Pinata Art Studio & Gallery

Five years ago, I would have rated this studio 4 stars. They made my son’s 1^st birthday piñata, a Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba. Today, as I was on my way to pick up a piñata for my nephew’s 1^st birthday, which is tomorrow, the owner said he didn’t have it. I asked him to clarify and he said he forgot about it even though I put a $ 20 deposit when I made the order. I arrived at the studio, walked in, grabbed my $ 20 back and walked out. I was LIVID. It took all my strength to bite my tongue and not go off on the owner from such bad business.
The funny thing was when I ordered it, the owner’s daughter was there and she asked me to send her a photo of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so she could show her mom who also works in the studio. She seemed a bit high, but I didn’t think anything of it. I should’ve known better than to trust anything that was being transacted that day. I also should have called to confrim my order was going to be ready, but I figured I’ve done business with them before, etc.
Moral of the story??? Always trust your instincts!
They definitely lost out in my business. Horrible business practice.

Wanted a penguin piñata just like my sons bday invitaiton. It was a lil over a week in advance. He said he would have it available the following weekend, no problem, to call him in advance because, there might be a chance he would have it ready before. I waited a day before the party and called him to ask about my piñata. He shamelessly said it wasnt ready and he just didnt have time. Very unprofessional and unreliable. Which is odd, because I have ordered pinatas from him before, no problem.. He has done a good job in the past. At least he gave me my deposit. But, very upsetting to think you will have something you need for your party only to be told he didnt make it.

I’ve been buying and having my custom made pinatas here for the last 12 years! The owner, Romeo, is a true artist and that shows in his work. The pinatas are beautiful and I display them during the party. They cost a little more than the ones you buy at the mission markets, but are well worth it! I usually have atleast 20 kids so they have to be able to take a beating, lol! One party I had 36 kids and it lasted, surprisingly! All the pinatas I have gotten have been reinforced with wire and are very strong and durable. If you don’t want your piñata to fall off or apart by the third kid, then buy your piñata here at Piñata Art! If you give him enough time, he can make any piñata custom to you theme and whatever you want!

I used to live across the street from here a few years ago and often got our pinatas from the place but I think it may have been a different owner or shop all together! I ordered a cookie monster piñata and was very happy with it. i loved the design and also ended buying a elmo head for my son’s first birthday. the only reason why I didnt give a 5 star is that I felt the piñata was a lot thinner than I remembered and the first kid to hit it broke into it. we made the piñata last by blindfolding the rest and counting to 10 but 48 kids were able to hit the pinatas at least once.

We were so excited about getting our wedding piñata here in 2009, after reading all the fantastic reviews. We stopped in one day to check out the pinatas and ask if our special request (a piñata modeled after my brother in law’s restored Camaro) could be done. The man who took our order said it would be no problem at all. We gave him several photos of the Camaro and a deposit, which he didn’t write down (that made us a little nervous). He gave us a date the next week to come pick up the piñata. So far, so good.
The next week, I called to double-​check before driving out to the store. The man had trouble locating our order, then said it wasn’t ready yet. My gut feeling told me the order had never been started.
One more week later, I called and was told to wait another day to come get the piñata. I drove out on the day we had agreed on, only to find no piñata. I explained that I needed it ready before the wedding, again «no problem.»
Finally one more week later, we stopped in and were handed a terrible looking red car (which looked very similar to the red car from the movie «Cars» and not at all like a Camaro). We decided there wasn’t much we could do, and paid the rest after debating with the person working and having to convince him we had indeed paid a deposit.
Fast forward to our wedding day. Piñata filled with candy, bride and groom blindfolded, ready to have a picturesque piñata-​breaking. Well, we beat the crap out of that piñata, with hardly a dent in it! The little kids were getting anxious, no candy was to be seen! Finally, my brother took some swings and ended up just tearing it open for the kids. Inside, we found a CARDBOARD box stapled shut with those super strong staples used for construction and reupholstry. No wonder we couldn’t break it open!
What happened to the artisan hand-​crafted paper mache and hand-​shaped wireframing we saw on the website? I’m pretty sure we ended up with a cartoon CARS movie piñata someone ripped the cartoon eyes off of in the back room. I could have picked up this piñata for 30 dollars less in Fruitvale.
I don’t know if I was discriminated against for not speaking Spanish or not appearing to be Latino (I’m a quarter Mexican but don’t look like it and this piñata was supposed to be a little shout-​out to my grandpa at the wedding), but it certainly felt that way between the rude service and the inferior product we ended up with.
I feel totally ripped off by this place and would NOT recommend it to anyone, unfortunately, especially if you need a piñata for a special event.

I don’t know how they do such great work for such affordable prices here. It’s amazing. My wife got a piñata made to look like me at this place and it was scary how strong the resemblance was between me and my paper incarnation. Highly recommended for parties etc. They just do great work, and again, I’m baffled by how they can produce such magnificent works of piñata art for the price. Definitely check them out!!!

This is the place Pedro would have gotten the piñata of Summer Wheatley made. If you’re looking for cheap-​oh pinatas don’t come here. These are the real deal. There are a couple under $ 20 but some of them, especially the custom ones, can run hundreds of dollars. You also have to stuff them yourself, which is also part of the fun. I loved one of my pinatas so much I saved from death by hiding it in the garage until the kids left. Now it’s safe and sound hanging in my kitchen.

used PAS&G to make custom pinatas for a company party — the likenesses of my CEO and VP of Sales, and they were a big hit with the executive staff!
(no pun intended) awesome job! would do it again

Piñata Art is the place to go for pinatas in San Francisco. I have not seen any place in the city that comes even close to the quality that comes out of this place. Some of the custom pinatas to come out of this place are nothing short of amazing.
I can’t think of anything else to say about this place; it’s just simply amazing. Gilberto (and the previous owners) do some amazing work. Go check it out for yourself.

Come see a living treasure! Romeo Osorio is a master and handcrafts pinatas right here at his studio in San Francisco, on Mission St. just south of the 280 overpass. Bring in a photo or a sketch or any vague offbeat ideas and he will make you a piñata with a week’s turn-​around time. If you need something sooner he has an ever-​changing selection of his most popular designs available for immediate purchase. His pinatas are very well made, built with a wire armature, layered with newspaper and crêpe paper, and they have extra fine details you wouldn’t find in typical pinatas. He will also make special order floats, stage props, and other similar 3D items utilizing the same methods. He has a new website
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The art gallery part comes about because he is also an artist and sculptor (mostly abstract resin– nothing like pinatas). He is a Mission oldtimer and one of the original people behind establishing the Mission Cultural Center. Throughout the year the gallery exhibits works by local Mission artists as well as Latin American artists from abroad. For the past 10 years he has held a benefit art auction the first Friday in December, which raises money to help people handicapped by the war in El Salvador.

This great little space deep down in the mission is a piñata and party supply store by day with a secret gallery installed in the back. I went out for the opening of the new photography show by Carlos Bermudez, and although the space is small, and a little thrown-​together feeling, I admire any business that puts the time, energy, space and effort into featuring local, up-​and-​coming artists.
The woman who owns the space was warm and matronly and insisted that we eat and drink even though we were just passing through. Although I have only been to this particular show, she seems to have an eye for talent and the nurturing qualities and connections to help young artists grow.