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Peninsula Antonio's Nut House 321 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.321.2550 Hours: Daily 9:30am-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: Jukebox Décor: Faded crepe paper decorations and peanut shells on the floor Signature Drink: Purple Hooter Games/Amenities: Pool tables, big-screen TVs, video games, darts, pinball, lottery ticket dispenser Ambience: In a town that has suddenly adopted a nightly dress-up-to-go-out code, the discarded peanut shells on the floor of Antonio's are a fabulous equalizer. No one gives a doo-doo about where anyone works, got laid off or how much that Kate Spade purse cost at Neiman's. Here, it's chill mode. How pretentious can a place be with a caged mechanical gorilla (Watch the moving arm before grabbing the peanuts!), ceiling tiles decorated by patrons (there's one with an Afro'd woman holding a large peanut in front of her breasts), or a clothesline above the bar with soiled XXXL underwear emblazoned with "stinky but deadly"? Blue Chalk Café 630 Ramona St, Palo Alto 650.326.1020 Hours: Mo-Fri 11:30am-1am, Sat 5pm-10pm Crowd Age: 20s-30s Music: Jukebox Décor: Artsy coffeehouse style Signature Drink: Whatever's "in" that night Games/Amenities: Pool tables, shuffleboard, darts Ambience: This is a place to go hang out for grad/law/med students who like crowds but not dressing up. The large space gives patrons the opportunity to sit at a table without being bumped by drunks every two seconds, but also allows the mobile crowd to walk around. There are places to sit almost everywhere, so sitting or standing really becomes a matter of choice. The billiard room presents a good opportunity for students to prove they can make it in more than just academia. La Bodeguita del Medio 463 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.326.7762 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-11pm Crowd Age: 30ish Music: Only the Latin backdrop Décor: Casual but clean California-Havana fusion Signature Drink: Mojito Games/Amenities: Cigar room Ambience: In tropical Havana, La Bodeguita del Medio symbolizes three things: Ernest Hemingway (who frequented the bar for two decades), cigars and sugary mojito cocktails. While less exotic, its California sister also boasts three features: a casual atmosphere, an extensive list of alcohol and a cozy cigar humidor, where patrons can savor fat, hand-rolled cigars despite California's ban on indoor smoking. While the restaurant sees more action during the lunchtime peak, the bar picks up around 9pm. The atmosphere here is friendly and the small bar is a great escape from Palo Alto's larger, student-drawn watering holes. The British Bankers Club 1090 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.327.8769 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 35-60 Music: Live music Décor: Upscale antique shop Signature Drink: Capt. Morgan and Coke Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Cigar Room Ambience: The BBC is like a sanitized Disneyland version of an English pub. It's got so much antique furniture, burnished wood and authentic British bric-a-brac that Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson would look right at home on the dance floor, where local yuppies try to get down and, with equally poor results, get laid. Cafe Borrone 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.327.0830 Hours: Mon-Thu 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat 8am-12am, Sun 7am-5pm Crowd Age: Varies Music: Live music by Dixieland jazz band or a Latin duet, which performs occasionally Décor: Hardwood floors and local art Signature Drink: Frosted mocha Dancing: Yes Ambience: Now that the days are getting warmer, Cafe Borrone is perfect for enjoying the sun with the cafe's famous Frosted Mocha. There's plenty of outdoor seating and a grand selection of mouth-watering cakes and pastries. Every Friday night, from 8 to 11pm, The Clint Baker New Orleans Jazz Band does Dixieland jazz. Cafe Fino 544 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.6082 Hours: Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30am-2pm; Dinner Mon-Sat 5:30pm-11:30pm, closed Sun Crowd Age: Mixed Music: Live music six days a week Décor: White tablecloth and Art Deco Signature Drink: Martinis Dancing: Yes Ambience: Owner Fred Maddalena couldn't have said it better: Cafe Fino is "a blast from the past with class." With its classic movie posters--on loan from cafe regular and Stanford Theater operator David Packard--nightly jazz offerings and single malt scotches, Cafe Fino is intimate and smoky, in a Bergman-Bogart kind of way. Monday evening it's jazz pianist Neil Adler; Tuesday and Wednesday a jazz trio deluxe plays alongside singer Margie Baker, who belts out Ella Fitzgerald hits, and from Thursday to Saturday singer Nancy Gilliland plays Cole Porter and George Gershwin