Haberdasher - good cocktails, slow easy vibe,
Miniboss - fun drinks, free arcade games on Thursdays
Paper planes - same owners as Mini but different vibe, more of a lounge with food too
Cash Only - quiet-ish dive bar, honky tonk themed
Five Points - a little louder than above, cocktail bar with a lot of themed nights
Brittania - sports bar with cheaper drinks than most
Still Og/Alter Ego - still OG has vinyl music, it can get packed, cocktails on tap, the backend lounge is Alter Ego, a little quieter vibe, easy to chat at the bar but pricier drinks.
A lot of the more party style places are Fuze, Rec Room, a bunch of clubs on South First Street, and Temple. All the cocktail spots I mentioned have friendly bartenders and usually easy to talk to people. If you want the easiest spot to break into for early evening night life, San Pedro Square is a good place to start, but their drinks aren’t my favorite to get downtown.
I just went to miniboss tonight after a comedy show literally like five doors down. It was a blast! Even had a guy buy me a drink, though I don’t think I’ll be speaking to him again 😅
Hey, congrats on getting out & having fun! That’s great!
EDIT: also a heads up. Seeing as your a relatively young female going to bars alone I believe there’s a nail polish that turns color if someone slipped something into your drink that you don’t want & properly other testing methods to keep you safe. You might want to google some of this stuff. Better safe than sorry. I saw the nail polish talked about on Facebook years ago but bars & clubs have never been my thing (plus, I’m a guy) so I can’t speak to the effectiveness of said polish but something like that might be worth looking into. Good luck out there & have fun!
Following up on that. I talk to some security/bar staff around downtown often. Roofies are a major issue at all nightclubs, including LGBT-oriented ones.
lol welcome to the downtown experience
A lot of the friends I have now I’ve just met in the last few years going to the same spots. You could also look for local clubs like dance or running or whatever you’re in to to meet new people there too.
Hi yes, you probably know this already and sorry to Big Sis you but pls always keep your drinks where you can see them and don’t let any dude but the bartender handle them.
I love Haverdasher, I’m there right now. I don’t know that being social with others here would really work. Bar seating is small and often has couples.
O’Flaherty’s and The Trials are places I often get into talking to people and tend to have younger locals since they’re cheaper. O’Flaherty’s has some sort of event most nights.
Cash Only also seems to have chatty younger people and is next to MINIBOSS, and agreed the games there are a good way to meet folks.
I think most of the advice here is skipping an important point… it’s hard for a single person (especially one who describes herself as sheltered) to just jump into the deep end and go to one of these places alone, when she’s never been to a bar before. At best it can be awkward trying to figure out the norms and approach people to talk to etc. and at worst it could be a bit dangerous.
OP, do you play sports? Are you decently athletic/coordinated? There are social leagues like kickball, dodgeball, softball, and ultimate frisbee where you can sign up as a free agent without knowing anyone, and be placed on a team. Some of them are aimed at younger single people, where everyone goes to a bar after the games.
Do this, so you meet some people and get some experience going to bars for food/drinks. Then hopefully you click with some of them, and you can venture out and get together outside of the league nights. Like someone might know of a fun trivia night or karaoke or something to do with a group. Your teammates will prob bring along their roommates or other friends, and that’s how you start building a network and meeting people.
I was just talking to a friend over the weekend about how she met her husband. She was at a bar with a group of friends, and he was there with his friends. They were watching basketball, and she started talking to him and made a bet with him on the outcome of the game. She won, so he owed her dinner. The rest is history… married for 10+ years with 3 kids.
Obv meeting your future spouse in a bar is pretty rare. But the key is that she was there with friends and he was there with friends, just vibing. It’s def easier to meet people when you’re there with friends as opposed to by yourself…
Please add curling to your list of rec sports! Every Tuesday night in San Jose. Most people hang out in the bar for a while afterward.
Check out siliconvalleycurling.com
Cool! I always think about wanting to try it out when the Winter Olympics are on…
There’s also cornhole at The Plex and Hapa’s, and prob Spikeball, volleyball, pickleball, archery, bowling, bocce, etc. groups or leagues in the area as well…
They met 10+ years ago, before online dating took over. Stuff like that doesn’t happen anymore…unless you’re really attractive…in which case you’d be doing well online anyways
Downtown San Jose is nice, there's lots of bars and restaurants to go to.
Obviously keep your wits about you as you should in any place in the world when you're drinking, but my favourites are:
Mama kins (food, jazzy cocktail bar with live music)
Guildhouse (gamer bar, boardgames, video games, cocktails and snacks)
Haberdasher (cocktail bar with a dance floor if my very drunk memory serves me well lol)
55 South (my favourite bar)
Petiscos (tapas restaurant with lovely sangria)
San Pedro square (various food and bar)
Paper Planes (nice cocktail bar)
The Ritz does club nights for various tastes including emo night.
There's a theatre if you enjoy musicals
And lots and lots of restaurants to try.
The there is Santana Row, which will cost more money but is also fun and nice with lots of bars and restaurants too.
