{"id":16055,"date":"2019-03-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.metroactive.com\/best-of-silicon-valley\/2019\/Nightlife.html"},"modified":"2022-09-19T13:12:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T20:12:32","slug":"music-nightlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.metrosiliconvalley.com\/music-nightlife\/","title":{"rendered":"Music & Nightlife"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/a> | Food & Drink<\/a> | Music & Nightlife<\/a> | Goods & Services<\/a> | Art & Culture<\/a>
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Mountain Winery. Photo by Chris Miller<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

OVERALL <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Comedy Venue<\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Jose Improv<\/b>
62 S 2nd St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rooster T. Feathers<\/b>
157 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ComedySportz<\/b>
288 S 2nd St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Large Concert Venue<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mountain Winery<\/b>
14831 Pierce Rd, Saratoga<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shoreline Amphitheatre<\/b>
1 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAP Center<\/b>
525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Small Music Venue<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cafe Stritch<\/b>
374 S 1st St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor House Bistro<\/b>
91 S Autumn St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ritz<\/b>
400 S 1st St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Dance Club<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cardiff<\/b>
260 E Campbell Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charley’s LG<\/b>
15 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ritz<\/b>
400 S 1st St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Jazz\/Blues Club<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cafe Stritch<\/b>
374 S 1st St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor House Bistro<\/b>
91 S Autumn St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fairmont’s Lobby Lounge<\/b>
170 S Market St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mini Boss. Photo by Greg Ramar<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Best Place to Sip Manhattans with Ms. Pac Man
Mini Boss<\/b>
52 E Santa Clara St, San Jose<\/i>
Opened in early February, Miniboss is downtown San Jose’s first proper video game bar. Featuring some of your favorite old-school cabinet games, like The Simpsons<\/i> and Bust-a-Move<\/i>, and a solid selection of pinball machines, the 21+ main floor also serves craft cocktails and draught beer. Miniboss is run by the same team behind Original Gravity and Paper Plane, so the beer and cocktail menus are on point. The attached SuperGood Kitchen admits all ages and cooks up Asian fusion dishes designed to wow discerning foodies as well as late-night imbibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Latin Music Club<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami Beach\/Beso<\/b>
417 S 1st St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monte Carlo<\/b>
228 Castro St, Mountain View<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Club Rodeo Rio<\/b>
610 Coleman Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Microbrewery\/Taproom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hapa’s<\/b>
460 Lincoln Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campbell Brewing Co.<\/b>
200 E Campbell Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faultline<\/b>
1235 Oakmead Pkwy, Sunnyvale<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Wine Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tessora’s Barra di Vino <\/b>
416 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enoteca La Storia<\/b>
416 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

20Twenty Cheese Bar<\/b>
1389 Lincoln Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Local Winery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testarossa Winery<\/b>
300 College Ave, Los Gatos <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.Lohr<\/b>
1000 Lenzen Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ridge Vineyards<\/b>
17100 Montebello Rd, Cupertino<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Taproom Run by a Social Justice Warrior
Camino Brewing<\/b>
718 S 1st St, San Jose<\/i>
When we caught up with Allen Korenstein on a Tuesday afternoon last summer, he was rushing from one office to another. Earlier that morning, he had been navigating the emotional labyrinth of foster care, handling five cases in his role as a juvenile law attorney. Half an hour after leaving the courthouse, he’d made it to the other side of downtown and was putting on his brewers cap. Korenstein and his partner Nathan Poulos have been brewing beer for a decade. Beginning as most brewers do, in a garage, they eventually gained some notoriety for their collaboration with Chromatic Coffee; the Cafe con Leche is a smooth coffee milk stout that gives imbibers a double buzz of alcohol and caffeine. Since opening up their brick-and-mortar location on South First Street in the spring of 2018 they’ve gained a reputation as one of downtown’s best places to grab a craft brew. Furthermore, their beautiful, spartan taproom\u0097located just south of the Interstate 280 overpass\u0097has activated a long-vacant space, right next door to the old Faber’s Cyclery. In this way Korenstein is continuing his work in the community by bringing a cultural hub to a part of town littered with empty storefronts and neglected historic properties. Here’s hoping that more follow suit; the old Faber’s building, which has been refurbished by Garden City Construction, is awaiting a new tenant, and many more structures in the Martha’s Gardens neighborhood, from beautiful mid-century neon signs to Victorian, Craftsman and Art Deco homes, could all benefit from repairs and a fresh coat of paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best New Bar\/Club<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cedar Room<\/b>
1875 S Bascom Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LVL Up<\/b>
400 E Campbell Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Lady<\/b>
73 E San Fernando St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Sports Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double D’s<\/b>
