Alter Ego is quite literally a hidden gem downtown San Jose as you have to walk through the back…read morecurtains of Still OG to enter. I've been there previously during their usual service, but they are absolutely DECKED OUT for Halloween. All the staff are in character and so into the spooky vibe which is awesome & their entire drink menu has been re-vamped for the holiday. It's such a fun spot to stop by & has a much more intimate vibe than other bars downtown.

This review is for Alter Ego, OMG. If you can get in for the Halloween pop-up RUN! The service from…read moreElias and Fernando was so good. And the drinks were even better. So well crafted, no batch cocktails. The appetizer was absolutely delicious and really fit with the vampire theme. I recommend making an early reservation so you can get in when no one is there and enjoy the quiet and spooky vibes.

So pleasantly surprised by Eos & Nyx! Downtown San Jose really needs more spots like this. Great…read moreaesthetics, an interesting elevated menu, quality food, and genuinely top-notch service. The whole experience felt so thoughtfully put together. I especially loved the little touches throughout the meal. The welcome dish (creme freshe waffle cone was the best thing ever!), palate cleanser refreshing sip, and even a gummy treat at the end! Such fun details that made the experience feel extra special. And the service was honestly memorable, not just your standard good service. The staff really made an impression. Vibe-wise, this feels like a great mix between JOEY at Valley Fair and The Pressroom downtown. A little elevated, stylish, and perfect for a nice dinner without feeling out of place in DTSJ.

We came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary with our daughter, and it was the perfect choice…read more The ambiance is posh, trendy, and lively. It instantly took me back to the restaurant scene in DC, and I absolutely loved it. Our server was extremely kind and attentive, which made the whole evening even more special. As a family of avid foodies who love trying new restaurants and hunting down great food, we're not easy to impress, and this place completely won our hearts. We ordered several appetizers, pastas for our mains, and finished with dessert. Every single dish was satisfying, from start to finish. Whether you're planning a date night or a fun night out with the girls, I highly recommend this place!

Here is one of the coolest gems in Downtown San Jose. This…read moreis not your standard bar this is the place to get drinks made properly. Every ingredient is fresh not pre made unless you get the on tap cocktails. When you walk in it has an inviting atmosphere and the Kaylen who is the bartender is welcoming to both regulars and those who are new to the bar. I had a drink called the Macintosh which is so refreshing but not overly sweet which I enjoyed.

Walking into haberdasher always makes me feel like I'm going back in time. It's beautifully…read moredesigned and has amazing staff. My husband and I had a baby free night out to celebrate my birthday and haberdasher did not disappoint. We went soon after opening so there was no line but I know they tend to have one later in the evening. We were greeted warmly at the door by the attendant who checked our ids. I was even wished a happy early birthday. When going into the bar, you walk down a staircase into a space that makes you forget you're in downtown San Jose with beautiful reds and burgundy decor. The staff is all smartly dressed; the bartender and bar back were both sweet and funny. I ordered a jack rose (my all time favorite), their seasonal watermelon waltz (this may be a new favorite for me, nice and refreshing) and one of their zero proof cocktails called a Mariposa which was soooo good as well. My husband ordered a couple old fashioned and a watermelon waltz for himself. We had an amazing time and look forward to coming back in the future.

I come to Blossom & Bourbon all the time for special occasions! One of my favorite restaurants, and…read moreI love the ambiance here! Let love blossom cocktail: lovee this drink, I would even be down to drink the non alcoholic version of this. The drink has ginger and citrus flavors, super refreshing and light and you don't taste the alcohol at all. *forgot what drink* - the red drink next to my cocktail wasn't bad, but wouldn't order this again. Appetizers: Mini lobster roll - I loved these! They're fun to eat, the bread rolls were soft and buttery and they give you a good amount of lobster meat. I love that they give you lobster bisque in little cups. Truffle fries - loved these fries, devoured the entire plate. Could use more truffle, but they were still amazing. Ribeye steak: the steak was cooked to perfection, perfect medium rare and super juicy inside! Very tasty too. Salmon with potato puree and broccolini: the salmon was cooked to perfection, I never order salmon at fancy restaurants but the cook on this salmon exceeded my expectations. It melts in your mouth! The flavors were just okay though (for me.) Service is great, all of the servers are so friendly and welcoming! You also get a free birthday dessert - their delicious bread pudding (huge slice & great for sharing!)

