Still O.G. & Alter Ego Cocktail Club

This is a not-so-hidden speakeasy kinda bar located inside the Still O.G. Bar….we reserved a table for 2 on a Friday night (y recommended) You get slot for 2 hours once your booking is accepted. We got a cozy corner, the ambience is dimly lit and moderately crowded and loud. We started off with a few cocktails and potato finger food. I ordered Gin and tonic for the second round and they have good collection of Gin. Overall, good vibe and a great date night spot.

Alter Ego is one of the better spots for unique libations and real conversations in downtown San Jose. Most clubs are so loud and obnoxious they are difficult to navigate for anyone with a sense of self. This place understands the fine line between cool and approachable. Ray took great care of me and my friend on a Saturday night. We tried his signature cocktail called the Proxima Vida... and it was delightful. Good smokey flavor and cool presentation. Their most impressive drink is their take on carrot cake (Buster and Babs) In a cocktail. It contains filtered curdled milk. Making weird shit functionally delicious is a fantastic bartender talent. Definitely worth a stop in if you can get a reservation. Thanks Ray for a great night.

Great vibe! Incredible staff. Amazing attention to detail. Back of the house much different than the front. The milk bread was 100% delicious. And the asparagus was tasty. I’m seafood allergic and plant based, they were very accommodating. Highly recommend.

This place is super busy. We did not have a reservation and we were a party of 6. We were told to come around 11 pm when they allow walk-ins. We went at 11 and waited like few minutes to enter together as they have capacity limit of 110 persons. The place is divided in 2 parts , alter ego, the speakeasy section is at the back. We just had drinks. All the citrus based drinks were really sour. Wouldnt recommend those. But the Slcoholoc coffee drink, the only hot drink in thd menu called kyuzhu coffee, was nicely spiked and strong and good for someone who need something hot to drink rather than iced and cold. Overall, ok place to hangout with friends if you can find place to sit.

Really cool and welcoming vibe. The low blacklights and the neon-esque signs make you feel like you're in a different atmosphere compared to the hectic party life of the rest of downtown San jose. Drinks are well made, bartenders were quick and very positive. Shout out to Keith for the great drinks! The front of the bar is more of a quick in-n-out service, while a fancier speakeasy inside requires reservations (or you can go onto a waitlist).

Still OG is one of our favorite bars - great vibes, great music, and great cocktails. our only complaint is that all of their cocktails are on draft, and anything ingredients beyond what’s on the menu are sparse. this means ordering off the menu and testing the bartenders’ mixology skills isn’t much of an option.

Didn’t try the food. This review: Cocktails = Food Perfect for a date night!! The vibe was amazing. The service was good as well. Such pretty drinks. Must try🍸 Everything is so good!!

Omg, I absolutely love this bar, great food and great service and most importantly the drinks and ambience are amazing ! Yesterday we went in and they had a hallowe’en theme!

Dark and moody speakeasy type bar, nothing else like this in Downtown San Jose! This bar is hidden in the back of Still OG (which itself is also great). Their drinks are very unique and playful. Order different ones so you can try more of them. Their food is fancy smaller bites, perfect for sharing but be sure to order a lot and even multiples of the smaller ones. Their Potato Pave and Bread & Butter were huge hits that we had to order multiple of. Be sure to get a res on OpenTable!

Service: easy to make reservations online. We were taken in right on time and were given welcome shots in the waiting area. Servers were great at recommending drinks and asking about allergies. Drinks took a bit of time to come out, though, and we were asked on a couple of occasions if they had the correct order in for us. Ambiance: came during the Halloween event. Decor and ambiance was amazing. Drinks were stylized to fit the theme. Servers also had stories to give about how they died. Drinks: drinks were definitely hits and misses for me. The ones I got I enjoyed (a coffee one and one that came with beef jerky), but the one my friend got (something with hojicha) tasted like dirty water. At about $20 a drink they're a bit pricey, but average for a speakeasy. We also got complimentary shots on close out, so can't complain too much!

My friends and I came to Alter Ego for their Halloween special event, and it did not disappoint! The place was well decorated and the staff had such detailed costumes -- it was super cool to see and experience. They had a special spooky-themed menu, which was very detailed and made the ordering process fun and exciting. As a detail-oriented person, I appreciated how much attention-to-detail they put into their Halloween event. The service was also great -- the staff was kind and accommodating. My friends and I had a great time here! :) The drinks were very unique and delicious! They were served in special spooky-themed glasses and cups, which were so unique and looked really good (honestly amazing presentation!). They had a variety of cocktails that featured unique flavor combinations that I don't typically see at bars, which was super cool. They had a wide range of cocktails -- from fruity to fresh to savory -- which I appreciated as someone who likes a savory cocktail. TLDR: great event and presentation, cool staff, yummy unique drinks :)

This place is super busy. We did not have a reservation and we were a party of 6. We were told to come around 11 pm when they allow walk-ins. We went at 11 and waited like few minutes to enter together as they have capacity limit of 110 persons. The place is divided in 2 parts , alter ego, the speakeasy section is at the back. We just had drinks. All the citrus based drinks were really sour. Wouldnt recommend those. But the Slcoholoc coffee drink, the only hot drink in thd menu called kyuzhu coffee, was nicely spiked and strong and good for someone who need something hot to drink rather than iced and cold. Overall, ok place to hangout with friends if you can find place to sit.

