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55 South

4.0 (825 reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
Updated 2 weeks ago

55 South Photos

Business Info

55 SOUTH ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Casual
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - 55 South

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Reviews With Photos

Charcuterie platter with questionable prosciutto. Warm and tan/khaki at the tip.
Kenneth L.

This place should be a bar, nothing else. The first red flag was we were the only 3 people in the establishment for dinner while other surrounding restaurants were busy. Despite that, we sat down and a waiter came by to take our order with a trainee. We gave him our drink order and needed a minute before ordering food. While looking over the menu, the training waiter is explaining the "do's and don'ts" of the restaurant to trainee right next to our table which was distracting to us and clearly uncomfortable for the trainee. Once decided we order and then the trainer was explaining to the trainee how it's their policy to receive payment after ordering (keep in mind we haven't received food or drinks yet and the starting gratuity was 20%). We pay and give looks to each other after the cards are charged because at this point we are wondering what is going on here?!?!?! The drinks come out 10/10...then the food. I have seen prosciutto look different in Spain and other establishments BUT NEVER have I seen tan/khaki tipped prosciutto. Then once I decline my order (we ordered 2 charcuterie boards and they brought out 1 at a time) the waiter said "we can't reverse the payment so we can give you something else of that value." I looked at the menu and didn't see anything else that looked appealing. When looking at the reaction from my friends, they suggested we leave because the food was either reaching the expiration date or surpassed it. Pros: if you're ever in San Jose the drinks (we only had one each but the ones we had were great) and whiskey selection is grand. Cons: food, the service, and payment policy. I expect to pay fast food establishments before receiving the meal, but never have I been charged (including starting gratuity at 20%) before receiving the meal.

Rona S.

Bar hopping one night and stumbled upon this place. Cool little spot, very nostalgic with the cartoon themed drinks. Not sure if the drinks rotate but maybe it does. This place like all other bar in San Jose gets really packed in the weekends. If you want to have a more chill night I would suggest going on a weekday night. Overall great experience and drinks were tasty and fun.

Merry Mai Tai
Amy C.

We had our double date last night here. It became pretty busy on a Sunday night. Lol We got there about 7:00pm, and we snag the last booth that was open. The place was decked out in Christmas decor galore! My man and I got the Pineapple Upside Down drink, Sippin Santa & Cheesy Olive Bread. The festive mugs are very adorable! The drinks were strong, but tasty! And OMFG.... I love the Cheesy Olive Bread!!! It's super yummy with the soft and crunchy bread with scrumptious cream cheese! Mmmmm... Then for round 2 we got the Secret Santa & Merry Mai Tai. Again very cute cups! Mermaid Santa?!?!?! We also got the charcuterie board, which was pretty good. I enjoyed our time there. It's so festive, and they played Christmas music. Our server was friendly and pretty attentive. The bathroom was pretty clean. I would definitely return again to this spot. :)

Menu
Patricia A.

Came in during the Halloween season to experience the holiday vibe and drinks. The place was decorated like the series, Stranger Things. They really went all out and added lots of touches from the series. Welcomed to Stranger Drinks in the upside down. It was a slow night so service was great.

Cauliflower
Jo P.

This is one of my go to places whenever I'm downtown. They change up the menu frequently and always new dishes to try. We came early on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't packed at all. We thought it didn't open yet...it was nice since we could really catch up and hand out. The service was great. Staff was attentive and checked on us frequently. Food: cauliflower dish was so good. Flavorful and cauliflowers cooked with tenderly but not mushy. They had some sauce on sides of dish that has a good kick. The black latte drink wasn't my favorite but the others ones were strong and tasty.

Inside
Kristina K.

This is such a fun bar and a must for the holidays!!! It's decorated so amazingly, I love all the lights! There is wait service when you sit at a booth and you can order food/ drinks. The Christmas drinks are so so good, some of my favorite out of all the Christmas bars in the area. The Jjnglebird was really yummy. I def wanna be back before the holiday season ends!

Diego B.