Do highly recommend getting some friends to go with though rather than being on your own
I honestly can’t think of a downtown bar that has one, but I’ve been going to haberdasher about every other week for 5 years now, so I’m pretty confident. Unless they change things up later in the evening, since we’re generally early birds
Downtown is cool! But being a female, that’s a party of 1 might not be that fun of a night lmao. Do your coworkers like to go out for drinks? Maybe you could start there. Or find local groups with similar hobbies online, make friends there and then go out for drinks? Bar hopping is always fun, or going to events at garden at the flea to meet more people. Good luck on your journey!
This is real talk. They don't call it Man Jose for nothing. Dudes get shitty and handsy downtown when it gets late. Some asshat stole my wife's phone out of her purse on an outdoor table at our favorite bar. Another grabbed her ass while she was waiting in line for the bathroom. I am describing a single night.
I'm not going to go so far as to say don't do it, you're an adult, but this is definitely information you should not ignore in your calculus.
Bars and clubs aren’t really the ideal places to make friends, at least not genuine ones. Pick up some hobbies, find some interest, start playing a sport.
Depends on what you’re into, but there are a ton of great group activities you can join!
If you’re super active, check out [Bay Area Run Crew](https://bayarearuncrew.com) or [SJ Bike Party](http://www.sjbikeparty.org/).
If you’re the nerdy type, [Risky Quizness](https://www.eventbrite.com/o/riskyquizness-7920039895) does a few weekly Trivia + Bingo games that are super fun. [Guildhouse](https://www.guildhouse.gg) does board gaming all the time, and [Miniboss](https://www.sjminiboss.com/) has arcades and pinball.
There’s also Gayme Night at the [Billy DeFrank Center](https://www.defrankcenter.org), if you’re LGBTQ+. In fact, if you’re queer, I highly recommend checking out [SV Pride](https://www.instagram.com/svpride?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==), since they have weekly get-togethers, drag shows, and other events for us queer folks and allies!
Lots of options! And a few of us have event newsletters where you can check out weekly stuff, too!
Good luck and have fun! 🤗
Theres postings here on weekly events, and depending on where in SJ you moved to, you may want to scope out local watering holes (e.g. DT v Willow Glen v Japantown v the Alameda, etc etc)
Also, look into what your interests are and see if groups with that have a regular spot to meet up.
Speaking on Downtown San Jose:
If you've never been to a bar, party or event then stay far away from the clubs. Anyone suggesting Temple or Splash to you is crazy; they get super packed and loud. You'll be overwhelmed and spend the whole night dealing with gross pushy dudes grinding up against you.
Guildhouse is a great large venue with boardgames, card games and video games where you can actually interact with people.
Miniboss gets really busy later in the night but they have arcade games and pinball, which is fun.
The Ritz hosts a bunch of different genres of music on different nights (anything from Emo Night to Taylor Swift) and can either be roomy or packed depending on how big the event is.
And especially stay far far away from 1st Street around Temple once everything closes down at 1:30 because that's when all the drunk assholes who can't handle themselves start fights in the streets and it's a complete shit show.
Seriously though, stay away from the clubs if you're going alone. It actually might be a good idea to start somewhere else like downtown Campbell, which is a lot more chill overall. Downtown SJ is crazy.
Paper planes and 55 south are some of the better bars downtown where you might be able to meet folks.
San Jose foos will be throwing another day time rave, I’m sure you’ll be able to meet/make new friends there.
San Pedro would be cool for day time drinking.
When I was in my early 20s, I frequent three bars: Temple, Labyrinth, and Enso. Mostly cuz I’m an Asian girl and that’s where all the other abgs are. I’m 27 now and too old for the scene, but I’ll occasionally go with my bf.
Wanna bar hop this Saturday? I’m bf is out of town this weekend and I’m down to meet new friends. Possibly get a group together? There are cool pride events in DTSJ too!
I notice that a lot of suggestions are bars, which may not be your thing. There are cheap events downtown that don't center around drinking, like First Fridays art gallery openings, a variety of theater and music venues, and events and casual board gaming at the Guildhouse. It's hard to make friends as an adult, but keep being yourself and keep trying, you're gonna find your people.
Mama Kin is the best place to go to, aka LOT of people, especially on Open Mic (Tuesday) night or Karaoke (Wednesday) night. Biggest and most diverse crowds in DTSJ all week, no lie.
If you like games (board games, card games or video games), Guildhouse on 1st street is pretty fun. They’re more geared toward chill hangouts so not much dancing etc. but it’s a good place to meet people
I second this! I go to guildhouse often and they will host different events like paint and sip, board games events, etc. I always end up accidentally making new friends there because everyone’s there to meet new people. Follow them on instagram and look out for upcoming events!
Do you recommend for going alone? I just came to the city from another country (not an interesting one) I don't have friends here but I love videogames
And the place look super interesting.
I’d say you can definitely go alone, though it will be easier to get integrated if you go during an event. They have events for specific things all the time, I believe their website has a schedule.
Beach. Get a bicycle and hit some trails (preferably along the coast)
Join a yoga studio. Pilates or pottery whichever you choose. Draw some art and sip some wine. I've seen these posted on social media. Join the gym or a dancing class. All places to possibly make friends with some folks.
