Your Guide to Explore San José
Welcome to the 2026 AAAE/ACI-NA Airport Customer Experience Symposium!
We're glad you're here in San José, a city I'm proud to call home, known for its vibrant Downtown, thriving tech community, beautiful parklands, and rich mix of cuisine, arts, and culture. My team and I extend our gratitude to AAAE, ACI-NA and every attendee for bringing this conference to life.
While you're here, explore Downtown San José's local favorites – coffee shops, matcha spots, restaurants and bars ... all within walking distance of the Signia Hotel. If time allows, venture beyond downtown for more must-see spots and shopping throughout the city.
Mookie Patel
San José Mineta International Airport Director of Aviation
Eats
⭐ SJC Staff Faves
District
- 65 N. San Pedro St.
- ~9-minute walk
- Curated wines, whiskeys and seasonal cocktails
Eos & Nyx ⭐
- 201 S. Second St.
- ~4-minute walk
- Must tries: Lamb Chops, Lobster Tagliatelle
Hinodeya Ramen Bar
- 9 N. Market St.
- ~6-minute walk
- Must try: Spicy Miso Butter Corn Ramen
Morton's Steakhouse
- 184 S. Market St.
- Next door to Signia Hotel
- Happy hour: open 'til 6:30 p.m.
Petiscos "Downtown"
- 399 S. 1st St.
- ~7-minute walk
- Portuguese tapas and wine
Pressroom ⭐
- 189 W. Santa Clara St.
- ~10-minute walk
- Must tries: Poke Nachos, Rosemary Fried Chicken Breast
San Pedro Square Market ⭐
- 87 N. San Pedro St.
- ~9-minute walk
- Historic food hall hub
Scott's Seafood San Jose
- 200 S. 1st St.
- ~3-minute walk
- Fresh seafood, refined setting
SP2 Communal Bar + Restaurant
- 72 N. Almaden Ave.
- ~10-minute walk
- Happy hour: 4-6 p.m.
Bars and Nightlife
⭐ SJC Staff Faves
55 South ⭐
- 55 S. 1st St.
- ~5-minute walk
- Craft cocktails, downtown staple
Cash Only ⭐
- 8 E. Santa Clara St.
- ~9-minute walk
- Must tries: Whiskey Apple, Frozen Irish Coffee
Courage Anyone ⭐
- 399 S 1st St, 2nd Floor
- ~7-minute walk
- Eclectic bar, creative drinks
Dr. Funk
- 29 N. San Pedro St.
- ~8-minute walk
- Happy hour: open 'til 7 p.m.
Five Points
- 169 W. Santa Clara St.
- ~7-minute walk
- Must try: Private Barrel Old Fashioned
Goodtime Bar
- 30 Fountain Alley
- ~7-minute walk
- Natty wines, tasty plates
Haberdasher ⭐
- 43 W. San Salvador St.
- ~7-minute walk
- Speakeasy-style craft cocktails
Paper Planes ⭐
- 72 S. 1st St.
- ~5-minute walk
- Award-winning cocktail bar
Still O.G. & Alter Ego ⭐
- 66 S. 1st St.
- ~5-minute walk
- Vinyl lounge in the front, speakeasy in the back
Wineries and Tasting Rooms
⭐ SJC Staff Faves
Ancora Vino By Enoteca La Storia ⭐
- 320 W. St John St.
- ~15-minute walk
- Curated global wines in stylish Little Italy tasting room
Coterie Winery
- 885 W. Julian St.
- ~7-minute drive (1.2 miles)
- Small-batch wines in cozy, neighborhood tasting room
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
- 1000 Lenzen Ave.
- ~7-minute drive (1.6 miles)
- Award-winning wines in relaxed tasting room
Little Wine House ⭐
- 350 W. Julian St., Bldg 4
- ~16-minute walk
- Intimate neighborhood wine bar with curated selections
Coffee, Tea and Bites
⭐ SJC Staff Faves
Academic Coffee ⭐
- 499 S. Second St.
- ~11-minute walk
- Must tries: Matcha Banana Latte, Madagascar Vanilla Cold Brew
Dr.ink
- 77 N. Almaden Ave.
- ~11-minute walk
- Creative drinks, bold flavors
Maruwu Seicha ⭐
- 87 N. San Pedro St.
- ~11-minute walk
- Must-tries: Creamy handcrafted matcha lattes, soft-serve matcha
Nirvana Soul Coffee
- 315 S. 1st St.
- ~5-minute walk
- Community-driven artisan coffee
Philz Coffee ⭐
- 118 Paseo De San Antonio
- ~7-minute walk
- Must try: Mint Mojito Iced Coffee
Playback Coffee
- 87 N. San Pedro St.
- ~9-minute walk
- Music-inspired coffee spot
Poppy & Claro
- 50 W. San Fernando St.
- ~3-minute walk
- Floral café, light bites
Toastique
- 145 W. Santa Clara St.
- ~7-minute walk
- Gourmet toast and smoothies
Voyager Craft Coffee
- 111 W. St John St.
- ~9-minute walk
- Inventive espressos
Shop and See
⭐ SJC Staff Faves
Japantown ⭐
One of the 3 historic Japantowns in the U.S., with authentic food, local shops and cultural landmarks.
Little Saigon
Vibrant Northern California hub for Vietnamese cuisine, shops and culture.
Urban Putt
Downtown San José indoor mini-golf with creative courses, drinks and dining.
