I came here last night on a bar hopping sprawl, and was not disappointed! It was my first time there, and I definitely enjoyed the ambience. The interior is filled with all sorts of fun arcade games to play, and there's lots of tables to sit at to enjoy drinks as well! I ordered the Tea-1000 and it tasted ok! I think it was just smokier than I expected it to be. The smoky flavor definitely overpowered everything else that was in the drink. My friend got the Smells Like Teen Spirit and it was so tasty! It comes with some sour patch watermelon candies on top, which was a great way to wash down any alcohol taste. It was very sweet, so it's perfect for anyone that needs a fun, fruity drink! read more

They have a variety of games here like Pac-Man, shooting and racing games, and a room full of pinball machines. On Thursdays games are free so it gets a bit more packed. Their drinks are pretty standard, a bit pricey (~$15 for a cocktail). The bartenders are very friendly and knowledgeable about how to make their drinks and one bartender even made a drink for me that wasn't on the menu! Overall, I would recommend coming to Miniboss to play some games and grab drinks too. read more

Miniboss - Cocktails - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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So cute and so much fun! There are so many games to play, it never gets boring. The food was delicious and the drinks were hella good! I am absolutely in love with the local artwork displayed on the walls. It made the vibe of the place very unique. PS- I didn't get her name, but we had a bartender with dirty blond hair with glasses. She was an absolute doll! read more

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Fun little arcade bar. This is like a smaller emporium with primarily arcade and pinball machines. You won't find stuff like foosball or air hockey here, but you'll find lots of fun / different arcade games to play. And of course, they have killer queen :) read more

It was packed on a Saturday night! Parking was challenging in downtown San Jose, with the options being paid garages or finding street parking and walking. The venue is quite large with plenty of seating, but everything was taken. There are a variety of old classic games that require coins to play. The bar is well-managed with efficient bartenders, so service was quick and easy. The menu has a wide variety of interesting cocktails, and I also recommend coming for the discounted happy hours. 10/10 Winter on Niberu - $16: This drink had a strawberry and condensed milk flavor that was fantastic! Highly recommend it. It tastes like a strong, creamier Calpico. 8/10 Steal My Sunshine - $16: This coconut-flavored drink with mango popping boba was also very creamy and had a good coconut flavor. 7/10 Jigglypuff - $16: A peach cocktail that was just okay. 6/10 Holographic Charizard Slushy - $16: It tasted good for the first few sips but was way too sweet. I wouldn't get it again. I would come for happy hour next time as it was so packed with no seating and all the games were occupied. read more

Excellent service with such a packed bar the bartenders got to us in a reasonable time with super fun and delicious cocktails. We enjoyed going to mini boss because there is no line and a bunch of pinball and arcade games all for $.75. Very expensive but you're paying for the vibes. if you plan to go to paper planes, they usually have a very long line and mini boss has the exact same drinks so I would go to miniboss. read more

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Going to a holiday bar was on my bucket list for this year so I knew I had to make it over to Miniboss while at Christmas in the Park! The ambiance was amazing with all the Christmas decorations- I was particularly impressed with how much they were able to fit into the area. I was anticipating more holiday-centric drinks but the menu was oddly tropical flavors. We tried Rudolph's Replacement and the Yippee Ki Yay MotherF***** ! I would recommend the latter, the ube taste was subtle but still complemented the rest of the drink well. My friends and I found Rudolph's replacement difficult to get through and a bit watery. The cups were super cute and were a nice touch to the whole atmosphere. The staff was fantastic/efficient and although we didn't get any, the food smelled so tempting. I can't wait to see what Miniboss is like during the regular season! read more

