7 Best Event Venues in San Mateo (2026): Capacity and Prices
The seven best event venues in San Mateo, from a 500 sq ft Beresford Park clubhouse to a North Central meeting room and a 1,500 sq ft Hillsdale space for 100, with typed prices.
TL;DR
The seven best event venues in San Mateo on Events in Minutes, including a North Central meeting room, rent for private events and hold 20 to 100 standing guests. Four charge a flat fee plus an hourly rate, from $100.00 + $130.50/hour to $360.00 + $150.00/hour, and three charge by the hour, from $80.00/hour to $400.00/hour.
- Largest room: Hillsdale, $360.00 + $150.00/hour, 100 guests, second room as an add-on.
- Catered lunch for 40 to 80: North Central multipurpose space, $300.00 + $150.00/hour, kitchen included.
- Natural light: the Central San Mateo art studio, $100.00 + $130.50/hour, 65 standing.
- Workshops: Luludi Living Art Studio, $400.00/hour, 45 classroom style.
- Lowest price: the Beresford Park clubhouse, $80.00/hour, up to 49 guests.
Last updated: September 2026
Every venue in this guide is a current Events in Minutes listing, and EIM earns a fee when you book through us.
What are the best event venues in San Mateo?
The seven San Mateo event venues below cover most Peninsula event sizes: a 1,500 sq ft Hillsdale space for 100, two North Central rooms for 52 and 80, a Central San Mateo art studio for 65, a Beresford Park clubhouse for 49, a downtown workshop studio for 45 and a 20-guest photography studio.
How much does it cost to rent an event space in San Mateo?
A San Mateo event space on Events in Minutes costs $80.00/hour to $400.00/hour across the 3 hourly-only listings below, or a flat fee of $100.00 to $360.00 plus $130.50/hour to $150.00/hour across the 4 flat-plus-hourly listings. Minimum bookings run from 2 hours (the clubhouse and Hillsdale) to 4 hours (the art studio and both North Central rooms), and Luludi lists a flexible duration.
Which San Mateo venues suit a 50-person party?
Four of the seven San Mateo venues book 50 or more standing guests: Hillsdale (100), the North Central multipurpose space (80), the art studio (65) and the North Central meeting room (52). For a seated dinner of 50, only two work: Hillsdale seats 100 at banquet tables and the multipurpose space seats 56. The art studio seats 45 and the meeting room 36, so they suit a standing party of 50 but not a sit-down meal. The Beresford Park clubhouse caps at 49, and Luludi books up to 45 guests even though its layout table shows 50 standing.
Which San Mateo venues work as a meeting or conference room?
For a meeting room rental in San Mateo, the Intimate Meeting Room in North Central San Mateo is the listed meeting room here, at $200.00 + $150.00/hour for 1–52 guests, bookable for 4–24 hours. Its listing classes it as co-working/meeting space with WiFi, air conditioning, rectangular tables, chairs and a full commercial kitchen, and it seats 36 at banquet tables. For a conference-style training, Luludi Living Art Studio lists the most layouts: 45 classroom style and 40 in a boardroom, theater or U-shape setup. The North Central multipurpose space lists tables for dining or meetings and high-speed WiFi for presentations, and seats 56 at banquet tables.
Seven event venues in San Mateo
The ranking weighs capacity, what is included in the base price, minimum booking and cancellation terms. For more options around the Peninsula, browse event venues across the Bay Area.
Intimate Event Space | Private Events in Hillsdale
The largest room here: 1,500 sq ft in Hillsdale for 100 guests standing or at banquet tables. The listing includes a built-in bar, a green room, WiFi and air conditioning, allows furniture rearrangement and DJ/amplified sound, and offers a second room as a $30.00 per hour add-on. Best for a company party, launch or 50 to 100 person celebration. Watch-out: it has the highest flat fee in this guide and a strict cancellation policy.
