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Santa Clara University - Nightlife - Nightlife - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Nightlife

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Nightlife rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Nightlife Grades:

Quick Stats

Primary Areas with Nightlife
  • Downtown San Jose
  • Palo Alto
  • San Francisco
  • Santana Row
Student Favorites The Hut
Other Places to Check Out Miyake Restaurant (popular for sake bombs on Friday or Saturday nights)
Favorite Drinking Games
  • Beer pong
  • Flip cup
  • King's cup
  • Power hour
Useful Resources for Nightlife
  • The Santa Clara student newspaper
  • Wave magazine
  • www.clubzone.com/h1/San_Francisco/Nightlife.html
  • www.sanjose.com/nightlife

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Given its small size and residential location, Santa Clara offers few nightlife options for students. "Going out" usually consists of attending small house parties or bar hopping around campus, and while there are occasionally frat parties, they don't happen as consistently as at larger schools. Santa Clara nightlife comes most alive during spring quarter when the weather gets nicer and students tend to have lighter courseloads. To take advantage of the beautiful weather, most "nightlife" activities are bumped up to afternoon "day parties" hosted by fraternities or off-campus houses. 

Because it's hard to get in to small parties if you don't know many people, partying regularly as a freshman often requires befriending older students or joining Greek life. For students ages 21-and-up, there are a few bars close to campus, but clubbing requires a cab ride to San Jose or a Caltrain trip to Palo Alto or San Francisco. The bars near campus are only one to three blocks away and are pretty inexpensive; some even offer weekly events such as drink specials or live music featuring SCU student bands.

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Santa Clara Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Nightlife at Santa Clara University

katsurfer14

Marketing '15

3.8
B+

They're There If You Want Them!

So, I'm not a partier, but I have a LOT of friends that love to party, and they go out almost every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night. They always have crazy stories and fun times to tell us about the next day, so I assume the party scene is pretty decent! (at least if you're a girl, from what I hear it's harder for guys to get into parties)

May 23, 2012

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Nightlife at Santa Clara University

scubronco500

Finance and Accounting '14

4.2
A-

House Parties and a Few Bars

Students who live in dorms tend to pregame there, but that's only the beginning of the night. Students the meander on over to an off campus house for a larger party. Usually its the same crowd of people and always very fun. Around midnight kids walk to the bars. There are only a few bars around campus but all of them are fun. Get an i.d. or find out the nights where the bars have an open door.

May 10, 2012

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Nightlife at Santa Clara University

clynch1019

Economics '15

2.3
C

Not much to do

I am a freshman and I am severely bored here at SCU. The parties are kept almost strictly to respective fraternity members and only open to the rest of campus late. The normal night in a "party" dorm is hanging out and taking shots of cheap alcohol. "Going out" is usually considered wandering around the off-campus houses in hope to become part of a huge, sweaty mosh pit at an unknown house. At Santa Clara you can find whatever you want... But I didn't, I found people that did not want to experience NorCal and who were content with drinking to excess in the dingy dorm rooms.

Apr 12, 2012

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Page 1 of 8
User rating for Santa Clara University - Nightlife is 3.5 out of 5 based on 24 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

While clubbing is not very popular among SCU students, it is not due to a lack of places to go. The newly renovated Santana Row, about one mile from campus, has several nightclubs to choose from, but the hottest spots, like Toons and Zoe, are located in downtown San Jose.

Bar Prowler

The Hut, located directly across the street from campus, is the most popular bar in the area, frequently offering student specials (like Senior Night). Blinky’s Can’t Say Lounge offers a more low-key atmosphere. C&J’s has live entertainment semi-regularly, but is less popular because it is farther off campus and is a little more expensive.

Closing Time

2 a.m.

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Frat parties

Organization Parties

Several on-campus organizations throw parties during the year, usually during the fall and spring. The campus literary magazine, the Santa Clara Review, hosts a twice-annual publication party featuring student bands and catered appetizers, and many of the multicultural clubs on campus host annual fundraising events with live music, dancing, and food.

Club ListingsWhat's This?

Wet Nightclub

Wet is a large nightclub known for hosting exclusive events featuring international DJs and performers.

396 S. First St.

SoFA (South First Area) entertainment district

(408) 282-8938

www.wetsj.com

Rudy's Pub

Located just a few blocks from the Caltrain station, Rudy's features DJs and dancing every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.

117 University Ave.

Palo Alto

(650) 329-0922

Avalon

Located a few miles off campus, Avalon offers 21-and-older students a range of nightlife activities from a typical club scene to occasional concerts featuring artists such as Sir Mix-a-Lot and Rick Springfield.

777 Lawrence Expressway

Santa Clara

(408) 241-0777

www.avalonsantaclara.com

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

C&J’s Sports Bar

C&J’s is a casual sports bar a few blocks off campus with pool and foosball tables, televised sporting events, and occasional live music.

1550 Lafayette St.

Santa Clara

(408) 423-9013

candjsportsbar.com

Da Silva's Broncos ("the Claran")

"The Claran" features karaoke and occasional live music performed by SCU student bands.

1251 Franklin Mall

Santa Clara

(408) 248-4682

Blinky’s Can’t Say

Blinky's features several events throughout the week, such as Karaoke Fridays, Live Music Saturdays, and the "Blink Show" on Thursdays hosted by an SCU student DJ.

1031 Monroe St.

Santa Clara

(408) 985-7201

www.blinkyscantsay.com

The Bronco Hut

Considered the "classic" Santa Clara bar, the Hut is known for its two-for-one Tuesday drink specials and student events like senior class fundraisers and "Dads and Grads."

3200 The Alameda

Santa Clara

(408) 296-8934

What to Do if You're Not 21What's This?

Take the Caltrain to San Francisco

Many students choose to take the train up to San Francisco for dinner, concerts, or special events like Chinese New Year.

1001 Railroad Ave.

Santa Clara

(800) 660-4287

www.caltrain.com/stations/santaclarastation.html

Santana Row

With more than 20 restaurants, a movie theater, and numerous retail stores, Santana Row is a popular place for students to go have dinner and hang out on weekend nights.

3055 Olin Ave.

San Jose

(408) 551-4611

www.santanarow.com

Locatelli Student Activity Center

The brand-new Student Activity Center hosts tons of activities such as live music, DJ events, movie showings, open mic nights, karaoke, pingpong, and foosball for students of all ages.

On campus

Santa Clara

www.facebook.com/thebronco

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Lauren Silk
Hometown
Bainbridge Island, WA
Major
English and French

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