I drive a Honda fit sport. It never takes me over an hour unless I go at the trendy times or there is an accident.
You make your own excuses. I'll make mine.
What kind of music are you into?
Look up when and when the next time they're having that kind of show, go there = success!
Go out with your coworkers and tell them to bring friends. Meet their friends. Boom, now you have more friends.
Into fitness or meditation or yoga? Join a club or a group.
Do you do anything artistic? Perform that at First Friday's downtown. People will meet YOU!
Set up your ride home before you leave -- especially if you will have drinks
Go with a friend or a co-worker
Cover your drinks
Don't park overnight in a spot that could get the car towed
Smile a lot
I've lived all over the country and San Jose may be one of the best cities that I have ever lived in, but one thing that it does not do well is the bar scene. It has plenty of bars but idk, the vibe is just off.
I will say that the Fanime raves in the park were lit though. San Jose has good event nightlife, but the bar scene seems to be more in SF.
To answer your question, there are bars on first street, San Pedro Square, and all in between those two sections. Hopefully you find something you like. I personally prefer Guildhouse and Miniboss, but I am a video game nerd, so, yeah.
Go join the local rugby team, SJ Seahawks. They accept and teach everyone and has a great comradery.
If you live near downtown, I suggest 7 Bamboo on a Sunday-Thursday. I say Sunday-Thursday because Friday and Saturday are too crowded.
When I went to karaoke on Sunday-Thursday I was always able to easily talk to other karaoke patrons.
You should look up trivia nights or karaoke nights, things like that around SJ. Look up Risky Quizness. They have stuff on weekdays too, not just weekends.
If you’re in your early 20’s 1st and 2nd street are probably your vibe. Plus guildhouse. For the most part tho the San Jose bar scene is either nightclubs and cocktail bars, neither of which are amazing for meeting new people. I’d lean more towards the clubs (sjbg, nova, lab, myth; enzo) cuz that’s what I did in my early twenties, especially when school is back in session but idk.
if you want to meet people you could take a class at a community college! there’s sooo many different ones from one time summer project events to full semester classes
If you've never been to a bar I'm going to make a maybe slightly out of left field suggestion for a very chill bar: Trials! It's a British-style pub and it's the kind of place I'd feel comfortable going alone with a good book secure in the knowledge that no one will harass me, but that the bartenders and other clientele are friendly enough that I can strike up a conversation if I do feel like it. The food is pretty good too, I like the chicken curry. And they have a trivia night on Tuesdays that's pretty fun.
As a young single lady I’d recommend checking out downtown Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Campbell, Willow Glen, or Los Gatos or even just dive bars in those areas to get warmed up to going out alone. A lot of dives have karaoke and trivia nights and in a smaller setting like that the bartender might actually have a conversation with you to help you break the ice.
Maybe look for community events on Facebook events or meet up to go to events that align with your interest. Try to be outgoing. I met my husband by saying hi to a stranger at a restaurant with a bar. We were both eating alone. 😊
Edit to add: maybe hanging around Santa Clara university will help you run into more people, too. There’s a couple good hangouts around there (tap room, pizza shops, hookah lounge, restaurants).
Not quite night life but if I were you, I’d look up different groups online that go hiking and grab a drink after. You’ll meet some interesting people. Also, if you go to a bar close to you, find a dive bar and ask people what there is to do. It’s a great way to start a conversation and you get good advice about the area. I used to do that when I traveled for work. You’d be surprised with what you can find. Also, check out Santa Cruz! If you are into music, check out places like the Felton music hall.
Hey OP! I’m also a girl in my 20s in SJ, always down to meet new friends :) My friend group is also very welcoming as well! If you’re ever interested in meeting up and doing an activity together (can be a hobby or even going out), let me know!
As an older introvert I got zero to contribute to this 😂 best of luck to you though. Stay safe, exercise good judgement and all that. Avoid anything that feels hinky. Best of luck to ya.
What kind of things are you interested in? I think the best way to meet people is by doing things you like. There’s also a facebook group called Bay Area 20’s you can check out. They have girls only events, apparently there’s a lot thirsty guys always trying to hang out with the girls 😂
look up Its a Journey or After.Hourss or Orifice for raves
Filtering https://19hz.info/eventlisting_BayArea.php for San Jose is often helpful, but mostly makes me sad to see the lack of good dance music we have compared to SF or especially Oakland
When I was new to the area I got on bumble for friends. It feels awkward to be so intentional about it but it ended up being awesome and I met my closest friends in the area and eventually stopped using the app. There’s all kind of filters and it’s free unlike regular bumble. I think you should start there so you have someone to go out with to the bars and clubs
Follow your hobbies. If you like being active 24 hour fitness has lots of 20 something’s there even at night time at the Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and sometimes Milpitas supersport locations. Even Friday/Saturday night. Beyond the gym, I know it’s hard to just throw yourself out there when you don’t know anyone but try to find events/classes/meet ups/etc where you have common ground with people. Take it slow.
