50 Best Cocktail Bars near Milpitas

“fabulous, entertaining, great place to interact with others“

“Food is great and friendly staff. Caddilac Margaritas is the bomb“

“Big thumbs up on the friendly service, cozy environment, and top-notch cocktails!

Went here with a friend last night (Friday) around 8pm. Already getting crowded but we still found a cozy place to sit and could hear each other pretty well.

Can't say enough about the friendly, welcoming, and talented staff and wish I had gotten their names so I could better recognize them here.

The doorman was genuinely warm and instantly made us feel welcome (though I was amused he even requested to check the ID of 50something gray-haired me :D).

The bartender closest to the entrance immediately and warmly welcomed us as well.

Two different bartenders served us and both were friendly, engaging, and clearly talented at their craft. My friend and I tried four very different cocktails and all were great!

I do wish they served food other than just nuts here; while in fairness there's a food hall just around the corner with a decent variety of options, it would have been nice to sip the cocktails alongside food.

Re pricing: most of the cocktails are $17 + tax + tip, though their cocktails on draft (!) range from $12-16.

EDITED TO ADD: Disappointed to discover that Haberdasher calculates the tip as a percentage of the purchase PLUS taxes. I get why places do this (obviously), but it just doesn't seem very fair.“

“Miracle on 1st street is the best time of year“

“We stopped here out of the blue and was able to get a nice table outside. Jaewon was our waitress and so sweet - so helpful- we would come back just for her! Andreas was also great and very friendly and helpful. The food and drink was incredible as well. A gem in downtown Willowglen. ✨️“

“I want to preface this by saying two things. First, I had never been here before. Which is sorta’ shocking for me because, two, I like Bay Area dive- and dive-adjacent bars.

Having lived in and/or visited this area for all of my 50-plus years, that is shocking. And I like this sort of place in a non-ironic, non-wink-wink, sorta’ way. I loved the Cardiff in Campbell before it became an ultra-lounge. I spent many a day and/or evening at Blinky’s before it closed. In more recent years, I was saddened when Patty’s Inn and then the The Red Stag closed. I am happy that Woodham’s still offers up first and last calls. And I continue to be amazed that Vahl’s is still slinging drinks in the hinterlands.

And I frequent these places because, in almost all cases, they provide a service that is rapidly being destroyed in the Bay Area. Great service. Strong drinks. Good prices (relatively speaking). Interesting customers. Normandy House checks all of these boxes.

This place exists where Bascom disappears. It is kitty-corner to what has to be one of the world’s oldest still existing uniform stores. It is located in a non-descript and frankly worn-down corner strip mall, the sort of place that is eagerly eyed by developers looking to raze the place in favor of bland and cheaply made condos that cost way too much.

By dive bar standards (and I mean that as a compliment), this place is huge! Long and lovely bar. Lots of seating. Clean bathrooms. Atmosphere-appropriate lighting. Pool tables and a good jukebox. My friend and I visited on a recent weekday, so the place was nearly empty. But the staff were top notch. We got an instant greeting, several check-ins, and prompt service. They were tearing down the St. Patrick’s Day stuff and putting up new decorations. Having never been here before, I didn’t feel like I was intruding. The staff made me feel at home.

I think the reviews and the average rating are about right. Thing is, check out some of the negative reviews. Most are years old. And the more recent one(s)—I am looking at you, Alex—makes the reviewer sound like a high-maintenance noodle who can’t fathom why people won’t respond to their friend requests. Hint: it’s you, Alex. It’s you.

Again, I am amazed I hadn’t visited before. And I plan to visit again the next time I am in the area. To the staff, thank you. You provided excellent service. To the owner, keep doing what you are doing. In a place that is more and more demolishing the heart and spirit of the area and pricing out locals, you provide a service that I am not sure newer transplants understand or even respect.

