Nicole Brown

Great place for cocktails and drinks. Cozy space with board games. Great cocktails for a reasonable price.

Its lit !!!

Può esistere un gay bar dove si bevono anche degli ottimi cocktail? Questo è THE EXLEY!! Ah...prezzi onestissimi! Topppeeria!!

The best people

Great bar in Williamsburg. A bit hidden, please don't tell! :)

Great place to hang out with friends and bartenders are way too friendly

Best lil gay bar in Williamsburg

Charming little spot, friendly people, awesome bartender.

Great service in the age of COVID. Felt safe and well tended to.

Awesome place, good drinks, casual vibes.

Fun queer space serving craft cocktails and good tunes

Super cute! Great bartenders

Laid back, tasty drinks, and a nice bike at the bar.

I love this place. Chill neighborhood bar.

the best bartender works there: JIM!

Bobby is a stellar bar tender and a class act

Good vibe and nice cocktails

Great cheap drink options.

Great DJ

I like this place and I don't like many places.

Tasty drinks. Jenga.

Charming neighborhood spot.

Blew out candles!

Sick

Good cocktails

Cute little gay bar. Very Williamsburg. Very white gay, there was even a run club there after their run. But very cute and good drinks.

Drinks are great and strong. Vibes are always fun. The men are always good to look at. Overall a fun local spot.

The best gay bar in NYC. Great cocktails, cool ambiance, the staff are all fantastic and the music is great. Warning, if you’re not a Drag RACe fan, avoid Fridays!

Very cute intimate space. Came on a monday night and it was a very chill romantic vibe. Bartender was not only cute but very friendly. Happy hour M-F 4-7pm.

Just happened to stop by for a Beer with Hubby after the Mt Carmel Feast and fell in love with this Cozy Little Bar. Loved it and will definitely make it my "Stop for a Great Beer Place". Going back with my friends. Love it!

The Exley is one of my favorite places in Brooklyn to have a drink - from beer to martini, they serve a winner. Bar staff is notoriously kind, they have a great outdoor set up and are good with those who come to visit: Queer forward, everyone all around.

Truly one of my favorite gay bars in NYC. However it’s a shame they got rid of their best frozen cocktail - the frozen espresso martini…they NEED to bring it back

I'm sure it was a mistake, but I was charged twice for the same drink on my tab. I'll edit my review if they refund me and for now watch your bank statement if you go here. Update: 11/16/17, Thursday... I was told to call back next Wednesday to address my concern because a manager isn't in to possibly refund me. 03/10/18: Back in December of 2017 I got a message from someone I didn't know on messenger and come to find out it was the owner! Refunded me and I really appreciate it because I loved the beer! I'm coming to NY again soon, I'll stop in when I'm there, thanks again for clearing it up 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾.

Cool place and drinks , James is the sweetest fun person ever, he is accommodating and loving, he made our night the best, the bartenders are very professional and make the best drinks ever, nice atmosphere!

I like to go on weeknights after work, get a seat by a heater, and a hot toddy. Great music, relaxed vibe, lovely bartenders (all three I’ve met are fantastic), delicious classic cocktails & a disco ball

The Exley doesn’t play when it comes to showing up for disabled patrons. Very very cool and accommodating. Shout out to the fab bouncer <3 you

Lively place with the best bartenders, best crowds and they actually have some food here to eat on those drunken hungry nights. Only thing is the food menu is short and they may not always have everything.

Got the Nana's Spritz and loved it. The Cubano was also amazing! Charming bartender and nice little outdoor space.

Great atmosphere and friendly staff. They have a good selection of cocktails.

Excellent cocktails, yummy frozen drinks

love the bar, the vibe, the service , the crowd, the cocktails!

I love this bar. It feels so cozy there. It’s a good place to hangout with friends.

Great place. The security guard James rocks and the drinks are good

Great cocktails in a cozy atmosphere. It’s off the beaten path but that works in it’s favor.

I loved this small and unpretentious bar with it‘s nice and charming bartender!!!

The cocktails and beer selection are top notch. The bartenders are sweethearts.

Far and away my favorite bar. Great rotating selection of eclectic, craft beers on draft at fair prices. Well crafted cocktails, reasonable prices, moody lighting, a great soundtrack, clean bathrooms, a patio, and best of all? A great staff that has become family to me.