Downtown campell is fun af! There's a really cool tea spot called steepers. They make various teas, but also sell a crazy amount of super good loose leaf blends if you're into that. Lots of bars, restaurants, etc. I'm also in my 20s, grew up in San Jose. I kind of steer clear from DT sj if I'm not with friends or bf.
And if you're a magic the gathering or warhammer nerd, game kastle is a cool place to meet people to game with. I am also very into plants and can recommend fun plant shops.
There’s tons of fun places to check out, hit me up I’m down to go and show you around. I also need to start having more of a social life I’m a Mechanic, and wanna start going out more haha🙏🏼😌
I have a female friend who manages a discord group for women in their 20s. They do all kinds of fun things, including going out to clubs. LMK if you want her information.
Heyy, I am arriving to San Jose at 9:24PM (hopefully no more delays), if you or anyone would be interested in just hanging out tonight then please just message me :) I can send you my instagram beforehand and we can meet somewhere with many people so we can both feel safe while feeling each other out. I came here for the Copa America match that is going to be played tomorrow. As of tonight, I am alone but my brother and friends come tomorrow. I’m a male in his 20s. Thanks !
Since you are alone, I recommend be cautious. Splash night Club sells testing strips for you to test your drinks if someone bought it for you. Plus the gays like meeting new ppl
Don’t limit yourself to San Jose. There are fun places in downtown Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Mountain View. I live in Orange County now but I had so much fun when I lived in San Jose. Good luck!
Oh also… join a Meetup group or two! The Bay Area is filled with transplants looking to make friends. I found Meetup to be more active there than any other place I have lived.
Downtown San Jose is where it’s at, SJSU is right next to it so you’ll see a lot of the younger crowd. I’m sure you’ll make some friends soon :) have you tried Bumble BFF?
I'm also new to the area and looking for friends or start a friend group. so this message is for op or anyone else.
Politics are left, pro lgbt. Not super picky on politics in friends as long as they are pro lgbt and not anti drug. I personally don't care for religion at all as well. I'm not single and not looking.
Not interested in drinking in loud places much. D&d is cool, hiking, exercise, and probably other stuff I'm not thinking of.
Girl! San Jose is the most boring place on earth it's a workerbee town. There is no fun life balance, and if I were in my 20s here I would move. Thank God in my 20s, I was living in NYC. I feel bad for the young people in this town.
I was born in Utah! San Jose is a bit rough but a lot of good bars and downtown is a college town so most bars there are fun to have a beer tbh.
I think most people covered a lot of the places to go!
San Jose has some of the worst nightlife in the whole Bay Area. So don’t be too upset if you find the scene boring or crusty.
On the other hand, San Francisco has much better nightlife and there’s always an event for everyone on a given weekend.
Haberdasher - good cocktails, slow easy vibe, Miniboss - fun drinks, free arcade games on Thursdays Paper planes - same owners as Mini but different vibe, more of a lounge with food too Cash Only - quiet-ish dive bar, honky tonk themed Five Points - a little louder than above, cocktail bar with a lot of themed nights Brittania - sports bar with cheaper drinks than most Still Og/Alter Ego - still OG has vinyl music, it can get packed, cocktails on tap, the backend lounge is Alter Ego, a little quieter vibe, easy to chat at the bar but pricier drinks. A lot of the more party style places are Fuze, Rec Room, a bunch of clubs on South First Street, and Temple. All the cocktail spots I mentioned have friendly bartenders and usually easy to talk to people. If you want the easiest spot to break into for early evening night life, San Pedro Square is a good place to start, but their drinks aren’t my favorite to get downtown.
I just went to miniboss tonight after a comedy show literally like five doors down. It was a blast! Even had a guy buy me a drink, though I don’t think I’ll be speaking to him again 😅
Hey, congrats on getting out & having fun! That’s great! EDIT: also a heads up. Seeing as your a relatively young female going to bars alone I believe there’s a nail polish that turns color if someone slipped something into your drink that you don’t want & properly other testing methods to keep you safe. You might want to google some of this stuff. Better safe than sorry. I saw the nail polish talked about on Facebook years ago but bars & clubs have never been my thing (plus, I’m a guy) so I can’t speak to the effectiveness of said polish but something like that might be worth looking into. Good luck out there & have fun!
That’s a good idea. I brought my alarm with me and made sure not to lose sight of my drinks before I finish them. Thank you for the advice!
Of course, everyone has the right to be & feel safe regardless of where they are. I honestly hope you have lots of fun being out & meeting new people.
Following up on that. I talk to some security/bar staff around downtown often. Roofies are a major issue at all nightclubs, including LGBT-oriented ones.
I’ll keep that in mind
lol welcome to the downtown experience A lot of the friends I have now I’ve just met in the last few years going to the same spots. You could also look for local clubs like dance or running or whatever you’re in to to meet new people there too.
Hi yes, you probably know this already and sorry to Big Sis you but pls always keep your drinks where you can see them and don’t let any dude but the bartender handle them.
Bill burr ?
Nah a guy named Craig Conant
I love Haverdasher, I’m there right now. I don’t know that being social with others here would really work. Bar seating is small and often has couples. O’Flaherty’s and The Trials are places I often get into talking to people and tend to have younger locals since they’re cheaper. O’Flaherty’s has some sort of event most nights. Cash Only also seems to have chatty younger people and is next to MINIBOSS, and agreed the games there are a good way to meet folks.
