Start the evening early at a cocktail-centric restaurant. The restaurant scene is popping on the Peninsula, most recently in the formerly sleepy “Menlo Dark.” For those who seek live entertainment, the best bets are Fox Theatre in Redwood City or the Guild Theatre in Menlo Park. And for something a little different, there’s the 100-year-old Stanford Theatre, showing movies from Hollywood’s golden age, or Alamo Draft House, which will begin serving up new movies along with food, cocktails and craft beers on June 16. Walkable stretches on Santa Cruz Avenue in Menlo Park, University Avenue in Palo Alto, and Castro Street in Mountain View are accessible by Caltrain.
New in Town
Bar Loretta
639 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park
650.462.1686
This narrow, saloon-style space got a new tenant earlier this year when restaurateur Ali Elsafy, owner of next-door Bistro Vida opened up Bar Loretta. (History buffs will know the address as the site of Magoo’s Pizza, where the Grateful Dead—then known as the Warlocks—played their first gig.) Cocktails (including NA options) are served until 11:30pm, offering concert-goers at the Guild a place to pick up a nightcap. Bar bites include charcuterie and cheese plates, olives and pommes frites.
Clark’s Oyster Bar
780 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park
650.285.0855 | clarksoysterbar.com
Another in a spate of recent arrivals on the Menlo Park nightlife scene, Clark’s Oyster Bar has sister restaurants in Austin, Aspen, Houston and Montecito. High-end liquors are in abundance, but most crucially for the namesake dish—a daily selection of East Coast and West Coast oysters served on the half shell with fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce, mignonette and saltines—there are six sparkling wines by the glass, as well as some crispy, dry whites. Open daily, with hours until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and walk-ins are welcome.
Steins Beer Garden
895 Villa St, Mountain View
650.963.9568 | steinsbeergarden.com
Once set to shutter this spring, Steins announced in late March that a new owner would be taking over for founder Ted Kim, who not only started the business in 2012 but was also the founder of the city’s Oktoberfest celebration. And not only is Steins is not the only thing that will live on now that Kim is taking a back seat: the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce is looking to take the reins and continue the popular event.
Peninsula Highlights
Alberto’s
736 W Dana St, Mountain View
408.460.0448 | albertos.com
Tango, salsa, bachata, reggaeton, cumbia—it’s all about movement and music at this Peninsula club established in 1992. Dance lessons and bottle service are available; Saturday nights are dedicated to the band Ruido Azul, playing rock en español.
Amandine Project
235 1st St, Los Altos | 650.204.9222 |amandineproject.com
Low lighting, luscious drinks and live music make Amandine a safe bet for date night. Open Monday–Thursday 4pm–midnight at Friday–Saturday 4pm–2am.
British Bankers Club
555 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park
650 382-3191 | britishbankersclub.com
Though it’s open only until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, the BBC is noteworthy for its posh style and rooftop bar (not open all year). Just the right setting for a gin and tonic.
Club Fox and Fox Theater
2209 Broadway, Redwood City
831.334.1153 | clubfoxrwc.com and foxrwc.com
This lively spot for live music in Redwood City’s downtown area is close to the Caltrain station and located in a grand and historic former movie theater. Sound quality is good and the space is comfortable; the music runs the gamut: blues jams, comedy sets, country music, Latin rock and tribute acts keep the beat. The Fox Theatre seats 1,100 and Club Fox’s capacity is 240. And right outside the doorship is Music in the Square, which takes place in Redwood City’s Courthouse Square.
Dutch Goose
3567 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park
650.854.3245 | dutchgoose.net
With roots dating back to 1966, the Goose is a foundational part of Silicon Valley culture, being the site where Atari launched Pong. Pizza, burgers and brews are most popular, but variety is the spice of life, so Dutch Goose offers monthly specials on a downloadable PDF calendar.
Fred’s Place
2534 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View
650.940.9838 | fredsplace.tv
Nine beers on tap, pool tables, pinball and plenty of sports action on TV keep the regulars happy. Karaoke takes over Thursday and Saturday nights at 9pm, and Monday is Trivia Night, starting at 7:30pm. Bonus points for the patio. Open until 2am.