We're somewhat of frequent fliers at Alter Ego. I mean how can you resist the sexy vibes, phenomenal cocktails and food, and genuinely awesome people that work there. We love catching up with Elias and Rey over their yummy cocktails and chef Roberto's food always makes our tastebuds extra happy. I'm also stoked to see Keith Fox here. We loved his cocktails at Sidecar, and I'm hoping he will sneak his Tiki Nog into this year's holiday menu. Right now they have their Halloween event and they went all out. Don't miss the decor, spooky drink menu, and the creative ways the ghost bartenders departed our world. Creativity at it's finest.

Let's address the subtraction of 1 star straightaway. I'm just sore about waiting an hour to get into the speakeasy and still not getting in. It looked so cool and I was so excited but it just didn't happen this trip and I probably won't make it back to San Jose to try again. Sadness. Even still, we did LOVE Still OG and we had a GREAT time! Drinks were delicious and the yakitori was sublime. We loved everything we ordered but the chicken thigh was outstanding. Such a fun place. Great vibes!

Overall: A // 5 stars Very difficult speakeasy to get into, but I can totally see why. The vibe reminds me of my favorite NYC-style speakeasies, with hand-drawn menu aesthetic and thought provoking cocktails with unique flavor combinations and presentation. Black sesame espresso is a new flavor combination that I fell in love with, so I was eager to try the Kyushu Coffee which featured just that! The drink is served hot, and with a cute leaf cookie. I greatly enjoyed the flavor combination, which was sweet, salty, earthy, bitter, and alcoholic, all balanced into one drink. I'll definitely have to swing by again to try the rest of their intriguing menu. Food: +1 Presentation: +1 Price: +1 Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: +2 Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats

3% credit card fee. For Negroni Week 2025, there were two adventurous Negronis: - 4.6/5: Orto amaro: $21, made by Andrew: Gin, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Tomato shrub, Pasubio amaro, pistachio infusion. The shrub adds a savory/spicy/sparkly sensation. - 4.0: Silk Sheets and Sweets $19: A rum-based white negroni with chocolate/almond flavors. Rum, Palo Cortado sherry, white creme de cacao, Plantary coconut rum. For the food: - 5.0: The Bread is as good as ever. - 4.8: Chocolate souffle is great, but very heavy on the salt. It should be named "salted chocolate souffle" - 3.0: Foraged mushroom and egg. Useful as a dip for the bread. - 3.0: The Passard egg. Great concept, but kind of underwhelming.

Date: Saturday, July 12th, 2025 Time: 7:30pm Party of: 6 Reservation Made: via OpenTable about 1.5 weeks earlier Note: CC required to make rez, cancellation fee is $25 per person *Dog Fight ($19) x3 *Ardbeg Uigeadail ($20) x2 *Coke ($3) *GL 2019 Brassfield, Cabernet Sauvignon ($18) *Potato Pave ($16) *Bread & Butter ($10) *Credit Card Surcharge: 3% ($4.32) For an after dinner drink, my group came to Alter Ego. We were celebrating a birthday, so the bday boy actually chose this spot. I adore a good speakeasy and was happy to check it out. Tho at one point, we were going to have a party of 7, but they cannot accommodate parties that large for a regular rezzie, so please keep in mind. I chatted thru the OpenTable app and found this out. One person dropped out so our table for 6 worked out! I got the Dogfight - Bourbon / Amaro / Aperitivo / Lemon Essence / Orange Bitters. I'm typically a manhattan or old fashioned kinda gal, so this was what I gravitated towards. It was nicely balanced. The bread and butter were good for snacking while sipping on our drinks. The vibe is kinda dark, swanky, plush. I wouldn't mind coming back for another cocktail. REVIEW #3817

I really love the experience at Alter Ego - I've gone 4 times in 2025 with smaller and larger (4) groups. My favorite is sitting at the bar, where we can converse with the bartenders as they're making cocktails and really get into some of the history or thinking behind the drinks (our bartenders have come up with the seasonal drinks!) I'm a little bit less of a fan of the tables - some of the chairs are velvety stools and I just need some back support lol. They have seasonal menus - the first time I came was at the recommendation of a bartender at 55 South (across the street) at Lunar New Year. Since then, they've cycled through their spring and summer cocktails (bartender estimated that the fall cocktails would come late October). They've also updated their food menu a few times. The food is usually pretty small plates - we've liked the milk bread and butter, and recently the grilled melon (yum!). We have not opted for larger plates. Alter Ego is what I would call a foodie cocktail bar. Like, don't come here to get smashed - the drinks are pricey and complex and getting too carried away in conversation makes for subpar savoring. I apologize for sounding so pretentious, but my experiences here have been better elevated in smaller groups with friends who want to sip and break down how the flavors meld together. Come here to be adventurous!! The drinks here will surprise you. My favorites in the last couple visits were cocktails on the regular menu (ps! Bartender said they'll remove some drinks and put new ones onto the regular menu soon too!): La Cosa Nostra, Kyushu Coffee (warm- and can also be made non-alcoholic) and beatbox babs. I'm OBSESSED with La Cosa Nostra, which was reminiscent of a salad in the form of a cocktail. The gin/tomato/lemon/herbs gave it a really refreshing taste that was topped with a whipped Parmesan cream that somehow really nicely balanced it out with some saltiness and richness. Overall, super recommend Alter Ego especially if you're down to try new flavor profiles and combinations. We have not had to wait if we showed up at opening and wanted to sit at the bar (last time was on a Sunday evening from 5 to 6:30ish and there was space for walk-ins).