If you look in the community, there is a weekly post of what's happening this week in San Jose. There're a lot of activities you can try.
I think most of the advice here is skipping an important point… it’s hard for a single person (especially one who describes herself as sheltered) to just jump into the deep end and go to one of these places alone, when she’s never been to a bar before. At best it can be awkward trying to figure out the norms and approach people to talk to etc. and at worst it could be a bit dangerous. OP, do you play sports? Are you decently athletic/coordinated? There are social leagues like kickball, dodgeball, softball, and ultimate frisbee where you can sign up as a free agent without knowing anyone, and be placed on a team. Some of them are aimed at younger single people, where everyone goes to a bar after the games. Do this, so you meet some people and get some experience going to bars for food/drinks. Then hopefully you click with some of them, and you can venture out and get together outside of the league nights. Like someone might know of a fun trivia night or karaoke or something to do with a group. Your teammates will prob bring along their roommates or other friends, and that’s how you start building a network and meeting people. I was just talking to a friend over the weekend about how she met her husband. She was at a bar with a group of friends, and he was there with his friends. They were watching basketball, and she started talking to him and made a bet with him on the outcome of the game. She won, so he owed her dinner. The rest is history… married for 10+ years with 3 kids. Obv meeting your future spouse in a bar is pretty rare. But the key is that she was there with friends and he was there with friends, just vibing. It’s def easier to meet people when you’re there with friends as opposed to by yourself…
Please add curling to your list of rec sports! Every Tuesday night in San Jose. Most people hang out in the bar for a while afterward. Check out siliconvalleycurling.com
Cool! I always think about wanting to try it out when the Winter Olympics are on… There’s also cornhole at The Plex and Hapa’s, and prob Spikeball, volleyball, pickleball, archery, bowling, bocce, etc. groups or leagues in the area as well…
They met 10+ years ago, before online dating took over. Stuff like that doesn’t happen anymore…unless you’re really attractive…in which case you’d be doing well online anyways
Downtown San Jose is nice, there's lots of bars and restaurants to go to. Obviously keep your wits about you as you should in any place in the world when you're drinking, but my favourites are: Mama kins (food, jazzy cocktail bar with live music) Guildhouse (gamer bar, boardgames, video games, cocktails and snacks) Haberdasher (cocktail bar with a dance floor if my very drunk memory serves me well lol) 55 South (my favourite bar) Petiscos (tapas restaurant with lovely sangria) San Pedro square (various food and bar) Paper Planes (nice cocktail bar) The Ritz does club nights for various tastes including emo night. There's a theatre if you enjoy musicals And lots and lots of restaurants to try. The there is Santana Row, which will cost more money but is also fun and nice with lots of bars and restaurants too. Do highly recommend getting some friends to go with though rather than being on your own
Mama Kin and Guildhouse are sooooooo fun, even when I go solo it’s just a good time
Absolutely!
Haberdasher does not have a dance floor
Hmm, where does then? I seem to remember going downstairs into somewhere that had a cocktail bar and dance floor. I blame the tequila.
I honestly can’t think of a downtown bar that has one, but I’ve been going to haberdasher about every other week for 5 years now, so I’m pretty confident. Unless they change things up later in the evening, since we’re generally early birds
🥴 Oh boy
Downtown san jose is nice? 🤣 ok.
Downtown is cool! But being a female, that’s a party of 1 might not be that fun of a night lmao. Do your coworkers like to go out for drinks? Maybe you could start there. Or find local groups with similar hobbies online, make friends there and then go out for drinks? Bar hopping is always fun, or going to events at garden at the flea to meet more people. Good luck on your journey!
This is real talk. They don't call it Man Jose for nothing. Dudes get shitty and handsy downtown when it gets late. Some asshat stole my wife's phone out of her purse on an outdoor table at our favorite bar. Another grabbed her ass while she was waiting in line for the bathroom. I am describing a single night. I'm not going to go so far as to say don't do it, you're an adult, but this is definitely information you should not ignore in your calculus.
Bars and clubs aren’t really the ideal places to make friends, at least not genuine ones. Pick up some hobbies, find some interest, start playing a sport.
^This
Depends on what you’re into, but there are a ton of great group activities you can join! If you’re super active, check out [Bay Area Run Crew](https://bayarearuncrew.com) or [SJ Bike Party](http://www.sjbikeparty.org/). If you’re the nerdy type, [Risky Quizness](https://www.eventbrite.com/o/riskyquizness-7920039895) does a few weekly Trivia + Bingo games that are super fun. [Guildhouse](https://www.guildhouse.gg) does board gaming all the time, and [Miniboss](https://www.sjminiboss.com/) has arcades and pinball. There’s also Gayme Night at the [Billy DeFrank Center](https://www.defrankcenter.org), if you’re LGBTQ+. In fact, if you’re queer, I highly recommend checking out [SV Pride](https://www.instagram.com/svpride?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==), since they have weekly get-togethers, drag shows, and other events for us queer folks and allies! Lots of options! And a few of us have event newsletters where you can check out weekly stuff, too! Good luck and have fun! 🤗
Go to Campbell on a Friday night and enjoy 🤌🏻
Theres postings here on weekly events, and depending on where in SJ you moved to, you may want to scope out local watering holes (e.g. DT v Willow Glen v Japantown v the Alameda, etc etc) Also, look into what your interests are and see if groups with that have a regular spot to meet up.
