Imagination City was the perfect venue for our 4-year-old's birthday celebration. We had guests ranging from ages 2 to 10, and every single child had a wonderful time. The space offers a thoughtfully designed miniature city where the children could freely engage in imaginative play--whether it was racing cars, cooking for one another, playing hide and seek, or simply exploring every corner with creativity and excitement. I would also like to personally recognize Janine, the owner. From the moment we reserved the space, she provided clear, detailed communication and was an invaluable partner throughout the planning process. On the day of the event, she was always one step ahead--managing the flow of the party so seamlessly that I could truly enjoy the day with our guests and watch the kids have a blast. Thank you, Janine, for your professionalism, care, and attention to detail. read more

This location was our first ever kids birthday post pandemic starting. And I'm glad we had it here. Both kids and parents enjoyed it. Arranging the party with Janine and working with John on the day of was a breeze. They take your things and set up as much as they can before the party. They set up way more than I expected. I used to party/wedding coordinate. When it comes to setting up... I have one of those beautiful minds that just doesn't know when to quit planning. To come into a space pre-set up helped me relax and actually enjoy the party. That feeling is priceless. I plan to make more visits soon with others just for play dates. This is a great spot and I need to take advantage before my little one is too big for it. read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

We came here for a birthday present party. We were pleasantly pleased of how our kids enjoyed running around playing around the various stations they have set up there. I did see the staff constantly picking up things in the play area and putting it away. Cleaning thing and assisting our friends with their bday party. It was a nice pleasant visit here. I would recommend this place for young toddlers kids. read more

update! now located at Hillsdale mall (2nd floor across from Gap- nearest entrance is cheesecake factory). SO clean, and fun for kids! Highly recommend read more

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Amazing time! We hosted our son's first birthday party here and everyone had such a great time! Janine was so helpful and made party flow very smooth! She helped us set everything up and even cut the cake for us. We had about 20 kids and maybe 30 adults and it felt like there was more than enough room. I would recommend this place. And I know we'll be back soon! read more

I've taken my toddler here before to play and she really enjoyed it!! The place was kept clean and they really took pride in cleanliness, making sure everything is sanitized and organized in between plays so that the kids get the best play experience no matter what time of day you book. So we decided to throw her 2nd bday party here. Let me just say this is the best place for kids parties! The owners John and Janine were very hands on and present. Janine was very organized, responds promptly and attended to our needs. You drop off your party decor on the week of the party and just show up the day of, and everything is set up for you. They also took care of clean up after the party. Erin and Anna were so sweet and helped us set up the rest of the food and dressert table, making sure we don't have to stress about anything. The place was beautiful, kids loved it, parents of course loved it because there's a separate area for adults to mingle. Definitely recommend!! read more

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Visited yesterday with my toddlers. We loved it! I was hesitant that we would last the two hour duration but it flew by and I practically dragged them out when we needed to leave :-) Will be back! Adorable concept!! read more

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I came across Imagination City on Instagram. I traveled from Fresno just to come here! I'm not sure who was more excited (me or my kids). The staff is very friendly and helpful. The toys and the setup were amazing, IG did not do it justice. We played pretty much all day. I loved all of the Melissa and Doug toys and cars! Everything seemed very clean, I was impressed considering the time we went (when school is out). I will absolutely come back! I wish I were local so I can come more often. I can't recommend it enough! read more

I am extremely grateful for places like these that allow our kids to be creative and enjoy the simple things. I'm seeing reviews about cleanliness or dissatisfaction and don't understand why. They are always on top of it and very helpful. If you're concerned about kids getting sick, it's best you stay home as this is everywhere you go. Nonetheless, love the place and recommend following their IG for updates read more

My 3 year old daughter loves imagination city and refers to it and "Funderpark." We have been coming since she was 1 and although we do not go as often as we'd like it definable holds a special place in my daughter's heart. So much so we chose to host her 3rd birthday party there this last October. Janine did an amazing job and was so helpful. We had a large party with lots of kids and Janine was on top of everything. I am so grateful for this play space and all that Imagination City is and strives to be for young children. Thank you! read more

