I'd come here for the "specials"- FOR REAL. I came here some night last week, after I dropped my friend off at her boyfriends job to finish breaking up with him for cheating on her. It was like the perfect break up bar for her- cheap maker's mark drinks, dark interior, plenty of corners to go and cry in. My boyfriend and I were there for support, and ordered food because we were STARVING, and we ended up rolling out the door. I would seriously suggest only ordering one entree or app. for your party. The food was good, just way too fucking big. What happened to portion control? I can see this place getting crazy, dont know if it does though. read more

I always passed the place on my way to work and never thought it's such a nice place. It definitely has a character. And lots of it. If you are hungry - I really really recommend a double grilled cheese! amazing! If you want to add some crunchy protein to it - order it with bacon and tomatoes - you won't regret it. Real good selection of drinks. Wait staff is attentive and fast. I really liked the vibe and atmosphere. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to stay too long - but the place grabbed my attention, so I definitely want to be back and soon. Another plus- it is right by the CTA- so no hustle with catching a cab! read more

This place is pretty neat. I went to check out Clad in Darkness and In Case of Capture. Both really rocked the place. The first band they had there that day was pretty sucky. But overall, they've got great live music there, it's a metal-esque bar. There's actually 2 bars. One up front when you first walk in and the other in the back which is bigger, but open later at night. It's easy to find (on the corner) with a big cobra on the sign. $2.50 for PBR's. No cover. Strong beers available. read more

I have been going to the Cobra Lounge for the past three years and have nothing positive things to say about it. We have company happy hours and multiple staff get togethers there with excellent serve and great people working at the bar. The food is excellent and the beers on tap are local. The staff is attentive and knowledgable of beers and can help anyone find a drink that they would like. However, today was by the far the worst experience. Two new wait staff members working that would rather play with your cell phones rather than take your order. The one young lady forget that we ordered food and was checking twitter, instragram, etc. while your food waits on the bar getting cold. Until, a member of our group raised their hand like in grammar school and requested that she bring us our food. Moreover, at the end we had to wait for our bills and then she forgot to put the last round of drinks on our tab, again because she was occupied with her cell phone. I will give Cobra another try, however if this is the trend of the staff and service. I will quickly find another venue for my company to use. read more

Visit on a Wednesday afternoon for a few drinks. I'd noticed the place from Ashland station while attending Pitchfork music festival . Decided to pay a visit. Didn't have anything to eat, but the few beers we had were top drawer. Jenna was the server and she never failed. Introduced herself and was very knowledgeable about the beers. If you are an out of towner, like me, I come from Scotland, don't think this place is out of the way. It's a few stops on the pink/green line from the loop. And there's a beer garden. Again, Jenna. Brilliant service. read more

The fact that I have not written a review on cobra lounge/All Rise brewery yet only makes me wonder where my head has been. This place is truly underrated. I come to this bar/restaurant every chance I get. Not only is the food really good, the beers they have on tap and brew in house are enough to keep you coming back for more. The staff is friendly, helpful, and attentive. There is one beer in particular that keeps me coming back and that is the Three Orange Wit. Is a spin on the classic Chicago movie Blues Brothers where john candy orders "Three Orange Whips". The beer is very flavorful, not too hoppy and is decently priced. The there are two sides to this place. When you first walk un it is Cobra Lounge. They have their brewery which is Allrise Brewery that's attached to the bar. When you first walk in to the Cobra Lounge side it looks like an unwelcoming place where you definitely do not belong but trust me, it cannot go wrong stopping in here. I would highly recommend anyone stop by and giving this place a try. And on the chance that you do stop by you need to try the Three Orange Wit. read more

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I went here to see a burlesque show (and to take photographs of it). I was prepared for a hole in the wall, or something tragic (Ronnies obviously made me put my guard up for life) but alas I was mistaken! Thank god too, because Cobra Lounge is actually pretty cool inside. It's a lot larger than I thought it would be, and its actually CLEAN, which in bar speak is the holy grail. Bathrooms that lock and aren't dirty? Pinch me, I must be dreaming! read more

Great music, good vibes. Bartenders are pretty nice. I'd recommend it to anyone else who likes to get drunk to good music. Bathrooms are big! And clean too!. read more

