Shit is fucking great The cocktails are fantastic Chris and Angelina is a fantastic bartender There's Desi, veggie, Mexican, pizza, Vietnamese, cuban and mocha in the same building I like it It's a good time read more

Staff friendly, nice happy hour :). Tap selection decent. actually have been a few times and there was some pretty good live music coming out of here read more

-Ambiance - My bartender Angelina was very attentive very sweet and she gave me all the details regarding the drinks and she was very good at making the cocktails. They had so many exotic flavors on our menus and they change signal a so the drinks don't get boring. My visit I had a pandan vodka cocktail and then a Cinco de Mayo inspired drink which had mango parade and chamoy it was so good. I highly recommend coming here there's plenty of seating weight service it's a cozy bar for sure read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Pandan vodka so good - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Etienne made incredible drinks and created such a fun atmosphere! I'd recommend this spot to anyone looking to relax or have fun!

This place has become my "secret spot" in downtown SJ. San Pedro is overhyped IMHO. If you're looking for downtown vibes without all the tourist hype - this is it! Ati is the goat. She's serving up vibes along with delicious original cocktails ( Strawberry Fields Forever hits hard! It's sparkly are refreshing and everything I want in a strawberry spritzer,). If you're looking for an authentic downtown SJ local experience- this is it! read more

Would have been nice to have a beverage with our meal but the the bartender slurred something when I asked her if they were open (which according to time they should have been) then promptly passed out at the cash register never to rake our order.... maybe get a sober barkeep. Almost took a picture to add here but didnt want to violate someone's rights and also I heard it was creepy to take pictures of sleeping people. read more

Tried ordering drinks, but the only person behind the bar is passed out on a stool. It's a Saturday and there's people watching a soccer game, but we can't get any drinks. Wth..... read more

Date: Wednesday, June 19th, 2024 Time: around 3pm What: Drinks *Kanpai ($14) *Cheers ($17) *Henhouse IPA ($8) A friend and I were wandering downtown looking for a place to dink. Happy we found The Fountainhead Bar since most places didn't open until 4pm. I think there was only one other person when we got here, so we easily grabbed two seats at the bar. I'm a manhattan / old fashioned kinda girl, so I decided to try the Cheers cocktail. It's definitely more of an old fashioned with an herbally hint to it. I did like how the drinks are named after ways to say cheers in different languages. I actually have a weird fascination with learning how to say cheers in different languages so it was like this menu was geared towards me! Lol! The vibe here is chill. It was a rather quiet Wed afternoon so I was able to catch up with my friend. The bartender was also great! Friendly and attentive. Thing to note, we grabbed food from one of the stalls and brought it here, so you can eat at the bar as well since they only serve drinks. Glad I stumbled upon this spot. REVIEW #3472 read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Kanpai ($14), Cheers ($17) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

We got there on a Friday evening and it was still happy hour (4-6). I wish I could remember the name of the cocktail that my group and I are now hooked on (my new favorite cocktail!) All I remember was it was hard to pronounce so the name of it is sounded out on the menu, it's purple, and it has glitter in it. Delicious!! Bartender was fantastic. read more

We visited Sofa Market for the first time to check it out. We loved the concept of having various restaurant options in one place, and the best part was that they had a bar. We ordered food from the Mexican restaurant, which was okay but nothing outstanding. Afterward, we decided to check out the bar area where a show was happening. The drag performances were absolutely amazing, some of the best we've seen. Around 12:55, we went to the bar to grab a drink, but the bartender immediately told us he wasn't serving anymore because he was closing soon. We stepped aside, and moments later, noticed him pouring drinks for several others. When I went back to ask why he had refused to serve us, he didn't answer, just gave a rude smile and continued serving others. It felt like he had an issue with us, maybe because we didn't look like locals. When I asked to speak with the manager, he ignored me and started chatting with other patrons at the bar. Christian was by far the most unprofessional bartender I've ever encountered. We went there ready to spend and enjoy our Sunday , but he completely ruined the experience for us. The worst experience was seeing a little child, about three years old, sitting under the bar counter while his mother was busy drinking and socializing, completely ignoring him. He was left alone, trying to drink his milk without any attention from her. It was upsetting to witness such neglect, and situations like this should not be allowed. Child services should definitely check on places like this. read more