Book nowIntimate Multipurpose Space for Events in North Central
An 882 sq ft loft-style space in North Central San Mateo for 80 standing or 56 at banquet tables. A kitchen, tables, chairs, WiFi and air conditioning are included, and the listing shows free on-site parking. Best for a catered team lunch, offsite or party of 40 to 80. Watch-out: bookings start at 4 hours, so a short mixer still pays the flat fee plus four hourly blocks.
Book nowArt Studio with High Ceilings and Natural Light
A 1,135 sq ft Central San Mateo art studio with high ceilings, 11-foot windows and an outdoor area, for 65 standing or 45 at banquet tables. Entry is street level with no stairs, it is wheelchair accessible, and a 24/7 parking garage is nearby. Best for a daytime workshop, shower or reception that wants natural light. Watch-out: cancellation is Super Strict and the minimum booking is 4 hours.
Book nowIntimate Meeting Room for Events in North Central in San Mateo
A 750 sq ft meeting room in North Central San Mateo for 52 standing or 36 at banquet tables, listed as co-working/meeting space with a courtyard. It includes a full commercial kitchen, tables, chairs, WiFi and air conditioning, with free on-site parking. Best for a working session, team lunch or small reception. Watch-out: 4-hour minimum, and a seated group tops out at 36.
Book nowPrivate Clubhouse for Private Events in Beresford Park
A 500 sq ft clubhouse in Beresford Park for 49 guests standing or at banquet tables, with a kitchen, outdoor area, tables, chairs and WiFi included and DJ/amplified sound listed. Posted weekday hours run 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Best for a birthday, baby shower or small team party on a tight budget. Watch-out: at 500 sq ft it is the smallest listed square footage here, so 49 guests is a full room.
Book nowLuludi Living Art Studio
A light-filled downtown San Mateo studio with living plants and natural textures, described for hands-on workshops, private events and team building. It seats 45 classroom style or 40 in a boardroom, theater or U-shape layout, and allows ticketed events and music. Best for a workshop, training or offsite of 8 to 45. Watch-out: $400.00/hour is the highest hourly rate here, and high-top tables and chairs appear as add-ons.
Book nowMajestic Photo Studio for Celebrations
A Central San Mateo photography studio decorated with vintage, rock-and-roll-inspired pieces, which the listing says were designed by a photographer. It holds 20 standing or 14 at banquet tables, with a sound system, dimmable lighting and a green room included, and is listed as open 24 hours. Best for a small birthday, photo session or creative dinner. Watch-out: 20 guests is the ceiling, and bookings start at 3 hours.
Book nowCompare San Mateo event venues
Four prices are a flat fee plus an hourly rate and three are hourly only, so compare within the same model.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Activity | Location | Duration | Group | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intimate Event Space | Private Events in Hillsdale | San Mateo, CA | 2–16 hours | 1–100 guests | $360.00 + $150.00/hour |
| Intimate Multipurpose Space for Events in North Central | San Mateo, CA | 4–15 hours | 1–80 guests | $300.00 + $150.00/hour |
| Art Studio with High Ceilings and Natural Light | San Mateo, CA | 4–18 hours | 1–65 guests | $100.00 + $130.50/hour |
| Intimate Meeting Room for Events in North Central in San Mateo | San Mateo, CA | 4–24 hours | 1–52 guests | $200.00 + $150.00/hour |
| Private Clubhouse for Private Events in Beresford Park | San Mateo, CA | 2–13 hours | 1–49 guests | $80.00/hour |
| Luludi Living Art Studio | San Mateo, CA | Flexible | 8–45 guests | $400.00/hour |
| Majestic Photo Studio for Celebrations | San Mateo, CA | 3–24 hours | 1–20 guests | $100.00/hour |
Which San Mateo venue fits which event
For a seated dinner above 56, Hillsdale is the only option (100 at banquet tables). Both North Central rooms charge $150.00/hour and share a host, Chase, so you can ask one host about the 80-guest multipurpose space and the meeting room with the lower flat fee.
Which San Mateo venues have breakout rooms?
