I've been to Second Story a handful of times now, and it's easily one of my favorite lounges! Every…read morevisit has been such a great experience. On my most recent trip, our reservation unexpectedly grew by a few people, and the staff went above and beyond to accommodate us. We really appreciated how hard they worked to make it happen! The cocktails are next level creative, delicious, and unlike anything you'll find at your average bar. My absolute favorite is the Bidi Bidi Bom Bom shot! And of course, we always order the caviar because... why not? The vibe here is everything. Whether it's girls' night, date night, or a celebration, there's always an amazing crowd. The DJ knows exactly how to read the room and keeps everyone singing along/ dancing with banger after banger. One night there was even a live saxophonist who absolutely stole the show, it made the whole experience feel so special! I also love the Renaissance inspired artwork by the entrance featuring icons like Drake, 2Pac, Sade, and more. It's such a cool touch and adds to the atmosphere. Second Story never misses, and I already can't wait for my next night out here!

This is definitely not a happy hour or "let's grab a drink" place. It opens at 6pm, and on a…read moreThursday at 6pm on the dot, I was offered only a bar seat without having a reservation. No big deal, as I wanted the bar anyway, but something others should keep in mind. The cocktail list is plentiful and intriguing. I tend to avoid tequila, so that eliminated a good chunk of the options. I went with Rose Colored Lenses, which was fantastic, and decently sized. Presentation was beautiful. My friend had All a Dream, also very good. The wine offerings are minimal, this is very much a cocktail or champagne type of place, with caviar being the primary food service. Speaking of service, the bartender was excellent, both in his mixology and demeanor. It took awhile to get the drinks, but I assume that was due to the complexity of the cocktails, paired with having just opened the doors a few min earlier. Two notes: 1. The barstools were a little too low, imo. I don't normally pay much attention to that detail, but these were uncomfortably low for me, even with my long torso, I was hyper aware of my posture. So maybe that's actually a good thing 2. Other patrons were rolling in shortly behind me, so there is probably an early crowd when they first open, then a late night group that appreciates the 2am closing time. Interior is beautiful, and you can use the steps up to the 2nd floor either from N Santa Cruz or the rear parking lot off W Main. More substantial food options are a mere few steps across the hall at Heritage.

The Cantina is one of my favorite neighborhood spots and a place I find myself coming back to again…read moreand again. The food is consistently great, and my go-to item is the Elote Street Corn Salad. It's absolutely delicious, packed with flavor, and a must-try if you're visiting for the first time. What really makes this place stand out is the welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff. The service is always excellent, and everyone makes you feel right at home. I also make it a point to stop by the bar and see Jorge, who makes one of the best espresso martinis around. His cocktails are always perfectly crafted and never disappoint. If you're looking for great food, excellent drinks, and outstanding service, The Cantina is definitely worth a visit. Highly recommended!

For a hole in the wall, it's a nice hole. Modern, well-staffed, clean, and busy, it might be only…read morefull bar south of the 85 from LG Blvd to Almaden where patrons aren't chain smokers with missing teeth and MAGA hats. While seating is limited, you can sit at the bar, a booth, a table, or the patio, which allows pretty views of people returning their safeway carts and middle schoolers. That's a dangling participle: They don't return their middle schoolers, but they probably wish they could. Anyway, the Americanized-Mexican menu is heavy on burgers and bar appetizers, which were hit and miss. The French fries were unusually hard and crisp. The smashburgers looked better than they tasted, but that's not too insulting: they look outstanding. On two separate burgers the bland buns fell apart, so hopefully they'll get better options in future. If they won't toast the bun for me next time, I'll bring a lighter. The guac was good (my wife and I are picky) but the "queso" is queso-tionable. It's not the authentic, pale, chile-flecked queso you might expect from even Chipotle, but bright orange school snack bar nacho cheese. The elote salad was not very elotey and it was flavorless (my wife asked for lime, which helped juice it up). The beer list is impressive. They offer rotating slush drinks. I loved the strawberry margarita ($11 or $8 happy hour) but returned the mojito. It tasted like fake mint. It was a nojito.

Great place to stop whether you're walking through the area or stuck in traffic. They offer beers,…read morewine, and a refreshing Frosé (frozen rosé slushy). All the drinks pair well with the wide range of food options on their extensive menu. There's plenty of seating both indoors and outside, plus several TVs throughout for watching sports. I ordered the Hop Holistics, a fresh, fruity Hazy IPA with a low 5.6% ABV, making it easy to enjoy more than one. I also tried the Alpha Dog West Coast IPA, which has a higher ABV and was another tasty choice, especially with my burger. I went with the smashburger and fries, and it was fantastic. Packed with flavor from the Memphis‑style BBQ sauce, avocado, and pickled red onions on a brioche bun. We were sharing it, and they even split it onto two plates for us -- a small touch we really appreciated. Only complaint was the bartender was NOT friendly at all. We felt like we were making him work. Definitely need to get someone that wants to work and not that guy! Despite this, we'll definitely be back to try more of the menu and enjoy another brew.

