Cobra Arcade Bar

What a fun place, everyone was nice and the décor was perfect. Loved, loved, loved the retro feel!

I can’t express enough how awesome this place is. Great beer (not expensive), friendly staff, and literally ALL of the classic arcade games from the 80’s-90’s. If you’re looking for a good place to kill some time, this is the spot. On busy nights, you might have to wait in line to play some of the games.

This place is awesome and takes me back to my childhood days. The only reason why they receive four stars out of five is because they charge you to play arcade games. Yes, it’s a minimal cost to play but really??? Considering their business purpose is to have a few drinks and geek out, the arcade games should be complimentary and just an operating cost for them. Other than that, friendly staff and creative drinks. I’ll definitely return!

I went in expecting something like Endgame when I had went here. The inner nerd in me was pleased to see the old style arcade games but the layout was horrible. I wasn’t really able to see the games in the back due to how crowded it got. It might be fore other people but I’d rather come on a slower day.

After battling with loads of picky Unilocalers, Cobra just leveled up from pretty nifty barcade to première night life spot you MUST check out. It’s hot stuff. Like, so great you will often be frustrated by your inability to get in.
The concept on the inside is fully realized with original artwork covering everything. Games have their own custom styles added. The lights above the bar are just mesmerizing. It is simply pretty to look at from top to bottom.
The game selection is even better as they expand their collection. Everything from sports to RPGs (think Gauntlet) to side scrollers to even some shooting games. Fighting game selection is superb with Marvel vs Capcom 2, Tekken Tag Tournament and more. It’s the best of the 90s, even some early 00s stuff is in there so everyone can find something to play.
***Be forewarned games are no longer free. I don’t have a problem with this, but it is a giant pain in the rear end fighting through a crowd to get tokens, or making sure you’ve got enough small bills to last a couple hours. Maybe just revert to ‘free’ games and charge a cover? IDK the solution, but it kinda sours the pace of play, which is the only complaint I have about this place.***
Anyway, the drinks have vastly improved. The beer selection is bringing in more hard-​to-​find specimens, and the cocktails are good as well. They’re not trying to be super fancy, craft cocktails with rare ingredients and double digit prices, but rather common stuff mixed well that’ll keep ya partying all night. Be prepared to dance!
And speaking of partying, their DJs are all legit, and their calendar is STACKED with events. Theme nights galore. It’s a nerd’s absolute dream. It’s a fun place by default, and these all put it over the top.
They even know how to be awesome during the day. About every other Sunday, they have some sort of tournament for a particular game, where old-​school aficionados can win a little something something. Or you can just chill out and enjoy the bright, airy atmosphere and play some console games at the bar.
There is literally not a bad time to show up here. It is impossible to not have a good time here, either. Easily some of the best nightlife in the valley.

There’s a lot to like about Cobra Arcade Bar. I had the pleasure of visiting it on my Bachelor Party on ⁵⁄₁₄. Unfortunately, this was also the first Saturday following ASU’s graduation and it was absolutely FLOODED with college-​aged kids (of which I am, sadly, not). It’s actually not the age of clientele that made it a less-​than-​ideal experience. Rather, it was that the place was simply more full than could reasonably be expected to enjoy oneself if you want to get in some gaming. Many of the games from my childhood were found… all with folks playing them and 2 – 3 players on-​deck waiting. I left with many, many tokens in my pocket. BUT, tokens that I still have and will be using in the future. I would imagine that going there as a group in a less busy night would be an absolute joy.
The specialty cocktails that I had there were really tasty. The Kong in particular was not only really good, but REALLY strong. It may be a touch pricey, but you get your money’s worth on the booze.

