Best Forgotten Category
(Rock Club)

Some journalists are perfectionists with numbers, surveys and polls. That’s not us. If we were statisticians we’d be Nate Silver. While we may not really understand the electoral college, we know enough about Silicon Valley to realize we should have let readers vote on the best rock & roll club. There are plenty of great places to hear live music, but we’re quite partial to The Ritz. Started by Blank Club founder Corey O’Brien, the year-old SoFA club has been killing it—most recently hosting some rad shows, including K.Flay, Drive Like Jehu, Melvins, DJ QBert and more. (NV)

Best Way to Troll Willow Glen

Ask somebody in Willow Glen what they think of the “road diet” and take cover. Lincoln Avenue’s switch from four lanes to three—the center lane is for left turns—was designed to study traffic patterns and make the San Jose thoroughfare more walkable, but it’s set off a Hatfield-McCoy dispute amongst neighbors and businesses, pitting friends and family against one another as they spar with anecdotal accounts of how things used to be. (JK)

Best Antique Shop Serving Caviar

It’s a good time to be a maturing hipster in San Jose. The SoFA District is taking off, there are plenty of craft cocktail choices downtown and now there’s Deluxe. This communal style “Eatery and Drinkery” serves a carefully curated menu of hangover-killers at fair prices. Even the decadent, Archer-inspired “Eggs Woodhouse,” which features truffles, saffron and caviar, won’t break the bank. And during the particularly busy Sunday brunch hour, patrons can pass the time with some window shopping—most of the vintage decor is on consignment from Thrift City. (NV)

Best Streetwalkers

When San Jose blocked off six miles of roadways for the inaugural Viva CalleSJ last year, it was something of a social experiment. Could a city so sprawling and car-dependent get enough people to explore the streets by foot, bike or board? Apparently, yes. Some 35,000 people flocked to the peripatetic festival to cycle, skate, walk or hula-hoop their way from Little Saigon to St. James Park in downtown. Expect a redux this fall. (JW)

Best New Crosswalk

Yes, we’re actually giving a crosswalk a Best Of—but it’s a pretty sweet crosswalk. The South Bay’s first rainbow-striped walkway intersects The Alameda in front of the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ Community Center in San Jose. City officials and DeFrank center staff coordinated on the project. What people may take for granted is the rainbow stripes are straight directionally correct on both sides to make sure neighborhood traffic flows with pride. (JK)

Best Artistic Power Couple

Young, artistically minded and incredibly ambitious, Chris Morrish and Erin Salazar are the kind of couple you’d expect to live in San Francisco. Fortunately, they prefer the speed of life in San Jose, and are doing their damndest to improve the community, one creative project at a time. They have worked to fund massive murals all over downtown through their non-profit, The Exhibition District. And they’ve teamed with Drew Clark, founder of The Commons, to produce unique events in underutilized common spaces—including an open-air “Sadie Hawkins Swing Social,” with a big band and swing dancing lessons; and a Black Friday variety show, featuring a heavy metal operetta and live music by San Jose dark folk duo Oddly Even. (NV)

Best Clothing Boutique-Gallery Mashup

New digs, same attitude. Taking over the West San Carlos Street building that was formerly home to Black Cat Collective, clothing boutique Black & Brown has joined forces with Seeing Things Gallery to fill both floors with art and style and all things in between. 751 W San Carlos St, San Jose. (JK)

Best Sushi Despot

At Sawa Sushi, the chef decides what customers eat. Never try to order. Never ask for a California roll, a side of soup or extra rice. Go heavy-handed on the soy sauce and risk getting kicked out. There’s no menu. Prices are not discussed but discovered. One would think that kind of intimidation would scare people off from a forgettable-looking neon-signed blip in a Sunnyvale strip mall. But no. Chef Steve Sawa’s commanding style has earned him Michelin stars, international acclaim and legions of patrons moneyed enough to take the tongue lashing. 1042 El Camino Real, Sunnyvale. (JW)

Best $5 Feast

Sure, the two-item combos run for about $8, but Filipino fare is rich enough to fill up on a fiver. Valerio’s City Bakery, a California chainlet with a shop in San Jose’s Berryessa neighborhood, serves fresh-from-the-oven beef and chicken empanadas, banana-jackfruit eggrolls (turon), sweet-cream Spanish rolls, purple yam-filled pan de ube and its signature pan de sal. Pastries run for cents on the dollar. For something more substantial, spring another few bucks on an entree, which varies by the day but often includes sweet-salty adobo, blood-blackened diniguan and heaps of noodles. The shop is a point-and-eat joint—a turo-turo, Tagalog for “point-point”—so the menu’s on display, ready to serve. 2518 Berryessa Rd, San Jose. (JW)

Best Honey Connect

Beekeeping is a labor of love—and loss. Keeping alive the little critters that make our ecosystem hum is hard work and an inexact science, but the Santa Clara Valley Beekeepers Guild is here to help. Hundreds of members meet the first Monday of every month at Dwell Christian Church in San Jose to share tips with everyone from experts to rookies building their first hive. Find out more at beeguild.org. (JK)

Best Coffee for a Cause

At Kartma Street Cafe, the lattes come with a shot of good karma. The sidewalk java cart stationed at San Jose’s Market and Santa Clara streets employs homeless baristas for $15-plus an hour. Patrons get custom blends from locally owned Chromatic Coffee, while the folks running the place get a hand up out of poverty. (JW)

Best Shop on the Wild Side

David Caranza and his partner, the late Tony DaCosta, began making leather gear in their San Jose garage before moving the venture to a nook over a bar in the late ’80s. They started small, shilling handmade C&B toys, wristbands, wallets and a single cow-hide harness out of the one-room shop. Yet from those humble beginnings came Leather Masters, the South Bay’s preeminent purveyor of kink wear. Originally geared toward gay men, the store has since broadened its appeal to every shade of L-G-B-and-T as well as straights, vanillas, doms and slaves, steampunks, cosplayers and goths. 969 Park Ave, San Jose. (JW)

Best Comeback

Little Portugal had a rough go of it last year. Its landmark restaurant, Sousa’s, closed after 33 years. The Valley Transportation Authority’s botched construction on a new express bus line tore up Alum Rock Avenue, choking off traffic to mom-and-pop shops. But the neighborhood rallied. A grassroots effort pressured the VTA to get its act together and cough up cash to make up for lost customers. The same group of locals also launched a “Shop Alum Rock” campaign and formed a business association to promote the historic ethnic enclave as a destination. Meanwhile, Adega breathed new life into the Sousa’s space with its modern take on Portuguese cuisine. (JW)

Best Locally-Reared Rap Weirdo

Antonio Williams, better known as Antwon, has been buzzed-about for years. Raised in the South Bay, the oddball emcee has been hailed by Pitchfork, Complex, SPIN and more. And yet, even as out-there rappers like Earl Sweatshirt have taken off, Antwon has remained in the shadows—always respected, but still lesser known. That may change with the release of Double Ecstasy. Now based in L.A., Antwon’s debut EP for the tastemaking Anticon label finds the former hardcore punk musician hitting on all cylinders. Produced by Lars Stalfors (HEALTH, White Lung), the five-song set is sharp and focused, highlighting everything we love about Antwon: his Biggie-esque flow, his alternative

Editors’ picks written by Jennifer Wadsworth, Josh Koehn and Nick Veronin.

