3 listening bars in San Jose our editors have drunk at, sorted by score. All San Jose nightlife.
The Hedley Club ★ 4.4
Downtown · 233 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
The Hedley Club at Hotel de Anza is San Jose's premier art-deco lounge with live jazz Thursday through Saturday in a beautifully preserved 1930s room.
Tip: Live music also runs the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month; the seasonal cocktail menu and wine program are among the best curated in downtown San Jose.
Five Points Cocktail Bar ★ 4.6
Downtown · 169 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113
Five Points is downtown San Jose's craft cocktail bar, hosting free live jazz jams every Monday night in its intimate Penny Room with San Jose Jazz.
Tip: Jazz jam starts at 9:30pm Mondays with a concert set at 8:30pm; free entry and open bar menu make this the best value listening night in the city.
Paper Plane ★ 4.6
Downtown · 72 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113
Paper Plane is San Jose's benchmark cocktail bar since 2013, with one of the Bay Area's largest spirits archives, a rotating seasonal menu, and a patio.
Tip: Bartenders here are educators as much as mixologists; let them introduce you to spirits from the deep archive beyond the regular menu.