I may be a bit older than the typical Cobra clientele but that didn’t stop my friends and I from having a blast there on Friday night after closing down Angel’s Trumpet across the street. Loved the DJ playing all sorts of fun music to dance to plus there was no wait to get in, reasonable drink prices and craft beer on tap, plus tons of awesome games from my childhood. The best part might just be the crowds are all very fun and welcoming although there was such a varied group from the gamers to the hipsters and even my friends in our 30s. Good times.
I took my friend in here again on Sunday afternoon, decidedly different experience during the daylight, but still a really cool spot. I recommend a stop, very cool joint worth checking out for sure.

They have the Simpsons arcade game.
That was really all I needed to give them 5 stars.

We had a lot of fun playing the vintage video games, and the drinks were good, too. My guy liked the selection of craft beers, including the Deschute’s IPA on draft, and I enjoyed the Invader and the Princess Peach mixed drinks.
It gets pretty loud with the DJ and games blaring, and it gets hot inside the arcade, especially when crowded.
However, it still is a lot of fun, and the prices are reasonable.

I had a few buddies in town and we were cruising around downtown on our bicycles after 1^st Friday. We wound up at Cobra around 1am and we had to wait in line for 5 – 10 minutes before we could enter. What a cool atmosphere, vintage hipster vibes for sure. Big bar right in the center of the building, with 25 – 30 classic arcade games throughout. There was a DJ spinning great music and plenty of people getting down on the dance floor. We checked in and used our 10 Free tokens on some of the awesome games they had! The games were 80s and 90s Video Arcade Games, I.E. The Simpsons, Ms. Pac Man, NBA Jam, Street Fighter, Tekken, Killer Instinct, TMNT Game, Donkey Kong, and my all time favorite Blitz 99 among several other classics! All the games we played were only 1 token each so the 10 free tokens went a long way. I can’t wait to come back. Awesome place to grab a drink and play some of your childhood favorites!
5÷29÷16 Update!
I’ve pretty much been coming and closing out each Saturday night since my first visit. I usually head down there around 12 – 12:30 and stay till 2am. It’s a real luxury living in the area! Big bike rack with plenty of space. The 10 token Unilocal check-​in seems to work with each visit so after (4) trips to Cobra I’ve still yet to spend any money on tokens. The bartenders are always friendly and the drinks are well mixed. The music is always on point.
Something I’d love to see, which they may already be doing but Arcade Game Tournaments! Blitz 99 Tournament maybe? Or any other games, I’d love to come to a Tournament Event to drink play and compete! I think it would be a cool event with a great turn out.

Old school arcade games and alcohol — ALWAYS a great combination.
Came on a Friday night around 10PM, there was already a line! Went by quick though and we were inside getting drinks and playing games. The drinks on the menu have cute names like «Invader» and «Princess Peach» and all relatively affordable ($ 7 – 8). This night, there was also a DJ spinning with a small dance floor.
Some of the games did not work and ate coins (boo!) but some games had free credits and we were able to play. Games include: Pin ball machine (broken), QBert, Super Mario, Ninja Turtles, Galaga, Street Fighter, etcetc. Check in to get 10 free tokens! However, the bartenders do not look super happy to be giving away free coins (it took a while for them to get back to us, as if we would forget.?)
Good amount of seating and tables to place your drinks in case you get tired of playing games. Each machine also had a little stand so you can leave your drinks next to you while you play!
Would highly recommend! They do not serve food here, but there was a food truck outside where you can order and bring your food into the bar.

What a jewel of a establishment in the downtown area. To have an awesome place and play classic arcade games. The nostalgic games that are offered for enjoyment are Centipede, Street Fighter, Ms. Pac-​Man and many more. If you’re looking for something different of a bar ambience, this a great place to visit. The best part is when you check-​in at Unilocal,you’ll receive 10 free tokens!

What a neat bar! Yes… I did just use the word ‘neat.’ The bar itself is super cool looking… between the video games, the amazing lighting, and the huge bar, it would be worth a visit for ambiance alone. Luckily, the drinks were also on point. I tried two drinks… one that tasted like bananas (donkey kong something I think…), which was sweet and easy to drink and the other was a bit sweeter… can’t remember the name of it at the moment… good story, I know. Anyway, with drinks at around 8 $, you really can’t go wrong. I will definitely be back!
PS The drinks listed on their website don’t match their current menu 100%. My friend wanted one of the drinks she saw on the site and the bartender said they couldn’t make it… wah wah.

