This place is absolutely fantastic! I happened to stumble across it when looking for a cocktail bar…read morewith a good vibe. Not only are the cocktails special, the small bites menu is super tasty including the Shishito pepper skewers and the Takayoki. The staff are also super friendly and the bartenders are some of the best mixologists in town.

Alter Ego and Still OG might just be the most cleverly conceived bar concept in the city. Small and…read moreintimate, yes -- but every inch of it is intentional. Let's start with the drinks. The cocktail menu is inspired by records, and you can feel the creativity in every sip. These aren't your standard bar pours -- they're clearly thought out and crafted with personality. If you're someone who appreciates a drink with a story behind it, you'll be in your element here. The live DJ on weekends takes the whole experience to another level. The music isn't background noise -- it's part of the atmosphere, and it hits right. What makes this place truly special is that you're getting two completely different vibes under one roof. Walk into Still OG up front and you get a casual, laid-back energy -- easy conversation, good company, no pretension. Then slip into the speakeasy in the back and the whole mood shifts. Alter Ego is a proper intimate lounge with their full bar, and it feels like a world away from the street outside. The transition between the two spaces is surprisingly seamless and genuinely fun to experience. And they're open late, which puts them in a rare category of places actually worth staying out for. Whether you're there for a chill night out or a proper evening, this place delivers both without making you choose.

It wouldn't be Japantown without a proper karaoke bar. This is a great spot to visit with friends,…read moreor you could plan a team building trip like I did!

It's a great place to have a fun place to be silly in costume and wigs, and sing your heart out…read morewith lots of encouragement from the crowd. Our group of 6 arrived at 8PM to get on the virtual queue early. Wait was about 30-45 min even that early in the night. There were many regulars there ready to sing already. We were fine with waiting and enjoyed a round of drinks. Getting a table at that time was easy but within a couple hours, the place was crowded. The bartender was attentive even as more people came in. She got us our drink orders pretty fast. Drinks were ok, but we were there for karaoke not a cocktail experience.

Came in during the Halloween season to experience the holiday vibe and drinks. The place was…read moredecorated like the series, Stranger Things. They really went all out and added lots of touches from the series. Welcomed to Stranger Drinks in the upside down. It was a slow night so service was great.

came w coworkers on a Friday evening, parking was a bit annoying as per usual for downtown…read more inside vibe was kinda nice tho didn't get pictures of half the stuff nor do I remember the names of whatwe got but it was all pretty good milk punch (the fruity one?) - 9/10 coworkers said it looked like ice cream which was funny - was good tho there was some refreshers looking fruity drink that just tasted like juice and some orange juice drink that also tasted juicy but was def on the sour side one of the drinks had hojicha & I actually really liked the tea taste old fashioned was standard chips thing was good, maybe too little chips for the amount of dip tho pork belly bao had a very slight kick of spice but actually turnt out liking it more than I thought I would

Fun kitschy Japanese decor, music was fire at times. No cover when we went last Friday. But the…read morelasers were my favorite part. Would've been fabulous to sit and watch for a while. There a water station with plenty of cups at the end of the bar!! And the bartender offered it a few times, so very appreciated! Drinks were also a few bucks cheaper than the other clubs around.

It was a good vibe! Nice open floor plan so there's space to dance and talk. Nice outdoor area and…read moresecond floor. Only thing is they have a $10 cover from the second they open which I think is kind of lame, like hey we got here early we shouldn't have to pay.

The Hedley club has re-opened as of May 22, 2025. They are open Tuesday-Saturday, and host live…read morejazz on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. On 5/22/2025, the Roger Glenn quartet performed.

The Hedley Club closed after Halloween for renovations and won't open until March 2026. We were…read moredisappointed and I hope the bar will not be changed too much and still have its wonderful ambiance when it reopens.

Cielo is open seasonally, and we finally visited during (*at the very end of*) their Winter…read moreExperience. I think traditionally, you need reservations for Cielo, but their Winter Experience (ran through December and mid-January) is first-come, first-served. The Winter Experience is a Christmas-themed set-up - very tastefully and beautifully decorated - with Christmas music (even 2 weeks after the New Year). the tables along the edge have small in-table fire pits AND a tall heated furnace - you will not be cold in December. these tables do require a minimum spend of $50 per person, which we came into this expecting that regardless - however, it sounds like you can sit at any of the other tables without this minimum spend, though you will only have a blanket for warmth. the sunset was beautiful, though keep in mind that we do live in a city, and there are other tall buildings around, so don't set your expectations too high. Overall, we are so happy we finally checked this place out, and that we were able to do so during the Winter Experience. We did find it overpriced (considering it's at Hotel Valencia... we weren't surprised) for what you get. I tried one cocktail (~$20) that tasted like a flavored soda, before switching to wine; my husband had 2 Old Fashioned, they were both made differently but both good. The food was good - small, shareable portions. We're happy to have finally stopped in, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come again. HOW TO GET THERE: enter Hotel Valencia from the ground floor; take the elevator to Floor 3; go straight down the hall, pass the front desk on your left, to the second set of elevators; take that to the top floor

