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The Metro Bars & Clubs 2005 Guide [ Intro | 20 Years of Bars and Clubs | Bartender Profiles | San Jose | Campbell | Cupertino | Los Altos | Los Gatos | Menlo Park | Mountain View | Palo Alto | Redwood City/Peninsula | Santa Clara | Saratoga | Sunnyvale ] Los Altos 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. Los Altos Grill 233 Third St, Los Altos 650.948.3524 With the kitchen and chefs in full view and appealingly contemporary décor, the Grill lost the Bandera name but none of its appeal. With the same chef and menu, the Grill 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). Maltby's Restaurant and Tavern 101 Plaza North, Los Altos 650.917.8777 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. Woodsy accents and tidy décor keep the down-to-earth crowd coming back. Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]