With folding patio doors inviting you to outside tables, Blackbird Tavern has the feel of a California bistro with the flavors and sounds of the South. The bar features a vintage espresso maker, specialty spirits, and imported beers. Live music is featured regularly, accompanied by a drink or food special to match the performing genre.

Flavors of the Mediterranean can be found in downtown San Jose at Café Eden. The menu features shawerma and falafels as well as kebab platters. However, the specialty is manakeesh, a thin flat bread seasoned with thyme and olive oil.

Building your own curry is the main draw here; think Chipotle meets Indian food. Friendly staff helps you customize your currito, curry taco, bowl, or Bombay Frankie with meat, curry, and chutney options. Order a mango lassi for a sweet treat to cool down your palate.

The Farmers Union is aptly named for the building it occupies, an agricultural depot from the early farming era of San Jose. A massive bar takes center stage, as do several large projection screens for sports gatherings. The menu consists of a solid sandwich board and standard modern American bar bites.

The menu at First To Market is Southern American comfort food with many of the items featuring country ham and greens. The restaurant features a full bar as well with Joe Gradillas, the co-founder of San Jose’s original craft cocktail bar, Single Barrel, serving as an owner.

With the same ownership as Bobby’s Liquor in Sunnyvale, ISO Beers is a humble bottle shop with a killer beer selection that delivers a great variety of beers on tap as well as hard to find bottles.

A New Orleans bistro from an owner with “N’awlins” roots, Louisiana Bistro serves po’ boys, gumbo, and other cajun specialties. A drink menu featuring Sazerac and Hurricane cocktails, both with Bourbon Street roots, completes the New Orleans vibe.

From the Tsigaris family, owners of Nemea Taverna and Flames Coffee shops in San Jose, this counter service Greek restaurant serves salads, gyros, and souvlaki platters. Nick The Greek stays open until 3 a.m. on weekends making it a perfect stop to end the night on San Pedro Square.

SP2 specializes in craft cocktails, both traditional such as their Blood and Sand to the innovative Cool Spice Squared with gin, lime juice, muddled cucumber, ginger beer, and jalapeño-ginger syrup. This is a popular new spot for drinks before a Sharks game, as well as for brunch and happy hour.

Skewers of meat presented table-side by passadores is the standard performance at the churrascaria. At $40 a head, the Brazilian steakhouse serves more than twelve kinds of meat from filet to chicken hearts. Be sure to enjoy the traditional Brazilian caipirinha.