Lovely place - like it! The bartender is very nice - respectful to every customer even it’s super busy. Drinks are good. The vibe is just sooo lovely - good for dates, friend hangout or even drinking alone

Absolute favorite spot in the neighborhood. Drinks, crowd, music, community = 100. All are welcome, and it was the only queer space around here that was open during quarantine. It gave me a place to be social and helped me get through the worst of it. Now, with their beautiful outdoor seating, it’s the perfect meeting point or resting spot, all year round.

Just happened upon this little gem while walking home from the park. Awesome vibe very friendly staff, good music... Absolutely loved it!

Best bar in the neighborhood. The security made me feel safe and secured. James (the security) is very kind and friendly. Drinks are well made. Music is amazing. I’ve been coming here for the past 3 years and it’s one of the best bar in town to have a drink! I would def recommend penicillin & leche de lobo!

A happening place catering to a mostly gay crowd that spills over onto the sidewalk- but does not obstruct or interfere with people walking past. There is a good selection of drinks for the eclectic taste, the customers are young hipsters for the most part and they are there to enjoy the evening, especially when the the weather cooperates.

Cute little gay spot with nice music and free water. Prices are reasonable and cocktails are good. Nice beef selection too, and bartenders are attentive

Great established and polished artsy vibe. Very warm ambiance and a hell of a bartender. Great cocktails with very distinguishable and unique flavors. Poured correctly and....they work. I was there for a trivia night and was comfortable even with the place being packed. Location is a laughably easy walk from the train. Drinks range from $7-12 with beer shot combos around $9-10.

One of the best bars in Williamsburg. For social distancing purposes it's probably not the best place to come on the weekends since this place gets really busy -- it's so popular. I definitely recommend, the bartenders are always really nice and the drinks are great too!

had an amazing time here 💫 the staffing is amazinggg. Lovely red head was our bartender, she SERVED in so many ways, drinks, banter. Will be back 💋

Great bar. Came here early on a Friday and had multiple drinks during happy hour. It's a small, clean and well lit space. The cocktails were delicious and the bartender is friendly.

One of the best sneak away have a drink bars. Not quite a dive, and always good in tone : will get crazy at night on the weekends. Perfect Old Fashioned deals all the time.

Joel Surette

had an amazing time here 💫 the staffing is amazinggg. Lovely red head was our bartender, she SERVED in so many ways, drinks, banter. Will be back 💋

Mignonne Silva

Great bar. Came here early on a Friday and had multiple drinks during happy hour. It's a small, clean and well lit space. The cocktails were delicious and the bartender is friendly.

Ian Sklarsky

One of the best sneak away have a drink bars. Not quite a dive, and always good in tone : will get crazy at night on the weekends. Perfect Old Fashioned deals all the time.

Cris S.

Cute little gay spot with nice music and free water. Prices are reasonable and cocktails are good. Nice beef selection too, and bartenders are attentive

Loriel Lozano

Best bar in the neighborhood. The security made me feel safe and secured. James (the security) is very kind and friendly. Drinks are well made. Music is amazing. I’ve been coming here for the past 3 years and it’s one of the best bar in town to have a drink! I would def recommend penicillin & leche de lobo!

Ron Kell

A happening place catering to a mostly gay crowd that spills over onto the sidewalk- but does not obstruct or interfere with people walking past. There is a good selection of drinks for the eclectic taste, the customers are young hipsters for the most part and they are there to enjoy the evening, especially when the the weather cooperates.

Syeda

One of the best bars in Williamsburg. For social distancing purposes it's probably not the best place to come on the weekends since this place gets really busy -- it's so popular. I definitely recommend, the bartenders are always really nice and the drinks are great too!

Marcus Myint

Far and away my favorite bar. Great rotating selection of eclectic, craft beers on draft at fair prices. Well crafted cocktails, reasonable prices, moody lighting, a great soundtrack, clean bathrooms, a patio, and best of all? A great staff that has become family to me.

Phillip A. Garcia

Great established and polished artsy vibe. Very warm ambiance and a hell of a bartender. Great cocktails with very distinguishable and unique flavors. Poured correctly and....they work. I was there for a trivia night and was comfortable even with the place being packed. Location is a laughably easy walk from the train. Drinks range from $7-12 with beer shot combos around $9-10.