Silicon Valley’s chatter about sending a human to Mars reached a fevered pitch in 2015 with the cinematic release of Andy Weir’s The Martian. The same year, another rocket-shaped innovation took the valley by storm when it landed on Palo Alto’s University Avenue. We are talking, of course, about the sushi burrito.

The crunchy, high-protein and cleverly-branded Sushirrito fused two dominant California cultures with food tech to create a lunchtime phenomenon. Sidewalks were roped off and cut into concrete turf traditionally reserved for people camping out for a just-released iPhone.

We expect these kinds of changes in a region that put supercomputers in our pockets and brought waffles to our toasters. “Eggo”—originally marketed under the clunky portmanteau “Froffle”—was the Tesla of the midcentury, completely disrupting the waffle iron industry.

We’ve been covering these seismic shifts in consumer behavior for three decades now. We’ve seen white tablecloths give way to communal dining and wine coolers evolve to flavored Belgian-style ales.

Metro pioneered the Best of Silicon Valley, which began as the Best of Santa Clara Valley in 1986. It’s the longest continuously running guide to local discovery in this strategically important part of the world.

We’re proud to recognize the hard working people, businesses and amenities that improve our collective well-being. Our “Best Of” began in the early days with staff-selected “bests,” later crowdsourcing readers with a mail-in ballot. Now it’s an online survey. We are continually impressed by our savvy readers’ selections, and occasionally disappointed, but more often than not they’re spot-on. They cover a lot of ground, from Beltramo’s Wines and Spirits in Menlo Park to the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Popular favorites like Opa! are more likely to beat one-percenter hangouts like Evvia in the Greek restaurant category. That’s the nature of a reader-driven system.

This year, we added the Gold Awards, which recognize standouts who’ve exhibited enduring appeal in “Best Of” issues over the past three decades.

It’s hard to believe we’re still at this 30 years on, but our mission of finding the valley’s best things and sharing the results is a privilege we’re humbled to accept.—Dan Pulcrano

Best Culinary Fusion

Sushirito arrived in Palo Alto last year, becoming the food phenomenon of the year

Best New Craft Venue

Relish Gastrolounge in Saratoga boasts 24 craft brews on tap, 20 wines by the glass, a communal table and a chef’s menu right along the valley’s edge.

Best Place to Buy a Trampoline

Santa Clara’s Backyard Factory sells only Springfree trampolines in a variety of sizes and configurations, along with swing sets and play houses.

Best Upholsterer

Aby’s Custom Upholstery on Monterey Rd. can pretty much handle any custom job a customer can dream up. We know this because we have.

Best Poke Bowl

We’ve made the rounds of the valley’s raw fish hot spots and Hawaiian Poke Bowl consistently offers the tastiest cubed tuna. There’s an equally well executed tofu option as well.

Best Spa Getaway

The Sense Spa at CordeValle resort in San Martin provides the full range of luxe treatments in a gorgeous setting. With a pool, restaurant, 18-hole golf course, hotel and winery, it’s a way to get far away from the valley in just a half-hour drive.

Best Portugese Cafe

Little Portugal’s Bacalhau Grill is tucked away in the back of Trade Rite Market on Alum RockAvenue  and offers an authentic menu of Portuguese dishes, along with vinho tinto or vinho verde by the glass.

Best Sourdough Sandwiches

Freshly Baked Eatery on Third Street in downtown San Jose creates classic sandwiches on warm, oven-fresh sourdough bread that regulars swear by.

Best Gag Shop

The One Stop Fun Shop at the San Jose Flea Market has the full range of gag items, from whoopee cushions to rattlesnake eggs and fake vomit.

Best Urinal

The Epiphany boutique hotel in Palo Alto offers a blue and gold urinal with a Cal Bears logo for the enjoyment of Stanford boosters.

Best Car Detail

The mini detail at AJ’s Auto Detailing near the airport is a great value and requires no appointment.

Rosicrucian Museum

The book of Ecclesiastes notes that there is nothing new under the sun. Nowhere is this kernel of wisdom thrown into sharper relief than at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, home to the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts West of the Mississippi. “The strength of our collection lies in the items that the ancient Egyptian people used in their everyday lives,” says Julie Scott, the Rosicrucian’s director. A wedding ring, a marriage contract and an ancient hair weave are among the various pieces that confirm the age-old adage: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Stanford Theatre

Lights. Camera. Action. When it comes to taking in a truly great film, the small screen just doesn’t cut it. Bogart, Hepburn, Brando and Orson Welles: these giants of Hollywood’s Golden Age deserve to be seen in all their original glory on the silver screen. And for going on 30 years, the Stanford Theatre has kept that tradition alive. They even have a keyboardist manning the house Wurlitzer before and after 7:30pm showings.

Montalvo Arts Center

Erected by former San Francisco mayor James Phelan in 1914, the mansion and expansive grounds of Villa Montalvo have since become a park and cultural center. Today it plays host to concerts, creative summits and artistic workshops—including the annual OneBeat fellowship seminar. “I think we’ve stood the test of time because our offerings, our programs and our park-like property are really unique,” says Kelly Hudson, managing director of Montalvo. “There aren’t many places in Silicon Valley like this.”

Shoreline Amphitheatre

A partnership between Bill Graham and the city of Mountain View, Shoreline Amphitheatre has been hosting concerts since 1986. The venue has long-running relationships with some of the Bay Area’s biggest musical forces—including Neil Young, the Grateful Dead and Live 105. Fun fact: Shoreline was built on top of a former landfill, and during its first season of operation numerous cigarette lighter-sparked, methane-fueled fires were documented.