I have never had a bad time here. That I can remember. Shit, I can never remember coming here and I go here weekly. WTF? read more

Loved this place! Although we were late for food, it looked delicious & smelled great. Everyone was beautifully dressed in leather & there was live music. I'll definitely be going back next time I'm in Chicago. read more

Cobra Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was here for the last Riotfest after party featuring Teenage Bottlerocket. The only sucky thing about the night was the $20 minimum on credit cards. That's what they told us, at least. Apparently they don't stick to it though because my closing tab was $18 and a friend's was $12. Had I known that, I might not have ordered $5 drinks all night (one didn't show up on my tab). The stage is a good size: high enough to keep musicians, monitors and mic stands from getting knocked over, but small enough that you are right there in the action. There are two bars, one longer one right inside of the main entrance, and one smaller one in the performance area. There are two entries, one by the stage and a main entry flanked by patios. I had a great time and it looked like it would be a fun bar whether there was a show going on or not. read more

Dropped by this past Saturday night to see my friends band Trainwreck Symphony play. I was kinda expecting this bar to be dive-y, but I was pleasantly surprised. Modern looking decor. Dark. Awesome art on the walls. Great Drink Specials. There are two rooms. One in front where the band was playing and just another bar area to just chill and have some drinks and eat. The Mac n Cheese was pretty good and I will definitely be back to try some of the other food on their menu. Pretty decent sized parking lot, but it's not hard to come across parking in that area. To sum it up....I enjoyed the Cobra Lounge and although Punk and Rock and Hipster is not really my scene I will definitely be back to hang out. read more

So my partner works around the corner from Cobra, and every Friday his coworkers come out for happy hour. Now one might not thing the eclectic music, dark environs and fairly amazing beer selection is what a group of teachers would enjoy - but thankfully they do! I wouldn't have reason to otherwise come out to Cobra if it weren't for these happy hours. I would've missed super sharp staff, awesome beers on tap selection (and for great prices), a really good kitchen, and ample whiskey/bourbon/liquor selection for those who value quality. I hear the nights with shows get hella packed, but seeing as they have a great large space with a stage and second bar its beckoning for me to come back for a live music night. Can't go wrong with the Cobra, ask a schoolteacher. read more

We ordered the panko chicken- Dry the ranch to go with it watery, Pulled pork sandwich dry with bits of dried up old meat. The grilled bbq chiken sandwich dry and with an awful hot bbq sauce on it. I called in the next day( as i don't live in the area) and told them about my poor experience. I get put on hold and then hung up on. Poor customer service and poor food. Will be avoiding at all costs!! A waste of $40 bucks!!! read more

Name-wise, its the Chicago equivalent to LA's Viper Room, but with a cooler logo. That said, its also the best bar/venue in the West Loop. Right off the Ashland Green line stop and steps away from Union Park and Bottom Lounge, the location is not too bad either. It's got a grungy bar, a motorcycle hanging on the wall, and a pinball machine in the corner. It would be your typical rock/punk bar, but there's also a big back room with a stage and a few tables. Mostly local acts roll through here, but its always a good time. Take note: Mondays are half-price burgers, and Thursdays have the best drink specials, $2 Buds and $3 Goose Island 312 read more

Started off rough when we were told the wait was 20 minutes and we ended up waiting an hour. Was even worse when we had to play hide and seek with our waiter the entire time for drinks......the guy never once approached us first. Will not be back read more

Always a great time with good food. Love the motorcycle and car events, music shows and friendly staff.

I was not impressed. I was hoping for something a little darker, a little scary, a little more than what I got. The place was dead and it was rather late on a Saturday night when I was there. The drinks where weak and the bartenders weren't all that friendly but that could be because they didn't like the idea of making me an amaretto sour. In the bathroom there are red lights above each of the stalls so you feel like a mcnugget while peeing. Not the most enjoyable bathroom I have ever been in. Then I couldn't get a cab when I wanted to leave. It was cold and rainy and there was no cab in sight. Was I in BFE? Seriously!? Oh well I found my cab and it quickly whisked me away to my comfy apartment where I made my self a super great amaretto sour. Just as Erika G. I make a mean amaretto sour! read more

