55 South

This place has always been good, but hadn't been here for awhile. They've revamped their drink menu for more tiki-oriented options, and they're all terrific! They don't short-change you on the alcohol either. Likewise, their food menu has changed -- still some old favorites, but a lot of really well done share plates. And the prices! They're about 20% lower than everyone else. They got it completely right!

I don't frequent this bar often but when I do I have a great time. The drinks are delicious but on the pricey side. It's what you should expect from a crafted cocktail in San Jose. The staff was nice. I love the menu. It was fun, whimsical but tastefully presented. The bar itself is visually pleasing and beautifully lit. I think this would be a fantastic place to have a date. The booths are spacious but intimate at the same time. You could have a conversation and hear one another. I would love to come again and see how the space changes based on the night of the week. I stopped by on a Wednesday night.

Happy hour from 4-7pm. Came on Tuesday around 6PM. A lot of space at the bar. At least 4 tables available. Great food, good selection for happy hour drink. A little loud but not enough to shout.

*Security guard laid his hands on me* Been going here for years and love the holiday decorations. However, this is the first time I’m leaving a review because of how I was treated. I’m sure the security guard will have a different version that paints him in a good light while I’m the ogre. I was kicked out for taking napkins to use. The same napkins that are on the bar when you need them. Apparently to the security guard you need permission to grab them. Told him in a neutral voice that I needed napkins. By talking back, apparently that was considered “giving him attitude”. He then followed me to my table and shoved me and kicked me out. The security guards outside were actually incredibly nice and apologized to me. However I do not appreciate the inside security guards laying his hands on me when I gave no attitude and didn’t resist anything. I’ve never been kicked out a bar but I’d give the service a 0 purely for that guard. The worst part of this is he went to my friends table and blatantly lied saying I walked behind the bar and stole a bunch of napkins. I took 2 napkins and did not walk behind the bar! The napkins are literally in front of the bar! 55 South, he was probably having a bad night but I’ll take my business to mini boss and paper planes from now on. If that security guard ever touches me again, I’ll contact my lawyer.

Came here as vendor for an event and this is by far one of the best bars I've been to. The decor, the staff, the atmosphere... Also heard the drinks were top notch as well!

Amazing place! Great service and really good drinks.

My old stomping grounds. Haven’t been back in a while since I moved away from Downtown San Jose. They still have one of the most impressive whisky collections I’ve ever seen. The old fashioneds are the best here and I’m not sure why no where else has been able to replicate it. I’m glad they’re still doing well but I’ll have to try to come back more often.

I’m so impressed! I came in on a Tuesday night looking for dinner and a good drink. There were two bartenders, and both were amazing. I started with a margarita made with Forteleza Añejo. The bartender used great, fresh ingredients – so good. The other bartender made a Naked and Famous. I mentioned that I don’t like a super smoky mezcal, and the drinj he made me was perfectly balanced. I ordered the beef stew – so good! I can’t wait to go back!

Came in during the Halloween season to experience the holiday vibe and drinks. The place was decorated like the series, Stranger Things. They really went all out and added lots of touches from the series. Welcomed to Stranger Drinks in the upside down. It was a slow night so service was great.

This is such a fun bar and a must for the holidays!!! It's decorated so amazingly, I love all the lights! There is wait service when you sit at a booth and you can order food/ drinks. The Christmas drinks are so so good, some of my favorite out of all the Christmas bars in the area. The Jjnglebird was really yummy. I def wanna be back before the holiday season ends!

