Jack’s Bar & Lounge

Matthew the bartender is awesome! Most of the bartenders here are quick and attentive. For a place that’s supposedly marketed as a dive, it has a lot of upscale liquors, beers, etc. too
there’s a jukebox where you can select 6 or more songs at once (great for coming with friends!). they have goldfish and sustenance. restrooms are clean for a bar. patrons are overall friendly although you get some creepers… i.e. this old man gave me a kissy face across the bar but he was quickly kicked out. this place is also within walking distance from my house so yay for Jack’s! also this place literally saved Halloween night when my fiancé, roommate and I had to walk from downtown SJ to Jack’s after many failed Über rides

Before there was Drake, we had Jack…
…Jack’s has that Hotline Bling pull that I know when I’m out in Japantown it only means one thing: it means I’ll end up inside the joint. But it’s all good since Jack’s is somewhere you’d want to end up in anyway, can’t say that about most either.
Driving down that main street Jack’s is located on is like driving past Cinderella’s castle in Disneyland, minus all the lights, pizazz and jazz that come with the castle. Feels this way since it manages to catch your attention and peak your interest enough to want to pull over and pop in. So Jack’s is the polar opposite of Cinderella’s as it is dark, loud and borderline grimy. However, after a quick flash of the ID and a few steps in, you don’t feel a pinch of that darkness; rather, you’re comforted by that Japantown family warmth and feel. The Five W’s of You don’t matter here (for those who need a review: who, what, where, when, why). It doesn’t matter who you are, who you came with, where you came from — Jack’s serves you up and treats you like the awesome individual that you are be it all tatted up, pierced, in a business suit, mohawk, leather, pleather, fur or faux. You’ll feel like you’re at home, and that’s what keeps bringing me back to Jack’s.
There’s a DJ on the turns some nights or you can be the DJ and pick your own beats from their digital modern-​day jukebox that hangs up against the wall. You can also catch the game/​highlights on their screens throughout the bar.
So you know when that hotline bling
that can only mean one thing
Follow that feeling and head to Jack’s!

Typical hold in the wall dive bar. Cheap drinks, friendly staff, cool juke box. They let us bring our dog in and even got him a water bowl.

The perfect, low-​key dive bar located in San Jose– near Japan Town. Good peeps, chill vibes, a juke box that plays the latest hits, to banda, meringue, to reggae (great variety)! They also have a DJ here on certain nights that plays great old-​school hip hop music. I always have a good time when I come here. The bartenders are cool, not shady, and they make great drinks for a reasonable price (not like the other water-​down, expensive drinks in certain parts of downtown SJ). Jack’s Bar is a great place to chill, catch up with friends and have a good time. I noticed last time I was here, they opened the outside patio. It looks pretty spacious! It was too cold the night I was there but I am down to check it out when the weather warms up.

I will be relocating to the area at the end of the month and came up this weekend to get my apt. The reason I decided on this location is because of the cute shops and the two neighborhood bars. If I would have known that both bars were owned by the same owner I would have chose a location closer to downtown.
The staff at this place is so rude. The female bartender was so drunk she could hardly function. She asked me what I wanted then put her hand up to my face and asked every other customer what they wanted even though none of them were actively waiting to be served. She then took a bathroom break where the door man then came up to serve drinks to his friends ignoring the fact that I was still waiting for my drink. When she finally made my drinks I received my tab and I noticed an extra $ 2.00 charge for each drink that was called a drink service charge. This added insult to injury due to the fact that this dive bar already had overpriced drinks. I will never spend my money at either of these places again!

This is a great place to watch all of the US Men’s and Women’s National Soccer teams. Staff allows outside food at the bar. Go OUTLAWS!!!

It’s neither a lounge nor a sports bar, but a dive.

I love dive bars! Some friends and I came across this little spot around noon on a Sunday looking to grab some drinks before checking out the Obon Festival in Japantown. We ended up staying for more drinks than planned, but loved the back patio area where you have picnic tables, giant jenga, and that bean bag toss game (totally forgot the name of it!) Awesome spot to hang out. It was so awesome, we even ended up coming back here after only staying at the Obon Fest for half an hour.