Most speakeasies have a restaurant in the front and a hidden bar in the back. Alter ego is a hidden restaurant behind the vinyl bar Still OG. This is one of my favorites in the Bay Area. The Chef is from Saison in SC and he oversees the me u at Eos & Nyx, but he experiments in the kitchen here. The restaurant is dimly lit with lounge atmosphere feel which is cool sleak and romantic. The bread and butter is amazing. The freshly baked bread has a Hawaiian roll consistency. The potatas bravas were recommended by our server and it was great. You dipped the potato wedges into the cheese sauce, which is amazing. I ordered the steak and the sever recommended getting what I believe was an egg and mushroom dish to pair with it. I reluctantly ordered it. You take pieces of the mushroom and eat it on the slice of steak and it elevated the delicious steak to the next level. It's a craft cocktail bar so you know the drinks were on point. After being disappointed with a couple of the new restaurants that opened in the south Bay, I was pleasantly surprised that this place hit a home run. Five stars unquestionably.

A friend of mine told me about Still OG and Alter Ego and I'm so glad we checked it out! Still OG is a vinyl bar in the front that is open to all and Alter Ego is a cocktail lounge that also serves food, which you need a reservation for. Still OG is quite small but lively, the people there seemed to be enjoying themselves and the music was great. We were there for Alter Ego though! All the staff here were very kind and attentive, and our orders were taken quickly. We went for their prix fix menu which included Japanese milk bread, a hamachi starter with pickled strawberries, steak or pork entrees, and a chocolate soufflé with banana creme for dessert. My party all agreed that the food blew our expectations out of the water. We expected it to be pretty good, but everything was honestly delicious, I didn't have a complaint about any dish. The cocktails here are phenomenal as well. I had two different gin cocktails and loved both. All in all a solid date night spot if you can splurge! They mentioned rotating their menu out in a couple of weeks for the fall, so we already want to come back soon.

Unfortunately they kept us waiting 30 minutes past our reservation time. Otherwise, we had a wonderful evening at Alter Ego with festive spooky decor in Oct 2025! We loved the crispy potatoes and truffle sauce as well as the scallops. The drinks were unique with fun presentation.

We've been trying to get into Alter Ego for a while now. Tho to be fair, we never make RESERVATIONS. LOL! We usually just stop by and hope for the best, but we're often turned away. This time, we lucked out and snagged a table on a Wednesday night. And WOW, what an experience! Yes, it's PRICEY, but in our opinion, well WORTH the money. The cocktails alone are a whole event. It was actually hard to choose because every single one on the menu sounded INCREDIBLE. I ended up going with the ASTEROID BLUES, mostly because I was curious how AVOCADO would work in a cocktail and this one looked really FUN. And let me tell you... the DRAMA! It came out with a cloud of bubbles symbolizing an asteroid and even had a tiny astronaut figure next to it. The PRESENTATION was next-level, and the taste lived up to the HYPE. The bubbles added such a fun texture, and the lemony sour notes balanced everything BEAUTIFULLY So UNIQUE! For food, we shared the BREAD & BUTTER and the POTATO PAVE. Both were great, but that bread & butter? Forever living in my taste buds rent-free. It was that good. Next time, we wanna try the $80 prix fixe menu because if those two plates impressed us this much, we can only imagine what the full experience is like. Also want to shout out the SERVICE! Absolutely TOP-NOTCH. Everyone made us feel super WELCOMED, and the staff was ATTENTIVE without being overbearing. Bonus points for the VIBEY music playing in the background. We'll definitely be back. HIGHLY recommend if you're looking for a STANDOUT night in downtown.

I really wanted to give this place a glowing review... but here we are. One star -- and that's only because Yelp won't let me give zero. My friends and I decided to check this place out after hearing all the hype. Big mistake. My friend wasn't feeling well, and since there's just one shared bathroom for the speakeasy and one individual for the front bar , I politely knocked and asked the people inside to please hurry. The door flies open and two girls start yelling that one of them had "just been discharged from the hospital." First of all -- if you just left the hospital, why are you at a bar? Second, people had been waiting 20 minutes for you. But it gets better. My friend finally uses the bathroom, and as soon as we step out, two bouncers are in my face accusing me of calling one of the girls a "b****." Pretty sure I didn't -- but thanks for the dramatic fan fiction. And note to staff: maybe don't get inches from a woman's face while you're trying to play hero. So, if you're looking for a place where: 1. You can wait an eternity for a bathroom, 2. Get falsely accused of saying things you didn't, 3. Have staff invade your personal space, and 4. Watch bouncers side with whoever they're sleeping with instead of listening to both sides... ...then congrats -- you've found the perfect spot.

