Nightlife in Santa Clara

Treat a friend or the alien you found in the woods to a luscious and luxuriant evening of nightcaps in a welcoming, Cheetos-stain-free environment. Today’s deal gets you $35 worth of wine, spirits, desserts, and small-plate fancies at A Perfect Finish for $15. You may purchase up to two Groupons for yourself, but you will have to use them on separate dine-in visits.The feared animal uprising never happened and Americans embraced jazz and jazz musicians, often giving them colorful nicknames, such as Fancy Fingers and Ol’ Skin Bag. Jazz faced its toughest challenge in 1936, when it was stolen by the French, who attempted to use the improvisational music to power a series of submarines. France and the United States sent their five best warriors into an ancient temple to battle for the future of jazz, but all 10 fighters became friends and moved in together. Thereafter, jazz returned to the United States on its own, where it remains popular today.

Originally standing on Éire's shores, O'Flaherty's Irish Pub was shipped in pieces to San Jose, where it was reconstructed to create an authentic atmosphere where guests can savor tasty Irish spirits while enjoying nightly events. Tucked into a booth in the cozy brick pub, patrons can drink traditional Irish libations that warm their insides without having to swallow a parka. The pub's 16 taps fill up mugs to foamy perfection as the hubbub of nightly karaoke, music, or trivia entertains guests lounging amid antique Irish prints and dark-wood shelves teeming with Celtic spirits. During warmer weather, the outdoor patio beckons patrons for open-air revelry beneath the gaze of stars and low-flying Dutchmen jealous of Ireland’s celebratory traditions.

Master beersmith Peter Catizone discovered his passion for brewing while making homebrewed batches of beer in the 1980s. Eventually, he developed his hobby into a craft and his do-it-yourself recipes into a microbrew powerhouse with a mantel full of awards. Today at Faultline Brewing Company’s lively taphouse, the staff pours samples from a smorgasbord of more than 20 beers, ranging from the clear, clean taste of a Rhineland-style kölsch to the malty richness of an inky-black irish stout. Offerings from the lunch and dinner bills of fare complement the local brews with Louisiana-style seafood gumbo, flatiron steak with swiss chard, and generously portioned Angus beef burgers. On Friday and Saturday nights, live musicians serenade guests as they enjoy beer flights and frosty pints on the open-air patio or in the lounge.

Try before you buy. Savvy Cellar Wine Bar & Wine Shop features 90+ point wines for $39/bottle or less. Sample wine flights, glasses, artisan beer and small food plates before buying a bottle (or two).

Most people wouldn't brag of being stepped on by a celebrity. Then again, most people aren't made of wood and warmed by a spotlight. If the stage at Rooster T Feathers Comedy Club could speak, it would boast about its supporting role in uproarious performances from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, and Ellen DeGeneres. Since 1979, Rooster's stage has given seasoned jokesters, rising stars, and sentient whoopee cushions the opportunity to coax laughs, giggles, and guffaws from the club's audience. Club-goers stay loose with visits to the full bar, where top-shelf liquors, California wines, and 15 beers soften throats parched from laughter and accompany the club's selection of snacks and munchies.

Along the walls of Tessora's Barra di Vino, a cultivated selection of boutique wines from across the globe perch on handsome wooden racks while bistro tables invite patrons to relax and indulge. A rotating list of wines by the glass (usually $9–$15 for a six-ounce glass) features more than 20 varieties at a given time, each of which may find a delightful dance partner amid the sweet and savory small plates. Sip a slightly spicy pour of the Yangarra Shiraz, hailing from Australia's McLaren Vale, with eucalyptus and anise on its breath, and prop your subsequently tipsy head up on pillowy squares of roasted-pepper and basil focaccia, served with olive oil and balsamic vinegars from Campbell's Olive Bar ($8). Asparagus fries—fresh stalks outfitted in phyllo and baked to a crisp and buttery finish—lounge beside roasted-pepper aioli ($9 for a order of eight). Allow your veggie fries to waltz with a glass of the Two Angels sauvignon blanc from the Mayacamas Mountains, where bouquets of thyme and sage dress buffets of kiwi, melon, and basil, or order up three pulled-pork sliders in rosemary barbecue sauce ($11.50) with an intense malbec and cab-sauv blend from Mendoza that is full of wood smoke, black currant, and blueberry. Tessora's also offers beers, salads, cheese and antipasto plates, desserts, and, on Thursdays, pizza.