We attended a birthday party with our 4 year old and 6 year old, and it was incredible! The play space was set up so creatively with a great flow for moving in and our of the different stations and using the various ride on toys and vehicles. My kids were so engaged the whole time and really playing, creating stories, and interacting with other kids. It was their favorite of any indoor play space they've been to. The staff was well organized and facilitated keeping things running with the party, but they are more in the wings available to help while you do your own thing and bring your own food, which was so nice and less restrictive than some places that need to keep you on a tight time schedule. This was the perfect space for a kids' party in every way! read more

Such a cool spot to bring your kid to! Many mini toy areas and detailed to perfection. There is a fee for both child AND adult and kids must wear socks with grip. I appreciate this spot so much. Thank you Imagination City! We've gained beautiful memories here as a family. read more

Today at IC my 2.5 year old was playing. I was sitting with her when she tried to get into a play car and another kid around her age shoved her and then grabbed her arm and started biting. I spent 2 minutes screaming for his grown up, trying to get my child out of the car while she was being bitten. When his mom eventually made her way, she sat in front of him watching him bite my child and didn't make any effort to remove him. I yelled at her to get him away from my kid and she just said "sorry". She finally got him to stop biting after he had already broken skin and made my child hysterical. Here are my main issues: Another mom reported the mom of this child minutes before for putting her hands on her kid. Her child was also bitten by him and the mom of the biter put her hands aggressively on the boy who was bit. The mom and her child were not removed. Then, it happens to my kid. The mom would not remove herself or her child from where me and my kid were so we got up and left the play space. After about 5-10 minutes other parents were reporting what they saw happen and she was asked to take her child out. She then argued and said it was unfair for her child to not get to play. Imagination City does not have a bathroom, does not have a first aid kit, did not have ice, and was not prepared for a medical situation. This is not okay. I don't feel safe taking kids to a place that isn't prepared. I understand it is not the staff's fault that my child was bitten, but the way it was handled and the lack of resources is ridiculous. I had to walk across the way to Mrs. Field's to get ice in a prep glove....what?! IC gave me a bandaid but had no way of cleaning my child's arm. They were 100% not prepared. The girl at the front desk was nice, called her manager and gave me a refund and free juice. I don't blame her for what happened but staff needs to be well prepared for these situations as well. As someone who has worked with children for 10 years, this is unacceptable. I will not be coming back to IC until I know for sure they have everything that should be a basic standard for child centered establishments. read more

Imagination City - My kid was bitten here and the lack of first aid is concerning. - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Our daughter absolutely loves Imagination City! We've been going since they first opened, and it's always been such a fun, engaging space for kids. One thing we really appreciate--it's consistently clean, which is a huge bonus for a kids' play place! read more

Absolutely great place to take kids to have fun. I judge a place by how clean it is and how much joy are on the faces of parents plus kids. Having swung by some of these places in the past, Imagination City differs in that it is extremely spacious and well organized. When you walk in, there is babyganics at the entrance for both adults and kids for baby safe hand sanitation. I also see them meticulously cleaning toys at the end of play sessions where as other play companies I've observed have far more infrequent cleaning cadences. More importantly, the place is organized with tons of tactile hands on toys that promote role playing and learning. There are also cool costumes and play carts kids can use with tons of smiles and laughts everywhere. Just a great time with babies and toddlers. A welcome activity for those taking care of kids. read more

We've been here several times during open play and each time our kids really enjoyed themselves. We just hosted our kids double bday here for a three year old and a one year old and it was simply the best. We were able to drop things off the week of and John had everything set up when we arrived. We arrived 15 mins early and just did some final touches. All the guests loved the eat and play package. The "adults" hung out in the front and was able to easily look up check on the kiddos. The kids played and when they got hungry, they were able to eat and then go back to play. My one year old isn't walking yet but he still enjoyed crawling around everywhere. We'll definitely look into hosting more future bdays here. read more

