ANIMAL

I’ve visited Animal Bar in Brooklyn on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and it’s a bit of a mixed experience. As a straight girl, I usually just go with my friends to hang out, and while the space has potential, there are several inconsistencies. The music is probably the most hit-or-miss part of the night. It can be really good or really bad depending on the day, with rotating DJs often favoring wordless dance music and techno. On the positive side, the cocktails are high quality and come with a fair amount of alcohol, making them worth the price. However, the crowd can be a challenge. Some of the people attending aren't very nice, and the atmosphere can feel cliquey or have a "weird energy". The biggest issue for me is the bathroom situation. As a girl, the lines for a stall are incredibly long. The main problem is that they sometimes let more than one person into the bathroom at a time, which makes the whole experience feel chaotic and invasive. It’s a cool spot, but these issues make it a solid three-star venue for me.

I rarely leave reviews, but this place earned it. Let’s start with the coat check, because somehow it set the tone for everything that followed. Chaotic, disorganized, and handled with a level of indifference that immediately makes you feel like you’re inconveniencing the staff by existing. No clear system, no accountability, just vibes—and bad ones. Service overall is painfully inconsistent. Staff seem overwhelmed, disengaged, or both. You’re left waiting, guessing, and recalibrating expectations in real time. There’s an unmistakable sense that the operation is running on autopilot, assuming people will tolerate anything because the place has a name. The atmosphere? Overhyped and uncomfortable. Not in a “cool, edgy Brooklyn” way—more like cramped, stressful, and poorly managed. Everything feels slightly hostile: the flow of people, the pacing, the interactions. You don’t feel welcomed; you feel processed. What’s most frustrating is that this could all be excused if the experience justified it. It doesn’t. The arrogance-to-quality ratio is completely out of balance. If you’re going to treat guests like they’re lucky to be there, you should at least deliver something memorable in return. Instead, you get mediocrity wrapped in attitude. There are too many places in this city that actually respect their customers to waste time here. This wasn’t just disappointing—it was actively unpleasant. Won’t be back, and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who values their time, money, or patience.

Animal in Williamsburg is such a fun spot. The music is really good—great vibes all night and perfect for dancing without feeling overwhelming. The drinks are not expensive, especially for a NYC nightclub, which is a huge plus. On top of that, the crowd is super friendly and easygoing, making the whole place feel welcoming and fun

I don’t usually write reviews about coat check but I have to make an exception. The man who took my coat at Animal had this amazing blonde curly hair and I could tell by his kindness that my coat had never been safer. He was also very courteous and efficient when I needed my coat again later in the evening. It is the little things when you go to a bar that make a big difference.

Depending on the night, this place can get pretty packed at night. There are themed nights throughout the week. There is a dark room. Bar service is quick and bartenders are nice and chatty if they aren’t busy. Crowd is mostly (and I am half guessing) men over 30, but under 50. Music can be a bit hit or miss. Only two bathroom stalls, so lines can be long. Coat check can take a while depending on how many people are working that night.

This AI generated gay bar features a variety of spaces including a large outdoor patio, lounge, dance floor, and spare room in the corner. While the space is great (as are the drinks) the gays come off as somewhat cold and indifferent. Like they need to be told they are good enough. Unfortunately, they are not.

Horrible experience the white blond lesbian bartender was mean not polite at all, and I was making a video to my friend and the white boy manager said not flash like we were trying to have fun but they killed the vibe I would never go back there staff is so mean! They don’t deserve any tips. So don’t go there!

Tyisha’s glamour and style made the bar sparkle. The drinks were cold and the music was hot. Definitely will be back. Six stars!

A great addition to the neighborhood, from the owners of the Exley comes Animal. The bar has an outdoor area, indoor area with big windows and the main dance-floor. Service is a bit slow depending on the crowds but once you are served the drinks are decent (most things are on tap). The music leaves a lot to be desired but hoping this will be improved as the venue becomes more popular. Overall, I'd definitely go back.

All the hottest gays are here. Turn off your grindr and go OUT. The drinks are great. Indoor/outdoor space and a dark small back room for more intimate conversation.

I'm so happy this place is here, it's more of a bar than a dance club, even though they have a DJ. I appreciate the Exley-style menu of cocktails instead of just dive bar options. They let this (unusual) space just do its thing and it works, there are lots of bar seats and tables and (unlike the Exley) it never feels claustrophobic, but even boasts an outdoor area. Their hours are also gay-customer-conducive, so you can hop on over after brunch, they open at 2 pm on weekends and 4 pm on weeknights to hit that Happy Hour sweet spot.

The space is beautiful, and the sound system is equally beautiful. The music has been great every time I've visited. You can tell they take sound seriously. The energy livens more and more the later it is. It's a smooth pace. The drinks are delicious and served by bartenders who work their butts off to get through the crowd as quickly as possible while maintaining a welcoming vibe. Kudos to the bar owners for creating such a cute spot. A lot of thought went into it.

Watch your credit card on file. They will overcharge you and you will be stuck with a bigger bill. I went in and they charged 2 extra drinks. I went up to a bartender and he said he fixed it but it was never changed.