Highly recommended.“

“Everyone is friendly, Scotty & Nicholai (Sp.), great drinks!“

“best place to go for a drink!“

“I highly recommended the people are nice the bartenders are great beautiful women handsome man when I walk in I feel like there’s love throughout the place“

“great place to hang out, have a drink!“

“MONDAY FOOD REVIEW...PUESTO...6/17/24! After leaving California's Great America, we stopped for lunch at Puesto, a Mexican/American restaurant, located at 2752 Augustine Dr., in Santa Clara. This restaurant features Mexican dishes with an American flare infusion! I had their their Shrimp a la Plancha, which is Mexican shrimp, garlic butter, red onions, jalapeños, guajillo chile, avocado, and Tamarindo-chile sauce, and it comes with herb lime rice, black beans, and blue corn tortillas. This was absolutely fabulous!!! It wasn't your typical Mexican dish...the different ingredients they used to create this dish all blended together VERY well!!! If you are looking for a little something different to satisfy your Mexican food craving, and want some added flair, then this is THE restaurant to go to!!! I HIGHLY recommend it!!!! My rating: 10++++“

“Dope spot. Great music. cool atmosphere. I come here everytime I'm out in the downtown area.“

“Great atmosphere for even a quick drink, or two…“

“We were traveling through as a family! Kids needed to get wiggles out, so we stopped and played some indoor putt putt. Had the best time! Such a unique golfing experience. And they make sure to make it fun for adults too!! Adult beverages! You feel like you’re walking into a Star Wars movie. It’s super fun!“

“The service attitude here is great. I like the drinks very much. It feels very magical, like a magic potion🥰“

“Food was delicious. The cocktails were tasty but the old fashioned needs to have one ice cube instead of many pieces of ice to make it perfect. The intimate setting of the restaurant is lovely with the movie playing on the wall. The server could have been a bit more attentive given there were few people in the restaurant when we dined there. One recommendation would be to clean the walls and the floor of the restroom better. The door was filthy on the inside along with the floor looks unclean which is not appealing as a female when using the toilet. Overall, I'd recommend and have been more than one time.“

“We celebrated my mom’s 60th birthday here, and it was truly unforgettable. The moment we walked in, we felt welcomed and taken care of. The ambiance was beautiful, the food was amazing, and the whole experience made the celebration feel extra special.

I want to give a huge thank you to Kelly, who was incredibly attentive, kind, and so detailed with everything. She made sure every part of the evening went smoothly and made us feel supported from start to finish. And a big shoutout to our server Ash, who went above and beyond the entire night. They treated my mom like a queen, and it meant so much to all of us.

It’s rare to find service that feels this personal and heartfelt. We left with smiles, full stomachs, and memories my mom will treasure forever.

I highly recommend this place for birthdays, gatherings, or any moment you want to make truly special.“

“my friends and I had the most amazing time here! the facilities are super clean, and the option to have youtube play as karaoke is a game changer since we can sing all our english and korean songs that aren’t usually out in the usual karaoke systems :) they have happy hours as well!

the server minji (MJ) is also super sweet and helpful— this was our first time coming here and using a youtube karaoke so she guided us through everything :)“

“We visited with friends and ordered Tandoori Veg Momo, Avocado Chaat, Garlic Naan, and Butter Chicken. The Tandoori Momo tasted rich and fresh. The Garlic Naan came soft and had a unique flavor. Everything arrived hot and well prepared. We plan to return soon with our office team.“

“I forgot to add to my previou comments that their tortillas are home-made, authentic, and delicious.“

“Muy rica las pizzas. Es un lugar agradable. Atienden muy bien.“

“Great downtown San Jose spot with cool bartenders“

“The food here is always delicious, fresh and well prepared and our visit this week was no exception. The service is especially terrific - extremely friendly, anticipated our needs and made sure we were comfortable. I've been coming here for so many years and hope to continue. It's always an experience my family and I look forward to.“

“Absolutely impeccably delicious food! Each dish was a pleasant surprise: beautiful presentation, great quality, innovative and delectable food + some of the best drinks we've ever had in the South Bay! The service was outstanding and we really appreciated the little surprises/gifts from the Chef to cleanse our palettes in between courses. Very modern, cool and vibey interiors (organic, natural pieces like rocks, plants and wood) that made the space feel very warm. We loved it and definitely recommend: 10/10.“

“Wish I lived closer so I could come back sooner. Lunch special is a mini pizza and side salad or cup of soup. Enjoyed everything and excited to have my leftovers later. (Gave 1 less star because the clam chowder was mostly broth but it was delicious)“

“Been meaning to come here for a while and finally managed to today.
All in all it was a decent experience.