We had our double date last night here. It became pretty busy on a Sunday night. Lol We got there about 7:00pm, and we snag the last booth that was open. The place was decked out in Christmas decor galore! My man and I got the Pineapple Upside Down drink, Sippin Santa & Cheesy Olive Bread. The festive mugs are very adorable! The drinks were strong, but tasty! And OMFG.... I love the Cheesy Olive Bread!!! It's super yummy with the soft and crunchy bread with scrumptious cream cheese! Mmmmm... Then for round 2 we got the Secret Santa & Merry Mai Tai. Again very cute cups! Mermaid Santa?!?!?! We also got the charcuterie board, which was pretty good. I enjoyed our time there. It's so festive, and they played Christmas music. Our server was friendly and pretty attentive. The bathroom was pretty clean. I would definitely return again to this spot. :)

This is one of my go to places whenever I'm downtown. They change up the menu frequently and always new dishes to try. We came early on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't packed at all. We thought it didn't open yet...it was nice since we could really catch up and hand out. The service was great. Staff was attentive and checked on us frequently. Food: cauliflower dish was so good. Flavorful and cauliflowers cooked with tenderly but not mushy. They had some sauce on sides of dish that has a good kick. The black latte drink wasn't my favorite but the others ones were strong and tasty.

Updating my review to 5 stars because Chastin provided awesome service and I realized they have more than just two bathrooms. Also really enjoyed frosting bite with vodka! The decor is still on point for Christmas too!

Definitely a fun place, especially for those 30ish & under. Came with my niece and her husband and it was a very festive environment as it was the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was full on Christmas decor & Christmas themed drinks & glassware. It was crazy packed, but managed to ger a spot at the bar. Bonus that there are street vendors selling food outside, so once you finish your drink, fill the tummy with some food before heading home.

This place is pretty chill and great for a short hanging out. Vibe is pretty chill. Service was great. Good variety of beers. The bread is a must try.

Bad service, overpriced drinks, they did not seem to enjoy my presence, didn't like it whatsoever

Horrible service. Overpriced way to crowded We had a horrible time Our boys trip was absolutely ruined by the terrible service

This was a restaurant that a friend recommended that we check out before a comedy show at the San Jose Improv theater, as the location is quite close to it. The interior is fairly spacious and dimly lit, but we were able to be seated as a party of 4 right away. The service was good and the waiters were friendly, with nice recommendations for what to get. For their food and drinks, I got the Night in Cancun cocktail, their Chicken Tinga hot pocket, and also The Bear sandwich. I have to say, all of these were delicious and definitely surpassed my expectations. The cocktail is pretty creative, with a tasty hibiscus foam on top that gives it a unique look. The Chicken Tinga hot pocket is probably the best hot pocket I've had in my life as it bursts with flavor and has a great crispiness to it. The Bear was also delicious, with really tender and juicy meat inside. If you are looking for a place to eat in Downtown San Jose, 55 South is not a place that you should miss if you want some great food.

I haven't been to 55 S. in such a long time, I wanna say it was before the pandemic! Lol particular Saturday night I was rather surprised to see Post Street shut down permanently, and there were a bunch of outside vendors. It looked really well lit and very Friendly to walk down. As we got into 55 south, they were mixing with the live DJ and some people are dancing and hanging out in boots. We went up to the bar and ordered our drinks. I got a lemon drop and my friend asked the bartender to make something with tequila and he made this beautiful concoction with a macaroon on top!! She said it was delicious, but had no idea what it was! Lol Our drinks were good! People were interesting, and the music was live. I will definitely come back again!!

55 South is one of those go-to spots in Downtown- from the comfy atmosphere to the cute themes!! It is one of my favorites to catch up with a colleague after work or hangout with my girlfriends before a night out. Tonight, 55 has a watercolor theme! I ordered the So Oolong & Goodbye, which is marked by a Totoro on the menu- so cute!!! The drink was smooth, a creative twist on the lemon drop- with notes of honey and passionfruit. Basically a better version of a lemon iced tea!! It also came with a mini macaron on top, a adorable touch. I also got the Chicken Tinga Hot Pocket- sometimes you need a good balance of savory with sour- and this was the perfect combination. The hot pocket came perfectly crispy- and left me feeling warm and fuzzy after taking a bite!!! Def would recommend getting this combination if you come here on a night out!! Staff were super friendly and quick with rollout of drinks and food! I came early on a Saturday night- so the fellow customers here are on an intimate date or catching up with friends. Janet and Nina were amazing servers- so attentive and so friendly!! Thank you for the welcoming energy and makingmy evening special!!!