I used to hang out at the old Video Round Up arcade in Scottsdale back in the day. I even thought it would be cool to own an arcade like Flynn in the Tron movie. Now Cobra had brought my childhood back to me. This place is a lot of fun and has a cool vibe to it. At first I was a little irked when I brought my kid and they wouldn’t let him in (21 and older only), but now I’m kinda happy they are keeping this to the older crowd who appreciates the old arcades. They have a great selection of old school games and a cool looking bar for drinks. I love that games are a quarter here like the old days. I always hated how the newer arcades make you buy the dumb expensive game cards. They open pretty late and can get pretty crowded on some nights. So far my favorite night here was the Tron theme night with the Daft Punk lookalike band. I had a blast that night and hope they do more theme nights like this.

Came here last night (³⁄₂₆). Rude rude rude bouncers outside. My friends were already there and came out to meet me and they wouldn’t let me in because they were «at capacity.» In the mean time they were letting groups of guys in. Finally 20 minutes later I got in. Apparently one of my friends asked the DJ about a song and he didn’t say a word just rudely pointed to a sign that says no requests. Then, coming back from the bathroom, it was so crowded my friend and I stopped near (not IN) the opening to the bar, and the bouncer with the long goatee literally pushed me and yelled at me to not stand there.
I will never come back here. The bartenders were a little nicer but overall the staff were rude and totally ruined the experience. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

Very cool retro bar in the valley! Love the throwback to the older arcade games… it was very nostalgic, which I enjoyed! It’s nice that they have the indoor/​outdoor seating, so we had fresh air even though we were inside. The drinks were good & the bartenders were very friendly. Just FYI they don’t serve food, but they get the occasional food truck that pulls up to their parking lot.
They do have free play, but I’m not sure if it’s a daily thing or if it’s during certain hours. I plan to return & play some more of those arcades!

I used to live across the street from another arcade bar on the East Coast, Barcade, and I enjoy this one a lot more.
Cobra’s chill, friendly vibe welcomes everyone, and all the games are «free play» so no quarters required. Yep, unlimited play of your favorite games! I personally enjoy playing my own old school favorites like, Street Fighter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ms. Pacman, and Frogger.
A big tip is that happy hours are a steal. Our tab came out to $ 12 once for four drinks, and while there’s a more diverse beer and wine craft menu across the street, we always like stopping by here for some cheap drinks and fun nostalgic entertainment.

This place is cool. Retro cool, dude.
It’s a bar filled with arcade games from the 80’s and 90’s. I was very excited to relive my youth when I saw the Galaga machine and promptly got the high score! I was very proud of myself for a moment until the next guy tripled it!
It was freeplay night while I was there, so that was good.
No food. Good drinks.

Perfect bar addition to the neighborhood. As you stand, waiting to hand off your ID, take in an eyeful of Medusa, that stunner of an art piece painted by outstanding muralists El Mac and David Choe. It’s worth noting that the whole Nitty Gritty crew, along with tons of other great local street artists, brought their A-​game decorating the shit out of the walls and doors and bar and even some cabinets.
Sorry, but I love it. It had to be noted.
Tons of nostalgic video games for your gaming pleasure. There is a long table space that we saw used as a big birthday get together. There’s also a back room with some more high top tables and chairs. Out front there are tables similar to Crescent’s patio. It’s nice. I liked the bartenders here. One complimented my drawn-​on mustache even though I was telling him that I saw some girl puke into her pint glass. «If I have to hear bad news like that, at least I’m hearing it from a girl with facial hair.»
This would be a great spot for a playfully competitive date. But if you’re bar crawling, hit this place up early. Since they’re still new right now, they get slam packed later in the night.

