Mongoose Versus Cobra

What an adorable bar downtown Houston! Mongoose Versus Cobra is an embodiment of what modern drinks must taste and the service must be! Great place to hang out with your friends, because it has a few board games, comfortable seating and delicious drinks. Highly recommend!

Great craft cocktail bar tucked into a nice little corner of midtown. Oh, how I miss midtown.
HH is from 4 – 7. Friday’s special was a build-​your-​own-​mule type thing, but why mess with a favorite? Got a regular Moscow mule which was the perfect amount of spicy.
Friend got an amaretto sour, which we poked fun at, but it ended up being delicious. Apparently it took them 2 years to perfect it.
I’d come back. Good scene.

Cute bar in downtown. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to try it out. Good drinks and great service. Awesome place to just hang out and chit chat. They have some board games if you have an itch for some competition. I liked how they have their own parking lot so I’m not hunting for a spot on the street. Definitely will come back.

This place is cool to go to with friends!

It’s been a while since I made my way back to Mongoose Versus Cobra and it was nice to be back. I stopped by for a drink before a night of clubbing at Cle. The exterior is pretty cool with green moss covering the building. The interior reminds me of Hay Merchant with a focus on beers, we’re talking an extensive list folks. They also have aspect of Anvil with the craft cocktails. My personal favorite is the pomegranate gin and tonic. They make the unique tonic water in house and your beverage is served in a unique way. You receive a glass of gin and the tonic water in a medicine bottle which you then pour in your glass yourself. Pretty cool! Not only a cool concept but delicious.
A lot of Unilocalers recommend the giant pretzel and words on the street is it might be the best soft pretzel in town. I haven’t tried it but it’s definitely on the bucket list. If you get the munchies, do it.

This place is the perfect place to celebrate turning 29^th birthday if you enjoy alcohol for these 3 reasons:
1. They provide an impressive array of craft beers from all around, and list the brewery, the beer in question, the alcohol percentage, and the price all on a cool chalkboard
2. This space/​atmosphere is contemporary/​hip without being too hipster. Well okay it’s hipster, but more of the intellectual hipster whose funny and well-​read versus the snooty yet dirty looking hipster
3. They also make pretty dang-​nice cocktails
So maybe it’s like this… craft beer versus cocktail is the mongoose versus cobra, pick your poison, eh eh?
Oh and on Tuesdays they have «TED talk”-esque nights where different experts talk about their subject from 6 pm to 8 pm. Very cool, but makes sitting inside and chatting difficult/​a no-​no.

Great drinks and friendly bartenders. It’s a cute spot for hh. Parking is terrible and the food selection is limited though…

Awesome spot. An upscale bar with a beer garden feel… AND they make their own tonic! The bartenders are great and if you don’t like your drink, there’s a no-​fuss attitude about making you another one!
Good crowd, not rowdy, normal prices.

So far so great! Had the Moscow Mule, super refreshing and spicy! The pub is stunning and spanking new! Official opening day is NOW! Come see and attempt the 41 craft beers on tap along with the cocktails served in classic glassware! A must try! Schafer as well as the bar staff are awesome people!

After leaving this place tonight I was super stoked to give it a review. I got there early being that it was Final Four weekend and luckily found parking right down the block. I remember this place because it doesn’t have a big sign out front and it’s right across fro Leon’s Lounge.
This is a great spot to socialize and meet new people that are into cocktails and brews alike. I walk in and immediately notice the wall of listed brews. They have something for everyone and if you don’t fancy beer, then they have plenty of stuff they can make for you at the bar.
Speaking of the bar, I highly recommend taking a seat at the bar during their busier times. It’s a great opportunity to watch their bartenders work their magic! For instance I had no idea that they made their own «sours» and «tonics.» I saw a girl order an amaretto sour and the bartender made it with fresh egg white with a lemon peel garnish. It looked like a white russian martini but she loved it.
They carry all the local favorites when it comes to beer. Karbach, Buffalo Bayou, Saint Arnold and plenty of other breweries from outside the states. I almost skipped the beer and thought of trying scotch or cognac to sip on but I figured it best to start off easy since the night was young.
Be sure to ask the bar staff about upcoming events and when new barrels are coming in. The place is always jumping with something new and it’s a great spot to meet folks who are really into tasty beverages.
Oh and I love that there are no TV’s there (at least from what I could see). Just good conversation and company over drinks. I love it.

What’s not to like?! We came on a Saturday and it was chill/​laidback. Tables were available, but with Easter that could’ve been the reason why. Crowd was friendly. some tables are community style with benches so sharing is caring! :) .The stairs leads to two tables and the drinks are decent. Gin and tonic tonight was with pomegranate. Cute delivery.