I went here with a friend to check out the drag brunch. It's held the first Sunday of every month. Not sure why I thought the brunch was held at a restaurant. Took me by surprise when the SoFi market was the mini version of San Pedro square. The bar was located at the far end of the market. There's an outdoor patio with not much shade. It's not a large area. Service wasn't bad. It was a pretty busy Sunday. They serve bottomless mimosas for $24. In my opinion, that's the best part of the bar. I didn't order food as the bar is shared with other food vendors. So you can buy food elsewhere and eat it here. read more

The Bartender who worked on Fri at 7pm is on drugs or something. Looks directly at us, and i thought he sees us. A minute later, he is again serving another customer who came after us. This goes on for 20mins. We just left. Preposterous. And then we catch him chilling and sitting on the side. Mind you, there is a huge crowd at the bar. read more

Inside of the SoFA market, which has solid food all around, came just before the last call for The Barragán and The Aalto - both delicious but not mind blowing. Would we return? Probably to check out the rest of the dranks. We appreciate the architecture themed drinks and the ambiance of the bar read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Drank menu and my gorgeous ring - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Located in the SOFA market, where there are a ton of places to eat, but not a ton of places to get a good ole drink. Service here was pretty quick and they do offer a happy hour. Drink I had was pretty good, but tasted a little watered down. Still, it was good. I did have a weird experience, as the entire bar was completely empty and some dude decided to sit next to where I was standing and was literally an inch away from me. The bar was completely open dude! Still, I enjoyed the drink and the service was good. I'd give it another shot. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

The second visit went much better. the lady at the counter was cordial and served us in a timely manner.

This is a great bar to hang out in this busy food court. I got the pineapple cider, it was delicious!! Plenty of space to sit and space out. The bartender and owner are super nice and so friendly. They can also recommend drinks to your liking, if somehow what you want ran out of they happen to not carry them. The bar area is very spacious and they have plenty of TVs for all the sport enthusiasts. They are also at the back end so if you want to do outdoor, you can go outside using the door at the place. Would definitely recommend! read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Nice bar inside the back of SoFA market! Heard pretty good things about their cocktails, especially the presentation of The Postmodern cocktail. So of course I ordered that drink! Came on a weekday at the end of the workday (5pm). To our group's luck, that meant it was happy hour! Which if from 5-7pm (M-F). I believe happy hour was $2 off for their cocktails if I remember correctly. Overall, great service! Our bartender had to remake one of our drinks because she knew she messed it up and didn't want to serve us a wrongly crafted cocktail. I really appreciated her honesty! Trendy bar with some good drinks for reasonable prices! Plenty of seating. And not too far from a parking garage for downtown SJ. Also, there are many food options within SoFA market, so you can definitely get something to munch on while drinking with friends. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - The Postmodern - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Just an average bar located in a modern/attractive newer space in SoFA district of SJ. Drinks aren't spectacular, but overly dressed and look nice in photos. They have food options, but because it's located in the Market, why eat at a bar when you can have other options like pizza, poke, etc. It's basically a space just like San Pedro Square Market. Came here to meet with a girlfriend after dinner time, and we were hoping to get some beautiful and tasty drinks. Instead, we got some beautiful drinks that weren't that good. On paper they look so interesting...I particularly was drawn to the green tea and whiskey one "The Greene and Greene." My bf joined us later and got the "Post-Modern" which was gin based and basically a G&T with blueberries. We both looked at each other after one sip and agreed that both drinks were way too sweet and tasted like soda. The idea for the drinks seem really yummy and creative, but they weren't made well...maybe the proportions are off or the ingredients aren't as fresh as those used at Paper Plane or Haberdasher? Not sure. I do like how they have a variety of seating from long bar tables for groups to smaller duo tables for couples or solo patrons. There weren't many people there on a weekday night, and we weren't even approached by anyone at the bar once we took our seats at the long bar tables. We basically just looked around, gazed at the bar, then looked at the menu before walking up to our bartender gal. Service was just not there. The bar itself is pretty and clean-looking, which is a relief since the Market is on the newer side. Restrooms are shared with the entire space, which are very clean and easy to access. If I were to go to SP2 Market or SoFA Market, I'd still go to San Pedro Square. Their bars in the market actually make tasty drinks with personality, not overly dressed and dive-bar-status drinks. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Green green (too sweet, barely tasted the whiskey and bitterness of green tea) + stout - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Went to the Continental and then came here. This is inside of the sofa market and just judging it based on drinks the quality and prices were way better. Randy is a great bartender. read more