Miniboss - Miracle Pop-up Menu! - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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I like their cocktail menu a lot, and there's a good amount of brews on tap. They had mead at one point but not anymore, I really hope they bring it back. If you like sweet cocktails, the holographic charizard is a MUST try. It hasn't let any of my friends down. Reliable but alright food options, but it doesn't stand out from just "bar food". Wings, fries, and a type of ramen based on instant noodles are the most notable food items so far. They offer a lot of pizza variety toppings that are satisfactory as a drunk patron but nothing to write home about. The food service is pretty fast I will give them that. They have a great variety of classic arcade games, some of them are not 100% functional, but if it's not too busy the variety will keep you entertained for a good while. They also stream movies on the big screens so there's always something to keep you interested. Also their Christmas and Halloween decorations are awesome. If you want to try all their games for FREE come early Thursday!! It's free play all night and I've gotten to try so many old games I never would have touched otherwise. Especially great for pinball enjoyers, they have 10+ machines and it's close to deserted around opening time. I appreciate this place as it's hard to find bars that have got other entertainment options going on in downtown SJ, which is especially important to me when drinking alone. !!! THURSDAY NIGHT ALL GAMES ARE FREE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS!!!! Any other night of the week they're open is good if you wanna game, they offer in house atm and cash to coin converters to make it easy to play whatever you want. I'm a gen z but anyone who went to real arcades back in the day should get a huge kick out of this. It's rare to find a bar in downtown San Jose that offers any arcade games. Only complaint is sometimes they don't have enough bartenders on weekend nights but since I mostly go Thursdays I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes to get served. Went to this place almost every week for half a year and had a great time. Thank you Miniboss!! read more

This place is awesome but my problem is that some of the arcade cabinets eat your coins and dont work. Also some of the buttons, arcade sticks/ light gun are broken / loose triggers. I get the machines are old and it has a bunch of people drinking who use them but when I come to exchange my cash for quarters only for it to not work it's kind of annoying and makes me want to leave. Drinks are also overpriced read more

Absolutely love this place!!! Especially for the holidays, both Halloween and Christmas this place gets all decorated and has amazing cocktails!!! Even when there isn't holidays, specialty cocktails are super tasty. If you're a gamer or you love games this is totally your place. We double dated here a few times, guys game the girls talk. Super fun. Check them out. Def not a bar with good music just a good vibe. Not really gluten free friendly but my boyfriend says food is really good! read more

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This was my first time at Miniboss and I absolutely loved it! This arcade bar has amazing drinks and the vibe is immaculate. I ordered the Ziggy Piggy and I loved the watermelon flavor, it also came in a super cute pig mug with a balloon! My friend ordered the Thunderdome and it was a great mix of sweet and tangy! We got to play some arcade games as well, loved playing Pac-Man, it brought back so many nostalgic memories! I loved the aesthetic of this place, they have cool neon signs and wall art. I didn't get a chance to eat the food here, but can't wait to come again to try it. I had forgotten my ID card here and called a couple times, but didn't get a reply, but they were super quick to respond on Instagram and I am going to pick it up soon, I appreciated the quick replies! Can't wait to come here again!! read more

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Been to this place alot over years. The white security guard has had an issue my group twice this year. First time- group of friends got drinks and we separated in the bar, met back up and the security said he is kicking out my friend cause he was smoking/vaping in the bathroom. My friend doesn't smoke at all. My friend tell the guard that and the guard said na its you and told him to get out. My friend told the guard he can check his pockets if he wanted to find anything, but the guard still said no and told him to leave Second time- just got into the place with my group, ordered 1 round of drinks, took a sip of my drink and then i went to the bathroom. I was making my way back to the table and theres alot of people at the bar, as i walk by people i just touch their shoulder just to let them know im trying to get by. The guard went over to our table and said i was too drunk and i had to leave. I was at this spot for like 15 minutes between the guard checking my id at the door, getting my first drink, and going to the bathroom and the security had already flagged me as being to drunk. Wasn't half way into my drink yet read more

Had a really bad experience at this bar. One of the bartenders, a high calorie woman with blue hair, was extremely rude while getting our drinks. Her attitude made the whole group uncomfortable rolling her eyes, being short with us, and just acting like we were a burden for ordering. It really killed the vibe. NEVER COMING BACK! read more

The crack wings recipe got changed and it's totally ruined now. I only come here for the wings because the drinks are ok.

