Paper Plane

I have been to Paper Plane two times, both for a friend's birthday. Both times I have had a nice time bar hopping. Now that I am a bit older, I am over the club scene and would rather bar hop. There is also no cover charge. This is a great place to get well made drinks, hang with your buds and listen to quality good hip hop. When I say quality hip hop, they don't play anything right now, aka mumble rap.

Paper Plane is pretty easy to get to. Right in downtown San Jose, parking is a plenty. There is a lot right across the street that is $10, the Fairmont down the street is also $10 but there is an open lot that is $5. Essentially all the bars/clubs are lined down 1st street or the adjacent street over. Once getting into the bar after showing ID this place is pretty large considering its a bar lounge. The bar is long and there are a good amount of bartenders considering.

There are about 6-7 bartenders and they are pretty fair as far as who was in front of them. They just take whoever is next, efficient and again make good drinks. I have only had the old fashioned, although my homies have all said that their drinks are really good as well. This year we had an area that was sectioned off for my bud's bday. The space was really small, sort of in a corner but at least we had our own space. In front of the bar there are bar tops where people can sit, booths and high tops. There are scarce to say the least and I am not sure if the booths are by reservation or first come first serve. Personally, I do not mind standing, especially if you are trying to sit at the bar. I know that bar hopping can be tight, but to have people constantly (and literally) over your shoulder the whole night is quite frustrating. You can order food, they hand you a number and they deliver it promptly.

The security is pretty good at keeping lanes for people to walk through. People who stand in the area are asked to move - nicely at first, but after repeating that can change - just for the sake of everyone. This is one of my favorite bars in San Jose. I enjoy going here a lot. Good times.

They had me at weekend happy hour!

We stopped by before a show at the performing arts center. We arrived shortly after they opened at 5pm on Saturday night. The place filled up within 30 minutes. I see why. Immediately upon arrival, I placed our order at the bar and found a spacious booth. Our food and drinks were ready within ten minutes of sitting down. The staff were efficient and friendly.

The wings were so yummy! Piping hot, flavorful, crunchy on the outside and moist on most on the inside. Empanadas were also delish. Weekend happy hour drink are always a bonus.

Would definitely come back when we're in the area.

This place is an absolute gem. Their cocktail menu is always balanced and incredibly delicious. The bartenders clearly know their craft. The ambiance is cute, with the largest wall of alcohol I've ever seen.

But it's not just about the cocktails here. Paper Plane's Tuesday prime rib special is something not to miss. For just $20, you get a prime rib cooked to absolute perfection. The meat is tender, juicy, and seasoned with the right balance of salty and briny flavors. It's a steal for this area, especially where steak houses are at least twice this cost. I'll be back soon for a delicious cocktail and prime rib dinner.

Dude, San Jose can't be underestimated. There are some good options here to eat and drink including some cool speakeasies.

Paper Plane is one of those cool options. The ambiance, food, bar and vibe were all very good. I especially liked the lighting and the bar area set up. This could be a popular spot in downtown SF or some other hipster area. The burger and koji wings were surprisingly delicious.

Prime rib Tuesdays for $19.99 with drink?! Heck yes! I think the meat was worth the price. It comes with mash potatoes and corn. Their horseradish sauce was pretty good with it. I recommend ordering the fries as it was super crispy. The oysters were pretty good. Apparently they have happy hour, but we missed it. Paper planes have great drinks, so you can't go wrong there. I enjoy coming here at night with friends because of the vibe. Service is great as they are attentive.

Mixed review here but solid overall. Tuesday is $20 Prime Rib so expect crowds to be packing the place, or little did I know. Happy Hours menu has drink and bite specials, but they don't pair with prime rib.

Service is great. Bar staff are efficient so order and get a number after paying. Then find a spot wherever you can. I lucked out with one at the bar. My old fashioned had a large ice cube heat branded for a touch. The prime rib was thin and not great but the mash and corn was better!

I'd come back to try other items and definitely drinks. Their whiskey selection is solid. Enjoy!

Can't believe I haven't written this review sooner! I have love, love, loved paper planes. I've been coming here since I moved back to San Jose back in 2021 and I love that they are getting the recognition they deserve.

If anyone knows me, they know I am always talking about how much I love this bar. The drinks here are so good, staff is lovely, and now with the addition of the new menu items, what more can you ask for! I also love that they have an outdoor patio now, it opens up more seating.

My favorite drinks here are Spice of Life and Paper Plane! However almost every drink I've tried has been good so I can't complain. The truffle fries and wings are my go to order and I can't wait to try all the new food items!

Came with a group for the $20 prime rib Tuesday deal (with a purchase of a cocktail, which costs around $14-$16) and you got a great night. Add in the truffle fries and the cracker wings and you have a nice party filler!

At the front, security will check for ID to make sure you're old enough to come in (so probably not accessible for under 21 y/o). Once in its helterskelter to find tables and seating (first come first serve). So for finding a table for 7 was no small task. It's quite deep and there's back door patio seating so patience is key. Once you look at the menu, both paper and QR are available, you just head to the bar and order food and drinks. They'll give you a little number which you place on your table area.

I will definitely say the mixology and sides are the highlight. We all ordered our own drinks and I must say nothing disappointed. Everything was mixed and balanced well and nothing overpowers the other. They balance all things nicely.

I recommend Skytree Highball, Don't Tell Mom, Stormbreaker, and for party shots, our friend got us Ichigo.

Touching on the sides, the fries and cracker wings are super crispy and fresh off the fryer. The seasonings are well adjusted and so every bite was a crunch delight and delicious.

On to the main event. The cream corn and mashed potatoes were hot and delicious and made a nice combo to have! Unfortunately the prime rib was lukewarm despite having a nice taste, flavor, au jus and tenderness to it.

I think I will come back here for other things, but maybe not the prime rib again. Ultimately, a great place to check out for a night out bar hopping!

I would've never imagined coming to eat dinner at Paper Plane until now.

We recently saw on IG that they were doing a $19.99 steak dinner with the purchase of a cocktail on Tuesdays and boy oh boy were we impressed.

We are doing an alcohol detox this month and they were nice enough to let us purchase a mocktail instead (which was fantastic btw).

The food came out in less than 15min for everything we ordered and it was a really cool vibe overall.

We'll definitely be coming back on Tuesdays because in this economy, this is an AMAZING deal

This was my first visit to Paper Plane without the Christmas decorations, and I had a great time! On Tuesdays, Paper Plane offers a prime rib deal for $19.99 with the purchase of a cocktail. What a steal!! I arrived around 5:30 PM and waited about an hour for the food to come out. They also have happy hour from 5-7 PM, offering great bites like truffle fries and oysters

I had a reasonable cut of the prime rib and it was paired with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and au jus sauce. It was surprisingly busy for a Tuesday, likely due to the prime rib deal. It was excellent value, and I would definitely return!

This place is always lively and packed, with well-crafted drinks and a unique menu. The Ichigo shot is a favorite--sweet and smooth. Friendly bartenders add to the great experience. There's a vibrant atmosphere inside, and a more relaxed outdoor section for those who prefer a quieter vibe. The only downside is limited seating, so you might end up standing occasionally, but it's worth it for the overall experience!