KFJC

College has always been a place to experiment, and that is especially true at Foothill College’s KFJC. The station, which broadcasts at 89.7 FM, has been a launchpad for radio careers while simultaneously helping listeners discover new music. It’s that chance for discovery that draws people to KFJC, according to Eric Johnson, the station’s general manager. But people are also drawn by KFJC’s crazy antics, like in 1983 when the station dedicated three days to playing 823 versions of the iconic rock ‘n roll tune “Louie Louie.”

Camera Cinemas

In an age where film fans can see movies just about anywhere—from national multiplex chains on down to their smartphones—Jack NyBlom, president of Camera Cinemas, says that his three independent South Bay theaters have an incredibly loyal customer base. “I think it’s because we are community oriented,” he says, explaining that Camera Cinemas work hard to engage their Silicon Valley clientele. That means supporting local film festivals, including Cinequest, and bringing small indie films to town, even if they don’t turn a profit. “We just like to see movies on a big screen with an audience.”

California Theatre

They don’t build ’em like they used to. The California Theatre is proof positive of that. The opulent hall features a grand foyer, a majestic gallery and impressive courtyard—not to mention its awe-inspiring 1,100-seat auditorium. First opened in 1927, The California originally showed films and touring vaudeville acts. In 1974 it was shuttered and remained closed for three decades until being immaculately restored and reopened in 2004.

Best Art Gallery

SJ Museum of Art

110 S Market St, San Jose

Studio Bongiorno

500 Lincoln St, Santa Clara

BRUNI Gallery

1171 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Best Holiday Celebration

Christmas in the Park

Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park, San Jose

Fantasy of Lights

Vasona Lake County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos

Oktoberfest, Campbell

Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Film Festival

Cinequest

cinequest.org

San Jose Short Film Festival

sjsff.com

Latino Film Festival

sflatinofilmfestival.com

Best Small/Quirky Museum

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

1660 Park Ave, San Jose

Hakone Gardens

21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga

Computer History Museum

1401 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View

Best Dance Company

Ballet San Jose

40 N First St, San Jose

Dance Attack

14110 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos

Los Gatos Ballet

630 University Ave, Los Gatos

Best Small Theater Company

City Lights

529 S Second St, San Jose

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose

1401 Parkmoor Ave, San Jose

San Jose Youth Shakespeare

youthshakes.org

Best Theater Company

San Jose Stage Company

90 S First St, San Jose

Broadway San Jose

255 S Almaden Blvd, San Jose

Children’s Musical Theater San Jose

1401 Parkmoor Ave, San Jose

Original Joe’s

In 1956, Louis, Babe, Otto and Nino brought a taste of San Francisco Italian to San Jose—literally, they imported French bread on Greyhound busses for the first two years. Eventually, they found a more convenient baker, but they’ve changed little else, sticking with their Godfather set interior and beyond-ample portions of throwback dinner specials like braised short ribs, osso bucco and duck breast in a cherry port reduction. Legend has it that one late night, a customer stumbled in and ordered a spinach omelette but wanted something more substantial. So the chef tossed in a handful of leftover hamburger and accidentally invented their fabled, hangover-curing Joe’s Special.

Bill’s

The Zafiris family recognized a dearth in quality brunch joints in San Jose, so they founded this local chain 30 years ago in Willow Glen. They quintessential Sunday morning spot took favorites from their biological family, like Greek Lemon Soup, and their staff family, like Chilaquiles, and combined them for a lip-smacking spin on traditional breakfast. Bill’s serves Eggs Benedict with pork carnitas, smoked salmon or crab cakes and before-noon booze like Mexican coffee spiked with tequila, Kahlua and whipped cream.

Flames

A couple decades ago, three brothers—Louie, Nick and Gus—moved from Greece to Los Gatos with the idea of serving American/Greek/Italian grub in a family environment with the flare of Las Vegas. Multiple locations have popped up throughout the area, run by their cousins and uncles, while the downtown San Jose spot next to City Hall—now under outside ownership—has been home to many political deals brokered. Flames’ Sunday Fundays can also be credited with sparking the bottomless mimosa trend.

Peninsula Creamery

Before we perfected refrigeration, this Palo Alto landmark made daily dairy deliveries to the city’s schools, homes and business. Now that the milkman has gone the way of the Dodo, they’ve shifted to serving breakfast scrambles, old-fashioned metal-tin milkshakes and greasy sandwiches like the Philly Cheese, the Patty Melt and the Clogger, stuffed with pastrami, bacon and American cheese. They’re legally obligated to be retro as their lease stipulates they must maintain a 50’s style soda fountain.

Falafel’s Drive-In

In 1966, Anton and Zahie Nijmeh established this iconic Mediterranean fast food joint to dish out guilt-free, high quality indulgences. They introduced the area to falafel—delectable fried garbanzo and parsley balls—stuffed them in a pita and crafted their magnum opus by pairing it with a fresh banana shake in the Best Value combo. But they didn’t stop there, trusting their culinary skills to introduce other traditional dishes like Koubby, Tabbouleh or Baba Ganouj that contain singular flavors that reward the adventurous.

Bertucelli’s La Villa

In 1947, Anne and Frank Giacomelli founded La Villa. Years later, they sold to the Polestras, who owned it until Dave Bertucelli, after years of making his buying interest unsubtly known. He wore them down and took over with his wife, Patty, and kids, Trisha and Chris, who run it to this day. They’re famous for a lot of things, including their Sfogliatelle, a cream-filled, lobster-tail-shaped pastry with a shell of densely stacked pastry leaves and their handmade raviolis stuffed with your choice of meat, cheese, feta, chicken or lobster.

Los Gatos Coffee Company

Starbucks, Peet’s and other major brands roast their coffee dark to ensure consistency but sacrifice the subtler floral, nutty and fruity notes contained in lighter roasts. For connoisseurs, the Los Gatos Coffee Company knows how to lovingly toast their coffee to the point of perfected flavor, offering in-store and online shipments of nuanced blends from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific Islands. But for a real luxury, sample the quintessentially excellent Jamaican Blue Mountain Peaberry blend ($75 for 16 oz.) that holds peak flavor as it comes from the choicest 10 percent of beans in the world.

Buck’s of Woodside

You’d never guess from the looks of it, but this unassuming, pancake house-turned-full-fledged restaurant in Woodside is a Silicon Valley legend. Buck’s proximity to Sand Hill Road has made it the unlikely hub of some of the biggest deals in tech—the birth of Tesla, PayPal and Hotmail, to name a few. Perpetually wise-cracking proprietor Jamis MacNiven has a penchant for all things weird and wild, which comes through in the decor. For example, a Russian space suit or a narwhal tusk MacNiven claims is “on loan from the people of Iceland.”

