# Kid-friendly places in San Mateo

30 listed places in San Mateo: 20 playgrounds and things to do, 9 restaurants and 1 hotel. Each lists high chairs, changing tables, kids' menus and wheelchair access where known.

Last updated 2026-10-26, from the newest confirmation among these places.

## Narrower lists

- [Kid-friendly restaurants in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/restaurants) (9)
- [Playgrounds and things to do with kids in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/playgrounds) (20)
- [Places with high chairs in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/with-high-chairs) (4)
- [Places with a changing table in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/with-changing-tables) (3)
- [Restaurants with a kids' menu in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/with-kids-menu) (6)
- [Parks and playgrounds with restrooms in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/with-restrooms) (8)
- [Free things to do with kids in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/free-to-visit) (3)
- [Shaded playgrounds and parks in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo/with-shade) (5)

## Guides

- [Playgrounds for a whole afternoon in San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/guides/united-states/california/san-mateo/playgrounds-for-a-whole-afternoon): 5 playgrounds in San Mateo with a restroom and picnic tables right there, so you can stay a while.

## Places

1. [Magic Mountain Playground at Coyote Point](https://ourplayday.com/places/magic-mountain-playground-at-coyote-point-san-mateo-7r6k) (playground, San Mateo). A giant castle-and-dragon playground with separate zones for big kids and toddlers. A sandy beach, plane-spotting over SFO and CuriOdyssey are all next door.
2. [Ryder Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/ryder-park-san-mateo) (playground, San Mateo). Bayfront park with one of the Peninsula's few splash pads plus a big playground and picnic lawns right on the water. Flat Bay Trail access makes it stroller and balance-bike friendly.
3. [Beresford Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/beresford-park-san-mateo) (playground, San Mateo). A Park a Day Bay Area 'Top Pick': three climbing huts linked by a rope bridge, a big rope-climbing structure, 10 swings (4 of them baby swings) and a separate little-kids playground. Skate park next door for older siblings.
4. [Central Park (San Mateo)](https://ourplayday.com/places/central-park-san-mateo) (playground, San Mateo). A Japanese tea garden, a miniature train on weekends, and a playground with restrooms.
5. [Laurie Meadows Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/laurie-meadows-park-san-mateo) (playground, San Mateo). A Park a Day 'Top Pick': big 5-12 playground (tube slides, climbing, spinners, rock wall) with a separate tot playground for ages 2-5. Dog park and grassy fields, footbridge to Casanova Park.
6. [Paddock Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/paddock-park-san-mateo) (playground, San Mateo). Fully gated playground by the old Bay Meadows track: climbing net cube and rock wall for ages 5-12 plus a separate smaller toddler playground, with plenty of parent seating.
7. [Residence Inn San Francisco Airport/San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/places/residence-inn-san-francisco-airport-san-mateo-san-mateo) (hotel, San Mateo). All-suite extended stay with full kitchens, free hot breakfast, an outdoor pool, and listed Activities for Kids.
8. [Rise Woodfire Pizza & Rotisserie](https://ourplayday.com/places/rise-woodfire-pizza-rotisserie-san-mateo) (pizzeria, San Mateo). Downtown San Mateo woodfire spot with kids' pizzas, rotisserie chicken, and a roomy modern space steps from Central Park.
9. [Tomatina](https://ourplayday.com/places/tomatina-san-mateo) (restaurant, San Mateo). Casual Italian with fresh pastas and piadine, a real kids' menu, and a Thursday kids-eat-free night.
10. [Amici's East Coast Pizzeria](https://ourplayday.com/places/amici-s-east-coast-pizzeria-san-mateo) (pizzeria, San Mateo). East Coast-style pizzeria with an official Young Kid's Menu (pizza, pasta) for an easy, casual family dinner downtown.
11. [CuriOdyssey](https://ourplayday.com/places/curiodyssey-san-mateo) (zoo, San Mateo). Part zoo, part science museum: native California animals (otters, bobcats, eagles) plus hands-on science exhibits, right on the bay at Coyote Point.
12. [Martin Luther King Jr. Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/martin-luther-king-jr-park-san-mateo) (playground, San Mateo). A playground beside the community center and the ball and soccer fields, so it's handy while a sibling is at practice.
13. [BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse](https://ourplayday.com/places/bj-s-restaurant-brewhouse-san-mateo) (restaurant, San Mateo). Chain brewhouse at Bridgepointe with a big kids' menu (mini burgers, mac 'n' cheese, mini corn dogs) and a high-energy, family-friendly atmosphere where kid noise blends in.
14. [Central Park Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/central-park-playground) (playground, San Mateo). A big San Mateo park with a playground split for little and big kids, plus a Japanese Tea Garden, arboretum, and a free train ride.
15. [Jeffrey's Hamburgers](https://ourplayday.com/places/jeffrey-s-hamburgers-san-mateo) (restaurant, San Mateo). 50's-style burger joint in downtown San Mateo that's usually full of families; the enclosed sunroom in back is a pressure valve for kids too squirmy to sit still.
16. [Taishoken](https://ourplayday.com/places/taishoken-san-mateo) (restaurant, San Mateo). Top-tier tsukemen without the line-wait meltdown: join the Yelp waitlist remotely, and kids get their own small bowls of milky ramen or brothless aburasoba with jammy eggs.
17. [Maverick Jack's](https://ourplayday.com/places/maverick-jack-s-san-mateo) (restaurant, San Mateo). Charbroiled burgers and milkshakes, plus a kids' menu of sliders, grilled cheese and chicken fingers with kid-size shakes.
18. [Casanova Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/casanova-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.
19. [Concar Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/concar-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Mini park with play structures for toddlers and older kids, a sandbox and picnic tables.
20. [East Hillsdale Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/east-hillsdale-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.
21. [Indian Springs Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/indian-springs-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.
22. [Kiddo Adventure Indoor Playground](https://ourplayday.com/places/kiddo-adventure-indoor-playground-san-mateo) (indoor play space, San Mateo). A ball pit, a pretend grocery store and ride-on cars for toddlers, plus an upper obstacle course.
23. [Landing Green Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/landing-green-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.
24. [Laurelwood Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/laurelwood-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Fenced playground and a big lawn along a creek, with trails climbing into the Sugarloaf Mountain open space.
25. [Mariners Island Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/mariners-island-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.
26. [Pausa Bar & Cookery](https://ourplayday.com/places/pausa-bar-cookery-san-mateo) (restaurant, San Mateo). House-made pasta and contemporary Italian cooking, with tables out in the parklet.
27. [Pinstripes San Mateo](https://ourplayday.com/places/pinstripes-san-mateo-san-mateo) (restaurant, San Mateo). Bowling and bocce around the meal, with light balls, a ramp and bumpers available.
28. [Sunnybrae Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/sunnybrae-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.
29. [Trinta Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/trinta-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.
30. [West Hillsdale Park](https://ourplayday.com/places/west-hillsdale-park-san-mateo) (park, San Mateo). Neighborhood park with a playground.

## About this list

Every place here is a listing on Play Day, and a place is listed only when something positive is known about it for kids. Any page linked above is also served as markdown by adding .md to its address.

Page: https://ourplayday.com/united-states/california/san-mateo