Drink quality is great. 8 out of the 10 bartenders are awesome. Conversation is good; but when lines wrap around the inside and your patrons have to wait; you shouldn’t be engaged in deep philosophical conversations about the societal benefits of beards, typewriters, and left wing rhetoric.
3 of 5, down from 5 of 5. You used to bring a glimmer of hope to the downtown revitalization; but you’ve been washed in the sins of putting everything else past the customer. My review isn’t from a one-​time visit; i’ve been several times within the past three months. Sad to report this… i’m really not a negative and shrill type of person; I promise.

Good beers, nice selection. I tried #2 and #3 recommended by the bartender as no-​hops brews and started with a pint of #2…
Criticism: Need more fun-​loving staff that care about customers being happy too. The bar tender, She’s a salty one! My partner warned me that she is kind of rude when I joined him at the table but I had already had a taste when ordering. Her general disdain for customers isnt subtle. She came out with Connect4 and was playing on the bar in front of customers cheering her on, and she became very happy but her sour mood kept us from ordering another round.
My partner is an designer and he enjoyed the use of steel complements to the concrete. We would have liked to explore the menu and enjoy the place but maybe our next trip will be better.

Enjoy the beer selection that they have here. Wide range of local and craft brews from around the U. S

Tried this place out while turning up on a Tuesday evening (and, yes, listening to Drake). Had heard so much about it and was not disappointed! They have a stellar craft beer list and fantastic cocktails. Jan 26 (the night in question) they were «celebrating» Bill Clinton’s immortal response to the Lewinsky allegations with a special drink list all cleverly named. I had an Intern’s Favorite and a midnight special pretzel: both DELISH. There are board games in the back and fun and helpful bartenders in the front. Great place to spend a fun a night and familiarize yourself with Texas craft beer, if haven’t already. Loved it and looking forward to having better relations with this bar ;)

It’s a nice place to congregate with friends and hang out. I used to like their Cocktails but now I stick to their long list of craft brew and independent stuff. I like this place.

I like beer but not my first choice but this place is awesome! The menu looks great and they do have a full bar. Great place for a quick bite and beer or cocktail as Andy the bar manager runs a tight ship. I tried the Cask which is a pumpkin beer but not sweet. I’m definitely coming back here.

Very good beer selection. The bar snacks and other food options are also pretty tasty. Mixed drinks also are very good, I had the Moscow Mule variation and althoughat first it was a little peppery for me after about a few minutes it grew on me and is really good.
I will most likely return.

This bar has a nice beer list. They definitely know how to make a cocktail. And their food, it is on point. But the reason I like to go here, good location and the interesting people that often make their way in. There was a lady who started yelling about bathrooms and wanting a refund but she had not paid or even ordered anything.
Parking is limited but they have a lot and can be found in the area.
Beer and a shot is nice.
They also have different daily specials.

Attracts a good amount of people without ever feeling packed or pushy. Great selection of local beers and choice beers, most are on taps and they line the entire length of the bar. Mongoose’s bar manager is one of the Classiest people I have ever met (British accent incl.) And he has an exquisite taste and knowledge of rare cocktails that any number of barkeeps would have to google, and in all likelihood hadn’t even heard of before.
Mongoose is a choice spot for everyone to meet up at. They have a food menu, drinks for the simplest to the most sophisticated pallets, an outside patio, and the upstairs is great for private parties.
Mongoose VS. Cobra has an effortless comfort and allure that makes no one feel over or under dressed. It has an attraction that makes other bars look like they are trying too hard. Music is at a great volume for exchanging pleasantries without having to yell across the table.
I highly recommend it.

We randomly stumbled up on this place Saturday night. It’s a nice find! It wasn’t crowded like the rest of the bars midtown and the décor inside is very nice and Austin like. They have a great selection of beer and they have the best pretzel I’ve had in a while. We ordered the «midnight special» pretzel and it tasted so good. I would recommend going here if you’re with a couple of friends and just want catch up and chat. I would probably come back here.

Great spot and they have free parking! We sat outside on the patio and a few drinks. Great atmosphere and a great location in town.