Had a bunch of stuff and their gumbo was their stand out item personally. The fish was ok but had a few pieces that were a bit too fishy.

Rest of it was fine but nothing spectacular, still at their pricing I'd visit again and try something else on their menu.“

“Unique combination of Indian food. Absolutely recommending this place“

“a true Korean food. the best bibimbop“

“Jacks is where e go to watch Patriots games. They have a full bar with a nice tequila selection. The bartender are friendly and quick. There is a huge outside patio that is covered and has heaters. There are many TVs which makes for good sports watching.“

“The food here is really good. The salad nicoise and ceviche were good sized portions and quite good. The short rib bourguignon was an interesting fusion of French boeuf bourguignon and Vietnamese bò kho. It was super tender and the fries were nice and crispy.

The garlic noodles were tasty, though if you have small kids the flavor may be a bit too garlicky. The ambience was a bit strange because the place was large but not as bustling as you would expect on a Friday night. The tables are also a little high compared to the seat height, which made it difficult for the kids to eat.

Overall, a nice meal.“

“The food was great, ambiance was very nice as well as the service . James K was a phenomenal server and even cooked our food for us when he didn’t have to, he explained the menu clearly especially since it was our first time there and gave a brief description of the meats we were eating. 10/10 highly recommend and will be back again!“

“Vpho is a fantastic place to enjoy delicious pho and more! They recently remodeled, and it looks really nice inside—modern and inviting. One thing that sets Vpho apart is that they don't cram their tables together like some other Asian restaurants, so you have plenty of space to relax and enjoy your meal. Plus, there's lots of parking available, which makes getting there easy. The restaurant itself is clean and well-kept, which adds to the pleasant dining experience. I tried the Chicken Wing with mild spicy sauce, and it was surprisingly good—tender and flavorful. The Beef Bone Pho was outstanding; the meat practically fell off the bone, and the soup was warm and yummy—perfect for a chilly day. Although I didn't try it this time, they have a cocktail menu, which sounds intriguing for my next visit. The restroom is nicely remodeled, but it could be cleaner, which is something they might want to improve. Overall, Vpho gets five stars from me for its delicious food, comfortable atmosphere, and great service. It's definitely a place I'll be returning to!“

“Everything! It’s a great place to hang out“

“Pretty awesome neighborhood bar. Really is the best place to watch sports and have great drinks at fair prices.“

“mark is an amazing owner, i wish this place was open more often! they have a great selection of games and interactives to enjoy. i personally have not checked out the food menu but the drink selection is good and reasonably priced. always a good time here!“

“Today we said a sad goodbye to the last Fremont Resident of the Williams Family😞 Pops was so loved and appreciated and it showed today at his services ,though I didn’t go to the burial for the fact of I couldn’t see my Best Friends Frankie’s Ashes being buried with his Father & I find out after that they didn’t lower the casket until everyone was gone 😞I did go to Coaches today and ALL I kept finding myself doing was looking for Pops or waiting for him to walk in as that is where I would always meet him rather if it was for him to get in on my football pools or to change the motor for his windows of his Mercedes or some type of work to his car no matter what it was for that was where you could always find Pops with his hotspot papers in one hand a a cold Bud Light in the other 🥃cheers 🥂to you Pops your going to be missed by so many as you already are love you Please give my love to Mom Kevin and my brother Frankie 🙏🏽🙏🏽 RIP Frank Williams Jr.“

“this place is the bomb. food is just so full of flavor, all of it. totally recommend.“

