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.

Vibe: A Had to make…read morea quick pit stop before a show that night and wandered into OG. Haven't been to this location in a minute. Can still remember the gourmet dogs and duck fat fries back in the days... Awesome what they did to the place. The new set up with the dim lights and neon menu is noice. Ended up chilling at the front bar. Definitely will return to explore the back at a later time. Food: A We got to sample a variety of goodies and drinks from the menu, which definitely hit the spot. The skewers were cooked just right with a kiss of smoke from the grill. The takoyaki were good as expected--yum. We ended the excursion with the milk bread; it was surely a crowd-pleaser. It was fluffy goodness, topped with furikake, and served with a side of decadent house butter. Drinks were perfectly crafted and refreshing. Service: A We were chilling at the bar and got to hang with staff. Cool folks, will be back. - John

I had a great time at VBar and had amazing service all around on a slower Tuesday night. The red…read morelighting is very comfortable and the drinks were delightful. Everyone was kind from the bartender to the bouncer. Definitely a nice place to get a classic cocktail made well.

Did not feel safe!! My friends and I were waiting to get on…read morethe elevator, so when a group of guys also arrived. As I was walking to get on the elevator one of the guys tried to hold me back against him and wrapped his arm around me. I had no idea who he was. I pushed him off me and told his friends to get him away from me. As he walked away and our elevator door closed he called me/my friend a group of wh*r*s. I told the staff/security when we got to the top and they said they'll "keep an eye on them". They proceeded to call my friends and I the b word as we walked passed their group. Then two other girls complained how the same man that grabbed me tried to pressure them into leave with the group of men. When they said no they were also called "wh*r*s". Staff did not help at all.

This was my first time at Kaizen Bar, and I can definitely see why my friends always recommend it…read morewhenever we're downtown! They had hyped it up quite a bit, so I came in with high expectations--and it lived up to them. We went on a Friday night and didn't even have to pay a cover, which was a great surprise. The inside had beautiful Japanese-inspired decor that gave the place a unique atmosphere, and even with how busy it was, everything felt well-maintained. The bathrooms were clean, which is always a plus. The staff were incredibly attentive and worked hard to make sure everyone was taken care of, even though the bar was absolutely packed. The DJ was amazing that night too! My friends and I spent most of our time on the dance floor because the music was so good. Overall, the energy, service, and atmosphere made for such a fun night out. Kaizen has officially become one of my favorite downtown spots, and I'll definitely be coming back whenever I'm looking for a fun night with great vibes and good company.

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.

One of my favorite bars of all time. Lovely staff including the front door dudes, good drinks and…read morethe vibes are immaculate. I have so many amazing memories here !

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.

Absolutely love this new venue! It use to be called 386 lounge which was nice but this new lounge…read moreis such a beautiful upgrade! Very spacious! Nice high ceilings. I absolutely adore the chandelier in the center of the lounge. Cute seating areas. Friendly staff. Nice place for a date or to celebrarte any occasion.

They sold us $15 entry for "free shots" the bartender said we're the 2nd person he lied to to get…read moreus in. They also served underage kids there. Most girls i met at 19. Worst place ever. Worse "promoter" ever.

NOW OPEN: NEW LOCATION HOOKAH MASTER…read more115 N 1st street, San Jose If you used to go to 40 Thieves, come here now. Best hookah in the bay. Top quality and experience, as always.

The ambience of this lounge reminds me of the beauty of the Middle East with a post modern and…read morecasual vibe touch to it. The music and atmosphere definitely set me back to that one Dubai nightclub hookah bar I got to enjoy back in 2021! And Man, was this such a great experience! Shout out to Yosuf ! Yosuf's hospitality and kindness definitely made me feel at home! Great service and attention to detail around comfort and service too! He definitely leads the team and has the best recommendations for first comers! Check in with him since he knows what's always up! ( I believe this gentleman was the manager or in some place responsible as he oversees the cashier!) After checking out few hookah lounges in the bay, I found myself asking this man so many more questions I never thought about getting answered for ! The selection of flavors and drinks definitely stood out to me compared to other spaces. Now, knowing this space closes at 2am for sure! Made it the most desirable to go to after the bars, to settle down and catch some more drinks! Definitely will come again since the music was good enough to dance and the flavors were enough to ask for seconds !

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.

My friends and I went to several bars down the street and none really stood out but we saw…read moreHaberdasher and needed to check the place out. There was about a 10 min wait. And they don't allow outside food in even if the food was leftover in Togo bags from dinner. The place was busy when we finally went inside. But the bartenders were fast and we got two rounds of drinks as far as we could order. The dim lighting did look reddish. The large tables were reserved but there plenty of smaller high tops around. Memorable drinks were the perfect pear and the Andean Ascent. Perfect pear was not fruity at all and had a nice aroma and spice to it. The Andean ascent was a nice drink to start with, refreshing with a bit of fizz.

Thank you Liz for your excellent service, dinner wa great! Check out my chocolate cake thank youread more

Me and my friend came for a work day lunch and didn't have a bad bite!…read more Sophia S. provided really great service and made sure everything was perfect. This is my first time dining here and I'll definitely be back. The rooftop is really nice and allows you enjoy this beautiful early summer weather.