This place was pretty Ok. We went on a Monday night (DON'T JUDGE ME) and it was pretty deserted. We were the only people in there. We brought our drinks outside and consumed them on their 'patio'. Several homeless people staggered by, yelled at us and leered at us before going on their way. It was kind of a strange experience. The drinks were decent and so were the prices. If I'm in the area again I will go back. read more

Any place that serves $5 Jack is a friend of mine. Dark, loud, rock bar, with the coolest smoking skeleton picture. Went on a Thurs, not crowded at all, we could get tables. Good times. read more

Came for a few drinks and apps with colleagues after work. We grabbed a table for 8 in the back room by the patio. I liked the red accent lighting and spacious wooden tables- it's a great spot for big groups! The All Rise Brewing Company is in house and the beers on tap are listed on the wall. Pours are $6-$7ish. I ordered the fizzy blonde ale, which was great! For appetizers, we ordered mac and cheese ($7- melty with a baked breadcrumbs on top- heaven!), red pepper and garlic hummus plate ($8- pita was good), and jalapeño and cheddar corn fritters ($8- awesome!). I had the shrimp tacos (3 for $12), which were grilled and spritzed with lime, but overpriced for the portion size. The service was good for drinks, as our waitress checked in regularly, but we continuously ran out of plates and silverware. The atmosphere was very chill for a Friday afternoon, with most people just hanging out and grabbing a bite to eat. Someone described this as a "biker bar", which seems accurate. Low volume rock and roll was playing during the dinner hours, but I imagine this place gets loud during Riot Fest and other underground shows. Check the website for the calendar of performances- tickets are as cheap as $5! read more

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The Cobra Lounge gets 5 stars from me, because they hosted a benefit for Pin Ups for Pitbulls. They were kind enough to donate their space and give the proceeds up for a good cause. The place itself really rocks as well. They are easily accessible by train, and have a parking area next door. The bartenders are friendly, they serve food, and the place is always pumping great music both live and in the jukebox. There is a really awesome vibe flowing through this place, and I'll definitely be back for more shows and events :) read more

Old stomping grounds looking pretty good these days. Interior is the same: dark, red & black. Bit of a biker bar, though the area isn't as gritty as I remember. I prefer the bar upfront when you first walk in. The back area, while much larger with a small stage, seems generic. They do serve Framboise (only raspberry tho). Oh Cobra, how far you've come in 4yrs. read more

I was relieved when I didn't have to pay to get in here. And they had live music. I have no idea how this place could be classified as a "punk bar". Some guy in a striped button and some khakis came up to me and said "cheers" and then winked. I felt violated. In my criteria, for it to be a punk bar at least 70% of the clientele should be wearing black pants that are older than me. Why? Because clothing, like fine wine, gets better with age. Oh, and the door guy was friendly. Anywhoo, I saw Semi Precious Weapons here and it was a great show. I'm not sure that this warrents three stars for the bar, but they booked them so I'm given em some credit. Bottom line: don't dilude youself into thinking you will have more street cred for going here, tell that khaki wearing asshole to buy you a drink if he wants to cheers you and get the f out of there when the band stops playing. read more

Great punk rock music selections from the dj! Beautiful decor! There's beautiful exposed brick throughout, dark wood bar and a nice mix of reds and blacks accents. Plus the restroom are not only very clean but huge. There's at least 6 stalls so there's no long lines like there are at other bars. Oh and there's ample parking very close to the bar. Amazing staff! You can't go wrong with either bartender in the front bar especially Cookie who sure knows how to make a stiff drink. :) read more

I saw the Luchagores play here with a local band, Ready the Destroyer. Like someone else mentioned, the sound here isn't fantastic. But really, its on par with most of the mid-range venues around Chicago. Plus, it has a nice set up where, if you are in the front, you can be hella close to the band. I like that intimate feel. Of course...the rooms was only half filled when I was there so that probably helped. Probably the best thing about Cobra Lounge though is the woman's bathroom. I loved it! So adorable! It is painted bright pink and has stark white fixtures. Its very story book or fairy tale or princessy. In contract to the somewhat seedy room, it was such a fun surprise. Decent specials. Decent place. Crap location (unless you happen to live near there. In which, it is still sort of a crap location, but at least it is convenient). read more

