most historic and scenic neighborhoods, look no further than Julie Brown’s walking tours of the Presidio. We’re proud to recommend a team building with one of our own Stretchy Pants guides in an area we don’t cover so that you can experience the unique sights, historical intrigue, and breathtaking views on this walk. There are two- and four-hour options available so that you can choose the route and timing that suit your group’s needs.

SF Team Building #5: Hall Wines in Napa Valley

  • Location: St. Helena or Rutherford
  • Time: Customizable
  • Group Rate: Inquire for private events
A great way to relax and bond as a group, Hall Winery offers a classy venue to taste top quality wines in scenic Napa Valley. Your team building will take you far from the confines of the office (or the home office) and into an environment where colleagues can ease off the work persona and get to know each other as friends over some delightful libations. What better way to foster connection and happy working relationships? Hall Wines has a plethora of different tasting packages, from the casual wine drinker to the all-sommelier staff, so that you can tailor your experience to your group’s preferences.
SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of Hall Wines

SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of Stagecoach Greens

SF Team Building #6: Mini Golf at Stagecoach Greens

  • Location: Parklab Gardens in Mission Bay
  • Time: Customizable (2+ hours recommended)
  • Group rate: Inquire for private events
The only thing better than mini golf is…San Francisco-themed mini golf! Treat your team to a fun challenge that incorporates equal amounts of athletic prowess (just kidding) and local history as you learn the story of the city through 18 action-packed holes. We recommend you finish your team building with a beverage or a bite to eat in one of their on-site lounges available for private rentals. Group size and timing are customizable to your team’s needs, but beware – this activity sells out quickly! Best to plan ahead.

SF Team Building #7: Pottery Class – Take a Claycation

  • Location: SMAart Gallery & Studio in Nob Hill
  • Time: 2 hrs
  • Group rate: $89/person
Get your team’s creative juices flowing in this entry-level pottery class. Guests of all skill levels can bring their artistic vision to life in a relaxing, fun environment perfect for socializing and coming together to complete a shared goal. Groups love the tactile element as well as the experience of shaping their piece and seeing the finished product after being glazed and fired by the resident master potters. Private team buildings are available on your schedule whenever there is availability in their calendar.
best pizza in nyc

Photo Courtesy of Airbnb

SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of Mountain Sea Adventures

SF Team Building #8: Forage Edible Plants and Mushrooms

  • Location: Santa Cruz, CA
  • Time: Half day, full day, or multiple days
  • Group Rate: $75/person
Here’s an option that takes your team building much closer to nature than the stock desktop photo on your Macbook. During your half- or full-day retreat, your group will be led through the woods of Santa Cruz foraging your own food from whatever is in season. A departure from our usual fine dining and drinking recommendations, this is for those who connect without screens, bright lights, and loud sounds, and want to build camaraderie through a more personal jaunt to take in California’s natural splendor. Timing and group sizes are customizable according to your team’s needs.

SF Team Building #9: Sailing Tour of the Bay

  • Location: Galilee harbor, Sausalito 
  • Time: Flexible (usually 2-4 hours)
  • Group rate: Starts at $500 (maximum group size: 6)
For smaller groups who love the open air and sea, Fine Day for Sailing offers an incredible trip around the bay fully customizable for your schedule, timing, and desired route. Take your SF team building to Sausalito for a nautical journey far away from keyboards and monitors. Captain Heather is happy to find a spot to drop anchor and set up a floating picnic, or to stay moving and pack in as many sights as possible. Bring your own food and beverages if desired, and be sure to pack a good jacket – it gets windy out there!
Best Desserts in San Francisco - Craftsman and Wolves

Photo Courtesy of Fine Day for Sailing

SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of Punto Fino Coffee Roasters

SF Team Building #10: Roast Your Own Coffee

  • Location: Fairfax
  • Time: 1.5 hours
  • Group rate: from $360 (max group size: 8)
For the hardcore coffee addicts and the casual sippers alike, this coffee roasting class offers a fun, casual introduction to doing it yourself as you turn green beans (yes, they start out green!) to brown before your very eyes. This team building can easily lead to a serious at-home hobby, and you can bet your team will never look at a Keurig the same way again. Not only do you leave with your freshly roasted batch, they give you a bag of green beans to keep practicing at home!

