As a special article for the inaugural Flesh and Blood World Championship, we reached out to the Bay Area Flesh and Blood Community to compile a traveler's guide to San Jose. This guide was written by MalZenith, also known as Yichin Liu, but is supported by information from everyone in the local community, casual and competitive player alike. To reciprocate the warm welcome they've been shown while traveling for Flesh and Blood events abroad, they're hoping that this guide will aid others in making the most out of their trip to San Jose.
The Flesh & Blood World Championship is fast approaching, and many players (including you, hopefully!) have made plans to stay in San Jose. Most players will have plenty of free time before, during, or after the event, so how would they make the most of it? Have no fear, for the Bay Area Flesh and Blood community is here to give you a few ideas as to where to go and what to see to make the most out of your trip!
Getting to the Convention Center
For those of you arriving in San Jose by the San Jose airport, you’ll be pleased to learn that the convention center is a short ride away from the airport. While taxis are sporadically available, travelers are more than likely going to get around by utilizing a ridesharing app or by the on-demand shuttle service that San Jose Airport offers to get travelers to their hotel. The on-demand shuttle service may be accessed outside Door 2 outside each of the two respective terminals, with drop-off at a destination of choice.
However, it is more than likely that many players will be flying into San Francisco International Airport, where transportation to San Jose will be more difficult. The easiest way to get from San Francisco International Airport to San Jose will be by the SFO on-demand shuttle service, a taxi, or a ridesharing app. Adherents to using public transportation will need to prepare for a roughly two hour journey from San Francisco to San Jose. You can take the BART the long way around the bay into San Jose, taking the train to Oakland’s 12th St. and transferring to the Orange line to Barryessa, onto the Rapid 500 bus to the convention center. Alternatively, you ride the BART a short distance into Millbrae and transfer to the CalTrain service running from Millbrae to San Jose Diridon Station, across the highway from downtown San Jose. Neither method is recommended.
If you’ve brought or rented a car to the area, expect to pay about $20 per day for parking underneath or near the convention center. There are a few parking lots that are free only during the weekends, but they will often involve a bit of a walk to get to the convention center proper. The closest of these lots is the I-280 lot, an unprotected lot which is about a ten minute walk to the convention center.
The Week Before Worlds - Getting Some Last Minute Practice
If you happen to find yourself in San Francisco or San Jose prior to the event, you can check out our local stores to get some last-minute practice in!
Monday, 6:30PM: The Game Parlour SF
The Game Parlour is a board game cafe serving up tasty savory and sweet snacks to supplement a long night of gaming. They hold their weekly FAB events on Mondays at 6:30PM, though if you’re in the area it’s worth a visit to grab a table and jam some games, Flesh and Blood or not!
Thursday, 6:30PM: Game Kastle Santa Clara
Just a short drive away from the San Jose airport and convention center, Game Kastle’s Santa Clara location is the premiere location for Flesh and Blood in the South Bay Area. Their weekly FAB events are on Thursdays at 6:30PM and all players of all skill levels are welcome to join in on the fun!
Food and Bars, Near and Far
Of course, the most important part of any trip is the food, and San Jose offers a variety of delicious destinations both in the heart of the city and a short distance away. The restaurants listed are just a fraction of the great restaurants on offer in San Jose and the surrounding area!
Near the Convention Center
Restaurants
- La Victoria Tacqueria - “LaVic’s”, as it’s called, has been a staple of many card gaming aficionados as a post-tournament hangout at the end of a long day. They’re best known for their orange sauce, adding a tasty kick to their wide variety of Mexican dishes at affordable prices. Directions from venue.
- SoFa Market - A small collection of eateries of all sorts of worldwide cuisines, down the block from the convention center. An excellent lunch spot if you find yourself with about an hour between side events, or during the lunch break. Directions from venue.
- AJI Bar & Robata - Located within the Hilton hotel, what seems like an average hotel bar & restaurant is actually one of the better Japanese-Californian restaurants in the city. It’s a little pricier than the other locations listed here, though much more affordable compared to the upscale restaurants in town. Directions from venue.
- Back a Yard Caribbean Grill - An authentic Jamaican restaurant serving some of the best Caribbean food on the coast. Located on the opposite side of the University, it’s a decent walk from the venue but absolutely worth it for their jerk chicken and fiery sauces. Directions from venue.
Drinks (for Morning and Evening)
- Academic Coffee - Have some time before the venue opens up in the morning? Academic Coffee is one of the premiere tea and coffee shops in San Jose, roasting their own coffee beans to make a variety of classic and unique cortados. While the shop itself is known for their buttermilk donuts, be on the lookout for Hash n Dash, a food truck that often stops in front of the store and delivers the best breakfast sandwiches in the Bay. Directions from venue.
- Voltaire Coffee - A high end coffee shop located in the heart of San Jose, just outside the convention center. Come in to relax to the smell of a variety of house-roasted coffee and bagels. Named after the philosopher, not the bow. Directions from venue.
- Paper Planes - Located at about a ten minute walk from the convention center, Paper Planes is one of the premiere bars for groups in San Jose, offering pitchers of cocktails and a wide variety of high end spirits. Directions from venue.