Guild Theatre
949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
855.999.4025 | guildtheatre.com
This former movie palace reopened as a nonprofit space for live entertainment in 2022. In addition to tribute bands and local acts, the Guild also books touring headliners. On tap this summer: the Smithereens, Chris Isaak, Duane Betts, Ben Folds and Berlin.
Le Banc
366 Main St, Los Altos
650.265.8999 | Facebook and Instagram
This dive bar catering to locals opened up in 2023, occupying a former retail space. Bonus points for live music on Friday nights—a welcome diversion in this quiet upscale downtown area.
Ludwig’s Biergarten
383 Castro St, Mountain View
650.282.5342 | ludwigsmv.com
As advertised by its name, Ludwig’s has a Germanic bent and a focus on beer. There are even radlers (beer cocktails) and the happy hour fare includes soft pretzels, Spätzle Cheese Croquettes and Würstchen im Schlafrock (sausage in pastry dough). Open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Molly Magees
241 Castro St, Mountain View
650.961.0108 | mollysmountainview.com
Patrons can get their Irish up with dozens of craft beers on draft and rotate in new beers weekly. DJs keep spirits up Fridays and Saturday night, and other amenities include an outdoor patio and a pool table.
Monte Carlo
228 Castro St, Mountain View
650.988.1500 | montecarloniteclub.com
Pulsating lights, booming music and bottle service fill this two-story club. reggaeton, pop, rock and EDM dominate the first floor, while DJs lean toward cumbia, merengue and salsa upstairs.
Meyhouse
640 Emerson St, Palo Alto
650.521.0935 | meyhouserestaurant.com
In addition to an opportunity to enjoy authentic Turkish food and drink, Meyhouse offers something rare in the South Bay: a bona fide jazz supper club experience, with two dinner seatings on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets can be purchased on a separate website, meyhousejazz.com. It’s an intimate scene, with seating for about 30 people per set.
Murdoch’s Bar
170 State St, Los Altos | murdochslosaltos.com
Located inside State Street Market, Murdoch’s aims for a speakeasy feel with its old-fashioned cocktails. Closes early (by 9pm) most nights except Friday and Saturday (open until 10pm).
NOLA
535 Ramona St, Palo Alto
650.328.2722 | nolas.com
Experience a Hurricane in this two-story restaurant packed with Southern folk art, myriad seating areas (including a patio) and cocktails inspired by “the many diverse cultures that have inhabited the great City of New Orleans.” Though food service ends earlier, the bar is open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Mondays.
O’Malley’s Sports Pub
2135 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View | 650.965.1162
Open until midnight and equipped with a dozen TVs, O’Malley’s does right by Peninsula sports lovers. In between games, there’s pinball, shuffleboard and two pool tables, and the food truck in the parking lot is a welcome accompaniment to the 37 beers on tap.
Opal Nightclub
251 Castro St, Mountain View | 510.766.1057
Opal Nightclub opens its doors Friday and Saturday nights only and delivers an experience with DJs, VIP amenities and bottle service.
Palo Alto Creamery
566 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301
650.323.3131 | paloaltocreamery.com
In addition to other nostalgic fare, the Creamery’s soda jerks can whip up milk shakes, egg creams and banana splits until 10pm.
President’s Terrace
488 University Ave, Palo Alto
graduatehotels.com | 650.843.9755
A rarity in Palo Alto, the Graduate Hotel offers the President’s Terrace, a rooftop bar with 360-degree views that take in everything from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Bay. In addition to craft cocktails, wine and beer, the bartenders concoct “School Nights” NA libations like the Terrace Skies, with Lyre’s NA Classico, passionfruit, lemonade and Fever Tree Club Soda. Bar bites are foodie-friendly: house-baked spiced nuts, hummus and chermoula with cruditè,
Roger Bar and Restaurant
800 Moffett Blvd, Mountain View
650.744.1030 | rogerbarandrestaurant.com
This restaurant and bar is located at the Ameswell Hotel, an eco-friendly hotel in the heart of Silicon Valley’s aerospace milieu. The last time we visited, a robot was bussing the dishes. An aeronautically themed cocktail menu takes inspiration from nearby NASA Ames Research Center and Moffett Field. The astroturfed, family-friendly game lawn has life-sized Jenga, bocce ball, hula hoops and an Airstream bar. It’s ideal for kids to enjoy while parents relax with adult beverages.