Grill on the Alley

Located in the Fairmont Hotel, this steakhouse has been home to many a power lunch, with thick cuts and sharply coiffed bartenders hand-stirring martinis. Regulars fondly remember Helmut Hassy, the restaurant’s patriarchal Austrian waite, who spent so much time there he actually passed away during a shift. There’s now a special table with a plaque labeled “Helmut’s Court” and a large headshot of him smiling at his kid’s wedding. He was known to say everything started or originated in Austria—even Jesus.

Henry’s Hi-Life

Located in a quaint red two-story, this working-man’s meat house epitomizes what can be done with meat and potatoes. Each plate comes with a baked potato topped by a dollop of seasoned butter, and they serve a 20 oz porterhouse for ravenous carnivores, teriyaki steak for cravers of a tangy twist and the full rack of baby back ribs for finger-lickers fond of long-smoked goodness. Though they’ve got the cable packages for every major sport, they sit only two blocks away from the SAP Center, making Sharks games especially lit.

Pizza My Heart

Starting as a surf shack on Capitola Beach, this family-owned pizzeria chain reigns supreme in the South Bay. The Willow Glen restaurant features the “World’s Largest Wooden Surfboard,” good to ogle before plowing through their award winning “Big Sur,” which comes with pepperoni, sausage, portobellos and 40 (!) cloves of roasted garlic.

Chef Chu’s

After immigrating from China, chef Lawrence Chu opened up a humble restaurant that quickly became an in-the-know spot for famous folks ranging from a then-unknown Steve Jobs to the long-world-famous Serena Williams. The energetic culinary savant blends Taiwanese street food with more refined Szechuan and Peking influences into exceptionally balanced masterpieces. His specialties include flambeed quail, fresh Manila clams flash stir-fried in black bean sauce and Classic Peking Duck—customers must give four hours notice before ordering it.

La Victoria‘s Orange Sauce

The cultish condiment synonymous with South Bay taquerias was created in 1998, at the original La Victoria’s on East San Carlos in downtown San Jose. Marcelino Barrita experimented for months to create a sauce outside the traditional red or green box, when he hit on an orange-colored variety that tasted nothing like the fruit. The spicy concoction is a family secret that’s become so popular La Vic’s now has six locations. Marcelino’s son, Nicandro, says orders for bottles of orange sauce come in from across the country, and occasionally even overseas.

Mini Gourmet

Stepping into the Mini Gourmet feels like a time warp. The traditional American diner remains largely unchanged since it began dishing up pancake breakfasts, burger-and-fries lunches and pulling 24-hour Thursday-through-Saturday stints in 1971.

Steamer’s Grillhouse

For more than 35 years, Steamer’s Grillhouse has been a fixture in Los Gatos. Still operated by siblings Mark, Paul and Linda Matulich, its menu speaks to the quality of a family-owned operation whose members purchase the ingredients and watch the dishes go out of the kitchen. Much of the fish is purchased directly from boats that troll the Monterey Bay.

King Eggroll

Every King Eggroll hashery serves up dim sum, lunch combos and other variations of Chinese takeout. But, as the name suggests, its egg rolls are the main draw. A holiday tradition in the South Bay, King Eggroll’s namesake specialty comes with thin, crispy skin and juicy pork-carrot-and-cabbage stuffing. They’re addicting, so best order by the tray-full.

Krung Thai

Originally a husband-and-wife restaurant, Krung Thai split into two locations when the proprietors divorced. Thankfully, both spots kept to the same high standard. Each location boasts an expansive menu of Thai favorites and some lesser-known delicacies.

Pezzella’s Villa Napoli

As the region grew from ag to industrial to a self-styled technopolis called Silicon Valley, Pezzella’s Villa Napoli has stuck to the family’s classic Italian recipes of pizza, pasta and garlic-infused seafood. Since 1957, generations of Pezzellas turned the villa-inspired Sunnyvale restaurant into a beloved institution.

Schurra’s

Though Schurra’s has changed hands over the past century, The Alameda’s confectionery has kept the name and tradition of its founders. Brothers Albert and Justin Schurra brought their candy-crafting prowess from the Central Valley to Santa Clara Valley in 1912. Today, the quaint chocolatier is run by the Mundy family, who bought the place in 1983 and passed it on to their son, Brian, and his wife, Michelle. The two create all but a few gummy candies in the shop and make a point of using locally sourced chocolates and dried fruits and other ingredients.

Dolce Spazio

One of Silicon Valley’s premier gelaterias, Dolce Spazio scoops up gelato as chewy as taffy and silky as cream. When Mike Orlando opened the shop’s doors in 1982, he beat the gelato fad by more than a decade and introduced a sophisticated new palate to patrons who thought of ice cream in terms of just 31 flavors.

J. Lohr Winery

In the 1960s, South Dakota transplant Jerry Lohr became one of the first growers to tap the grape-growing potential of California’s Central Coast. The farmer-turned-viticulturist planted his first Monterey County vineyards in 1972. Two years later, he opened his San Jose winery: J. Lohr Vineyards. The winemaker’s headquarters lies within an ivy-covered building just off The Alameda, where patrons can enjoy a complimentary tasting or sign up for a range of classes.

Best Chef

Jeffery Stout, Orchard City Kitchen

1875 S Bascom Ave #190, Campbell

David Kinch, The Bywater

532 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Jim Stump, The Table

1110 Willow St, San Jose

Best New Restaurant

Black Sheep Brasserie

1202 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

South Winchester BBQ

1362 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Willard Hicks

280 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Restaurant (Culinary Excellence)

Alexander’s Steakhouse

10330 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino

Orchard City Kitchen

1875 S Bascom Ave #190, Campbell

Aldo’s

14109 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos

Best Dining Value

Aqui

Multiple locations

Agave Mexican Grill

17 S 4th St, San Jose

Sushi Confidential

247 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Small Restaurant

Henry’s Hi-Life  

301 W. St John St, San Jose

Brown Chicken Brown Cow

397 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Naglee Park Garage

505 E San Carlos St, San Jose

Best Family Restaurant

Capers

1710 W Campbell Ave, Campbell

Double D’s Sports Grille

354 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Aldo’s Ristorante & Bar

14109 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos

Best Romantic Restaurant

La Fondue

14550 Big Basin Way #3, San Jose

Alexander’s Steakhouse

10330 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino

La Foret

21747 Bertram Rd, San Jose

Best Restaurant Patio

Aqui Willow Glen

1145 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

San Pedro Square Market

87 N San Pedro St, San Jose

Opa! Campbell

276 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Best Late-Night Eats

Original Joe’s

301 S 1st St, San Jose

A Slice of New York

3443 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose

Taco Bravo

1950 S Bascom Ave, Campbell

Best French Restaurant

La Fondue

14550 Big Basin Way #3, Saratoga

Le Papillon

410 Saratoga Ave, San Jose

Black Sheep Brasserie

1202 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Best Latin American Restaurant