Totally great. I've been here a few times and although the drink menu doesn't seem to change much, if at all, it's solid and there's something for just about everyone. The bartenders are nice and I like the whole vibe of the SOFA market anyway. Everyone can choose their own adventure. No arguing or debating over who wants what to eat or worrying about everyone's dietary restrictions. A win all around. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - The Prairie: Tanqueray Limited Edition, fresh lime, mint, passionfruit. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

The drink here was on point. I got the prairie which was delicious. It was just right. The staff is super friendly. Would highly recommend this place. Great ambience. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

From the awesome bartender (I think his name is Dave), to the super delicious, very smooth, carefully crafted and tasty drinks, I give this place 5 stars. It's so refreshing to visit a bar where you can see the bartender taking care of the pours and taking time with making a yummy drink. The recipe for each drink too are pretty unique. The ambiance in this place is still pretty mellow since it is tucked away in the back of SoFa Market, but the drinks this place gives you will wake you up real quick! We ordered the Prairie (Tanqueray Limited Edition, Fresh Lime, Mint, Passion Fruit) and the passion fruit was FRESH! Awesome. We also ordered the Greene & Greene (Nikka Japanese Whiskey, Ginger Liqueur, Fresh Lemon, Green Tea) because we wanted to taste the Nikka Whiskey, and that was equally delicious. It went down very smooth and this may be one of my new go-to drinks. Lastly, we tried the Julia Morgan Paradise (Pitu Cachaca, Fresh Lime, Barenjager Honey LIqueur, Muddled Strawberries). This was a little on the sweeter side, and the strawberries added the fruit twist to it. This is my new go-to bar (even though I've only been here a couple of times) but I feel like I need to get my visits in before more people hear about this awesome spot and I get kicked out of my regular bar stool! Definitely recommended. Two thumbs up, Five stars, this place is about to be the next hot spot in the area, for sure! read more

See all

My sister treated me to some drinks here after dinner and I'm definitely a fan! The place is in the back of the SoFA Market with plenty of seats/tables and some large TV's. We shared The Barragan & The Allto which looked amazing and had a taste to match it. The Barragan was a Tequila mixed with citrus and ginger beer garnished with fresh rosemary. The Allto was a horchata infused vodka with cream garnished with mint and a cinnamon stick. Both of these tasted great with just the right amount of alcohol to pack a punch. Pricing is somewhat pricey for the quantity, but hey you get a quality drink! Overall, if you're looking for a not so crowded place to grab a beer/drink, you should give this place a try! read more

The Fountainhead Bar - The Allto ($13) horchatta infused vodka with cream and cinnamon stick. The Barragan ($13) citrus infused tequila with rosemary. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

It's a bar, and it serves alcohol. It's a bar that serves alcohol in a market in the SoFA district. It's a bar that is pretty hip and serves pretty drinks. The drinks are good, and they are pretty. Pretty good, pretty pretty drinks. There's not much else to say. If you're in or around the market, stop by for some pretty, pretty good drinks. I ordered the post-modern, and it was very crisp and delicious. The ice had a flower frozen inside of it! Neat. After moving to the SoFA district, I've made a point to explore the bars in the area, and I must say that this is my favorite. read more