This place was packed, even at 5:30 pm. The bar was happening because of the long wait. It could…read moreget pretty loud here, and the tables are placed pretty closed to each other. We started with the Hamachi crudo ($20) and the truffle fries ($12). The fries had hardly any truffle oil drizzled over them. Might as well get the regular fries for less. The scallops ($43) were delicious, perfectly pan seared and the quality tasted like Japanese scallops. Skip the lamb chops ($48)- I requested for medium rare and came out medium well. It was a tad tough and bland. The BBQ rib ($35) was moist and the meat fell off the bone. I enjoyed the sauce as it was not overpowering or too tart. The corn bread was a nice addition but the coleslaw slaw was meh.

I hate bars like this (past experiences with tiki bars have been less than good; and we're not…read morecollege kids anymore), which is why I've avoided this place consistently over the years. but we finally decided to just do it. I was all-around pleasantly surprised. drinks are great, bartenders are fantastic. adding this one to our list of frequents

We came on a Friday and it was busy. The music was way too loud to hold a conversation and the…read moreservice was really slow. The decoration is nice but the drinks were overpriced and didn't really deliver. Puka Punch ($65): Pretty small bowl for the price and not even that strong. It was mostly ice and is made for 2 to 3 people to share. If you like fruity and refreshing drinks this is the one for you but I wouldn't say it's worth the price. Phoenix Rising ($20): A mezcal based drink with a fire garnish which was a fun touch. It tasted okay but nothing special.

The first year they did a Halloween pop-up and it really hit! The decor was so fun and love the…read morecreative drinks and cups. Service was friendly and very attentive. Thank you Sabrina! The Brussels sprouts tacos were so good! Also gotta get the truffle fries.

2026 Halloween Spooky Vibes Updated Review:…read more Great cocktails, bomb food, and spooky season vibes! Drinks & Food: This spot has great craft cocktails and a surprisingly solid menu for a bar! I was pleasantly surprised by the Caesar salad (FYI, it does come with a few anchovy filets on top, so keep that in mind). The veggie mushroom empanadas were another unexpected hit -- Hella cheesy, delicious, and paired with a really good dipping sauce. I liked them so much that I ended up ordering TWO orders! You only get two per order, or at least for happy hour. My personal favorites? The truffle fries and Korean fried chicken wings (Koji wings)! The wings are HELLA crunchy and absolutely bomb. If you know, you know! The Vibes & Decor: I usually come here for their Christmas setup, holiday decorations, and festive vibes, so visiting in October was a first for me. And let me tell you, the place has an updated black Halloween menu with wall decor and dark, spooky vibes plus the decorative glasses. It's giving haunted cocktail lounge in the best way possible. Seriously tho, it's dark af inside Pro tip: You'll probably need your phone flashlight to read the menu. Seating & Atmosphere: The one downside is that seating can get ROUGH after a certain time. It gets packed, loud, and finding a spot can be a whole mission. The booths are my favorite because the hardwood chairs can get a little uncomfortable, especially if you're planning to hang out for a while. If you're rolling with a smaller party, you can always ask nicely to share one of the larger tables -- it becomes communal seating depending on the size of the other groups. Final Verdict: This is one of my favorite spots for really good cocktails, right up there with 55 South! Between the creative seasonal menus, fun holiday decor, truffle fries, and those crunchy Koji wings, there's always a reason to come back. Christmas is still my favorite time to visit, but Halloween definitely brought its own spooky charm!

I've been here a couple times now and they have both excellent spirit-forward and refreshing…read morecocktails. They sometimes rotate themed menus depending on the holiday. The Bowery has their own menu. There's a bit of a wait to get inside and can get crowded, but it's worth a stop if you find yourself in DTSJ.

The ambience in here is really amazing and it's definitely more of a dark aesthetic vibe. This is a…read moregreat place to go out with your friends and also centrally located in your San Pedro Square so you're able to barhop. There's also the SP parking across so it's 90 minutes of free parking. I definitely recommend coming here and trying a couple of their drinks and you'll for sure have a good time.

A staple place to grab drinks around the dtsj area!…read more has a great happy hour menu with lots of options & food is good as well! would recommend getting their steak bites & the smash or pass cocktail!

