This coming week is a busy one in downtown San Jose. Right now, film lovers are flocking to the Cinequest screenings taking place at California Theatre, 3Below Theaters and the Hammer Theatre Center. And on Monday, mixed among St. Patrick’s Day revelers, about 25,000 people will be in town for Nvidia’s GTC AI Conference, taking place Mar 17-21 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Below are some downtown spots where attendees of both events can spend their down time.
Craft Cocktails
Cash Only
78 E Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.288.5252 | cashonlysj.com
Cash Only’s craft cocktails can be had for cash only—and it’s Cash only on the soundtrack. As befits a West Coast honky tonk dedicated to the man in black, whiskey takes the starring role.
Paper Plane
72 S. First St, San Jose
408.713.2625 | paperplanesj.com
Paper Plane sparkles like a champagne cocktail, but one doesn’t need to choose anything so pedestrian when ordering from the bar here. There’sWith the help of the descriptors applied to each libation on the menu here, one can choose just the right drink for every mood. Varied fare from apps to dessert is served until 11pm.
Still O.G. and Alter Ego Cocktail Club
66 S 1st St, San Jose
408.703.2084 | stillog.bar
At this address bar crawlers will find not one but two bars. Still O.G., a vinyl listening lounge, includes a streamlined bar and, high-fidelity audio equipment and shelves glowing with vinyl records. Inside Alter Ego, a romantic, dimly lit speakeasy, the concise food menu is complemented by an expansive selection of cocktails and spirits.
Dr. Funk
29 N San Pedro St, San Jose | drfunksj.com
A toast to all things tiki, Dr. Funk has settled into the South Bay bar scene as a go-to for tropical tipples. Bar-food standards just get a dusting of tropical flavors—curry fries, coconut shrimp, Hawaiian ribs—but the drink menu is spot on. Mai tais and zombies are on the menu, but so are more evocative choices like: Siren’s Shore, Shaman King, Phoenix Rising and Shipwreck, the latter of which promises to send drinkers to the shoals with two rums, cachaca, tiki bitters and a fruit salad of other flavors.
55 South
55 S 1st St, San Jose
408.288.6000 | The55south.com
A deep shelf of whiskeys sets 55 South apart, but lovers of other forms of alcohol will be well served—and also well fed by a menu designed to complement the creative cocktails.
Five Points
169 W Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.982.5816 | fivepointssj.com
Its name is a hat tip to the infamous neighborhood chronicled in Scorsese’s Gangs of New York, and the bar’s mission is to bring “a little bit of old school New York to downtown San Jose.” Five Points achieves a big-city vibe, and reading the ingredients in the creative cocktails fosters a yearning for international travel.
Good Time Bar
30 Fountain Alley, Suite 160, San Jose
408.256.1266 | goodtimebarsj.com
Since launching in the spring of 2023, Goodtime Bar has emerged as a standout destination in downtown San Jose, attracting wine lovers and food enthusiasts alike with a selection of natural wines and creative cuisine. Wines range from reds and whites to oranges and bubblies.
Haberdasher
43 W San Salvador St, San Jose
408.792.7356 | haberdashersj.com
An underground craft cocktail pioneer that’s off the beaten path by just a half block from the Market Street garage entrance to the San Jose Convention Center. Mixologists interview patrons about their flavor and spirit preferences, then shake up custom concoctions to suit. Open Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday from 5pm to midnight, and Friday and Saturday until 1am.
Henry’s Hi-Life
301 W St John St, San Jose
408.295.5414 | henryshilife.com
Near the SAP Center, this time-honored steak joint has been in business since 1960. The building itself—moved to its present location shortly after the 1906 earthquake—warrants its own historical marker. The online bar menu cuts straight to the chase, listing the premium booze that goes into the cocktails poured at the restaurant’s well-worn and well-stocked bar.
Coffee
Academic Coffee
499 S 2nd St, San Jose | academiccoffee.com
In addition to the basics, options include Pandan Cold Brew, Blue Pineapple Tea and Strawberry Shrub Soda.
Voltaire Coffee Roasters
360 S. Market St, Suite 80, San Jose
408.747.9697 | voltairecoffeeroasters.com
Grab a flat white or a Dutch Americano, a cold brew or a cup of Mariage Frères tea, while picking up whole beans for later.
