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Peninsula Antonio's Nut House 321 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.321.2550 Hours: Daily, 10am-2am Crowd Age: 21-30 Music: Jukebox Decor: Cartoons painted on ceiling, posters, beer lights Signature Drink: Alabama Slammer Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Pool tables, video games, pinball, darts Ambience: Stop by Antonio's Nut House and be prepared for handfuls of free peanuts from a huge, mechanical gorilla. The late-night spot is a favorite for nearby college students who can't get enough of those Alabama Slammers; rumor has it the popular shot was invented at Antonio's. Check out the crazy cartoons painted on the walls and ceiling, but go early. Even Antonio has a hard time getting in the door on a busy Saturday night. Blue Chalk Café 630 Ramona St, Palo Alto 650.326.1020 Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2pm and 5-10pm; closed Sun Crowd Age: 25-35 Music: No Decor: Wood and stone Signature Drink: None Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Pool tables Ambience: Being across the street from City Hall helps mix up the crowd at Blue Chalk Cafe. The trendy spot draws attractive businessmen and -women who have slipped out of their stuffy suits for the evening. They're looking for a good time, and they're in luck. Until 10pm, patrons can sink their teeth into the cafe's tasty California cuisine or wander, drink in hand, throughout the two-story cafe. Check out the pool players at the four blue-felt-covered pool tables. The British Bankers Club 1090 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.327.8769 Hours: Sat-Sun, 11am-2am Crowd Age: 35-60 Music: Live music Decor: Antique shop Signature Drink: Capt. Morgan and Coke Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Cigar room Ambiance: The BBC is an idealized British pub; it doesn't smell like urine and everyone has good teeth. There's so much antique furniture, burnished wood and authentic British bric-a-brac and signage that Sherlock Holmes would feel comfortable here. Silicon Valley's finest hit the dance floor on weekends to prove they're better at keeping VC funders happy than keeping a beat. Cafe Borrone 1010 El Camino Real #110, Menlo Park 650.327.0830 Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri 7am-midnight, Sat 8am-midnight, Sun 8am-5pm Crowd Age: All ages Music: Friday night live Dixieland jazz band or Latin guitar duet Decor: Modern art from local artists, wood floors Signature Drink: None Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: None Ambience: Afternoons Palo Alto businessmen and -women, dressed in casual dotcom wear, hold business meetings at Cafe Borrone. At night, though, things tend to get hopping when young ones pour through the doors to sip lattes and iced mochas. Friday nights, a Dixieland jazz band fills the art-decorated cafe with its music. A great summer spot under the stars is the cafe's outdoor patio, surrounded by brick pillars and featuring a running fountain. Cafe Fino 544 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.6082 Hours: Daily, 5:30-11pm Crowd Age: 40-60 Music: Evening jazz Monday through Saturday Decor: Bistro setting Signature Drink: Wines Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: No Ambience: Cafe Fino offers some of the finer things in life: soft jazz music, wine in long-stemmed glasses and slow dances across the quaint dance floor. The fine dining cafe offers quite a selection of wines for the unknowing or knowledgeable wine connoisseur. The well-dressed crowd of adults also sip on drinks from the premium bar, Maddalena, including single-malt scotches and grappa. The bistro is dimly illuminated with a warm feeling. Perhaps it's the romance in the air. Circadia 518 Bryant St, Palo Alto 650.327.8954 Hours: Mon-Wed 7am-11pm, Thu 7am-midnight, Fri-Sat 7am-1am Crowd Age: 25-55 Music: Live local bands on weekends Decor: Retro marble and oak bar Signature Drink: Lemon Drop Dancing: None Games/Amenities: None Ambience: The historic 1862 bar rests underneath a stained-glass dome in this two-story space tucked into a small alley. Owned by Starbucks, this upscale spot makes a hot pitch for downtown suits on weekdays and elegant boozehounds on weekends. A bevy of menus offer meals early and late along with the famous java. The 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: No live music Decor: Spartan Signature Drink: Beer Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Pinball and pool Ambiance: A bare-bones watering hole that lacks all pretension and isn't ashamed of a little beer--OK, a lot of beer--getting spilled on the floor. Stanford kids love the place, and so do alumni and locals, including Joe Montana, who show up on occasion. The jukebox is loud and the crowds can get thick, but that doesn't stop anyone from playing pool at the lone table near the back wall. Empire Grill and Tap Room 651 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.321.3030 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9:30pm Crowd Age: 25-40 Music: Jazz CDs Decor: Long oak bar, dim lighting, paintings on wall, elegant patio Signature Drink: No Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Ambience: At relaxing Empire Grill, couples sip wine together, dressed elegantly for a night on the town. Jazz music plays softly in the background as people walk by paintings of small towns like Venice on their way out to an outside patio. The dimly lit taproom is for the refined diner--not for the diner on a tight budget. Fanny & Alexander's 412 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.7183 