My awesome hubby picked this place for an impromptu Date Nite. We had a fantastic time (so he's a keeper) I truly loved the vibe and the interplay with Still OG. The music jams were different in each space (thus "Alter Ego"). Walking into Alter Ego was like going to a sexy speakeasy where everyone looked amazing and was having a great time. Our servers were awesome and so helpful when we were trying to decide what drinks to get. We got the Pre Fixe meal. Each selection was beautiful and tasty. My favorites were the Bread and Butter, the Passard Egg, and the chocolate soufflé. I need to come back to try the rest of the menu and the various Japanese gins.

Alter Ego is the speakeasy in the back that usually needs a reservation while Still OG is the bar in the front, which you usually can walk in to. Came here with a few friends without a reservation, so we only spent time at Still OG. The vibes and music were really nice and not ratchet. Wasn't too crowded either. Decided to try the So Fresh, So Clean. Absolutely amazing drink if you're looking for something that tastes basically like a Melona popsicle bar! I also tried a few of my friends' drinks, such as the Santa Clara Twilight and Mr Roboto, which were both also great, but So Fresh, So Clean definitely was my favorite. I'd love to come back and visit Alter Ego when I get the chance to, but Still OG is pretty solid for bars in SJ and will definitely be back even if I can't snag a reservation at Alter Ego!

I've been eyeing Alter Ego for a while and haven't had luck with open reservations on the weekend, so my boyfriend and I decided to go on a Thursday night instead, which worked out and was a great experience!! The vibes were chill and atmosphere was great with dim lighting and good music. Each table was reservation based and we had about 2 hours. We ordered the Whistling Dixie, Shrub Life, and Kyushu Coffee which were the best cocktails we've had. The bartender recommended the Calabrian Spritz, but we didn't get to try it. We didn't get food, but based on the menu it seemed elevated and not too pricy. Overall, Alter Ego is a nice little speakeasy with cool and creative cocktail concepts - definitely worth getting a reservation for!

Gorgeous vibe at Alter Ego Cocktail Club. After enjoying dinner at another restaurant, my husband said lets find a speakeasy in the area. We came across Alter Ego, and had a great experience. We arrived with no reservations, and the host was able to accommodate us. THE MUSIC SELECTION WAS ON POINT! You can tell they have someone curating the playlist, and that is one component I appreciate. Keith was our mixologist for the night, and we had a great conversation with him. He gave us some great whiskey recommendations, and made some delicious drinks. My favorite was the clarified milk cocktail. The full cocktail is $40, but definitely shareable. You can also ask for a single pour which is half the price. They also have some other fun options, with fun presentations. Alter Ego was great time!

Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG - A Unique Dual Experience in San Jose I have visited Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG twice since February, both times after dinner for late-night drinks. One important note is that reservations for Alter Ego Cocktail Club are essential because the space is intimate and seating is limited. While waiting, my friends and I enjoyed cocktails and bar fare at Still OG, where the atmosphere is vibrant and nostalgic. The DJ booth is beautifully decorated, and the DJs spin classic hits on vinyl. They are personable, engaging, and clearly passionate about music, which adds to the fun energy of the night. Alter Ego Cocktail Club, on the other hand, offers a more refined lounge setting with dim lighting, comfortable seating, and curated small plates. I sat at the bar and had an excellent experience with bartenders who were true mixologists. They were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable in both their craft and conversation. The one time I arrived without a reservation, I found the waitlist process confusing. If the reservation system does not allow walk-ins to be properly tracked, I recommend having a pen and paper sign-in to avoid the awkward experience of chasing staff or being forgotten. Must-Try Cocktails at Alter Ego Cocktail Club Canyon Lullaby ($20) - 4.8/5 Rye, aromatic bitters, passion fruit, Calpico, honey, and lemon. Beautifully presented with a balanced flavor profile. The passion fruit stands out, and the bitters complement the sweetness perfectly. Annabel Lee ($19) - 4.5/5 Bolivian brandy, pommeau, aperitivo, smoked pineapple, chili, tamarind, egg white, and lime. The tamarind and lime slightly overpower the pineapple, but it is still a bold and complex cocktail worth sipping slowly. Asteroid Blues ($20) - 4/5 Tequila, manzanilla, avocado, lychee, and lemon. The drink looked stunning, though the flavors were more muted than expected. The lychee and lemon could have been more pronounced, but it remained lightly sweet and enjoyable. Final Thoughts Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG offers two distinct yet complementary nightlife experiences. Still OG delivers high-energy fun with music and dancing, while Alter Ego Cocktail Club provides one of the best cocktail bar atmospheres in San Jose for a sophisticated evening out. From the DJs to the mixologists, you can feel the passion that goes into crafting the experience. This is, without question, one of the best spots in the Bay Area for craft cocktails, a lively atmosphere, and an unforgettable night.