Off the beaten path bar with friendly staff and a laid back atmosphere.

Chill place with good music

Love the playlist

Phones and wallets frequently stolen here. My phone was stolen last night and the bouncers response was "this happens all the time here." Sitting outside causes a lot of foot traffic and people easily slip through the entrance. Guard your belongings!

Cool little bar close to our hotel. Was quiet when we stopped in at the start of our night. Had a pretty decent beer list and seemed to be a good selection of whisky too. The bar man was cool and really friendly.

“Expect it at The Exley” Stumbling off the beaten path can occasionally yield unexpectedly fine results and The Exley, a bartender’s bar located a short half block off of Union, stirs in the shadows with a heaving, untapped potential. My companion and I chanced upon this neatly designed, softly lit, and lightly serenaded cocktail and beer establishment on a barren Friday night. The warm and inviting nature of The Exley stands in stark contrast to the industrial street and adjoining expressway outside; a sunshine hue mural captures this feeling with impressionistic flair and sets a tone of comfort and contemplation. Despite the decent happy hour offer, we were alone for a lengthy spell and in shameless and selfish fashion, I was grateful. It was during that time that cocktail magic happened. Similar to other cocktail places, The Exley has six or so house cocktails on the glass menu (accompanied by several better-than-most draughts and bottles of beer) that take a cue from the classics but strive for something more. There is a light celery tinged tonic to refresh the senses. A ginger hot toddy brings you in from the cold. A serious Sazerac in a shallow snifter reminiscences on its roots. The Penicillin touches three quarters of your taste buds. Each cocktail I tried was standout, strong, and expertly executed. Our host had no reason to hurry but I don’t think he would make that compromise even on a crowded night: he understands that preserving the character of these drinks takes a steady, honest hand and the entire place defends that maxim. All the hallmarks of fine mixology are there: careful pours into jiggers, judicious use of the stirring spoon, and taste-adjust-taste quality control. Adding to the mystery of the libations is the conscious decision to not immediately expose the ingredients of each cocktail; that all too rare relationship with your barkeeper quickly builds and is a welcome part of the experience. Before parting ways and having tasted almost all the house offerings, my mention of spice allowed our humble host to experiment… and deliver. For those of you with high expectations, expect The Exley to meet them and leave you firmly satisfied, a rare but longed-for sensation. Cocktails: 9/10 for the best cocktails I’ve had and variety enough to keep you surprised Atmosphere: 6/10 for clean comfort but thematically nondescript Poetic Vision: 9/10 for making it seem that every drink has a deeper meaning inside of it Notes: Although I had a lofty experience, the bar isn’t designed to cater to a single clientele. A built in DJ station brings in live control to the soundscape, there is seating for couples and small groups as well as standing space for crowds, and hosts special events like a Superbowl party.

Decent bar with a good beer selection and a couple of above average sandwich panini options when you get hungry. Small patio for a drink outside when the weather allows

Classy place, lazy customers, awesome trivia night host. Doesn't serve a lot of food though, but is a quintessential Williamsburg bar

Fun, chatty bartenders, outdoor seating for smokers. Definitely a local bar vibe, but decent in every way.

Decent little bar, can be fun on summer days when you can play corn hole outside.

I love this place so much, but the bouncer needs to chill. There are ways and there are ways.

Decent date spot or place just to grab drinks and chat. Not too many people.

Good crowd, rude staff that struggles to handle a busy night.

Went on a Tuesday night (6/3) around 11pm. Only people in the bar were couples on dates. Espresso martini was delicious. Bar staff was polite, but not friendly. Typical cliquey gay bar scene with mood lighting and slightly above average drinks. Very pretty disco ball when it’s turned on. Vibes are probably quite variable night by night.

Nicholas Bailey

Went on a Tuesday night (6/3) around 11pm. Only people in the bar were couples on dates. Espresso martini was delicious. Bar staff was polite, but not friendly. Typical cliquey gay bar scene with mood lighting and slightly above average drinks. Very pretty disco ball when it’s turned on. Vibes are probably quite variable night by night.

vibes are good but this Diet Coke is NASTY! **few years later** Their mezcal martinis are TO DIE FOR

Brian Yansak

vibes are good but this Diet Coke is NASTY! **few years later** Their mezcal martinis are TO DIE FOR

Quaint but always crowded.