Hours: Tue-Sat 4pm-1am, closed Sun-Mon Crowd Age: Mixed Music: Live cover bands Decor: Fanny & Alexander movie posters, outdoor patio Signature Drink: No Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: No Ambience: Fanny & Alexander's has that post-work sort of feeling. During summer months, the outdoor patio is a casual and comfortable enough place to meet up with friends after work and catch up on all the gossip over a Guinness or Sierra Nevada. As the sun sets, things heat up and live cover bands play inside. College students flock to the bar, where bartenders are super-friendly. It's a nice place to work on establishing regular-customer status. Gordon Biersch 640 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.323.7723 Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-midnight Crowd Age: 25-45 Music: No Decor: Framed pictures of beers, high wooden ceilings, dark oak Signature Drink: Märzen Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Ambience: Gordon Biersch. Saying the name alone can make a thirsty mouth water. The original Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Bar in Palo Alto is a great place to hang out with friends or that someone special. Order a pint of the famous Märzen beer, but stay off the tasty garlic-topped fries if you're on a date. The place is classic: elegant enough for the ritzy and casual enough for the local college crowd. Il Fornaio Cafe Garden City Hotel 520 Cowper St, Palo Alto 650.853.3888 Hours: Daily, 7:30am-10pm Crowd Age: 21-90 Music: No Decor: Coffee and cocktail bar, stools Signature Drink: Cosmopolitan Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Ambience: The small cafe and bar serves cocktails and cappuccino simultaneously, dawn to dusk. It's known for its award-winning baked goodies, like butter cookies and pumpkin muffins. The dining and sipping area leads to outdoor seating surrounded by trees and flowers. The cafe boasts a long list of liqueurs and coffees and is well known for its superb Cosmopolitan. Early risers tired of white mochas can order Cosmos instead. The Island 4141 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.493.9020 Hours: Sat-Sun, 7am-1:30am Crowd Age: 35-55 Music: No live music Decor: Corner bar Signature Drink: Beer Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Jukebox Ambiance: This is no theme bar. It's not trendy, so regular ol' mustaches outnumber goatees. It's not a spot to network, so cell phones won't be competing with the music. And it's not a place to get smart drinks, so a customer longing for a fennel and cilantro martini is out of luck. Instead, The Island offers a quiet, laid-back place to get a drink, hang out, and have a conversation with another person there for the same reason. And no, they don't serve tapas. La Bodeguita del Medio 463 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.326.7762 Hours: Mon-Thu 5-11pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-midnight Crowd Age: Mixed Music: Cuban music plays in background Decor: Tropical (palm trees and Cuban art) Signature Drink: Mojito Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Cigar bar Ambience: It has all the elegance, fashion, fun and drama of the Copacabana. While Cuban music plays in the background at La Bodeguita, patrons munch down on tasty Cuban cuisine. Surrounded by palm trees and Cuban art, everybody at La Bodeguita orders the Mojito. Those really looking to get in the Cuban mood can visit La Bodeguita's cigar lounge and enjoy a few puffs out on the smoking patio. Left at Albuquerque 445 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.1011 Hours: Daily, 11:30am-1:30am Crowd Age: 25 & up Music: No Decor: Tex-Mex Signature Drink: Margarita Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Ambience: There's no need to vacation in Mexico to taste the best margaritas. Go to Left at Albuquerque in Palo Alto, order up a frosty glass full of that intoxicating mix, and those taste buds will be licking lips in gratitude. Be sure to fill up with Tex-Mex style appetizers before indulging in any of the bar's 125 tequilas. They don't call it ta-kill-ya for nothing. Left Bank 635 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park 650.473.6543 Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-midnight Crowd Age: 30 and up Music: No Decor: French café style, huge window, vintage French posters Signature Drink: French martini Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Ambience: Go to the bank and then go to Left Bank. The designer French restaurant and bar is lit by turn-of-the-century lamps and decorated with vintage French advertisements. Huge windows opening up to the street give the feeling one is nearby the Eiffel Tower. Under the high ceilings, patrons stroll in for casual and elegant dining and order the bar's famous French martini. For the ultimate French experience, dine on the café-style patio. Los Altos Bar & Grill 169 Main St, Los Altos 650.948.4332 Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm Crowd Age: Mixed Music: Live cover bands Wed-Sat at 8:30pm Decor: Lots of wood and sports stuff Signature Drink: None Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Pool table, jukebox, darts Ambience: The type of place where regulars flow in the door like beer, Los Altos Bar & Grill offers a haven where one can meet friends, make new ones, and maybe even try out a few pickup lines. On Wednesday through Saturday nights, cover bands rock the bar and get everybody up and dancing. Mackie's Supper Club 541 Ramona St, Palo Alto 650.326.1446 Hours: Daily, 11:30am-11pm Crowd Age: 30-45 Music: No Decor: '50s