Extra, extra... brunch with The Kid and Des!…read more Stopped by The Press Room for brunch today, and booking through OpenTable made things easy. We were seated right at our reservation time, which I always appreciate. Parking takes a little effort, though! It's on the corner of a busy intersection, so give yourself extra time. We started with Pink Pages for me, Left on Read for The Kid, and the mango version of The Juice Is Loose for Des. All three drinks were good--no complaints from our table! I ordered One Morning in Paris, their French ham and cheddar omelet, with extra-crispy hashbrowns. The omelet was cooked beautifully, and the hashbrowns were delicious. The filling was a little heavy on the ham for my taste, and there was a seasoning I couldn't quite identify that I didn't care for, but the preparation itself was spot-on. Des and The Kid both ordered the Benedict Arnold, topped with caviar. The Kid chose hashbrowns, while Des went with the house potatoes. Both enjoyed their meals. We also shared the Saints & Sinners, and these were such a delicious finish! Three large, light, airy beignets with a texture that reminded me of a popover, served with dulce de leche, raspberry compote, and chocolate sauce. Definitely worth saving room for. Good service, cute ambience, and a brunch we all enjoyed. The Press Room is getting a return visit from me!

Came around 6:30 on a weekday and only had to wait a bit for an inside table! The interior is…read moredecorated really nice for Halloween. I wanted sweet wine and even though they didn't have any, the bartender was really accommodating and tried to provide backup options. The bucatini was delicious! A little too oily at the bottom but the crunchiness really added to the dish. Overall a really vibey place to chill at!

A hidden gem for the food, wine, AND company…read more Goodtime Bar is one of those spots I'm always recommending to people before they even ask for recommendations. Any place can serve wine, but it's the food, atmosphere, and community that make Goodtime Bar always a good time. The menu has creative flavor combinations that make it fun to try a little bit of everything. The serving sizes vary from smaller bites to sharables, so it works out great. My favorites I order every single time are the tom yum bucatini, steak frites, and tostadas. As for other items I've tried: oysters are flavorful and thoughtfully put together. The crispy fingerling potatoes with seaweed mayo are criminally addicting. I think the chips and dip are made fresh in house so they have that great real potato texture and flavor. Pro tip: GET THE BREAD. Perhaps a secret menu item. An order comes with a few slices of perfectly toasted buttered bread. You'll want it to dip into the tom yum bucatini sauce. TBH it can be used for all the sauces... in the prawns is great. The chef is a master of sauce. And don't skip dessert! The creme brulee is my guilty pleasure at the end of the night, with a perfectly crisp, crackly sugar crust every time I've had it. The steak frites and a bottle of wine make for a perfect girls' night. There's a nice selection of wines at different price points, and the staff are friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. You can even taste their house wines before committing to a glass, which is a great as someone who doesn't know much about wine. The space works for different moods, too. Inside feels intimate and lively, with a fun buzz that adds to the atmosphere. Outside is lovely when you want open air while catching up with friends over food and wine. Disco ball nights inside are especially vibesy! One of my favorite things is the community here. Their Monday 6 PM run club brings together a welcoming crowd, and the post-run wine-glass offer is such a fun touch. It's a great way to meet people, and the friendly energy makes it easy to feel included even if you come solo. I've gone a couple times when time permits and everyone is sooooo friendly. All paces are welcomed and they have a few people appointed to help direct and make sure no one gets left behind. They also have options beyond wine, including a yuzu cocktail and nonalcoholic drinks like Hiyo. There's a few nearby downtown SJ lot with 90-minute free parking. TL;DR: Come for the food, stay for the wine, and leave loving this DTSJ hidden gem. Whether it's a girls' night, a necessary glass after work, or a Monday run-club meetup, Goodtime Bar is one of my favorite spots in SJ. Rightfully deserved my first Yelp food review.

This place is located in a basement kind of a place. We went on a Friday and they had a…read morewine/whiskey tasting. My husband tried the whiskies and liked all the selections. We then tried a Negroni and beer. Everything was good. I am very critical about the Negronis but this bartender made it very well. They don't serve food but you can order food from one for the restaurants next door and eat it at the cellar. Overall a great experience. I will be amiss if I don't mention the friendly service. It was a very casual atmosphere and the staff was very friendly and informative.

You'll easily find the speakeasy next door to Poor House Bistro. There's signage outside the green…read morebuilding that says, "speakeasy entrance, bar, cellar." The stairs are under the large vertical sign that says Italian Cellar. Walk down a few steps and enter through the wood door. The crowd was about 45 years and up, everyone was in their own group. Good cocktail prices. There was a $1 membership fee added to the bill. Clean place, nice bartender, the limoncello gin collins was refreshing. It was a nice place to start before visiting the other speakeasies nearby: Haberdasher, Alter Ego