In the wild, few contests are as fierce as that of the mongoose versus the cobra. So when the owners of the newest bar in Midtown needed to come up with a name that packed a punch, it didn’t take them long to decide just what it would be.

Housed in a historic building on McGowen, just steps from the light rail tracks on Main St., Mongoose Versus Cobra has a well-worn, slightly industrial yet homey feel to it.

Cocktails here run from the traditional (Sidecar) to the more innovative and avant garde. Beers are a definite specialty though, with everything from Brewdog from the U.K. to No Label from Katy. Small bites of meats and cheeses are also offered on a well-edited menu.

Built in 1915, the ivy-covered structure was originally a grocery store and housed a number of other businesses through the years. A small nook upstairs is great for private conversation or drink date. Be sure to check out the sculpture of the mongoose fighting the cobra tucked away in a corner of the bar.