standards. Maddalena is a star himself, greeting patrons with his trademark ease and cool, culled from his days at Club Indigo, the Toronto club he once ran with Bugsy Siegel's nephew Al. There's a parade of stars on the wall from the club's heyday, including Mel Torme, former Indigo emcee Bob Newhart and one-time regular Sarah Vaughn--before everyone went Vegas. Circadia 518 Bryant St, Palo Alto 650.327.8954 Hours: Mon-Wed 7am-11pm, Thu 7am-midnight, Fri-Sat 7am-1am Crowd Age: 25-60 Music: Live music Thu, Fri, Sat Décor: Continental street cafe Signature Drink: Cosmopolitan Dancing: If there's room Games/Amenities: Ambience: The cafe has casual elegance that makes for great conversations (read: dates). The crowd, though older for the most part, is mellow. Add some funky jazz to the mix, and Circadia comes up as an excellent choice if folks are not in the mood for wild partying, and prefer to discuss Proust over a fine wine or cocktail. The new chef plans to keep the kitchen open later, while serving fine cuisine with a California twist. Dutch Goose 3567 Alameda De Las Pulgas, Menlo Park 650.854.3245 Hours: Sun-Tue 11am-midnight, Wed-Sat 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21-40 Music: Jukebox Décor: Spartan Signature Drink: Beer Games/Amenities: Pool Ambience: The Dutch Goose isn't what you'd call a trendy bar. It probably looks a lot like it did 20 or 30 years ago. Stanford kids can feel like they're slumming here, and alumni can bask in the glory of their younger days while the jukebox blares away. Locals, including some guy named Joe Montana, have been known to show up and play a little pool. Empire Grill and Tap Room 651 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.321.3030 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10:30pm, Sat 11am-10:30pm, Sun 11-9:30pm Crowd Age: 25+ Music: Jazz CDs Décor: Traditional New York elegance Signature Drink: Martinis and Manhattans Games/Amenities: Garden patio Ambience: The Empire Grill and Tap Room would be a classy big-city bar if it were not located in the heart of Palo Alto. The tap room houses a 45-foot-long mahogany bar, making it feel like the sort of place to blow into after a weekday on Wall Street or Fifth Avenue. The room has back east charm with a touch of warm, casual elegance. While the long bar is a good place to nurse a drink in solitude, it is the garden patio that ties together the best of both coasts. Heat lamps, twinkling Christmas lights and a wealth of foliage make for better mingling on chilly spring evenings or warm summer nights. The menu of hearty California cuisine--a mix of American, French and Italian dishes with regional influences, and a weekend a la carte brunch--is further proof that the Empire Grill and Tap Room is a suitable spot in all moods and situations. Fanny and Alexander's 412 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.7183 Hours: Tues-Sat 4pm-last call, closed Sun-Mon Crowd Age: 25-35 Music: Live cover bands Thu-Sat 10pm-1:10am Décor: Casual Signature Drink: Cosmopolitans Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: big-screen TVs Ambience: Fanny and Alexander's--F&A's, for short--is a sausage party. We're talking men, ladies. Everywhere. Shake your fanny near the stage while the band covers Third Eye Blind or Everclear, or sit your fanny outside in the patio area and wait for the swarm of hunky techies and Stanford grads. Watch what you drink, though--there's a thin line between geek and chic. Gordon Biersch 640 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.323.7723 Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-midnight Crowd Age: 20s to 30s Music: No live music Décor: Large brewpub Signature Drink: The seasonal beer (presently the Maibock) Games/Amenities: Lots of TVs for patrons' viewing pleasures Ambience: The original Bay Area microbrew, Gordon Biersch knows what its customers want: good beer and plenty of it. They also keep a fully stocked bar for visitors who might not be in the mood for a yeasty beverage. The large space doesn't put on any pretense, perfect for the merry consumption of well-crafted beer served by a friendly staff. Il Fornaio Cafe Garden City Hotel 520 Cowper St, Palo Alto 650.853.3888 Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri 7am-midnight, Sat 8am-midnight, Sun 8am-11pm Crowd Age: 27-60 Décor: Modern, contemporary Signature Drink: Bellini (Prosecco and peach juice in a champagne flute) Ambience: This is a solid choice, be it a first date, business dinner or time to catch up with an old friend. Il Fornaio offers a moderate option to "fine" dining made better with their sampler of homemade ciabatta or focaccia breads. The atmosphere is light and inviting, having the feel of a luxury hotel lobby complete with large mirrors and oversized plants. The dining area is small enough to beg that reservations be made, but there are a few cafe tables outside and a small, classy