Bars in Sunnyvale

In 2008, literary-minded barkeeps opened the doors to McTeague's Saloon, named after Frank Norris's naturalist novel about an uncouth dentist living on Polk Street in the early 20th century. Thrillist praises the bar's nostalgic atmosphere, calling it an "homage to turn of the century NorCal … executed in exacting detail." Like McTeague's dental parlor, the bar welcomes customers with a giant golden molar hanging over the door. Inside, old-timey details include deep booths, exposed ceiling beams, and a redwood bar, and a glowing jukebox, TVs playing sports, and running water remind patrons of the modern world's more notable amenities. Knowledgeable bartenders expound upon a formidable selection of bourbon, scotch, and whiskey or fill pints from a vast selection of on-tap brews. Occasionally, the small stage hosts live concerts, delighting intimate audiences with guitar ditties, tuneful vocals, or protracted flossing demonstrations.

Fast Eddy's Billiards

Picture a pool hall. Wood-paneled walls catch the light of suspended billiards lamps, which illuminate clusters of tables—19 of them to be exact. And these tables are not kiddie sized or Astroturf topped; these are regulation tables: fit for aimless amateurs and seasoned professionals alike. This is Fast Eddy's Billiards, where fun-seekers can revel not only in friendly and competitive games of pool, but also at dartboards, foosball tables, pinball machines, and beer-pong setups.

A former billiards professional still hangs around this scene, giving newbies a crash course on the basics of pool play. Above the din, neon signs rattle off the names of domestic and imported beers—available by the glass and by the pitcher—and a kitchen attendant preps bar-style snacks such as jalapeño poppers, onion rings, chicken wings, and breaded zucchini strips. Free WiFi can occupy compulsive email senders, and an Internet jukebox keeps carousers bopping with tunes of choice.

As barkeeps shake potent cosmos and martinis, waitresses circulate amid the expanses of leather and polished metal that gleam beneath Bliss Bar's intimate lighting. The San Francisco Bay Guardian described the spot as "a swanky, Manhattan-meets-Noe-Valley lounge." A pueblo fireplace launches merry crackling across crimson booths, and the lounge area facilitates intimate conversations and reassessments of tin-can-telephone networks. In the front window, a DJ spins hip-hop tunes on weekends, and the stage draws clusters of revelers with open-mic comedy, jazz, and workshops on the ins and outs of decorating with red velvet.

Live bands and DJs spinning funk, reggae, and rock music sling their tunes under Milk Bar's glinting disco ball while customers sip libations from the fully stocked bar. Leather-lined booths pad the milky walls of a lounge area brightened with pops of artwork and clowns paid to stroll by every seven minutes. Adjacent to the lounge, colorful lights and laser beams light up hoofers on a shadowy dance floor.

Blackthorn Tavern’s ebony exterior gives way to cream-hued walls adorned with beer signs and a dozen LCD TVs flickering with sports games. Darts, pool tables, and pinball line the sports bar's innards, and the back patio warms bodies with heat lamps and a snuggle-friendly polar bear. Local bands and DJs pump out tunes into the wee hours of the morning, and trivia and karaoke nights enhance the pleasures of flowing beer and mixed drinks.

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.