Miniboss

Randomly came here one night after a comedy show that we went to at SJ Improv. They have your classic old school games and a whole room for pinball machines. Drinks were Christmas themed and came in fun cups and tasted delicious. We were able to play a bunch of games while walking around and drinking. The place can get crowded, but there are some tables in the back where you can sit and wait to play or order food and eat. All in all, a great spot to have a couple drinks and have some fun.

Miniboss is a fun arcade bar in downtown San Jose. I've been a few times and had a good experience across various cocktails. Some nights the games cost less or are free, which is something to look for if you are flexible on when you are in the area.It is not the type of place I would go out of my way to get to, but if I'm in the area, I'm happy to go back.

This was one of our stops during our night outing a few days before Christmas. This is such a fun idea, with arcade games available, and not affected by an inflation! ;) We didn't end up getting drinks here, as the holiday menu was the same as paper plane which we went to earlier in the night, but there is ample seating around. There are so many games to choose from, and unfortunately not enough time since we had a few stops after to check out. We ended up playing Pac-Man, which was an excellent value for two bucks for a four-player game. I then sunk quarters into Time Crisis 4; it was a bummer that there was no two-player option since the other machine wasn't working. Major nostalgia factor for me for this iteration specifically.Would happily hang out here in the future for drinks, food, or games!

Absolutely love coming here with a group of friends, they are especially busy on Thursday since all the games are FREE that day. I've never come on a regular day before so I don't know any of the prices for the games. I will say that the drinks are a tad pricey, around $16-$18 BUT the quality and size of the drinks are great. I love that they switch the theme of the place dependent on the holiday/season, they do the same for the menus as well. I love seeing people come in dressed up as different Mario characters (Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Wario, etc.)

I checked out Miniboss in San Jose for their Holiday Pop Up Bar with my boyfriend and a few friends and it was a good time! The vibe was super festive with all the holiday decorations, but I was surprised it wasn't as busy as I thought it would be especially on a Friday night.The holiday cocktails were cute, and the mugs they used for some of the drinks were cool. I tried the Koala La La La (tequila, dry vermouth, apple liqueur, tamarind, lemon, eucalyptus bitters, mint, soda) and the Christmapolitan (vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, rosemary, absinthe mist). Both were strong, but the flavors were great, which made them really fun to drink.They also have retro coin-operated arcade games. There's a coin machine changer onsite plus an ATM if you need cash, which is super convenient. The only downside was a few games were out of order, but that didn't ruin the fun.I loved the Christmas theme and it's a great spot to hang out with friends. I might come back after the holidays if I'm looking for a spot to the hangout with a group or date night.

This was the last stop on our Christmas bar hop and it was by far my favorite! We didn't order food so this review is strictly for drinks and games. Everything was 10/10. I wasn't feeling any of the menu drinks (same as Paper Plane) so I was able to get a Tito's soda with spiced cranberry and a lime. It was honestly so good. Since the spiced cranberry is sweet and flavorful, it really added a lot to the vodka and water. I ended up having 3! With waters in between, of course. Anyways, the bartenders were all on top of it and great multi-taskers so service was quick. They have fun festive decorations and so many games. I love that they have games because it makes your night more interactive. I had to play Jurassic Park pin ball, duh! Honestly, can't wait to come back here! Even the bathroom had decor (see pic) lol

Miniboss Arcade Bar is the perfect spot for a fun and lively night out. Their happy hour cocktails are fantastic, featuring a rotating selection of unique seasonal drinks that are both creative and refreshing. Whether you're in the mood for something tiki or cozy, the seasonal menu has something for everyone. The atmosphere is a great mix of nostalgia and energy, with a fantastic blend of classic arcade games and modern vibes. It's also an ideal place to host large groups, with plenty of space to spread out and enjoy the games and drinks. The staff is friendly and efficient, ensuring everyone has a blast. If you're looking for great drinks, fun games, and a venue that's perfect for groups, Miniboss is it!

Always a classic and a good time to visit. Our group went on a bar crawl the weekend before Halloween so everyone was out and about wearing costumes and having a great time! We were able to get in with a long line about 15-20min later. Getting drinks at the bar was also easy and the staff were so helpful and fun to interact with. On top of that we had the best themed drinks here that night. Sweet and easy to go down. Definitely the highlight of our night out of all the bars. Glad we could play a few games, party with others and enjoy the scary night. Love all the crazy decorations they put up for the holiday!

Take my money, Miniboss!!! This place is so DARN CUTE!! it's like one of those bars that you see in the movies because it looks like a perfect retro bar, complete with all types of arcade games. I'm not sure what it looks like during the normal season but I came here when they had the holiday pop up and I loved it! The drinks were so cute and they served in these festive cups and even the food was good and piping hot. Even though it took awhile for your turn (as you can imagine in a fully packed bar) the bartenders were friendly and took their time to recommend certain drinks. They had holiday decorations everywhere and they played a mixture of all types of holiday music. It's a perfect first date (or umpteenth!) location and also a great place to go with the homies. I highly recommend!

This was our first time at Miniboss and we just so happened to stumble upon it during their holiday collab. We've been to a different Miracle pop up in SF and personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the drinks. That being said, I think the Miracle drinks stepped up their game this year- we got one that was in a unicorn cup and it was pretty tasty! The decor inside is super cute, and the Christmas decorations made everything feel even more cozy and festive. I was a fan of a few of their games but I think it was a bit more retro than I was expecting LOL. Not too crazy on a Friday night, but still a great crowd! I would come back if I was going for a night out in SJ!