Jack’s is the kind of bar you amble down to around 7 pm hoping that it will surprise you as the diamond in the Silicon Valley rough; while it is a good bar, the surprises are somewhat limited. Granted: the beer selection is good. And the bartenders are nice. But the clientele is primarily split between older, charming regulars, and younger white tattooed men who say things like «I haven’t seen your sorry ass in awhile, motherfucker!» with a straight face. And there is no real food, unless you count the Weinerschnitzel next door. Also, on one particular shameful New Year’s Eve, the bar demanded a cover at the door even though a.) the bar was not busy and b.) there was no band playing. But there is now a beer garden. And Goldfish crackers. And they do not judge you if you have a pizza delivered to their establishment. And the jukebox works. So hey! 7 pm in Japantown? Jack’s it is!

The best neighborhood bar around downtown San Jose! Great regulars and staff, a must go-​to bar located in Japantown, San Jose!

Old soul. Character you can touch.

If you call this place a dive bar, just… just stop. Just because a place isn’t huge, filled with assholes, and has dumb theme nights, does not make a dive. Also, pretty sure I’ve never seen Ballast Point Grapefruit at a goddamned dive. This is a bar. Just a bar. Great (and appropriately abridged) tap list that the owner takes pride in updating via social media (which beer douches such as myself appreciate), quality service, daytime regulars, and a fairly robust booze selection. It’s small, yes. Want a good spot to have a drink with friends? This spots perfect.

Cool chill spot where the bar snacks are goldfish (or pretzels). They’ve got touchtunes so you can pick your ambiance. The bartenders are cute and courteous.

Jack’s is a tiny neighborhood dive bar in Japantown near the corner of N 4^th St. and E Taylor St. They have a full bar and 10 draught beer taps, the usual fare. Stopped by on a Sunday during a Niners game and the only food they appeared to be serving was a hot dog and nacho bar. Ironically they are next to a Wienerschnitzel. It was a real sausage fest and I was looking for a cheesesteak.
$ 4.50 for a 12oz. bottle of Coors Light seemed expensive given the surroundings. I might be back someday to see if they really serve the elusive cheesesteak.

Ok hole in the wall bar. Good spot to kill time drinking a beer if you are downtown and not into the club scene.

My second time here. The beer wasn’t as cold as the first time, but it was still good. Hubby and I left to go get something to eat, and the Creole place was closed so we went to a Mexican restaurant and brought the food back. They didn’t even mind that we brought food in. They also had a DJ there on a Monday night. I couldn’t stop dancing. We had a really great time, will be back when I’m in the area again.
Lot’s of regulars there.

Only come here when our friends spin.
Otherwise place is pretty small and can get very packed. Only like 4 or 5 tables with stools.
One good thing is that it’s near a Wienerschnitzel! :)

Walking distance, neighborhood bar in Japantown, San Jose. They used to have an outdoor patio and I really hope they bring that back for summer. They also have beer pong! Always A good time with beer pong!
The place is a bit cramped without the outdoor patio.

Jack’s is a tale of two bars.
On the left side, a bar filled with a motley crew of ever so slightly surly barflys who don’t much understand exactly what all the hoopla & singing going on down at the other end of the bar is all about.
On the right side, depending on the night, a motley crew of boisterous futbol fans there to support the hometown Quakes or US National Team via the Ultras or American Outlaws.
As ground zero for watching all things soccer in the South Bay, it’s a welcome haven for lovers of the beautiful game who’ve been ostracized at countless other sports bars for being the odd ball American who wants to catch a match.
That is, if the left side is behaving.
And that is part of the charm of Jack’s. That and the $ 12 match special of cheesesteak, pint o’ beer & shot of namesake Jack. Ummm, yes pls!
The bartenders & staff are super rad and the owner (who also has a stake in Liquid Bread in Campbell) is an all around good dude… plus he’s a die hard soccer fan.
And make sure you ask for your free bowl of goldfish or pretzels to munch on if you’re not hungry enough for the tasty cheesesteak.
Hands down, Jack’s is my fav dive bar in the area and the real deal!

Jack’s is my neighborhood watering hole in Japantown. I first experienced Jack’s when I attended their annual Battle of the Bay SF v. Oakland baseball party bus and tailgate. I won’t go too much into detail about the shenanigans that occurred on the trip, but I will let you know that it was so epic that I will be returning every single year from now on. If you have to sign a waiver for a party then I’m down with it. As for the bar itself, I’ve only been there on weekday nights so I’m not sure what this spot is like on the weekends. On Monday nights they do have a reggae night and play pretty dope music. Overall, if you want to come to a chill bar and meet the locals then Jack’s is the place to be.