I must say this is a very cute spot. You will need a reservation. The wait is crazy without it. Small but upscale ambiance. Can be a bit loud. Staffs are super friendly and knowledgeable. Overall drinks are 6-7/10. We came with 4 people. We all agreed the drink to get is "Annabelle Lee". It is a bit too sweet for me but overall it's probably one of the best in the menu. I have tried a few but they're either too blanched or too sweet. I usually stick with straight on the rock or a highball since it's much lighter in sugar. We ordered Baijiu shots to try. We liked it. The Ming river baijiu is not for everyone. It's funky and floral, sweet and it burns if you're not use to baijiu. Moutai is available to order but they are in $80+/ shot. I'm a m highball drinker so I wish bars/ lounges do that long cube of ice. Overall, I would say we had good time so def comeback maybe trying food next?

One of the spots I was really eager to go to! I made sure to put in a dinner reservation, since it was a long weekend. We walked into Still OG and headed to the back, where we were escorted to Alter Ego. Our waiter was really attentive and made sure to answer any of our questions we had about the menu. The ambiance of the space was very intimate and the music playing definitely made the experience worth while. But I would say the one thing I enjoyed the most was the Bread & Butter. We ordered two drinks: the Astroid Blue and Twighlight of the Gods. When they came out, honestly the drinks speak for themselves in terms of the cute aesthetics (which I really adored). Out of the 2 drinks, I favored the Twighlight of the Gods, since it has Baijiu and Spiced Rum. You could probably finish this drink pretty fast, plus I think it was refreshing too. Overall, I would definitely come back for a date night or a late night out with a few friends. But highly recommend putting in a reservation!

This place is such a viiiibe! Dark, ambient lighting, sets the ambience for a luxurious cocktail experience. Every cocktail is handcrafted with top of the notch ingredients and cocktail methods I've only read about! Each bartender is passionate about their craft and it shows when you ask them about the menu. They have the most adorable cups, especially my asteroid blues which was literally being held by an astronaut and lit up with light ice cubes. Will be back a million times! Have to try the food next time

Alter Ego is in the back of Still OG. Fantastic speakeasy-style bar. Make reservations online. Cocktails were complex and expertly executed. They also had some rare bottles that you don't see most places. Bartenders are super knowledgeable. Shout out to Elias for being super friendly and sharing lots of cool insights on the bottle selection. My favorite drink was the Smokey and the Bandito. It was plain looking, but each sip is a whole journey! Sour up front, followed by a puff of smoke, then spicy on the finish. Loved it.

Loved loved loved Alter Ego Cocktail Club It was our first time here and we had a great experience. Walking up to the door and the door guy was very welcoming and friendly. He asked if we had here before and we answered that we haven't. He then explained that we could sit at the front at OG or we could go to the back into their speakeasy do of course we chose to go to the speakeasy behind the curtains. What an experience it was. The bar and seating area of the speakeasy looked high end and very fancy. Loved the dark color palette of the interior design and the velvet seating. The marble table tops really adde a luxury vibe. Bar area was beautifully decorated with bottles lining the walls with a mirrored backdrop. Loved everything about this speakeasy. Fernando our server gave great customer service and took very good care of us. He explained menu items and let us know which drinks were light and which one were heavier in liquor. Started with a few food items and a few drinks. DRINKS ASTEROID BLUES $20.00 * Tequila / Manzanilla / Avocado / Lychee / Lemon Drinks presentation is really cute and fun in a small bowl with an astronaut Drink was really good and enjoyed the foam topping CANYON LULLABY $20.00 * Rye/ Aromatic Bitters / Passion Fruit / Colpico / Honey / Lemon Loved the presentation of the drink with the flower, mint and dried dragon fruit topping the cactus shaped cup, so cute The drink itself was refreshing and delicious and not too heavy on the liquor COCONUT PETE $18.00 * Rum/Pneaopie / Coconul/ Kuromnu/ Aromone Smres Loved the presentation with the sphere ice cube and the dried pineapple slice. This drink did not skimp on the liquor and it really had a kick to it. One drink and it felt like I was drinking tequila. I could feel the warmth in my throat after one drink. Babysat it for a bit and the last portion was sweat and smooth. FOOD BREAD & BUTTER $10.00 JAPANESE MILK BREAD HOUSE BUTTER * FURIKAKE The bread was really god and liked the seed topping and the butter was a good addition ASPARAGUS $16.00 SMOKED TROUT ROE * LEMON COULIS * PUFFED GRAINS The asparagus was perfectly cooked with a bit of a crunch still left in them. Loved the unique flavor and toppings it had. PRIME NEW YORK * $38.00 GUAJILLO BORDELAISE * GRILLED MAITAKE This steak was perfectly cooked the second time around. First one came out too pink for my liking and Fernando was a gem and had cooked a bit longer. The steak was really good and flavorful. It was pricy but so delicious and worth it. ***A5 WAGYU UPGRADE $30/OZ * 2 OZ MINIMUM** Alter Ego was a good experience and I can see it becoming a favorite place for a night out.