Cozy spot with low light and decent bites. Super recommend the cauliflower! It certainly stood out amongst everything! The staff was polite and helpful in accommodating my bigger than average group. Beware this place is popular and tables run out. So keep that in mind if you are coming in late in the evening. The only complain I have is that the bathrooms have no paper towels. You either use the air blower to dry your hands or whatever cloth you have in your body.

Sippin' Santa
Ashley V.

Updating my review to 5 stars because Chastin provided awesome service and I realized they have more than just two bathrooms. Also really enjoyed frosting bite with vodka! The decor is still on point for Christmas too!

Lemon drop and some special cocktail the bartender made topped with a macaroon ! N
Kay O.

I haven't been to 55 S. in such a long time, I wanna say it was before the pandemic! Lol particular Saturday night I was rather surprised to see Post Street shut down permanently, and there were a bunch of outside vendors. It looked really well lit and very Friendly to walk down. As we got into 55 south, they were mixing with the live DJ and some people are dancing and hanging out in boots. We went up to the bar and ordered our drinks. I got a lemon drop and my friend asked the bartender to make something with tequila and he made this beautiful concoction with a macaroon on top!! She said it was delicious, but had no idea what it was! Lol Our drinks were good! People were interesting, and the music was live. I will definitely come back again!!

Miracle take over menu
Michelle V.

Definitely a fun place, especially for those 30ish & under. Came with my niece and her husband and it was a very festive environment as it was the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was full on Christmas decor & Christmas themed drinks & glassware. It was crazy packed, but managed to ger a spot at the bar. Bonus that there are street vendors selling food outside, so once you finish your drink, fill the tummy with some food before heading home.

Night in Cancun
Lawrence C.

This was a restaurant that a friend recommended that we check out before a comedy show at the San Jose Improv theater, as the location is quite close to it. The interior is fairly spacious and dimly lit, but we were able to be seated as a party of 4 right away. The service was good and the waiters were friendly, with nice recommendations for what to get. For their food and drinks, I got the Night in Cancun cocktail, their Chicken Tinga hot pocket, and also The Bear sandwich. I have to say, all of these were delicious and definitely surpassed my expectations. The cocktail is pretty creative, with a tasty hibiscus foam on top that gives it a unique look. The Chicken Tinga hot pocket is probably the best hot pocket I've had in my life as it bursts with flavor and has a great crispiness to it. The Bear was also delicious, with really tender and juicy meat inside. If you are looking for a place to eat in Downtown San Jose, 55 South is not a place that you should miss if you want some great food.

Luna Tequila house margarita
Cathy T.

Raymond was an exceptional server. He bantered with us and engaged in our conversations in a way that really made us feel like we were hanging out in our living room. I tried their house cocktail with Luna tequila. At $15 dollars a drink it felt like such a great find in the local area considering how expensive drinks can get when it's not happy hour! Such a great spot to catch up with friends. On a Thursday night the vibe was quiet enough to chit chat but still a fun spot to grab a drink

Pork belly musubi. Photo by @martiwantsmore
Marti L.

Lunar New Year pop up at 55 South! It's really great that the bar took time to decorate and create a cocktail menu for Lunar New Year. There are 8 specialty craft cocktails on this menu to celebrate the holiday. We had a great time trying these creative cocktails. A few really stood out. Rice Cookie - top favorite! Shochu, black sesame, sweetly fermented rice. This cocktail had great balance. First Banchan - for the adventurous ones Gin, cucumber, sesame, and kimchi sour. This one surprised us. It's on the savory side but subtle. Reminds me of kimchi cucumbers. Such a fun drink! Coconut Candy - nostalgic Cocchi Americano, coconut, jackfruit, tangerine. On the sweet side but reminds me of the Asian coconut candies we used to eat during LNY! Don't forget about food! This was the first time we've really tried the food. So good! Our top favorites were the cheesy olive bread, chicken tinga hot pocket, aloha shrimp tacos, and duck confit sandwich. We were told that the LNY pop up usually runs for one week but was extended it to 2 weeks this year. Last day to check it out will be February 9th!

Mac and cheese

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55 South Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - 55 South

What time does the kitchen close on Saturdays-Mondays?

Can we come in with kids?