bar to start with the first glass of wine. The Island 4141 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.493.9020 Hours: Daily 7pm-2am Crowd Age: 30 and way up Music: Jukebox, occasional live bluegrass, blues or oldies Décor: Classic Signature Drink: Budweiser Games/Amenities: Pool Ambience: This is the bar that will make first-timers think that they are no longer in California, but in the Midwest. There are "no smoking" signs throughout, but they can be hard to read through the blue haze. Faux wood paneling gives the Island a distinctly '70s rec-room feel (minus the bumper pool). The bar itself cuts a wide arc along the wall, and cushy padding for the elbows makes this the perfect place for hunched-over barflies who cannot support the weight of their own torsos. Those with an appetite can order $1 corn dogs or $1.50 hot pockets. Left at Albuquerque 445 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.1011 Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-2am Crowd Age: 25-35 Music: Mix of alternative, pop and blues; no live music Décor: Southwestern Signature Drink: Margaritas Ambience: This Tex-Mex restaurant an bar is a weekend hot spot for today's younger generation of well-dressed yuppies-with-toys, as well as a great excuse to grab co-workers by the elbow and let loose over lunch or after work. The atmosphere is nothing short of festive and the zesty plates and large margaritas keep the conversation humming. With an open ceiling supported by large wooden beams, it's got a town-hall feel for mingling, and the buzz of conversation and laughter spills out the door, promising a ready-made party upon entrance. Left Bank 635 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park 650.473.6543 Hours: Daily lunch 11:30am-5pm; dinner Sun-Mon 5pm-10pm, Tues-Sat 5pm-11pm Crowd Age: 21-50 Décor: French cafe Signature Drink: Rive Gauche Cosmopolitan or the Louis Malle, a combination of vodka, Alizet and French lemonade Games/Amenities: Outdoor seating, seating in bar area, private dining upstairs Ambience: Get a taste of Paris dining by stringing along a significant other to this French hot spot. Younger and older business crowds make up a large part of the crowd in this casually elegant setting of white tablecloths and vintage posters. From June 21 to 24, Left Bank presents "A Day in Burgundy," specializing in meals from the Burgundy region of France. Los Altos Bar & Grill 169 Main St, Los Altos 650.948.4332 Hours: Tue-Sat until 2am (serving lunch and dinner); Sun-Mon 10am-9pm (lunch only) Crowd Age: 28-58 Music: Live on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Décor: Straight-laced Signature Drink: Wine Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Big banquet room upstairs Ambience: Word from the guitarist of Mumblefinger is that the Los Altos Bar & Grill is "a good, hot, sweaty place to hear some blues." He should know--he plays there every Thursday night. It would take a big crowd to fill LAB&G--guests can sit outside on Los Altos' pleasant, if stale, Main Street or at the booths inside, and there is plenty of space for boozing and dancing. The high ceilings and low light make it a perfect atmosphere for late-night hookups with Chardonnay-soaked people pushing 40. Hops fans beware: There's no draft beer to be found here. Mackie's Supper Club 541 Ramona St, Palo Alto 650.326.1446 Hours: Sun-Mon 5pm-10pm, Tue-Thu 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-12am Crowd Age: Mid-20s and up Music: Top 40 and '80s CD mix Décor: Cosmic lounge Signature Drink: Lemon Drops Games/Amenities: Outside patio opens this month, TVs Ambience: The leopard-print tablecloths, stools and lamps are all signs that having a funkin' good time is on the horizon. The club gets busy Thursday to Saturday, so it's best to make reservations. Otherwise, walk-in patrons can enjoy a seat at the bar and order a martini with a side appetizer of oysters, filet mignon skewers or steak bites. Miyake 140 University Ave, Palo Alto 650.323.9449 Hours: Daily 11:30am-10pm Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: Japanese house music Décor: Sushi bar, flashing lights and smoke machine Signature Drink: Sake Bomb Dancing: On chairs Games/Amenities: Waiters who do sake bombs with the customers Ambience: In a word, Miyake is madness. On weekend nights, Stanford and Santa Clara University students and a few brave locals pack the place for its sake bombs and sushi--some named after Silicon Valley heavyweights Apple, IBM and Chelsea Clinton. To partake in getting bombed, order a round of sake and Sapporo beer for the table. Get the waiter's attention, ask him to count you off in Japanese and to turn down the lights. Stand on a chair and let the waiter shout, "Ichi, ni, san, sake bomb!" Then, drop the shot of sake into the glass of Sapporo and chug. Hard. For the birthday boy or girl, order the dreaded Tower of Death, which involves multiple