Such a cool spot--Still OG Bar brings a unique vibe that downtown San Jose really needed. The space is modern yet chill, and there was a live DJ spinning great music when I came by on a Saturday night. The drinks, service, and crowd were all great--good energy without being overwhelming. There's also a hidden speakeasy inside, which I was excited to check out, but the wait was over 2 hours. Still, the main bar itself was a great time. Definitely worth visiting if you're looking for a fun night out downtown.

In the back of Still OG is Alter Ego, a great cocktail lounge with some really cool drinks and a great aesthetic. I particularly liked the playlist they had going and really tied together the atmosphere. All our drinks were very well made going from some of their spring seasonal drinks, the main menu, and even some off menu stuff. The bartender was very attentive and asked what type of drinks we preferred if we didn't see exactly what we wanted on the menu. We also enjoyed a chocolate soufflé which took ~25 minutes but it was worth the wait. All in all I think Alter Ego is a great place to have a drink but I'd make reservations because the place can fill up fast during prime hours!

Nice speakeasish cocktail bar in the back of another bar, the Still OG. As far as the space, service and quality of cocktails were concerned our experience was definitely 5 stars. If you like well balanced well made cocktails and don't mind paying for it then this is the spot for you.

Came in for a quick drink after a meal next door. My first time but not my friend's. We got seated at the bar right away. It's middle of the week so I didn't expect it to be crowded. I only ordered a glass of wine. I love the vibe. It doesn't look like the millennial type of bar. Good place to chill and talk with friends. coming back is in the future.

Friend and I wanted to bar hop around downtown San Jose on a Friday evening and after looking up recommendations on Yelp, we decided our first stop would be Alter Ego! The entrance leads you through Still OG, which is a lively lounge with a DJ shuffling through music. We wanted to sit and chat so we asked the host if it was possible to sit in Alter Ego even though we didn't have a reservation. Amazingly, we were seated at the bar within a couple of minutes despite it being a busy Friday night! Alter ego has a sleek, upscale vibe. The dark lighting made the bar feel intimate and fancy. Also, the drinks are very creative here. There were all sorts - from sweet to savory to smokey. Some of the drinks have ingredients that I never imagined being in cocktails like avocado and cheese. If you are looking for something else, the bartender will concoct a custom drink for you! The bartender was very friendly and answered all the questions we had. We wanted to try everything but I ended up getting the Annabel Lee and my friend got the La Cosa Nostra. Both were so unique and delicious! The Annabel Lee was slightly sweet and the La Cosa Nostra tasted like pasta in a drink form (which was surprisingly good!). We both said we've never had cocktails like these before. Overall, I really liked Alter Ego! Great service, friendly staff, and imaginative drinks. It is a bit expensive but 100% worth it! Make a reservation if you are planning on coming during a busy time. I would definitely return!

I've been seeing this speakeasy a lot on social media, so I had to take the opportunity to visit it the next time I was in San Jose. Luckily on a Tuesday night, they were taking walk-in's. Others have said reservations are highly recommended, and I suggest that especially if visiting on the weekend. It is located inside the Still OG bar, but it isn't too hard to find. The ambiance was very relaxing and chill, I enjoyed the simple and classy interior. My boyfriend and I were craving some late-night bites, so we got excited that they had some food on the menu. We ordered the Hamachi Crudo, Bread & Butter, and Mushroom Tostada. The Hamachi Crudo had such a beautiful presentation, and was fresh and flavorful! The Bread & Butter, which is Japanese Milk Bread with Furikake & house-made butter, was warm and delicious! The Mushroom Tostada was highly recommended by our server, and it did not disappoint! We weren't expecting much, but there were rich flavors that made every bite so good! For drinks, we ordered the Kyushu Coffee, Canyon Lullaby, and Whistling Dixie. The Kyushu Coffee arrived warm and was rich in flavor! The Canyon Lullaby had a lovely presentation in a cactus cup, touched with a dragonfruit. It was fruity and refreshing! The Whistling Dixie was more on the spirit-forward end for me, but I'm glad I was able to try it. Overall, we had such a great experience and the servers were so friendly! I definitely want to visit again when I am back in the area

This was my first time at the particular bar and it had such a cool kickback vibe with records as decorations on the wall as well as all of their cocktails on ice from a tap!! So freaking cool!! The only time I've ever seen cocktails on the tap was when I traveled to Taiwan And in there capital city, Taipei! I'm so glad we have something like that here locally now!! My girls and I sat at a high table which was close to the bar so we just went and got our own cocktails at the bar itself. I'm sure they have a server but we didn't mind taking two steps to the bar from the table. Lol I definitely wanna come back here and try their other cocktails !! My girls got food and they really enjoyed their giant burgers and french fries!! Can't wait to try everything else they have!

