15 Best Dive Bars near San Jose

“Chill atmosphere, GREAT staff, cold beer, music you will never hear on the radio (that's a good thing.). #supportlivemusic.com“

“Buen ambiente recomendado excelente club“

“MIKE JONES SEVIIN MAINTAIN🎤🎼♥️🥊“

“I have been going to Alex 49ers since the Red Stag closed. The regulars are like a second family to me now! I love singing karaoke because the crowd is supportive and non-judgemental. All of the KJ's really know their music, and the app makes it so easy to select a song, and to track when it's your turn to sing. ALL AGE GROUPS (OVER 21) AND YOU GET TO SING ALONG TO ALL GENRES OF MUSIC. What's there not to love about this place? Oh, and you can even shoot a game of pool while your waiting for your turn to karaoke.“

“Great place to grab a drink whether you’re gay straight or bi. The drinks aren’t that pricey as some would have you believe the bar tenders are nice and respectful they are also very welcoming. Overall great experience I go here often when I need a drink and a sense of community.“

“Stopped in Friday and the BBQ Chicken was great. The baked potato had sour cream a butter. The beans were very tasty. The price was great and so was the service. I'm going to come back and try the breakfast and might add a bloody Mary. Nice bartender.“

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

“Great service and good vibes and good music“

“Occasional food. Pho place next door is great, will bring it to you. Meanwhile enjoy fantastic bartenders and local regulars who are friendly people. If you search “dive bars near me” Bogarts comes up. Bogarts is a “dive bar” in all the right ways. Clean, friendly, good prices. Not a “craphole.” There is a difference! If you find yourself in the area and want cold beer and shooters at a good price check them out!“

“One of the better dive bars I have been to! Not too loud, great service and drinks, and just a great vibe in general. Would recommend if you’re looking for a chill place to hang out watch some sports and relax. No food though and the place is a little dark (if you don’t mind dim lighting). I did go early (4-7 pm), so no music but a dj did come on later and played some amazing rock music! Anyone playing linkin park at a bar, already gets a 5 on 5 for me!“

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

“Good bar for nightcap in LG!

Black Watch is a neighborhood dive bar. They have dart ? if someone is interested.

Bar is old school bar, with modern drinks/cocktails.

They don't have kitchen, only food is chips and other readymade snacks.

Service is good!

Vegetarian options: Couple

Dietary restrictions: No food here!

Parking: Street parking or parking garage

Kid-friendliness: No

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“They have 3 pinball machines, 2 pool tables, 2 electronic dart boards, a jukebox, an ATM machine, and all sorts of memorabilia on the walls and ceiling available for their patrons to enjoy!! The atmosphere can go anywhere from calm and mellow during midday, to exciting, jovial, entertaining, and filled with dancing and laughter in the late evenings. As far as the patrons, they has a great, blended environment; so no one will feel out of place if you decide to go. So... if you want to go to a place where you'll feel welcomed and have a great time, then Paul & Harvey's on Murphy Ave. is the place for you!!??? *Photo's to come...!“

“I love the patio. It's a warm welcoming watering hole filled with great people!“

“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.“