Best Escape Rooms in San Francisco, California
1
The Escape Game San Francisco (Fisherman's Wharf)
Address: 145 Jefferson St Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94133
The Escape Game San Francisco (Fisherman's Wharf) in San Francisco, California, offers an impressive variety of themed rooms including the popular Alcatraz prison break, Special Ops mystery market, and The Timeliner adventures. The establishment features well-designed puzzles that provide the perfect balance of challenge and solvability, with game masters offering helpful hints when needed without compromising the experience. The venue caters to all skill levels and group sizes, from families with children to corporate teams, maintaining a consistently high standard of customer service and immersive gameplay throughout each experience.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention varying levels of challenge, with some describing the rooms as "challenging but solvable" and others finding them "easy with lots of clues." Therefore, the challenge level seems subjective, with the availability of hints catering to different player experiences.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as Alcatraz prison break, Special Ops, The Timeliner, and a mysterious market. This suggests a variety of themes are available in this escape room center.
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a mix of puzzle types including logic-based, search-oriented, and those requiring communication and teamwork. Specific puzzle types aren't clearly specified.
Mystery/Detective: Several reviews refer to mystery and detective-like elements, especially in the descriptions of "Special Ops" and other rooms requiring investigation and puzzle-solving.
Prison Break: Multiple reviews specifically highlight the "Prison Break: Alcatraz" theme, indicating that a prison break theme is available.
Heist: One review mentions "The Heist" room, suggesting that heist themes are present in at least one of the available escape rooms.
Kid-friendly: Reviews indicate that the escape rooms are suitable for families with kids, with many mentioning enjoyable experiences for children and families.
Party: The reviews mention the use of the escape rooms for birthday parties and other group celebrations. The staff's willingness to assist and provide a fun environment supports this.
Large Groups: Several reviews mention groups of 8 or more successfully completing the escape rooms. The feedback does not indicate any restrictions for larger group sizes.
Price: The reviews do not explicitly discuss pricing, but the overall positive feedback and lack of complaints suggest the prices are generally considered acceptable.
Parking: Some reviews mention parking options, such as using the Pier 39 lot, indicating that parking is available nearby the escape room center. However, there isn't explicit mention of dedicated parking.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: There is no mention of scary or horror themes in any of the provided reviews. The descriptions focus on fun, challenging, and immersive experiences.
Zombie: There is no mention of a zombie theme in any of the reviews.
Tomb: No mention of an Egyptian theme is found in the provided reviews.
Discounts: There is no information in the provided reviews about discounts for larger groups or special events.
2
The Escape Game San Francisco (Downtown)
Address: 150 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108
The Escape Game San Francisco (Downtown) in San Francisco, California offers an immersive experience with multiple themed rooms featuring creative puzzles and high-tech elements that keep players fully engaged throughout their adventure. The facility stands out for its well-designed rooms that incorporate intricate clues and innovative mechanics, creating challenges that are both demanding and rewarding for participants of all skill levels. Their professional game masters provide helpful guidance while maintaining the perfect balance of assistance and autonomy, ensuring groups can work through the puzzles at their own pace while staying fully immersed in the experience.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention varying levels of challenge, with some finding the rooms "perfectly challenging" and others describing them as "difficult" but doable. Several describe needing hints, indicating a level of difficulty requiring assistance.
Themes: The reviews mention several themes, including prison break, heist, mystery market, playground, and gold rush.
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a variety of puzzle types, including logic-based, search-oriented, and some incorporating physical and/or mechanical elements.
Mystery/Detective: Many reviews mention mystery and puzzle-solving elements; the "Mystery Market" theme explicitly suggests a detective-like approach.
Prison Break: Several reviews specifically mention "Prison Break" as a room theme.
Heist: Multiple reviews refer to "The Heist" as a room theme, indicating the presence of heist-related scenarios.
Kid-friendly: Reviews mention visits with kids and families, indicating kid-friendliness; one review even mentions kids under 5 are free.
Party: Reviews explicitly state its suitability for birthday parties.
Large Groups: Reviews indicate the escape rooms accommodate large groups, with some mentioning groups of 8 or more.
Discounts: Several reviews mention discounts for subsequent games or for larger groups.
Parking: Some reviews mention parking availability, particularly in nearby garages. One review mentions parking difficulty in the area.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: While some reviews mention "scary" or the potential for fright, this is not a consistent theme. Most reviews emphasize the fun and engaging aspects, rather than horror.
Zombie: There is no mention of a zombie theme in the provided reviews.
Tomb: The reviews do not indicate an Egyptian theme.
Price: Some reviews mention the price as a little steep, while others find it justified by the experience quality. This indicates mixed opinions on affordability.