Alter Ego: Beautiful Space, Creative Food and Drinks, Questionable Hospitality ## The Space Itself When you actually make it inside the speakeasy, it's genuinely lovely. The record bar area outside has its own charm too - first come, first serve seating that feels more relaxed than the main event. ## The Food & Drinks Situation Experimental food that actually tastes good, though your wallet might feel a bit lighter than expected for the portions. The drinks are solid, and everything tastes fresh. Points for creativity, even if the pricing makes you pause. ## The Entry Experience (Or Lack Thereof) Here's where things get tricky. I've walked in before with a manageable 30-45 minute wait, so it can work. But attempting a walk-in on busy nights without a reservation is definitely hit or miss. Their system has you go back outside to join the waitlist before entering - understandable for crowd control, but the execution feels a bit cold. The hostesses seemed overwhelmed and came across as less than welcoming, which probably wasn't intentional but definitely affected the whole experience. ## The Reality Check Popular spots face real challenges managing crowds and expectations. But the contrast between the record bar area (relaxed, straightforward service) and the speakeasy side (tense, unwelcoming vibe) is pretty noticeable. ## Bottom Line Beautiful space with decent food and drinks. The service hiccups are probably fixable - hospitality touches can be small but make a huge difference in setting a place apart. For now, make a reservation or stick to the record bar where the atmosphere feels more natural.

Cool vibe, terrible and expensive drinks though. New-ish place in DTSJ. Their setup is cool with the DJ stand and the seating. That's where the pros end though. The drinks are all on tap and taste awful (even though they charge $15+). Wouldn't go back.

Let's be honest--Bay Area life can feel a little too... routine. So finding a stylish speakeasy with amazing drinks and a moody ambiance? Instant emotional boost for us hard-working city dwellers! On a long weekend, I discovered that Alter Ego Cocktail Club was actually open. It's tucked inside Still O.G., and when I saw an open spot on OpenTable, I booked it immediately. Location: 66 S 1st St, San Jose Why You'll Love It: Elegant, intimate vibes--perfect for a small gathering or a romantic date. Beautifully crafted cocktails with so many options. Bonus: the menu includes pictures, which is a win for the indecisive. Tasty small bites that complement the drinks. What to Order: Annabel Lee - This is the signature drink. The bubble on top is super smoky with a hint of pineapple, and underneath, there's a mini painting (!). Flavor-wise, it's got a spicy kick and is made with Bolivian brandy, pommeau, aperitivo, lime, and egg white. La Cosa Nostra - A gin-based cocktail topped with Parmesan cheese (yes, you read that right). It also has tomato, basil, rosemary, and lemon--think of it as an elevated, boozy take on Italian flavors. A Chinese Drink - A limited-edition cocktail created to celebrate Lunar New Year! It features baijiu and a really unique foam topping. Tropical Drink - This one leans into Hawaiian beach vibes--sweet, smooth, and dangerously easy to sip. Small Bites: I ordered the scallops and Wagyu beef--both were absolutely delicious, though the sauce was a bit on the salty side. Overall? Alter Ego Cocktail Club is 100% worth a visit--if you can snag a reservation!

Overall great experience! I wanted to try this spot since it's right next to Paper Planes, a staple in downtown SJ, and always looking for another good speakeasy. Nice interior lighting/design, cozy booths/tables, upscale vibes. Service wise - the first time we came, the host/servers were lovely and the service was attentive and quick. The second time (not sure if the bouncer is part of the alter ego/or still og crew), the front staff were a bit pretentious - I made a reservation and they just assumed we didn't have one and were pushy? Drinks in general have good presentation and stories - loved the tomato /basil drink and cantaloop! The bites (milk bread, tostadas, patatas bravas, etc) were a great fusion of japanese/latin. Great spot for an intimate gathering/date, just the right volume for talking/hanging out - make a reservation first!

*drinks 5/5*. *food 3.5/5* overall - 4 Both the front venue (OG BAR) and the back speakeasy (alter ego) are great places for drinks. The front focuses on premade cocktail drinks that are poured on tap like craft beer and the back is more of a speakeasy that also serves food. the food was very 50/50. It was almost great but also missed in some aspects. In particular the hamachi crudo was a bit too cold/ almost frozen icy. The flavor was there but I think if they had a higher quality fish that wasn't icey i would rate it higher. The Japanese milk bread was also a little bit too salty and could be a bit more "milk bread" aka softer/ doughier. The bread wasn't as moist as I expected but still flavorful. The beef and potato bravas which had a melted cheese foam on top was great. Would get the beef and potato's again. Service is done by the bartenders but they were attentive and would visit the table to check in on us

Hidden behind a curtain is a speakeasy cocktail bar. The cocktails are tasty but if you're looking for a heavy pour it won't be here. The wicked garden has absinthe, yum. The food portions were small but tasty. The service is prompt and maybe too over eager but maybe that was because it wasn't a full house.

Perfect place to grab a cocktail! We didn't make a reservation but they were very accommodating with getting us seated. The drinks were strong and the small bites were exceptional. Ambiance is cozy in the back, but up front there is usually a DJ and dancing.