El Burro

1875 S Bascom Ave, Campbell

Case Lupe

2169 Winchester Blvd, Campbell

Cascal

400 Castro St, Mountain View

Best Cuban/Caribbean Restaurant

Habana Cuba

238 Race St, San Jose

La Bodeguita del Medio

463 California Ave, Palo Alto

Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant & Bar

642 Ramona St, Palo Alto

Best Cajun Restaurant

Poor House Bistro

91 S. Autumn St, San Jose

Lillie Mae’s House of Soul Food

1290 Coleman Ave, Santa Clara

Nola’s

535 Ramona St, Palo Alto

Best Italian Restaurant

Original Joe’s

301 S 1st St, San Jose

Maggiano’s

3055 Olin Ave, San Jose

Aldo’s

14109 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos

Best Mediterranean/Greek Restaurant

Opa!

1100 Lincoln Ave, San Jose
276 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Dio Deka

Hotel Los Gatos, 210 E Main St, Los Gatos

Athena Grill

1505 Space Park Dr, Santa Clara

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

Falafel Drive-In

2301 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose

Dishdash

190 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale

181 Ranch Dr, Milpitas

House of Falafel

19590 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

Best Steakhouse

Alexander’s Steakhouse

10330 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino

Forbes Mill Steakhouse

206 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Henry’s Hi-Life

301 W St John St, San Jose

Best Barbecue

Smoking Pig

1144 N 4th St, San Jose

Henry’s Hi-Life

301 W St John St, San Jose

Sam’s BBQ

1110 S Bascom Ave, San Jose

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Good Karma

37 S 1st St San Jose

Veggie Grill

Santana Row, 3055 Olin Ave, San Jose
565 San Antonio Rd, Mountain View

Falafel Bar

1600 Saratoga Ave, San Jose

Best Hawaiian

Hukilau

230 Jackson St, San Jose

Ohana Grill

43566 Christy St, Fremont

Hawaiian BBQ

6233 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose

Best Pho

House of Pho

5353 Almaden Expy, San Jose

1066 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Dac Phuc

198 W Santa Clara St, San Jose

Pho 69

321 S 1st St, San Jose

Best Pearl Teas

Quickly Tea Cafe

140 Paseo De San Antonio, San Jose

Boba Bar

310 S 3rd St, San Jose

Boba Pub

1576 Branham Ln, San Jose

Best Ramen

Orenchi Ramen

3540 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara

Kumako Ramen

211 Jackson St, San Jose

Konjoe Tei

387 S 1st St, San Jose

Best Vietnamese Restaurant

Khanh’s Restaurant

335 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose

House of Pho

5353 Almaden Expy, San Jose

Tour Eiffel

200 State St, Los Altos

Best Korean Restaurant

Burnt Rice

121 Curtner Ave #20, San Jose

Gooyi Gooyi

2331 El Camino Real, Santa Clara

Bon Chon Chicken

572 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Best Thai Restaurant

KrungThai  

642 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Blue Mango

San Jose Market Center, 635 Coleman Ave, San Jose

Banana Leaf

182 Ranch Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035

Best Seafood Restaurant

By-th’-Bucket Bar and Grill

4565 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara

Fish Market Restaurant

3775 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
1007 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose

Boiling Crab

71 Curtner Ave, San Jose
1631 E Capitol Expy, San Jose

Best Sushi

Sushi Confidential

247 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Cha Cha Sushi

547 W Capitol Expy, San Jose

Blowfish Sushi

355 Santana Row #1010, San Jose

Best Burger

Brown Chicken Brown Cow

397 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Burger Pit

1349 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose

St. John’s Bar & Grill

510 Lawrence Expy, Sunnyvale

Best Pizza (Independent)

A Slice of New York

3443 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose
1253 W El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Blue Line Pizza

Multiple locations

Pizza My Heart

Multiple locations

Best Deli/Sandwich Shop

La Villa

1319 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Los Gatos Meats & Smokehouse

575 University Ave, Los Gatos

Amato’s Cheese Steaks

2306 Almaden Rd, San Jose

Best Desserts

Dick’s Bakery

1593 Meridian Ave, San Jose

CREAM

49 S First St, San Jose

Icing On the Cake

50 W Main St, Los Gatos

Best Donuts

Stan’s Donut sHOP

2628 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara

Manley’s

1080 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Psycho Donuts

288 S Second St, San Jose
2006 Winchester Blvd, Campbell

Best Ice Cream/Gelato

Dolce Spazio

221 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Willow Glen Creamery

1100 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

CREAM

49 S 1st St, San Jose

Best Frozen Yogurt

Willow Glen Frozen Yogurt/Willow Glen Creamery

1100 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Yogurt & Love

33 E Main St, Los Gatos

Yogurtland

Multiple locations

Best Food Truck

Grilled Cheese Bandits

@CheeseBandits

Curry Up Now

@CurryUpNow

Sam’s Chowdermobile

@chowdermobile

Best Caterer

Parsley Sage Rosemary & Thyme

795 S Second St, San Jose

Gunther’s Restaurant and Catering

1601 Meridian Ave, San Jose

Sam’s BBQ

1110 S Bascom Ave, San Jose

Best Tea Room

Lisa’s Tea Treasures

Multiple locations

Satori Tea Company

14482 Big Basin Way, Saratoga

Tea Time

542 Ramona St, Palo Alto

Best Ethnic Market

Mi Pueblo Food Center

235 E Julian St, San Jose

International Food Bazaar

2052 Curtner Ave, San Jose

Mitsuwa Marketplace

675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose

Best Microbrewery

Gordon Biersch

33 E San Fernando St, San Jose

Rock Bottom

1875 S Bascom Ave #700, Campbell

Firehouse Grill

111 S Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale

Andy’s Pet Shop

Although no longer in its historic location, Andy’s has been providing pets and pet care to San Jose for half a century. What you may not realize is that Andy’s has a mission. “A lot of people still do not know, that every pet in the store—down to the fish—are rescued,” says owner Lissa Shoun. “But unlike the local animal shelter, we do not buy and sell animals.” Andy’s is perhaps best known to locals for their neon parrot sign, which has a unique history of its own. When the store was closed in 2010 for various reasons, the sign couldn’t stay. “I drove around with the sign in the back of my 1954 pickup truck for about two years,” Shoun says. Even when Andy’s reopened, there still wasn’t a place to put it, so the neon parrot stayed in her truck as a form of mobile advertisement—even if it destroyed her suspension.

