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Peninsula Antonio's Nut House 321 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.321.2550 Hours: Open daily 9:30am-2am (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) Crowd Age: During the day, old cronies; night has a younger crowd Music: Jukebox--country to zydeco to rock Decor: Discarded peanut shells all over the floor Signature Drink: Purple Hooter Dancing: Yes, but no dance floor Games/Amenities: Five pool tables, two foosballs, three video games, two darts, two pinball machines, two cribbage boards, 11 big-screen TVs. Antonio's is the Silicon Valley yuppie's anti-bar--no one gives a darn where you work, how much you rake in or when you got laid off. Casual is the operative word here. For your viewing pleasure: a caged mechanical gorilla, ceiling tiles decorated by patrons and Pee-wee Herman hanging behind the bar with his hands in his pants. Antonio's hands out 250 pounds of peanuts a week (which, naturally, end up floor-bound). The bar also serves Mexican food, except on Sundays. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Gorilla Blue Chalk Cafe 630 Ramona St, Palo Alto 650.326.1020 Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-12:30pm, dinner Mon-Sat 5-10pm, bar open Mon-Sat 11am-1:30am Crowd Age: Mid-20s-mid-30s Music: Jukebox, mostly rock Decor: Southern-style pub Signature Drink: Grateful Dead (rum, vodka, sweet and sour, grenadine and curaçao) Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Four pool tables, two shuffleboards, two dart boards, one birkball (English pinball) The Blue Chalk Café is housed in a large, split-level 1927 building, a historic landmark with a grand staircase, two fireplaces and two skylights. The food is California-inspired Southern cuisine. There's a lot of room to mingle; and the billiard room gives players a chance to show their stuff. The club's name, by the way, refers to the blue chalk used for playing pool. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Rhinoceros La Bodeguita del Medio 463 California Ave, Palo Alto 650.326.7762 Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm, dinner Mon-Thu 5:30-9:30pm, Fri-Sat dinner until 10pm; bar open Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight, Mon-Wed 5-11pm Crowd Age: 20s on up Music: Background Cuban, occasional guest appearances by Cuban musicians Decor: Casual, tropical Havana Signature Drink: Mojito (rum, mint, sugar, fresh lemon, lime juice, splash of soda water) Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Walk-in humidor and cigar shop in back In Havana, La Bodeguita del Medio meant Ernest Hemingway (who frequented the bar for two decades), cigars and sugary cocktails. Its California sister has a light tropical atmosphere with original Cuban artwork, extensive alcohol offerings (including more than 50 premium, aged sipping rums) and a walk-in cigar humidor (or room) where patrons can fire up fat, hand-rolled cigars that can be purchased in back. Patrons can also enjoy a smoking lounge and an outdoor covered patio. The menu runs to coastal cuisine with a Cuban influence. The bar action picks up about 9pm. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Blue macaw The British Bankers Club 1090 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.327.8769 Hours: Daily 11am-2am, but depends on how busy it is Crowd Age: 21-55 Music: Live music Wed-Sat Decor: Upscale British antiques Signature Drink: Mandarin Red Bowl Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Outdoor patio Walk into the BBC, and you've entered a living facsimile of an old-fashioned British pub, with antique furniture, Tiffany lamps, stained-glass windows, mirrors, old couches and a huge early-1900s mahogany bar. (The upstairs sports an antique bar as well.) Watch out for the boars' heads and buffaloes peering out of the walls. Smokers can retire to the outdoor patio (a smoke shop is next door), while party types can enjoy the dance floor from Wednesday to Saturday nights, when the pub offers live music. On Wednesdays, the DJ spins hip-hop and house music; cover bands play Fridays and Saturdays. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Gazelle Cafe Borrone 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.327.0830 Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-11pm, Fri 7am-midnight, Sat 8am-midnight, Sun 8am-5pm Crowd Age: Varies Music: Live music by Dixieland jazz band Decor: Hardwood floors, local art Signature Drink: Frosted Mocha; beer and wine Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No With its spacious outdoor patio and bustling interior, Café Borrone is an ideal place for lounging, reading, working, talking and eating mouthwatering cakes and pastries, great salads, soups and sandwiches (all the food is house-made). Eye-catching local artwork adorns the walls. Most Fridays, from 8 to 11pm, you can enjoy live Dixieland jazz by the Clint Baker New Orleans Jazz Band. Café Borrone, which turns 12 this October, is situated right next to Kepler's Books, and there's plenty of underground parking. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Ostrich Cafe Fino 544 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.6082 Hours: Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30am-2am, dinner Mon-Sat 5:30-11:30pm, closed Sun Crowd Age: Mid-20s and up, but not a college hangout Music: Live music four days a week Decor: White tablecloths and Art Deco Signature Drink: The Fancy Clancy Dancing: Yes, on a tiled dance floor Games/Amenities: No Justin, Cafe Fino's wine buyer and banquet director, calls this elegant, Old World supper club "a natural psychotropic for whatever ails you." Owner Fred Maddelena, formerly of Club Indigo, the Toronto club he once ran with Bugsy Siegel's nephew Al, is a star himself, charming and smooth, greeting guests with his trademark ease. The restaurant is full-service continental with Italian roots (Cafe Fino adjoins Maddelena's, a restaurant also owned by the proprietor). With its classic movie posters, on loan from a cafe regular and Stanford theater operator David Packard, single-malt scotches and jazz offerings, the place says class. Wednesday evenings, a jazz trio plays alongside singer Margie Baker, who belts out Ella Fitzgerald hits; Thursdays feature Italian cabaret singer Pasquale. On Fridays and Saturdays, Nancy Gilliland and her trio play Cole Porter and George Gershwin standards. There's a pantheon of stars on the walls posing with Maddelena in Club Indigo's golden days, including Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Rita Hayworth and former Indigo emcee Bob Newhart. Cafe Fino also has five private dining rooms. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Silver fox The Dutch Goose 3567 Alameda De Las Pulgas, Menlo Park 650.854.3245 Hours: Sun-Tue 11am-midnight, Wed-Sat 11am-2am; food served 11am-11pm Crowd Age: 21 and up Music: Jukebox, classic rock to Britney Spears Decor: Old time Signature Drink: Sierra Nevada Dancing: No Games/Amenities: One pool table, two video games, three pinball machines The Dutch Goose isn't a trendy bar, and it probably hasn't changed much in 20 or 30 years. The grill offers burgers, steamed clams, sausages and chicken sandwiches--and peanut shells are strewn all over the floor. It boasts outdoor and indoor patios, and has hosted all kinds of local luminaries, including Joe Montana and other former football players (it's right next to Atherton), and titans of local industry like Jerry Yang. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Goose Empire Grill and Tap Room 651 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.321.3030 Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-11:30pm, Sat 11am-10:30pm, Sun 11am-9:30pm, but will stay open later if business is good Crowd Age: 25 and older Music: Jazz CDs Decor: Traditional New York elegance Signature Drink: Martinis, Manhattans Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Two TVs The Empire Grill and Tap Room feels like a classy, big-city bar. Inside, look for a 45-foot-long mahogany bar and several straight-backed wood booths. The menu features a mix of California, French and Italian dishes with regional influences, and there's a weekend a la carte brunch. There are also 16 beers on tap. While the inside beckons with cozy and elegant surroundings, the garden patio is especially inviting, replete with ivy-covered walls, wisteria and other foliage, a gurgling fountain and twinkling Christmas lights. Heat lamps make it hospitable during those chilly winter evenings. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Reindeer Fanny and Alexander 412 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.7183 Hours: Tue-Sat 4pm-last call, closed Sun-Mon Crowd Age: 25-35 Music: DJ and live cover bands Thu-Sat 10pm-1:15am Decor: Casual Signature Drink: Kiss My Ass (Malibu rum, orange vodka, cranberry and pineapple juice) Dancing: Yes Games/Amenities: Big-screen TVs Fanny and Alexander is a bar/nightclub that offers Euroasian food and a party-down good time. Thursday nights, a DJ spins discs and Friday and Saturday nights, cover bands play '70s, '80s and '90s disco and funk (regular bands include Getting Even, Uncle Melvin and Hollywood) on the stage next to the front window. The place gets crowded and loud, but there's a patio and bar out back for those needing a little air. Ironically, given the club's get-down, partying atmosphere, Swedish co-owner Doni Malaise named his restaurant for Ingmar Bergman's elegant film Fanny and Alexander. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Tiger Gordon Biersch 640 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.323.7723 Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-midnight Crowd Age: Late 20s to 30s Music: No live music Decor: Spacious brewery and restaurant Signature Drink: Seasonal beer: mid-July's special is Hefeweisen; most popular is the Marzon Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Four big-screen TVs Palo Alto has the distinction of being home to the first Gordon Biersch (there are now 16 in the United States), which opened its doors back in 1988. Gordon Biersch brews its own lagers on site, with four beers available at all times; five times a year they offer a special one-time brew. The laid-back atmosphere is devoid of pretense; it's a relaxed place to drink great local beer and eat good food. Co-owner Dan Gordon (who is said to be a living, breathing embodiment of Norm from Cheers) went to brewery college in Germany; Dean Biersch is the restaurateur. Don't miss the upcoming big 15th anniversary celebration THIS SATURDAY, 7/20! If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Hippopotamus 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: All ages Music: Background Italian Decor: Marble and stainless-steel elegant Signature Drink: Bellini (Prosecco and peach juice in a champagne flute) and Mimosa Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No Il Fornaio, which means "the baker" in Italian, was founded in Milan in the 1970s (there are 2,500 restaurants in Europe). The Palo Alto restaurant has the classy and elegant Il Fornaio signature look: light and inviting, with marble, stainless steel, mirrors and oversized plants. The menu changes seasonally, and there's outdoor seating in the covered, heated patio courtyard, as well as a glassed-in landscaped patio and bar fronting Cowper Street. There are also two private dining rooms. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal Would It Be?: Dolphin The Island 4141 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.493.9020 Hours: Daily 7pm-2am Crowd Age: 40s and up in the day, 20s and 30s at night Music: Jukebox (oldies), occasional informal live band Decor: 1930s saloon Signature Drink: Budweiser Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Two pool tables, three video games, two dart boards This comfortable bar is a throwback to older days, with a distinctly Midwestern feel. Faux wood paneling gives the Island a '70s rec-room feel; the bar cuts a wide arc along the wall and has cushy padding for sore elbows. You can get a $2.50 beer or a $2.75 cocktail, and they can microwave up some corn dogs if you're hungry. Need to experience the great outdoors? Try the patio in the back. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Animal Would It Be?: Old dog Left at Albuquerque 445 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.326.1011 Hours: Lunch daily 11am-4pm, dinner Sun-Thu 4-10pm, Fri-Sat 4-11pm; bar open until midnight, except Thu-Sat at 11:30pm; happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7pm Crowd Age: 25-35 Music: Jukebox and background music Decor: Southwestern Signature Drink: Drifter Margarita, Albuquerque Rocks Dancing: No Games/Amenities: No This grill and tequila bar is a weekend hot spot for young yuppies and a fun place to let loose with co-workers during lunch or after that long hard day. Sporting a Southern roadhouse theme, Left at Albuquerque's atmosphere is festive, with colorful plates, large Margaritas and a California-type grill and Mexican cuisine. With an open ceiling and large wooden beams, it's got a town-hall feel and a steady buzz. There's also a new express menu at lunch, and don't forget the 50-cent Margarita special 5-5:05pm every day. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Coyote Left Bank 635 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park 650.473.6543 Hours: Tue-Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun-Mon 11:30am-10pm, prix fixe lunch 11:30am-3pm (dinner starts at 5pm but will serve food all day) Crowd Age: 30-50 Music: Background Decor: Sophisticated French cafe Signature drink: Martinis, Rive Gauche Cosmopolitan, Louis Malle (vodka, Alizet and French lemonade) Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Outdoor seating, bar area seating, private dining This lovely French bistro delivers a taste of Paris with a large dining room, inviting bar and French windows that open up in the summer. The waiters, in fact, serve food through the windows to customers dining outside. The Left Bank has a casually elegant and sophisticated atmosphere with white tablecloths and vintage French posters. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Pig Miyake 140 University Ave, Palo Alto 650.323.9449 Hours: Daily 11:30am-10pm Crowd Age: 21-40, families during the daytime Music: Japanese house music Decor: Spunky retro sushi bar Signature Drink: Sake Bomb Dancing: On chairs Games/Amenities: Waiters do sake bombs with customers; birthday customers get a complimentary Tower of Death drink Flashing lights, fashionable smoke and floating sushi make this wild university hangout a haven for overconsumption, kamikaze-style. Grab your sushi from a little boat drifting on the moat surrounding the sushi bar and then run yelling to an empty chair, climb on top of it, drop a shot of sake in half a glass of beer and slam it. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Tasmanian devil The Oasis 241 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 650.326.8896 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 5-75 Music: No Decor: Low-key pizza joint Signature Drink: Beer Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Video games and four TVs The Oasis has a varied clientele of "everyday people" and is often packed with families and kids. Sports fans, softball teams and business people frequent this casual hangout for pizza and burgers. Worn wooden tables lend to a homey atmosphere. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Old elephant The Old Pro 2865 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.325.2070 Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-11:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-11:30pm (open at 9:30am on weekdays during football season and World Cup soccer) Crowd Age: 18-40 Music: Regular variety from DSS satellite Decor: Sports memorabilia Signature Drink: Pitcher of beer Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Video games, foosball and 23 TVs A classic sports bar slathered with issues of Sports Illustrated, the Old Pro is situated in an old metal Quonset hut in the middle of Palo Alto. It keeps true to its sports-bar status by painting football game schedules on the outside walls for passersby to take note of. The bar also hosts large parties and banquets any day of the week. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: A dog, "loyal, rambunctious and happy" 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: 18-65 Music: Occasional live jazz Decor: Airy interior, outside patio Signature Drink: Frosty mocha made with ice cream Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Wireless Internet connection Printer's Inc. classifies as a cat for its down-to-earth, artsy, diverse character. Diners enjoy chicken enchiladas, sandwiches, salads, soups and pastries under hip fluorescent cone lights. The cafe serves more than food; customers still flock to read, write, paint and visit the new art gallery, which features black-and-white photography, ceramics, paintings and glass sculptures produced by local artists. Printer's Inc also offers freshly roasted coffee beans, which are delivered daily. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Cat Q Cafe and Billiards 529 Alma St, Palo Alto 650.322.3311 Hours: Daily 11:30-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: DJ beats, Top 40 and house Decor: Old brick warehouse Signature Drink: California Sunset Dancing: Yes, seven days a week Games/Amenities: Six pool tables and four TVs Be sure to dress to impress if you want to get lucky at this nightclub/restaurant. A live DJ keeps the dance floor hot and steamy every night of the week except for Monday. Q Café is hopping on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and serves up continental/California cuisine for lunch and dinner. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Tiger, for "fast and fierce service" Rose and Crown 547 Emerson St, Palo Alto 650.327.7673 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2am, Sat 11:30am-2am, Sun noon-2am Crowd Age: 21-40 Music: Jukebox, rock Decor: Classic English pub Signature Drink: Pint of Guinness, Snakebite (cider and lager) Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Live comedy on Monday nights, pub quiz trivia on Tuesday nights (as in U.K.) Worn plaid carpeting, a wild boar's head, a bear-skinned rug and new stained-glass windows contribute to the truly British experience of the Rose and Crown. Framed Guinness posters and mirrors deck the walls. People play dice with the bartender at the long bar hung with traditional bar towels and try their hand at darts. Besides drinking, a favorite pastime is watching soccer, which you can do on two TV screens and a large-screen projector. Patrons can also bring their pints outside onto the patio area, sit under umbrellas and smoke a few fags. The Rose and Crown offers a fish-and-chips special and is open late for World Cup soccer. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Bear Rudy's Pub 117 University Ave, Palo Alto 650.329.0922 Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-1:30am, Sat-Sun 2pm-1:30am Crowd Age: 35-55 Music: DJ Fri-Sat, house and dance music Decor: Dimly lit lounge Signature Drink: Rum and Coke Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Dart boards, five TVs Some describe Rudy's Pub as a peaceful, home-style bar, but during peak weekend hours, it can get pretty rowdy. Padded benches line the walls of this unpretentious establishment, where customers can fearlessly venture to kick back and watch baseball on TV. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Three-toothed sloth Spago 265 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto 650.833.1000 Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm, dinner Mon-Thu 5:30-9pm, Fri-Sat 5:30-10pm; Sun closed; bar open Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm Crowd Age: Mid-30s to mid-50s Music: Background (contemporary in bar, or occasional live music) Decor: Euro-elegance Signature Drink: Spago Martini (raspberry and orange vodkas, cherry syrup, squirt of lime juice with a cinnamon/sugar rim and a cherry) Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Private banquet room, courtyard seating Spago (which means "noodle" in Italian) is the creation of world-renowned celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, who opened Spago Palo Alto in 1997 after Jeremiah Tower's Stars failed to dazzle. Elegant yet warm, the restaurant serves up contemporary, American-based cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian influences. Spago is a magnet for Silicon Valley professionals and Palo Alto trendsetters, who enjoy the fine food, attentive service and elegant, light dining room, decorated in contemporary modern with a Rauschenberg on the wall, Adam Tihany interior and bold primary colors. Walking through the garden courtyard, you see three buildings: on the right is the Pavilion, an open, casual bar area with a full bar, patio tables and its own menu; to the left is the main dining room; there's also a small, Spanish-tiled private dining room to your right. Diners can also sit in the open courtyard. Puck, who owns 21 restaurants, visits four times a year (the next is this July). Spago has a great wine list with a strong selection of well-known brands and small wineries. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Cat Straits Cafe 3295 El Camino Real, Palo Alto 650.494.7168 Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-9:30pm, Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5-10:30pm, Sat 5:30-10:30pm, Sun 5:30-9:30pm Crowd Age: 30-50 Music: Soft jazz, Asian music Decor: Cozy and simple Signature Drink: Singapore Sling (gin, cherry brandy and fruit juice) Dancing: No Games/Amenities: Outdoor patio with fountain Many open-minded Caucasian professionals frequent this exotic cafe, which serves Singapore cuisine suffused with Chinese, Indian, Malay and Indonesian flavors. Hot sellers on the menu include Kari Kambing (lamb curry with a pastry topping), pepper crab and chili lobster. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: Lion, because Singapore means "land of the lions" Send a letter to the editor about this story . [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]