Live music every night which is a blessing and a curse. 2 people in a bar and the band is blaring away, maybe tone it down a little when there are so few people? Bartenders are either really great or pretty arrogant (for no reason). Best place to go for people watching though. I used to come a couple nights a week, but I'm sad that my favorite bartender no longer works on sunday nights. Mario is awesome because he always remembers your drink and makes you feel completely comfortable around the weird guys that lurk the bar top. I guess I'll have to find a new sunday night spot :(
Review Source:A bit divey. Â You wouldn't expect this place smack dab in the middle of a strip mall. Â Honestly Boswell's is hit and miss and a lot depends on the crowd that particular night. Â I've gone before with friends and had a great time - other times I've gone and couldn't bear to stay more than a half hour. Â All depends on the crowd that night and the band that is playing. Â Most of the time they are surprisingly decent and dance-able! Â Beware though - most nights they do charge a $5-10 cover so make sure you have some cash on hand!!
Review Source:This place makes me embarrassed to live in Campbell. Embarrassed to be a white dude. I came here for the first time after living in Campbell almost a year. I just wanted a pint on a Saturday night and to be around some good looking people having fun while my wife was out of town. A little eye candy can go a long way. Â
Unfortunately I went to Boswell's. Every overweight white loser in Campbell comes here. Not ONE good looking person. Not one Asian cutie. Not one spicy Latina.
There is a crappy cover band to worsen the experience. I would like this place more if they ditched the band and kept it a Brit-themed pub. Or if they had good music and charged a higher cover so that a better class would come here. Oh but this is Campbell. Right.
One of my favorite places on the face of the planet... Awesome bands from Thursday to Monday nights, with karaoke on Tuesday's and open mike night on Wednesday's with Jack Rip-off.
Mario and Jason are BY FAR my favorite bartenders and take EXCELLENT care of their clientele.
Live music and amazing drinks?... Seriously, why aren't you all hanging out there!?!?!
Oh YEAH! Live music good bands and plenty on tap to drink! Okay it has a small cover but its way better than driving to downtown just to be over crowded and pay to much for drinks. Good security team there too. Trouble makers are not welcome. Period. Mikey the bartender is fantastic with his mixed drink specials and Mario too.
Review Source:The best dive bar in all of Campbell, LG, SJ in my opinion! Boswells has it ALL- live music, well made strong drinks n ice cold beers, a fun friendly crowd n pizza right next door! Plus they are walking distance from my house. That's an extra star all on it's own :) Amanda the tall blonde cocktail waitress is absolutely amazing and always grabs us all the drinks we need with a smile on her face. We Love her!!!! Â I love not having to walk to the bar for every drinks :) oh I almost forgot they are always playing the sharks n giants n niners games. It makes me cringe to have to tell a bar to put the game on so I love that Boswells is all about our bay area sports!
Review Source:A divey dive bar. So in that sense they succeed. I had to pay $5 for cover charge on Friday night to see my friend's band pay live. Also, the drinks were averaged price, about $5-6 for each beer on tap. It was pretty packed, but there was lots of seating. Watch your step though because there are random steps in random areas. I had a good time, so I'll definitely be back the next time my friend plays.
Review Source:I really like this bar! Â
Atmosphere: Small, dark, crowded bar.. in a good way! Â Not many tables so get there early or be ready to stand! Â Dance floor is super small and usually pretty packed! Â Bands usually do covers and are very good to decent depending on who is playing!
Crowd: Â A large mix of different ages and different personalities! Â I love that you can find someone from every walk of life at this bar! Â The crowd is pretty friendly! Â We usually come with a big crowd and always meet a few new people!
Dress: Â Shirt skirts and high heels to shorts and t-shirts!
Parking: Â Very large lot and parking garage
Staff/Service: Â Very friendly staff and pretty fast service even when the bar is packed
Price: Â Drinks are pretty reasonable priced.
Love this place when they have such great performers. I love the live bands they have. This is the spot to be when you want to have a good night out.
I dont drink to much and when i do it has to be a nice sweet mix. and they are awesome at the bar with that. Also the ladies who go around getting out drinks are awesome as well. they are very nice and are great with suggesting drinks.