Streetlight

What’s the most interesting thing about a local record store chain that began in 1971 selling stereo parts? “Maybe the fact that we still exist,” laughs Gary Christman, a 20-year employee of Streetlight. His sentiments reflect the radically changing landscape of the music industry, where stores have been replaced with downloads. But the shift has its benefits. Vinyl has always been a “staple of Streetlight,” Christman notes, and it’s only increasing in sales, especially among younger crowds. One of many notable in-store shows was a 2010 set by twin sister indie pop duo Tegan and Sara.

Rasputin

Named after the Russian mystic, Rasputin Music opened in 1971. First established by Ken Sarachan on Durant Avenue, and then Telegraph in Berkeley, it has steadily come to dominate the Bay Area’s dwindling record store scene. Though the founder is a somewhat controversial figure, this hasn’t stopped Rasputin from expanding to eight locations in the Bay Area, including Mountain View and San Jose, and three in the Central Valley. Rasputin has hosted everyone from Dredg to Reel Big Fish—even if the Berkeley store gets the bigger names. “Pretty much every Bay Area rapper, except for Mac Dre, performed here at one point or another,” says longtime employee Michael Glover.

Recycle Books

What makes Recycle Books stand out from most used book stores is its intellectual environment. With an incredibly low employee turnover rate and an equally engaged literary community, Recycle—nearing its 40th anniversary—has been able to curate an extensive, fascinating and unique collection of more than 100,000 titles. With two resident cats (one a Maine coon that weighs more than 25 pounds), Recycle is a quiet family spot. But being on The Alameda, the store has seen its fair share of absurdity. “A customer came in wearing overalls with a sword on his back, trying to sell a signed Bruce Lee book É that was published in 2000,” says employee Fern Alberts. “When we told him that it wasn’t possible, he said, ‘Well, that’s just your opinion.'”

Mel Cotton’s

Going to Mel Cotton’s is something of a rite of passage in the South Bay. Established in 1946 by Mel Cotton himself, the sports and recreation store is regarded as an outdoor specialist with sections for skiing, camping, hunting, fishing; the works. What may get lost in all of this is the incredible philanthropic work Mel Cotton’s has undertaken, from supporting 4-H clubs and scouts organizations to providing corporate discounts. Mel Cotton’s has a well-deserved reputation as a community beacon (with guns!).

Circle A

Downtown San Jose’s only skate shop has offered shoes, decks, parts and clothes out of its funky aquarium-like storefront for the better part of two decades. As the lone counterpart to the mall store skate stores, Bob Schmelzer’s Circle A claims a loyal following of local skaters. To take advantage of the plaza-like Paseo de San Antonio strip and encourage customers to stay a while, he plans to turn part of the store into a little coffee shop.

Paramount Imports

Started in 1967 during the Summer of Love, Paramount Imports is San Jose’s testament to good vibes. And its history is far from dull. In the ’80s, at the height of the War on Drugs, head shops were closing left and right. Paramount’s particular location in unincorporated county land meant that “San Jose Police wouldn’t bust us,” says longtime employee and owner’s son Casey Sargent, whose family bought the store in 1980. In the early ’90s, a huge fire burned down the store and destroyed all of its inventory. But still Paramount returned. “We’re the oldest smoke shop in the Bay Area,” says Sargent. As for the future, a new mail order system will allow Paramount customers to buy their goods online.

Lee’s Comics

Every comic nerd loves to argue about comics. That’s a given. But it’s hard to argue that Lee’s Comics is anything but the comic book shop of all Bay Area comic book shops. It helps that Lee Hester, once called “the leading West Coast Comics guru” by Juxatapoz Magazine, started and still operates the establishment. Now in its 35th year, Lee has expanded his comic prowess to locations in Mountain View and San Mateo. The inventory is astounding, the employees are almost too knowledgeable, and the comic legends—artist and writer alike—pass through the shop on a regular basis.

Natasha’s Attic

Have you ever needed a 16th century Trappist monk robe and a crystal tiara at 10:30am? Regardless of fashion needs, the zany and infinitely explorable Natasha’s Attic is packed to the brim with every type of costume you could dream of—and then some. Natasha’s Attic started as a family business and remains in family hands. “My aunt and grandmother started [it] nearly 40 years ago,” employee Katie Ramirez points out. “Once people enter these doors and hear us talking and laughing, they realize that we’re all family. It just runs in our blood.”

Faux Salon

With vibrant art pieces and a mural by graffiti artist and San Jose local Girafa, Faux Salon looks more like an en vogue gallery than a place to get a new ‘do. The salon is commonly praised for their color work and through consultation, Faux also does wedding stylings, smoothing treatments and makeup.

Beltramo’s

When Giovanni Beltramo fled poverty in his native Italy to work in California’s vineyards, he touched down in Menlo Park armed with grape cuttings and a liquor license. That was in 1882. Today, Beltramo’s Wine and Spirits remains family-owned and holds the distinction of being the longest-running business in town. The 10,000-square-foot warehouse stocks thousands of different wines, spirits and beers, with prices ranging from $10 to $17,000 for a bottle of a half-century-old Highland Park single-malt scotch.

Joseph George

Founded in 1940 as a candy, creamery and tobacco shop, Joseph George Distributor reinvented itself as a purveyor of liquors when it passed from the eponymous father to son three decades later. The generation that followed rebranded the business once more, introducing the family legacy as Joseph George Fine Wines.

Kepler’s

Kepler’s books was and still is a creative and intellectual hub of the South Bay. Founded in 1955 by peace activist Roy Kepler, the store picked up on the paperback revolution of the 1960s, and in turn attracted Beatniks, Stanford faculty and musicians. (The Grateful Dead had an early show there, and Joan Baez was known for her impromptu salons.) The bookstore fell on rough times in 2005, but the overwhelming support of the community—complete with fundraising campaigns and protests—kept the store standing.

Kelly’s Liquors

Japantown’s favorite craft beer destination lies within an unassuming corner store stocked with milk, butter, snacks and lottery tickets. But step inside Kelly’s Liquors to see why it appeals to legions of beer-loving regulars: shelves and shelves of stouts, pale ales, Belgians, porters and hard-to-find microbrews.

