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The Metro Bars & Clubs 2003 Guide [ San Jose Central | San Jose Outskirts | Cupertino | Los Gatos | Mountain View | Peninsula | Santa Clara | Saratoga | Sunnyvale ] Campbell Boswell's 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell; 408.371.4404 Hours: Daily noon-2am Crowd Age: 21-40 Music: Cover bands, karaoke and DJ Decor: Dim neighborhood dive Signature Drink: Chillum Amenities: Megatouch video games, TVs Boswell's is the diveiest of all the bars in the Pruneyard, sporting mirrored beer signs and a giant moose head. The Gents used to play there before Smash Mouth took off, and it's where actor and standup comedian Kevin Pollak used to hang. Cover bands provide the bulk of the entertainment, playing Top 40 hits from multiple decades. Campbell Billiards 1777 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell; 408.377.9886 Hours: Daily Noon-2am Crowd Age: 18-late 20s Music: Jukebox stocked with classic rock, modern metal Decor: Basic no-frills pool hall Signature Drink: Beer Amenities: Pinball, video games, jukebox, Megatouch video game, 24 billiard tables Dimly lit and sparsely decorated, Campbell Billiards may not score high on ambience, but sharks and guppies alike can find a pool table with their name on it. This place won't break the bank either--tables run $10 an hour for two people, $1.20 for each additional player. Mondays are ladies night, and Tuesdays are tournament night with a cash prize of $100-plus for first place. The hall is open to all ages but does serve beer. Fridays and Saturdays draw the most action. The Cardiff Lounge 260 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell; 408.374.7477 Hours: Mon-Fri noon-2am, Sat-Sun 2pm-2am Crowd Age: 20s-30s Music: Nightly DJs, Fri DJ dance party, with down-tempo, rare groove and deep house Decor: Ultralounge Signature Drink: Cocktails Amenities: Flat-screen TV, T-1 laptop connections This classic watering hole with the volcanic facade has gotten a major facelift thanks to longtime club promoter Sam Ramirez. No longer the dim and shabby old-school bar favored by locals and rockers, the new Cardiff resembles a swanky lounge--it's bright and modern, with sparkling tiles, elegant lighting, a backlit bar and a DJ station suspended by chains. Silicon Valley's fashionable crowd caught on quickly, designating this hip new lounge one of the trendiest spots in the South Bay, where people dance, sip cocktails and mingle freely. Effie's Restaurant and Bar 331 W. Hacienda Ave, Campbell; 408.374.3400 Hours: Bar 6am (though it's usually empty until 11am) to 1am or 1:30am Crowd Age: 35-65 Music: Karaoke Decor: Hotel cocktail lounge Signature Drink: Martini Amenities: Dice Frilly on the outside, with frosted doors, green-felt walls and tan booths on the inside, Effie's is a comfortable neighborhood bar and restaurant that attracts a variety of professional people. Local real estate agents, mortgage brokers and the like return night after night for a cocktail or two and a turn at karaoke hosted Tue-Sat by Erica. The Garret 1777 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell; 408.559.7930 Hours: Daily 10am-1:30 am Crowd Age: Family mix Music: Nope Decor: Good-karma pub Signature Drink: Beer Amenities: Espresso bar, sports on TV, video game room with pinball In one form or another, the Garret's been hosting after-surfing or after-softball pizza parties since the '70s. Its newest incarnation sports a small but sociable bar kept cool by brick tiles and shuttered windows. The pizza's great, but it's the personality that draws the regulars. The Gaslighter Theater 400 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell; 408.866.1408 Hours: Vary; doors for live shows usually open at 6:30pm Crowd Age: All-ages Music: Live bands Decor: Old vaudeville theater Signature Drink: Beer and wine Amenities: Outdoor smoking area in back Most Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for melodrama and vaudeville theater, but other nights throughout the week--including most Thursdays and Sundays--the Gaslighter Theater hosts all-ages rock, metal, punk, ska and indie shows. It's one of the few remaining spaces for minors to catch live bands on a regular basis, attracting a mixed crowd of kids, parents and local-music lovers. This historic venue has a homey feel, and beer, wine and hot snacks are served at the bar. Katie Bloom's 369 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell; 408.379.9687 Hours: Daily 11:30am-2am Crowd Age: 21-40 Music: Jukebox heavy on pop and traditional Irish/Celtic artists Decor: Irish pub Signature Drink: Dirty Redheaded Slut Amenities: Heated patio for drinking, eating and smoking; big screen TV Its mostly Irish staff gives Katie Bloom's a stamp of authenticity--furthered by a jukebox stocked with Shane MacGowan, the Cranberries, the Saw Doctors and the Chieftains. Food is served until 10pm, and big booths make an ideal place to socialize or watch sports on the big screen. While the hipoisie things bounce between Katie Bloom's and the new Cardiff Lounge on weekends, Leonard Webb brings out the older crowd for jazz night the first Saturday of every month. Wednesdays feature Brainteaser pub trivia and on Thursdays the dart team plays. The heated outdoor patio here is generally packed with people and pints. Khartoum 300 Orchard City Dr, Campbell; 408.379.6340 Hours: Daily 11am-1:30am Crowd Age: 25-49 Music: Thu karaoke, jukebox Signature Drinks: Chillum and Irish coffee (drink separately) Decor: North Africa oasis meets sports bar Amenities: Foosball, darts The sole survivor from Campbell's 1970s partying heyday, Khartoum combines the friendly character of a neighborhood hangout with the stylish swank of a gracefully aging fern bar. Artfully backlit museum-quality stained glass mural panels wrap the room and depict scenes of rustic Morocco that shimmer particularly well after three drinks. Neon beer signs are a more recent addition. King's Head Pub & Restaurant 201 Orchard City Dr, Campbell; 408.871.2499 Hours: Bar Sun-Wed 11am-midnight, Thu-Sat 11am-2am; lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-5pm; dinner Mon-Fri 5-10pm; afternoon tea Mon-Fri 2-4pm Crowd Age: Maidens and distinguished gentlefolk Music: Mon karaoke, Tue C&W, Thu Celtic night, Fri-Sat live rock, Sun open-mic Decor: Modern medieval Signature Drink: Guinness Amenities: ATM machine, outdoor patio, TVs With a suit of armor standing at the pub's entrance and British flags and crests decorating the multilevel space, stepping into the King's Head is like stepping inside the great hall of a small castle--and there's a perpetually festive air of revelry permeating the stone surroundings. Smokers hold court nightly on the outdoor patio. Food from the restaurant's menu of traditional British fare, with a generous number of vegetarian options, is served until 10pm. Murphy's Bar & Grill 2240 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell; 408.379.2654 Hours: Daily 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21+, older by day, younger by night Music: Occasional DJs, jukebox Decor: Sporty Signature Drink: Jolly Rancher Watermelon Amenities: pool table, dartboard, video game, TVs What goes better with sports than all-American burgers, dogs or cheese steaks straight off the grill? Murphy's lives by any number of all-American maxims but this one primarily. Wall-to-wall sports memorabilia will make any Oakland A's or Raiders fan feel right at home. Off the Hook 2369 S. Winchester Blvd, Campbell; 408.374.3257 Hours: 11am-2am Crowd Age: 21-50 Music: DJ every Sat Decor: Sports tavern Signature Drink: Diggler Amenities: Pool tables, air hockey, pinball, darts, widescreen TV Never mind that the bartender is a Tampa fan, he still serves up a friendly Ankles in the Air at this pleasantly dim, low-key sports bar. They've got Tool right next to Erasure on the jukebox, and the assembly-size backroom has a dance floor where a DJ cuts it up on Fridays. There are darts, pinball machines, 75-cent pool and air hockey. They've even got their very own kitchen in the back serving standard yummy bar grub delivered to your stool so you don't have to miss a second of ESPN 1, 2 or 3 on the TVs behind the bar. Rock Bottom Brewery The Pruneyard, 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell; 408.377.0707 Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-2am, Sat-Sun noon-2am Crowd Age: 21-35 Music: CD mixes Decor: High wood ceilings and cozy booths Signature Drink: Raccoon Red Amenities: Ten full-screen TVs, NFL Ticket package for complete football coverage Come football season, the chaletlike interior of Rock Bottom echoes with the cheers and agonies of die-hard fans. Real agony can be drowned in one of 10 handcrafted beers on tap; every Thursday, the price of solace drops to $1 per beer. Metro Bars & Clubs 2003 Features Five Terrifying Minutes of Fame: Friends don't let friends sing, "Dude Looks Like a Lady" ... and other karaoke tips. Caffeine Nation: A list of coffeehouses--the cream of the crop. Thanks, Designated Driver!: An appreciation, and some tips, for the nondrinker. Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]