Nirvana Soul
315 S 1st St, San Jose
408.564.6617 | nirvanasoulcoffee.com
In addition to daytime caffeine fixes, Nirvana serves up an open mic every Friday night from 7–9pm.
Dr.ink
77 N Almaden Ave, Suite 70, San Jose
408.352.5169 | dr-ink.space
Beverage options from hot (espresso, tea, creative lattes) to cold (smoothies, milk tea, sparkling water).
Mexican Cuisine
Iguana’s
300 S 3rd St, San Jose
408.389.5107 | burritozilla.com
One of the two restaurants claiming heritage to San Jose’s famous orange sauce, Iguana’s on S. 3rd Street is popular with students and the downtown community. The colorful murals at the familia-owned home of the monster Burritozilla ($49) are worth the visit.
La Victoria
140 E San Carlos St, San Jose, 408.298.5335
131 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, 408.993.8230 | lavicsj.com
With two locations downtown, the celebrated La Vic offers fast service, tasty casual staples and generous doses of its legendary orange sauce.
Mezcal
25 W San Fernando St, San Jose
408.283.9595 | mezcalsj.com
One of downtown’s top restaurants, Adolfo Gomez’s Oaxacan-style restaurant is colorful, authentic and friendly.
Olla Cocina
17 N. San Pedro St, San Jose
408.606.7999 | ollacocina.com
A staple on San Pedro Square since 2016, its bar menu offers more than a dozen drinks with a south of the border spin. Margaritas come in multiple flavors, —prickly pear, spicy, cucumber and tradicional—but there are more unusual choices as well, such as the Anticuado, with bourbon, nixta corn liqueur, chile pasilla and angostura bitters.
Asian Food
Angkor Chef
86 S 1st St, San Jose
408.809.1639 | angkorchef.com
Authentic Cambodian dishes prepared with imported spices. The menu will also please vegan and vegetarian diners.
China Chen
400 S 3rd St, San Jose
408.294.2525 | chinachen.org
Serving shrimp wonton egg noodle soup and fried flour cake since 1983 in downtown San Jose.
Élyse Restaurant
96 S 1st St, San Jose
408.899.2762 | elyserestaurant.com
A mix of French and Vietnamese cuisine (think filet mignon pho) served with craft cocktails and wines by the glass and by the bottle.
Minato
617 N 6th St, San Jose
408.998.9711 | minatojapaneserestaurant.com
San Jose’s Japantown is a very short light rail ride away, and it’s worth the trip. And Minato has been family owned and operated, and serving classic Japanese dishes, since 1957.
Other Cuisines
Petisco’s
399 S 1st St, San Jose
408.320.2884 | petiscosadega.com
Small-bite authentic Portuguese cuisine, including caldos, octopus salad and, of course, codfish dishes. Elegant ambience and craft cocktail program, a block from the convention center. Attentive service.
Habana Cuba
387 S 1st St, Suite 109, San Jose
408.998.2822 | 998cuba.com
Located in the SoFA Market a block from the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, Habana Cuba offers hearty ropa vieja, black beans and fried plantains.
Poor House Bistro
317 W Saint John St, San Jose
408.292.5837 | poorhousebistro.com
Displaced by the yet-to-be-build Google headquarters, Famiglia Meduri Poor House Bistro (its new, longer name) finally opened its doors in August 2023 in San Jose’s Little Italy district. From Wednesday through Sunday, Poor House sets the table with New Orleans, Creole and Italian cuisine served with a side of live music, usually with a rootsy vibe.
Paesano
350 W Julian St, San Jose
408.217.9327 | paesanosj.com
Near the SAP Center in the new Little Italy San Jose neighborhood, Paesano serves Sicilian-style dishes for lunch and dinner.
Pizza
Bibo’s
320 W St John St, San Jose
408.709.1212 | bibosnypizza.com
Bibo’s in Little Italy serves up New York-style pizzas blending fresh, locally sourced ingredients and bold flavors.
Pizza Bocca Lupo
87 N San Pedro St, San Jose
408.289.1775 | pizzaboccalupo.com
Handcrafted Neapolitan-style pizzas, with chewy, charred crusts and a selection of toppings that emphasize the classics of the Italian pizza tradition.