Unfortunately it's 21 and over only inside. The temporary seating outdoors does allow for kids but of course it's weather permitting.

Do you offer happy hour?

No more happy hour as of 9/16/2021.

Do they still have happy hour?

No more happy hour as of 9/16/2021.

Outdoor dining open? Reservations available?

I dont know about reservations but outdoor dining is back

Is there a cover charge?

No cover since it's a bar not a nightclub.

Can I come at 12:01 AM the night of my birthday? I know CA doesn't have a law against this, but I'm assuming bars might have their own policy?

They call last call at 1:30, ask for Michael and you will get a free birthday drink! (He's sitting next to me now)

My 21st birthday is coming up. Could I get a free drink or some deal?

Ask your friends to buy your drinks & then it's free LOL

What is the name of the band that plays on Sunday nights?

The Illiance

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Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG

Alter Ego Cocktail Club & Still OG

4.4
(303 reviews)
0.0 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Pet friendly

Came here on a Saturday night for some pre-dinner drinks. I wasn't really sure how it works with…read morethe two businesses in one, but Alter Ego is the speakeasy in the back, with reservations recommended, and Still OG is the walk in bar in the front. The front was pretty full so we checked out Alter Ego first, but they were also full with nothing available until 11pm, so Still OG it was. You grab a spot yourself and then order at the bar. All cocktails are on tap, which actually ended up being great because I was between a few of them and the bartender was able to give me samples of them. We also ended up getting an order of the Chicken skewers, which were super tender and juicy. We were too late on our visit, but they do have a daily happy hour that includes some of the skewers and fries, as well as some drinks and shots. Service was super friendly and vibes and music were great! Cocktails, weren't the best since they were on tap, but still good enough! I would absolutely come back here for a drink and snack though!

From the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional--quick, witty, attentive, and genuinely…read moreknowledgeable. The staff fully embraced the speakeasy theme with their attire, and the ambiance was immersive from start to finish The Annabelle mezcal cocktail was outstanding: refreshing with just the right bite. The presentation, complete with the smoke-filled bubble you get to pop, added a fun, theatrical touch. The food had a creative Asian-inspired twist throughout. The beef skewer was tender and juicy, the soba noodles were packed with flavor and texture in every bite, and the hamachi was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. An all-around memorable dining experience

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Asteroid Blues
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Silk Sheets and Sweets $19
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6/21/2024 symphony in black (mocktail of kyushu coffee) SO GOOD BEST BLACK SESAME COFFEE EVER wish i could drink this every morning

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Eos & Nyx

Eos & Nyx

4.2
(690 reviews)
0.2 mi
Locally owned & operated
Takes reservations

Came here with some friends on a Saturday night before heading out in downtown San Jose, and it was…read morea great way to start the evening. Parking is what you'd expect for downtown - either paid street parking or a nearby garage. The atmosphere is stylish and upscale, making it a great spot for a special night out. We ordered the mussels, flatbread, Brussels sprouts, and lobster noodles, and every dish was a hit. The mussels were definitely the standout - the sauce was so flavorful and unforgettable that we were tempted to ask for extra bread just to soak it all up. We also really enjoyed the cocktails. To top it all off, we were surprised with complimentary caviar cones from the restaurant, which was such a nice touch. Overall, it's a fantastic spot for celebrating with friends or enjoying a date night. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu!

