San Mateo is centrally located within a short distance of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and the East Bay, all of which can be reached in less than 45 minutes. Despite San Mateo’s proximity to these urban hubs, this bayside community still has plenty of open space for healthy living. The community is dotted with dozens of parks, filled with everything from redwoods to tidepools, as well as the more traditional neighborhood parks with playgrounds and picnic areas.
San Mateo also has diverse dining and entertainment options in its pretty downtown district, ensuring that residents always have something to do. There is a variety of real estate in San Mateo as well, with everything from single-family homes to sprawling country estates and hillside mansions, where everyone can find their dream home. San Mateo is a wonderful place to enjoy the idyllic Northern California weather and lifestyle.
What to Love
- Centrally located within easy reach of several urban centers
- Lots of open spaces nearby
- Diverse home styles and sizes
- Lots of great dining and entertainment options
Local Lifestyle
Laid back, healthy, and fun living describes the lifestyle in San Mateo. It has the daytime vibes of a small city, but the calm and quiet evenings feel like living in a small town. San Mateo has an easy-going atmosphere where you’ll always feel welcome. You will see residents taking evening strolls to the many restaurants and cafes downtown or walking their dogs on the quiet suburban streets.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Even with the easy-going, small-town feel of San Mateo, there are plenty of restaurants to enjoy. Some local favorite hot spots include Pausa Bar & Cookery, Hillsdale Shopping Center, Ramen Dojo, Pinstripes, and Curry Up Now.
Pausa Bar & Cookery serves locally sourced, scratch-made, authentic Italian food in a relaxed, casual atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating options. Curry Up Now is a California chain and a favorite place for San Mateo residents to get Indian food. Ramen Dojo is another local favorite with a good variety of ramen bowls. San Mateo has restaurants serving dishes inspired from around the world.
For entertainment, locals head to Pinstripes. This fun place has bowling and bocce ball courts along with highly-rated, made from scratch dining. They also routinely host special events. The San Mateo County Event Center also hosts fun events throughout the year.
For dining, entertainment, and shopping, locals head to the Hillsdale Shopping Center. There you’ll find a movie theater, a kids' play area, and plenty of great boutique shops as well as dining options, including the Pinstripes.
Things to Do
Locals enjoy spending time at San Mateo’s Central Park, having fun at the annual County Fair, and checking out the frequent events hosted at the San Mateo County Event Center. Some of the events you will find at the Event Center are NCVA Volleyball tournaments, the County Fair, and many others.
The Central Park and Japanese Garden is lovely and has a play area, picnic area, rose garden, and mini train. It also hosts the annual 4th of July events, an Easter Eggstravaganza, and a Central Park Music Series. You won’t want to miss the cherry blossoms blooming in the Japanese Garden! The San Mateo County Fair is tons of fun for the whole family, held in early summer every year. Along with a carnival, the fair has a nightly concert series and fun children’s activities.
Just west of San Mateo, there is plenty of green space where residents enjoy the views of the California Redwoods on a hike. Golfers enjoy the scenic course at Crystal Springs, just outside of town.
Schools
The San Mateo-Foster City School District serves San Mateo early education while San Mateo Union High School District leads higher grade programs with the top-rated schools such as College Park Elementary School, Borel Middle School, and Aragon High School. Some notable private schools include The Nueva School and Junipero Serra High School. College of San Mateo and Draper University are some neighborhood options for those continuing their education post-high school.
