Fahrenheit Restaurant & Lounge is an easily spotted venue - just look for the line of glam-a-holics snaking around the corner. This San Jose lounge has all the snazzy trappings; dim lighting, sleek furnishings, designer cocktails, a great sound system, room for dancing and a top-notch set of drink slingers who serve drinks with fiery flair like nobody's business. Anyone who's feeling peckish can order something from Fahrenheit's menu of inspired fusion fare.

Britannia Arms epitomizes the local bar in the British pub tradition bringing it to downtown San Jose packed with diners and drinkers making nice with the crown. Britannia Arms sports an impressive import tap beer list with some domestics thrown in for less discerning palates and the liquor selection—especially the scotch and whiskey collections from the Isles—isn't too shabby either. On the weekends patrons cram into this downtown San Jose bar for the singles scene, the DJ fueled dancing and live music acts of both the original and cover band varieties while earlier in the week Britannia Arms restaurant and bar caters to belt it out karaoke crooners and wannabe rockstars. Patrons of all stripes also hit The Brit for some down home British Isle fare like fish and chips, bangers and shepherds pie, but since this bar resides in California there are numerous healthier options on the menu right alongside Britannia Arms' traditional artery clogging favorites.

Tres Gringos mixes the flair of a Mexican cantina with the shamelessly reckless crowd of a typical college bar. Scantily clad girls in lifeguard seats oversee sloppy beer pong matches, while some of the South Bay's hottest up-and-coming reggae acts are showcased other nights. Drink specials get the crowd sauced at prices that still leave room for stopping at the taco stand outside - yeah, a taco stand. It's a godsend for anyone who's ever had too many margaritas.

Located in the beating heart of downtown San Jose, South First Billiards is a perennially popular spot for nightlife shenanigans. Few San Jose entertainment destinations offer the appeal and diversity of South First Billiards. By virtue of its size and smart layout that includes ample seating for large groups as well as more intimate seating, this massive venue can be at once both a low key spot where friends can enjoy each other’s company with a few cocktails over rounds of pool and a lively nightspot boasting live music, DJs and sports-drenched TV screens.

After the dinner hour, Loft Bar and Bistro morphs into a downtown San Jose nightlife destination catering to hip thirty-somethings that want to revel in the mature upscale nightclub scene without the common hassles of some other clubs. The brick lined walls and granite topped bars at the Loft Bar and Bistro house resident DJs spinning deep house cuts, top 40 and down tempo beats on the weekends and Thursday nights San Jose club goers pack into the Loft to catch live jazz music.

Tanq is a new addition to the downtown San Jose nightlife scene. A sleek hangout on the ground floor of the San Jose Marriott, this lounge is styled after an exotic fish tank, setting a pretty stage for well-heeled patrons to enjoy sipping well-mixed cocktails. Located in the heart of downtown San Jose, this bar is convenient to restaurants, theaters and museums.

Probably responsible for more San Jose State student hangovers than any other two San Jose bars combined, San Jose Bar and Grill takes raucous partying to a whole new level. This downtown San Jose bar takes awesome care of their patrons on all fronts catering to the sports fan, the casual neighborhood bar drinker, the student study break bender, the after work crowd and the DJ dancing San Jose nightlife scene. The bar is smack in the middle of the club and huge props go out to the bar staff at San Jose Bar and Grill for keeping everybody's glass full. Rotating resident DJs take care of the beats and San Jose Bar and Grill takes care of everything else with nightly drink and food specials that are so cheap it almost makes you feel guilty for indulging at this San Jose bar hotspot.

Agenda Lounge is an institution of the SoFA district of downtown San Jose. Both a restaurant and a steamy dance club, nightlife seekers can enjoy a fine meal downstairs before they ascend to the nightclub portion to dance the night away. This San Jose dance club books top DJs who regularly spin steamy R&B and thumping house beats. For their Latin themed Wednesday nights, Agenda is also considered one of the best places for San Jose salsa dancing. Free salsa dance classes are offered before the open dancing starts, giving newbies a chance to learn something snazzy to show off on the floor.