Slow service

Rude bartenders. Not worth it.

Bartender was super rude with the worst attitude

I came to the bar and ordered the lady G , with my order I asked for a glass of water , As I was sitting at the bar. The bartender told me that there was a water station against the wall . So he wanted me to get up from the bar after being seated and go get my water even though it would've taken him 1 second to pour my water . Even though that was not hospitable , I still tipped. He didn’t deserve the tip though. The us hospitable bartenders pic is below .

On Saturday at 11pm we went to meet up with friends at this bar and when we walked up to say hello to them (they were sitting outside) the bouncer came rushing towards us very aggressively and shouted at us telling us to not stand there. We said we were saying hi and that we were coming in to have a drink. And his answer was: you will come in if allow you to come in. My face was like, what? Why would he say that? We then answered, never mind we won’t come in. And then he said: good get the *uck out of here then. What is this behavior? we are customers not animals, come on! This is absolutely unnecessary, we will never go back. Plenty of other bars where they’ll treat you like a human being .

Bartender insisted I pay for a drink they made by mistake on my order. Who does that?

I went to order a drink at the bar, so I placed my order, then my friends decided that they wanted to get a drink as well, so when the bartender returned, I went to tell him. The bartender gave me a nasty look and had an attitude because I asked to add on a canned drink and 2 gin and tonics. Even when returning to close out my check, the bartender that I dealt with earlier was rude for no reason. I would not recommend this place to anyone, ANIMAL that is up the street has better bartenders and is more fun.

My brother and I were kicked out for tipping $1 on our first drink, expecting to be there for hours and spending and tipping more. The manager rudely questioned the random tip we placed and yelled at us for placing it. We offered to buy another drink and tip more but he had security kick us out for not tipping enough. Now I know I should not have left a tip at all until the end of the night, which I don’t believe the bartender/manager would have deserved anyway. If this is a problem then you should require a minimum tip amount for every purchase or not comment at all. Extremely rude service, will not be going back and would not recommend this bar to anyone.

Was having a good time with my boyfriend until the female bartender told us to move away from the bar stools so she could “serve someone else”. Not the vibes you want after spending money on this establishment

My friends (4 of us) went there for a drink after dinner. My buddy (who’s also black), was in front of me. The guy at the door said they were at capacity & we couldn’t get in. As we walked away, a group of white guys walked up to him, showed their IDs and he let them in. He must have seen how appalled we were, so he came up to us and said he could let us in, but we had to use the back entrance... We were shocked & just walked away!! We chose not to go in/spend our money at this bar!! Shocked this happened in NYC!

Lance R

I went to order a drink at the bar, so I placed my order, then my friends decided that they wanted to get a drink as well, so when the bartender returned, I went to tell him. The bartender gave me a nasty look and had an attitude because I asked to add on a canned drink and 2 gin and tonics. Even when returning to close out my check, the bartender that I dealt with earlier was rude for no reason. I would not recommend this place to anyone, ANIMAL that is up the street has better bartenders and is more fun.

Bryan Guarnieri

Was having a good time with my boyfriend until the female bartender told us to move away from the bar stools so she could “serve someone else”. Not the vibes you want after spending money on this establishment

Julia Kearney

My brother and I were kicked out for tipping $1 on our first drink, expecting to be there for hours and spending and tipping more. The manager rudely questioned the random tip we placed and yelled at us for placing it. We offered to buy another drink and tip more but he had security kick us out for not tipping enough. Now I know I should not have left a tip at all until the end of the night, which I don’t believe the bartender/manager would have deserved anyway. If this is a problem then you should require a minimum tip amount for every purchase or not comment at all. Extremely rude service, will not be going back and would not recommend this bar to anyone.

Vance Smith

My friends (4 of us) went there for a drink after dinner. My buddy (who’s also black), was in front of me. The guy at the door said they were at capacity & we couldn’t get in. As we walked away, a group of white guys walked up to him, showed their IDs and he let them in. He must have seen how appalled we were, so he came up to us and said he could let us in, but we had to use the back entrance... We were shocked & just walked away!! We chose not to go in/spend our money at this bar!! Shocked this happened in NYC!