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Campbell Boswell's 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell 408.371.4404 Hours: Daily noon-2am Crowd Age: College to 40s Décor: English pub Music: Live rock bands Signature Drink: Chillum Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Darts, video games Ambience: Boswell's feels like a cross between British pub and '80s class reunion. Stuffed deer heads oversee an eclectic, all-age crowd, with an even more eclectic collection of dance moves, groovin' to live rock music nightly. A popular hangout for college students, white-collar workers and retirees, the unpretentious atmosphere at Boswell's makes for a friendly crowd and ensures a good time to be had by all. Campbell Billiards 1777 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell 408.377.9886 Hours: Daily noon-2am Crowd Age: Teens, 20s Music: Jukebox Décor: Pool hall Signature Drink: Beer Games/Amenities: Pool, video games, trivia Ambience: The name says it all. With sticks, balls and tables as far as the eye can see, Campbell Billiards is a pool shark's dream. Monday is ladies' night, when gals play for half price, and guys fantasize about kicking some ass on and off of the felt. The Billiards is open to all ages, but does serve beer for the 21-and-over crowd. Campbell Coffee Roasting Company--The Pruneyard 1875 S. Bascom Ave #112, Campbell 408.559.8040 Hours: Daily 7am-11pm Crowd Age: 16-30 Music: Jazz CD mixes in the background Décor: Wall-to-wall tables Signature Drink: Mocha Freeze Ambience: Outta the way, Starbucks. This place is open later and boasts a more studious, social crowd as opposed to the commuter traffic that the other corporate joint gets. There's also plenty of confections like chocolate chip cookies, pastries, muffins and, for the hungrier patron, sandwiches. Inside, it's quiet enough to spend some time with an iBook, while the outside patio area resembles a concrete beach. Scores of young and attractive people mingle late into the night, sipping on espressos or gossiping about last weekend's prom. Effie's Restaurant and Bar 331 W. Hacienda Ave, Campbell Hours: Sun-Mon, Wed 11am-10pm; Tues, Thu, 11am-12:30am, Fri-Sat 11am-1:30am Crowd Age: 30-50 Music: Karaoke Tues, Thu-Sat Décor: '70s casino lounge Games/Amenities: Happy hour buffet nightly, 4pm-7pm Ambience: Located in the heart of the San Tomas neighborhood, Effie's is a locally loved, visitors-welcome lounge. Karaoke rules here. Everyone knows Erica, the talented songstress who hosts karaoke Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Friday, it's her chance for the spotlight. "People have a great time," says one local, "all the way to closing." Elephant Bar 499 E. Hamilton Ave, Campbell 408.871.8401 Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11:30pm Crowd Age: Twenty- and thirtysomethings Music: Not African Décor: Safari Signature Drink: Prickly Pear Margarita for two Ambience: Forget about dashikis and couscous--this is not an ethnic African place. Like an attraction at Disney World, the Elephant Bar is simply themed after the proud pachyderm and its habitat. From dark wood furnishings to brass fixtures, from leopard carpet to a giant rock wall sculpture, some serious capital went into the creation of this veldt wonderland. The bar is a circular affair, sitting under a backlit midnight-blue ceiling flecked with tiny stars. Brass elephants hang from the bar, from lamps, from the walls and essentially from every nook and cranny. The young bartenders here have that busy-bartender thing going where they try not to make eye contact with people, so be persistent. Patrons are a mix of bar friends, singles and people waiting for tables in the restaurant, where they can take in generous and reasonably priced portions of California and continental fare. The Garrett 1777 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell 408.374.3400 Hours: Daily 10am-1:30am Crowd Age: 21-40 Décor: Pizza parlor Signature Drink: Beers on tap Games/Amenities: Video game room Ambience: Families just in from the night's Little League game come here for a quick pizza dinner. For those in danger of missing SportsCenter, don't fret. There's a television in the dining area, and several by the bar. Gaslighter Theatre 400 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell 408.866.1408 Hours: Vary depending on performance Crowd Age: All ages Music: Live shows and musicals Décor: Old-school theater elegance Signature Drink: Bottled beer Dancing: Sometimes Ambience: The Gaslighter Theatre isn't a bar, but it's a fine place to sip a bottled beer while taking in a musical--and the occasional live local ska or punk show. The plush red carpet and black-and-white photos give the theatre an old-school elegance and provide a perfect spot for local performances. Soft drinks and concessions are also offered for the under-aged. Giuseppe Italian Restaurant 33 S. Central Ave, Campbell 408.370.7705 Hours: Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30am-2pm; Dinner Tue-Sun 5pm-varied closing time Crowd Age: 20-70 Music: Opera in the background Décor: Casual and white tablecloth Signature Drink: Cosmopolitan Games/Amenities: Outside patio for alfresco dining and drinking Ambience: With its warm staff and paintings of the countryside, it's hard not to reminisce about Italy. It's not so unusual to be greeted by the restaurant's owners or cooks upon entering. Their job is getting everyone to eat and be merry. Though bar patrons can't sit at stools surrounding the bar (there are future plans to do so, however), they can sit around tables and drink or enjoy time outside in the newly fenced-in drinking area out front. Be sure to indulge in some of the restaurant's other pasta dishes and