This was a pleasant surprise. The bar has a full Christmas makeover for the holidays. Santa greets you at the door and my Snowball Old Fashioned was pretty darn good. :) There are also a ton of retro/arcade games throughout the bar. read more

This place is awesome! A perfect example of how to run a arcade/bar business! The staff is friendly, the security make you feel comfortable, and the atmosphere of the venue lifts you right up! Classic arcades line the parameter with an awesome bar with video game themed drinks in the middle. Plenty of tables to find a seat at and even more in the back. There is a small lounge area and the very back has another bar to accommodate for high traffic. It can seem somewhat chaotic here but the staff handles it great and the people that drop in are fun and lively. Perfect place to go to with a group of friends or a date for a night out to play games, eat, and get drinks. 100% 10/10 venue and is a must go to place in down town San Jose. Disclosure: All reviews are based solely on what a facility offers (foods, drinks, experiences, etc.) and their customer service. The ability to live stream at a location has no bearing on any of the reviews posted by me. read more

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Conceptually it's cool. Bars with arcade games are always fun and I like that at Miniboss you exchange your dolla dolla bills for quarters as opposed to tokens. They also have unique and fun drinks you can order, however, they are pretty hit-or-miss but the presentation and cocktail descriptions are elite. Also, they weren't the strongest drinks but they were fun to drink and order. Also, If you get the drink that's in the pig cup with a pink balloon - they do ask for your ID to hold onto as collateral until you return the cup. I guess a lot of people have taken them home as "party favors" lol. Overall, it's a fun spot but not sure I'd go out of my way to return just for the drinks. I'd probably come after having drinks elsewhere or just get a beer or two while playing some games. read more

I came here with my boyfriend around 9pm on a Saturday night. I've wanted to check it out for a while since I've heard that it's pretty cool. And it was! We're not big drinkers so we ended up ordering 2 cocktails and the slushy. I got the "Life in Hi-Fi" and he got the "Like This and Like That" and we also ended up ordering a slushy. I really only ordered my drink because I saw egg white and thought it was cool/interesting. It did give the drink a foamy top. However this is a tequila-based drink which I did not notice until I tasted it. It wasn't bad but definitely not your typical sweet tasty cocktail.. you know, cause tequila. My boyfriend's drink was really sweet and citrusy. Definitely order this if you don't wanna taste much alcohol or just enjoy a nice citrus drink :) Our slushy was some vaguely fruity thing but we quite enjoyed it. It had a ring of tajin or similar which helped cut the sweetness of the drink. I think this changes often so it's probably best to ask the bartender what it is. Other than drinks, they have a lot of arcade games including Initial D racing and tons of pinball. Games are $0.50 and there's a change machine in the back as well. I haven't played pinball in so long so that was really cool. A lot of the machines look older as well which was also neat - sorry I don't know too much about these lol. The layout of the place is not bad. Although it was definitely busy it didn't really feel too crowded or claustrophobic, and there's a good amount of seating if you just want to chill. Music is a bit loud so it's hard to hold a conversation but the whole vibe of the place is not too overwhelming. I had a pretty good experience and would definitely come back to play some games! read more

Miniboss - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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this bartender told me in such an asshole way that he couldn't make a green tea shot like just just a tell me you not do specialty shots only made me disappointed in men in our society read more

A fun barcade in downtown San Jose. The drinks here are just okay. They used to have a drink that came in a pig glass that was just the best. it was super tasty and it came in a cute cup, what's not to love? There's a good amount of games to play in here, but most of the time people just congregate around them just to hang out. The service is alright, the bartenders aren't too friendly here. read more

holy hell. what can i say? i've been coming here for years now and the food at this place used to be great. it no longer is. do yourself a favour and definitely don't get the crack wings from here. it is saltier than the ocean, i had to get rid of the breading to eat it. the crack wings they used to have were amazing. ever since they changed their menu, the quality and taste of everything degraded as well. honestly, pretty much everything else on the old menu were great. bring back the old stuff! games are fun though! read more