This place is fun on a Friday if you just want to have some drinks and dance. They had a live band which was playing some current music. The dance floor was small and crowded. We got our drinks fast and they were pretty good for the price. There was a mix of all ages. People were dressed up in heels and short dresses as well as jeans and t shirts.  The  ambiance was very much like a corner bar/ college hangout.
Review Source:One reviewer said that Boswell's draws an elderly crowd, but I'm not in that group since I am only sixty-five and the spring chicken that I brought with me is only sixty-three, Â It was a Saturday night and we walked through the door and paid the five dolllar cover charge. Â Then the man asked for my driver's license because the Campbell Police could come and ask for my ID and if I were underage, the bar would be fined. Â I can't figure if the Campbell Police are really this dumb or if Boswells should be rewarded for hiring mentally deficient people.
Review Source:I first came here about 4 years ago on New Years Eve and I have been back several times since.
Eclectic crowd...very diverse...random..small....and always a good time no matter what night or time I come..
WARNING!!! If you are prissy, dont like getting to close to people, cant take a compliment from a weirdo, and are afraid of sweat, and complain about smells a lot...THEN STAY YOUR ASS AT HOME.
Bathrooms are small..and theres always a line but I don't really care. Â The small dark atmopsphere and weird ass people..the music...I LOVE IT ALL! ahaha!
...you feel safe..you don't have to dress up, you can be yourself and u always end up making a couple friends before u leave.
5 stars boyyyyeeeeeee!!!
I was in San Jose a few years ago helping a friend with some medical things, we just happened to be in Campbell for St. Patty's day. Â BOSWELLS was located conveniently next to our hotel! I love the atmosphere here and the people. Â I found myself back in Campbell this week and needed to bring my friends there.
The bartenders, although busy as it gets, will acknowledge you and show you that they have seen you. Â Service is very good for a busy bar. Â They have KARAOKE on Tuesday Nights, which is great!!! Â Its nice to know a bar is still the same after a few years, must mean its good!...I think its FANTASTIC!!! Definitely a great little dive within walking distance from some of the nicer hotels in campbell. Â Great for meetin gnew people, tourists, and locals alike!
First of all, don't come here if you aren't wanting a good dive bar feel. Most of the reviews I read before coming here were complaining of how it feels dirty or how there were lots of trashy people there. But honestly... you are writing a review of a DIVE BAR. If you didn't want that atmosphere then go to Los Gatos or Santana Row and feel nice and clean.
I have seen two different bands at this place and both were very good. It was easy to get a drink at the bar and drink prices weren't too shabby. I think I paid about 6 bucks for a vodka soda with lime...Not too bad for a night out to see a live band. Be warned though- it's a 5 dollar cover charge on Friday nights. I'm pretty sure this is because of the live music, and they need to pay the band so it makes sense.
To sum it up, I would recommend this place to a group of fun people who aren't too uptight, and are ready to have a good time. I find it quite irritating when I see prissy girls rolling their eyes at the big sweaty guy on the d-floor getting his dance on. Just laugh... you know you want to.
Tuesday night karaoke! Â You won't get on rotation much, but the lively crowd is worth it. Â
Not sure why the server decided Wild Turkey shots were the best suggestion for us when we asked for a recommendation. But oh well. I met a super nice gal there and we will be meeting somewhere else on our karaoke circuit. Yay for new friends!
Security is friendly, and outside front area is nice for a break from the crowd.
Boswell's is the definition of "Dive Bar." Â It's loud, fun, stinky and chock full of spirits and beer. Â There are lots of tables and chairs to sit at for enjoying the company you're with while listening to the live band if you happen to come in when there is one. Â We stopped in on a Sunday night and the band was pretty good. Â There's also a dance floor to get your jiggy on. Â TVs line the perimeter of the whole place so you can catch up on sports and news while you get your chug on. Â
I've been here just a few times but find myself having a good time every time I do make it in. Â But I'm certain it's because I'm with good company :) Cocktail servers and bartenders are always so helpful and friendly; you're sure to chop it up with a few while you're here. Â Be sure to stop in when you're in the area. Â I guarantee it's Dive-y enough.
