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Los Gatos No. 1 Broadway 102 S. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.354.4303 Hours: Tue-Thu 3pm-2am, Fri-Sat 8pm-2am Crowd Age: Hipsters to boomers Music: Live rock, blues Decor: Lodge look, with stained glass Signature Drink: Martinis Dancing: Oh, yeah, baby Games/Amenities: Pool One story up and south of Los Gatos' main drag sits this cozy bar with class. It has a down-home welcome, but it's "fancier than a log cabin," says owner Jim, pointing out the mahogany and stained glass. But every class needs an after-school special, and No. 1 Broadway is also a fine place for neighbors and other boogying types to dance, dance, dance the night away to live, live, live R&B. Plus, there a smoking deck. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Jim says, "A golden retriever, because we have one here every day. His name is Murphy; he's the bar mascot." Boulevard Tavern 15043 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos 408.358.0774 Hours: Daily 10am-2 am Crowd Age: 21-50s Music: Live music Fris Decor: Dive chic Signature Drink: California Chill'um Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Juke box, pool table, video games, big-screen TV With a happy-hour crowd that sings the body eclectic, this bar proves that everyone has common interests--even the working class and yuppies! The owners just fixed up the place, too, adding new floors and countertops. Early birds can catch the pool table while it's still free. Tardy folks can drink the serious cocktails and watch the motley crew. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Great white shark, "because all of our drinks have a bit of a bite," says owner Mike California Cafe Old Town, 50 University Ave, Los Gatos 408.354.8118 Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-10:30pm, Sun 10:30am-9:30pm Crowd Age: 30-50 Music: Live music Decor: Classic elegance Signature Drink: Award-winning wine list Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Outdoor heated patio This "marriage of fine wine and great food" joint is for dressing up and having a real night out. It's also great for fireside wine tasting, as the cafe's got a fireplace and a lot of wines. Gourmet chow solidifies the upper-class atmosphere. Looking for a place to drown your sorrows in cheap whiskey? Get your bad self away from those white tablecloths. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Teddy bear, "because of the friendly service," says manager Ben The Cats 17533 Santa Cruz Hwy, Los Gatos 408.354.4020 Hours: Tue-Thu 4:30-10pm, Fri-Sun 4:30pm-midnight Crowd Age: Kids to 80-year-olds Music: Live music Tue-Sat Decor: The only roadhouse that feels like home Signature Drink: Cosmopolitan Dancing: Depends on you Games/Amenities: No This mountain man and woman spot (on mountainy Highway 17) puts the meat in meaty Los Gatos. Bartender Alan admits the Cats' real purpose is to deal carnivorous fixes. Steak and ribs are plentiful. But there's also live music (from solo guitar and blues to piano)--and drinking--to be had. You'll find the historic place (it used to be a stagecoach stop in the 1800s) by the stone gatos south of downtown. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Uh, meow (that's cat for "duh!") C.B. Hannegan's 208 Bachman Ave, Los Gatos 408.395.1233 Hours: Daily 11:30am-2am Crowd Age: Gets younger as the day goes on Music: Rock on special occasions Decor: Rich old wood and dark lighting Signature Drink: Chill'um, single-malt whiskey, imported ales Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Management smartly refrains from giving customers anything sharper than a rubber ball Cabbage ain't just for rabbits at C.B. Hannegan's, where Irish eyes meet funky comfort. The neighborhood bar is described by locals as whiskey heaven--and its menu of close to 100 single malts has the awards to prove it. Fish and chips, burgers, pizza and, of course, corned beef and cabbage give the whiskey something to settle on. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: A friendly lion The Chart House 115 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.354.1737 Hours: Sun-Thu 5-9pm, Fri-Sat 5-10pm Crowd Age: 30-70 Music: Background Decor: Old Victorian mansion Signature Drink: Sapphire and Tonic Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Patio Not to be left behind by changing tides, the Chart House powers have made some recent changes. They've toned down the nautical and turned up the old Los Gatos. New flair hypes local history with pictures of the old town, where the bar first emerged from the depths of 1891. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: A turtle, because it's quiet and slow Double D's Sports Grille 354 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.395.6882 Hours: Mon-Tue 11am-10pm, Wed-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri 11am-midnight, Sat 9:30am-midnight, Sun 9:30am-10pm Crowd Age: Everyone young enough and old enough to love sports Music: No Decor: Hockey sticks and jock pics Signature Drink: Light beer with tequila shots Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Sports TV, pool, arcade games This is where the men are--they must be drawn, irresistibly, by continuous sports games displayed on 22 TV screens scattered throughout Double D's. Or perhaps the name of the place piques male curiosity. Either way, an attached big-platter restaurant keeps these men full of vittles and ready to scream at the referees. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: A kitten or a lion, depending on the time of day Great Bear Coffee 19 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.395.8607 Hours: Mon-Tue 6am-9pm, Wed-Thu 6am-10pm, Fri 6am-11pm, Sat 7am-11pm, Sun 7am-9pm Crowd Age: Newborns to 60-year-olds Music: Open mic, some live shows Decor: Industrial loft Signature Drink: Chocolate Coffee Cream Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Philosophy goes down pretty well with coffee, and Great Bear promotes both. Of course, history shows that beer and wine can help advance really confusing philosophies, like existentialism, and Great Bear is happy to pour glass of these adult beverages too. Add weekly open-mic nights and live music, and we might just be talking about a Los Gatos revolution. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be? Black bear La Hacienda 18840 Saratoga/Los Gatos Rd, Los Gatos 408.354.8118 Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-1am, Sun 10am-10pm Crowd Age: 40-60 Music: Live music Fri-Sat Decor: 1940s manor Signature Drink: Veranda Cooler Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Heated patio and happy-hour treats Some members of Metro's Bar Investigation Team intensely appreciate establishments like La Hacienda, not just for their seductive velvet chairs and fancy crystal chandeliers, but for the smoking patio. See, some of us like to smoke as an enhancement technique while enjoying La Hacienda's renowned Verandah Cooler by the fire pit and chatting with the regulars. That way, we can pretend it really is the 1940s, and we don't know how bad tobacco is yet. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: "Foxy baby," says manager John, "'cuz it's cuddly but classy Los Gatos Bar & Grill 15 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.399.5424 Hours: Sun, Tue-Wed 5pm-11pm, Thu-Sat 5pm-1am Crowd Age: 20-40 Music: Jukebox Decor: Brewery with ballroom touches Signature Drink: Liquid Love Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Pool, video games Don't let the stuffed flank steak, chicken satay or marinades and tapenades on the new menu fool you. This 5-year-old bar doesn't take itself too seriously. Witness the jars of gummy worms strewn about and the various liquor concoctions bartenders whip up for a smile and a small fee. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: A leopard, because "they're kind of docile when they're lying down, but they go from zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds," says chef and manager Jeff Los Gatos Brewing Company 130 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.395.9929 Hours: Fri-Sat 11:30am-midnight, Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm Crowd Age: 20s and 30s Music: No live music Decor: Sleek, classy pub Signature Drink: Local microbrews Dancing: No Games/Amenities: TVs Look out Pabst, roll over Rolling Rock, the microbrew's got something to say. At Los Gatos Brewing Company, beer is a treat not to be taken for granted. There will be no ratty outfits in here. Stains and wrinkles would insult the classy, rich beer--that being the main focus and magic of this venue. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: A lion, because "they're a lot better than everybody else," says James, the manager Los Gatos Lodge 50 Los Gatos/Saratoga Rd, Los Gatos 408.354.3300 Hours: Sun-Thu 10:30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 10:30am-1:30am Crowd Age: 40-60 Music: Live music Fri-Sat Decor: Rustic resort Signature Drink: "Anything you want it to be!" Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Happy-hour treats This lodge boasts a neat balance between a rustic cabin and a '50s lounge. On the one hand, it's got a green Naugahyde bar and plum-colored bar stools. On the other, it's got fake rocks and a fireplace. Regulars love this place, if not for its atmosphere, then for its equally timeless stiff drinks. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: "The majority of our regulars are Lion's Club members," says bar manager Gabriel, so, "A lion!" Mountain Charley's Saloon 15 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.395.8880 Hours: Wed-Sat noon-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: Live music two nights a week Decor: Dark rock & roll saloon Signature Drink: Famous nightly drink specials Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Shuffleboard, karaoke Shuffleboard and rock & roll--oh, the beautiful melding of cultures. That's what you'll get here at Mountain Charley's. Add nightly drink specials like the infamous Mandarin Kiss and a bartender who's also an ordained minister, and you may find yourself married to Los Gatos' hippest mountain man. Whether watching punk bands kick their amps on stage or sports players kick it on TV, Charley's patrons can rest assured of a fine time at the old rock-house saloon. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: A thoroughbred horse--a little bit saloon, a little bit rock & roll Pedro's Restaurante & Cantina 316 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.354.7570 Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm Crowd Age: All over the map Music: Sunday-morning mariachi Decor: Mexican cantina Signature Drink: Margarita Games/Amenities: No Pedro's has a new name. Until recently, it was Pedro's Cabo Grill--but the game is the same: the cantina still offers tequila shots smooth enough to ring in a new year every cabaña-style night. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: Toucan Steamer's Grillhouse 31 University Ave, Los Gatos 408.395.2722 Hours: Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm Crowd Age: 25-45 Music: No live music Decor: Upscale grill house Signature Drink: Martinis in 12 flavors Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Watching the beautiful people Martinis are too often underestimated and undervalued. That never happens at Steamer's. The Bartenders--or Steamerettes--so honor the drink, that they make a diversity of types and styles to capture the imagination and taste of former Martini nonbelievers. Bar-goers have a dozen from which to choose. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: "A horse," says server/bartender Olvin, "because we're very fast, and horses are beautiful animals" Toll House Hotel, Lounge & Restaurant 140 S. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos 408.395.7070 Hours: Daily 4-11pm Crowd Age: 35 and up Music: Piano Decor: Traditional European Signature Drink: White Russian, wine from local wineries Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Toll House--formerly Clocktower--is a sports-fan friendly lounge, highly beloved at game time. Fans rush the place when local teams play. Missing, however, are women. "There's a lot of guys in here, not a lot of women," laments manager Nick. "It's disappointing for the bartenders." But what it lacks in estrogen, Toll House tries, arguably successfully, to compensate for in lots of TVs, and sports. And beer. Lots of beer. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: A little bear cub, says manager Mary, "because it's warm and fuzzy" Valeriano's 160 W. Main St, Los Gatos 408.354.8108 Hours: Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight, Sun 5-10pm Crowd Age: 25-50 Music: No Decor: Classy bistro Signature Drink: Award-winning Martinis Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Valeriano's has a secret. It's stolen away experienced masters from other Silicon Valley upscale establishments, like downtown San Jose's Eulipia, to create a sort of super bar/restaurant force. The result (surprise!) is friendly elegance and tasty drinks and food. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal It Be?: A chameleon, because "the crowd changes throughout the day," says Rob, the general manager, "but the drinks are always good" Send a letter to the editor about this story . [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]