Rootstock Wine Bar
331 Castro St, Mountain View
650.963.9916 | rootstockwinebar.com
In two locations—including this one on Mountain View’s main street—knowledgeable servers pair American beers and wines with salads, flatbread and small plates. Rootstock also runs a wine club with seven tiers, starting at Single Cru (one bottle a month).
The Rose & Crown
547 Emerson St, Palo Alto
650.327.7673 | therosepa.com
Locals and students mingle at this beer-focused pub, which can boast of being Palo Alto’s oldest bar. The Tudor-style farmhouse vibe will delight Anglophiles. Open daily, with doors open until 1am Fridays and midnight on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Savvy Cellar
750 W Evelyn Ave, Mountain View
650.969.3958 | savvycellar.com
Equal parts winery tasting room, wine bar and wine shop, Savvy Cellar has served up flights, themed tastings and retail sales since 2005. Open six days a week (closed Monday), and serving until midnight Thursday through Sunday.
Scotty’s Bar
548 Emerson St, Palo Alto
650.561.4929 | scottysbarpa.com
Locally owned and operated since 2009, this friendly neighborhood hang stubbornly claims to serve the best Moscow Mules on the Peninsula, with six varieties to choose from—all made with Fever Tree Ginger beer and served in a chilly copper mug, but substituting the classic vodka for gin, tequila, bourbon and mezcal.
Sports Page
1431 Plymouth St, Mountain View
650.961.1992 | sportspage.bar
Located next to Century 16 Theaters and near the Shoreline Amphitheater, this sports bar pours from 30 taps and serves all major liquor brands. Patrons can get physical with two pool tables, two ping pong tables, two dart boards and a sand volleyball court.
St. Stephen’s Green
223 Castro St, Mountain View
650.964.9151 | ststephensgreen.com
Since 1999, this Irish-owned and operated pub has served a large array of dishes from the old country—Scotch eggs, Guinness steak pie, Irish sausage and colcannon—mixed with West Coast favorites. Fridays and Saturdays, the action gets louder—more nightclub than pub. Open daily, with weekend closing time listed as “late.”
Teléferic Barcelona
855 El Camino Real, Suite 130, Palo Alto
650.321.0512 | telefericbarcelona.com/palo-alto
One in a group of eight Spanish restaurants that grew out of Barcelona (there’s also one in Los Gatos), Teléferic Palo Alto got a facelift on its interior last month but is again open for both indoor and outdoor seating. Open only until 9:15 on weeknights, Teleféric stays open until 10:15pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Other Peninsula Watering Holes
Das Bierhauz | 135 Castro St, Mountain View | 650.336.7613 | dasbierhauz.com
The Emerald Hour | Inside the Shashi Hotel, 1625 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View | 650.420.2600 | theemeraldhour.com
The Library & Bar | 2825 Sand Hill Rd., Menlo Park | 650.561.1500 | rosewoodhotels.com
Fairchilds Public House | Inside Hyatt Centric Mountain View, 409 San Antonio Rd, Mountain View | 650.948.1234 | fairchildspublichouse.com
Quattro Bar | 2050 University Ave, East Palo Alto | 650.566.1200 | fourseasons.com
Reposado | 236 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto | 650.833.3151 | reposadorestaurant.com
Sekoya Lounge & Kitchen | 417 California Ave, Palo Alto | 650.313.2413 | sekoyapaloalto.com
Vino Locale | 431 Kipling St, Palo Alto | 650.999.6932 or 650.328.0450
Zola + BarZola | 585 Bryant St, Palo Alto | 650.521.0651 | zolapaloalto.com
See more in Metro Silicon Valley’s 2025 Bars & Clubs Survey: Downtown San Jose | On the Peninsula | Midcounty | West Valley | San Jose Neighborhoods | South County