Raymond was an exceptional server. He bantered with us and engaged in our conversations in a way that really made us feel like we were hanging out in our living room. I tried their house cocktail with Luna tequila. At $15 dollars a drink it felt like such a great find in the local area considering how expensive drinks can get when it's not happy hour! Such a great spot to catch up with friends. On a Thursday night the vibe was quiet enough to chit chat but still a fun spot to grab a drink

Bad service and the bartenders were rude. They have all there drinks overpriced and the people are weird.

I waited to order a quick snack and I waited so long in order for me to get someone's attention. I still Haven't been asked if I'm doing okay I am still waiting to place my food order and still no one asked me it's ridiculous, if they're this busy they should hire more ppl who can make drinks and order food. Seriously..

Lunar New Year pop up at 55 South! It's really great that the bar took time to decorate and create a cocktail menu for Lunar New Year. There are 8 specialty craft cocktails on this menu to celebrate the holiday. We had a great time trying these creative cocktails. A few really stood out. Rice Cookie - top favorite! Shochu, black sesame, sweetly fermented rice. This cocktail had great balance. First Banchan - for the adventurous ones Gin, cucumber, sesame, and kimchi sour. This one surprised us. It's on the savory side but subtle. Reminds me of kimchi cucumbers. Such a fun drink! Coconut Candy - nostalgic Cocchi Americano, coconut, jackfruit, tangerine. On the sweet side but reminds me of the Asian coconut candies we used to eat during LNY! Don't forget about food! This was the first time we've really tried the food. So good! Our top favorites were the cheesy olive bread, chicken tinga hot pocket, aloha shrimp tacos, and duck confit sandwich. We were told that the LNY pop up usually runs for one week but was extended it to 2 weeks this year. Last day to check it out will be February 9th!

Super friendly staff that really make the vibe and overall experience amazing. Drinks were a solid 10/10, and happy hour is definitely the time to go for the best deals. All the food was delicious, but the bao buns and chicken tinga were the group favorites.

HEALTH HAZARD! The drinks they serve in ceramic cups are MOLDY! The bartender swore it wasn't after explaining it happened in the dishwasher, meaning it literally is mold. I felt queasy after. They didn't even offer a refund for the unpleasant experience.

Have been to This place earlier as well and it's always GR8 !! The drinks are mind boggling and so is the service. Maggie was so nice and helpful !! She helped us select the drinks and had gr8 recommendations ..... Give 5 stars to this place Will come again ...

I've recently been to 55 South twice because of their Lunar New Year limited menu (I think that's available through Sunday 2/2!) and I was very pleasantly surprised! It's been so long since I've been there, and they've really stepped it up! They had special decorations up for lunar new year and it was absolutely gorgeous. We liked the drinks so much last Friday that we made plans to come back yesterday again. Service was fantastic. Both times we were there relatively early in the night (7-8pm) so it wasn't too crowded. The first time we sat at the bar and the bartender was really friendly. He told us that the Lunar New Year drinks menu is the work of Nikolai - who will also be coming up with a special menu for their 12th anniversary next month! We'll have to come back for that too! The second time, we snagged a booth and the staff was really good about coming around to get our drinks orders. Drinks: Herbology milk punch - my absolute favorite - and the one they have limited supplies of and they sell out of it! It's mostly jasmine forward, and you can't really taste the tequila or the lemongrass. First banchan - second favorite - it literally tastes like a refreshing spicy cucumber banchan. One of the people at the table said it was like drinking soy sauce so definitely more on the savory side - but me and another person really enjoyed it! Lucky treasure shots- a little big in my opinion. I had it last Friday and they were a bit more Cointreau forward, but last night one of my friends had it and said it was more lychee/vodka and a bit bitter. I've had more of the other drinks but found the coconut candy to be a little too sweet for my tastes. Vietnamese mojito was nice and tart. Food-wise, the glazed pork belly baos were my favorite - really flavorful and the pork belly was juicy! Nice balance with the sauce, pickled cucumber and meat. I was a little let down by the crispy duck confit sandwich last week because I didn't feel like the balance was there (maybe too much bread, not enough sauce/pickled cucumber?). Basque cheesecake was very tasty. Overall, had a really great time both the nights I visited and I will come back again to try some of their other menu items! They really had some unique drinks that I will be sad to not see again (unless they add to their regular menu).