Signature Drink: Martini Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Ambience: Relax, kick back and choose from a menu full of mouthwatering steaks and martinis at Mackie's. While everything from Dean Martin to Macy Gray hits play in the background, the thirty- and fortysomething crowd chats and drinks at the bar. Pictures of Audrey Hepburn, the Godfather, the Rat Pack and James Bond help establish the fun 1950s theme throughout the bar, and it seems like everyone is having a good old time. Nola Restaurant and Bar 535 Ramona St, Palo Alto 650.328.2722 Hours: Daily, 11:30am to last call Crowd Age: Mixed crowd Music: No Decor: Iron gate, voodoo art on walls, New Orleans theme Signature Drink: Hurricane Dancing: No Games/Amenities: None Ambience: It's always Mardi Gras at Nola. Everyone is smiling and laughing while gulping down the bar's famous Hurricane concoction. (They need something to cool their mouths after indulging in the spicy, lip-licking Cajun appetizers.) Surrounded by wrought-iron gates, one can't help getting into the Big Easy mood and piling on the Mardi Gras beads. The Oasis 241 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.326.8896 Hours: Sun-Sat, 11am-2am Crowd Age: 5-75 Music: No live music Decor: Low-key pizza place Signature Drink: Beer Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Video games Ambiance: Many people act like kids when they hit the bar. The Oasis counts a healthy number of real kids among its clientele; they like the great pizza and the video games. The youngsters help create a playful atmosphere, mixing well with the students intent on carving their initials into the aging wood tables, softball teams celebrating after a game, and sports fans catching the action on TV. 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 Music: None Decor: Sportsy Signature Drink: Pitcher of beer Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Widescreen television Ambiance: Many sports bars are less than enticing, even if you like sports. They have lots of TVs, lots of beer, lots of neon and lots of testosterone. The Old Pro breaks the mold. It's in an old metal Quonset hut, which gives it the utilitarian feel of an old Army barracks. Inside, it's clean, comfortable and cozy. The food is simple and well prepared. Best of all, women's sports are not neglected here. Printers Inc. 320 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.323.3347 Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10:30pm Crowd Age: 18 and up Music: Sometimes live musicians Decor: Art exhibits, shady outdoor patio Signature Drink: None Dancing: No Games/Amenities: None Ambience: Don't bring a friend to gossip with; instead, bring a good book to Printers Inc. Cafe in Palo Alto. The trendy ones gather here. Latte cups on the tables of young women are marked with lip gloss. Young men carry cell phones and wear pagers on belt buckles. But all that will seem a million miles away once one tastes the cafe's tummy-satisfying soups, salads and sandwiches. Q Cafe and Billiards 529 Alma St, Palo Alto 650.322.3311 Hours: Daily, 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: DJs Decor: Historic red brick building, mahogany Signature Drink: 12 microbrews on tap Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Dartboards, pool tables, two huge TVs Ambience: An upscale kind of crowd packs inside Q Cafe and Billiards. Recent college graduates mingle with the uptown yuppies and play pool while sipping microbrewed pints of ales. The DJ helps pack 'em in, and it's just a matter of time before people are strewn all over the dance floor. During the day, the historic red building is a great place to catch a game on one of two huge-screen TVs. The Rose and Crown English Food and Ale House 547 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.327.7673 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-1:30am, Sat noon-1:30am, Sun 1pm-1:30am Crowd Age: 21-40 Music: No live music Decor: English pub Signature Drink: Beer Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Jukebox, darts Ambiance: Any bar crazy enough to advertise an oxymoron like "English food" must have something else going for it. The Rose and Crown has a great draft beer selection, a great jukebox and a staff that seems to genuinely enjoy its customers (and they know how to pour a draft Guinness). The crowd is friendly, even when it gets too packed to move. Rudy's Pub 117 University Ave, Palo Alto 650.329.0922 Hours: Sat-Sun, 11:30am-1:30am Crowd Age: 35-55 Music: No live music Decor: Dimly lit lounge Signature Drink: Rum and Coke Dancing: None Games/Amenities: Jukebox Ambiance: In a land of yuppie overkill, Rudy's remains a pretty basic watering hole in an age of theme bars, networking Meccas masquerading as drinking establishments, and restaurants, restaurants, restaurants. It's dark; it's small; it's quiet; it's unpretentious ... and it's just what University Avenue needs. Straits Café 3295 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.497.7168 Hours: Daily, 5-10:30pm Crowd Age: 21 and up Music: Jazz bands Decor: Wooden floors, booths, patio with heat lamps and palm trees Signature Drink: Mango or ginger martinis Dancing: None Games/Amenities: No Ambience: Singapore Sling? Ginger or mango martini? Straits Cafe has 12 fabulous-sounding specialty drinks that will have one swaying to the live jazz in no time. Relax on the open patio and keep warm with the heat lamps, among palm trees and friendly faces. The sleek cafe offers fine dining accompanied by a long list of California wines. [ Bars & Clubs Index | San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]