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My 3.5 year old and I stopped by this morning for the first time what an amazing place! The entire location is super clean and there are small trash cans for toys that could use sanitizing. The slots are 2 hours long for $18, which felt a bit short, but overall worked out great. The location had tons of toddler sized businesses and somehow never felt overwhelming with toys. There is an adorable street going through the town for kiddos to ride on the toy cars with. The best part? The WiFi is good. That means when your WiFi goes out and you need to work from somewhere else while still keeping your toddler entertained you can! Not only that, but the employee working the counter was so kind and realistic about working mom life! I also enjoyed the fact that there was a tall toddler proof gate around the play area, so I was not worried about my toddler wondering away. I can't wait to come back, thank you for the great experience! One note! They are located at the far end of the mall, no where near where the map shows. They are essentially on the opposite side of the food court, not towards pinstripes. Also, there is a family restroom a few shops down that has a toddler sized toilet! read more

This place is AMAZING!!! My toddler LOVES coming here. He likes to pretend to bake the pizzas, pretend to go to the supermarket, pretend to be a fire fighter. He even likes to watch the other little kids play pretend. This space is a godsend and I'm so thankful for the kind people who operate this space. Please always stay open! Can't express enough how much we need more spaces like this for young children. Unlike a lot of other spaces, this place works whether it's raining, whether there's a heatwave or it's too cold outside. read more

I came here for a birthday party and found this place to be a fantastic venue for hosting birthday parties. It's super clean and the imagination city play area will keep your kids occupied for hours. I would say for kids up to age 6. The outside area was spacious for cake, food and parents hangout. It's right outside the play area and you can still keep an eye on the kids. There was one staff attending the party and he was very diligent cleaning up areas and helping the host with cake cutting. This is really a fantastic spot for birthday parties. read more

Imagination City - Pizzeria - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

It was our first time at Imagination City and maybe our last for a while. We visited on a Monday for the 12:30 open play time, and we were by ourselves as if we rented the whole place! The play area was pretty clean, toys were in place, can use a little bit of deep cleaning but at least not sticky. Overall, would've been a good experience -- except for the receptionist for that particular day and time. When we arrived, we weren't even acknowledged at all. I would understand if she was busy assisting other people as she was by herself, but nope, like i said, we were the only ones there. She checked us in, asked if both parents are going in -- yes, so she had us pay the $5 as expected. Asked if our daughter has grippy socks on, and that was it. No other instructions. She couldn't even be bothered to help us with the gate. They have this safety gate installed which is great, but a little tricky to figure out if it's your first time going there. We had to fiddle with it a bit when she decided she wanna help -- without even looking at us as she was too busy with her phone, and told us we just need to pull up the knob on top of the gate. When we were done, we put on our shoes and left. Still no acknowledgement from her as her phone is obviously imposes a higher priority. I know it may sound like i'm just complaining, we're not expecting to be treated like royalties or whatnots, just a simple greeting and thank you for coming, and some basic instructions as too what's off limits, what to expect, etc would've been sufficient and would've been greatly appreciated. read more

I wanted something to do with my young kids (toddlers) while on vacation visiting family. I've walked by this place before but it was always closed since I usually am here just for weekends. This morning, I finally decided to check it out. We booked online and it was super easy. Check in was fast and quick. My kids are having a blast! The only reason I am giving the place 4 stars is the price and the time constraints. It is $18 per kid for 2 hours, so $36 for 2. Also, if you get here late or in the middle of a play session, you still have to pay full price. Personally, id prefer if they just have open play during their operating hours. read more

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There's sooo much I can say about Imagination City! I had my twins 2nd birthday party here. The communication with Janine before the party was awesome. They allowed us to bring stuff for the party during the week so they could set up everything for us. It was so relaxing being able to just walk in and let my girls have fun! Everything was perfect! Even my guests loved it and everyone enjoyed themselves. Anytime we're at the mall, we always make sure to stop by for some much needed playtime! Oh...can't forget the great selection of toys, puzzles, games, etc. that they sell too! Gotta support your local businesses! read more

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This is an extraordinary place where your child can play and explore. I think it's well suited for babies who crawl and toddlers who are interested in imaginary play. My kiddo is 3.5 and he had a great time. Since it's now in the Hillsdale mall, where American Eagle once was, the space is manageable and you can easily see where your kiddo is at all times. I find their rates super reasonable and I love that it's locally family owned. I hope they thrive!! read more

