Wes@Play - Gay Bars
- San Jose, Santa Clara, Cupertino & Mountain View,
California

How can San Jose, a metropolitan
area of 1,000,000+ people (the 3rd largest in California),
have fewer gay bars than Fresno? We ask ourselves that every
Saturday.
NOTE: If you go to Renegades
and spot me, be sure to say hello and let me know you found
the bar through this site. I appreciate it.
Gay bars in
the San Jose metropolitan area
Mostly men
|
Mostly women
- Savoy (if it's still open)
|
Mixed
|
If I was visiting,
here's where I'd go...
| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
| Late afternoon,
Renegades beer bust |
Pretty
dead at most bars (even in San Francisco) |
Brix
for twinks
You can try Renegades weeknights but it can be spotty |
Brix
|
Brix |
Any
bar |
Any
bar
|
Details
| Primarily Gay Men |
(in alphabetical
order)
Brix (formerly
Hunters)
349 S. First St., CA
95113 Map -
(408) 947-1975
Rating: *****
Type: Twink Nightclub
Crowd: Mixed men
and women, gay and straight, but mostly young gay
men
Pool table: No, they sold it
Parking: Can be very tight on weekends
if the huge lot across the street fills up, easy
other nights
Opened June 2007. By far the fanciest
gay bar in town. They put a lot of money
into this place and it shows.
I've only been on a Tues and Wed night, and there were
maybe 20-25 young men and women rotating through, mostly
in groups, so as a cruise bar this probably
isn't the best choice. That said, if I was 22 (I'm
double that), this would be my choice. Large outdoor
patio out back with a waterfall (not always on),
which is a nice place to get away from the music
inside and have a smoke. They're
also right next door to the newly renovated
Moorish-style California Theater where the San Jose
Opera performs among others.
Update Aug 17, 2008: The
skyscraper condo they've built behind the bar adds
a surreal touch to the patio. It's not bad, but can
induce vertigo. Lots of potential there for light
shows, etc. though.
Renegades
(San Jose's only leather, Levi, bear bar)
www.renegadesbar.com
501 Taylor St., San Jose, CA 94126 Map -
408/275-9902
Rating: ***
Type: Levi/Leather/Bears. Mostly regular joes.
Crowd: 95% gay male
of all sizes and ages. Sprinkling of lesbians.
Pool table: Yes, but bad cues.
$1 a game
Parking: Renegades moved to this
location on April 26, 2006. Unfortunately, its parking
didn't (there are only six spaces). There's a car detailing
place across the street where you can park by permission
from the owners after 7:30 p.m. Give them some business
to be nice.
If you're a local, definitely subscribe
to the Renegades
email newsletter. The owner, Luis, has been throwing
a lot of interesting events.
If I'm out and about, I'm probably
at Renegades (read: I'm biased). It's
been my adopted hangout since the 641 Club closed.
I think I like it mostly because the gay men that
come here actually look like men. Friendly bartenders.
Automated drink system. Smoking area is out front
or the smallish back patio, which is tented during
rainy months.
The advice I give to most visitors is
a) don't be shy, b) if you are shy,
there's a good chance you'll sit quietly by yourself
the entire evening. This applies to any gay bar,
of course.
Leather nights are very popular.
Saturdays are sometimes "shirtless" so if you lose
your shirt you get a deal on drinks. Weekdays (Mon.-Thu)
can be slow.
The
new digs look good; sort of like a 40s gas station,
with lots of shiny metal and plenty of seating. True,
the wonderful garden from the old location is gone,
but the pool table area is actually larger than at
the old location. Drink system (alcohol is metered
at 1.5 oz per drink) is kind of a drag, but it
helps if you're watching your consumption.
Update: The bar changed
ownership in mid-2008 and is now run by my friend
Luis. Business is up, but on weeknights I'd still
try to get there before 11 p.m. (the same goes for
San Francisco bars).
Update September 2009: On
the first Sunday of the month, there's a very popular
bear party called "Butch" from 4-9 p.m.
Splash! Bar & Grill
www.splashsj.com
65 Post St., San Jose, CA 95113-2411 Map -
408/515-9797
Rating: ****
Type: Dance
Parking: Multistory lot at First & Post
(accessible from First). Street parking can be very
tight on weekends because of the surrounding clubs.