Only one of the seven San Mateo listings shows a separate breakout room: the Hillsdale event space sells a second room as a $30.00 per hour add-on. Otherwise, small groups can use the courtyard both North Central listings mention or the outdoor areas at the art studio and the clubhouse, weather permitting.
Which San Mateo venues are near Caltrain?
None of the seven San Mateo venue listings gives a distance to a Caltrain station or a street address, so the downtown Luludi studio and the Hillsdale space are the ones to ask about first. Luludi says it is in the heart of downtown San Mateo, which has a Caltrain stop, and the Hillsdale space names public transportation among its features (Caltrain also stops at Hillsdale); ask for the address and walking route when you request the date. Drivers get free on-site parking at the North Central rooms and a 24/7 garage near the art studio.
Budget examples for a San Mateo venue
Example estimates for a 4-hour, venue-only booking at listed prices, before tax, fees and gratuity, assuming the flat fee is charged once per booking (confirm on the listing).
- Beresford Park clubhouse: 4 x $80.00/hour = $320.00.
- Majestic photo studio: 4 x $100.00/hour = $400.00.
- Central San Mateo art studio: $100.00 + 4 x $130.50/hour = $622.00.
- North Central meeting room: $200.00 + 4 x $150.00/hour = $800.00.
- North Central multipurpose space: $300.00 + 4 x $150.00/hour = $900.00.
- Hillsdale event space: $360.00 + 4 x $150.00/hour = $960.00, or $1,080.00 with the second room added (4 x $30.00 = $120.00).
- Luludi Living Art Studio: 4 x $400.00/hour = $1,600.00.
Count setup and breakdown in your hours: a 3-hour party plus 30 minutes each side for decor and cleanup is a 4-hour booking. Food, rentals and staffing are extra; our venue hidden fees checklist lists the questions to ask before you book.
How we chose
We reviewed 9 Events in Minutes venue listings in San Mateo; 2 failed verification, and the other 7 are all here. Prices, capacities, square footage, inclusions, hours, parking and cancellation terms come from each listing, checked live on September 25, 2026. Price ranges are stated within one pricing type.
Planning tip for a San Mateo event
- Decide standing or seated first. Seating cuts capacity by 24 at the North Central multipurpose space, by 20 at the art studio and by 16 at the meeting room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we bring our own caterer to a San Mateo event venue?
Three San Mateo venues list a kitchen a caterer can work from: the North Central meeting room (a full commercial kitchen), the North Central multipurpose space and the Beresford Park clubhouse. The art studio lists a refrigerator, and the Hillsdale space lists a prep area and built-in bar and sells its own food add-ons, such as a charcuterie and crudités platter for 12. Ask each host about outside caterer rules, insurance and load-in times.
Which San Mateo venues allow music or a DJ?
At least four of the seven San Mateo venues list a DJ or amplified sound. The Hillsdale space and the Beresford Park clubhouse list DJ/amplified sound, the photo studio permits amplified music and includes a sound system, and the North Central multipurpose space names DJs under its outside vendor policies. Luludi lists music as allowed. No sound cutoff time appears in the listing details we checked, so ask the host before planning a late party.
What happens if we cancel a San Mateo venue booking?
The two North Central spaces and the photo studio are flexible, up to 7 days before, and the clubhouse is also listed as flexible. Luludi shows a standard policy, Hillsdale is strict, and the art studio is Super Strict. A strict or Super Strict booking is best requested once the date and headcount are firm.
How far ahead should we book a San Mateo venue?
As general advice, request a weekend date 4 to 6 weeks ahead and a weekday date 2 to 3 weeks ahead, longer in December. All seven venues are request to book, and the listings show response times from within an hour to within 4 hours.
Do any San Mateo meeting or conference rooms include a projector or screen?
None of the listing details we checked names a projector or screen among the inclusions or audio-visual features, so ask the North Central meeting room host (its photos appear to show a wall-mounted screen) whether one is available. The art studio offers a 57-inch TV with Apple TV as an add-on at $125.00/each. Confirm cables and a microphone when you request the date.