Generally enjoyed the food here. Few misses on a few dishes and some little things turned this exp…read morefrom a 5 to a 4. Drinks/cocktails were tasty and I generally liked all the drinks I tried They got two weird rules: 1) Everything must be ordered at the same time so that they can coursify your meal. Not a huge deal I guess but we wanted to order apps first since we were hungry and then take our time to do the entrees 2) if someone wants to do the prefixe meal, EVERYONE has to do it as well ‍... Kinda a pain and I personally don't feel it makes much sense as I wanted something not on the pre fixe menu Food: Bruschetta - so tasty. It's a flavor bomb with the cheese, honey, and mortadella. Def recommend Kofta- not bad. I dunno if the meatballs really went that well with the hummus as it's kind of a dryer dip but I get what they were trying to do. The bruschetta was much better imo Crudo- solid crudo. I've had better quality fish but it still fairly good. Nice dish if you don't want something too heavy and want a lil citrus Scallops- really good but really pricey. Is 2 for $24 . Loved the way it was prepped tho and the wasabi cream sauce. Oysters- also good but also pricey @ $4/oyster. If you hafta make a choice I liked the scallops better Octopus: cooked perfectly. Loved the sauces and flavors as well. This was a big hit at the table Chicken: nice grilled taste but ultimately overcooked and dry. Flavor was ok. Prob wouldn't get again nor recommend Ny strip: solid steak with nice char texture and flavors. Nothin crazy crazy but way better than the chicken Ocean trout: imo the best entree of the night. It was cooked perfectly and the skin had a perfect crisp/flakiness Lobster tagliatelle: pretty meh. I think the sauce on the pasta was a bit bland. There also was barely any lobster. I'd skip this Lemon pie: the best dessert. It sounds basic AF but it's really a deconstructed lemon pie using lemon meringue on top. Def creative and tasty. Loukoumades: despite being recommended we prob felt this was the least fav dessert. The dough balls were a bit stale instead of nice soft and fluffy Chocolate sundae: reminded me of a chocolate mojito. It was not bad and the mint created another dimension to the desert but ultimately just way too much chocolate. I think it could be better if there were scoops of different flavors instead of all choc Overall, most of the dishes were great and we generally had a good experience. Some dishes were meh but def felt the majority were winners. Wouldn't mind coming back for a special occasion or nice dinner again when the menu is refreshed

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Dining Room
Dining Room
Dining Room Staircase
Dining Room Staircase
Mezzanine Bar

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Mezzanine Bar
Haberdasher

Haberdasher

4.5
(755 reviews)
0.4 mi
$$

Walking into haberdasher always makes me feel like I'm going back in time. It's beautifully…read moredesigned and has amazing staff. My husband and I had a baby free night out to celebrate my birthday and haberdasher did not disappoint. We went soon after opening so there was no line but I know they tend to have one later in the evening. We were greeted warmly at the door by the attendant who checked our ids. I was even wished a happy early birthday. When going into the bar, you walk down a staircase into a space that makes you forget you're in downtown San Jose with beautiful reds and burgundy decor. The staff is all smartly dressed; the bartender and bar back were both sweet and funny. I ordered a jack rose (my all time favorite), their seasonal watermelon waltz (this may be a new favorite for me, nice and refreshing) and one of their zero proof cocktails called a Mariposa which was soooo good as well. My husband ordered a couple old fashioned and a watermelon waltz for himself. We had an amazing time and look forward to coming back in the future.

My friends and I went to several bars down the street and none really stood out but we saw…read moreHaberdasher and needed to check the place out. There was about a 10 min wait. And they don't allow outside food in even if the food was leftover in Togo bags from dinner. The place was busy when we finally went inside. But the bartenders were fast and we got two rounds of drinks as far as we could order. The dim lighting did look reddish. The large tables were reserved but there plenty of smaller high tops around. Memorable drinks were the perfect pear and the Andean Ascent. Perfect pear was not fruity at all and had a nice aroma and spice to it. The Andean ascent was a nice drink to start with, refreshing with a bit of fizz.

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Kentucky Buck
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Back bar
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Blossom & Bourbon

Blossom & Bourbon

4.2
(702 reviews)
6.4 mi
$$$

We had such a wonderful experience celebrating our anniversary dinner here. From the moment we…read morewalked in, Serene made us feel incredibly welcome. She was warm, friendly, and genuinely hospitable, setting the tone for a fantastic evening. The food was excellent and arrived surprisingly quickly, which we really appreciated. Throughout our meal, Serene checked on us regularly to make sure everything was perfect, and her pleasant demeanor made us feel truly valued as guests. The atmosphere was great, the food was delicious, but what really made the evening special was the exceptional service we received from Serene. Her kindness and attention to detail turned a great dinner into a memorable anniversary celebration. We can't wait to come back!