I took my toddler about two weeks ago and we both loved it. She had a blast and I am planning on taking her again. For age reference, my toddler is 21 months old. I don't give five stars due to the lack of bathroom in the area. read more

We hosted our son's 1st birthday here and I can't say enough good things. - Party prep: being able to drop things off in the days ahead of the party made a HUGE difference. I honestly don't know how we could have brought everything we had in one trip with the kids (ages 3 & 1). - Set up: amazing! They set up everything for us in advance and even text us photos to make sure everything was right. Seriously a game changer. - Party help: they checked in on us frequently, helped us cut the cake, load the car and did all the clean up. - Cleanliness: we are extremely cautious given Covid concerns but felt really comfortable here and noted how clean everything was. Thank you, Janine and John! We had a wonderful time and appreciate all your help! read more

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I was really excited for this place to open so I invited some of my daughter's preschool friends to meet us there for a mini birthday celebration. I got there on a Friday morning before they opened and there was already a line out the door. Then they said they had a capacity of 30 kids so our friends that were meeting us probably wouldn't be able to get in. I understand there is a capacity but they should state on their website or allow to you book a time slot in advance. We showed up for nothing since they were at capacity by 10:05am. The place is adorable but was pretty small. Not a lot of room for 30 kids. We left and went to Safari Run where they happily accommodated us. Maybe as time goes on, this place won't be as busy so we can actually try it out. Response to owner: We never entered the actual play area. We stood to the side .Why would we if you said that the rest of our friends wouldn't be able to get in? Even though I said we would pay up front. I love supporting family owned businesses which is why we came. You showed no care in the fact that my daughters friends were on their way to meet us. They came 5-10 minutes later but of course, you were at capacity by then. read more

FUN 10/10 We love everything about Imagination City. It's quite literally a magical little city inside of Tanforan Mall. My kids get to pretend to be firefighters, go grocery shopping, pop into the diner, take their pets to the vet.. the list goes on! My kids are currently 5 and 3 and they keep asking to go back! BIRTHDAY PARTY 10/10 We recently hosted our daughter's 3rd birthday party at Imagination City. The entire process was super easy and smooth. I dropped off our party decor 2 days prior and when we arrived on the day of our party everything was set up for us perfectly! The kids loved playing in the play area while adults were mingling and chatting in the party area. The layout is really great because we could keep an eye on the all kids without having to go inside the play area. All of our guests went out of their way to tell us they had a blast at the party. CLEANLINESS 10/10 I'm constantly impressed by how clean everything is! They do a REALLY great job of disinfecting everything, wiping things down, and vacuuming the floors. I consider myself a clean freak and many play places can be pretty gross.. but Imagination City is unbelievably clean! STAFF 10/10 Imagination City is owned by local parents, Janine and John. They are both so nice and it really shows that they've poured their heart and soul into creating this wonderful space for kids. I'd highly recommend Imagination City for both drop-in play and birthday parties! read more

Imagination City - Birthday Party celebration at Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

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It is a fun place for toddlers. Be sure to reserve ahead if you go there during a school closing day. My kid had a lot of fun role playing. It is a small venue but has a bit of everything. read more

Imagination City is a great place to take your little ones for a fun experience. We recently celebrated my granddaughters 5th birthday there. It was in her words "The best day ever". Our family and friends absolutely loved it for their little ones and some are planning to book birthday parties at their new location in Hillsdale Mall in 2023. Huge shout out to the owners of Imagination City for setting up the decorations & balloons I brought in advance so that we could just walk in and enjoy the party. I wish them all the best of luck in their new location!! We're looking forward to visiting in the New Year! "10" stars from me!! read more

Imagination City - Indoor Playcenter Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love this family owned place, been here at least twice a month this summer and very clean and organized.

