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| San Jose After Dark: Cool Dining and Hip Nightlife
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SAN JOSE, CA — San Jose is growing up. Its more complex, multifaceted persona now supports
a fine dining scene with everything from the taquerias of its youth to restaurants sporting Wine Spectator magazine
Awards of Excellence. And the variety of its evening entertainment ranges from hip ultra-lounges to outdoor movies.
With so much at their fingertips, visitors find plenty of fun to suit their tastes and rhythms.
From Diners and Delis to Steak and Seafood Houses
Although you'll find great places to eat throughout the city, two major areas—Downtown and Santana Row—make
great neighborhoods for strolling, and finding exactly what you're in the mood for: cheap eats in a funky setting, casually
sleek venues, or fine dining to wow a date or an investor.
Downtown
A San Jose institution since 1958, Paolo's has award-winning Italian cuisine in an intimate atmosphere. The recently
remodeled Original Joe's Italian restaurant, bar, and lunch counter is two years older, and beloved especially for
steaks and veal. You can find terrific seafood at the upscale McCormick & Schmick's, or the bright and airy Scott's
Seafood Grill & Bar. Tiny Good Kharma Vegan Deli offers a fresh change of pace, but for that sports bar fix, it's
San Jose Bar & Grill—all only a few minutes walking distance from downtown hotels and the convention center.
In north downtown is San Pedro's Square, where business and upscale diners head to 71 St. Peter Mediterranean
Grill, bistro, and wine bar, or the new San Pedro Square Bistro & Wine Bar. The beautiful A.P. Stump's old-style
chophouse is sure to impress, in the historic Masson-Lefranc Building. The Square also has roomy restaurants with
uncomplicated, crowd-pleasing menus, for big groups or families with children: The Sonoma Chicken Coup—with
its spacious patio—and Peggy Sue's 50's-style diner offer budget-friendly options. Picasso's Grill is especially attractive
to large business groups.
Santana Row
The upscale retail, dining, and residential development Santana Row sports more than 30 places to eat, drink, or have
coffee. Jewel-toned Amber India's lounge ambience and terrific food make reservations a must, while The Left Bank
percolates with a lively French bistro flavor. Slip onto a leather banquette at Maggiano's Little Italy for family-style
classics atop red-checkered tablecloths. Twenty-somethings love the hip and upbeat Sino's modern Chinese cuisine, by
Chris Yeo, chef and owner of Straits Cafè, which fuses Singaporean and Southeast Asian cuisines. Need more fish in
your diet? Try no-frills Yankee Pier seafood house, or elegantly modern Citrus' seafood at the chic Hotel Valencia.
In addition to Indian, American, and continental favorites, San Jose dining is flush with Latin, Spanish, and Asian
flavors.
Spanish and Mexican Flair
San Jose attracts innovative and talented chefs from Latin and Spanish kitchens worldwide. Downtown, there's authentic
Spanish Picasso's Tapas on West Santa Clara, and the fusion of Caribbean and South and Central American
cuisines at fancy new Azucar Latin Bistro and Mojito Bar. La Victoria Taqueria near San Jose State is informal
and welcoming with Mexican comfort food, topped off with their famous orange sauce. Tres Gringos Baja Cantina
boasts off-the-clock, beach-themed fun, with Santana Row's answer to the cantina being the 1900's-style Consuelo
Mexican Bistro.
Asian Influence
San Jose's large Vietnamese population, the largest outside Vietnam, translates into many authentic Vietnamese restaurants,
such as friendly Khanh's near Santana Row, and those along Tully and Story Roads. One of America's few
Japantowns runs along East Jackson Street, where Gombei dishes out noodles and home cooking, and little Kaita expertly
cooks cutlets and slices sushi. Fly your taste buds further east for Asian-influenced Hawaiian food and cocktails
at Jackson Street's Hukilau Aloha Spirit. Blowfish Sushi at Santana Row displays beautiful people eating beautiful
fish, and further south sits Krungthai, venerated for two-decades, now at two locations on Winchester Boulevard.
Downtown, diners love decorative, low-key House of Siam, and the upbeat, suave E&O Trading Company Southeast
Asian grill.
"Wow" Food
With San Jose grown so epicurean, why drive elsewhere for a four-star dinner or to celebrate special occasions? San
Jose's downtown hotels feature fine foods in gorgeous surroundings. The stately Italian Il Fornaio, in the historic
Sainte Claire Hotel, or the Fairmont's old-New-York-style bar and restaurant Grill on the Alley offer classic hotel dining—
as does elegant, high-ceilinged La Pastaia in the Hotel De Anza. Modern twists on the classics are on the menu
at chef Michael Mina's Arcadia Modern American Steakhouse, in the Marriott, and Santana Row's Hotel Valencia
features fine food in modern rooms at Citrus.
Plenty of standalone restaurants downtown have fine reputations, such as Morton's The Steakhouse upscale steak
and seafood restaurant; award-winning Emile's, dishing out European-influenced California cuisine atop white linen
since 1973; and the less formal, though still top-of-the-line, Hawg's Seafood.
Wine Tasting
Of course, wine tasting is one of California's favorite recreations, and wine bars serving flights of wines for tasting and
food pairings with wine have sprung up all over: Santana Row's Vintage Wine Bar pours over 25 wines by the glass,
and the nearby Vintage Wine Merchants offers tastings, premium bottles, and accessories for sale. Cielo rooftop
wine bar highlights tastings with lovely Santa Cruz mountain views from the Hotel Valencia; Village California Bistro
and Wine Bar serves flights, half-bottles, and bottles. Downtown, J. Lohr winery opened its own tasting room, and
A Perfect Finish dessert and wine bar has special Thursdays tastings. In the neighboring town of Campbell is Pinder
Winery's tasting room. Over in Los Gatos, you'll find Testarossa Vineyards Tasting & Gift Shop, and Backyard
Wineries—a tasting and retail shop for the vineyards Clos La Chance, as well as Fleming Jenkins, co-owned by
world-famous figure skating champion, Peggy Fleming.
