(3 1/2 stars.) As previous posters have stated, Kobalt smells like a movie theater. The smell of popcorn is the first thing I noticed when I walked in the door. There are cute little bowls every few feet on the bar as well. You REALLY want me to have some popcorn with my gin and tonic, don't you, Kobalt? Well, alright. Don't mind if I do. This place is alright. It's near the light rail, although it's still really hard to find if you're not sure where you're going. You'll have to walk across a parking lot and into a office (I think?) plaza to get to the bar. But hey, think of it as an adventure. The ambiance of the place is kind of goofy, in my opinion. Lots of neon blue lighting against steel surfacing. This mixed with the delectable aroma of Orville Redenbacher's Butter Lovers was sort of an odd overall vibe. But hey, I'm not complaining. The drinks were good, service was good, and the crowd was good. I may not go out of my way to hang out at Kobalt but I'd certainly go back if presented the opportunity. read more

I hate how ironic it is that traveling in Phoenix and going to a gay bar makes me feel even more like a solitary traveler. Just like my other experiences at some of the gay bars in Phoenix, I was the only Asian guy in the joint and received some really bewildered stares from people, which made me feel like an outsider in my own community. Boo to you! read more

Kelly and yoyo were absolutely amazing. Making me feel included and also being extremely punctual with their offers and services. Great drag shows, cheap drinks, and great service. Drag shows multiple nights and good deals. read more

This is the type of bar you hit first on the bar crawl nights. It's fun, the bartenders are super friendly and attentive, and the crowd is a big mish-mash of young, old, ethnicities, skinny, fat, skinny fat and what not. It almost feels like an intimate neighborhood bar at times. However, it seems each time I've gone in on the weekends, the place clears out around 10-1030 when everyone heads to a dance club. Still it's fun, especially Thursdays when they have a trivia night. I miss my old team, Anal Beads & Things. Plus, it's right off the light rail between the stops for Osborne and Thomas, so you can ride there, go home, or ride to one of the bars on the light rail path! read more

I'm giving this place the benefit of the doubt by giving it 3 stars. We stopped in on the Saturday of PHX Pride weekend. There was about 20 people total here. While it was a chill place to chat with friends. I was surprised more people weren't here avoiding the crowds at popular stops like Amsterdam or Charlie's, especially on Pride weekend just blocks from hotels sponsoring the weekend. I wasn't drinking but my friends raved that they poured a strong cocktail. read more

I have wondered into the Kobalt bar a handful over times, usually around 1a.m. after work or with some friends after they get off work. The atmosphere is pretty cool, nothing too exciting, the patio furniture could use a face lift, their drink prices are very attractive, and the bathrooms are clean. Every time we stop by the place looks closed. The patio twinkle lights are either burned out or turned off, if you just drove by you would think they were closed, until you hear the laughs and cackles coming from the bar. It is nice to see another bar like the one I work at that is tucked in the back and you wouldn't know it was there unless you knew it was there. Also, it is nice it being a mostly guy bar, that a straight couple can wonder in and not feel uncomfortable. Kobalt is 50/50 for me, 50% good and enjoyable and 50% needs some work. We have always had a good time here though. I think I remember doing karaoke here one night, I was a little more than buzzed at the time so its a little fuzzy. Check them out, I am sure you will have fun too. read more

I found myself at Kobalt this past Wednesday evening. I have been finding myself at gay bars frequently, which I am sure can be attributed to my recent move to Central Phoenix. Kobalt seemed like a smaller version of Apollo's to me. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the smell of popcorn. I understand that popcorn is bar food, but it seems strange to me all the same. I'm not a fan of the smell of musty popcorn. We easily grabbed some seats at the bar as it was a quiet Wednesday evening and I ordered up some really strong martini at the rate of $5. The bartender was wearing speedos and left me the shaker filled with booze. I also was happy to see that they have Photo Hunt! We spent a good amount of time playing Photo Hunt, which was, of course, heavenly to me. Kobalt has cheap drinks, Photo Hunt and is in Cen Pho- if you like any of these things, you should check it out. read more

Although this place can be crowded, the bartenders are always very quick and good. Everyone makes you feel at home here and I've never encountered any bad attitude. It's in a weird place -- behind a strip mall, but it's right in the heart of things and so easy to get to. When I go there, I invariably see someone I know.. It's a great combo between a neighborhood bar and a place to go in the evening before or after dinner. Happy hour is always hopping, especially on Fridays. read more

Eh. The drinks are ok and the staff is a little aloof. The place seems best as a pre-party destination. When it's a little dead it's nice. We made the mistake of going during some contest and some douche was standing by the door grabbing everyone's ass as they walked by. Klassy. read more

