Kobalt
Dancing · Karaoke · Phoenix, AZ
About
If you want a gay-owned bar where karaoke and dancing mix with a casual neighborhood feel, this is your spot. Tucked inside Park Central Mall, Kobalt has been a local staple since 2006. The crowd is mixed gay-straight, with karaoke five nights a week on a modern sound system. Drag shows, theme nights, and events keep the calendar full, and the outdoor patio offers a quieter escape.
Weekend happy hours draw a packed house, especially Fridays. Drinks and draft beer selections focus on local producers. The staff knows regulars but visiting takes patience on busy nights. Free secure parking and light rail access make getting here easy. Check the website for daily themes before you go.
Located in Central Phoenix inside Park Central Mall, Kobalt is convenient to light rail stations and offers free secure parking.
Features
- ✓Karaoke five nights a week with updated song library
- ✓Outdoor patio for escaping the crowd
- ✓Craft cocktails and local draft beer
- ✓Free secure parking near light rail stations
- ✓Daily drink specials and rotating theme nights
Good for
Practical
Best nights: Mon, Fri, Sat
What people say
Rated from 159 reviews. 139 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
This is definitely not a gay bar. My partner and I went on a Saturday night and about 80% of the crowd were loud straight women hogging the karaoke machine. The bartenders were decent but slow, and it's hard to enjoy a drink when a drunk off-key girl is belting out pop songs. They even pump the karaoke sound to the patio, so you can't escape it. Another gay bar ruined by bachelorette parties.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“Typical”
It's like any midtown big city bar, with glitz, lots of fancy bottles, flat screen TVs, and an outdoor patio. Despite the glowing online reviews, the bartenders only pay attention to the local regulars and off-duty coworkers. If you're visiting and expect to be treated like a friend, you'll be disappointed. On the plus side, drinks are cheap for the location.
A guest · Over a year ago
“friendly but small”
There's one bar, one patio, and a small dance floor nobody uses. But the drinks are strong and very cheap, which I loved. However, I do like to dance, and they were lacking in that department.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“Not good any more”
I used to like this place and brought many friends during its first year. It's not as friendly as it once was. The crowd is nasty and has attitude.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
“Could be an ok starter bar”
I heard this was a good happy hour spot, but during Pride weekend it wasn't happy. It was very crowded, which I don't mind, but it took 25 minutes to get one drink in a small plastic cup. The bar isn't huge, and I've been to many packed clubs. It just seemed like the staff isn't used to that level of busyness. It was a big turnoff. The bar itself is cute with a nice patio. Note that it's in the back of a small mall if you're coming from Central. I'd have to try it on a regular weekend to see if it was a fluke. But knowing it was Pride, they could have been better prepared.
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kobalt have karaoke every night? +
Karaoke runs five nights a week. Check their website for the exact schedule.
Does Kobalt have outdoor seating? +
Yes, they have an outdoor patio confirmed by Yelp.
Is Kobalt strictly a gay bar? +
The crowd is mixed gay-straight. Some reviewers note a significant straight presence on certain nights, especially for karaoke.
What are the best nights to visit? +
Yelp data points to Monday, Friday, and Saturday as busiest. Fridays are known as a Happy Hour Hotspot.
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