See all

I like this place especially it's location! It's a bar with food court ! Their drinks are awesome and trendy. Their staff are cool!! Been here twice and ambience is just ultra modern. Had their crafted beer and a shot of Jameson =). Parking around the area is not bad. I parked at the big parking lot with fee and if you're lucky enough to park on the street with parking meter it's free after 6 pm. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Cool vibes/thoughts: + Cool ambiance, vibes, & set-up to this bar. Similar to San Pedro Square. + The times that I have been there, it has not been extremely busy. Which is nice sometimes. + Outdoor seating is cool. I dig it when it is not busy. It's outside but enclosed by a bunch of taller, downtown buildings. + Bartenders are always super friendly and attentive to detail. - Expensive drinks. Not strong. - No happy hour. - It would be cool if there were events surrounding this place. This place has a ton of potential. Bands? Food pairings with the restaurants that are in SoFA Market? read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

If you open at 12, it should be open at 12 and ready for business. We waited for it to open as we were dining at the various small restaurants. At 12:05 someone comes and turns on the lights and takes away the closed sign. We excitedly went up to order and the guy, looking like he just rolled out of bed said he could only serve us beer. We asked if a vodka soda was simple enough and he didn't really respond... just walked back and forth and came back and said yeah I can do that. He charges for a shot 12.00 and 2.00 to top it with soda. Never been charged like that but whatever. Point is, opening at 12 means everything should be prepped and ready for customers at 12 especially on a Saturday. Guy behind bar needs better customer service. read more

The Fountainhead Bar is a small, casual but trendy bar inside of the SoFA (South First Area) in Downtown San Jose. It has a decent selection of beers and a unique cocktail menu. I'm a beer gal, but I tried a cocktail here for the first time today. Since it was a hot outside, I wanted something quenching and ended up settling on a cocktail called "The Gaudi." I was immediately sold on the cucumber base of this cocktail. I'm also a fan of spicy cocktails; the Gaudi is made with jalapenos. I thought that the drink was heavy on the tonic water, but the flavor combinations of this drink worked really well together. It was everything I needed in a refreshing cucumber cocktail. I've been to the Fountainhead Bar several times, but I just noticed the back patio seating area for the first time today as well. (Lots of firsts going on today!) It looks like the alley way between buildings was converted into a long, outdoor lounge. While the lounge area is cool, the seats are not ergonomic. Just a heads up, the cushions are not stationary! I kept slipping in between them. Furthermore, resting against the wood back support of the benches gets uncomfortable over time while you're slipping and sliding from the cushions lol. It's also too bad that Aura is right next door. I could hardly hear the people I was conversing with over the obnoxious club music playing next door... and it's like 3pm in the afternoon. Every time I come to The Fountainhead Bar, my experience with the bartenders has always been positive. The bartenders in general are very nice and accommodating, even on busy nights. This place gets super packed during the NBA and NHL playoff seasons. There are only 2 or 3 small TVs and not enough stools in this entire seating area, but the open seating fosters a strong sense of patron camaraderie. Fun times! read more

See all

Watched game 6 here... wow, that was an intense game. The workers here - two guys and one lady were really awesome. They were very professional. Even though they were working in the middle of such a close game they never ever took their eyes off the needs of their customers for more than a few seconds. They really were the best - and I could tell they were fans too. Walk up to the crowded bar and almost instantly they come up to help you. The bar itself is beautiful. Well decorated and modern. It is in a market that makes food choices so convenient. Ramen, a decent burger... so much more. All at your finger tips. A perfect place to hang with friends. Update: Went here for Game 7 too on 5/30/16 as I wholeheartedly believed that the Warriers winning would depend on me being at Fountainhead. The place was eeirily quiet compared to game 6 just a couple days before. Lots of the restaurants were closed too for the holiday. Sure enough the Warriors were taking a freefall until I arrived just in time for them to make a comback and it ended 96 to 88. read more