Miniboss - fries and crack wings - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

If you love barcades, this place is great! It has pinball machines, racing games, and 4-player games. All the bartenders I've met so far have all been really friendly! Their food is also pretty good and they came out in a decent time! The vibe here was 10 out of 10! read more

I have been here twice now, once on a weekday night and another on a weekend evening with some friends. I was really excited about this place because it seems like a fun and chill area which is a nice adddition to downtown San Jose. This place is actually quite large and is attatched to a restaurant. You can play arcade games, drink, and eat at the same time, what more can you ask for? I do have to mention that both times I went, the bouncers were extremely nice and friendly. This is pretty hard to find and I definitely think that it is worth mentioning. This seems to be pretty common about this place after reading many reviews. The arcade games are scattered throughout the place. This place is definitely big and pretty spacious enough so you don't feel super close next to other people when you are playing games. The games were pretty cheap! I have been to other arcades where pinball is $1.00 and you only get one try. However, at mini boss, pinball is $.50 and you get multiple tries! I also enjoyed playing the multiplayer games because these are extremely fun to play with your friends, especially if you are going with a group of people. I ordered the slushy bramble. Oh man! This drink was so strong. They definitely don't skip out on the alcohol for this drink. Although, I think that this is a good thing because if you are spending around $13-$15 for an alcoholic drink, I think you would want it to be somewhat strong. Personally, I prefer my drinks on the sweeter side. But I do recommend this drink for anyone who wants something strong. One thing that I like about this place is that it is adults only. This is super cool and you know exactly what kind of vibe it is. I definitely understood why it's adults only. There is a large bar and late hours. However, if you do bring your kids, they are allowed next door at super good kitchen which is attatched to mini boss. They have food as well as a handful of arcade games. Overall, this has become one of my favorite arcade bars that I have ever been too! read more

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The drinks here are good but if you are gonna have such a big specialty menu for drinks you should be faster making them or have more bartenders on busy nights. We waited 30+ minutes just to order drinks. And all the bartenders looked like they were moving quick but they couldn't possibly make them faster I don't think. Otherwise it is a cool environment and had a great variety of games and quarter machine to change out your bills. read more

Miniboss - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Cool concept for the spot, but drinks and atmosphere are subpar to other bars in the area. We wanted to order 3 AMF's but we were told they don't make that drink so we asked for the closest drink we could get to it and was recommended the Like This, Like That. It tasted okay, we were told it was similar to an AMF but more boozy and sweet. It was definitely sweet and nothing else. They don't have lemonade to make vodka lemonade, but that's okay I guess. Dude at the door was super rude. He swore at some of the people in line and only let groups with all girls (with maybe 1 guy) in before the long line of people. I don't normally go to bars like this so I'm gonna assume that's normal. read more

Miniboss - Tito's and pineapple juice, 3 Like This, Like That - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

This place is a nice place to go to when you're roaming around Downtown San Jose. I was born and raised in San Jose and it was my first time trying this place out with a couple of friends. I feel like this has a more intimate feel with COOLER drinks compared to your typical Dave & Buster's and Round One. This place doesn't have many modern arcade systems which, I appreciate because they really value retro gaming. The way it's designed and the graffiti art inside the bar gives it such a nice feel! They do have Killer Queen Black here, so if you're looking to have some fun with a big group of friends, this game always seems to be a big hit. Their cocktails are amazing and absolutely adore how they named it after games! They're super unique and personally feel they're worth the price. However, please make sure you don't have any food "to-go" from a different restaurant as they'd ask you to leave it up front. read more

Had dinner next door (or connected) and afterwards, we had a drink at the bar. It was a Warriors and Sharks game night on a Friday and it was extremely packed. It was really loud inside where I had to pretty much yell to talk to my friend sitting next to me. I had the Like This Like That drink and it was really yummy. Love the decor and small touches, along with all the arcade games inside! read more

