The Best Bars in San Jose

Guildhouse

Guildhouse is a unique entertainment destination, aimed at providing adult gamers with an elevated social and gaming experience. A community born of the desire to grab a drink, play, and socialize all in one. Guildhouse also functions as your local e... more

Haberdasher

The trip down the San Salvador St. stairs into this dimly lit, imitation speakeasy offers skilled bartenders mixing up pre-Prohibition cocktails. In order to maintain their quiet vibe, though, the doorman will only let in a limited number of people a... more

Hedley Club in the Hotel De Anza

The Hedley Club in the Hotel De Anza is a posh hideaway that attracts a refined crowd of cocktail seekers. Their petit menu boasts Mediterranean influences, the approachable wine list is extensive enough to offer multiple pairing options and the list... more

Henry's Hi-Life

There are few places in San Jose that are as unapologetically carnivorous as Henry's World Famous Hi-Life, and that's why we love it. If you've never been here, the deal goes like this: 1) walk in, take a number, park at a barstool, get a cocktail or... more

Henry's World Famous Hi-Life

Henry's Hi-Life serves "The Best BBQ Steaks, Ribs, Chicken" in San Jose! Award winning BBQ Steaks & Ribs!! Featured on Man v. Food for fall off the bone "BBQ Baby Back Ribs".  Menu also includes Pasta, Salmon, Teriaki Chicken and Burgers (at... more

Hermitage Brewing Company

Hermitage's comfortable, hidden, no-frills tap room is located inside the brewery, with five beers served year-round. The flights are aromatic and diverse. The flagship is the single-hop IPA series, Citra, but Hoptopia and Maltopia remain San Jose cl... more

Hop & Vine

A few minutes from downtown on the Alameda, Hop & Vine, formerly Wine Affairs, offers wine and beer in the atmosphere of a upscale pub. The focus is quality wines and beers from a wide range of suppliers small and large. more

Hukilau San Jose

Hukilau is a little bit of the islands transported to the mainland and planted between a sushi restaurant and a Japanese market in downtown San Jose's Japantown. Aloha Happy Hours that linger long into the night and Wahini Specials for the ladies pro... more

Hyde Park Cocktail Lounge

A low-maintenance sanctuary for folks who plan on drinking 'til they die, Hyde Park Cocktail Lounge is where one can wile away the hours downing brews and avoiding the hype of the nightlife scene. Old-school photos of dead celebrities from the 50s an... more

Improv Comedy Club and Restaurant

From big name comedians to open mic nights, the Improv always seems to have something going on. The Improv also hosts the most exciting event in amateur standup each year—the Improv Finals, or "Cream of the Crap," as it has been lovingly dubbed... more

ISO Beers

This spacious location with its minimalist straight lines of metal and wood becomes whatever it needs to be: date night, a place to decompress with coworkers or a spot to watch the game. The selection is enormous: 40 beers on tap every day and a wall... more

Jack's Bar & Lounge

A clean, friendly, and cozy neighborhood bar to meet with friends, catch a game, play some beer pong, and of course have a few drinks and a great time. A neighborhood dive bar with some improvements, like real bathrooms, flat-panel HDTVs and a sleek... more

Jade Leaf Lounge

* Asian Fusion, Lounge - Beer and Wine, Lunch, PHO until 11pm, Boba tea from 11am to 7pm daily * Live Music Friday-Sunday 8pm to 11:30pm, no cover charge * Private Parties more

JJ's Blues

Boasting live entertainment every night, JJ's Blues is a cozy neighborhood blues dive with a full bar and awesome tunes. Hmm…do you need anything else? Well just in case that didn't convince you of JJ's worthiness in the San Jose bar scene, th... more

Lido's Nightclub

To call Lido’s eccentric is an understatement. With a Latin bar on the bottom and Asian disco up top, goth drag one night and Spanish-pop lip-sync battles the next, it could very well be the South Bay’s strangest nightclub. Though not an... more

Liquid Restaurant and Lounge

The restaurant features a blend of Asian Fusion cuisine with a wide side of appetizers entrees, and side orders for lunch and dinner. DJs spin on weekends. Happy Hour Drink Specials:  Tue - Fri, 3pm - 7pm / Thu - Sun, 9pm - 11pm more

Ludwig's German Table

A fresh German experience featuring a classic bar, delicious traditional food, beer a pletny, and out door seating. more

Mac's Club

Less a club and more of a laid-back neighborhood dive, Mac’s is one of the longest-running gay bars in the South Bay. Cheap drinks and a mellow atmosphere lure a clutch of weekday regulars, gay and straight. Weekends bring a crush of patrons pr... more