“Aloft Sunnyvale on its own is good enough value for money spent. However, what truly stood out was the customer ser ice of its front desk. Shoutout to Michelle for helping me out a ton when I was trying to extend my stay. No excuses were made and she found a way to get it done even under difficult circumstances. Roy was also great with the room upgrade when he saw that I had brought a friend and might have needed a bigger bed. 10/10 Customer Service!“

“Went for lunch with two co-workers. We were seated inside right away. The staff were nice and attentive. I'm a Pacific Catch rewards member, and I received a message stating that you could have a free shareable if you let your server know. We decided to have the Coconut Shrimp for the shareable, which was very good! We also enjoyed eating the Japanese Wasabi Original Ahi Poke bowl.
Here's some of the selections that I've had in the past at various Pacific Catch restaurants that I really liked. Seabass Skewers, Baja Shrimp Ceviche, Guaca-Poke, Grilled Asparagus, Sushi Rolls, Miso Black Cod, Lobster Roll, Taco Plater, Fish and Chips, Kanpachi, Chocolate Lava cake, Pineapple Right Side Up cake, Hula Brownie Sundae.“

“Great food, service, band. Was here for the first time and will definitely come back. Can't wait to try breakfast,! Glad to find this restaurant!“

“This place was so good I had to leave a review. Wagyu sliders were top notch and well cooked. Tiger Prawn roll was fantastic. Bao buns were soft and meat flavorful. Gyoza were savory. Didn’t have a bad dish. I recommend the Rising Sun cocktail.“

“Great tasting food, great savers, great drinks. I am a fan of spicy tequila drinks and I ordered the jalapeño margarita substituted dos vecinos mezcal tequila and best spicy tequila margarita I ever had! I had fresh ceviche and birria tacos they did not disappoint. The sauce was so good I took home a bottle. I’ll be back.“

“2nd time here. First time was for brunch and we enjoyed the food, had most dishes from the menu to share. Last Saturday was dinner. The ambience is so beautiful at night, big fireplace, just enough light inside the restaurant to relax and enjoy a good and relaxing meal, no rush. We had champagne, very good beer that smelled a little floral. We loved crispy quinoa tuna poke so much last time so we ordered it again, still enjoyed it a lot. We had Wood fired Branzino, wood fired eggplants, olive focaccia was excellent, solf crust outside and fluffy inside, delicious. Chickpea fritter and mango sticky rice with coconut cloud. We love the food, service, food came in perfect timing, not piling up all at once giving us time to enjoy each dish. Excellent staff. Thank you. Looking forward to our next meal there.“

“Excellent vibe, nice folks classic cocktails.“

“Nice to hang out with my friends after a round of 9 holes. Good drinks and tasty food.“

“I discovered the place by accident. I was next door inside Michaels having some art pieces custom framed when I decided to look for a place to stop by to eat. I was starving. I was craving for pasta. And thats how I got to discover this place. I ordered the chicken fettucine alfredo. Love the dish with its chunky chicken pieces and al dente pasta. The complimentary cheese sticks with that cheese pimiento cheese spread was a delightful surprise. Next time Ill check their lasagna and clam chowder. I heard their clam chowder is as good as Boulins in San Francisco. I dont have to make a drive to the city to enjoy a good bowl of chowder. The lasagna looks so rich as well as their chopino. Im definitely comjng back.“

“El mejor restaurant de San Jose California comida espectacular buen sazón buena presentación buenas porciones las bebidas de primer nivel muy buenas y el cervicio muy bueno los dueños muy atentos nos dieron pasar un buen momento gracias lo recomiendo mucho“

“Delicious food and yummy desserts“

“This is a Delectable Mediterranean Restaurant! What can I say but TAMMAM!!! After a Sumptuous Meal on this Mother’s Day Sunday Evening!“

“Quite a treat to have great food, service and atmosphere just a staircase away! I enjoyed the Tortellini Chicken Alfredo considerably. Props on the cherry tomatoes as well, which were perfectly tender and full of flavor. I highly recommend stopping by and enjoying a meal with the excellent and attentive staff here at Kitchen.“