Pubs
The Brit
173 W Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.278.1400 l thebritsj.com
Two dozen brews on tap, a roomy and welcoming patio, and plenty of flat-screen TVs make the Brit a solid choice for a variety of crowds, from afternoon drinkers to SAP Center crowds looking to extend their evening a little longer. Hearty fare is on the menu: Fish and chips are in the spotlight, but other options include curries, bangers and mash, and even Brit Tacos (filling options include beer-battered cod and corned beef).
Fox Tale Fermentation Project
30 E Santa Clara St, Suite 120, San Jose
408.216.0158 | foxtalefermentationproject.com
Unique in the lively Bay Area brewery scene, Fox Tale truly is a project devoted to fermentation. The store sells specialty fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, and tThere are creative nonalcoholic options too, from various kombucha flavors to beverages like Nocturnal Dance, with fermented strawberry and lemon verbena syrup, and Bubbly Beer Tea, with fermented fresh hop syrup.
Good Karma
37 S 1st St, San Jose
408.294.2694 | goodkarmasj.com
Longtime vegan restaurant is known for its deep selection of small production California craft beers, including many rare ones, in a chill environment with vinyl spins.
O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub
25 N San Pedro St, San Jose
408.947.8007 | oflahertyspub.com
Transporting a patch of Ireland to San Pedro Square for more than two decades, O’Flaherty’s keeps the Guinness flowing along with plenty of Irish fries, corned beef tacos and shepherd’s pie. Earthquakes fans flock on game nights, and the weekly calendar includes karaoke, trivia and DJ music. The most Irish night of all is Tuesday, which features a live Irish seisiún, with music in the “spirit and feel of the Irish tradition.”
Trials Pub
265 N First St, San Jose
408.947.0497 | trialspub.com
First, there’s the setting: a Victorian building that dates back to 1894, it’s an optimal backdrop for a British style pub. The menu covers all the bases, but what’s even more impressive is what’s on tap: Guinness, Bass and Harp are givens, but other UK brews include Smithwick’s Ale, Boddingtons Cream Ale, Dragon Slayer IPA and Strongbow Cider. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
Games
Urban Putt
201 S 2nd St, San Jose
408.352.5403 | urbanputt.com
Opening up on Leap Day 2024, Urban Putt completely transformed the old Camera 12 building in downtown San Jose into a mini golf fantasyland where players bat brightly colored balls through a number of locally significant tableaux, including replicas of the San Jose skyline, the Electric Light Tower at History Park and the Winchester Mystery House. And the wild decor extends into the bar and dining area, with fluorescent colors and geometric shapes surrounding patrons as they consume appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, local beers, cocktails and mocktails.
Guildhouse
420 S 1st St, San Jose | guildhouse.gg
What could be better than a place where grown-ups can share the pleasures of playtime? Board games, consoles, card tournaments, a LAN center and more keep everyone busy at this esports bar. Sandwiches and snacks keep the gamers going, as do the cocktails laced with Red Bull.
Miniboss
52 E Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.520.4909 | sjminiboss.com
Putting one of downtown’s landmark buildings to good use since 2019, Miniboss serves as a monument to arcade history, with more than 30 arcade cabinets and 12 pinball machines. Playful cocktails include Winter on Nibiru, Prince Ali Ababwa, the Darksaber and Ursula’s Curse, as well as nonalcoholic options. Order pizzas like the Great Cornholio or Magnum P.I.E. until 11pm; fries, wings and carnitas ramen are served until 1am. Closed Mondays.
San Pedro Social
163 W Santa Clara St, San Jose
408.222.1100 | sanpedrosocial.com
Multitasking takes on a different meaning at San Pedro Social. Patrons leave work behind and split their attention on any number of games: bowling, arcade games, corn hole, basketball hoops, pool, shuffleboard. There’s also a room for karaoke. Reservations are available through Open Table for karaoke and bowling.
Dive Bars
Caravan
98 S Almaden Ave, San Jose
408.995.6220 | caravanloungesanjose.com
It’s impossible to achieve any understanding of San Jose without spending at least some time at the Caravan. In addition to affordable drinks, Caravan pours out a mix of karaoke, open-mike nights, comedy shows, DJ nights and—most important—live music. A letter-perfect dive bar that opens daily at 2pm, it’s been witness to the birth of many a punk band. A downtown legend, may it stand forever.