Having stumbled across Boswell's on 9/11/11 for a Blue Star Mom's Organization fundraising event.. I now have a new fave spot to hit up on Tuesdays (karaoke night).
I never used to go out to bars much at all.. and definitely not on Tuesdays.. but this all makes sense. It's just a really chill place to grab a few drinks, listen to some folks sing and maybe bust a move or two on the dance floor.
Boswell's is full of regulars.. at least on Tuesdays. It's a nice spot to go to and people are really chill. No haters and no territorial folks up in here!
We came here on a Tuesday night, so I'm not sure if this is a happenin' place any other night, but this review will be based on a Tuesday night.
Overall, Boswell's had a good vibe. Everyone sort of keeps to themselves and the group of friends they come with, well almost everyone. There were a few creepy old men prowling the place for prey; there was this one drunkard in particular that kept trying to dance with me and my friends (I get it, sometimes it can be funny, but this guy was totally obnoxious and freakin' creepy).
I guess we arrived a tad too late as well, because the karaoke line was full and they weren't taking anymore sign-ups...now that was a true bummer. We wanted to sing "No Scrubs" by TLC for all the scrubby lurks in the place. My point is to get your name in early for karaoke if you plan on singing here. They also have fun li'l props, like feather boas, sunglasses, fiesta hats, pimp hats etc.
Then there was another incident where a sloshed dude kissed my friend on the back of her head while she was sitting on a barstool innocently perusing the catalog of karaoke songs, ugh...after that we left before any real action started!
Boswell's, or "Bossies" as it is affectionately referred to by some of its regulars, is comfortable, fun, and always filled with interesting people. If you are a fan of dive bars like me, you will never be disappointed when you spend a night at Bossies. Even if you think you do not enjoy dive bars, Boswell's just might change your mind. Every night you will find live music there with regular bands playing a few nights a week. Every Tuesday night you can go and enjoy some always entertaining karaoke; but be warned, if you plan on singing you better get there early and sign-up because the list fills up pretty quickly. This is the kind of place where you can drop in and have a drink to unwind after a long day at work, or bring your friends and make a night of it. Either way you will have a great time.
Everyone who works at Boswell's is great. The doormen, bartenders, and cocktail waitresses are all friendly and accommodating. They create a very "Cheers" like environment for anyone looking for a relaxed good time. Most patrons I encounter there are nice and easy going as well. Everyone is there to have a good time. No one wants to change that vibe. You can show up dressed to the nines or straight from the gym, either way you will fit in at this fantastic bar. Your age is not an issue either. Bossies regulars range in age from 21 to 80 years old, and we all intermingle in perfect harmony. You can dance the night away or simply pull up a chair and take a load off. Either way you will have a great time at this fun bar.
While I do frequent other bars around the greater San Jose area, there is not one bar that I would so highly recommend. Of course, I am a dive bar kinda girl. If you are looking for a great time, groovy music, and tasty drinks look no further than Boswell's.
This is a bar I remember from my entire adult life. The name and sign have never changed. I went there often while living in Silicon Valley, and I always return when I'm in town visiting. Both the original architecture and building structure in which it is located, remain intact, with no major cosmetic changes.
The style of this pub is designed in the British tradition, which is fairly common in Silicon Valley. Live music by local artists are featured just about every night of the week. Anybody who grew up in Campbell, or who lives in Campbell, is probably familiar with this place.
The small size is conducive to more hospitable social interactions. The music doesn't get too loud to hold a conversation. The down-to-earth bartenders aren't too busy for small talk with patrons, which adds value to the whole experience. Ever since the early 90's, when I first started coming here, my friend Mario has bartended here. Since he sees so many people we knew from high school come into the bar, he is always a good source of current information on folks.
It is easy to go in and out. There is always a crowd gathered out front, including all of the smokers. This social scene blends together, almost seamlessly, with that of the adjacent, one-of-a-kind coffee shop. This comes in handy if you would like to step outside and get a hot drink or snack while taking a break from Boswell's.
Boswell's has my new favorite bartender.