shots of sake. One tip for the kamikaze crew: Arrive early with the entire party present. Miyake does not take reservations. The Oasis 241 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.326.8896 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 5-75 Music: None Décor: Low-key pizza joint Signature Drink: Beer Games/Amenities: Video games Ambience: At a time when most bars cater to a very specific crowd--boomers, hipsters or venture capitalists--it's nice to find a place with a varied clientele. The Oasis is usually home to a passel of kids intent on pizza and video games. They mix well with softball teams celebrating after a game, sports fans catching the action on TV and students looking to carve their initials into the aging wood tables. The Old Pro 2865 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.325.2070 Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-11:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-11:30pm Crowd Age: 21-40 Décor: Sports Signature Drink: Pitcher of beer Games/Amenities: Wide-screen TV Ambience: It takes more than a few TVs to make a sports bar. It's the little touches that count. Case in point: The Old Pro steps up to the plate by painting football schedules on the outside of the establishment, which happens to be an old metal Quonset hut with the utilitarian feel of an army barracks. A place that lets drivers on El Camino know who Notre Dame plays next week has its priorities straight. Printer's Inc. Cafe 320 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.323.3347 Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-10:30pm; Sat-Sun 8am-10:30pm Crowd Age: 18-30 Décor: Airy interior, outside patio Ambience: Printer's reigns supreme for its tasty delectables, namely its entrees, such as chicken enchilada, sandwiches, salads, soups and pastries. There are plenty of bright lights overhead for diving headfirst into Tolstoy or scribbling working titles for the next Great American Novel. Q Café and Billiards 529 Alma Street, Palo Alto 650.322.3311 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: DJ beats Décor: Old brick warehouse Signature Drink: Sex with the Bartender Dancing: Oui, oui Games/Amenities: Several pool tables and TVs Ambience: Walking into PA's hottest party spot is like stepping into a steam room. The mass of writhing bodies on the dance floor generates enough heat to turn the whole cavernous warehouse into a sauna. No one seems to notice, and everyone keeps on dancing. The Q offers people two options: go and shake it on the dance floor, or chill and shoot some stick in the pool section. Either way, people dress to be noticed. Rose and Crown 547 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.327.7673 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-1:30am, Sat 12pm-1:30am, Sun 1pm-1:30am Crowd Age: 21-40 Music: Jukebox Décor: Classic English Pub Signature Drink: Pint of Guinness, Snakebite (cider and lager beer) Games/Amenities: Darts, Monday night live comedy Ambience: The Rose and Crown offers a welcome respite from the chic uptown, conservative feel of Palo Alto. It's a classic: dive bar meets authentic English pub. Complete with worn plaid carpeting, stained glass windows, a short bar hung with traditional bar towels, a wild boar head and framed Guinness posters, among other things, the Rose and Crown has got it all. Every guy in the place grips a dark beer, a few play dice with the bartender, and there's an area for darts. The bar also offers a small patio decorated with picnic tables, if there's a need to take it outside. Rudy's Pub 117 University Ave, Palo Alto 650.329.0922 Hours: Daily 11:30am-1:30am Crowd Age: 35-55 Décor: Dimly lit lounge Signature Drink: Rum and Coke Games/Amenities: Jukebox Ambience: It's hard to believe that a regular old bar still exists in Palo Alto. Rudy's is an unpretentious little place to have a drink and a conversation in relative peace and quiet. It's not a place to network, cut a deal or sample a fennel and cilantro martini. And that's a good thing. Straits Cafe 3295 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.494.7168 Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10:30pm Crowd Age: 30-50 Music: Piped-in jazz, soon to be live Décor: Modern, understated Signature Drink: Singapore Sling (gin, cherry brandy and fruit juice) Games/Amenities: Patio with fountain Ambience: Straits Cafe is for the hip, the open-minded, the savvy-tongued, the trendsetters, the trend-dodgers, the adventurous diner, the well-seasoned, the serene and, well, the hungry. It's Singapore cuisine blended with Chinese, Indian, Malay and Indonesian palates, a modern fusion mix of exotic dishes and flavors. The atmosphere is near-posh in its simplicity and minimalism. This is undoubtedly the place to swap plates and murmur over the quality of the meal and retro drinks like the Sling. 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 ]