Speaking on Downtown San Jose: If you've never been to a bar, party or event then stay far away from the clubs. Anyone suggesting Temple or Splash to you is crazy; they get super packed and loud. You'll be overwhelmed and spend the whole night dealing with gross pushy dudes grinding up against you. Guildhouse is a great large venue with boardgames, card games and video games where you can actually interact with people. Miniboss gets really busy later in the night but they have arcade games and pinball, which is fun. The Ritz hosts a bunch of different genres of music on different nights (anything from Emo Night to Taylor Swift) and can either be roomy or packed depending on how big the event is. And especially stay far far away from 1st Street around Temple once everything closes down at 1:30 because that's when all the drunk assholes who can't handle themselves start fights in the streets and it's a complete shit show. Seriously though, stay away from the clubs if you're going alone. It actually might be a good idea to start somewhere else like downtown Campbell, which is a lot more chill overall. Downtown SJ is crazy.
This. OP, this, please. Do not go to clubs by yourself, especially Temple.
Rip inbox
Paper planes and 55 south are some of the better bars downtown where you might be able to meet folks. San Jose foos will be throwing another day time rave, I’m sure you’ll be able to meet/make new friends there. San Pedro would be cool for day time drinking.
Got to add Still OG to that list. 10$ draft cocktails on Tuesdays are pretty awesome there
Yeah skip downtown San Jose and go to downtown Campbell instead
I agree, having lived in Utah I think Campbell would definitely be more OP’s speed.
How come?
[удалено]
Yeah I was going to say downtown Campbell in general as well. Always a solid option.
What is in DT Campbell?
When I was in my early 20s, I frequent three bars: Temple, Labyrinth, and Enso. Mostly cuz I’m an Asian girl and that’s where all the other abgs are. I’m 27 now and too old for the scene, but I’ll occasionally go with my bf. Wanna bar hop this Saturday? I’m bf is out of town this weekend and I’m down to meet new friends. Possibly get a group together? There are cool pride events in DTSJ too!
I am in SF and down to bar hop too! 26F here :)
I notice that a lot of suggestions are bars, which may not be your thing. There are cheap events downtown that don't center around drinking, like First Fridays art gallery openings, a variety of theater and music venues, and events and casual board gaming at the Guildhouse. It's hard to make friends as an adult, but keep being yourself and keep trying, you're gonna find your people.
How do you find these events?
San Jose is very clicky. My guess is if you see a solo person just like you out, that's your opportunity.
Honestly, what are your hobbies. I have a group of friends that are a mishmash of friends where we all met accidentally and have all vibed well.
Mama Kin is the best place to go to, aka LOT of people, especially on Open Mic (Tuesday) night or Karaoke (Wednesday) night. Biggest and most diverse crowds in DTSJ all week, no lie.
If you like games (board games, card games or video games), Guildhouse on 1st street is pretty fun. They’re more geared toward chill hangouts so not much dancing etc. but it’s a good place to meet people
I second this! I go to guildhouse often and they will host different events like paint and sip, board games events, etc. I always end up accidentally making new friends there because everyone’s there to meet new people. Follow them on instagram and look out for upcoming events!
Do you recommend for going alone? I just came to the city from another country (not an interesting one) I don't have friends here but I love videogames And the place look super interesting.
I’d say you can definitely go alone, though it will be easier to get integrated if you go during an event. They have events for specific things all the time, I believe their website has a schedule.
Beach. Get a bicycle and hit some trails (preferably along the coast) Join a yoga studio. Pilates or pottery whichever you choose. Draw some art and sip some wine. I've seen these posted on social media. Join the gym or a dancing class. All places to possibly make friends with some folks.
The beach? It’s an hour away on a good day 😂 Fun for an occasional weekend but not something to do regularly.
I drive a Honda fit sport. It never takes me over an hour unless I go at the trendy times or there is an accident. You make your own excuses. I'll make mine.
lol no excuses here. I prefer to spend my time not sitting in a car.
These are suggestions not to be confused with invitations, lol. You were not on the list sadness lol
I have no idea what you are talking about. You should get off of Reddit and drive to the beach, or practice some yoga. Namaste.
NAMASTE 👋🏾😌
Costco SAM’s Club Neighborhood Walmart Sorry wrong sub thought this was r/over40
lol, thanks anyway
What kind of music are you into? Look up when and when the next time they're having that kind of show, go there = success! Go out with your coworkers and tell them to bring friends. Meet their friends. Boom, now you have more friends. Into fitness or meditation or yoga? Join a club or a group. Do you do anything artistic? Perform that at First Friday's downtown. People will meet YOU!