See all

Just an average bar inside of SoFA market. Don't get me wrong, the drinks are so pretty and trendy but that's all that they really are. I was hoping for some beautiful and deliciously put together drinks but I only received some pretty drinks for some pretty pictures. The menu made the drinks sound interesting but what we had was watered down cocktails... Come here for the aesthetics, just don't be surprised when your drinks are meh read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

Friendly bartender, but the cocktails were watered down and overpriced. Ambience is pretty basic too and not comfortable. I just don't like drinking $20 cocktails and sitting at a picnic table. Beware. read more

I've been coming to this place for a few months for their Trivia night, it is a lot of fun and there are lots of regular. They have a decent selection of drinks, though I wish they updated their selection more often as the beers and cocktails they have have not changed in the past 4 months. They recently ran out of stuff, so hopefully they'll get something new. There are a lot of restaurants nearby to get food from, so you will always have a diverse selection of good food options to choose from. The ambiance is nice and friendly with outdoors and indoors sitting. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Bar area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

13 guys walk into a bar. Ok so this is no joke. I know COVID times are tough I and feel for the owners, but hear me out. We started the evening with a pub crawl here at Fountainhead. We've visited this establishment before and so we decided to go here again. Mistake #1! The place was empty, I guess it was early around 6:30pm so it was 13 of us and maybe one other couple and the owner at the bar. We ordered several rounds of beers (selection offered was really nice). I asked the bartender for her recommendation on my first round and she recommended a beer which I enjoyed. She did her job and we did tip her nicely. For my 2nd round, I asked for her choice of something lighter. She poured me some watermelon IPA or whatever is. I had a few sips, took it back and apologized to her as it wasn't to my liking. Then walks up the rude owner. He decides to lecture me. He says to me, "I'm not in the business of throwing away beers." I told him that was not my intention and so I apologize but I just didn't like the watermelon ale. I even told him that I would pay for it, and oh by the way, they charged us for anyway on the chit. He started to get even more rude and tell me that I just need to look at the menu and order from there. At that point I was irked. Anyways, I decided on a Mystic IPA as a replacement and walked away. When we were leaving, I told the guy how rude that was for him to come over to me and lecture me about what happened and he started to get even more huffy about it and almost like he wanted to throw down. Even gave me the vibes that he didn't want me as a patron anymore (easy choice for me). I explained to him that we had 13 guys ordering rounds of beer when there was no one else in the establishment and this guy was complaining about tossing one beer? Talk about lack of customer service. I think he needs to take sensitivity training and to learn how to operate a bar and be cordial to his guests. Well, we enjoyed the night and spent at least 5X as much at O' Flaherty's (much better service) and ate a nice dinner afterwards. Sorry to say, but the owner was a total jackass. For an $8/beer that I was charged even though it was tossed, he is getting this wonderful review that I cannot pass up the opportunity to write. A pompous ass of an owner ruined the time there for sure. So moral of his story. Drink up even if you don't like it. Cause the 50cents he pays for the beer on tap is more important than happy customers. read more

This is a cute little bar inside the SoFA market. The drinks are "architecturally themed", which is basically all marketing spin. Still, I appreciate a theme as much as the next person so I gamely gave it a shot. Unfortunately it closes down pretty early. It says midnight on their hours, but the market closes early, and according to the bartender last night the bar closes "when people are out of the market". The bartender actually switched off the lights on me a bit after 9:30... which was not so subtle. I thought it was later actually, but checked the time stamp on the photo I posted with the bar lights completely out and the bartender gone... and that was 9:43pm. And seriously, their hours say midnight. I definitely felt rushed out. And granted it was a Wednesday but still... not cool. The drinks I had here were good... but not entirely mind-blowing. I think I need to try out the ones that others have recommended. I got the Vitruvian and the Ronchamp... and they were ok. Vitruvian was smooth, and the Ronchamp tasted strongly of alcohol. I didn't know if that was on purpose or if it wasn't in the right proportions. To really figure out what's what here I would probably have to return and try *all* the drinks... but that's a lot of effort for my poor whiny liver. I may space it out. One *big* plus is that there's great-looking food nearby... poke... ramen... yum yum. I hadn't really been inside SoFA market before. The drink descriptions are pretty amusing. What the heck does "commodity" mean as an architectural virtue, anyway?? I asked the bartender and he drily replied, "...I usually just stay away from the drink descriptions" That's super duper ultra polite bartender-speak that translates as "Oh for F's sake, just shut up and drink your drink ok?" Lmao! I think your experience here largely depends on what bartender is working that night. I would try this place again, in particular when I return to try out the ramen place next to it. read more

