Flex

I was in line for karaoke to sign myself up and I get cut by an older white man, I dismiss this out of respect for the older man, but I get told after his performance that I need a new song. The bar service was great and the atmosphere was fine, but the event was boring and discriminatory. My karaoke options were limited to broadway plays, country, and pop music. As someone who didn’t grow up with this, I find it limiting to not be able to enjoy karaoke as everyone else considering I am a queer person just like everyone else who was allowed to perform.

Just moved here. Met the owner on the first visit, who was really friendly. The bartenders are generally really nice and told me when I was new to town what was going on. I did have one weird incident with a bartender that didn’t want my change except in the form of quarters. Atmosphere is divish but clean. Only thing is this is essentially one of your two choices of gay bars in Raleigh, and this place doesn’t open until 7 PM on Friday night. After a handful of times here though, I noticed it’s mostly the same people that come here esp on Friday night. As a white collar professional, a lot of the people aren’t really anybody I would have anything in common with. I thought this would be a lot like Atlanta but on a smaller scale. The behavior reminded me of gay bars in much smaller towns with the way people were foolishly flitting around. I’ve had guys very carefully glance at me and then quickly turn their head back when I looked at them. The last time I saw that happen is when I lived in Oklahoma City back in the 90s. Rarely will anyone in this bar talk to you. It is clannish, and often the guys don’t show common courtesy. Some of the customers are oblivious to you, walk directly in front of you, or invade your personal space while they flit around talking to their friends. Trying to meet people online here is even worse. The LBGT community here has been super disappointing. I gave it a three out of five because I can’t hate on the bar or the staff because of the customers in the bar. Still, this isn’t much of a choice in a town that apparently doesn’t have any choices.

Decent visit… drink prices a bit high. Crowded and somewhat cliche

I have to be honest. I did not feel comfortable at this club. It’s very cliquish. Overall, I do not see myself returning.

Not real big on the house, a gay bar closing at midnight during the week!? Other than that, great new place for Flex

Step into a dimly lit labyrinth where the walls seem to swallow your secrets and every corner whispers mood and mystery. This bar is a glorious mess, the music pulses with an offbeat energy while a bartender is running a bar where the mixers seem to have gone on vacation. Better hope you’re in the mood for whiskey neat or tequila straight up—because anything else is clearly an improvisation! It's a place where no one cares if the floors are sticky or the décor is a little less. It’s chaos, it’s charm, it’s definitely unapologetic—a refuge for anyone who wants to drink, dance, and just be in the glorious mess of it all. The regulars are more like a family here, they have claimed their seats and built a strong camaraderie. Cheers!

Gay karaoke bar. Friendly bartender. Clean establishment. Went on a Tuesday night; it was very quiet.

You get what you get with one of the few bars in the capitol city. If this place has any demerits it's that they're almost always TOO busy so it's difficult to enjoy what brought you here whether it's the alcohol, men, or hookup scene. But the employees and owner are absolutely stellar, and they make very quality drinks for fair prices. Flex has gone through multiple location changes and infrastructure changes and I've been going for a decade now - and I won't stop even if i only have the opportunity to go twice a year or so.