Comedy
The Improv
62 S 2nd St, San Jose
408.280.7475 | improv.com/sanjose
Some big names in comedy have walked through the doors since the Improv took over this repurposed vaudeville theater in 2002. Plush seating and food service make for a great date night, lubricated by laughter and liquor.
LGBTQ Plus…
Mac’s Club
39 Post St, San Jose
A welcoming outdoor patio and friendly regulars make this inclusive gay dive bar a regular spot for downtown nightcrawlers. It’s also a fun hangout on holidays and during Pride season.
Renegades Bar
501 W Taylor St, San Jose | renegadesbar.carrd.co
Part of the South Bay’s LGBTQI+ scene since the late ’70s, Renegades keeps up a busy schedule. In addition to karaoke and trivia, there are Thirsty Thursdays (past themes include Leather and Uniform Night and Latex Night—follow on Facebook for details), the twice-month Trousers Down party and the monthly Lip Service, which features a “rotating cast of performers from the full spectrum of drag.”
Splash
65 Post St, San Jose | splashsj.com
Though it takes all of the senses to fully appreciate this video dance bar, the sense of sight is key. Two full stories of dance floors, live shows, drag performances, images flashing all over the walls—it’s an eyeful. A perennial winner as Silicon Valley’s top LGBTQI+ night spot, Splash offers so many different club nights that following on social media is the only way to keep track.
Music Clubs
The Continental
349 S 1st St, San Jose
408.982.3461 l thecontinentalbar.com
House music is in the house, with a coterie of DJs setting the mood at this SoFA District dance club. The cushy interior, welcoming patio and tasty drinks ensure that the crowd will be entertained off the dance floor as well.
Liquid Lounge
32 S 3rd St, San Jose
408.293.3800 | liquidloungesj.com
DJs keep up the beat on weekend nights, mixing genres while the bartenders crank out the drinks. Asian fusion suffuses the menu, which offers appetizers, side dishes and entrees.
The Loft Bar & Bistro
90 S 2nd St, San Jose
408.291.0677 | loftsj.com
The party continues at this well-loved upstairs dance club, which opened up in 2005. Smiling faces abound, with groups of friends hanging out, dancing and enjoying the rooftop space. Club nights are Thursdays through Saturdays, with dinners served Fridays and Saturdays. The club also often hosts private events.
Nova
83 S 2nd St, San Jose | novasj.com
Regular DJ nights with local talent keep the crowd moving to Latin, reggae, R&B and hip hop on Friday and Saturday.
Rec Room
1 E San Fernando St, San Jose | recroomsj.com
Inviting the South Bay to “come and get rec’d,” this upstairs bar opened in 2020 and has gone on to gain a loyal following with its well-designed interior, appealing cocktails and regular DJ nights.
The Ritz
400 S 1st St, San Jose
408.982.3784 | theritzsanjose.com
Located at the epicenter of downtown San Jose’s SoFA District, the Ritz books an intriguing blend of music, from touring acts to local bands to creative DJ concepts such as KPOP Night, the Taylor Party and Kendrick vs. Drake Night.
Silicon Valley Events for the week of March 12–19
WEDNESDAY
#DTSJ Lucky Leprechaun Hunt—Visitors to downtown San Jose can hunt down images of Lucky the Leprechaun at participating businesses, take a selfie with him, and submit their photos. Winners will be drawn daily through Mar 17. Prizes will include $25 gift cards to downtown businesses, plus one Prize Basket valued at over $250. Visit sjdowntown.com/dtsjlucky.
THURSDAY
San Jose Sharks vs. Chicago Blackhawks—Enjoy hockey at the Shark Tank for the team’s 30th anniversary game. $43.50 to $485.50. SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose. Mar 13, 7:30pm, sapcenter.com.
Rummage and Reuse Sale—Creekside Socials and Preservation Action Council San Jose host three days of vintage shopping and up-cycling. Bonus: On Saturday, bring broken household items to be fixed by volunteers for free through Repair Cafe Silicon Valley. 20 Barack Obama Blvd, San Jose. March 13, noon-3pm; March 14, 9am-4pm; Mar 15, 9am-1pm, creeksidesocials.com.