I went to this place after a wedding on a Saturday and it wasn't too packed at all which was good. The jukebox here is AWESOME!! Ton's of Punk/Ska tunes that I grew up on. I was a bit intoxicated when I originally got here, so I don't remember too much about the place except that it was pretty clean looking and had good tune-age playing. I would return if it was closer to me....it's a bit out of the way. read more

I like this place. It's a fun bar...but i could see how it could be a little intimating to to the non-punk type. I mean...you don't want to show in khaki's and a polo here. Sometimes (well always) the music is a little to loud for conversation which can be kind of annoying but it a cool crowd. I've come here a little to late in the evening on a friday night and just belly'ed up with the bartender. They have some great selections of beer and some good prices. I've also had the food there and I thought it was pretty tasty. Somehow we ended up here after a windy city rollers event and the place was mooobbbed. it seems like those girls could be crazy and mean but they were all nice and fun to party with. During the week is way less crowded. read more

My friend works across the street and I joined him for lunch on a hot and steamy triple digit day. Thank goodness the blinds were drawn and it was dark and cool inside! Great server, ginormous salads with lots of protein, great beer selection. We chowed on BBQ wings, tots, and two salads (cobb and chicken/mushroom). Great choice for lunch and a welcome respite from the heat and light. read more

Went for lunch, so this is not considering any special events or this space as a venue. The food was disappointing, everyone agreed. Exceptions were Mac and cheese and elote. But the sandwiches (burger, pulled pork, Cuban) and the panko chicken all really left a lot to be desired. Service was a bit slow for lunch too. read more

I was here to see my friend's band (Loaded) perform on a Thursday. The bar itself is pretty decent, cool decor; very rock-n-roll-ish. The roller derby has their after parties here, that should give you an insight onto what type of place this is. It was really loud, and the sound overall sucked, in my opinion. I loved seeing my friend's band, and I thought they were good (of course, I'm biased because i like my friend), but I would have LOVED to have seen them in a place with much better sound quality. The FOOD at this place, however, is insanely good. I'd go back to pick up a to-go order, is what this comes down to. 3 stars, here's why: -Suckwad sound -Decent drinks, but not spectactular -Moody blonde haired guy with goatee bartender (whatever buddy, there goes your tip). -Overall nice dark haired chick bartender (makes the aforementioned decent, yet not spectacular drinks) -Cool bathroom (vintage-y) -SINGLE bathrooms (1 guys, 1 girls). I hate lines. -INSANELY good food. read more

Upon reading some of the reviews below, I felt compelled to write one of my own. Food's great. Nobody's arguing there. I can certainly understand the intimidation factor here: it's loud, dark, everyone's tall, there's a motorcycle bolted to the wall, but get to know your bartenders and they will treat you well. If you think you've been mistreated, ignored or otherwise by their staff, you're at the wrong bar. I was very surprised to read so many criticisms of the stage sound during live band sets. I've had the opportunity to see bands I love and/or see bands for the first time for whom I became an instant fan. It's loud, yes, but it's crisp and potent. All of their shows are free. If the levels happen to be off one night, who cares? I've heard poorer mixes at much larger venues with a high cover (and on a consistent basis). Ever been to The Riviera, Congress or The Aragon? Ugh. I have and will recommend this bar to anyone who asks. read more

This place is a little piece of awesome. I'm amazed I don't come here more often, as I'm a big fan of metal/punk bars. The atmosphere is great, albeit a little cleaner and less gritty than what I'd normally expect from a rocker bar. The whole bar is dimly lit with red lighting, the walls are exposed brick, and there's a Harley on the wall. The fact that it is closer to us, and has a better beer selection than some of our old North side haunts make this place an easy choice. It's easily accessible via the Green line, Pink Line, or Ashland bus and there's a good deal of parking in the lot next to the bar. They feature a solid beer menu including Stone's Arrogant Bastard, 90 Min Dogfish Head, Lion's Imperial Stout and much more. They have fantastic bar food to boot. I'm a fan of the Cobra burger and their jalapeno corn fritters are also worth giving a try. Cobra has a jukebox although I'm not terribly familiar with the selection, and they have free live shows playing at the stage in the back on the weekend. We're definitely going to have to make a point to go see some shows over the summer. Now that they have $3.50 Arrogant Bastards on Monday I think they'll be seeing a lot more of me. read more