It's very disappointing how outrageous any kind of indoor play is so crazy expensive. But my son likes this place. It was my third time going here without any issues. Today I decided to take my 2-year-old with my daughter who is 12 again. This time they were charging me double for a kid who is too old for this place and the only reason she was going inside was to take care of my 2-year-old. Previous times she was allowed to take my place while I waited outside. Unfortunately, this place disappointed me today. Won't be returning here, there are plenty of places in the South Bay I will going from now on. read more

We hosted our son's birthday party here and we had a BLAST!!! Thank you to the team for making it such an easy situation for us where we could show up with everything ready and clean up our handful of items and go. It really was perfect for us as our kiddo was exhausted from the fun. Can't wait to come back for regular play times! read more

Imagination City is ideal for crawlers and young kids, with safe play areas and fun, interactive setups for imaginative play. It's clean, well-designed, and great for siblings to enjoy together. A perfect spot for a playdate! read more

A cute little place that we found on yelp. It was a bit smaller than I expected. We opted to purchase the socks that were suppose to have grip on them, but didn't. The place is extremely slippery, so without that grip on the bottom, we were all slipping and sliding. My son fell the moment that he stepped into the place and then several more times after, so be careful and bring your own! He is 2 and had a great time with the food area and the construction area. We didn't get to play with the ice cream one because a kid was there and wouldn't leave. Everything else was okay but for a child it's definitely great for their imagination. read more

We celebrated our girls birthdays this past weekend and I must say it was a hit - for both kids and the parents. It was a double celebration for our one year old and 9 year old daughters. I was worried that the bigger kids wouldn't enjoy as much as the little ones but they had a great time and everyone stayed until the last minute. I booked few weeks in advance to make sure we secure the date and time we want. Janine was very responsive to emails / text messages - a huge plus since we had a lot of questions :) When we arrive John was kind enough to let us in few minutes early. Everything was ready - tables, chairs, balloons from Air Lollipops. Crates, utensil holders were available for use. All we needed to do was add finishing touches and prepare the food. Their niece (Julia) was very helpful, too. Since our theme was BT21 / BTS she was sooo nice to play all BTS songs - she did a very good job - so Borahae Julia! And when it was time for cake, they helped us gather the kids and did the cake cutting and served each guests. The play area is spacious, clean and bright. Love that there are benches where parents can hang out and watch their kids. The little tables and chairs were perfect not only for the kids but for the parents as well. What I like most is that kids can eat and play anytime. No pressure in calling everyone for food and letting them know, play time is over! Overall we're pleased. From the time of booking until the last minute. Thanks Imagination City for making it super fun for the kids and easy peasy for us parents. read more

I wish there was a place like this in Tracy (or at least close to it)! My 2 year old had so much fun and didnt want to leave at all. The place is a bit smaller than expected but the toys and play area is top quality and kids can really spend hours on end here. There is a play gas station, grocery store, veterinary clinic, construction site, fire station, diner, ice cream truck, and more! The owners are also very diligent with cleaning so it felt very safe. They also do parties here for kids. I was planning to do my son's birthday here but ultimately decided not to but only because it is too far from home. If I was closer, I would definitely do it! the owner is very responsive to questions and the prices are quite reasonable. You can have the place to yourself and bring your own food too! read more

This place is lots of fun, you feel safe and the staff are really caring and friendly. I will definitely bring my kids here again and even plan a party soon.. read more

This place is such a little gem! There aren't many indoor playspaces along the peninsula or South Bay, so I was very excited when I heard Imagination City was moving to Hillsdale. It's great for young children, everything is their size. The space is clean, spacious lobby and plenty of parking in the mall. I though the price was in-line with most children's activity centers, and I arrived at the start of the 12:30-2:30 play session to maximize my time there. The only downside is there is no bathroom inside the space. I overheard the attendant mention to another mom that it has something to do with the city/building inspector. The old space was a retail store and the bathroom is located in the stock room, and not meant to be accessed by the general public. The mall bathrooms aren't too far away. You just need to be on top of it and give yourself (and toddler) time to get their shoes back on and walk to the restroom. read more

Great place for kids, clean , creative and not too busy. The rules they have create order and prevent the place from turning into a chaos.

Increased their prices to $20 for just 2 hours .... Go to the Zoo all day instead. Way too pricey for what it is.