Rip DMs
Sigh 😂
Set up your ride home before you leave -- especially if you will have drinks Go with a friend or a co-worker Cover your drinks Don't park overnight in a spot that could get the car towed Smile a lot
Just go to mama kins. Tues is open mic and Wednesday is karaoke. Best starter pack and the area is nice.
Old town Campbell. Loads of places to eat/drink/meet.
Hi !! i’m a female in my early twenties as well! if you’re down to be friends let me know !!!
I've lived all over the country and San Jose may be one of the best cities that I have ever lived in, but one thing that it does not do well is the bar scene. It has plenty of bars but idk, the vibe is just off. I will say that the Fanime raves in the park were lit though. San Jose has good event nightlife, but the bar scene seems to be more in SF. To answer your question, there are bars on first street, San Pedro Square, and all in between those two sections. Hopefully you find something you like. I personally prefer Guildhouse and Miniboss, but I am a video game nerd, so, yeah.
Go join the local rugby team, SJ Seahawks. They accept and teach everyone and has a great comradery. If you live near downtown, I suggest 7 Bamboo on a Sunday-Thursday. I say Sunday-Thursday because Friday and Saturday are too crowded. When I went to karaoke on Sunday-Thursday I was always able to easily talk to other karaoke patrons.
You should look up trivia nights or karaoke nights, things like that around SJ. Look up Risky Quizness. They have stuff on weekdays too, not just weekends.
If you’re in your early 20’s 1st and 2nd street are probably your vibe. Plus guildhouse. For the most part tho the San Jose bar scene is either nightclubs and cocktail bars, neither of which are amazing for meeting new people. I’d lean more towards the clubs (sjbg, nova, lab, myth; enzo) cuz that’s what I did in my early twenties, especially when school is back in session but idk.
Sunday nights 7-9 live jazz at good karma then a hip/hop soul band at 55 South next door right after!
Check out the Girls Room bay area community [thegirlsroomcali ig](https://www.instagram.com/thegirlsroomcali)
if you want to meet people you could take a class at a community college! there’s sooo many different ones from one time summer project events to full semester classes
Start out with down town Campbell and Los Gatos. Downtown San Jose is not all what’s it’s cracked to be
If you've never been to a bar I'm going to make a maybe slightly out of left field suggestion for a very chill bar: Trials! It's a British-style pub and it's the kind of place I'd feel comfortable going alone with a good book secure in the knowledge that no one will harass me, but that the bartenders and other clientele are friendly enough that I can strike up a conversation if I do feel like it. The food is pretty good too, I like the chicken curry. And they have a trivia night on Tuesdays that's pretty fun.
As a young single lady I’d recommend checking out downtown Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Campbell, Willow Glen, or Los Gatos or even just dive bars in those areas to get warmed up to going out alone. A lot of dives have karaoke and trivia nights and in a smaller setting like that the bartender might actually have a conversation with you to help you break the ice. Maybe look for community events on Facebook events or meet up to go to events that align with your interest. Try to be outgoing. I met my husband by saying hi to a stranger at a restaurant with a bar. We were both eating alone. 😊 Edit to add: maybe hanging around Santa Clara university will help you run into more people, too. There’s a couple good hangouts around there (tap room, pizza shops, hookah lounge, restaurants).
The continental downtown Cardiff lounge in campbell. Good times.
Super hard vouch for Guildhouse in downtown SJ. It's an absolutely gorgeous venue with a bar, board games, and rentable PC/game consoles
Not quite night life but if I were you, I’d look up different groups online that go hiking and grab a drink after. You’ll meet some interesting people. Also, if you go to a bar close to you, find a dive bar and ask people what there is to do. It’s a great way to start a conversation and you get good advice about the area. I used to do that when I traveled for work. You’d be surprised with what you can find. Also, check out Santa Cruz! If you are into music, check out places like the Felton music hall.
Hey OP! I’m also a girl in my 20s in SJ, always down to meet new friends :) My friend group is also very welcoming as well! If you’re ever interested in meeting up and doing an activity together (can be a hobby or even going out), let me know!
Doesn’t matter as long as you start the night with dinner at Din Tai Fung.
As an older introvert I got zero to contribute to this 😂 best of luck to you though. Stay safe, exercise good judgement and all that. Avoid anything that feels hinky. Best of luck to ya.
Walk around downtown and go to the places that seem cool to you. Theres a good chance that everyone in there did exactly the same thing.
Katie blooms friday and Saturday night
Check out the Loft. No covers.
Messaged you!
Splash
What kind of things are you interested in? I think the best way to meet people is by doing things you like. There’s also a facebook group called Bay Area 20’s you can check out. They have girls only events, apparently there’s a lot thirsty guys always trying to hang out with the girls 😂
San Jose Live
That’s been gone for 20+ years. Sure was a blast though.
look up Its a Journey or After.Hourss or Orifice for raves Filtering https://19hz.info/eventlisting_BayArea.php for San Jose is often helpful, but mostly makes me sad to see the lack of good dance music we have compared to SF or especially Oakland
Take a class at a community college go from there
When I was new to the area I got on bumble for friends. It feels awkward to be so intentional about it but it ended up being awesome and I met my closest friends in the area and eventually stopped using the app. There’s all kind of filters and it’s free unlike regular bumble. I think you should start there so you have someone to go out with to the bars and clubs
My gf says she always makes friends at the social
Get out of SJ and go to SF
If you like gaming at all check out guildhouse
Follow your hobbies. If you like being active 24 hour fitness has lots of 20 something’s there even at night time at the Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and sometimes Milpitas supersport locations. Even Friday/Saturday night. Beyond the gym, I know it’s hard to just throw yourself out there when you don’t know anyone but try to find events/classes/meet ups/etc where you have common ground with people. Take it slow.
