When Dionne Warwick recorded the iconic song “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” she hadn’t been to this city. After the song became popular, she visited San Jose, California in the 1960s when it was filled with farms and orchards. Nowadays, this Silicon Valley capital is well-visited for its world-class shopping malls, active nightlife, and numerous dining selections from the usual American favorites to Indian restaurants. You can also enjoy outdoor activities and spectacular landscapes that include the wineries, vineyards, and hiking trails. Though San Jose residents are very active during the day, they have several nocturnal activities that start at sundown. Below is our list of things to do at night in San Jose, California. Once you’ve read our list, like Dionne, you’d want to come back to this lively city.
1. Watch a movie at West Wind Capitol Drive-In
Watching movies is one of the best ways to bond with your family and loved ones. In San Jose, they watch movies in style and in their cars. “Rain or shine, the show must go on!” is the slogan of West Wind Capitol Drive-in and Public Market. This historic drive-in theatre that first opened in 1933 continues to serve the community with great entertainment at very reasonable prices.
West Wind Capitol Drive-In
Address: 3630 Hillcap Ave, San Jose, CA 95136, USA
Website: West Wind Capitol Drive-In
Opening hours: 6:45pm - 11:45pm
Price: 8 USD
2. Join San Jose Bike Party
If you’re going solo, this bike party allows you to meet with a huge group of biking enthusiasts every third Friday of the month at a designated time and place which serves as your start off point. The party is open to all ages, skill levels, and bike styles and together you ride through the city while meeting new people, traversing all sorts of streets, getting a good exercise, and learning new biking skills. The organizers are volunteers who think of a different theme each month to spice up the party. Donations to the organization are shared with their allies like urban planners and environmentalists.
Looking for more activities you can enjoy by yourself? Check out these best things to do alone in San Jose.
San Jose Bike Party
Website: San Jose Bike Party
Opening hours: 8 PM (every third Friday)
Price: any amount is accepted as a donation
3. Enjoy bowling at Bowlero San José
Bowlero is not your run-of-the-mill bowling alley with their state-of-the-art bowling lanes and various arcade games. There’s a lounge where you can chill, sample their popular menu offerings or play billiards and a sports bar where you can drink while watching sporting events on wide-screen TVs. Their resident team of event organizers can help you plan a bowling party for any occasion with your loved ones or a corporate event or teambuilding activity with your colleagues according to your preferences. There’s an area for bump cars ideal for the young and young-at-heart to drive around.
Bowlero San José
Address: 5420 Thornwood Dr, San Jose, CA 95123, USA
Website: Bowlero San José
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 4pm - 12am; Fri: 2pm - 2am; Sat: 11am - 2am; Sun: 11am - 12am
Price: 4 USD
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4. Enjoy roller skating at Aloha Roller Rink
Yes, there’s plenty of kid-friendly activities in and around the city but for a quick fun, try the Aloha Roller Rink. It is found in its new home in the Eastridge Mall. It’s a massive concrete skating rink where you can rent roller blades and quad skates starting from skate sizes of toddler 7 to men’s size 16. You don’t need experience or skill to skate for they offer skating lessons for beginners. Come in and watch for 2 USD. You can arrange for an exclusive skating party for any occasion and for corporate events as well.
Aloha Roller Rink
Address: 2190 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122, USA
Website: Aloha Roller Rink
Opening hours: Mon: 7pm - 10pm; Tue - Thu: 6pm - 10pm; Fri: 1pm - 12am; Sat: 11am - 12am; Sun: 9pm - 10pm
Price: 2-13 USD
5. Enjoy live music at Café Stritch
Editor’s note: Establishment is permanently closed.
In the mood for music? Then drop by one of San Jose’s liveliest hot spots where the good vibes, great food, handcrafted beer, and great music is overflowing. The crowd is warm and diverse drawn to the wide selection of music played live every night until the wee hours of the morning. They accept reservations for private parties.
Café Stritch
Address: 374 S 1st ST. San Jose, CA 95113
Website: Café Stritch
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 5pm - 2am; Sun: 5pm - 12am (closed on Mon & Tue)
Price: 11-30 USD
6. Dance the night away at the Avery Lounge
Editor’s note: Establishment is permanently closed.
There’s plenty of fun things to do in the downtown area and it surely doesn’t end at sundown. Drink, dance, and dine will be your mantra at Avery Lounge tonight. With DJs like Remedy and Goldenchyld playing on the decks, you can’t help but get up and dance to the beat. Welcome to one of the trendiest nightclubs in downtown San Jose where you’d like to see-and-be-seen. Get VIP treatment when you reserve a table or bottle service for your posse.
Avery Lounge
Address: 399 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Website: Avery Lounge
Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 10pm - 1:30am (closed Mon - Wed)
7. Drink a beer at Five Points Bar
This bar is the favourite hangout place in San Jose where handcrafted beer, cocktail drinks, and bar chow is at its finest. It is inspired by the iconic melting pot originally from New York serving America for over 70 years. Here traditional speakeasy interiors and cultures mix and meet in the walls of their saloon. The bar caters to all sizes of events and parties and offers mixology classes, after-work drinks, dinner pairings, or spirit tastings. Need a “one for the road” with your friends? Then meet up with them at Five Points Bar.
Five Points Bar
Address: 169 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Website: Five Points Bar
Opening hours: Thu - Sat: 4pm - 1:30am; Sun: 6pm - 12am; Mon: 5pm - 12am; Tue: 5pm - 1am; Wed: 5pm - 1:30am
Price: 6-20 USD
8. Sip coffee at Caffe Frascati
Editor’s note: Establishment is permanently closed.
Have a taste of Italy in San Jose whenever you sip Caffe Frascati’s cappuccino or have a bite of their panini. You’ll be entertained all night with live music way beyond Happy Hour with your friends. The iconic Italian Piaggio Ape, the 60-year old utility van custom fitted with high-tech espresso machines, is imported by the café so you can drink the best cappuccino produced on a vehicle with three wheels! Book them for your next event or party to give the occasion a unique Italian touch.
Caffe Frascati
Address: 315 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Website: Caffe Frascati
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7am - 10pm; Fri: 7am - 12am; Sat: 8am - 12am; Sun: 8am - 7pm
Price: 30 USD
9. Experience a musical night at The Ritz
Be among the glitterati as you enjoy the night in one of the best nightclubs, event spaces, and music venues in downtown San Jose. Right in SoFA District, it serves the best beer and liquor selections in their two top-drawer bars while you dance to music played by world-class bands and artists with the latest high-tech DJ sound system. It’s the perfect place for art shows, movie screenings, private events, and corporate parties.
The Ritz
Address: 400 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Website: The Ritz
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 8pm - 2am
10. Catch a performance at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
The Center for the Performing Arts is in San Jose downtown area walking distance to the City National Civic, California Theatre, and Montgomery Theater. These theatres are operated, maintained, managed, and marketed by San Jose Theaters. The huge theatre features 2,608 seats in continental-style seating without a centre aisle, a vast stage, two chorus rooms, several dressing rooms, a rehearsal area, and a VIP lounge. The venue is ideal for press conferences, meet-and-greet events, and cocktail parties.
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
Address: 255 S Almaden Blvd, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
San Jose at night
San Jose comes to life at night with the several nocturnal activities that the city offers. These activities are so unique that you’ll only find them in this city. Speaking of unique, you can also time your visit right and check out the popular festivals that happen on different months every year. It’s a must try so that your visit will be unforgettable.