I asked what he recommended that was fruity and potent. Off he went and came back with the most delicious drink that he made up on the spot! Score! When I came back for more, he made me another drink not on the menu that we dubbed the Tea-Mac. Don't ask me what's in it. All you have to know is that it was good! Both drinks were under $7 each and he didn't skimp on the alcohol.
Saturday night makes for a varied crowd ranging from those who barely cut the cord to the older folks that I aspire to be like. People either come as they are or bring out the push-up bra.
The live band was great! I'm a new fan of Sugardaddy and they play everything from rock to hip hop and they actually do it well. I was up and dancing, singing along and having a great time.
No nonsense and no drama type place. Pay your $5 and come in, get a drink and have a good time. Make some new friends, and enjoy.
When Flor D. invited me out to Boswell's for a birthday Girl's night out and told me this place was a Dive....I wasn't so sure I wanted to come. But I did and I am glad I did! This place was fun!
It's sort of in a random corner of the Pruneyard next to the movie theater and when you come to front, you show your ID, pay the $5 cover and get your hand stamped.
We arrived early so it was pretty chill when we got there and we got a table for all of us right away. Great music and chill vibe...I was liking this place.
I can't comment on the drink prices because I am not a drinker but I did buy a Coke for $2. That is cheaper then most places plus they don't charge for water.
People are cool here and so is the bar staff. Bathrooms are well....they were clean in the beginning but when you get a bunch of drunk sweaty girls in and out all night, Â it's bound to get messy ;)
LOVED the band Sugar Daddy....what a great band of fun guys! I was up in front dancing and rocking out to their tunes for the last half of the night. This place gets PACKED! I would definitely be back to see them again.
I would be back...and for you single ladies, it has a decent selection of cute guys that are not too aggressive. It's places like this where I am grateful for the ring on my left finger ;)
See you on the dance floor!
When I was growing up I used to go to coffee society with my friends and smoke those ecstacy herbal cigarettes and imagine admist my teenage angst what things went on in Boswell's... was it called Boswell's ten years ago or was it called something else?
Anyways.. I finally got a chance to go in here yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised.
This place immediately took me to Santa Cruz with it is dive-iness but as a perk unlike SC there was no cigarette smoke which was a huge plus for me. The bartenders were super attentive, friendly and made up some random concoctions to meet the needs of members in our party (and the drinks were under 7 bucks). Â
What sold me was their live cover band and their Saturday night crowd. The cover band played everything from Rock to Hip Hop and did it well. The crowd is an eclectic group who all mesh together sans drama which is nice (the crowd last night ranged from barely 21 to older folks).
I think someone recently told me that I should not WEAR the heels that I do, nor should I SHAKE my money maker in the way that I do. Â
With that being said, I truly enjoy those places that cater to my LAZY ASS attitude. Â That's right, DIVE BARS!
I don't have to get dressed up, I don't have to worry about being picked up. I can chill and show up in flip flops and a hoodie to have a nice glass of wine. Â No one bother me, and if they do...it's to ask me some random question that actually makes me laugh.
The environment is strange. The staff is friendly. Â You think you left Campbell for some odd random place. Â Seriously, where do they find these people...oh wait...Boswell's found me.
Darts, Live Music on Sunday, and dance floor! Did I mention you can hear Poison and Master P playing back to back.
Cheap Drinks. Â Those easily embarrassed should not come here...unless you have sunglasses and a sweet mullet!
This is my first review ever. Â I am finally writing a review because this is the only way to legally demoralize this establishment. Â Last night was not the first time I've been to Boswell's. Â Great place to go for live music and down to earth people. Â Not the most attractive crowd by any means yet a good place to hang with your buddies and knock a few suds back. Â Unfortunately this was the first and last time I saw the true ugliness of Boswell's. Â
Although I do drink regularly, I was completely sober as I was the designated driver that evening. *I know huh? how responsible of me* Â At 1:35 am the band was packing up. Plenty of people in the bar laughing, drinking, having a good time. Â I decided to deposit one dollar into the jukebox. Â I select Lady Gaga - Bad Romance. Â No activity occurred on the interactive screen. Â I decide to put in another dollar and this time I select B.O.B- Nothing on you. Â Once again no activity.