I came here for weekday dinner and had no wait…read more The pizza was surprisingly unique and very tasty, and definitely the standout of the meal. The diavola pasta had a great texture and a flavorful sauce, although it felt a little simple since there weren't many other ingredients mixed in. The crispy brussels sprouts weren't for me, not very crispy and a bit hard. The gelato was much better than I expected and ended up being a nice way to end the meal. The service was great though and the lighting inside nice! Overall, the meal was a bit hit-or-miss, but I'd come back to try more of the pizzas since those were definitely the highlight

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The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.
The far left side of the restaurant- bar is directly in the middle.
Fries that come w/ the French Dip
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The Pressroom

The Pressroom

4.1
(450 reviews)
0.2 mi

Came here with my coworkers for a small bachelorette dinner! The food was AMAZING. I want to come…read moreback for a cute little date night with my bf before heading out to downtown. We had a group of around 8 I think and did a family style type of dinner. We ordered the milk bread, mussels and prawns, poke nachos, caviar potato pave, and prime ny steak frites. Everything was so good!! The bread and the two butters it came with were really good. The bread that came with mussels and prawns were really good too, it was toasted with some seasonings and it paired really well with the leftover seafood sauce. The caviar was alright but the potato in the dish was great. Service was great. it took a while for the server to fix our wobbly table but it's fine, they seemed really busy and was able to fix it eventually. Overall fun place to take a big group for a cute dinner. Food was amazing, definitely on the pricier side though, but the vibes were great!

Arrived around noon on Friday before Fourth of July, thought they would have brunch but they only…read morehave that on weekends!! The lunch menu was still good tho and liked everything i ordered! We got the 1/2 dozen oysters, ahi poke appetizer, and shared the salmon entree. Service was very good, food came out in a good amount of time. The oysters were fresh, the ahi poke was ample and good flavor profile with fresh tuna and spicy mayo. The salmon was already halved for us which was such a nice touch as we mentioned we were sharing. Everything tastes healthy and not salty which we liked. Def want to come back for brunch!! Recommend!

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The Pressroom
Calabrian chili-lime butter enriched with bone marrow
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Goodtime Bar

Goodtime Bar

4.7
(239 reviews)
0.1 mi
$$

What a great find…read more -bucatini was phenomenal -aroncini such a pleasant surprise. Amazing taste profile. Just missing a tad of acid like an arugula side w a citrus vinaigrette -pork belly was sticky and fabulous -deviled eggs with roe had a great texture -crème brûlée was spot on. Cold with perfect burnt top and creamy inside.

I am completely obsessed with Goodtime Bar. I can appreciate their unique selection of wine, as…read morethey focus on natural wine. Not my personal cup of tea, but they do also offer sake and a few beers also. The first time we went, we ordered the arancini, bucatini, and the heritage pork katsu. I am a big advocate for trying new things every time I go to a restaurant, but it was so good I ordered the same thing the second time I went. Arancini is flavored with Japanese curry with creamy fontina in the center topped off with kimchi mayo. Holy f. These quite literally put the traditional Italian ones to shame (sorry not sorry). Next was the bucatini. It had tom yum butter, lime, basil- all the fix ins of what you want from tom yum flavors with the luxuriousness added from the butter. It was sinful. Last and certainly not least, is the pork katsu. I cannot even remember the last time I ordered a pork katsu, but something told me to order it. Thank God I did, as it quite literally changed my life. If they ever take it off the menu I am not sure I would be OK. It is crispy and is swimming in this koji butter, but the key is that it is NOT greasy. I quite literally think about it all the time. To the point where I had it twice in a week. Service was great, bartenders are so friendly. The place is cute and vibrant. Keep in mind it is small- limited seating inside and a small patio outside. But so worth the wait. It aint called Goodtime for no reason!

Photos
Indoor seating area
Indoor seating area
Pork Belly w/ caramelized oyster sauce, peach salsa, ngo gai, jimmy nardellos ($24)
Pork Belly w/ caramelized oyster sauce, peach salsa, ngo gai, jimmy nardellos ($24)
A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

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A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

55 South - lounges - Updated July 2026

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