Intro | Craft Cocktails | Craft Beer | Wine | Juice Bars | Coffee | Dance
& Live Music | Dives & Old Favorites | Gentlemen’s Clubs
Live music in the South Bay hasn’t been this good since before the first dot-com crash. For a while—after the end of The Edge, the closure of The Cactus Club and the evaporation of Voodoo Lounge—Silicon Valley was wasteland of the same old DJs, spinning the same old tunes.
Not anymore.
Whether the night calls for turning up, chilling out or getting down, there’s a bar, club or venue for every mood and personal musical preference. From rock & roll to EDM, hip-hop to jazz, country to cumbia: it’s all just a short drive—or Lyft, or Uber, or taxi—away.
For hepcats and cool dadios, Angelica’s in Redwood City and Cafe Stritch in San Jose keep their calendar’s full of great jazz performers. Metalheads and punk rockers, be advised: there’s always a cold Miller High Life resting on top of a hot, loud tube amp at The Caravan. Hip-hop heads can count on brainy emcees coming through BackBar SoFa, while fans of the Bay Area-bred hyphy movement should keep an eye on The Agenda Lounge’s calendar.
The 408 has never had a shortage of dance clubs and DJ residencies. Get into a Latin groove at Miami Beach Club and Beso, catch on some deeper house vibrations at The Continental, and get your maximalist party on at Pure Lounge.—Nick Veronin
Agenda
399 S. First St, San Jose
Catch the best in Yay Area hip-hop talent and get your thizz dance on at this SoFA club.
Angelica’s
863 Main St, Redwood City
Jazz and blues are the main attractions at Redwood City’s most consistent live music venue.
Back Bar SoFa
418 S. Market St, San Jose
A hidden gem with a bit of everything: hip-hop, Latin, metal, indie and sometimes burlesque.
Cafe Stritch
374 S. First St, San Jose
Hosting world-class jazz on the regular, and the occasional indie rock show, Stritch doubles as a bohemian hangout.
The Caravan
98 S. Almaden Ave, San Jose
Almost always free, this divey venue rewards those who pay attention with great shows from rising acts.
Charley’s LG
15 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos
DJs, dancing, drinking and the occasional celebrity guest host.
The Continental Bar, Lounge & Patio
349 S. First St., San Jose
The home of Motown on Mondays specializes in smooth, future-minded house music.
JJ’s Blues
3439 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose
JJ’s keeps its calendar packed with blues artists and much more.
Johnny V’s
31 E. Santa Clara St, San Jose
Sure, it’s dark and it’s dank, but Johnny V’s and neighboring Paddy’s are great places to dance with abandon.
Miami Beach Club/Beso
417 S. First St, San Jose
Reggaeton, cumbia and more Latin-flavored rhythms.
Mojo Lounge
3714 Peralta Blvd, Fremont
Though it’s usually just locals looking for a bargain buzz, the Mojo occasionally hosts bands on the brink of breaking big.
Poor House Bistro
91 S. Autumn St, San Jose
Sometimes you just want a brew, some blues and a po boy.
Pure Lounge
146 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale
EDM and bottle service.
The Ritz
400 S First St, San Jose
The well-rounded live music venue the South Bay has been waiting for.
Saddle Rack
42011 Boscell Rd, Fremont
Arrive early for line dancing lessons, stay late for the mechanical bull rides and whiskey shots.
San Jose Live
8 S. First St., San Jose
The South Bay’s after-party spot, SJL often picks up where the SAP Center left off.
Splash Video Dance Bar
65 Post St, San Jose
Everyone is welcome at San Jose’s most turnt gay bar.
Tres Gringos
83 S. Second St, San Jose
Beer pong, flip cup, Jello shots and everything good about college.
X Bar and Homestead Bowl
20990 W. Homestead Rd, Cupertino
Screamo, emo, pop punk and metalcore: yep, yep, yep and no duh…
Intro | Craft Cocktails | Craft Beer | Wine | Juice Bars | Coffee | Dance
& Live Music | Dives & Old Favorites | Gentlemen’s Clubs