This was my husband and my first time at Kobalt and we were just in town looking for karaoke. Well Friday night, this is the place to be. They use KaraFun only songs for karaoke so that's a small minus but it doesn't detract from the 5 stars we are giving it here. Kat, their bartender, is incredible, and man can she pour-- and sing too! Their drink prices are reasonable, with a late happy hour, might've been cos it was New Year's Day though, not sure. But either way, of we find ourselves in Phoenix again we are certainly coming back. This bar has character and is classy too. Also they have a decently good craft beer selection, including Not Your Father's Rootbeer at the time. We are certainly fans. Kudos to you, Kobalt, great job all night long keeping us entertained! read more

This is my new favorite Thursday night place! Bar tenders are super nice, and the environment is friendly and inviting. You can meet all sorts of different types of people! Funny how trivia tends to bring people together! Love the place! Keep up the good work! read more

Nice little place. The staff is VERY friendly and helpful. Prices are great however this crowd is a older crowd. Not a biggie for me since I'm female and Hetero, however my gay traveling companion mentioned it. But he himself like the people as well. Not that busy for a Saturday night. However I am from CA and our bars are always packed. Phoenix appears to be a sleepy town. :( One note to those who have not been there before its located in the middle of a strip mall on the other side of a parking garage. It was a little difficult for us to find. However we where slightly drunk and on foot. read more

I can not even begin to tell you how awesome this bar is. From Aaron the bouncer to Micheal the DJ and all wait staff you all were amazing and so nice! I had my friends bachelorette party there last night and all had an amazing time!!! The energy and vibe was so fun and happy! Thank you ! I will be back!!! read more

Ah this place is sooo fun! Great lively atmosphere. Their customer services are great and so are the performers.

Best Karaoke ever!!! Great host long rotations but not the hosts fault. If you can't wait your turn to sing a song go somewhere where there's no one enjoying themselves. It's literally so busy on Friday and Saturday nights and rotations can be extremely long but worth the wait if you're a patient person. Good service good host good atmosphere!! read more

This place is great if you have friends who want to go or if you're ready to drunk Friday night. The bartendress Gina (sp?) makes great Poach Long Islands. 3 of those and you'll be happier than the hour! ;) Only downside: it's a bit small and loud for my usual Friday night drink. read more

So first time here in 13yrs and new location, but was wondering why there is karaoke on Friday and no dance floor, great patio though!!

Awesome setup in a really unique location but we went for karaoke and it was the worst run karaoke we've ever tried. Two hours of waiting after 12 probably because the kj didn't like the song. He was unfriendly and unaccommodating. The bar staff was wonderful and we would have had a good time but we couldn't get past the awful host. I wish I could separate the bar from the karaoke because the rating would be different and complimentary; but alas, no amount of good service could make up for him. read more

Power Hour changed from $1 drinks to buy one get one... When did that happen? Guess I stopped going there for about 2 months and things changed... Arturo and Travis were my favorite bartenders and now I seem to keep missing them... are they even still there? Happy hour is usually slammed and after you can hear crickets! I left and came back and it was night and day... So weird. Gone in during a show tunes night during a bar crawl and yeahhhh... Maybe a dozen ppl, maybe. Had a drink and left . Not a fan of show tunes but it was great for a laugh! Cheepest Jack & Coke between Bar 1 and Stacey's... Oh and Thank You for the popcorn!! Love! read more

I enjoy karaoke at this bar but they really need to update their website because so much of the information is outdated. If your website says karaoke starts at 8, you should be able to adhere to that. DJ says it will start at 9, which is not happening beginning at 9. read more

Friday Hot Spot I think the crowd during Friday Happy Hour is nice and talkative. Come out and get to know Gay Men in PHX If anything, you can enjoy the little one that runs around taking your drink orders. Gina & Andy are great at remembering your drink order also. read more

I dont know what it is about this place, but I always seem to have a good time. I like the way its set up. Their prices are reasonable. The staff is friendly. The people who go here are nice. FYI: They have 2 dart boards if you are in to that. read more

I love this place, every time I have a lay over in Phoenix I leave the airport to go here. Great drinks, great people, and also a good time. read more

Kobalt - Great people. - Karaoke Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Came here for Drag Bingo on a Monday and it was a blast. My husband and I were celebrating our one year anniversary with friends and they brought us here. The drinks were cheap, the entertainment was great, and the prizes were hilarious. Who knew Bingo could be so fun?! Thank you Olivia Gardens for the free shots and for a fun night out in Phoenix. read more

New to town, my daughter and I decided to check out Drag Queen Bingo. What a hoot! Olivia Gardens sure knows how to make Bingo a party.