Cielo at Hotel Valencia in Santana Row had a winter-wonderland-style setup that was definitely…read morecute, but overall the experience felt underwhelming. When compared to the APRÈS VILLAGE experience at the Four Seasons, it doesn't come close. The food menu is very limited, and food took quite a while to come out. There's also no option to make reservations, which was disappointing and made the experience feel less organized. That said, it's aesthetically pleasing enough for a few social media photos. Beyond that, it's nothing to make a big fuss over, and I can't say I'd go out of my way to return.

The vibes were fun! The drinks funner it was a Friday night, around 8 - it wasn't too crowded but…read morethere was an amazing DJ playing a mix of oldies, millennial vibes and newer tracks - made it super fun! We sat outside by the fire pits. We tried so many drinks but the waiter suggested Paradise Lounge was the best one I tried. We did try the Phoenix Rising... hard pass on that one - something tasted rank to me. They were kind enough to remake it, and after the second version it still tasted weird. I do think it was something off with me. Ultimately they brought out another PL. Really appreciated that and they didn't make me feel bad for being picky. Overall great drinks, great vibes, awesome staff - highly recommend!

Tiki Bar located in Downtown San Jose in San Pedro market. There's parking around, the garage or…read morestreet if you get lucky. They offer a selection of craft mixed drinks. We got the Mai Thai and punch. Came in a plastic cup. We also put an order for fries, but $10 is a lot for a decent amount of basic fries. Unfortunately, they did not have happy hour when I visited. There's plenty of water stations to self serve a drink break. There's a lot of seating inside and outdoors. Inside has tables, booths, and a large television to watch the basketball game. Outside, it face the inner street of San Pedro. The day I went as a fun surprise because I got the stroll through free photobooth, and other activities for the event in the area.

I live in the area and passed by a couple times. My cousin…read moreand I wanted to go somewhere low key to catch up and have a drink so we came to The Note Lounge. It was quiet, but our bartender Stephanie was so friendly and made our drinks perfectly. By 9pm at started picking up and there was a DJ, music and people dancing--it overall was a really fun time!

My bf and I live in the area and wanted to check out this neighborhood bar. We were hesitant since…read morethis seems like an older crowd, according to the limited pics/reviews. We went anyways and it was so wholesome! It was very lively on a Friday, they had a DJ and then karaoke later in the night. It was cool to see like a community in there, and everyone getting along. If you're younger, live in the area, and bored - doesn't hurt to come check it out!

I love this place! Came here on a first date, me dressed up and he tall, dark, and handsome. The…read morecocktails were wonderful, and definitely put us in 'the mood'! The only downside was the doorman calling me "man'. Please respect!

very chill dim light dark bar and the bathroom gives 50s vibes i love :33333333333333333read more

I totally understand how they made the top 100 in the SF Chronicle list, it's so well deserved!…read more I have only heard golden reviews of goodtime bar through peers and thought it was a great time to finally check it out! I came here with a friend on a weekday for dinner and it was not packed at all. The atmosphere was very minimalist and clean, with a cute disco ball in the corner. This establishment requires you to order at the bar (makes sense it's a bar), and then they did you a number for the table so they can deliver your food. Any drinks you order they will make it right then and there for you to bring over. In terms of food, here is everything we ordered and my thoughts! *Deviled eggs: You would think since it's deviled eggs, there wouldn't be anything too special about them but I appreciated the small pops of salmon roe that added a nice textural play with the creamy eggs! * Bluefin tostada: Absolutely delicious with fresh tuna, paired with mango, on a crispy wonton chip. What a rich treat. * Arancini: The twist of fusion flavors was great. I love how the Japanese curry added a nice mix of umami, paired with the sharp creamy kimchi sauce. Definitely a favorite! * Pork belly: Pull apart, juicy, and tender! These paired actually really well with the arancini for a good balance of rice and meat. * Red miso crème brûlée: interesting sweet and salty flavor combination between the red miso and Madagascar vanilla. Not too overpowering tho. A lovely meal was had here!

goodtime keeps me in San Jose. What more is there to say? I…read morewish I could come more often than I already do! Food staff and wine are all the best