Am genuinely surprised by the hype for this place and disappointed that we didn't enjoy as much as…read morewe thought we would. We were driving to Santa Cruz on Memorial Day and it was such jam packed crazy peak traffic taking hours to move a mile, we decided to detour and take exit to Los Gatos. Now I've been to this cute rich neighbourhood city couple of times and enjoyed a lot. We parked at nearby garage. It was so damn now so loved the outdoor seating concept with play area for kids. My son loved running around here! Beer flight was decent, I didn't like any of the 4 beers given. We had pesto chicken sandwiche. It was not warm and tasted very normal Fried were cold and not seasoned well too. But it's great for outdoor seating and chilling with friends and family Self service , but good and drinks were super quick to arrive.

Have been here a few times and just love this place. Happy Hour has good options. Service always…read morereliable and good. Grilled cheese a favorite as are the deviled eggs. Love that it's low key on week days. Positive experience every visit...

Vesper has such a good atmosphere. Cozy, stylish, and way more versatile than your typical cocktail…read morebar because there are so many different seating setups throughout the space. It feels upscale without being pretentious. We grabbed one of the high-top tables and ordered ahi tostadas plus a few cocktails, including the watermelon moonshine which was honestly delicious and super smooth. The tostadas paired perfectly with the drinks, fresh, light, and flavorful. As the night went on and other seating areas opened up, we ended up moving around a bit which made the whole experience feel even more fun and relaxed. Definitely a great downtown Campbell spot if you want good cocktails and a more laid-back lounge vibe.

Hercules is a fantastic spot to grab a bite - it has a gorgeous atmosphere paired with truly…read moreexceptional food. We've tried their fish, carnitas, and birria tacos - all of which were amazing, though the birria and fish tacos were the clear standouts. The mango paired with the crispy fish is a true winner & you can't beat the ultimate comfort food of the birria taco. The presentation of the food is also stunning, with dishes served beautifully on black slate plates and mini cast-iron pans. I have to give a special shout-out to the chef: this is officially the only restaurant where I have actually finished the accompanying sides of refried beans and rice. They were absolutely outstanding! If you haven't been to Hercules yet, it is a must-visit. Don't miss out on their great drinks either--the hibiscus margarita is highly recommended!

I was very very pleased with the food and our experience here. We came here on a Saturday night and…read moreI was very surprised that it wasn't busier than it was for the location being great and the food being wonderful. Enjoyed the large tables, lights and ambiance. Would be a fun place for a group to get together. Now for the food - we were very happy with everything we ordered. We started with the queso fundido which was smaller than I expected but very good! For entrees we tried the quesabirria and fish tacos. The birria taco may have been my favorite bite! Delicious!! The enchiladas trio was also well executed. Tried the TJ Caesar Salad, the tamales and the chips and guac. The guac was another star, but the tamales were probably my next favorite bite. I would recommend trying 1 of each of the flavors. All were good and the sweet corn tamale was a surprise hit!! Would definitely come back here again!

Love the energy and live music. Selection is nice and varied. Love the Around the World flight and…read moreSmoked maple old fashioned was perfect. Always bit understaffed though so expect a wait to be to served.

I absolutely adore this place. The ambiance is so cute and perfect for a wine bar and they have an…read moreamazing selection. Plenty of outdoor seating as well as indoor. Service is pretty fast and environment is great for a girls night or date night!

