The Cobra

What to Expect

Punk flyers and pinball machines share wall space at The Cobra, a Gallatin Ave dive bar that's louder than most of East Nashville's other rooms. It opened in 2016, though the building itself goes back much further to the 1950s, when it operated as a bar and pool hall for decades. Today, the space splits into three separate areas. Up front, the main bar holds about 75 people and hosts free shows with no advance tickets required. The back venue room holds 200 people and is where most ticketed touring shows happen. A back patio overlooking the courtyard adds a third stage with room for another 200. The game room has pool, darts, foosball, plus a rotating pinball and arcade collection. A dedicated collector maintains the machines, swapping pieces in and out weekly. The kitchen runs a light, Mexican-focused menu. Punk and metal shows dominate most weeks, hardcore is a close second, and indie or rock nights fill in the rest of the calendar. An open mic runs in the front room on select nights. The bar is open daily from 3pm to 3am, with happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 7pm.