I got here at 9pm on a Saturday night, and this place was packed. I waited about 20 minutes to get in, and then I appreciated the fact that they just don’t let everybody in at once. It was busy inside, but there was room to move — more so in the front room rather than the back in my opinion. There were plenty of arcade games, and as most have already mentioned, they were free (hopefully it stays that way)! It was cool because people were there just to have fun and relive some childhood memories. Also, the drinks are affordable! There’s a good variety of beer, and they have a full bar.
Some quick notes/​tips:
a. For the ladies, I don’t think there’s any preferential treatment. You’ll have to wait in line like the rest.
b. There was a food truck right outside of Cobra, and the bar doesn’t care if you bring the food in. However, don’t leave or you’ll have to wait back in line. I got the attention of the guy taking orders, and he happily walked over, took my order, completed my transaction, and handed me my food when it was done. Easy!
c. There are a men’s and women’s bathroom. When you initially walk down the hallway, it may look like they are individual ones — it’s not. My friend accidentally opened the first door, and it was a storage closet or something. Keep going toward the end.
=D

It’s a nice concept, even if it’s still a little rough around the edges. Hold my nostalgia goggles, I’m about to go in on this one.
Welcome to downtown’s first true ‘BarCade’! Where getting sloshed takes a bit of a backseat to getting down on groovy games with your friends. It has 40 games in total, mostly fighting and beat-em’-ups, but with a sports game or two as well. Dimly lit, it’s got a DJ spinning a balanced rap/​indie mix over a great sound system.
I can tell you guys know what’s up when it comes to game selection. My favorites include TMNT: Turtles in Time, The Simpsons, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter III Third Strike (RARE! Good job!), and NBA Jam, in which I will absolutely destroy any and all challengers reading this review. Good thing everyone is up for a round; the clientele is nothing short of stellar. Everyone is young and chill. I feel like nerd royalty.
So even though it’s small, I must say that as an arcade Cobra is definitely awesome for me. But on the bar side of things, there’s much to be desired. Traffic is a bit awkward at times. People were trying to dance, or just mingle in large groups, but the space between machines and the bar isn’t a dance floor, it’s a walkway! Bummer, but I can’t blame them for needing some type of space to get down, and they just might venture next door to get it.
Restrooms are awesome, don’t change them.
Seating is a giant pain and a huge fail. There are some stools in the corner, and there are *supposed* to be seats at the bar. But those were all dragged to the machines to use as stands for drinks. The makeshift stands intended for our use feel as though they could topple at any moment. So not only will you stand the entire time (I’m not gonna die or anything, just letting you know), you will be in constant fear of your drink getting knocked over. What, am I supposed to chug in between games?
Furthermore, your bar staff acts like a bunch of amateurs. Although the beer selection is decent and reasonably priced, I can count on one hand places I have had worse cocktails. You tried to be ambitious and trendy, and it hasn’t worked yet! My «Dirk the Daring» tasted like mostly vodka with a mild chili syrup. There was not any sort of juice, nor was there a garnish, so I’m not sure where or what the «citrus» was supposed to be. My friend’s «Crazy Kong» was more drinkable, but nearly indistinguishable from a whiskey-​ginger. Cool banana slice though.
Anyways, my drink was put on the incorrect tab. Your staff looked confused and ready to drop dead from exhaustion by a quarter to one. I struggle to recall seeing a team of bartenders look more stressed! Yes, yes, you are new and there are going to be kinks. These are more than kinks. Please fix them, because I want the moneymaker of your business to run smoothly, and for your facility to prosper.
Overall, I’m excited to bring many, many friends here. I can’t wait to drink, kick your ass in a few games, step outside for a food truck, then come back to drink and mingle and kick more ass. Despite its flaws, Cobra is hella fun, and that absolutely outweighs its growing pains.
GET IN.