Miniboss - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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One of the most friendly atmospheres in DTSJ, from welcoming security guards to the bartenders. It's a good chill spot for hanging out with your friends or even a date. The drinks are really well done, personal favorite is the Pineapple Express and the Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot. The food as well is really well done, lots of pizzas to choose from. The Magnum P.I.E. (Hawaiian Pizza) is my favorite as well as the seasonal salad with extra berries. It gives you an energy boast while playing games. Every Thursday is free play day! Gotta get down on some good games and pinballs. read more

Yassss!!!! This place is FN bomb!! Nostalgic childhood games that actually takes quarters...NOT magnetic card slides?!? OHHHH BUT WAIT...not only can I enjoy games like a kid...I CAN do it with a tasty well-crafted Cocktail in hand...OHHHH AND ALSO on a stuffed (heavily spiced) satisfied belly...good games, food, & drinks - all in one place?!? Game over bish. The actual arcade/bar is Miniboss which has really cool decor...with old Nintendo 64 game cases as menu holders + throwbacks murals on the wall + a nice bar serving up a good beer variety on tap + really tasty craft house cocktails. You do have to be 21+ to be on this side. Workers are hella chill & the security guards are also super nice. I've heard the gaming area can get crowded at night but I've only gone at off times so didn't have that issue. Now the restaurant called SuperGood, serving up bomb spicy AF Asian fusion dishes is joint & next door. Where you can bring food from there to the bar if you 21+ but if you have any kids with you (which we did) you can actually get drinks and bring it over to the restaurant side instead, which is pretty cool. There are some games on that side too and throughout the hallway/area to both places - although most games are at Miniboss. FYI - just breaking down drinks for this review since food will be per SuperGood. Cocktails: (1) Sunset rider - tangy, fruity AND yet not overly sweet at all. Super refreshing and tasty! (2) Lyfe In Hi Fi - so gooooddd!! Perfect egg white froth, pretty much like a pisco sour. My fave here so far! (3) Thunderdome - like an orange Julius with liquor, super tasty but def. on the sweeter side. Perfect for a light alchy mood! (4) Allagash local beer - forgot the name - but this was light and tasty. read more

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80s throwback !! The dragon ball z fanatic In Me went crazy when I stepped inside this nostalgic bar. It's like they had the whole 80s checklist down: 1. Neon lights - CHECK 2. SEGA Genesis Arcade games (extra points because they had the MICHAEL JACKSON MOONWALK GAME 3. Sh***y 80s music (shout out to Kulture Klub) 4. THEMED meals 5. Winter on Nibiru ($14) tastes like strawberry shortcake ; and "funky" double dragon ($20 to share) are the popular drinks The meh: - Didn't really care for the drinks ! Interesting ideas but he flavors didn't pull together - avoid the Tri Force drink - Tastes like vodka and Robitussin has an illegitimate child - avoid the monster mash pinball machine read more

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Thank goodness it's not game over for Miniboss. The pandemic was a long and arduous boss fight but they've really recovered and gotten the extra stage it needs to make the comeback that it deserves. This is one of my favorite barcades that I've played in during my three decades of existing. Incredible aesthetic that will inspire any 90s gamer to think about investing in LED lights in their homes, wonderful bar area with unique drinks named after video game references, and good beer on draft. There are classic games littered all over the bar ranging from racer games, pinball machines, to my classic Mortal Kombat. Even if you aren't a big arcade player, the overall environment itself is enough to want to come. Comfortable seating, very clean (even when it gets busy), and a creative environment makes for a good time. They're also connected to Supergood next door and you can take the food you order there inside the arcade to enjoy. Someone tell me if they're the same owner or simply business partners. Whatever the case may be, I love this system and the food next door was always excellent. Only downside is that the arcade games aren't free. I know this is a business decision but I've been to plenty that offer free games and popcorn as long as you order drinks. That doesn't hinder my overall impression of this awesome arcade and I can't wait to return again for my next match. read more

