5 /5 Molina Tracy (STAR TRACE): I stumbled upon this place while walking through downtown San Jose and immediately told my husband, ‘We need to check this place out!’ It’s a gorgeous restaurant, and I knew right away it would be a great date-night spot.
The inside is just as impressive—the space is beautifully designed with a newspaper-themed aesthetic that feels both stylish and unique. It really adds to the overall experience.
After looking into The Pressroom, I realized they offer a daily happy hour, which is rare to find in the South Bay—especially at a more upscale restaurant. We walked in without a reservation and were immediately seated.
We started with cocktails. I tried the Pear Review and the Rewrite, and both were excellent. My husband had The Standard and absolutely loved it.
We ordered exclusively from the happy hour menu, and everything impressed us. The oysters ($2!!) were phenomenal—small and sweet, just how we like them. We also tried the Millionaire Bacon Bao Buns, which admittedly looked a bit underwhelming at first, but completely delivered on flavor. The steak bites were perfectly tender and very enjoyable as well.
We’re already excited to come back to try their dinner and brunch menus.