The Exley

On an unassuming block a stone’s throw from the BQE, this former garage houses a space that feels both fresh and familiar, with a bright, citrus-hued mural splashed behind the bar and big windows opening out to the street. Named for writer Frederick Exley, a notorious drinker and onetime New Yorker, the bar sports a come-one-come-all spirit reflected in the offerings, which include a weekly-rotating selection of craft beers (most $5–$8), wines by the glass ($7–$11), and house cocktails ($8–$11) like El Ojo Rojo, which melds tequila, joven mescal, grapefruit and fennel ($10).