354 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rookies Sports Lodge <\/b>
1535 Meridian Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4th St. Pizza Co.<\/b>
150 E Santa Clara St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best British Pub<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britannia Arms<\/b>
Downtown San Jose, Almaden<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duke of Edinburgh<\/b>
10801 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rose & Crown<\/b>
547 Emerson St, Palo Alto<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Irish Pub<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O’Flaherty’s<\/b>
25 N San Pedro St, San Jose <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rosie McCann’s<\/b>
355 Santana Row, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katie Bloom’s <\/b>
369 E Campbell Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Gay or Lesbian Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Splash<\/b>
65 Post St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mac’s Club <\/b>
39 Post St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renegades<\/b>
501 W Taylor St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pruneyard Cinema. Photo by Greg Ramar<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Best Dinner and a Movie for the Uber-Efficient
Pruneyard Cinema<\/b>
1875 S. Bascom Ave, San Jose<\/i>
It’s a strangely intimate thing to sit next to a person in the dark. It adds a little bit of tantalizing danger to a first date. At the same time, watching a movie in tandem is a great way to size up a person’s level of empathy. Perhaps they have none; or maybe too much. (Do you really want to spend your time with someone who wails every time they see a sad kitty?) And then there’s sharing a meal with a potential mate. (How much hot sauce does this person consume? You must know!) Feed two birds with one hand at this luxurious theater, which features an in-house restaurant, craft cocktail bar\u0097The Cedar Room\u0097and seven screens. Between the expert mixology, reclining seats and regularly scheduled events, it’s a great place to figure out whether to swipe left or swipe right. On Tuesdays the bar focuses on tiki drinks and the theater offers an $8 all-day admission; Drag Queen Bingo is on Wednesdays; and once a month they host their Culinary Cinema event, featuring a food-themed film and a menu to match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Hotel or Restaurant Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fairmont Lobby<\/b>
170 S Market St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rosewood <\/b>
2825 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dio Deka<\/b>
210 E Main St, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Craft Cocktails<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Rose Libation House<\/b>
La Hacienda Inn, 18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Rd, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paper Plane<\/b>
72 S 1st, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haberdasher<\/b>
43 W San Salvador, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Martinis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Rose Libation House<\/b>
La Hacienda Inn, 18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Rd, Los Gatos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry Creek Grill<\/b>
1580 Hamilton Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cedar Room<\/b>
1875 Bascom Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Mojitos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mezcal<\/b>
25 W San Fernando St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry Creek Grill<\/b>
1580 Hamilton Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cascal<\/b>
400 Castro St, Mountain View<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Margarita<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aqui <\/b>
Campbell, Cupertino & San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olla Cocina<\/b>
17 N San Pedro St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

El Jardin<\/b>
368 Santana Row, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Bowling Alley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4th Street Bowl <\/b>
1441 N Fourth St, San Jose <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bowlero <\/b>
5420 Thornwood Dr, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bass Pro Shops<\/b>
5160 Cherry Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Standup Outside a Comedy Club
Super Stacked<\/b>
Studio by Terra Amico, 460 Lincoln Ave, San Jose<\/i>
Despite the presence of a major midsize comedy club, plenty of open mics and a vast, diverse population of prospective audience members to draw from, the South Bay has long had a reputation as flyover country for standup. But San Jose’s seeing something of a comedy revival thanks to a crop of young performers who’ve been carving a space between bar mics and big clubs. Case in point: Super Stacked, a twice-monthly showcase that routinely draws an audience of about 100, give or take, to a woodshop on Lincoln Avenue for a night of free comedy. Produced by comedians Ryan Sudhakaran, Grayson Garcia, Tyler Stannard and Austin Baylock, the show kickstarted a trend of curated comedy outside the usual venues. If you’ve never been, catch the next one this weekend. Grab a beer to go at Hapa’s Brewing Company, then walk a few doors down for the 6pm show at Studio by Terra Amico for a lineup that features the producers themselves. To stay in the loop about future shows, follow them on Facebook and IG @SuperStacked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Pre-Sharks Game Spot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry’s Hi-Life<\/b>
301 W St John St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Pedro Square Market <\/b>
87 N San Pedro St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor House Bistro<\/b>
91 S Autumn St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PENINSULA <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Happy Hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Old Pro<\/b>
541 Ramona St, Palo Alto<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Stephen’s Green<\/b>
223 Castro St, Mountain View<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scotty’s Palo Alto<\/b>
548 Emerson, Palo Alto<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Dive Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dutch Goose<\/b>