Cobra serves the best bar food to be found, well pretty much anywhere; actually, their food is much better than that of many establishments touting the label "gastropub", though it will never be mistaken as "haute cuisine." Mondays are the day to experience what I've dubbed "the Meal Deal of the City", 1/2 price burgers. That's under $5 for a huge (1/2 or 1/3 lb?) burger, shaped and cooked properly, (getting a burger cooked properly in a restaurant can be a challenge) including your choice of cheese and a big pile of the side of your choice: fries, tots, or sweet potato fries, and they're all surprisingly good. They really know how to deep-fry stuff here. They also make a veggie or turkey burger, though I'm not sure if they are available for the Monday special. The rest of the menu is equally well executed; good Mac'n'Cheese is actually really hard to find in this city, but Cobra makes one of the best versions that I've had. The smoked wings are big and smoky, but even if you get them Buffalo style, they're not really Buffalo style, more like simple BBQ, or maybe Jerk flavor. They used to have a spice level that walked the line between pain and pleasure, (for me), but they've since toned down the endorphin kick. Food and drink specials are offered Mon-Fri, and they are always a good deal. The beer selection is standard enough for the "shabby-chic" PBR drinkers, with a fair selection of microbrews, enough to insure that beer geeks won't go thirsty. There will usually be a Lagunitas, a Bell's, and a 3 Floyd's on tap, plus a few more non-standards. The staff is generally well inked and studded, but they're not frightening enough to prevent the occasional group of middle-aged 9-5'ers from enjoying the Monday special after work. As for weekends and nights, the tone is set by the jukebox loaded with Metal and Hardcore Punk. I prefer weekdays, when I can enjoy my food in relative comfort. BTW, the decor is kind of 70's but a bit wicked. The prices are good, the staff friendly, (I've had many shots of Irish whiskey with the staff), and the space clean. Though it's not really an out of the way location or particularly hidden, I'd call Cobra Lounge a "partly obscured semi-precious gem" for the great value and lack of hype. read more

Love this place! Live music venue with a dark edge, staff is friendly and good drink selection. Whenever I'm in the Chicago area I definitely have a new place to go! Highly recommend this place to any of my friends hands down. read more

Cobra Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would not recommend this location to see a show. A group of us had tickets to see a show here through event bright. This was a all ages show. When we arrived the bouncer was checking our IDs. One of the people in our group that was 30 years old ID was expired. We tried to reason with the bouncer explaining that they would not order alcohol that we were just here for the show. The bouncer refused to let us in and was super rude. I tired to call event bright for a refund because we were refused at the door and they would not refund the tickets. I also called Cobra Lounge and left a voicemail to the managers office 3 times and no call back. I understand why we were not let in but I think it is super unprofessional to not call a customer back. Will not return and will never recommend anyone to come here. read more

The service here is great, as is the food and drinks. I love that you can sit right next to the small brewery area. The patio is gorgeous and offers umbrellas to get a little shade. read more

This bar is good for a few reason: close to the el, street parking, shiny, lots of places to sit, food, good music. I went there for my birthday and the bartender let us have use of the entire stage area and held my birthday cupcakes in the kitchen. I just called a couple weeks beforehand to ask if there was a concert and inform the manager about my party and he was very nice. I don't like that the DJ booth has a chain up and is inaccessible. Good thing I yell loud enough that the DJ heard me and played my song. read more

I've been to Cobra countless times, and I generally leave with a sortof "blah" aftertaste... leaving me wishing that we went somewhere else. The beer selection is good enough for me (not too picky). I don't care about the "punk bar" aesthetic or anything that some people have issues with it being (or not being) up to par. I've had some specific issues with the place and a few of the workers/DJs not being extremely cooperative... but hopefully these are isolated incidents so I will leave those out for the time being. For what it is, it's alright and I have no problems going there, given the right crowd. read more

Not what I expected at all. Overall this place wasn't nearly as rock or metal as I had expected. A Little Tip: Where black...if it's dead, like on the night I went, the bartenders might not want to serve you. I think they like to pretend the place isn't trendy! Bathrooms are nice though, which I like a lot. read more