Top Bars and Clubs to Experience San Jose Best Nightlife

We know that most folks are always looking forward to the end of the day, especially when it’s Friday. You know what that means – it’s time to meet up with friends and go to a favorite bar, kick back, relax, and share a drink or two with friends.

When you come to San Jose, there are new places to drink where your ideal beer is frosty, the wine bar has rare-to-find bottles, the cocktails come in different flavors, and the ice is nicer. The options are endless but you will surely have a great time as the night gets old.

Here are the best spots where you can find a meticulously prepared cocktail or a locally brewed drink, great wine, and some cool music to enjoy.

While at San Jose, there’s no better way to have a fun happy hour than with a GiftYa virtual gift card. It’s the easiest and most convenient way to enjoy an authentic experience when you go out and you don’t have to worry about forgetting it at home. Don’t forget to add a personal message to your gift card before sending it.

Haberdasher

43 W San Salvador St, San Jose, CA 95113 haberdashersj.com

Below-ground bar featuring velvety banquettes that serves signature cocktails!

Whether you’re into cold beer, unique cocktails, or delicious eats, Haberdasher definitely brings that refreshing feeling to you. It’s the new and sophisticated incarnation of the subterranean speakeasy, Single barrel.

Keeping lowkey, this bar is an underground powerhouse that’s only marked by the silhouette of a bowler hat and tie outside. Here, they serve only the best craft cocktails in an intimate, basement atmosphere. While it started as just a draft cocktail spot, it has added a bar station, and now accepts reservations for tables – a wise move to help keep the drinks flowing faster and the line moving quickly too.

They also have a dozen selections of beers and whiskeys on the flight. If you’re looking for a chill and cool spot to relax and have some of the best cocktails in town with friends, Haberdasher is the best place to be. The plush and comfortable couches as well as the dim light add to the modern speakeasy vibes to make this place among the favorite chill spot in town.

55 - Fifty-Five South

55 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113 the55south.com

Cool, bustling spot that serves craft beer, creative cocktails, and live entertainment!

Once you walk through the doors of 55 South, you will be greeted by the nice décor with live music and big screen TVs all around the bar. Representing what can be one of the more crowded spots in the region, this upscale lounge serves exceptional handcrafted cocktails and the largest whisky selections in the Bay Area. You will also find half a dozen beers on tap, enough to stratify any palate.

The vibe here is super chilled and very welcoming. Specifically, you will love being here during happy hour moments to enjoy unique selections on the menu included delicious takes such as burgers, mac and cheese, and even entrée-style meals like chicken marsala. Also, be sure to catch French toast kebabs and bottomless mimosas on Sundays.

If you’re in the mood for some wine, that’s not an issue here. The staff will help you get the right selection.

Five Points

‍169 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113 fivepointssj.com

Head to happy hour for signature cocktails and fancy old-school drinks at this dimly lit 19th century-style bar!

Happy hour at Five Points feels like you’ve slowed everything down and taken time to enjoy your drink in the company of friends or partners. This dark, wood-paneled cocktail bar evokes a historic NYC vibe and honors the culture and tradition of old-school saloons in one of the most notorious neighborhoods of all time. It is actually named for the notorious, gang-infested Five Points neighborhood back in 19th-century in Manhattan.

Here, you will find only hand-crafted cocktails named for real gangsters, places, and figures of the era. They also serve whiskey flights, spirits, as well as signature wines. If you come in hungry, they have plenty of delicious fare for dinner to ensure you are full before you start enjoying your favorite beer or whiskey.

So, if you’re in and around San Jose and want to pop in and have a great time while sipping on the best cocktails in town, then Five Points won’t disappoint.

Trials Pub

265 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113 trialspub.com

British bar with a laid-back vibe offering draft beers and a full-blown menu of bar bites!

When folks in San Jose are ready for happy hour, they know they want only the best selection especially when it comes to beer choice. The good news is that Trials Pub has a couple of craft beers selection to satisfy you and your group and carry some home if you want to.

There’s a subtle charm about the spot – the wide selection of wine, beer, and spirits, as well as the chill atmosphere and cool music to ensure you have as much fun as possible when you come here.

Orders Britain-themed dishes and brews including fish and chips as well as bangers and mash to enjoy. You can have your brew in bottles, on tap, or even order scotch along with your favorite bite from savory appetizers to sandwiches to side orders, and plenty of other dinner options to enjoy.

The atmosphere is classy with outdoor seating with some board games to ensure you have the best time here!

Paper Plane

72 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113 paperplanesj.com

Chilled Spot with a long bar that serves creative and classic cocktails and snacks!

If you like a chill and relaxed happy hour, then Paper Plane is the place to be. This classy cocktail bar with a long bar and a specious brick setting serves the city’s best cocktails. The vibe here is bustling but chill, with barrel-aged cocktails on tap as well as the extensive floor-to-ceiling spirit shelf for customers to enjoy.

When you come here, try out one of their creative cocktails such as the Magic Island, the Maize Runner, or the Siempre Papi made with Wheatley Vodka, grand poppy, Cocchi rosa, grapefruit, sommariva prosecco, and lime.

Alongside their amazing collection of craft cocktails, they also serve signature wine and craft beer with their drink menu being offered on rotation. The bartenders are super friendly and know how to put a great craft cocktail together. If you want something to eat, they have comfort foods such as braised brisket toast, roasted baby carrots, chicken sandwiches, and of course Jar O’ Pickles – a variety of fresh vegetables selected from the best local farms, quickly pickled and served up to your satisfaction.

Whether you are here for a casual catch-up or swanky date, Paper Plane is a great place to relax and have as much fun as possible.

O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub

25 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110 oflahertyspub.com

A laid-back bar where you can get traditional comfort food along with a wide selection of draft beers!

With about 52 brews on the tap that change weekly, O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub offers a charming atmosphere with a traditional Irish fare. Located in the historic San Pedro Square, this laidback pub is the place to enjoy some comfort food including fish and chips, swing down one of their beers on tap, and enjoy an Irish whisky.

Not in the mood for beer or whisky, they also serve signature cocktails that you can enjoy with your favorite traditional comfort food. Come here during weekends and enjoy delicious brunch options including a power breakfast, avocado toast, fresh fruit and yogurt, eggs benedict, smoked brisket hash, and the grass-fed burger that comes with white cheddar, brioche bun, pickles plus all the fixings such as fried egg, avocado, sauteed mushrooms, and some smoked bacon.

Don’t forget to try out their appetizers, pizzas, salads, and entrees – all inspired by the California cuisine and Irish fare!

ISO Beers

75 E Santa Clara St #120, San Jose isobeers.com

Head to happy hour at this over-21-beer bar and bottle shop that features plenty of brews on the tap!

If you’re in the mood for something a little different for happy hour, why not stop by the ISO Beers on Santa Clara street? Here, happy hour is sacred with plenty of options to enjoy including 40 taps that comprise a handful of craft beers to-go and a couple of whisky bottles on the selection.

The outdoor patio is well shaded to ensure you get a chilled and relaxed environment that is not too warm or too cold while you enjoy your favorite beer. It’s charming with an open-air courtyard with lots of stone benches and tables, making it a great hangout to unwind and have some fun with some friends.

Locals in San Jose love to work hard and play hard too – which explains why they observe happy hour like a ritual on any day. Whether you want to go out to some laid-back San Jose pubs to enjoy the night or dine in an upscale bar with live music, you will surely find a new favorite spot in this city. So, which are your favorite venues to enjoy innovative craft beers and delicious food in San Jose? Let us know in the comments!