Crowd: Youngish men, lesbians,
sprinkling of straights
The newest gay bar and danceclub and restaurant and
grill opened in early November 2004. Crowd is mostly
younger and outdraws Tinker's Damn. Gorgeous old main
bar. I've been on a Tuesday for karaoke and had a nice
time. People tend to go late. Smoking out front
where the cafe tables/chairs are set up (I think you
can take your drink out with you, but check with the
door guy). Restaurant has been renamed "Georgie's" in
honor of deceased manager George Gonzalez, a friend
of mine who died in 2005.
Update August
2007: I'm not sure exactly
what is going at Splash! these days. I haven't gone
on a weekend in nearly a year. They're still open
though, which is a very good sign. They hold some
really interesting "special interest" nights
here.
Update September 2009: I
haven't been here in over a year, so it may have changed
a lot.
The last time I was there, there was an odd smell
in the bar, but someone may have gotten sloppy with
a milk-based drink.
A Tinker's Damn (aka
"TD's" to locals)
www.atinkersdamn.com
46 Saratoga Ave. Santa Clara, CA Map -
408/243-4595
Rating: ***
Type: Dance
Pooltable: Yes, decent cues. $1
a game
Crowd: Younger gay men/twinks/label queens. Young,
gay Asian central on Friday nights.
Parking: Lot in the back, but it can
fill up on weekends. Do not park in the bookstore spaces.
No problem weeknights.
The only place to go in Santa Clara if you're
gay and you want to dance. Dancing Tues, Fri, Sat.
Drag show Sun. Pool table with some decent players.
Pool tournament on Tues @ 8:30 p.m. Tons of parking
in the big lot out back or on Saratoga. They painted
the place purple, so it's easy to spot in the day time;
at night, it's basically on the corner of Stevens Creek
and Saratoga across the street from McDonalds.
Lido - NOT
SURE IF THIS CLUB IS STILL GAY; CALL FIRST
30 S. First St., San Jose,
CA 95113 Map
Type: Nightclub
Crowd: Mostly gay Latino men, young
Parking: There's a multistory lot
at First & Post (accessible from First). Street
parking can be very tight on weekends.
I've never been here. This downtown bar isn't always gay, so be sure to check
out the crowd if you go any night other than Monday or Wednesday. Drag shows
at midnight. Occasional underwear contests. Street parking can be tight, but
there's a city lot across the street. Just down the street from Mac's Club and
Splash.
UPDATE August, 2007: I'm
not sure if Lido even has gay nights anymore. They
seem to be becoming a Vietnamese and garage band
bar. Call ahead unless you like surprises.
|
| Primarily Lesbians |
Dar's Hideaway -
I'M PRETTY SURE IT CLOSED DOWN, CALL FIRST
Website
listing
10095 Saich Way, Cupertino, CA 95014 Map -
408/255-7474
Rating: TBD
Type: Neighborhood
Crowd: Lesbian, mixed
Pooltable: Don't know
Used to be the Silver Fox. It's hidden in a nondescript
strip mall, so just look for Target (it's across the
street to the left). I haven't visited since they rebranded
and remodeled, but when I did go people and the bartenders
were friendly. Pool table.
Savoy - MAY BE CLOSED
www.clubsavoy.com
3465 Flora Vista Dr., Santa Clara, CA 95051 Map
Rating: ***
Type: Dance
Crowd: Lesbians
Pooltable: Yes, two! Cues are good.
I finally went here Super Bowl Sunday 2006 for a gay
pride fundraiser. It was in the middle of the afternoon,
so I have no idea what the clientele is like, but the
bar itself is HUGE in South Bay terms. A stage, main
bar, pool area, and dancefloor, all with double high
ceilings. It's not the prettiest gay bar I've ever
been to, but it's definitely not the worst. Very friendly
barstaff and two good (if oddly colored) pool tables.
Update Aug 17, 2008: I'm
not exactly sure what's going on. Apparently, they're
under new management, so I'm not even sure if they're
open. Call first. If you risk it and they're closed,
there are some interesting Korean restaurants in that
neighborhood.
|
| Mixed |
King of Clubs
www.kocbar.com
893 Leong Dr., Mountain View, CA 94043-2042 Map -
650/968-6366
Rating: ***
Type: Varies, Karoake,
medium-sized dancefloor
Crowd: Mixed
Pooltable: Yes, cues are actually
pretty good.