Probably the worst experience I've ever had. I came here on Friday 2/8 at 10:30. There was a long line however the security guard was great. There was another bouncer that was not the best - he was an Asian man and took people out of the line behind us and let them go in without waiting. We went into the area - no cover charges, however the bar was a mess. People were cutting, the bartenders didn't care. They were also helping their friends by taking their order instead of people that waited in line. We waited for over 30 minutes and no one took our drink order. A whole group of us ended up just leaving because the place was terrible. Service was bad, drinks were pricey. When I watched them make the drinks - it was all ice and a shot of liquor and some sweeteners. Each bartender took too long to make one drink and would shake the same drink for 5 minutes. Like other reviews- bartenders need to be trained better. Terrible location in terms of parking. read more

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The worst part of adulthood is that you have little free time to enjoy games you once spent all summer playing from sun down to early sunrise. After AFK shut down in downtown San Jose, there was a market yet to fill for a gaming social scene. Even with good company, you can only talk @ someone for so long and it's nice to play some games & engage in friendly competition. The environment is set up pretty well with a decent sized centralized bar and games along the back sides of the place. It's been crowded ever since its opening, so at times there can be a pretty cold wait line outside. We went with the Double Dragon since we saw that it's a '2 player' drink. We thought it would be some type of large shared drink-- it's not, they're 2 small asian tea cups filled with pineapple medicine tasting jungle juice. I don't recommend it. The other cocktails on the menu are way better choices to choose from. Women's bathroom has 3 stalls which is considered a luxury in downtown San Jose. Friendly women crowd in my experience! Will return, but won't make the mistake of ordering the Double Dragon. read more

Miniboss - Double Dragon 2 player set $20 (Best described as cold medicine pineapple flavor taste) - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

You've been worth the wait Miniboss. I'm so glad a place like this has opened in DTSJ. If you're looking for a place to chill, have a drink, and play games with friends, you definitely have to check out Miniboss. There are plenty of seats and if you get hungry, check out SuperGood next door for some tasty food. I like how there are several pinball games available here. It can get a bit addicting since I'll try to beat the high score on them. There are so many games here that I used to play when I was younger and it brings back great memories. Don't worry about looking for quarters around the house because there is a change machine available. If you need to hydrate after playing all the games, there is a water station near the left side of the bar which I thought was neat. No need to go to the bar and wait for water. I'm in love with all the artwork at Miniboss and the drink Thunderdome. I need to go back again soon to try the other drinks and beat some high scores. read more

Miniboss - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Have you been missing your inner child and looking for some delicious drinks? Go here and be a Miniboss! With their rotating delicious cocktails, food we have yet to try, and lots of games to choose from - you can't go wrong. With about $35 and if you ain't too sucky, can be entertained for quite some time. Our favorite is Time Crisis!! We appreciate that it doesn't get super duper crowded either. Vax card required. read more

Miniboss - Dig Dug (left), Drop Dead Fredemption (right) - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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Awesome bar downtown San Jose Nice and clean good drinks fair price and friendly workers Friday and Saturday night can get a bit crowded but still good times always read more

Went last Friday and had a wonderful time and great games. The drinks were a little sugary for my taste but the fun, open floor plan made the arcade feel less crowded than it was. Would definitely go back again. read more

5 stars for Elias. Nicest most attentive bartender. Such a cool bar and great staff! This bar is definitely a must if passing through downtown SJ! read more

Miniboss - Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

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My friend and I were harassed here and the security guard was not helpful whatsoever. Really disappointed that they could not perform basic job duties! Do better. Avoid unless you can fend for yourself. read more

Please do not go here!! I've been here several times and none of the times have the security guards been nice. Today, i got harrassed by a guy and the security guard told me "oh that sucks, too bad". They need to hire better security guards because they do not advocate for customers whatsoever. Please avoid this bar at all costs and go to any other excellent bars downtown with better security, you won't regret it. read more