Or, go to the source: many wineries themselves are within a forty-minute drive of downtown San Jose. Sit atop a
mountain, sipping wine as coastal breezes ruffle your hair at Ridge Vineyards in Cupertino. Literally just down the
road, taste fine wine in the 1896-vintage red brick building of Picchetti. Picnic at internationally acclaimed David
Bruce in the hills of Los Gatos. You could just putter around Saratoga, and visit mountainside Savannah-Chanelle,
the new tasting room for Cinnabar (named for the local mercury ore), and Cooper-Garrod. Further up the Santa
Cruz range sits Thomas Fogarty of Woodside.
Nightlife
When the sun drops below the mountains and fresh, cool breezes stir, San Jose doesn't retire for the night. Summer
was made for free outdoor movies, and Cinema St. James rolls the reels Fridays at dusk in St. James Park; Cinema
San Pedro lights up Wednesday nights in San Pedro Square. Visual arts take center stage in up-and-coming SoFA,
the South of First Area, which hosts South First Friday each month except July, from "8 'til late." Galleries, shops, and
the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles stay open for shoppers and browsers, as does KALEID, an artists coop
in temporary quarters at the Fourth Street Garage. The showcase for Latin art is MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y
Cultura Latina Americana) contemporary arts space on South First.
Microbrews, Pubs, and Laughs
Sometimes you just want to kick back with a beer, and that's when you head to San Pedro's Square for O'Flaherty's
Irish Pub with live Irish music; or the Tied House brewpub for its own beers and food. Downtown, Gordon Biersch
pulls its own brews to the sounds of swing and other live music in the Courtyard. The Britannia Arms Pub is a cozy
British pub inside and a beer garden outside, but the rowdier crowds and bar-top dancers favor Mission Ale House.
Over in Santana Row, Rosie McCann's Irish Pub offers a friendly, uptown Ireland vibe. And if it's German beer you're
after, Harry's Hofbrau in west San Jose serves it up with cafeteria-style food.
Need a laugh at the end of the day? Try a conventional comedy club like the Improv downtown or nearby Comedy
Sportz, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary of performing in the style of "Whose Line is it Anyway?", a famous
television improvisational show featuring audience participation. Or, depending on your sense of humor and mood,
there's laughs to be found at Japantown's 7 Bamboo, voted San Jose's best karaoke.
The Night Comes Alive with Music
Stylin' evenings were made for the Montgomery Hotel's Paragon Restaurant and Bar, for upscale casual dining, live
jazz, and even bocce ball. But perhaps the best known live jazz venue in San Jose is the sophisticated Hedley Club
at Hotel De Anza.
Every September, San Jose celebrates its Mexican heritage during the San José International Mariachi Festival,
through music, dance, food, and shopping. For an even smaller entrance fee—nada—the Music in the Park concert
series plays great R&B, alternative, reggae, rock, and jazz on Thursday evenings from July to September at the Plaza
de Cesar Chavez. In June, visit Music in the Other Park in St. James Park on Thursdays.
Even Later Nights
If you head out when others are heading home, or just aren't ready to call it a night, San Jose still hops after 10 pm.
The slick black and red Vbar in Santana Row's Hotel Valencia is comparable to downtown's ironically named Dive Bar,
and Paragon lounge, with DJ-spun music. Loft Bar and Bistro offers dancing, rooftop dining, and ultra-lounging.
The Blank Club showcases local punk and national performers, or even you—if you drop in for Monday's Union
Jack Off Brit pop Karaoke. Non-dancers and non-singers sink, Zen-like, into the plush suede booths of new Koji Sake
Lounge or are drawn to the lava lamps of nearby VooDoo Lounge to sip themed cocktails and martinis. Drawn by
the pulsing music on the dance floor, VooDoo loungers can also dance the night away.
Those born to dance can easily find their groove—from downtown's cosmo Fahrenheit Ultra Lounge and the tony
Vault (an old savings and loan with dark wood, and grand staircase), to the live music and DJs of Johnny V's and
the raucous Smoke Tiki Lounge near San Pedro Square, advertising live bands, DJs, and cleavage. Latin and salsa
dancers love Miami Beach Club, but for sheer size you can't beat ViVid South Beach-style night club.
Further south, in SoFA, Hunters extends its franchise as the latest gay dance club, and the swanky and popular Agenda
Lounge on South First Street has DJs and live jazz, and its new neighbor Motif Restaurant & Nightclub features
Asian fusion fare and everything from electronica to hip hop; but this is only a fraction of the fun San Jose offers to
the adventurous visitor. Join the pool sharks circling at casual South First Billiards and Elixir Ultra Lounge, or even
just take in a movie in one of the city's deluxe theaters. When other towns are rolling up their sidewalks at 5 o'clock,
San Jose is just rolling up its sleeves. Come rediscover the night in San Jose.
About The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB)
The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB) mission is to enhance the image and economic well being of San
Jose by marketing San Jose as a globally recognized destination. The SJCVB offers visitors, meeting planners, and
tour operators, a range of services to ensure a successful event and fun visit to San Jose. For a copy of the Official
Visitors Guide, please contact the SJCVB at 1.800.SAN.JOSE (1.800.726.5673) or visit http://www.sanjose.org.
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