3567 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonio’s Nut House<\/b>
321 California Ave, Palo Alto<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fred’s Place<\/b>
2534 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WEST VALLEY <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Happy Hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sushi Confidential<\/b>
247 E Campbell Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orchard City Kitchen<\/b>
1875 S Bascom Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Rose Libation House<\/b>
18840 Saratoga Los Gatos Rd, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Karaoke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Khartoum <\/b>
300 Orchard City Dr, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effie’s Restaurant<\/b>
331 Hacienda Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britannia Arms<\/b>
5027 Almaden Expy, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Dive Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Watch <\/b>
141 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff Lounge<\/b>
260 E Campbell Ave, Campbell<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bank<\/b>
14421 Big Basin Way, Saratoga<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CENTRAL VALLEY<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Happy Hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. John’s Bar and Grill<\/b>
510 Lawrence Expwy, Sunnyvale<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grub Burger Bar<\/b>
785 Lawrence Expy, Santa Clara<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duke of Edinburgh<\/b>
10801 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Karaoke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodham Sports Lounge<\/b>
4475 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Max<\/b>
828 W El Camino, Sunnyvale<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Pheasant<\/b>
22100 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Dive Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodham’s Lounge<\/b>
4475 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normandy House<\/b>
30 Washington St, Santa Clara<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hut<\/b>
3200 The Alameda, Santa Clara<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best King of the Stage
Donny Mirassou<\/b>
While drag kings have a long, rich history, they’ve never quite received the kind of broader recognition enjoyed by their femme counterparts, who feature into the latter-day pop cultural landscape thanks to shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Jean Batt, who spent the better part of her\/his\/their life bending the rules of masculinity by way of the darkly debonair onstage persona Donny Mirassou, is part of a growing number of performers hoping to change that. The South Bay artist began experimenting with the art as a preteen tomboy to explore her masculine traits before going on to master impersonations of male rock stars as a student at a parochial all-girls high school, where Batt was cast as a boy in plays. Over the ensuing decades, Batt’s sense of self has increasingly intertwined with Mirassou’s. “We have blended,” Batt reflects. “Similar aesthetics, tastes in music, style, nerdiness and cosplay\u0097even his sexuality has blended with mine. I used to play him as a straight man, but he so isn’t anymore.” The flamboyantly male alter-ego has helped Batt come to terms with their own body, inspiring their foray into burlesque and their incorporating into the act other aspects of their identity as a goth, furry and kinkster. “He has given me a lot more confidence in myself in a lot of ways,” Batt says. “But the one thing he helped me do is deal with my gender issues head-on and to come out.” Batt-as-Mirassou has taken their singularly multifaceted act to stages throughout the nation, from the Circus of Sin at San Jose’s Caravan to the Stud Bar in San Francisco, where on April 13 you can celebrate his 30-year drag-iversary with a host of other fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAN JOSE\/SOUTH VALLEY<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Happy Hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chacho’s<\/b>
87 E San Fernando St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4th Street Pizza<\/b>
150 E Santa Clara, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britannia Arms<\/b>
5027 Almaden Expwy, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Karaoke<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 Bamboo <\/b>
162 Jackson St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4th Street Bowl <\/b>
1441 N 4th St, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goosetown Lounge<\/b>
11072 Lincoln Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Dive Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Branham Lounge<\/b>
1116 Branham Ln, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dive Bar<\/b>
78 E Santa Clara Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Caravan<\/b>
78 E Santa Clara Ave, San Jose<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FREMONT & MILPITAS <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Happy Hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach’s<\/b>
40968 Fremont Blvd, Fremont<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack’s Brewing Co.<\/b>
39176 Argonaut Way, Fremont<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tequila Shots Bar & Grill <\/b>
38 N Main St, Milpitas<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Dive Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach’s<\/b>
40968 Fremont Blvd, Fremont<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tequila Shots<\/b>
38 N Main St, Milpitas<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Florence <\/b>
37349 Niles Blvd, Fremont<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Introduction<\/a> | Food & Drink<\/a> | Music & Nightlife<\/a> | Goods & Services<\/a> | Art & Culture<\/a>
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Here in the South Bay we have home-grown mixologists, shaking up innovative cocktails and mad-genius hop-heads, brewing all shades and flavors of craft beer. There are entrepreneurial hair stylists and internationally recognized tattoo artists, who look to the local population as their walking canvases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14575,"featured_media":16056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[1919],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n