Fun cocktail club behind the DJ bar. I've been twice and enjoyed every item that I tried. Cocktails are great and the food is nice, but do not come here for dinner. The portions are too small. Eat a big meal and come here for a small bite and drinks. I did have a very disappointing situation last time I went. We ordered the chocolate souffle and the waiter let us know it would be 25 minutes, which we knew and were fine with. After 35 minutes we still hadn't received the item and we also hadn't seen our waiter in awhile. We flagged down a different waiter and he said the waiter never entered it in the system so we waited for no reason. We had to leave and he said "I'll take care of it." I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but I assume he would just make sure we didn't get charged for it. Ultimately, we paid and left, but on our walk out, I was adding up the subtotal plus tax and tip and pretty sure we got charged for it or they charged for something else, since the total didn't make sense. I would still come back, but definitely ask for a receipt!

Alter Ego Cocktail Club and Still OG are actually two separate businesses, but Yelp combines their pages. I guess that's ok considering they're ran by the same owners. Alter Ego is a little gimmicky, but not in a bad way. The drinks are pricey, yet top tier. The ANNABEL LEE being my favorite. On to Still OG. .. this side of the business spins vinyl records. The bartender was a bit off-putting, but the O.G. Smashburger is elite. Everything is scratch made including the bun. A few years ago I made a burger after baking buns and grinding shortrib, chuck, sirloin and marrow. This is eerily similar and this burger took me back. Top 5 burger.

Pros: -Wow! I love the contrast in vibes with Still O.G. and Alter-ego. You have the vinyl bar in the front still O.G. with pre-mixed drinks (a lot of good ones!) then you go to the back and there's a dark Gotham vibe that's perfect for a date or fancy gathering - Food is great both in still O.G (fries!) and alter-ego (bread!) and the drinks are very unique in Alter-ego (spaceman drink is a must have first time) - Staff is very friendly with the bartender being patient and attentive. The wait staff in the back are hard workers managing multiple tables Cons: - Long wait to get into alter-ego if you don't have a reservation. They do not pack the back so prepare to wait. Our strategy has always been putting our name down (45-50min wait) then to grab drinks either in Still O.G or go next door to Paper planes - If you do not know about the two bars, Alter-ego can be missed! Overall - Great place to take people who love to drink and hang out especially out of towners or close friends. Will definitely return!

I came in as a walk in since I saw some post on IG promoting this place. We came in at 5:30 pm and didn't get seated till 7pm. Food was good, overpriced but it is to be expected. Drinks were delicious and very very unique! Worth the expe Scallops - 22 Steak tartare - 20 Morels with chicken mousse - 11 (recommend)

I love alter ego for the great atmosphere and amazing drinks! They have an extensive cocktail menu and everything I tried was amazing! There are also gorgeous drinks like their astronaut or cactus drink! They have food you can order along side your drinks, but while the food was good, the cocktails are the standout of this bar.

I love the vibe here! Great place for a first date meet-up for a cool cocktail/mocktail moment or, if time and finances permit, a wonderful meal together. I've been here twice and both times were perfect evenings! Definitely book in advance as this can be a challenging reservation as this fab speakeasy is small and tables are not tightly packed, allowing for a calm, intimate vibe. Service was spectacular both nights. Highly recommend!

The food was really good! The only thing it is not really filling . I got the asteriod drink and it was a very interesting taste. Service was fairly quick. They did try their best to serve all the food at once. It was a very nice place to chill and relax with drinks.

Located inside of Still OG which is a chill record playing lounge. Couple seats and bar seating. Good for drinks before dinner. I enjoy the DJ Booth and decor. Entrance for Alter Ego is right by the bathrooms. It's a small location. Reservations recommended but not needed if it's not too busy. Definitely a different vibe hence the name. More private and calmer. Beautiful bar seating and their drinks are great! I would come back.

The vibes of this place are immaculate. It is both an intimate space while still feeling like the life of the party. We had reservations so were seated fairly quickly but it took us a VERY long time to get drinks. I normally give a lot of grace when it comes to waiting times, especially if I notice a place is busy, but this went beyond that. We had to try and flag our waiter down multiple times and we almost considered leaving as it was taking so long to put in an order. I did like the concept of their drinks on the menu. They were creative and interesting and while pricy, worth trying. While the service was very slow, it is possible that we caught them on a bad day. However, def something to consider if you have tight plans!

Alter Ego was pretty swanky and cool and is the speakeasy located inside Still OG! The cocktails are delicious and creative too at Alter Ego. It's also nice that it's not too loud in there so you can have an actual conversation with your friends. I wanted to like Still OG which is the main bar you enter in through to get to Alter Ego, but the DJ was spinning some eclectic music which I just couldn't find myself jiving to and the cocktails are on tap which I'm not too fond of. Service was at a steady pace inside Alter Ego (you only get one hour in there once you're seated) and the bartender at Still OG was definitely pouring cocktails at a pretty quick speed.