For the true salsa addict, dancing on the weekends isn't enough. If you happen to get that salsa itch on a Monday night, then Azucar Latin Bistro is a good spot to hit, and it's located right in San Jose.
Located in downtown San Jose next to Safeway, Azucar Latin Bistro is a cool little restaurant/bar that has salsa dancing throughout the week. On Friday and Saturday nights they often have live bands playing, which is great if you enjoy live music, however, the place tends to get very packed, so it's not the best for dancing.
The best night to go dancing at Azucar is on Monday nights. Monday nights the atmosphere is more relaxed, and it tends to bring out the the true dancing addicts and fewer drunk crowds. If you stop by early enough, you can enjoy a tasty menu of tapas, fajitas, soups, and salads.
Once the dancing gets going and the tables are cleared away, you can still enjoy many great beverages at the bar, chief of which is the mojito, for which Azucar is known for. On Monday nights, they often have a drink special going for regular mojitos, but if you want to experience a truly great Mojito you'll want to splurge on one of the flavored ones, such as the Guava Mojito or Passion Fruit Mojito (my two personal favorites).
The salsa dancing at Azucar is nice and relaxed-- they often have a lesson at around 8:30pm for beginners, but the better dancers typically don't start arriving until around 10pm. The dance floor usually doesn't get too crowded, so you can dance around without worrying about being stepped on, but you will have to watch to avoid the two poles that are in the middle of the dance floor.
Dancing typically goes until 1am, which is just as well as most people have work the next day. Azucar Latin Bistro is a neat little spot, and the best place to go salsa dancing in San Jose on a Monday night.