See all

Hip, minimalistic, and spacious place to grab a drink with friends. Fountainhead Bar is located at the back of SoFa Market. As a result, you get a ton of food vendors to choose from if you get hungry :) They have a cute open air patio, which I'll definitely use when the nights get warmer. For drinks, I tried the Barragan (tequila-based), Prairie (gin/vodka-based I think), and Post Modern (gin-based). I wasn't impressed with the Post-Modern since it tasted like a normal gin and tonic. My favorite was the Prairie which has a refreshing passion fruit flavor. Wanted to try a different scene from my usual visits to sp2. This place worked out great! read more

The Fountainhead Bar - The Post-Modern. Awesome presentation! Tastes like regular gin and tonic. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

We came here while SoFa is still under construction. I would have never guessed there's a bar open inside if my friend didn't tell me. The drinks are decently priced and the bar itself is a cute place to hang out with friends for a few drinks. I see a lot of potentials in this place once the whole area opens up for business. The place reminds me a lot of San Pedro Square which I'm glad because we need more places like that in DTSJ! Will be back here again when I want to avoid the crowds from other hot spots in DTSJ. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

This is the only place I've tried in the SOFA market so far. I came on a Sunday night & was surprised that the bar opens until midnight. Naturally @ 10 PM on Sunday, the place was empty. They have a TV @ the bar area as well as a small outdoor space. All the tables inside are high bar style tables meant for communal sipping. The cocktails are architecture themed so you'll see references to architects or design lingo (words like Gaudi, post-modern can be seen on the menu). I don't really get the theme of the menu with the architecture or how it relates to drinks but nevertheless, the drinks were great. I tried the passion fruit cocktail made with real passion fruit (the Prarie) as well as the Julia Morgan paradise (made with a rum that tastes like tequila). Both cocktails were delicious & refreshing. They were equally aesthetically appealing & light. read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

The first time i tried to go here it was closed. Seems like the bar is at the whim of the SoFa Market space. Even on a weekend night it was quiet as theyre out in the back. It's not too crowded but i think the crew is slightly overwhelmed. Decent selection of liquors and im alway glad to see new watering holes in the area. Perhaps it will pick, up but i think SoFa needs to stay open later or let them lock up after? read more

The Fountainhead Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Buyer beware. Drinks are watered down; bartender was adding water to bottles of alcohol. Good service but not worth the cost for drinks that should have included booze with no alcohol in them. read more

Good local spot | Good drinks $$ Good place to hit up with a friend or coworker at night! I really like the location because across the street is The Studio and it's in this big indoor spot with other 'fooding' places. Like, my husband walked two feet away from the bar to grab some ramen from this new business next to it. NEAT. I wish we had more places like this up in our area, but I think it'll catch on slowly. At least it seems to be common in more urban areas. My friend had a Vitruvian drink. I tasted it and it was one of the best drinks I've ever had. Whoever the bartender was did an excellent job. It didn't really burn my throat, it was kind of sweet. (after tasting her drink, I was tempted to grab one myself... but i wasn't really into paying the price lol) I just ordered an 805 :) Nice sitting area. I like the whole feeling of the Fountainhead. I'll be back again. read more