Things to do alone in San Mateo

Downtown

Fiero Caffe

Downtown

Blue Bottle Coffee

Trendy cafe chain offering upscale coffee drinks & pastries, plus beans & brewing equipment.

Beresford Park

Prime BBQ

Hayward Park

Taste and Glory

Outdoors

Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

Massive 3,137-acre green space with many trails & a wide range of plant life & wildflowers.

Central San Mateo

Sama Coffee Shop

Downtown

Espetus Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse - San Mateo

Waiters in Brazilian gaucho attire serve all-you-can-eat skewers of meat in an eye-catching setting.

Downtown

The Barrel Bistro and Wine Bar

East San Mateo

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

Relaxed, lodge-chic chain serving global comfort fare, including stir-fries, pot roast & pastas.

South San Mateo

Blue Bottle Coffee

Trendy cafe chain offering upscale coffee drinks & pastries, plus beans & brewing equipment.

South San Mateo

KAIZEN & COFFEE

Downtown

Philz Coffee

Laid-back local chain specializes in custom-blended coffees, plus teas, specialty drinks & pastries.

Downtown

Porterhouse

Contemporary steakhouse that dry ages its porterhouse on the premises & makes its own sauces.

Shoreview

Ryder Park

Neighborhood park with striking, modern picnic pavilions, BBQs, a playground & seasonal splash pad.

Outdoors

Coyote Point Beach

Shoreview

Coyote Point Recreation Area

Bayside park offering a sizable playground with 6 slides, as well as trails & picnic areas.

Sugarloaf

Laurelwood Park

The city's largest park (225 acres) offers trails leading to Sugarloaf Mountain & scenic picnicking.

East San Mateo

Apple Fritter

Housemade donuts, egg dishes & gourmet burgers fill the menu at this chill counter-serve cafe.

Downtown

San Mateo Japanese Garden - Entrance

Spring blossoming Japanese gardens with a koi pond, pagoda & teahouse in a 16.3-acre city park.

South San Mateo

Laurie Meadows Park

Bordered by a path, this 7.5-acre park features a lawn with a softball backstop & a playground.

East San Mateo

Parkside Aquatic Park

Bordered by a lagoon, this cozy park features a swimming beach, picnic areas & a boat launch ramp.

Downtown

Pausa Bar & Cookery

Stylish trattoria for wood-fired pizzas, Italian mains & cocktails, with a chef’s table option.

Downtown

Barrelhouse

Trendy joint pairs pub grub with craft beer & cocktails, plus occasional live music & a patio.

Arts & Culture

Hiller Aviation Museum

Museum on the history & future of flight with various aircrafts on display, plus a flight simulator.