FRIDAY
Underground Rush Hour—Bay Area independent music festival features nine artists representing genres such as rap, garage and drum and bass, hyperpop, and more. $40.56. Guild Theatre, 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park. Mar 14, 8pm, tixr.com/groups/guildtheatre.
My Blue Soul—Classic covers, original blues and soul, and a hint of ska. Quarter Note, 1214 Apollo Way, Sunnyvale. Mar 14, 8pm, quarternote.com.
Go Gaelic in Gilroy—Tempo Kitchen & Bar celebrates Ireland’s most famous saint with such menu choices as corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and beer cheese potato soup, paired with whiskey sours and Irish coffee, plus entertainment provided by dueling pianos. 7560 Monterey Rd, Gilroy. March 14-16, 5-9pm, tempokb.com.
Luck of the Irish Menu—Shoreline Lake American Bistro in Mountain View offers corned beef and cabbage, Emerald Isle Roasted Lamb Chops, Guinness beef Stew to pair with Irish-inspired brews (including, if desired, a glass of green beer). 3160 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View. March 14-18, shorelinelake.com
San Jose Luck of the Irish Bar Crawl—Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on more than just one night with PubCrawls.com. $14.79+. Start at The Old Wagon Saloon & Grill, 73 N San Pedro St, San Jose. Mar 14-15 and 17, pubcrawls.com.
SATURDAY
Echoes, Suicide Heaven, The Level Heads—A mix of post-punk, blues rock and “echoes” of Pink Floyd served up by three local bands. Quarter Note, 1214 Apollo Way, Sunnyvale. Mar 15, 8pm, quarternote.com.
St. Patrick’s Day Karaoke—KJ America hosts a St. Patrick’s Day celebration with karaoke and food service. Fred’s Place, 2534 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View. Mar 15, 4pm, fredsplace.bar.
Lucky’s St Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl—Good vibes, green drinks and festivities. Three Sisters, 170 W Saint John St, San Jose. Mar 15, 4-midnight. crawlwith.us
2025 St Patrick’s Day Dinner—Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Holy Family Parish Community Center, 4848 Pearl Ave, San Jose. Mar 15, 6–9pm.
Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show—Educational exhibits and demonstrations presented by the Santa Clara Valley Gem and Mineral Society. Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd, San Jose. Mar 15-16, 10am-5pm, scvgms.org.
Beethoven, Brahms & Beauty—The Bay Choral Guild presents Ludwig van Beethoven’s Mass in C, Johannes Brahms’ Schicksalslied, and the premiere of Sanford Dole’s All Is Beauty. Two performances: Mar 15, 7:30pm, First United Methodist, 625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto; Mar 16, 4:30pm, Campbell United Methodist, 1675 Winchester Blvd, Campbell. baychoralguild.org
SUNDAY
Girls Got the Blues 2025—Soul/R&B concert featuring Lara Price and other guests, with proceeds benefiting Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence. $40. San Jose Woman’s Club, 75 S 11th St, San Jose. Mar 16, 2pm, nextdoorsolutions.org
Bar Crawl @ San Pedro Square—Get ready to shamrock and roll through bars filled with Irish spirit(s) and enter the Best Leprechaun Costume Contest. $17.85. N San Pedro St and W Santa Clara St, San Jose. Mar 16, 1-6pm.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Myth Lounge—Live music, festive decorations and drinks to keep the party going. Free until 8pm. 152 Post St, San Jose. Mar 16, 5pm.
St. Patrick’s Day Pancake Breakfast—San Martin Neighborhood Association puts on its annual event. San Martin Lions Hall, 12415 Murphy Ave, Morgan Hill. Mar 16, 8:30am-12:30pm, sanmartinneighbor.org.
MONDAY
St. Patrick’s Day Party—Save some green on beer with $7 PBR and $8 Coors and Bud at this neighborhood hangout. Mike’s Place, 5837 Camden Ave, San Jose. Mar 17, noon-midnight, 408.723.9981.
Dinner and an Irish Movie—Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Pruneyard’s Culinary Cinema night, featuring John Ford’s The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Chef Nico Molinos serves up McLanglen’s Meat Pies, Mary Kate’s Colcannon (garlic mashed potatoes with cabbage and sausage) and Inisfree Apple Tart. 1875 S Bascom Ave, Suite 100, Campbell. Mar 17, 7pm, pruneyardcinemas.com.
