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The Metro Bars & Clubs 2004 Guide [ Intro | Coffee | Tea | Famous South Bay Drunks | San Jose | Campbell | Cupertino | Los Altos | Los Gatos | Menlo Park | Mountain View | Palo Alto | Redwood City | Santa Clara | Saratoga | Sunnyvale ] Los Altos Bandera Los Altos 233 Third St, Los Altos 650.948.3524; www.houstons.com or banderalosaltos.citysearch.com With the kitchen and chefs in full view and appealingly contemporary décor, lively Bandera is an ideal place to drink and people watch—and the bar is always bustling with attractive Los Altans. The wine list features more than 50 wines (16 of which can be ordered by the glass). However, the bar's specialty is a Margarita mixed with lime juice and Cuervo Gold, served on the rocks. Bandera's tasty munchies include the dip trio and the grilled artichoke, which comes topped with house-made remoulade. (AB) The Boardwalk 4940 El Camino Real, Los Altos 650.964.7500 Kids, college students and adults are equally welcome at this homey pizza-and-beer joint with a sporty personality. The beer menu is somewhat varied; it offers several local microbrews and a few imports, but its strength is really its domestic drinks. The Boardwalk also makes specialty coffee drinks for those who are so inclined. Arcade games and wooden tables make the place all the more distinctive. (AB) Maltby's Restaurant and Tavern 101 Plaza North, Los Altos 650.917.8777; www.maltbys.com Though Maltby's is known more as a casual American restaurant than as a watering hole, its bar is centrally located and its drink offerings impress. Amicable bartenders fill frosty mugs with a variety of British and Irish beers such as Guinness, Fuller's London Porter and Newcastle Brown Ale. Wyder's ciders are also on tap in fruity flavors like peach, apple and pear. The wine list features more than 25 name brands, ranging from merlots to sauvignon blancs. (AB) St. Stephen's Green Irish Pub and Restaurant 169 Main St, Los Altos 650.917.1336; www.st-stephens-green.com Named by its Irish owners after a historic park in Dublin, St. Stephen's Green not only provides Irish staples like Guinness, Harp and Murphy's on tap but also vends local brews such as Tied House's Wheat Ale. Weekly entertainment includes karaoke on Wednesday nights, a DJ spinning hip-hop and house tunes on Thursdays and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Formerly the Los Altos Bar and Grill, St. Stephen's Green retains much of the building's old-time charm; the interior is dimly lit and charmingly decorated. (AB) Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]