Amongst the busyness of the streets of Houston lies this wonderful gem of a bar. Anything from local microbreweries to beer from across the country, this place carries a great variety to meet your alcoholic taste buds. If you’re not a big beer fan, they also have a fully stocked bar and wonderful bar tenders who can help make your favorite cocktail or a birthday shot, should the situation call for it. The drinks are pretty fence fly priced, and they have some great happy hour deals as well, so I would suggest stopping by after work or something.
If you look past all the alcohol, you’ll discover a great food menu as well. They have one of the best soft pretzels I’ve ever had. I love bar food, and this probably tops the charts. The pretzel is giant, and so worth the price. Even if you decide not to drink, you should go for this soft, warm, fluffy pretzel.
The ambiance is very hipster, but don’t worry if you don’t have your suspenders and flannel shirts, they’re still all very welcoming. I just really love the drinks and the service here, but really what just makes this a 5 star place is the pretzel. Get it, you won’t regret it.

Suuuuper trendy place with really expensive drinks. We got the Gold Rush and an Old Fashioned and they were really good, but I just don’t want to pay that much for a drink…

Good beer and cocktail selection, but the service is lame.
Great outdoor seating as well. Will definitely come back.

I stopped by with a friend earlier tonight. It’s Tuesday so there’s maybe 6 people total at the bar. There were two bartenders, who seemingly made a point of acting like my friend and I didn’t exist.
I kindly waited at the bar, where only 4 people were seated, while one bartender carried on a conversation with the the 2 people seated in front of him. That was fine, I didn’t mine waiting to order until he finished his convo. Except then he looked at me, then walked directly past me and my friend to start a new conversation with the second bartender and the other 2 customers at the other end of the bar. Truly bizarre and unnecessarily rude.
Doubtful I’ll be back.

Loads of beer on tap, heavy pour on the cocktail selections, genial bartenders, an older non-​frathouse crowd. The place is so popular the crowd spills onto the outside patio and into the street. Of course, this means you will find it difficult to find seating. However they are friendly to large groups. I would definitely return as a regular patron.

Cute place in Midtown, tons of beers. Can’t make a Paloma to save their life. I wasn’t really impressed. However, I didn’t stay long enough to enjoy any food.
I am not a huge beer person, but if you are this would be a cool place. I did love the picnic tables on the inside and it seems pretty cozy. It wasn’t ridiculously loud and seems like a place one would come to enjoy a few beers with friends.

This place has been around for a bit, and this is the second time I’ve been. I rarely go to Midtown anymore, parking is usually a pain, and it’s a younger crowd, but a friend had a birthday here, and the next thing I knew it was off to Midtown I went.
Mongoose versus cobra has a shit ton of beer. I am not kidding. If you like beer, come here, you’ll be in hog heaven. I rarely drink beer, so I could care less about that, but they also have a pretty darn good cocktail menu as well. Between the 20+ of us we had almost one of everything. The punch we had was REALLY good, and I liked that it was served in old school glass cups with handles. I also had the Paloma, which I forgot how much I enjoy. Cocktails were made with care, and service was fairly quick for the crowd, but not overly friendly. Also, I overheard one of the girl bartenders telling a patron (maybe a friend) she cleared $ 1000 the night before, which I thought was tacky and made me think I need to moonlite on the weekends there. Moscow mules were tasy, but served in a glass, which is a huge turn off for me.
parking was nice and easy, and they have a small patio out front. One three types of wine, red white and something else.
All in all, nice place to stop in, good crowd, good cocktails.

Lovely bar with some delicious drinks! They also have an extensive beer list on tap. And they offer some creative dishes to munch on. I. e PB&J sandwich with bacon. Grilled cheese with olives. And a salami/​cheese platter with nuts, breads and fruits! Very modern. A little dark. And can get very crowded because it’s so small on the weekends.

The space itself is nice and I do like their staff generally. Not always the quickest experience, but certainly never a bad time.
Beer selection isn’t always what I’d pick (light on the hops.), but I always find something here to enjoy. Cocktails are all solid and worth a shake if you’re not feeling beer during your visit. Definitely try their gin and tonic, as the tonic is quite herbal and a very nice shade of pink/​orange. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea if you prefer those flavorless clear tonics, but definitely worth educating yourself on. It also seems they’ve had a lot of cheap bottled stuff recently too, with occasional firesales that can’t be beat.
Circling to the food on the menu, I’ve generally not been super impressed with most of it. I’d say stick to drinks and find a better option in the area for eats.

I’m in love with the building’s décor and history. Clearly I had to stop and try it. I’m not a huge beer fan so I was happy to see they had a few tasty toddies for a person like me. The whiskey Wednesday drink is superb! It only takes two, ladies.
I’m giving 4 stars for the lack of communication. As newbies, we didn’t know that they didn’t serve tables between certain times of the day or days during the week (still unsure of when that is). We had to wait a while at the bar to get drinks when we could have walked in and went straight to the bar… wish someone would have told us sooner. No big deal. Now y’all know so go try it — head to the bar first.