- Haberdasher - For those feeling a bit more mellow, Haberdasher is a bar right outside the convention center that offers a variety of high end spirits for an after-event evening treat. Directions from venue.
Worth the Short Drive
- In-n-Out - What guide to California would this be if I didn’t include our state’s most well-known burger joint? For those of you not familiar with the secret menu, some quick snippets: you can order anything “animal style”, which adds melted cheese and grilled onions onto it; shakes come in vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate, but you can order a “neapolitan” shake to combine all three; and, if a double-double burger isn’t enough to satisfy you, you can order a 3x3 or 4x4, which increases the number of patties and cheese slices respectively! The closest In-n-Out to the venue is located right outside the San Jose Airport and - like every other In-n-Out - the lines are long, but move quickly.
- Pho Ha Noi - Located in Little Saigon, Pho Ha Noi is one of the best Vietnamese noodle restaurants in the Bay. If you’ve been in the market for some authentic Vietnamese food, look no further! For the best pho experience, be sure to ask for “fresh noodles” when you order.
- Din Tai Fung - Located in Valley Fair/Santana Row amidst a variety of upscale restaurants, Din Tai Fung is famous locally for its perpetually long lines and delicious Taiwanese dim sum. Be sure to call ahead of time to reserve a table - or resign yourself to a multi-hour wait! If you can’t happen to get a reservation here, the whole area is full of a variety of great restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, from Japanese Ramen (Ramen Nagi) to Brazilian Steak (Fogo de Chao).
- Falafel’s Drive-In - Located across the highway from Valley Fair/Santana Row, this open-air drive-in joint has some of the best value around for cheap and tasty Mediterranean food.
Local Attractions
Outside the venue, there’s a variety of tourist attractions for the moments when you’re not playing Flesh & Blood! Here are a few ideas within a short distance that are worth your time:
- The Tech Museum & other museums - The Tech Museum in San Jose is world-famous as a fun way to engage families in technology - worth the visit if you have some young ones with you or are young at heart. It’s a large museum that can take an entire day to explore fully, so it’s best reserved as a full-day or half-day visit. Art enthusiasts are welcome to check out both the San Jose Museum of Art, the Institute of Contemporary Art, and Museum of Quilts and Textiles, all within walking distance of the venue. Each of these three museums can be explored within a few hours, making them an excellent way to kill time before your flight leaves. If you’re willing to drive, the Japanese American Museum and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum are both excellent visits for history buffs.
- Catch a San Jose Sharks Game - For hockey enthusiasts, the San Jose Sharks have a game on that Saturday evening against the Anaheim Ducks, starting at 7:30PM. The venue is about a mile away from the convention center, or about a twenty minute walk. Purchase your tickets ahead of time and enjoy some excitement watching some other great games!
- The Winchester Mystery House - For horror and paranormal enthusiasts that haven’t had their fill during Halloween, the Winchester Mystery House is a top horror destination and does daily and nightly tours of the labyrinthine house.
Exploring the Greater Bay Area
If you’re like me and like to use traveling for events as an excuse to explore the area, look no further. The Bay Area is known for its coastal scenery, enjoyable hikes, and a variety of destinations that many travelers include on their bucket lists. This section will be focused on attractions within a couple hours’ drive from San Jose, though there’s plenty that California has to offer for everyone!
In November, the temperature in the inland bay (San Jose and everywhere that isn’t facing the Pacific Ocean) is moderate, at around 70°F/21°C, but adventures along the coast and San Francisco can be quite chilly and windy, at 60°F/16°C during the day but dropping to 40°F/4°C in the early mornings and late evening.
- Santa Cruz & the Santa Cruz Coastline - Santa Cruz is the surf capital of the world, though even if you’re not a surfer, come on down! The Santa Cruz beach boardwalk is home to many traditional seafood restaurants and carnival rides & attractions, always in full view of the Pacific Ocean. Those who prefer a quieter environment can drive along Highway 1, through the Santa Cruz coast to San Francisco, stopping at state parks and small communities along the coastline for a scenic trip that blends skyline and sea.
- San Francisco - A classic tourist destination if you’re in the Bay Area. Pier 39, Alcatraz Prison, and Presidio (where you can walk to and across the Golden Gate Bridge) are well-known tourist spots and should be visited at least once. Japantown and Chinatown are vibrant cultural centers with wildly disparate vibes; Japantown is on the quieter side of things with a variety of Japanese restaurants to suit every palate, while Chinatown is well-known for its liveliness and hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurants that line every corner. San Francisco’s parks are also worthwhile visits, with Land’s End Lookout and Golden Gate Park (along with its botanical garden) as great ways to relax and enjoy the sights.
- Monterey Bay - Located to the south of Santa Cruz, this location is about an hour and a half of a car ride down from San Jose’s city center, making this a perfect day trip. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world-renowned and its most popular destination, but just outside it lies a picturesque Californian coastal scene that can be explored at your leisure. Drive a little further south and you can visit Point Lobos State Natural Preserve, a small park with amazing views and a diverse range of marine life on display.
Yichin Liu is a competitive Flesh and Blood player and guest writer. The opinions expressed in the above article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Legend Story Studios.