Dude!!! Games are free, beer is cheap, dope people and awesome music; how much better could this place get? Definitely a gem in Phoenix.

Another great hangout that Downtown Phoenix probably didn’t even know it needed. Old school arcade games and booze? Sign me up. Truth be told, I’ve been to an arcade bar before. San Diego’s Coin-​Op Arcade Bar is setup fairly similar with the bar taking center stage and arcade games on the perimeter. Much like Coin-​Op, Cobra was packed when I came here (on a Tuesday night no less). To my great surprise, arcade play was free and drinks were discounted that Tuesday. My brother and I quickly headed for the nearest joystick. Tekken, Street Fighter, Frogger, NBA Jam, Donkey Kong, and on and on and on. I think I counted three dozen different arcade games inside. The bar area is an indoor/​outdoor setup. The beer selection is respectable, though perhaps they can expand it a bit in the future. As for the games, they’re apparently rotating new ones in and out all the time to see what folks love the most. And if you check in on Unilocal,you get 10 free game tokens (though as mentioned earlier games were free when we came on Tuesday). I envision many happy hours spent here with my crew, reliving my youth and dominating NBA Jam all over again. Welcome to the neighborhood, Cobra.

We checked out this place last weekend, it is pretty cool, nice selection of games and free play! I think the free play is only for the «Grand Opening» period as this place just opened week or so ago… there was a line to get in and it was busy inside however most people were courteous and we were able to play a good amount of the games. I was very happy to see this place is 21+ only… A couple of the games had some glitches while we played or they wouldn’t «start» but with the amount of people hammering on them all day it can be expected… the place is laid out fairly well however the there are a couple of bottlenecks around the bar/​arcade area, getting to the bathrooms is nice and easy… my two favorite games were listed on the website however they weren’t there, 720 and TRON… perhaps they will come later, all the other classics were there. I took off one star for the «patio» area, it is right up front of the place and seems pretty small. The other star was taken away because they had a «DJ» playing some shitty music, there were a couple of decent 80s songs mixed in but the rest of the music was garbage and way too loud (it would be nice to actually hear the games a little!)…I would rather they have a internet jukebox with tons of New Wave/​Goth/​Glam Metal available, now that is 80s arcade tunes! I would pay to listen to better music and ditch the DJ idea, this is an arcade bar not some dumb club with table service… all in all though we were pleased and will go back!

what isnt to love? the cocktails are great, the games are great, the overall vibe is great. what more could i want than to be sipping on a fruityass cocktail while i play frogger? literally nothing makes me happier in this world.

My friend and I went the second week they were open on a Monday around 4pm. We hoped they had food but don’t. They were very cool about people bringing in food & said on busy weekends they’ll have food trucks outside. We hoped to drink Fresh Squeezed but they were out. The waitress suggested half and half Not Your Dad’s Rootbeer and the Coffee Stout they had. We were intrigued, tried it, and we were hooked! We each had three of them over the course of the evening. We sat at the bar & chatted while watching Footloose & Gremlins on the TV screens, and we also played from «Free play» arcade games. (For now, free, but I’m sure they’ll charge sometime.). We had a great four hours here before we moved on to grab some dinner. I will be back soon.

I don’t know if they plan on doing this permanently, but when I went the games were free. And the beer is finely priced.
They have a lot of classic games here and… fuck all, it’s awesome. My girlfriend and I had a great time.
Best of all? 21 and over. No goddamned kids gunking shit up with dirty hands. I can drink a beer and play games in PEACE.

This place is a very good add-​on to your adventure in Phoenix night life. Even though it’s crowded, it’s really easy to play games and to collaborate with people to play those beat-​em-​up games. Surprisingly very easy to mingle with people just because you have an arcade game to talk about.
Beer selection is mediocre and the main problem I see so far is that it will be a hard stand-​alone institution. You can go there for a couple hours and then get bored and move on to the next place so they need to find something that can sustain-​ably hook in the crowd.

