Music & Nightlife - Downtown Bars & Clubs

Fahrenheit Ultra 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.

In the end of April 2008, Taste Ultra Lounge was forced to leave its location at 87 N. San Pedro, even as its owners celebrate openings in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Stockton. Hardly missing a beat, they've already opened another ultralounge at 72 N. Almaden Ave. at the former Cuccini's site. Sabor Tapas Bar & Lounge carries the Taste torch, upping the Tastey ante with plenty of Spanish-themed small plates.

Smoke Tiki Lounge is the best San Jose nightclub hotspot for that never-ending island beach party. Presided over by a huge backlit Tiki god and some of San Jose's hottest bartenders, Smoke Tiki Lounge sports an awesomely hip and retro interior space with décor that would do Martin Denny proud for its kitschy island theme, but the real party happens out back. The outdoor patio at San Jose's Smoke Tiki Lounge is the largest in downtown and comes complete with its own bar, available to reserve ala tropical VIP style, a stage for live music and the hottest San Jose nightlife scene.

Located in the SoFA district in the heart of downtown San Jose, WET Nightclub is the Bay Area's premiere nightclub. Black-lit aquariums, black granite bars, see-through dance floors that look down onto glowing coral, sleek VIP areas and a stellar sound and lighting system provide the ultimate setting for San Jose club-goers. Theme nights and special events add to the appeal of this new dance club in San Jose, and rockin' bartenders deftly mix cocktails from the high-end collection of spirits behind the bar.

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.

Gumbo Jumbo is one of downtown San Jose's newest places to spice up an evening with Cajun food, creative cocktails, DJs and live bands. This South Bay Cajun restaurant boasts DJs spinning house, hip-hip and favorite hits on Fridays, and Saturday nights boast live jazz and blues.

Toons Nightclub is a downtown San Jose staple. Perennially packed with San Jose State students, local drinkers, pool players and avid dancers, this nightlife spot entertains with live bands on Tuesday nights and some of the area's hottest DJs every other night of the week. A full game room next to the main area boasts pool tables, arcade games and its own full bar, giving partiers a refuge from the clamorous dance floor that dominates the front half.

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.

The Voodoo Lounge in downtown San Jose maintains a super low-key hipster vibe while being a perennially busy see and be seen dance club player in the San Jose nightlife scene. Dim lighting and lava lamps provide the illumination at this sleek San Jose club while a rotating slate of prolific Bay Area DJs spinning house, hip-hop, trance, dance, techno and top 40 provide the beats. Also, the Voodoo Lounge sports some live MC throw downs on some nights with San Jose rappers squaring off on stage and this downtown lounge has started to bring live music back to the San Jose masses featuring local up and comers.

This downtown San Jose bar is a local institution, drawing happy hour crowds that always seem to stay late. With 24 beers on tap, a staff of experienced bartenders and a menu of tasty bar-style appetizers, burgers and sandwiches, it's easy to slip into the Mission Ale mode: Just one more beer, just one more smoke on the patio, just one more basket of curly fries. Live bands occasionally grace Mission Ale House's back patio, but more often this San Jose bar is just packed with crowds of flirty, fun-loving folks talking, drinking and wiling the night away.

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.

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.

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.