Watergarden

The South Bay’s only gay bathhouse has withstood the test of time by offering clean, cloistered haven to tan, swim, cruise or otherwise rock out with one’s cock out.

Hotel De Anza

Designed by architect W.H. Weeks and named after a Spanish explorer, the 10-story Hotel De Anza was once the tallest hotel in San Jose. Eighty-six years later, of course, that no longer holds true. But the Art Deco tower remains one of the city’s most treasured landmarks.

Best Bicycle Shop

Mike’s Bikes

1180 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Good Karma Bikes

460 Lincoln Ave #15, San Jose

Calmar Bicycles

2236 El Camino Real, Santa Clara

Best Antique Shop

Not Too Shabby

481 S Bascom Ave, San Jose

Burbank Antiques

1893 W San Carlos St, San Jose

Antiques Colony

1881 W San Carlos St, San Jose

Best Motorcycle Shop

San Jose Harley-Davidson

1551 Parkmoor Ave, San Jose

San Jose BMW

1990 W San Carlos St, San Jose

House of Thunder

16175 Condit Rd, Morgan Hill

Best Car Wash/Detailing

Classic Car Wash

16500 Lark Ave, Los Gatos

Pacific Hand Car Wash

1667 S Bascom Ave, Campbell

Delta Queen

981 E Hamilton Ave, Campbell

Best Clothing Boutique

Black & Brown

751 W San Carlos St, San Jose

23 Skidoo

342 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Bella Rosa Boutique

145 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Best Thrift Shop

Crossroads Trading Company

1959 W San Carlos St, San Jose

Savers

Multiple locations

Happy Dragon Thrift Shop

245 W Main St, Los Gatos

Best Outdoor Gear

REI

Multiple locations

Mel Cotton’s

1266 W San Carlos St, San Jose

Bass Pro Shop

5160 Cherry Ave, San Jose

Best Lingerie Store

Curvy Girl

2990 Meridian Ave, San Jose

Cupid’s Corner

408 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose

Craze 4 Toys

25 E Santa Clara St, San Jose

Best Jewelry Store

Joe Escobar diamonds

450 E Hamilton Ave, Campbell

Davidson & Licht

2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara

Shane Co

21255 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

Best Bridal Shop

Trudys Brides

1875 S Bascom Ave, Campbell

New Things West

10123 N Wolfe Rd #2146 , Cupertino

In the Olde Manner

11 University Ave, Los Gatos

Best Place to Hold a Wedding Reception

Clos LaChance Winery

1 Hummingbird Ln, San Martin

Cinnabar Hills Golf Club

23600 McKean Rd, San Jose

Adobe Lodge

500 El Camino Real #108, Santa Clara

Best Pet Store

Andy’s Pet Shop

51 Notre Dame Ave, San Jose

An-Jan

Multiple locations

Pets and More

841 W Hamilton Ave, Campbell

Best Pet Trainer

California K9 Solutions

2123 S 10th St, San Jose

Primal Canine Training

538 Earle Ave, San Jose

A Dog’s Life

885 Commercial St, Palo Alto

Best Record Store

Rasputin Music

1820 S Bascom Ave, Campbell

Streetlight Records

980 S Bascom Ave, San Jose

Time Tunnel

1583 Meridian Ave, San Jose

Best Art Supply Store

University Art

456 Meridian Ave, San Jose

2550 El Camino Real, Redwood City

The Arsenal

1202 The Alameda, San Jose

Accent Arts

392 California Ave, Palo Alto

Best Toy Store

The Wooden Horse

796 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos

Children’s Discovery Museum

180 Woz Way, San Jose

LEGO Store

2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara

Best Skate Shop

Skateworks

379 State St, Los Altos

NC Boardshop

16203 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos

Circle A

108 Paseo De San Antonio Walk, San Jose

Best Independent Bookstore

Hicklebee’s

1378 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Recycle Bookstore

1066 The Alameda, San Jose

Books Inc.

301 Castro St, Mountain View

855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

Best Comics Store

Heroes

24 E Campbell Ave, Campbell

Illusive Comics & Games

2725 El Camino Real #105, Santa Clara

Hijinx Comics

2050 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Best Independent Hardware Store