I was a student at San Jose State this was a best spot for older kids to go when we didn't want to be around the younger crowds. I recommended the garlic bread and Mac and cheese you can't go wrong with that. Food has great flavor and so do the drinks as there are many options to choose from. I recommend the clover club as a nice drink it is fruity but not overly sweet.

55 South has a great happy hour filled with great drinks and delicious bites. There is something for everyone on the menu. All of the food and drinks on the happy hour and regular menu are reasonably priced. The workers at 55 South were very friendly and really made the overall experience amazing. All the food that I shared with the table was so delicious. All of the food was perfectly cooked. Each dish that my party ordered was delicious and had unique bold flavors. What my party ordered: Preserved Lemon Hummus Pork Belly Boa Buns Tarzan Carnitas Tacos Baby Back Ribs Chicken Tinga Mac n cheese The Lemon Hummus, Boa Buns and Chicken Tinga were my personal favorites. Can't wait to go back 55 South and try more items on the menu.

Finally got around to visiting this spot! Excited that it was during their Christmas themed! Love the decor and festivities. Service was a bit slow and very packed! They had good music and a few tables to sit down. My friends and I got lucky because we were standing near the tables and a girl approached us asking if we wanted their table since they were leaving. SCORE!! Such cute Christmas cups and decor. I enjoyed the Yule Tide so much that I ordered 2! Overall great vibes and drinks here.

The Sippin' Santa has arrived in San Jose for 2024! Stopped by 55 South for a pre-wedding event and I felt like I was taken back to Hawaii with the holiday decor and Mele Kalikimaka sign! Each of the holiday drink comes in a cute colored mug that is also purchasable to take home as a unique souvenir. The Sharkey cup was tempting to take home! The Mai Tai was really delicious, fruity and easy to drink but packs a punch! The Surf Nut was creamy, but the alcohol taste shown through so I didn't like it as much. Both were strongly made; I didn't need any other drinks to keep going! The cheese bread we ordered had generous white cheese flowing from the cuts and easy to share. Overall great experience and would love to return again.

Excellent cocktail bar with great bartenders who know their stuff. Extremely busy on weekends. Weekdays less so, but that gets you some 1:1 time with great bar staff and an excellent little food menu. Great music and vibes rounds it all off.

Please never get rid of the braised short ribs or shishito peppers!! Am I allowed to request to bring back the SouthSide Tea?! 10/10, Milk Punch. Always a great visit with no complaints. Everyone there is pleasant. Convenient parking garage and lot. Other great places in walking distance. Definitely a bar hopping scene.

This spot was a perfect stop for our holiday bar hopping on a Sunday night! It kinda full in there but there was still lots of space to move around and was not too hard to find a seat. I really loved all the Christmas decor and the cups that the holiday drinks came in. My friend and I both got the sippin Santa which was a little on the stronger side but perfect way to get the buzz going for the night!

I chose 55 South for a new gals' Christmas gathering experience. The manager called me to confirm our reservations. The wonderfully over-the-top decor was delightful, our set-up of tables was great, & our server was absolutely fabulous! The cocktails & food appealed to all the tastes in our group, which doesn't always happen. Every aspect of 55 South receives an A+ rating. This hidden gem deserves as much attention as its more famous neighbor across the way!

Best bartenders in San Jose and the best mac n cheese of my life!! Definitely try the milk punch (but only one.)

Came for the Christmas Bar on a Sunday night and had a great time! Decor and holiday themed drinks were on par! They were slammed but our server was kind and courteous even though we were kind of in a rush! Will definitely be back next holiday season!