3
Palace Games
Address: 3362 Palace Dr, San Francisco, CA 94123
Palace Games in San Francisco, California offers an immersive escape room experience featuring multiple themed rooms with intricate puzzles and high-tech interactive elements. Located in the historic Palace of Fine Arts, this venue stands out for its blend of mechanical challenges, moveable walls, and unique rooms that include the popular Edison and Roosevelt experiences. The facility caters to groups of various sizes and provides a mix of intellectual and physical challenges, all wrapped in detailed storytelling and period-specific atmospheres that keep participants fully engaged throughout their adventure.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention a good challenge, some even saying it was the best they've ever done, while others found certain puzzles too easy or that the challenge varied room to room.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as 1940s era, sci-fi, mystery, and historical figures like Roosevelt, Houdini, and Edison.
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a mix of puzzle types including logic-based, physical, and those incorporating technology. Some puzzles involved intricate mechanisms, while others were more intellectual.
Mystery/Detective: Several reviews point to mystery and detective elements within the escape rooms, particularly in the descriptions of puzzles and storylines.
Kid-friendly: One review mentions a kid-friendly game room used for a birthday party, but not necessarily kid-friendly escape rooms themselves.
Party: One review explicitly mentions hosting a birthday party in their game room, and several reviews suggest the center is suitable for groups.
Large Groups: Multiple reviews describe successful experiences with large groups, and one review mentions a group of 10 being accommodated in a room that typically holds 8.
Parking: One review specifically mentions excellent parking.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: No reviews mention scary or horror themes.
Prison Break: No reviews mention a prison break theme.
Heist: No reviews mention heist themes.
Zombie: No reviews mention a zombie theme.
Tomb: No reviews mention an Egyptian theme.
Discounts: There is no information about discounts for larger groups or special events in the reviews.
Price: One review mentions the price as a little expensive, but other reviews don't address pricing directly, preventing a definitive assessment.
4
Escapology Escape Rooms Stonestown Galleria
Address: 3251 20th Ave Ste 360, San Francisco, CA 94132
Escapology Escape Rooms at Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco, California, offers an impressive variety of themed rooms, from classic mysteries to popular franchises like Scooby-Doo and Batman. The facility features meticulously designed spaces with creative puzzles that strike a perfect balance between challenging and achievable, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced players. The professional staff provides helpful guidance throughout the experience while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere that keeps groups coming back to try different rooms.
What People Are Saying
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as Scooby Doo, Seven Deadly Sins, Agatha Christie, Batman, Pirates, and Murder on the Orient Express. This indicates a variety of themes are available.
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a mix of puzzle types, including logic-based, search-oriented, and those requiring observation and problem-solving. Specific puzzle mechanisms aren't detailed.
Mystery/Detective: Multiple reviews explicitly refer to mystery and detective themes, particularly with rooms based on Agatha Christie and Murder on the Orient Express.
Kid-friendly: Several reviews mention playing with children or the suitability of the rooms for families and young kids, indicating some kid-friendly aspects.
Party: Multiple reviews refer to birthday parties held at Escapology, showing that they accommodate such events.
Large Groups: Reviews mention accommodating large groups, with some having parties of 7 or more, indicating the center's suitability for large groups.
Parking: Several reviews mention free parking at the Stonestown location.
Not Noted
Difficulty Level: Reviews mention various difficulty levels, with some describing puzzles as "decently challenging" and others as "challenging yet doable", while some found them too easy or too hard. There is no single consensus.
Scare Factor: Some reviews mention a "haunted" or "scary" element in some rooms, while others describe the experience as fun and family-friendly, without any scary elements. This shows variance among the rooms.
Prison Break: There is no mention of a prison break theme in any of the reviews.
Heist: Reviews do not describe any heist themes. While some rooms involve solving mysteries and finding clues, there's no mention of stealing valuable items from a high-security location.
Zombie: No reviews mention a zombie theme.
Tomb: There is no mention of an Egyptian theme in the reviews.
Discounts: The reviews do not mention any specific discounts for larger groups or special events.
Price: One review mentions the price as "super overpriced", while others don't directly address the price point. There is no consensus on affordability.
5
EscapeSF
Address: 602 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108
EscapeSF in San Francisco, California, offers an immersive collection of themed rooms featuring everything from medieval quests to prison breaks at Alcatraz. The facility boasts well-designed puzzles that cater to both newcomers and experienced escape artists, with game masters providing thoughtful hints to keep the challenge engaging without being overwhelming. The venue stands out for its attention to detail in room design, friendly staff service, and ability to accommodate both intimate gatherings and larger group events with multiple rooms available.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention the rooms as challenging, with some describing them as 'hard' but rewarding, while others found them 'challenging but doable'. Several reviews mention needing hints, indicating a level of difficulty.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as Alcatraz (prison break), King Arthur's Legacy (medieval), and a Knights of the Round Table theme. There's also mention of a 'Blind Tiger Bar' theme suggesting a prohibition or speakeasy setting.