SF Team Building #11: Bike Around SF with Dylan’s Tours

  • Location: Dylan’s Bike Shop on Columbus Ave
  • Time: Flexible (3-8 hours)
  • Group rate: Starts at $75/person
One of the most well-known bike tours in the city, Dylan’s Tours offers team buildings for an all-in-one day of sightseeing perfect for new arrivals, out of town visitors, or anyone looking to get to know San Francisco. Their events are customizable for any group size, departure time, and tour duration, and don’t worry about negotiating our legendary SF hills – all pedaling is optional on their battery powered e-bikes.ve vicariously through the pictures others post of their experiences.
SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of Google my Business

SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of Story of Ramen

SF Team Building #12: Story of Ramen

  • Location: Mission district
  • Time: 2 or 4 hours
  • Group rate: Starts at $810 for 2 hours
Take your team out for the ultimate ramen cooking class! Work together to craft the noodles and assemble the bowl, or go for the advanced class to make the toppings and broth from scratch as well. A low-stakes challenge suitable for any group that loves to eat, help your team bond and make memories outside work. Don’t be alarmed if you start getting slack messages to “send noods”…that’s just the spillover from a tasty team building 😉

SF Team Building #13: Haunted Ghost Tour

  • Location: Chinatown
  • Time: 1.5 hours
  • Group rate: Starts at $49/person
Explore one of San Francisco’s most haunted neighborhoods while you search for spooks with real ghost hunting gear. This walkthrough is much more engaging than a regular historical walking tour – your team will be part of the story of the area as you learn its haunted history and create some for yourselves. This tour is available for any group size up to 25 and can easily lead to a local bar for happy hour afterward.
SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of The Haunt Ghost Tours

SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of Airbnb

SF Team Building #14: Wine and Painting​

  • Location: Upper Nob Hill
  • Time: 2.5 hours
  • Group rate: Starts at $50/person
Let your team’s creative juices flow in a relaxing space open to painters of all skill levels. Resident artist Yijun provides expert guidance in her studio/gallery meant to inspire and delight your inner muse. Give your team building a unique twist beyond the typical happy hour or team dinner – this type of activity lets the group see a different side of each other, grow closer, and enjoy working together on something outside of their jobs.

SF Team Building #15: Escape Room​

  • Location: Union Square/downtown
  • Time: 1 hour
  • Group rate: starts at $43/person
For the team who loves to compete, shake off the stress of work and put your creative problem solving to use in one of the Escape Game’s 5 themed San Francisco escape rooms. Located near plenty of local eateries to extend the experience and continue the bonding, this team building gives you a fun challenge unlike any other. The rooms are also quite sizable – they can accommodate group sizes of up to 44 per room!
SF Team Building Activities

Photo Courtesy of The Escape Game

Love Stretchy Pants?

If you’re digging what we’re dishing up, you might like any number of our culinary experiences. Be sure to subscribe to our email list to get your free ebook travel guide and all of our insider recommendations and updates!

Join our newsletter!

...And get a free 5-day SF itinerary!


Check out some of our other blogs! 

Best Places for Easter Brunch in San Francisco

Best Places for Easter Brunch in San Francisco

Apr 11, 2019

Where to Find the Best Easter Brunch in San Francisco   Ahhh Easter morning. The fresh anticipation of egg hunts, sugar overloads, and extended family gatherings is exciting. But if you don’t really feel like popping that spiral ham in the oven to feed a hungry...

read more
Tiki Bars in San Francisco and Beyond

Tiki Bars in San Francisco and Beyond

Apr 2, 2019

A Tiki Bar in San Francisco and Beyond for Every Mood   When you hear the word “tiki bar,” an image instantly comes to mind - maybe it’s a carved wooden mask or a palm tree, perhaps a notion of simpler times and easy living. This ode to the South Pacific has...

read more
What to Eat in Taiwan

What to Eat in Taiwan

Mar 13, 2019

What to Drink and Eat in Taiwan   Taipei, Taiwan is one of the most underrated countries for food in the world. One might even go as far as to say it is the best food in Asia. This island metropolis of 2.6 million people is filled with street food vendors on...

read more
Best Wings in San Francisco

Best Wings in San Francisco

Mar 4, 2019

7 Spots for the Best Wings in San Francisco    Are you a chicken wing connoisseur like us? If so, you are in for a treat, we have curated the perfect list of restaurants to find the best wings in San Francisco. Saying we’re fans of wings is a bit of an...

read more
Brunch with the Painted Ladies

Brunch with the Painted Ladies

Feb 22, 2019

Where to Eat Near The Painted Ladies If you’re visiting San Francisco, one picture you can’t forget to snap is of the famous Painted Ladies that sit across from Alamo Square Park. The Painted Ladies are the colorful houses that became famous after Full House aired in...

read more
What to Eat in Laos (Luang Prabang)

What to Eat in Laos (Luang Prabang)

Feb 21, 2019

Taste Your Way Through Luang Probang!  The inland city of Luang Prabang, Laos is worth a visit for its unique fare and rich local culture. What makes it particularly special is since it is a bit off the beaten path from the rest of Southeast Asia, it is not as...

read more
How to Make Crumpets + Lemon Curd

How to Make Crumpets + Lemon Curd

Jan 19, 2019

Get Ready For Your Tea Party! Looking for an idea for your next bridal shower or baby shower? Have a tea party and make some crumpets and lemon curd!  A tea party is the perfect way to send any afternoon but is sure to make your next party the talk of the town. If you...

read more