Brian F.
Yelp
Coming from Boston, I've seen my share of "dive bars." Some authentic gems, others just a bunch of hipster college students and washed up dudes trying to impress them.
The Cobra is the real deal. It's gritty, it's gross, and it's full of smoke, but that really is part of the charm. Especially with a group of friends, the pinball machines, dart boards, and pool tables make it a place you really can hang out and chill for a while.
Most importantly, as an LGBT person, I really look for diversity in order to feel comfortable in a bar space. The crowd felt authentically alternative, and I observed a relatively good amount of POC and queer people, when we know this is often an issue when one enters a bar. That does not go unnoticed for me, as someone who has not always felt welcome among certain bars. Although I recognize that everyone's individual experience may be different, I definitely wanted to write the review in hopes of helping others finding the bar.