Cocktails, wine bars and dives: drinking in San Jose for grown-ups.
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in San Jose for grown-ups.
Paper Plane has anchored Downtown San Jose since 2013, pairing one of the Bay Area's largest spirits collections with a bi-annual rotating cocktail menu.
Signature drink: Oaxacan on the Beach and rotating seasonal originals
Food: Small plates and happy hour bites
Haberdasher is a basement speakeasy blending 1920s ambiance with rare spirits and a deep classic cocktail archive beneath Downtown San Jose.
Signature drink: Bootlegger Whiskey Syndicate selections and a deep classic cocktail archive
Food: Light bar bites
Five Points draws on 19th-century New York for its cocktail program, serving craft drinks and dinner to Downtown San Jose seven days a week from 4pm.
Signature drink: Seasonal originals with house-made syrups and fresh-pressed juices
Food: Dinner plates and happy hour snacks
Dr. Funk is San Pedro Square's rum-focused tiki bar channeling Trader Vic, with carefully crafted tropical cocktails and a Caribbean-inspired kitchen.
Signature drink: Rum-based tiki cocktails with fresh juices and house syrups
Food: Rum house kitchen with Caribbean-inspired small plates
Still O.G. is a vinyl listening bar in Downtown San Jose where resident DJs spin classic records alongside cocktails and craft beer nightly.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails and craft beers alongside DJ-curated vinyl sets
Food: Bar snacks and small plates
Alter Ego Cocktail Club is the intimate back-room speakeasy within Still O.G., a seated cocktail experience with inventive drinks and mid-century decor.
Signature drink: Creative seasonal cocktails paired with gastronomical small plates
Food: Gastronomical small plates
55 South is a Downtown San Jose cocktail lounge with one of the Bay Area's largest whiskey collections expertly paired with an upscale full food menu.
Signature drink: Craft cocktails backed by one of the largest whiskey selections in the Bay Area
Food: Cocktail-complement food menu
Trials Pub is Downtown San Jose's authentic British pub serving 20-ounce imperial pints of UK ales with proper fish and chips and cozy atmosphere.
Signature drink: 20-ounce imperial pints of British ales and Smithwick's on draft
Food: Fish and chips, curry and British pub food
District is a sleek Downtown San Jose wine and whiskey bar with curated global programs paired with chef-driven globally inspired small plates nightly.
Signature drink: Curated global wine and whiskey selections with seasonal handcrafted cocktails
Food: Chef-driven globally inspired shareable plates
The Continental Bar is a vintage-appointed SoFA District lounge adjacent to California Theatre, a reliable neighborhood spot for cocktails and late nights.
Signature drink: Classic cocktails and craft beers in a vintage-appointed lounge setting
Food: Bar snacks
The Pressroom opened in 2025 inside the 1884 Lyndon Building, once home to the Mercury News, serving craft cocktails and elevated California cuisine.
Signature drink: Seasonal California-inspired cocktails inside the landmark 1884 Lyndon Building
Food: Elevated California cuisine with brunch and dinner
Eos and Nyx is a Downtown San Jose restaurant and cocktail bar with inventive seasonal drinks and California-Mediterranean menus for brunch and dinner.
Signature drink: Por La Tarde: aged rum, banana, coffee, cardamom and nitro foam
Food: California-Mediterranean seasonal cuisine for brunch and dinner
San Pedro Market Bar is the loft-style watering hole inside San Pedro Square Market pouring classic cocktails, craft beers and California wines from midday.
Signature drink: Classic and unique cocktails with California wines and rotating craft beers
Food: Shared market food from adjacent San Pedro Square vendors
O'Flaherty's has served San Pedro Square since 2002 with 52 taps, traditional Irish pub food, genuine hospitality and a 365-days-a-year neighborhood welcome.
Signature drink: Smithwick's on draft and 52 taps with traditional Irish whiskey selections
Food: Traditional Irish food including fish and chips and shepherd's pie
Good Karma Fine Ales is a Downtown San Jose craft beer bar with a strong vegan food menu, rotating indie ales and a dedicated HiFi listening setup.
Signature drink: Rotating California and international craft ales with vegetarian food pairings
Food: Vegetarian and vegan food menu with HiFi music
The Fountainhead Bar in SoFA Market mixes architecturally inspired cocktails using small-batch spirits and locally sourced ingredients from noon daily.
Signature drink: Architecturally inspired cocktails from small-batch spirits and local ingredients
Food: Bar snacks
Lamella Tavern is Willow Glen's sophisticated cocktail room emphasizing seasonal drinks, Champagne and bubbles, paired with an oyster and crudo menu.
Signature drink: Seasonal craft cocktails and sparkling wines with oysters
Food: Oysters, crudo and premium small plates
Market Beer Company is Downtown San Jose's craft beer hub with 30 rotating taps and 200-plus bottles, staffed by Level 1 cicerones at San Pedro Square.
Signature drink: 30 rotating craft taps with 200-plus bottled and canned beer selections
Food: No kitchen; outside food welcome