I decide to ask one of the bartenders for help. Â This Caucasian male about 5'5" 155 lbs with a facial hair and apparent receding hair line decides to throw down with me verbally. The conversation goes like this:
ME: Excuse me, I just deposited 2 dollars into the jukebox but i don't see my songs on the queue list. Can you help me out?
HIM: Sorry buddy there's nothing I can do.
ME: Well if my songs aren't going to be played, can I get a refund please?
HIM: Sorry man I can't do that, if I could give you 2 bucks from my pocket I would.
ME: Well can I speak to the Manager then?
HIM: I am the Manager. Do you know what time it is? Do you know when bars closes?
ME: yes it's half past one I figured you guys close at 2 am. Â (Feeling hostility from the bartender/manager) What's the number and address to this place?
HIM: (says the address and phone number intentionally quick) Â I can't believe you are arguing over 2 dollars man!
ME: Excuse me? First of all it's not  about the money. It's the principle. Second I paid for a service and that service should either be provided or i should be reimburse. Third of all why the fawk are you giving me attitude? All I asked for was a little help. Sorry for fawkin inconveniencing you bytch azz muthafawker.  All you had to say was "it should be playing shortly" and maybe crack a smile.  But NOOO you gotta act like a douche. If I was throwin you attitude I could understand the hostility. Who the fawk do you think you are?
I am never coming here again and I strongly advise the same anyone reading this. Â Until this bartender/ manager is reprimanded I will not be contributing any time or money at this establishment.
Not a bad place but a cover is a bit overboard for a dive bar atmosphere. Â Its small inside and most of the cougar regulars aren't very friendly. Â So watch your back cause the claws come out.
With that said the bartenders are awesome and they live music can be fun. Â I know people who either love or hate this place and I happen to be one of the few who could care less. Â If someone wants to go there - eh I will go, but it wouldn't be my suggestion.
Spent many a night here as a lead singer for a local cover band which shall remain nameless. Also was here a lot as a customer in my Campbell drinking days.
Ahh, the good old days where you would start at the now defunct Kingshead, head over to Katie Blooms, Khartoums, then hit up Boswell's on the way to Taco Bravo for some greasy calmex awesomeness.
This place seems to be the natural habitat for the wild bar fly. I have had my ass pinched in this place far too many times. Honestly? I have a decent white boy booty, but I am no hot piece in any way. Here, young men are treated like prime rib in the meat market. Only problem is that the average shopper has C-section scars and is paying the bar tab with an alimony check.
But, its all good. Strong drinks, cool staff, and good bands. A recipe for a good time to be sure.
Went here a couple Fridays ago. Â Was meeting up with some friends, so not concerned about the random crowd. Â Seemed to be people aged 30's-40's. Â Live band was good (not a house band, changes every week I think)! Â Don't remember our bartender's name but my stomach probably won't let me go back for a while. Â This guy pours a STIFF one, my friends. Â Wish I could remember his name...
It was a good time, great to mix things up and get away from typical downtown Campbell for a couple of hours.
Threw us out again!
We were just having a good time and making fun of some hapless douchebag who was trying to hit on every girl in the place. Turns out he's friends with everyone on the staff. What a shocker!
Do yourself a favor and steer cleer of this hellhole. It stinks of testosterone and desperation.
The KJ at Boswell's, Dave, just added some songs to his karaoke songbook and he contacted to let me know he picked up some new Mötley Crüe songs just for me (as I specifically requested certain ones).
Due to this, I am obliged to raise the Boswell's Tuesday night karaoke score to 5-stars and overall, the bar is growing on me so I can raise it to 3-stars as my soccer team loves coming here after games. So if you take the average of the two, Boswell's is is now up to a 4-star rating.
Karaoke at Boswell's on Tuesday nights is one of, if not the most consistently fun karaoke experience in all of the South Bay. If you love a good, upbeat crowd then you should head out here. Plus, if you have friends that do not like singing, the KJ plays really good dance music in between singers and his assistant keeps the rotation fair. So the show is half dancing and half singing and all fun.
And lastly, if you have friends who do not like dancing or singing, then there is always the bar, right?
