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Cupertino Blue Pheasant Bar and Grill 22100 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino 408.255.3300 Hours: Tue-Sun, 8pm-1:30am Crowd age: 35-60 Music: DJ plays dance music from the '50s through '90s Decor: Old-school charm with a golf-course view Signature Drink: Butterfinger and Cosmopolitan Dancing: Oh yeah Games/Amenities: The dance floor, baby Ambience: Get it on! The Pheasant is the place to see and be seen, particularly for the post-40 crowd looking for some good, good lovin' and a place to "cut loose." Expect glam, glitter and heavy cologne/perfume to bombard your senses while you try and elbow through the thick crowds--this place goes off just about every night. (Leaving the parking lot is a nightmare.) Britannia Arms Cupertino 1087 De Anza Blvd, Cupertino 408.252.7262 Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2am Crowd age: Mid-20s to retired regulars Music: Karaoke Sundays, jazz Mondays, live bands Thu-Sun Decor: Classic British pub Signature Drink: Scooby Snacks, Captain Caveman, Knicker-Ripper Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Darts, dominoes Ambience: The place for complete U.K. soccer coverage, the Arms caters to sports fans and beer-swillers alike, as well as anyone with a hankering for some bangers and mash (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Along with the pub vibe, the Arms offers a full restaurant catering to an all-ages clientele and a very casual atmosphere in which to toss back a pint and unwind. Coffee Society 21265 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino 408.725.8091 Hours: Sun-Thu, 6:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat, 6:30am-midnight Crowd age: Late 20s to mid-30s inside, teens to mid-20s outside Music: Eclectic house-made CDs inside, impromptu live sets outside Decor: Comfy couches and laptop outlets Signature Drink: Killer Man Java (KMJ) Iced Mocha, the Gritty Kitty, the Witch Hazel Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Book lending library, free DSL hookup Ambience: Perfecting its offbeat bohemian utopia since 1989, the Society not only serves up culture with the java, it's rumored that at least 27 Internet startups were born during fevered, caffeine-fueled meetings in the comfy (recently renovated) back room. Lingering is encouraged, artistry is revered and there's no better place to hang out and study, work or catch an impromptu jam session on the patio. Duke of Edinburgh 10801 N. Wolfe Rd, Cupertino 408.446.3853 Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2am Crowd age: Late 20s to late 40s Music: Eclectic jukebox--Abba to U2 to traditional Irish jigs Decor: Authentic British pub with full restaurant Signature Drink: English imports on tap Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Darts Ambience: Foamy pints, authentic British decor and a menu that would make the queen mum feel right at home (kidney pie, Yorkshire pudding, bangers and mash), the Duke is so decked out in U.K. 'tude you might be swayed into thinking you'd crossed the pond if it weren't for the fact that you're in a Cupertino shopping mall surrounded by dotcommers. Paul & Eddie's Monta Vista Inn 21619 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino 408.252.2226 Hours: Daily, 10am-2am Crowd age: Late 20s and up Music: Eclectic jukebox--mostly rock Decor: Dark and home-style with pictures of patrons gracing the walls Signature Drink: Monta Vista Martini Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Two pool tables, two dartboards, video games. Ambience: The epitome of a neighborhood bar, Paul & Eddie's has been providing stiff drinks and a casual atmosphere to its regulars since the days when Cupertino was better known for apricots and cherries than it was for Apple. Grab some free popcorn and cue up: This place is a pool jock's haven, with 50-cent games and a smoking patio out back. Peacock Lounge 19980 Homestead Rd, Cupertino 408.777.0812 Hours: Daily, 10am-2am Crowd age: 30-45 Music: No live music Decor: A gamer's paradise Signature Drink: The Peacock Feather--a fruity summertime drink Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Eight TVs, two pool tables, three dartboards, shuffleboard, foosball, video golf Ambience: With eight TVs, four satellites, 12 microbrews, 30 kinds of tequila, and bar games galore, the Peacock is, to quote the owner, "a foxy little place" with a little something for everyone, particularly those with short attention spans. The weekend breakfast specials pack the house (especially during pigskin season). The Peppermill 10690 N. De Anza Blvd, Cupertino 408.996.7750 Hours: Daily, 10:30am-2am Crowd age: College to business crowd Music: Background mood Muzak Decor: Dark '70s vibe with a cozy fireplace Signature Drink: Scorpion (ice cream and grenadine with a zip) Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Free happy-hour appetizer spread 4-8pm Ambience: The perfect place to corral your co-workers for an off-site business meeting, the bar at the Peppermill has a mellow, meeting-conducive vibe that attracts business folks and De Anza College students alike. A floating fireplace grants the place some swank, along with its dark disco decor and drink specials. Santa Barbara Grill 10745 N. De Anza Blvd, Cupertino 408.253.2233 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm, Sat 5-10pm, Sun 5-9pm Crowd age: Young professionals Music: No live music Decor: Casual, beachy Signature Drink: Cosmos, margaritas Dancing: None Games/Amenities: None Ambience: Tucked a bit out of the way, the Santa Barbara Grill, with its tasty menu and weekday drink specials, caters to the nearby Apple and Hewlett-Packard crowd escaping their cubicles in search of food and libations. Join the tech-heads for the weekday happy hour (4-7pm) with foofy drinks and appetizer specials. South Seas Hide-A-Way 10031 Judy Ave, Cupertino 408.252.0684 Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sun 11am-1am Crowd age: 40 plus Music: Live music every other Friday Decor: Cheers-like, for the post-40 set Signature Drink: None Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Pool, darts, pinball, computer video games Ambience: With regular pool tournaments (every Wednesday) and constant dance-floor action, the South Seas provides the perfect, comfortable atmosphere for those with a couple of decades' head start on the dotcom twentysomethings frequenting other Silicon Valley watering holes. The clientele is a crowd of regulars, and their daily happy hour (4-7pm) packs the house. T.G.I Friday's 10343 N. Wolfe Rd, Cupertino 408.257.2050 Hours: Daily, 10am-2am Crowd age: Mid-20s to mid-30s Music: Mainstream popular Decor: Neon, stripes, wacky buttons and lotsa color Signature Drink: Friday's Freeze (frozen screwdriver) Dancing: No Games/Amenities: National Trivia game Ambience: The waitstaff at this national chain must be specially schooled into believing that every day is, indeed, Friday. The McDonald's of the nightlife scene, at least you get what you expect at T.G.I.Friday's--buffalo wings (plus a vast array of other finger foods), frilly mixed drinks and the famously perky waitstaff. The Cupertino branch of this national change is also known to be quite the research facility for those studying arguably inept pickup lines. [ Bars & Clubs Index | San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]