Late review, but I came here in December when they had Sippin' Santa which is when it turns into a Christmas Bar! We came here as part of a mini Christmas bar hop night before going to a Sharks game. I loved the Tiki Holiday decor! It was perfect to get in the mood for the Christmas season! I got the Holiday on Ice drink which was delicious. They serve the drinks in adorable Santa mugs. We ordered the cheesy olive bread which is a must! It's stuffed with cream cheese, it's so delicious! I can't wait to come back next Christmas!

This spot is another one of my favorites when I'm hanging out with friends downtown. Not only do they have themed drinks that are delicious, their food is pretty good too! The first time I went here was with friends to get some content for our foodie IG pages. We were feeling snack-ish, but could decide what to get on the menu because everything looked so good! In true foodie fashion, we ordered almost one of everything and shared. Delish! I was shocked to find that everything was super good! Our server was nice enough to give us suggestions, as well. There were no regrets in regards to what we ordered. The food looked so good that I had some younger followers ask if you had to be 21 and over to get in if all you wanted was the food. Another nice thing is that their menu changes regularly to match the seasons. If you haven't tried this spot, I definitely recommend going.

I had been here a few times before when they had live bands and it was great. It was such an amazing time and was incredibly fun. Yesterday I came in early and was able to try the food which was AMAZING. I'm not going to lie I didn't have high expectations but it was amazing. My table and I got the cream cheese bread, the shrimp tacos, baharat roasted cauliflower, and the chicken tinga hot pocket. First off the chicken tinga was to die for. The sauce complimented the hot pocket perfectly and paired really nice with it. The cream cheese bread was also amazing. I personally did not like the shrimp tacos but my friends loved it. I personally felt like it lacked flavor (especially in comparison to the other two apps we had already tried), but my friends thought it didn't.The roasted cauliflower was decent, we ended up adding the chicken tinga sauce into the cauliflower and it made it taste even better!! I would recommend if you get the cauliflower mix it so that you get the different sauces on the side, it will make it taste better. I would definitely recommend getting the chicken tinga and cream cheese bread, if you don't you will seriously be missing out. Overall I really recommend checking this place out. The food was great, the ambiance was perfect, and everyone working there was incredibly kind and helpful! 10/10 definitely recommend checking it out!

Ended up here with my cousins during Thanksgiving break. It was a good crowd, good music, good service, and a lively vibe. Nina was our server and she made sure we were taken care of. Though seating is limited, there's enough space to move around and mingle.

Visited this place with my fam around 630pm-ish on a Saturday evening. It was already super packed in here! Such a cute place that's dressed in holiday spirit!!! Luckily we found two barstools available at the bar to order drinks and sit down for a bit. We ordered the Holiday on Ice, Sharkey's First Christmas, and Yule Tide. Holiday on Ice- similar to an espresso martini, not as strong, spicy! It was pretty good. Sharkey's First Christmas- I enjoyed this one, I think it was the pineapple juice that made it yummy and it really masked the alcohol Vodka lol Yule Tide- pretty strong! But it was drinkable haha I'm not really a cocktail drinker but it was nice to give a few of these holiday drinks a try! Bartenders were really sweet as well as the rest of the employees. Props to them for dealing with a super busy place and customers blocking the bar entrance lol. They were super patient and nice.

I had always stayed away from this place because I'd see it on Fridays and Saturdays, super crowded, with a frat house type of feel. Went here on a Thursday and it was great. Not too crowded, but not too dead either. Chill, friendly vibe, good service, good drinks.

Cool bar with really tasty cocktails! Had a lot themed drinks like Studio Ghibli, Powerpuff girls, etc, each was $16. Went on a Saturday and they had a great DJ! It got pretty crowded and was difficult to find a table, but a fun lively crowd fs

Was super packed at 10pm and had to wait a few minutes in line before going in. Went to order at the bar and waited a good 10 minutes before I got my order taken. The drink I got was good - tastes like juice but still strong. The ambiance is pretty loud but they played really good music (throwbacks + pop/trendy music). All the tables were full so we awkwardly stood on the floor with our drinks. By the time we left, the line was super long. Drinks and vibes were good, maybe don't let people in if it's overly crowded and the bartenders can't tend to everyone in a timely manner.