appetizers, such as the calamari fritti. Katie Bloom's 369 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell 408.379.9687 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: Jukebox Décor: Irish pub Signature Drink: Guinness Games/Amenities: Fenced-in patio out front for drinking and eating Ambience: Unlike its downtown San Jose location, this one appeals to those who like to roam in and out of the pub, spilling out onto Campbell Avenue. It's an easy, roomy place to meet, and softer on the ears compared to downtown joints. Exclusive to this location: live bands from 6:30pm to 9:30pm every Sunday. Khartoum 300 Orchard City Dr, Campbell 408.371.4404 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21-50 Music: Jukebox Décor: Leather couches and animal heads Signature Drink: Chillum Games/Amenities: Foosball, video dart games and big-screen TVs Ambience: The stained glass and faux Tiffany lamps lend a saloon vibe to Khartoum. It's a mixed crowd that hangs out here, with a younger set of patrons cruising by after work. Become a regular and reap the benefits not advertised to the rest of us, like promotional nights similar to the one where Smirnoff vodka hooked up the house. King's Head Pub 201 Orchard City Dr, Campbell 408.871.2499 Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11:30am-2am Crowd Age: 21 and up Music: Live bagpipes, karaoke Décor: Traditional beer hall Signature Drink: Guinness Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Darts, trivia Tuesdays, karaoke Ambience: The King's Head Pub has a wee bit of an identity crisis--a menu to suggest a British pub, German beer hall décor, Scottish bagpipes and kilts and a bar overflowing with Irish beer. It all adds to the charm of this cozy pub where friendly locals of all ages congregate to throw darts, play Tuesday night trivia or guzzle U.K. and Irish beers on tap. It's a must-go for those with a soft spot for bartenders with charming accents and men in kilts. Neza Bar and Grill 1505 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell 408.866.0511 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: All ages Music: Live music Fridays and Saturdays Signature Drink: Corona Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Pool, darts, big-screen TV Ambience: Formerly C.S. Riff's, this comfy neighborhood watering hole attracts all ages and ethnicities from the surrounding Campbell neighborhood. The pool tables are always popular, and the nine surrounding TVs play Spanish music videos. Boasting Lo mejor en comida al estilo D.F. (the best in Mexico City-style food), Neza's menu offers a tasty selection of tacos, tortas and seafood. The crowd picks up at night, lounging on the red and white checkered tablecloths and keeping the beat to live music. Off the Hook 2369 Winchester Blvd, Campbell 408.374.3257 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21-50 Music: Jukebox; DJ Friday; live band Saturday Décor: Casual Signature Drink: Diggler Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Beer patio, billiards tables, putting green, TVs, foosball, pinball, video and dart games Ambience: Off the Hook lives and dies by its name. It's not so unusual to find someone at the entrance doing a handstand pushup, or someone else inside groovin' to ABBA's "Dancing Queen." That said, this bar has something for every beer nut. Every Wednesday is karaoke night, and golfaholics can actually putt on the huge green or shoot some pool at the two tables outside. Before rackin' them up, try a Diggler, described by one bartender as a "Long Island but stronger," or a banana split shot, which, well, tastes like a banana split. The bar's a little hard to find, so watch for the Campbell Plaza sign. It's next to Safeway. Rock Bottom Brewery The Pruneyard, 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell 408.377.0707 Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-2am, Sat-Sun 12pm-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: CD mixes Décor: High wood ceilings and cozy booths Signature Drink: Faller Wheat beer Games/Amenities: TVs Ambience: Think cavernous Tahoe chalet paired with a long bar and all kinds of comfort food coming from the kitchen: chicken-fried steak, big burgers and steaks. As is always the case of watering holes that attract the young and good-looking, the joint is raucous and noisy. Even more incentive to cut work early: every Tuesday, from 2pm to 6pm, is pint night. A glass is $4.95 and refills are $2.25 a pop. Listings by Geographical Location: Campbell | Cupertino | Los Gatos | Mtn. View | Peninsula | Central San Jose | San Jose 'Burbs | Santa Clara | Saratoga | South County | Sunnyvale | South County | Bar and Club Locator Features: Light's On, Door's Open: What makes a bar a favorite hangout the world over? One writer aims to find out. I'll Have What She's Having...: What's new and what's cool when it comes to the latest cocktail twists. Reviews: Senoritas and Margaritas: Left at Albuquerque--blame it all on Route 66. Scene Stealer: All the animals come out at night... to the Camera Cafe. Saddle Up: Sangria Restaurant, where sitting at the bar is a gripping experience. Retro Groovin': At the DancePlex. partygoers relive the '70s, '80s and... this morning! Flash and Dash: Mardi Gras and other surprises at Nola Restaurant and Bar. Knight Dreams: Black Watch--where swords cross and Stoli freezes over. United Nations: Lido's Nightclub, where world beat has a whole new meaning. Taste the Music: The Icon Supperclub is the new incarnation of the Edge. Mineral Wealth: Mining for meaning under the Cinebar's disco ball . In the Pink: All in a dogone day's work at the Pink Poodle. Rod's Roadstop: Britannia Arms at Almaden wears it well. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]