Palo Alto Hardware

875 Alma St, Palo Alto

Dale Hardware

3700 Thornton Ave, Fremont

The Olander Company

144 Commercial St, Sunnyvale

Best Garden Store

Yamagami’s Nursery

1361 S De Anza Blvd #2, Cupertino

Almaden Valley Nursery

15800 Almaden Expy, San Jose

Green Thumb Nursery

15796 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos

Best Flower Shop

Bunches

14 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Bloomster’s

5945 Almaden Expressway #170, San Jose

FLowers by Ivy

392 E Santa Clara St, San Jose

Best Pilates Studio

Los Gatos Ballet and Pilates

630 University Ave, Los Gatos

Pilates Body Studio

2075 Lincoln Ave, San Jose

Misha Patel Studio

750 Miller St #905, San Jose

Best Yoga Studio

Breathe Los Gatos

14107 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos

Balance Yoga Center

5988 Silver Creek Valley Rd, San Jose

Be the Change Yoga

52 S First St #320, San Jose

Best Martial Arts Studio

American Kickboxing Academy

7012 Realm Dr, San Jose

168 E Fremont Ave, Sunnyvale

America’s Best Karate of Almaden

6940 Almaden Expy, San Jose

All Star Kung Fu

413 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Best Health Club

Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center

14855 Oka Rd, Los Gatos

Bay Club

3250 Central Expy, Santa Clara

Fitness Never Sleeps

2342 Walsh Ave, Santa Clara

Best Massage

Burke Williams

355 Santana Row #2010, San Jose

Happy Feet

Multiple Locations

Massage Envy

Multiple locations

Best Day Spa

Burke Williams

355 Santana Row #2010, San Jose

Los Gatos Spa

100 S Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos

Labelle Day Spas

855 El Camino Real #95, Palo Alto

36 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto

Best Dentist

Amidi Dental

1039 El Monte Ave, Mountain View

Dr. Donald Pepper

6501 Crown Blvd #104, San Jose

Dennis Wong DDS

14419 S Bascom Ave #200, Los Gatos

Best Organization Making a Difference

Planned Parenthood

Catholic Charities

Bill Wilson Center

Best Luxury or Boutique Hotel

De Anza Hotel

233 W Santa Clara St, San Jose

Hotel Los Gatos

210 E Main St, Los Gatos

The Fairmont Hotel

170 S Market St, San Jose

Best Plastic Surgeon/Beautification

Jenesis Lipoplasty

1471 Saratoga Ave #200, San Jose

Dr. George Commons

1515 El Camino Real, Palo Alto

Dr. Daryl K. Hoffman

3425 S Bascom Ave #100, Campbell

Best Gentlemen’s Club

Pink Poodle

328 S Bascom Ave, San Jose

Gold Club

81 W Santa Clara St, San Jose

Brass Rail

160 Persian Dr, Sunnyvale

Best Tattoo Parlor

Marks of Art

3014 Union Ave, San Jose

Analog Tattoo

34 S First St, San Jose

Death Before Dishonor

306 S Third St, San Jose

Best Piercing Place

Body Exotic

957 W San Carlos St, San Jose

Pierced Out

3014 Union Ave, San Jose

Paisley Haus Pro Body Piercing

950 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose

Best Hookah Bar

Smoke This Hookah Lounge

2271 The Alameda, Santa Clara

The Swinging Hookah

386 S First St, San Jose

Shisha Hookah Lounge

84 N Market St, San Jose

Best Smoke Shop (Includes E-Cig/Vape/Glass)

Tie- Great Vapes

583 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale

Hella Good Vapors

5750 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose

420 Smoke Shop & Vapes

428 E Santa Clara St, San Jose

Best Place to Get a Medical Cannabis Recommendation

San Jose 420 Evaluations

115 N Fourth St #106, San Jose

MMJ Doctor

36 S First St, San Jose

Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center

100 N Winchester Blvd #230, Santa Clara

Best Alternative Medicine Collective

Elemental Wellness

985 Timothy Dr, San Jose, CA 95133

Herb’s SVVC

1641 W San Carlos St, San Jose

Amsterdam’s Garden

2142 The Alameda, San Jose

Best Golf Course

Cinnabar Hills Golf Club

23600 McKean Rd, San Jose

Coyote Creek

1 Coyote Creek Golf Dr, Morgan Hill

Deep Cliff Golf Course

10700 Club House Ln, Cupertino

Cinebar

A staple of the downtown San Jose bar scene, Cinebar has weathered the good times and the bad with consistently heavy pours at prices that are easy to swallow. Recently taken over by two longtime barkeeps and a local patron/restaurateur, the good old Cine has been given a facelift. Still, it retains its divey, booze-soaked heart. The pool table is free, the PBRs are $3, and during the heat of summer, the good folks behind the bar keep the place dark and cool while playing a tasteful mix of modern comedies, cinematic classics and independent films of all stripes—that is, unless, there’s a Sharks game on.

Black Watch

Known for its signature pint-sized Kamikazes and dimly-lit bohemian vibe, this Los Gatos dive has been open since 1959, with the current owners having overseen the place for the last 20 years. Its murky ambiance and rowdy vibe is a welcome respite from the rest of bourgeois Los Gatos. Black Watch is technically a Scottish pub, so some longtime customers have added decorations like a steel sword and shield to further its hokey but hip feel.

The Saddle Rack

Founded in San Jose and reincarnated in Fremont, the Saddle Rack has been turning out country fans since 1976. Owners Andy Buchanan and Gary Robinson met decades ago in a hockey brawl. “We ran into each other at the net,” Buchanan says, “and when it happened again, we got in a fight.” Despite the rough start, the Canadian expats became fast friends and took over the Saddle Rack, where they book the biggest names in country music, hold multi-weekly dance lessons and host weddings, birthdays, bachelor(ette) shindigs and, oddly enough, the occasional funeral. The full-sized mechanical bull has been bucking off sozzled patrons for decades.

Lido

This Vietnamese fusion and trans nightclub in downtown San Jose has been stopping curious, if not fascinated pedestrians since its opening. While presenting mostly Vietnamese music and performers, the two-level club puts on everything from mariachi bands to underground electronic acts. Viet pop and Salsa make a strange but fitting harmony, with nothing quite like it around.

Antonio’s Nut House

Besides the usual darts, jukebox, pool and air hockey, Antonio’s Nut House is filled with peanut shells. The crunchy, ultra-casual, Palo Alto dive bar has an extensive supply of games, an outdoor smoking area and quality beers—with many specialities on draught. Best known for supplying unlimited nuts and the shells that cover the floor, it’s the taqueria counter hidden in the back that really brings back the true dive-dweller.

Mac’s

With its casual atmosphere and sense of community, Mac’s Club in San Jose has more of a “Cheer’s” vibe than that of a thundering nightclub. One of the oldest and few remaining gay bars in the South Bay, Mac’s is known for its fun and charming bartenders and overall sense of accessibility.

Britannia Arms

Owned by two Englishmen, an Irishman and a Scotsman, the Britannia Arms in Almaden—part of a small chain of local pubs—is an institution in the South Bay. Punters come for the British beers, ciders and food menu of English favorites. Co-owner Michael North, who runs the Almaden bar, fondly remembers the time Rod Stewart stopped by to eat, drink and croon before the 1994 World Cup. “That was a ‘wow’ moment,” North says. “It was like having another guy hang out for the soccer game. No pretension. We just sat there and talked and sang English songs.”

Alex’s 49er Inn

What makes a dive bar great can be argued forever, but it’s safe to say Alex’s 49er Inn would check a lot of boxes. What it lacks in aesthetics, the bar makes up for with good conversation, competitive games of pool and incredibly cheap drinks. Karaoke is another fixture of the bar, featured every Wednesday and Saturday night.

Aqui‘s Swirl

There’s a reason the local Cali-Mex chain prescribes a two-drink limit and a cab ride home for its “industrial strength” swirls. Aqui’s boozed-up margarita slushies cover the gamut, from classic sangria and sunrise (orange) swirls to martini and pomegranate.

Trials Pub

Possibly the most authentic English pub in San Jose, Trials is a more intimate and elegant departure from most dives with nary a flat-screen in sight. The building’s basement was once part of San Jose’s city jail. Although it’s gone through a couple of owners since opening in 1997, it has remained a unique fixture in downtown. Trials was even mentioned in the popular Lonely Planet series 2003 Guide to California.

Patty’s Inn

Memorabilia-decked Patty’s Inn may not look like much from outside, but claims a colorful history dating back to the end of the Prohibition. A quick walk from the Diridon Caltrain hub and the Shark Tank makes the tumbledown dive a happy-hour stop for commuters and pregame layover for hockey fans.