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a variety of puzzle types, including logic-based puzzles requiring collaboration and deduction, as well as physical interaction with the room and its objects. The reviews do not explicitly detail the use of mathematical or search-oriented puzzles.
Mystery/Detective: While not explicitly stated as a 'mystery' theme in all rooms, many of the escape room scenarios (e.g., Alcatraz escape, King Arthur's Legacy) involve elements of mystery and require players to solve puzzles to reveal a story or escape.
Prison Break: The Alcatraz room is explicitly mentioned in multiple reviews, indicating a prison break theme.
Party: Several reviews mention the venue being used for birthday parties or other private events, indicating that it does host parties.
Large Groups: Multiple reviews refer to large groups participating in the escape rooms, and one explicitly states they accommodated a large group in different rooms. This suggests that it is suitable for large groups.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: No reviews mention scary or horror themes. The descriptions focus on fun, challenging, and immersive experiences, but not frightening ones.
Heist: There is no mention of heist themes such as bank or museum robberies in the provided reviews.
Zombie: No reviews describe a zombie theme.
Tomb: There is no mention of an Egyptian theme in the reviews.
Kid-friendly: One review mentions a group with children, suggesting that the escape rooms are at least somewhat appropriate for kids, especially with adult supervision. However, there is no explicit mention of kid-friendly spaces.
Discounts: The reviews do not mention any discounts for larger groups or special events.
Price: The reviews don't directly address the affordability of prices, but the lack of negative comments regarding price suggests they are at least reasonable for what's offered.
Parking: Some reviews mention parking garages nearby, but there's no confirmation of on-site parking. One review mentions difficulty in finding the building entrance.
6
PanIQ Escape Room San Francisco
Address: 2146 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
PanIQ Escape Room San Francisco, nestled in the heart of San Francisco, California, offers an immersive collection of themed rooms that challenge players with creative puzzles and unexpected twists. The venue features several distinct experiences, including a medieval dungeon, a wizard's chamber, and a spy-themed mission, each thoughtfully designed with atmospheric props and engaging challenges. The rooms accommodate both newcomers and experienced players, offering just the right level of difficulty while maintaining a fun, collaborative atmosphere perfect for small groups and families alike.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: The difficulty is described as "just right", "challenging but doable", and "perfect level of challenging" in several reviews, suggesting a moderate difficulty level.
Themes: Reviews mention rooms with themes like medieval, wizard, and spy, indicating a variety of themes.
Puzzles: Reviews refer to "puzzles", "clues", and "challenges", but don't specify the exact puzzle types. Some mention searching for hidden things.
Scare Factor: One review mentions the "Medieval Madness" room being "quite dark and can be scary to some", suggesting the presence of scary themes in at least one room.
Mystery/Detective: While not explicitly stated as a theme, several reviews mention solving puzzles and finding clues, which implies a mystery-solving aspect.
Kid-friendly: Reviews mention families and kids playing, and one review specifically says it's suitable for ages 10+, implying that it's at least partially kid-friendly.
Party: Several reviews mention group bookings and parties, suggesting that the venue hosts parties.
Large Groups: Reviews indicate that the escape rooms are suitable for large groups, with some mentioning playing with groups of 6 or more.
Parking: Some reviews mention easy parking, while one mentions parking being difficult due to an event. The availability is inconsistent.
Not Noted
Prison Break: There is no mention of a prison break theme in any of the reviews.
Heist: No review mentions heist themes.
Zombie: There is no mention of a zombie theme in the reviews.
Tomb: No Egyptian theme is mentioned in the provided reviews.
Discounts: There is no mention of group discounts in the provided reviews.
Price: One review mentions the price being expensive, while others suggest it is reasonably priced for the experience. The affordability is subjective and depends on individual perspectives.
7
Reason Future Tech Escape Rooms
Address: 364 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Reason Future Tech Escape Rooms in San Francisco, California, offers an innovative blend of technology-driven puzzles and collaborative challenges that capture the city's tech-forward spirit. The venue specializes in both virtual and in-person escape experiences, featuring themed rooms like Moonshot and Glitch that accommodate groups of various sizes from intimate gatherings to large corporate teams. Their expertly crafted puzzles combine cutting-edge gadgets with traditional problem-solving elements, making it an engaging choice for both seasoned escape room enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Many reviews mention the challenges being just right, neither too easy nor too hard, leading to a feeling of accomplishment.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as space exploration (Moonshot), Patagonia survival, technology (Glitch, Sonar), and mystery.
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a variety of puzzle types, including logic-based, tech-integrated, and those requiring teamwork and communication.
Mystery/Detective: Some escape rooms, like "Glitch", incorporate mystery elements, but it's not a dominant theme across all offerings.