Drinks are good and cheap but thats about the only good thing I can say about the place. The layout is awkward, and it feels really cramped, which doesn't really matter I guess because I have never seen it crowded. This is a good place to go and chill out with friends but definitely not the place to stay and party all night. Oh another good thing about it is it's really clean. read more

We've visited several times over the years and thought I'd write a review. First, I agree with others about bartender Kat. She's a creepy winker. When we walk in (my husband and I, gay men), she winks in an unsettling manner. She always smiling, but smug, not friendly, and offers a stingy pour. Now it appears that they're either no longer carrying my spirit or have been negligent in stocking it for over a month now. I only go to this place cuz my husband has some longtime friends we occasionally see there. read more

This is a really fun bar. We enjoyed a quick drink here and thought it was a good time, with a little Kareoke and some good company. I recommend this. My only concern is that it's a tad hard to find! I appreciate that they have good signs and if you park in the back of the plaza you can quickly walk in from your car. read more

We came here on Friday night for a friend who was celebrating her birthday and raising money for a great cause. Drinks were great and the entertainment was awesome. Everyone had a great time and they had karaoke after the drag show. read more

Travis was very rude. Told me I could not order an extra shot due to me looking like a young lady. Refused to offer me a shot to add to my drink that I paid a ridiculous amount for that tasted like a virgin. Not returning. I'm 23. Please don't treat me like a child. read more

I had gone to Kobalt to watch the 2020 Democratic Debate. When the first break for intermission came about, I went up to the bar to get a drink. Not a single one of the bartenders (there were at least four) addressed me. I tried a second time and still nobody turned to serve me- all I needed was a glass of water. This was so infuriating, that I left. The bartenders are absolutely rude. read more

OK so the bf is a few years younger than I. Just a tad. OK. So, he's 17 years younger. Oh my god! I'm like, a gay male cougar. I'm a manther! Anyway. I digress. A bunch of his same aged buddies wanted to meet at Kobalt. Rickie and I arrived first and discovered a bright, well kept, no dartboards kinda bar. No smell of stale beer. No problem finding a parking spot. It was actually. Civilized. And it's a gay bar in Phoenix? Wow! After having a few rounds of drinks and perhaps forgetting that I was the elder of the group, one of them exclaims...."Yea. This place is pretty cool. Too bad there's so many guys over 40 here." Wow. I was one of those guys. But, hey! What? just because some of the hair on my head has made its way into my ear canal and lower back. And just because I know Harvey Milk was a slain gay rights activist and not a type of dairy beverage. I can't have a place with a piano, a granite bar and a barstaff that truly knows how to make a Gibson. Thanks Kobalt. I'm blue no longer. read more

I had a great time there. Walking into the smell of popcorn is orgasmic. That... was... amazing. We went last night and I guess the "Brides of March" bar crawl had started there earlier. The bartender was attentive and knew his stock like the back of his hand. He gave service with a smile which is unprecedented in the Phoenix bar scene. We went with a same sex couple but it was obvious there were some glares towards us "breeders". No problem, I am not into screwing up safe places for others to drink. We stayed for a beer and then went on our way. I would have no problem going back, but don't want to mess up the ratio, if you know what I mean. read more

After posting my billing experience at Kobalt. One dAy later my bank indicated a revised debit occurred. I need to make the Public aware this occurred. read more

Waited 2 hours to sing. Never got called! Could it be the Latino names? Yet Tyler and Miles got called like 2-3 times. Just saying... :(

This bar is pretty fun and more laid back than some others in the Valley. It's a little hard to find, tucked behind some restaurants in Park Central Mall. All in all it's a little small, but it's cozy. They have a nice shaded patio with ample seating, so smokers can take their drinks outside. They do serve free popcorn as so many others have noted. Personally, I think it's a great place to go for lazy day drinking on a Saturday afternoon. It's populated, but not packed during the day. All in all it's clean, light rail accessible, laid back and has nice decor. The drinks aren't overly priced and they offer entertainment on some nights. read more

I attended Monday night drag bingo and had A BLAST!!! Best bingo I've ever been to in my LIFE!!!! Bartender was such a sweetheart and had amazing service. Thank you Kobalt, for making me feel like a QUEEN on my birthday. I'm telling all my friends and I will be back. *****5 STARS across the BOARD! BRAVO!!! read more

I came here as a straight female because Karaoke. NB that I am very comfy with gay folks, so being the only seemingly straight person and one of only a few women didn't bug me. Good KJ, great song list especially some songs in Spanish I have seen nowhere else. Decent beer selection and prices. Friendly enough crowd and bar staff, I do understand that when at a gay bar I am a guest and behave appropriately. It is tricky to find, so I took a Lyft there, but on the way back I scored a GRID bike nearby and had a lovely bike ride downtown. read more

I have sucha great time when I go to Kobalt. It must be something they put in the drinks or maybe it's the 9th drink or maybe it's the good company. This gay bar is my kind of gay bar. I sang karaoke here once and once only-- it seemed I was surrounded by "die hards"-- well I sang the Locomotion and I really thought I was Kylie Minogue but I was more like 8 year old Miley Cyrus singing my little heart out. I think they faded the song about 1/2 way thru to get me to give up the mic. My friend lured me away with a fresh drink. This place is fun, easy going and the patio is big and welcoming. I'll be back for sure! read more

Not the first time this has happened. They did it again. I opened a tab and left the bartender a $6 dollar tip on the credit card slip. When I checked my credit card statement the bartender added an extra $6 dollars to the tip amount for a total of $12. My suggestion pay cash. read more