Great vibes all around! A go to spot for the older group, esp. on a FRIDAY. 90's on the soundtrack, great well crafted cocktails, and a lively atmosphere. Bathroom lines get cray for sure, and it can def. take a while to get a drink when it's a full house - but that's the usual bar scene in DTSJ overall. Also a seasonal plus - came here for their holiday experience finally this year && it was decked out and super fun/spirited! Nice Holiday inspired drinks and a unique Hawaiian holiday theme - which was fun. Unfortunate holiday cocktail were just OK for me... the holiday flavors were a little too sweet per my personal preference but still fun altogether! Personally love their regular cocktail menu much better!

I entered the club on Halloween night wearing LED mask. They let me in and then 10 minutes later security comes up to me and asks me to take my mask off so I simply asked why? And he said "because I work here". That's a low level person who cares about their weak status at a club! So I asked a legitimate question. I asked "why would you let me in if you aren't cool with mask?" And then he grabs me and starts to try and push me out? Like what kind of service is this? The security guy with beard! Maybe one day he can get over his ego! This place is going downhill bad unless owner changes these asshole securities.

Such a great venue with great drinks and ambience! Stopped by to check out the live music, it was better than expected. Staff is kind and welcoming. Highly recommend this place for live music.

I was in town to celebrate my friends 40th Birthday Day .We had a dinner and after we decided to come to 55 South for some dancing and drinks .They have a very cute outdoor patio with lights . We did not want to go to a night club or anything like that but we want to dance . So this place was perfect ! We got super excited to hear 90s music . That was the icing on the cake for us 40 year young's lol I was ordering my drinks at the bar and Scotty was my awesome friendly bartender! I felt like he was giving us a show every time he made a drink . Love his vibe ! I could tell he takes pride on what he does . The drinks were super good! I got the Bramble and the State of Grace drink but with Gin instead of vodka . I did not order any food since we had already had dinner I will have to try their food next time . We had a lot of fun we danced the night away till they closed . I recommend this place if you want some good drinks and do some dancing or just listen to some good music . I would definitely be back we had a blast .!

Dee is amazing! Literally pays attention to detail in the mist of chaos! These drink here are so developed. Kudos! Thank you for making my brother Juniors bday weekend special! You Rock Dee!

I love coming to 55 South for their holiday drinks! Their cups are cute and I like how their drinks are different from Paper Plane or Mini Boss. Their food here is decent as well. Their Mac and cheese is standard, cauliflower is good and their bread was ok. I would come again just for the drinks!

Yelp helped me find another really cool spot! We were not far away at 5 point when I felt like life is to short to drink all my drinks at one place, so we walked over to this place and while it was packed to the hilt we managed to immediately find two chairs at the bar. Jesse our bartender was polite, and made us some very nice drinks. He answered all my questions (which can be a lot sometimes) and efficiently did all the things a good bartender does. The place itself was like a physical manifestation of what celebration would look like. Can't imagine anyone walking in and not immediately feeling their mood lighten up! The festive ambience and well made spirits at this bar really make a person feel joyful. We had the green tea whiskey shots, the jingle birds and the secret Santa (which was my fave). Looking forward to going back!

came in on a friday night and it was absolutely packed, but drinks came reasonably fast. interior is super cute and festive for the holidays, good vibes. however i had the saddest vodka cran of my life here, basically just cranberry juice. disappointing!