I finally went here on a Friday night with my boyfriend.
We were there for Club Nemesis, which is a once a month
goth club (and well-attended). The bar is midway between
the size of Renegades and Tinker's Damn, with women
(on this night) outnumbering men by 5:1. Everyone was
very friendly, although we only talked to a few people.
We spent most of the time playing pool and sticking
pieces of paper to our faces because they glowed under
the black lights. This bar is a bit tricky to drive
to, so get directions and a map before you start out.
If you're expecting something other than a neighborhood
bar, don't.
Mac's Club
www.macsclub.com -
One of my website designs
39 Post St., San Jose, CA 95113-2411 Map -
408/288-8221
Rating: **
Type: Neighborhood
Crowd: Mixed, mostly
older gay men, some drag queens, mostly young
on Saturdays. when people drift down from Splash
to escape the loud music and actually talk to each
other.
Quaint, tiny bar on a side street downtown. I never
go here because I'm claustrophobic and they don't have
a good smoking area. Friendly bartenders, most of whom
double at Renegades. Automated drink system. Tiny,
uncovered smoking area out back next to garbage cans.
Parking can be ridiculously tight, but there are usually
spaces on the opposite side of Market St. near the
Greyhound bus depot or off of second across Santa Clara.
During Christmas, you can wander out to see Christmas
In The Park, a local San Jose tradition which I don't
understand and never go to anymore. |
About San Jose's gay bar scene...
A lot of
people in San Jose's gay community are native Californians,
unlike San Francisco where almost everyone is a migrant from
Iowa. There's a certain sense of community (we've had a gay
center here for nearly 20 years unlike San Francisco) and
a lot of people that survived the 80s have known each other
for decades. I moved here in 1998 for work, and, yes, I'm
a California native.
All in all, San Jose is a nice little city.
The people are nice, the weather is pleasant, it's ethnically
diverse, and the
mom and pop Vietnamese and Mexican restaurants are better
than most.
Step 1: Don't Be Shy
As in any gay bar, if
you want a conversation you'll need to start one yourself.
Since you will be labeled as a visitor, they'll probably
treat you well. San Jose is more sophisticated that way than
most other cities I've visited, and I'd say it's closest
to Chicago or Vancouver in temperment.
Non-Gay Alternatives
San Jose is one of the
safest cities in the country, mostly because everyone just
goes home and watches TV. The exceptions are the rebirth
of First St. downtown, which is packed with straight twenty-somethings
on weekend nights, and Santana Row shopping center, which
is sort of a singles version of Disneyland (with some excellent
restaurants). Santana Row is busy most nights.
Driving
Do not even think of driving drunk
in California. Cabs are scarse, but come quickly if called.
A trip from downtown San Jose to Renegades is about $15-18.
Note: The San Jose police department trains
rookies downtown so be careful in the area around Santa Clara
St. near city hall. (NOTE: The downtown straight clubs attract
a lot of straight men with a lot of things to prove;
don't mess with them). No one will rescue you.
San Jose Bathhouse:
Yes, we still have one
If you're male and want to cut to the
chase, San Jose is home to one of the nicest gay bathhouses
in the country. It's sort of like "Bathhouse a
la Sunset Magazine".
If you hear a local
say something about "the ten ten" that's
what they're referring to. There's no signage to speak
of out front, so you need to look carefully for a non-descript
cinderblock building. It's about two blocks from the
DeFrank LGBT Center and about 4-5 blocks from the HP
Pavilion.
DO
NOT put your head underwater in the jacuzzi (applies
no matter where you are), and don't sit directly on
tile surfaces.
The Watergarden
1010 The Alameda
www.thewatergarden.com |
If you're stuck at a downtown San Jose hotel
without a car...
- Brix (formerly Hunters)
- Mac's Club
- Splash
If you're visiting for a concert at the HP Pavilion (or
whatever it's called this week)...
If you're north of the Lawrence Expressway...
- King of Clubs
- Tinker's Damn
|