Martini Monkey

2009 BEST OF SILICON VALLEY Reader Survey Winner - Third Place Best Martinis more

Mexico Lindo Restaurant

Boasting authentic Mexican cuisine and potent margaritas, Mexico Lindo Restaurant and Cantina satisfies cravings for home-cooked south of the border fare. The restaurant's décor matches the down-home fare and although somewhat simple, both the... more

Miami Beach Club

Lots of DJ action keeps the dance floor busy. The club serves the South Bay's Latin salsa scene, and offers free lessons. -- Metro Bars & Clubs, June 16, 2010 2009 BEST OF SILICON VALLEY Reader Survey Winner - Second Place Best Latin/Salsa Cl... more

Mission Creek Brewing Company

This brewery attached to the Whole Foods feels like a vacation. Munch and swig the amber hued goodness outside in the sunshine and people-watch the city from the upstairs brewery. Twenty taps of local craft beer rotate. Four beers, deeply aromatic an... more

Motif Resturant & Lounge

With two levels of dance floors (and bars) and a pristine ambience, Motif offers a mix of house, EDM and hip-hop, with the occasional live rapper performing. They have nights for the 18-and-over crowd twice a month (on Thursdays) and regular appea... more

Myth Taverna Lounge

The patio features live music at Happy Hour. DJs spin your favorite dance hits, house & electro remixes & old school classics for the perfectly positive vibe to take you into the night. The indoor setting and the patio offer distinct and disti... more

Noite

Noite is a cocktail bar & nightclub in San Jose's SoFa District. more

Nomikai

welcome to nomikai - social food and drinkery.  Restaurant and bar serving great tasting, unique specialty pizzas and food in a fun, relaxed, inviting atmosphere. The name nomikai comes from a drinking party phenomenon in the Japanese culture.... more

O'Flaherty's Irish Pub

Known primarily for its drinks and clubby pub atmosphere, O'Flaherty's also hits high marks in the grub department. A full menu of Irish pub fare includes crispy fish and chips, hearty Guinness stew and shepherd's pie for a satisfying fill-up between... more

Original Gravity Public House

Serving regional craft beers and some international selections, Original Gravity has become a hub for beer fans in downtown San Jose. Specialty menu items, such as gourmet grilled cheese, duck fat fries and sweet apricot sausage from an extensive... more

Paolo's Restaurant

Italian. Paolo’s serves authentic Italian cuisine and various regional dishes. With a menu that reflects seasonal ingredients, Paolo’s is constantly redefining good food. This San Jose restaurant’s elegant setting and amiable s... more

Paper Plane

This cavernous, downtown bar gives off an aura of cool: Bartenders zip across the expansive wall of bottles on a library ladder, and the creative and complex drinks are named with a wink and a nod, like the “Between 2 Fernets.” But don&rs... more

Pekoe

A Fusion TBar serving premium organic dessert drinks fused with premium spirits. ----- The name Pekoe (pē) or Orange Pekoe (pek-ho) represents the tea grading system that is based upon the size of processed and dried black tea leaves. We blend... more

Plaza Inn

A tiny, no-frills cantina, the Plaza Inn is a neighborhood hangout for drinkers seeking traditional Mexican fare and an after-work cocktail. The unpretentious atmosphere is perfect for sipping a beer and watching a soccer match and although the menu... more

Q's Place

Red Stag Lounge

Be sure to do your vocal exercises before heading to the Red Stag. This strip-mall dive may be out in the middle of no-man's land - on West San Carlos, right before it becomes Stevens Creek - but you'd be hard pressed to find a South Bay bar that tak... more

Redi Room

The drinks are reasonably priced, which helps people loosen up for the pool table and dart board. Prime rib is only $11 on Tuesdays. -- Metro Bars & Clubs, June 16, 2010 more

Renegades

Where Splash bleeds sequins and Tokyo Teas, Renegades courses with leather, Levi’s and hairy chests. Silicon Valley’s only bear bar may be a manly man’s world, but it boasts a wildly diverse range of regulars—lesbians, jocks,... more

Rookies Sports Lodge - Willow Glen

Few bars show such devotion to their regulars as Rookies—the ceiling is basically lined with personalized mugs waiting for their owners. In addition to more than a dozen TVs, a much-improved menu with very reasonably priced tacos and pizza make... more

Rookies Sports Lodge Downtown

Rookies Sports Lodge Downtown is located in the heart of Downtown in San Jose. As a family owned and operated restaurant and bar, we truly believe in giving our guests the best experience possible. We care about quality and consistency; We have, in f... more

Rosie McCann's - Santana Row

Rosie McCann's Irish Pub & Restaurant is located in the notorious Santana Row area. First opening its big green doors 10 years ago- Rosie's was an instant hit with all the locals. The bar serves a large variety of scotch, whiskey & vodka. Als... more

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