I really like 55 South, it's becoming one of my favorite bars in Downtown San Jose. Last time I came here was to check out Sippin' Santa but I have also gone here during the non-holiday season. ID's are checked at the door to make things easier, also it's adults only. AMBIANCE A++ for ambiance - the vibe is great even when it's not Sippin' Santa. It's a very beautiful bar with the bartender area looking really cool and the classy leather booths. It does get busy at times, but otherwise it's a very chill cocktail bar without the rowdy-ness. During Sippin' Santa days the vibe is jolly with the decorations. String lights, a Santa statue, and even the drinks are festive with the cool holiday themed mugs. SERVICE The people who work here are super friendly, especially the bartenders. They work hard and a few of them are quite entertaining to watch making drinks quickly. From my observation, they're open to doing custom drinks if you can explain what goes into the cocktail (but their regular menu is also great so trust their judgement!). Getting orders is pretty easy if you're sitting/standing at the bar, but even if you sit down at one of the booths they're pretty good about checking in / getting your bill, etc. DRINKS It's a cocktail bar... so of course we come here for the drinks. I though the menu offering was pretty creative and fun, but you could still taste the alcohol/feel the buzz. SS implies it's part of the "Sippin' Santa" menu. Recently I've had the following: Smooth Arrangement: Disclaimer, this was their non-alcoholic option but if you're the DD or can't drink, this was actually really delicious. It's on the fruity and sweet side. Penicillin: This cocktail kind of reminded me of an old fashioned, but the honey and ginger were a nice touch. A great drink for those who like more Scotch or whiskey forward flavors. (SS) Surf Nut: A tropical drink fit for the holiday season. I really liked the coconut flavors between the coconut cream and water, but I could still taste the alcohol. I think the apricot brandy really stood out here. Recommended for those who prefer sweeter / fruity drinks. (SS) Secret Santa: This is a drink special that rotates, so you will need to ask the bartender for what's in it. At the time we went it was some kind of gingerbread themed drink with lots of booze like rum. Very strong but tasty. By the way, during Sippin' Santa they sell the fun mugs that they serve the drinks in. FOOD Although it's a cocktail bar... the good here is actually really good. Not at all the typical bar food and the portions are generous for the price and quality. Note that the menu seems to rotate / change depending on the season so I will provide feedback on food I had during my non-Sippin Santa visit. Tsukune Meatballs: These could have been a meal on our own; 3 meatballs and to our surprise, there was mashed potato underneath. The chicken meatballs were good and perfect for sharing in our group of 3. They had a nice ginger flavor with the sauce, very savory too. Can't go wrong with mashed potatoes either, they were nice and garlicky. Pork Belly: Points for both presentation and flavor - the pork belly looked good and it was good. Very tender and tasty with the cucumber relish it was topped with. Again, this could have been a meal on its own as it came on a nice bed of broccolini. Burrata: One of the better burratas I've had... even for a bar. The cheese was perfectly tangy and delicious with the toasted bread. They were really nice about giving us extra bread since we didn't want to waste the tomatoes. Kale Salad: This is not the type of salad I'd expect out of a bar - it was actually good and refreshing. Really complimented the protein options we ordered. I think they used a different type of kale where the leaves weren't super bitter, and the dressing was light and tangy with the tangerine pieces. OVERALL Great bar in Downtown San Jose; I just love there's a place where I can get good food AND drinks while in an aesthetically pleasing place. Drinks options are a little pricey but the concoctions are tasty/innovative and not nearly as expensive as some bars in the area. Plus the food is reasonably priced for the quality/quantity - again one of the better bars with good food in the area. Note: Street or garage parking only - however street parking is free after 6 pm and free all day on Sundays/holidays. I've never really had an issue finding street parking a few blocks over, and DTSJ is conveniently flat for walking.

Sippin' Santa is off the charts fun and one of the best holiday spots. Amazing cocktails, music, and vibes in all of downtown. They are also doing a bottle club too focusing on whiskey store picks-- absolutely a great local craft cocktail bar that everyone loves.

Came here for drinks! At the moment they have the holiday drinks, which are served in super cute x-mas mugs. what we order: -Surf nut 5/5 its like a coquito very good drink -Holiday on ice 4/5 tasted like horchata with rum -Secret Santa 4/5 it has grenadine Overall, was feeling the christmas spirit! the bar tenders were friendly and very fast at making their delicious drinks! maybe next time i will try their food.