Where are the bars?? (San Jose, San Francisco: amusement park, quality of life, to live in)

[Machiavelli999]

So I have lived in San Jose for a few months now and that I have really settled in here, I just have one question. Where do people go and hang out?? Downtown San Jose and Santana Row are the only two places I know of. And no offense to the area but one is kinda ghetto and sh*tty while the other is too overpriced.

What are the other places that people go to hang out? Any suggestions?

[Machiavelli999]

And also I just want to add, I moved here from Cleveland, OH and obviously its a different place and culture. But I find it so odd that in Cleveland, OH (a city 1/4 size of San Jose) there are bars (sports bars, dive bars, hole in the walls, bar & grills) on almost every other corner and there are literally NONE in South San Jose and very few anywhere else.

I guess it must be the culture and I hope this doesn't come off as racist but I guess the Hispanic and Asian populations just don't really take to bars, but it just seems really really odd to me.

[bigdumbgod]

There are plenty downtown, from dive to sophisticated. Caravan and Cinabar are probably the oldest and diviest, and most locally authentic IMO.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli999

But I find it so odd that in Cleveland, OH (a city 1/4 size of San Jose) there are bars (sports bars, dive bars, hole in the walls, bar & grills) on almost every other corner and there are literally NONE in South San Jose and very few anywhere else.

Who would want to live in a place with bars on every other corner . It really doesn't add much to the quality of life.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli999

And also I just want to add, I moved here from Cleveland, OH and obviously its a different place and culture. But I find it so odd that in Cleveland, OH (a city 1/4 size of San Jose) there are bars (sports bars, dive bars, hole in the walls, bar & grills) on almost every other corner and there are literally NONE in South San Jose and very few anywhere else.

Most people here consider it to be a plus, that there is not a bar on every corner. Anyways go to yelp.com and search for "bars" in "San Jose". You will find hundreds to choose from, including all of the types you mentioned. Just check the sub-category for it.

[calisnuffy]

yelp.com and punch in bars, there are plenty fun places on the Peninsula and in the SB. Last call in SJ is weak tho.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by calisnuffy

Last call in SJ is weak tho.

It's the same across the state...

[gone down south]

The whole Bay Area in general isn't really a bar culture kind of place like you'd find on the East Coast or in the Midwest. There's a decent selection of 'shot and a beer' places in San Francisco, but you're going to have to look pretty hard to find one in San Jose.

signed,
Missing Kellians Tavern, 16th and Spring Garden, Philadelphia PA.

[humboldtrat]

If you don't mind driving to Sunnyvale - World Famous Brass Rail Silicon Valley Live Adult Dance Club

[chrisnyce]

Castro St. in Mountain View has alot of good places to go for happy hour. Just park and walk. There's plenty to do. I agree with you on D.T. - ghetto and unsophisticated... and Santana Row is corny and amusement park like.