50 Best Cocktail Bars in San Jose

“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. ✨️“

“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“

“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!“

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

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

“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.“

“It was good. We went right as they opened and they were quick to get to us. The food was not super seasoned, i felt like i had to put a lot of salt to bring out flavors and because we went when it opened, a lot of the options we wanted were still frozen. The waiters were nice and accommodating, think it’ll be better a bit after they open.“

“Stevie's Bar & Grill in San Jose isn't just a bar, it's a sanctuary for the soul and a paradise for beer enthusiasts. Each time I return to San Jose, Stevie's is my go-to spot, a reliable haven where the beer flows as freely as the good times. With a draft beer selection that's second to none, Stevie's is like a grand library of brews, each one a story waiting to be savored. The attentive staff elevates the experience, making sure your glass is never empty and your spirits are always high. The vibe here is electric yet welcoming, a perfect backdrop for the delectable snackable treats they serve. And if you're in a crunch for time, the adjacent laundromat turns a chore into a chance for relaxation – sip and savor while you spin and rinse! Stevie's is more than a bar; it's a clever twist on the traditional, a gem that makes San Jose shine a little brighter.“

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

“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.“

“excelente servicio buena atención“

“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“

“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.“

“Mr. Mojito Bar & Grill serves up tasty, fresh Mexican food. You will not be disappointed with their menu offerings! In addition to a great menu, they have DAILY Happy Hour specials of discounted beers, drinks, lemon drop martinis, small bites, and tequila shots.

The atmosphere is very lively and upbeat where all are welcome. This is a great place to enjoy a family dinner, bar dining while watching sports on the many TVs, or hosting a large party out on the patio.

I encourage you to give Mr. Mojito Bar & Grill a try!“

“I’ve been here twice this past year—once for dinner and once for weekend brunch—and both experiences were amazing. For dinner, expect to pay a pretty penny; dinner and drinks for two came to about $360 with tip. Brunch, on the other hand, was super reasonable considering all the offerings—we spent around $50 per person including food, drinks, and tip.

The food was incredibly flavorful and filling, with beautiful and unique presentation. The atmosphere was absolutely stunning and both times our servers were amazing—attentive, friendly and professional.

I’d give a 9.8 out of 10, with the only deduction being that the hosts were a bit snobby both times.“

“Had an amazing time at the Pressroom with Raaj.

My fiance' and I popped in for an early lunch and some cocktails to celebrate our recent engagement.

We were greeted by Raaj at the bar, who gave us a thorough explanation of the menu, providing suggestions for shared plates, larger dishes, and his personal favorites.

We decided to go with The Roasted Mushrooms, Pork Belly with Persimmons, and The Handmade Lemon Ricotta Agnolotti.

As for cocktails, we thoroughly enjoyed The Smash or Pass, and Raaj was kind enough to share a toast of Guiseppe Prosecco with us.

Not only does The Pressroom offer a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere, the food is fabulous, and Raaj made the day extra special. Thank you. 🥂“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“Was are first time trying it and we will definitely be going back.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Delicious food and yummy desserts“

“Excellent vibe, nice folks classic cocktails.“

“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“

“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.“

“Muy buen servició y la comida muy rica“

“The decoration of this bar is a bit like the decoration style of the previous era. It feels very comfortable to order a cocktail and sip it slowly.“

“We were here 2 weeks ago and it was chaos as far as service. I think they were unexpectedly busy. But the menu looked good, and the location is convenient for going to the CPA, so we thought we'd try again. Glad we did. All the service people were professional, polite, and friendly, even accommodating a late joiner. The food was tasty, with a lot of choices on both food and bar menu. We'll be back!“

“Good food, good people! 😁“

“Cool spot �I like the food and drink service good“

“Super good here!!! My only favorite place in Santana Row!!!!“

“Hermoso 🤩 lugar para disfrutar 😌“

“We arrived at 1:30 for lunch. We were a party of 3 with no reservation. When we walked in we were greeted by security. He stated that the host would be with us shortly since we had no reservation. About 5 minutes later the host, Sienna arríved. She shared that they had many reservations and would be hard to seat us but would try her best. About 10 minutes later or less she did just that. I am very appreciative that she gave us such a positive start to our experience. Food, drinks and service were good. Niner game was on so atmosphere was great!!! Would recommend with a reservation. I would definitely be returning. Thank you again sienna!!!“

“We went to Fountainhead on Saturday night and had a great time! Live music, mixed drinks (great tamarind margarita - that might have been a special for that night but lots of other interesting options) and interesting wine options. We grabbed food from a couple of the other outlets (vietnoms and japacurry) which was tasty. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Great time!“

“Branham Lounge is a gem when it comes to local places to relax and get away from the daily stresses of life. Great place during the week to relax after work or school. And no matter what they are always friendly and provide exceptional service! There is nothing negative I can say because I don't being negative vibes myself! Each and every person who works here is an artisan in their skill! The owner takes care of his people and that shows! Nothing but positive and great recommendations to a local spot that provides only the top of the line drinks and all around service!

Parking: No problem finding parking

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchairs can easily get through all of the entryways including restrooms. there are handicap accessible tables as wel“

“Great ambiance, the best tropical cocktails!“

“Great staff! Fast se, friendly and all smiles.“

“Ordene una picada para dos y una bandeja paisa , estaban deliciosas Nos encantó todo. Los jugos super ricos.“

“We came here during a weekday looking for some seafood and we were more than satisfied. The food was amazing with flavors we haven't found anywhere else; this place is one of a kind. I highly recommend giving this place a try and getting some coffee for the road on the way out at the connected cafe.“

“Perfect for the airport. Delicious tropical drinks.“