I went to this bar on it’s opening night. This place has a dark, kind of hipster vibe to it but the oldschool arcade theme makes this place really stand out and hit my nostalgia really hard.
I initially was going to give this bar 3 stars but it was opening night, so i figured I would give them a break on my little gripes with this place.
One of my slight issues with this place is that the way it’s designed makes it hard to navigate when there are large crowds. People form small mini group in front of games and the walkway just isn’t large enough to support 20 mini groups forming around the entire bar. The bar itself sits in the middle of the establishment while the 80 or so arcade games form a circle around the bar.
My other small issue is that the beerlist is pretty weak. With Angels Trumpet House and Filmbar so close, I think it would help them to step up their craft list just a bit. Next time I go i’ll probably try their mixed drinks to get a better opinion.
Anyway, despite my little gripes I truly enjoyed this bar. I gave it 4 stars because I think i’ll enjoy it more on a weekday when the crowd is down and I can go for the games.

AMAZING PLACE! My friend and I had just finished drinks at Milk bar and were walking back to our cars and we saw Cobra. And we were so excited that we decided it was worth one more drinks and it was more than worth it! We luckily went there on free play night which was even better and they have all the best throw back games. We got to play Mrs. Pac Man and Street fighter and it was fantastic! They had music going and everything and it was amazing. I will definitely be visiting again!

What a gift to us that live in Phoenix! I’m an 80s kid and super excited for this establishment. Thank you for bringing our childhood back with games we grew to love.
All the time and effort is shown when you walk into Cobra Arcade Bar! Come on! I mean you actually play with quarters! None of that swipe your card business.
Thank you for being 21+ and having an awesome bar! Oh, let’s not forget a live DJ spinning all the jams throughout the night. So get your game on and be a kid again while holding a drink of your choice! Cheers and game on!
Oh, and if you can get Marvel Vs Capcom 2 that would be a bonus!

Really enjoyed our time here! Awesome ambiance, feels like you’re at an arcade with drinks, not a bar with games. And the drinks are really tasty. I tried the 1up, the Princess Peach, and the Invader. My boyfriend had a Krazy Kong (which was a lot like an Irish Mule) and the Pinkie. All were unique and delicious, and we really enjoyed the game themed drink names. They have a great patio, and it looks like the front window can open up for indoor/​outdoor seating on nice days. The game selection is insane, seriously impressive, and all of the games we played work perfectly too. Tron, centipede, frogger, tapper, the simpsons, ninja turtles, x-​men, donkey kong and so so much more! It was pretty busy, especially for a Monday night, but the bartenders were attentive and took really good care of us. Definitely going back!

I’m in love. Great vibe — this is a place for all kinds — it’s dark, hipster vibe can be inviting to all: gamers, date nights, nostalgics, even a neighborhood hangout spot. Service was prompt and friendly despite a busy Saturday night. My Ryuken was delicious — tart and refreshing, handcrafted with care. So good I had 4
Bathrooms were clean, and patrons were respectful and cordial as you peruse, trying to find an open game that you find enjoyable. The only downside is the only munchies they have are slim Jims and cracker jacks (going for the nostalgia), because I do love an equal amount of food and beverage throughout an evening. But, I understand food is not a part of the concept, so it’s all good. The Paz truck was parked out in front, and they encourage you to bring your own grub if you’d like (awesome! And will do!). Plus there are great restaurant all within blocks away.
Learned that every Tuesday is free play… Uhm, yeah! I’ll be there!

I was at this place for the grand opening on 1÷8÷2016. It was great! We need more places like these. Super chill ambiance, great people, and music was on point the whole time I was there! Arcades were free the whole night so I got the chance to play different ones and relive my childhood memories! Everyone MUST check this place out!

Great first opening night with free to play games. We came before 6pm and enjoyed the DJ, bartenders and the clean bathrooms (rare to find.) Will be back for more games and to try out the rest of the specialty drinks!