Tucked away in the Pruneyard, this bar definitely doesn't fit in. It's not cool enough to earn the "dive" badge, and after visiting this place on a Friday and having the "live band" warm up on their annoying bongo drums (yes...bongos) for a good 20 minutes, we couldn't take it anymore and left.
Don't bongos always sound the same? You hit the thing and it makes a noise? Or maybe they weren't warming up and were actually playing? Man, I hope not...
The crowd is a little odd, adding to the weirdness of the place. Reminds me of a smaller Mt. Charley's--with animal heads and all--which if you've read my review, isn't a good thing.
The one drink I got was stiff though. Two stars for that.
Cougar Â
An older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a much younger man. The cougar can be anyone from an overly surgically altered wind tunnel victim, to an absolute sad and bloated old horn-meister, to a real hottie or milf. Cougars are gaining in popularity -- particularly the true hotties -- as young men find not only a sexual high, but many times a chick with her shit together.
-------------------------------
Boswell's is a definite Dive, but has an added dimension. Because of its location in the Pruneyard - you get a very mixed crowd of locals and outsiders that is as consistent as their stiff drinks. These folks come and go in waves. So you could buy a drink, spark up an extended convo with a friend, and look around afterwards at a whole new sea of faces. And after a few more cocktails that sea starts looking more and more attractive. Damn beer goggles!
Well, all I have to say is if you are a younger man - watch out for the Cougar's. They are always on the prowl at good ol' Bozzi's.
*growl*
I ended up here with my classmates celebrating their graduation on a Monday night. Â
There was a bit of a wait getting our drinks, but once we did and sat down, the there was the juke box playing and we hung out and chatted for a while. Â At some point, a live band came on.
They played a great variety of music, it was a great night for dancing. Â I was planning on leaving around 11...and then around midnight..we ended up staying past one on a work night!
Good music, decent drinks (good flavor, not too strong, but definitely enough to feel the alcohol) and clean bathrooms with consistent table bussing...I was a happy girl. Â Hard to find a good place to go dancing, and now I'm looking forward to checking this place out again in the future. Â It was fun, clean, and felt safe.
Dropped by next door (that would be here) while waiting for a movie. Still pretty early in the evening, so finding a stool at the bar was no problem.
Ordered my pint of Guinness, again... no problem... though as people started showing up, it would definitely have been harder for me to get a second pint.
A band (10til2?) was getting ready to jam, too bad we had to leave early to catch The other Green Monster.
True Story. A young woman at the bar wanted to steal the shirt off my back. She was unsuccessful, though she put up a valiant effort. If that's not a reason to come back to Boswell's for more, then I don't know what is.
Boswells.... helping ugly people get laid and feel more attractive since like 1988.
Seriously though, the crowd is not usually on the "good looking" side of things. Whatever that means. Its not a very glamorous place basically. You'll see some scrubs in there that look like they just left work at the auto body shop. And some scary older women wearing too little clothing and too much makeup. I'm a friendly, sociable person and I'll talk to everyone around me but I don't like "that kind" of attention as I'm married. I'm not "all that" by any means but I get more attention here than I would if I went to say, Khartoums or Cardiff where there are plenty of pretty, young, in shape women to go around. So, I prefer those places. All the obnoxious young men can ogle these girls instead.
This girl I know named Natasha loves this place because she's on the heavy side of things.. not very attractive and even she gets a little play at this place. She hates other places like Khartoums and Cardiff cause the girls there make her feel bad about herself and she ends up talking smack about them all night. "oh my god.. look at what she's wearing"... LOL.
The only place worse than Boswell's in Campbell is the King's Head. I get the "icky" feeling in there cause of all the older, unattractive, leering perverts. And i'm not being mean either. All my friends say the same thing and they don't dress provocatively. The men are creepy there. Â
There are lots of older people at Boswell's. It's not unusual to see a couple in their late 40's out on the dance floor. Very cute. For this reason, I thought the place was a bit more "tame". "Safe". That's probably why i end up going back here when i don't feel like dealing with the younger crowd. Maybe I'm just thinking of week nights or something. But...I have never seen a fight here.
I've seen plenty of fights at Khartoums. None at Katie Blooms.
Somehow I end up at Boswell's at least twice a year. Its not too bad.
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