Located in the heart of downtown San Jose (and shockingly served by convenient and abundant parking), Azúcar Mojito Bar & Lounge adds a little bit of spice to the San Jose nightlife scene. Live music gives dancers opportunities to work the floor to good Latin beats, and the bar is fully stocked with ingredients to make everything from classic cocktails to outstanding and irresistible mojitos.

A staple in the lives of live music lovers, the Blank Club sports a roster filled regularly with edgy musicians and rebellious rock groups of both local and national status. Even when there isn't a band on the stage, this downtown San Jose venue packs in vivacious crowds who engage in shot slamming, beer downing and unhinged dancing as some of the best voted DJs pour out beats that range from ‘80s to industrial. On Monday nights, the Blank Club serves as a rockin' San Jose karaoke spot where intoxicated patrons belt out their best renditions of songs from every era.

The undisputed king of San Jose dive bars, the Caravan is a downtown San Jose institution that would be deeply mourned if ever lost. This place has been slinging brews and potent cocktails to a diverse set of patrons for what seems like forever, all for prices that keep even the broke locals in a happy state of drunkenness. DJs and live bands provide a soundtrack for drinking escapades several nights a week, while other nights see patrons chatting up the bartenders, shooting pool and listening to everything from Marilyn Manson to Stevie Wonder on the jukebox.

Chacho's is in the heart of San Jose's downtown scene, and offers what is widely considered to be some of the finest and most distinct Mexican dishes the valley has to offer. Aside from the restaurant's mix of both classic and unique menu items, Chacho's is perhaps best know for its "Social Bar" subtitle, which brings valley patrons in from all over for a chance to keep the night from dwindling down. The perfect location to keep a healthy night on the town going, offering reasonable and unique drinks, along with quality food to satisfy all late-night cravings.

An icon of San Jose boozemanship, the Cinebar is a dark and tiny sanctuary for rockers, pool sharks and anyone who likes getting stinking drunk no matter what day of the week it is. In the windowless confines of this favorite local dive, the drinks are poured strong and cheap, a singular fact that every wayward punk, drunk and dropout in San Jose can attest to. During the days, which start at a bright and early 6am for this place, you can find just about anyone nursing a round and chatting with the bartenders; come late night, though, this kick ass dive gets packed with all manner of patrons who pass their time doing shots, sipping brews and shooting rounds on the pool table. After thorough research, we've concluded that we love getting sauced at the Cinebar - and trust us, we've researched a lot. Yes, we love our job.

Contrary to its name, Dive Bar is, in fact, nothing like a dive bar. This place has swapped out dive bar standards like broken neon signs, scruffy whiskey sipping patrons, a scarred up bar and barstools just sturdy enough to keep drunk bottoms off the floor for low slung furniture, an antique bar, leather stools and a well-dressed set of San Jose scenesters. While Wednesdays host some of the funniest karaoke around, most other evenings welcome DJs who fill this downtown San Jose bar with cool house and top 40 beats.

Firehouse #1 hit the downtown scene with a fury when it took over the space of The Flying Martini Brothers early in 2008. This cool bar in downtown San Jose blends the mellow appeal of a friendly neighborhood bar with a little bit of flash and pizzazz that you might find at a more upscale joint. The result is a hangout where the staff remembers you, the crowd is friendly and casually dressed and the bartenders can serve your drinks with killer fiery style—literally, order a Flaming Dr. Pepper if you don't believe us.

The place where a lot of downtown San Jose bar hoppers start and end their nights, this Irish pub has a jovial, if slightly raucous atmosphere. O'Flaherty's experienced bartenders sling car bombs left and right and actually know how to pull a pint. Plus, the bar actually has Smithwick's on tap, which counts for a lot in some circles. With outdoor seating and tasty bar food O'Flaherty's gets understandably crowded, but somehow squeezing in at the bar never seems disagreeable, it's part of what makes this San Jose bar fun.

Outfitted in every way like a cozy neighborhood pub, Trials offers a warm, friendly atmosphere to the downtown San Jose bar scene. Friendly bartenders, comfy furniture, a tiny patio area, a lengthy bar with plenty of seats and ample seating near a fireplace in the back half combine to offer beer enthusiasts a setting that feels like home. Trials also offers above-average bar food, with the curry and the fish & chips being the most popular items on the menu.