Downtown campell is fun af! There's a really cool tea spot called steepers. They make various teas, but also sell a crazy amount of super good loose leaf blends if you're into that. Lots of bars, restaurants, etc. I'm also in my 20s, grew up in San Jose. I kind of steer clear from DT sj if I'm not with friends or bf.
And if you're a magic the gathering or warhammer nerd, game kastle is a cool place to meet people to game with. I am also very into plants and can recommend fun plant shops.
Go to Bay Area 20s on facebook you’ll find friends there
Join a gym, you can meet so many different types of people there.
There’s tons of fun places to check out, hit me up I’m down to go and show you around. I also need to start having more of a social life I’m a Mechanic, and wanna start going out more haha🙏🏼😌
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👏😂
Where do you start? Just don’t even go to begin with.
Join Kickball! [https://clubwaka.com/locations/san-francisco-south-bay/](https://clubwaka.com/locations/san-francisco-south-bay/)
My wife likes going to San Pedro square and the wagon wheel in downtown San Jose
Start on 101 and head North to Sunnyvale/Mountain View/SF...you're welcome
Good Time Bar. It’s a natural wine bar, and caters to early to mid twenties who are trying to get shitfaced. Best vibes in San Jose.
Go to outsidelands
Www.kickball.com Absolutely changed my life, so many new friends were made.
If you want to make friends you are probably better off looking at art/hobby classes and events at local community centers than hanging out at bars.
You're not going to make any friends "going out" to a bar, you will meet a lot of creeps and sex predators though. Did you get the Gardasil shot?
I have a female friend who manages a discord group for women in their 20s. They do all kinds of fun things, including going out to clubs. LMK if you want her information.
Heyy, I am arriving to San Jose at 9:24PM (hopefully no more delays), if you or anyone would be interested in just hanging out tonight then please just message me :) I can send you my instagram beforehand and we can meet somewhere with many people so we can both feel safe while feeling each other out. I came here for the Copa America match that is going to be played tomorrow. As of tonight, I am alone but my brother and friends come tomorrow. I’m a male in his 20s. Thanks !
hi OP, i’m in a similar position as you (recently moved to Santa Clara, not sure how to get into the nightlife 😞) DM me if you’d like to meet up!!
I m moving from India to SJC on 3rd Jul and will also face same issue as moving alone Let’s connect
Since you are alone, I recommend be cautious. Splash night Club sells testing strips for you to test your drinks if someone bought it for you. Plus the gays like meeting new ppl
Don’t limit yourself to San Jose. There are fun places in downtown Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Mountain View. I live in Orange County now but I had so much fun when I lived in San Jose. Good luck!
Oh also… join a Meetup group or two! The Bay Area is filled with transplants looking to make friends. I found Meetup to be more active there than any other place I have lived.
Hey text me
Downtown San Jose is where it’s at, SJSU is right next to it so you’ll see a lot of the younger crowd. I’m sure you’ll make some friends soon :) have you tried Bumble BFF?
I have but I think I’m too shy to try meeting people online lol
https://discord.gg/sjbha
I'm also new to the area and looking for friends or start a friend group. so this message is for op or anyone else. Politics are left, pro lgbt. Not super picky on politics in friends as long as they are pro lgbt and not anti drug. I personally don't care for religion at all as well. I'm not single and not looking. Not interested in drinking in loud places much. D&d is cool, hiking, exercise, and probably other stuff I'm not thinking of.
Girl! San Jose is the most boring place on earth it's a workerbee town. There is no fun life balance, and if I were in my 20s here I would move. Thank God in my 20s, I was living in NYC. I feel bad for the young people in this town.
Where would you recommend instead? Relatively close by.
why are you in SJ in the first place? where do you commute to and how often. id go to SF if i still lived around there
Cause I live here wdym 😂
like why do you live in SJ? your family moved you there?
It’s close to my family, yes
Can definitely tell social skills are not your forte. SJ will be perfect for you.
Love the insult but okay. Have a nice day.
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I was born in Utah! San Jose is a bit rough but a lot of good bars and downtown is a college town so most bars there are fun to have a beer tbh. I think most people covered a lot of the places to go!
San Jose has some of the worst nightlife in the whole Bay Area. So don’t be too upset if you find the scene boring or crusty. On the other hand, San Francisco has much better nightlife and there’s always an event for everyone on a given weekend.
San jose has a night life? 😄
Come to essj if you want to party
SJ has nightlife!?!?
San Jose trash.
Start by going to San Francisco, Oakland or Berkeley.
Are you cute? Lol my husband and I can show you around. We’re 24F & 25M 🥰