Cafe Stritch on South First Street is one of San Jose's most reliable live-jazz rooms. The space is built around a long bar and a small stage; touring musicians and local groups play most nights, with no cover during the week and a small charge on weekends. The kitchen turns out solid bar food into the late evening.
The cafe takes its name from the saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk, who played a custom-modified instrument called the stritch. The walls are decorated with vintage jazz photographs. If you want a glimpse of the SoFA district's older, scrappier creative side, Stritch is the easiest place to find it.