My fave cocktail bar been visiting since they opened pre-Covid deserved an update to my original…read morereview. 24 visits and counting at the time of this review's post and have paid it forward recommending it to my friends and them to theirs. Food: 4.5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4.5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no but toast tab Return worthiness: yes Eve award: best quality cocktails in taste and presentation Highlights: - Cocktail quality: everything is top notch and fantastic - Cocktail uniqueness: drinks are truly their own creations you can't find elsewhere. Love the creativity. - Fun glassware: for some they have great receptacles to go with the personality of the drink - Theatrical ones: those are the creme de le creme and so much fun. I've had them all. Faves of those: -- Dead men tell no tales: pirate themed comes in a chest you can open and the drinks are in diamond shaped glasses. But it's not just a fun show. The drink is amazing. A smooth, complex, clarified bunch. 5 stars -- Magic carpet one: when they had that it was one of my faves I'd order regularly. 5 stars -- Rinse and repeat: one of their classics which comes in a bathtub complete with foam and a rubber duckie. Refreshing and not sweet. 4.5 stars - New for the summer. Tried a few -- Bear necessities: little honey bear with cantaloupe, white miso, and sauvignon blanc. Quite delicious and summery. 4.5 -- Open container: artsy clear version of a paper bag. Interesting ingredient mix with Havana club rum, fermented pineapple, almond milk, and others. Little bit sweet. 4 stars - Their now more standard drinks are still some of the ones I still rely one. Faves of those: -- Studio 54: vodka based with lemongrass and bubbles served in a shiny colored disco ball glass 5 stars -- Man and his mule: peppercorn version of a mule and love the peppery kick. 4.5 stars -- Grand larceny: punch of a spirit forward cocktail my husband loves. 4.5 stars - Rotate out cocktails ever so often to maximize the fun - Halloween and Christmas they go all out with their unique menus and decor: no generic national pop ups for them and I look forward to it every year. - Food items: high quality as well. Some of my go tos -- Crab toasts: 4 little pieces of lovely toast with a dollop of avocado mousse and a heap of dungenous crab topped with lemon beurre blanc. My fave snack I always have to get. 5+ stars -- Grilled cheese: wonderful combo of white cheddar, monterey jack, and provolone with a bit of truffle flavor--not too much--on a nice fluffy roll. Served with soup to dip it in--often times a nice tomato. 4.75 stars -- French dip: solid version on the same type of roll. 4.5 stars - Can make reservations now online which makes it a lot more convenient - Wines: have a fabulous wine by the glass list but I can't ever pull myself away from the cocktails - Bourbon/whiskey: have a stellar collection and knowledgeable staff to tell you about them (but again never get to it) - Staff: friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable - Atmosphere: relaxed yet fun Midlights: - They used to have a nice nut mix I enjoyed but not on the menu anymore Lowlights: - Books up for the holidays so grab those reservations when you can

Not sure why we never got around to trying this place before. Came in with some clients and was…read morehonestly pretty impressed. The service was great, the drinks were delicious, and the light bites were surprisingly good across the board. We had the Kobe "Eye of Ribeye" Steak Tartare, Prime Rib Beef Dip, Heirloom Tomato & Burrata, Lobster Roll, Black Truffle Deviled Eggs, Dungeness Crab Toast, and the Hamachi Crudo. The only thing that wasn't really our favorite was the deviled eggs, but everything else was solid. Overall, a great spot for a drink and a few bites. Definitely one of those places I'll be coming back to, especially since there are still quite a few things on the menu I'd like to try.

We come to the Cedar Room often as we live nearby and it is pretty hit or miss. More hit than miss…read morebut I would not recommend their draft cocktails. I don't have much to add on that statement besides they never hit. We have come on nights where the service is poor, hard to get a bartender's attention even with no line and the drinks are gross. Some nights, the service is excellent and drinks are incredible! It just depends on who is bartending that night. The cocktail presentation is always very nice. This past Saturday we stopped by to hear the live music (which was really good / oldies rock and roll vibes) and there was no line at the bar! We got a wonderful bartender who made his own rendition of an Aviation for me as they do not have crème de violette. It was very good! Thanks Rudy! (I think it was Rudy?) Very much appreciated the work around and making something up special. My husband got the draft Paloma and it was not good. As I said just don't get the draft cocktails. Overall, would recommend the Cedar Room for great vibes, mostly friendly staff and mostly excellent cocktails (again, just don't get the draft)! We will be back!!

I stopped by The Cedar Room after dinner for a few drinks, and the bartender, who I believe said…read moreher name was Nieves, gave us exceptional service. She was incredibly knowledgeable about whiskey, recommended Elijah Craig 18 (which was absolutely worth it), and even told us about the happy hour specials. I really appreciated that she wasn't just trying to sell the most expensive drinks-she genuinely cared about helping us find options that fit our budget while making sure we had a great experience. She treated us like friends, and that's the kind of hospitality that keeps customers coming back. Unfortunately, our experience changed because of a man with tattoos on his hands and neck who appeared to be a manager or a supervisor. While Nieves was answering our questions and taking great care of us, he was sitting at the bar on his laptop talking with another employee. He interrupted her and told her to stop "chit-chatting" with us and go work in the back. As guests, that was uncomfortable to witness because she wasn't just chatting-she was providing outstanding customer service. After that, she seemed much quieter and hesitant to come back whenever he was nearby. Nieves was the highlight of our visit, and we truly hope she's treated with the respect she deserves. We'd absolutely come back to see her again for more whiskey and cocktail recommendations.