Kid-friendly: One review mentions a birthday party for an 11-year-old, suggesting kid-friendliness; however, it's not explicitly stated as kid-friendly.
Party: Several reviews mention birthday parties and corporate team-building events.
Large Groups: Reviews describe events with groups of 10, 18, 30, and even accommodating two teams of 11 in a virtual setting.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: No review mentions scary or horror themes.
Prison Break: No review mentions a prison break theme.
Heist: No review mentions heist themes.
Zombie: No review mentions a zombie theme.
Tomb: No review mentions an Egyptian theme.
Discounts: While not explicitly mentioned, the ease of accommodating large groups suggests potential discounts for larger events.
Price: The reviews do not provide information on pricing affordability.
Parking: The reviews do not mention parking availability.
8
Escapology Escape Rooms San Francisco (Fisherman's Wharf)
Address: 430 Bay St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Located in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, Escapology Escape Rooms offers a variety of well-designed rooms featuring puzzles that range from beginner-friendly to expertly challenging. The venue boasts beautifully decorated spaces, including themed rooms like Lost City, Antidote, and Seven Deadly Sins, each offering unique and immersive experiences. The facility stands out for its private room experiences, knowledgeable staff who provide well-timed hints, and a gorgeously appointed lobby area that sets the mood for adventure.
What People Are Saying
Difficulty Level: Reviews mention various difficulty levels, with some finding rooms "too straightforward" while others describe them as "challenging" or "very challenging", indicating a range of difficulty.
Themes: Reviews mention themes such as "Antidote", "Lost City", "7 Deadly Sins", and "Murder Mansion", suggesting a variety of themes.
Puzzles: The reviews suggest a mix of puzzle types, including logic-based puzzles, as some reviews mention needing hints and others mention the puzzles being "clever" and "well-designed".
Mystery/Detective: The "Murder Mansion" theme suggests a mystery or detective element, and other rooms may incorporate mystery elements within their puzzles.
Party: Reviews suggest the venue is suitable for group activities and parties, with mentions of family and group bookings.
Large Groups: Reviews indicate that the escape rooms are suitable for groups, with mentions of groups of various sizes participating.
Parking: Reviews mention that parking is abundant in the area, though one reviewer notes the cost of parking may be around $4-5 before 6 pm.
Not Noted
Scare Factor: The "7 Deadly Sins" room is described as having a "spooky atmosphere", but there is no consistent mention of other scary or horror themes across all reviews.
Prison Break: Reviews do not mention a prison break theme.
Heist: Reviews do not specifically mention heist themes.
Zombie: Reviews do not mention a zombie theme.
Tomb: Reviews do not mention an Egyptian theme.
Kid-friendly: Reviews do not specifically mention kid-friendly spaces.
Discounts: There is no mention of discounts for larger groups or special events in the provided reviews.
Price: The reviews do not offer a conclusive answer about affordability. While one reviewer considers the price fair, this is a subjective opinion.
9
EscapeSF Gingerbread Cottage Escape Game
Address: 639 Clay St, San Francisco, CA 94111
The EscapeSF Gingerbread Cottage Escape Game in San Francisco, California, offers a delightfully low-tech adventure that's perfectly tailored for families with children aged seven and up. The room features accessible puzzles that strike an ideal balance between challenge and entertainment, allowing both parents and kids to actively participate in the problem-solving experience. Conveniently located near local eateries and with parking available at Portsmouth Square, this beginner-friendly escape room provides an engaging hour of entertainment that often becomes a vacation highlight for visiting families.
What People Are Saying
Puzzles: The reviews mention logic-based puzzles that utilize memory.
Kid-friendly: The reviews consistently praise the escape room's kid-friendliness, with multiple families with young children reporting positive experiences.
Large Groups: One review describes a large group of nine children successfully completing the escape room, and another mentions a group of students; this suggests that larger groups are possible.
Parking: One review suggests parking at Portsmouth Square nearby.
Not Noted
Difficulty Level: Multiple reviews mention that it is a good escape room for children aged 7 and up, and that it was just challenging enough for both children and adults. Some families needed hints, but still managed to escape.
Themes: The reviews do not provide information about the themes in this escape room center.
Scare Factor: The reviews do not mention any scary or horror themes.
Mystery/Detective: The reviews do not specify a mystery or detective theme, though the puzzles do involve problem-solving.
Prison Break: The reviews do not mention a prison break theme.
Heist: The reviews do not mention heist themes.
Zombie: The reviews do not mention a zombie theme.
Tomb: The reviews do not mention an Egyptian theme.
Party: One review mentions hosting a group of students, suggesting the possibility of hosting parties, although this isn't explicitly stated.
Discounts: The reviews do not mention any discounts for larger groups or special events.
Price: The reviews do not discuss pricing, therefore affordability cannot be determined.