The Exley

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.

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!

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

This bar had a gay awakening during the pandemic and has blossomed into a neighborhood staple. Shout out to my favorite bartender Richard 💙. Love her.

Awesome bartenders with great cocktails at great prices, for everything. also the Cubano is probably one of the best in the city considering the very low wait time.

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.

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!

Guys, this bar is different… it’s the best vibe ever and Wes and Jim are the BEST! I never give 5 stars and I just did, speaks volumes!!

Best lil gay bar in Williamsburg

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

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

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.

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.

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 wouldve 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 .

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.

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!

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

Very cozy spot for a date. I brought my date here on a Tuesday night and there were only a handful of people with their dates as well. The drink selection isnt very large but they have some interesting options. The place has a candle lit atmosphere and I saw a table filled with board games if anyone wanted to play. Good date spot.

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

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

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!

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 .

Vibes are good but this Diet Coke is NASTY!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Im sure it was a mistake, but I was charged twice for the same drink on my tab. Ill 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 isnt in to possibly refund me.03/10/18: Back in December of 2017 I got a message from someone I didnt know on messenger and come to find out it was the owner! Refunded me and I really appreciate it because I loved the beer! Im coming to NY again soon, Ill stop in when Im there, thanks again for clearing it up 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾.

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

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

“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 surprisedAtmosphere: 6/10 for clean comfort but thematically nondescriptPoetic Vision: 9/10 for making it seem that every drink has a deeper meaning inside of itNotes: 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.

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.

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

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

Nice bar, with outdoor. Bartenders work fast and make good cocktails

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

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

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. Doesnt 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.

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

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

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.

I love this place. Chill neighborhood bar.

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

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

Bobby is a stellar bar tender and a class act

Great bar in Williamsburg. A bit hidden, please dont tell! :)

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

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

Charming little spot, friendly people, awesome bartender.

Awesome place, good drinks, casual vibes.

Good vibe and nice cocktails

Fun queer space serving craft cocktails and good tunes

Super cute! Great bartenders

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

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

Bartender was super rude with the worst attitude

The best bartender works there: JIM!

Charming neighborhood spot.

Great cheap drink options.

I like this place and I dont like many places.

Great DJ

Quaint but always crowded.

Tasty drinks. Jenga.

Chill place with good music

Love the playlist

Blew out candles!

Sick

Good cocktails

Slow service

The best people

Its lit !!!

Can there be a gay bar where you can also drink excellent cocktails? This is THE EXLEY!!Ah...very honest prices! Topppeeria!!

Good service