Local markets/groceries to buy alcohol?

[CaptainMeow]

Hey there~ Not sure if this is the right place to post so please direct me to the right topic location if this is the wrong place to post!

This is my first Fanime and as a legal adult that doesnt know the area, I'd like to know if there are any places that are walking distance for a booze run?



Thank you~

[Tigerprawn]

There's quite a few places. New bars have popped up in the last year, but if you're looking for something more like a liquor store there are plenty near the convention. I believe there is one right on San Salvador and 3rd or 4th. That's only about 5 minute walk.

[echoshadow]

There is a Safeway right across from the Subway. It's about 2 blocks away. There's also a liquor store a street or two behind the Jack in Box.

Here's a pro tip: buy your bottles locally stuff them in your suit cases and you don't have to worry about. Unless your flying in then those two places are your best bet.

[Imperial]

Tanq, the bar in the marriot is decent. Safeway is good, you can drive down 1st street to the plant shopping center for bev mo, walmart, target. but walking distance to con, safeway is the best bet, or college liquour if you walk down san salvador towards SJSU.

[Nina Star 9]

Somewhat related question:
I'm considering hosting a small Barstuck event (where of-age Homestuck fans get together casually at a nearby bar for drinks and chat), but bars generally aren't really my scene, and thus I don't have any first-hand knowledge of which ones in the area would be good. I can search on Yelp, but that won't always capture things like the atmosphere, the seating arrangements, etc. I'm expecting that if I do this thing, the group will maybe be around 5 people, possibly 10 at the most. I want somewhere that also serves food, or where food can be easily obtained (to munch on with drinks or to have an alternative for people who aren't drinking alcohol). Within walking distance is a must; quiet enough to chat is a huge plus, as well as having enough room/not being super crowded that we can have a group of up to 5 sitting together.

Is there anywhere that fits this description? Where should I be looking?

[Imperial]

Nina,

A place that works for me, that I got to go to their preview night, and are grand opening friday is AFK gamer lounge. Its a bar with food, and you can do just that, or even game on their setups. For me its walking distance of bout 10 minutes from con, but then again their are closer places. it really fits the bill on what your asking for.

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

If you are willing to take a little trek you can get on the Light Rail down to the Ohlone-Chynoweth Station and goto the Bevmo down the way.

[Nina Star 9]

Nina,

A place that works for me, that I got to go to their preview night, and are grand opening friday is AFK gamer lounge. Its a bar with food, and you can do just that, or even game on their setups. For me its walking distance of bout 10 minutes from con, but then again their are closer places. it really fits the bill on what your asking for.

That sounds nearly perfect. I looked them up, and the San Pedro Square area isn't terribly far at all. Thanks for the suggestion. :]

Though, looking closer at the Yelp reviews, they seem to have poor service and mediocre to bad food. :| Well, they haven't officially had their grand opening yet, so maybe things will be better by con?

[Barnes]

If you are willing to take a little trek you can get on the Light Rail down to the Ohlone-Chynoweth Station and goto the Bevmo down the way.

Or a Bevmo on Lincoln Avenue. That's closer to the con center.

[FanFicGuru]

Tanq, the bar in the marriot is decent. Safeway is good, you can drive down 1st street to the plant shopping center for bev mo, walmart, target. but walking distance to con, safeway is the best bet, or college liquour if you walk down san salvador towards SJSU.

I would second the Tanq recommendation. Also, the bar at the fairmont is also pretty nice.

[YaoiCat]

Tanq, the bar in the marriot is decent. Safeway is good, you can drive down 1st street to the plant shopping center for bev mo, walmart, target. but walking distance to con, safeway is the best bet, or college liquour if you walk down san salvador towards SJSU.

I would second the Tanq recommendation. Also, the bar at the fairmont is also pretty nice.

I'll third Tanq!  It was a lot of fun last year because they even had special fanime themed drinks, like the "Dragonball Tea" and "Sailor Moonhattan" :)  Being a hotel bar, it's obviously a little more expensive than bringing your own alcohol and drinking in your hotel room, but it's a great place to have a few yummy drinks to get the night started!  Or a great place to go after pre-gaming in your room, haha :)

[TC X0 Lt 0X]

If you are willing to take a little trek you can get on the Light Rail down to the Ohlone-Chynoweth Station and goto the Bevmo down the way.

Or a Bevmo on Lincoln Avenue. That's closer to the con center.

Damn I lived right down the street from there for over a year and never knew about that Bevmo.

[Enkai]

I realize this hasn't had a post in a month, but I've got things to add.  I live pretty much downtown, so I know a number of the bars that are walking distance.

When it comes to shopping for liquor, I'm probably not the best person to ask.  90% of our alcohol is wine from Napa, which I'm guessing is NOT how people are going to be making booze runs for cons.  We usually go to BevMo across from Santana Row for other alcohol; usually cider.  The Lincoln one is technically closer, I think, but its selection is smaller.  Additionally, navigating Willow Glen is a little bit of a pain, although until construction at the 880 was done recently, so was the Santana Row area.

My bar recommendations, though:  My favorite is Paper Plane.  It's about a block up from Johnny Rocket's.  They have terrific cocktails and AMAZING food.  I really like their new menu.  If you are more into beer, just about next door is Original Gravity.  They have, I dunno, 30-40?, beers on tap, so there's bound to be something you like.  More selection if you like IPAs though (which I don't, but I can usually find a good porter or blonde ale).  They also serve their own homemade sausages, which are excellent.  They even have vegan options!

Singlebarrel is probably the closest to the con.  It's on San Salvador, just across from the South Hall.  They have a prohibition-era speakeasy theme (I'm hoping to get some friends to go with me during the con in Baccano! costume). A warning though - they limit group sizes to under 6, and they're pretty strict about noise control.  No food as well.  This is part of the reason they're closing the end of this month and reopening with a new theme.  That being said, their cocktails are out of this world.  If you prefer a quiet drinking atmosphere, I do recommend it.

These are definitely bars. If you're interested in restaurant recommendations that also have alcohol, there are a couple of beer houses (Gordon Biersch, and Farmer's Union next to the AFK lounge already mentioned) that are pretty great.  Farmer's Union has a rosemary macaroni and cheese that's pretty fabulous.