Great addition to the Mansion neighborhood bar scene. This place serves brews and eats from across NY state. The food menu is small right now, but we were told it would expand in the future. When you order a beer, there are a variety of sizes to choose from. If you order a "fist full of beers", you get a discount. In addition to beer and cider, there is also a wide variety of NY state liquor. There is seating at the bar, a few TVs and darts in the back. Come down and give this place a try. It is worth the visit. read more

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Was in Albany for work and spent a great evening here: super friendly vibe and everything they serve is from New York state! They have a large selection of ny craft brews on tap, ny wine, ny spirits, and a small menu of ny snacks. The owner was awesome and we were able to sit outdoors in their sidewalk cafe. Will definitely come back when in town again. read more

The Excelsior Pub - The largest existing collection of New York-made liquor, according to the owner. I believe it! - Pubs Near Me - Albany, New York

The excelsior is my absolute favorite place to drink in Albany. The atmosphere is just what you want from a bar. Good conversation. Regulars are friendly as can be. The staff has become friends of mine. The taps rotate frequently and have great variety. It's always a good time. And low key they have the best wings in Albany. If you don't believe me try them yourself. I will come back to the excelsior pub as long as I continue to live in Albany. read more

Great brews and eats, all from New York State! It's a short walk down Madison Avenue from the south end of the Plaza. Head down the hill, one block from the museum and you'll be hanging out with Jay, learning all about New York, and enjoying great local beverages and snacks. When I visited, it was just after they opened and there wasn't a great sign outside or a full menu offered yet, but the crowd inside was definitely enjoying the happy hour specials and homemade chips. Five stars for the enjoyable experience, and great potential it has with locals and tourists alike. read more

A very nice stop in Albany if you're in the neighborhood. Warm and inviting, with many events that occur almost every night, the Euphoric Pub is a nice spot to unwind after a long day. The owner is very, very friendly; and the food is very good and cheap. I'd recommend trying the garbage plate. 10 bucks gives you a hearty and filling plate of food and 4-6 bucks nets you a very tasty draft beer to go with it. Recommended! read more

Great beer selection. Very good food highlighting New York State specialties. Clean decor and easy access, excellent service.

There's no better place around to literally get a taste of New York State. I would be impressed with a place that just served great variety of craft beers from across the state, but that's not enough for Jay and his team at the Excelsior Pub. Taking things ever upward, their mixed drinks also come from spirits distilled within the state and their menu consists of regional delicacies from throughout the state, from Saratoga chips and Binghamton spiedies to Buffalo wings and no fewer than four of the regional favorite hot dogs from across the state. I should also point out they have many vegetarian options, including soy dogs, garden burgers, and a veggie plate(the compost pile). It was this latter delight that brought my dining companion (Jessica E.) and I to this establishment recently. We opted for the home fries and beans. Though I try to limit my meat consumption, my past experience in Rochester taught me that hot sauce (as it is called there), provides just a little extra sweetness, oiliness, and meatiness to the entire plate. Likewise, I don't love polystyrene containers, but they are just perfect for shaking your plate around so that the flavors can meld and you can pick up hints of mac salad and hot sauce on every single hash brown. Beyond the Empire State offerings, it is also always a really nice atmosphere here. There is no shortage of events to keep you and your fellow guests having a good time from movie night to pinball tournaments, name that tune, and other friendly competitions. Food and drinks always arrive quickly and with a smile. Both bathrooms are gender-neutral, so no matter who you are, you can just do your thing. Finally, I have to disagree with my fellow Yelper Amy D. and say that I find the prices to be very reasonable here. You might be looking at $7 for a shaker pint of a western NY stout, but virtually all of the food menu is under $10 and there's a great happy hour. There is almost always Utica Club or Genesee available on draft at all times as well for those who appreciate a New York crafted value. read more

Great drinks at a great price. Really can't be beat for New York libations in the capital of New York!

Great neighborhood bar with an awesome beer selection. Jay is a great owner/bartender always making his patrons feel welcome. Usually not overly crowded, so service is pretty quick and easy. My favorite aspect of The Excelsior Pub is Jay's dedication to downtown Albany and local events. If you bring tickets to any Albany area event, Jay will give you happy hour prices all night on the date of the event. It's a great spot to go before or after a game at the Times Union Center. Also, the wings are awesome. read more

A great New York themed pub! All things New York. Great food and great beer. Great events and the bartenders are very knowledgeable.

Hate that I'm writing this negative review! We went in with such high expectations after recommendations from multiple friends and raving reviews. Friendly divey New York bar. Decent beer selection. Very nice bar tender!!! Food was seriously horrible. Everything was cold!! The hot dogs, the buns, cheese sticks still cold in the middle. The prices were amazing and we didn't want to complain because we were enjoying ourselves despite the food but it just did not live up to our expectations. Will probably try once again in the future to give it another chance. read more

As long as you aren't afraid of a causal locovoria bar-you'll love this first time feel comfortable!wings are awesome! Friendly diverse music and clientele. All NY products read more

This place by far has the best and most unique wings around, Brown Chicken Brown Cow. They have awesome fun bartenders, the owner Jay will entertain you anytime you're there, they have lots of events including many "all inclusive" events for food and beverage also. The beer selection is all NYS brewery's and the bartenders are knowledgeable and make great recommendations. They take pride in their state, their city and their neighborhood. Highly recommend. read more

I am such a big fan of this place. Truly impressed by the number and variety of locally sourced beverages; there is something for everybody (but especially lovers of beer and whiskey)! And then there is the food menu, which you can order from anytime. In the past I have enjoyed more than a few garbage plates with meat piled high, but I was recently very excited to see the menu now includes a vegetarian garbage plate option ("compost pile") as well as tofu pup vegetarian hot dogs! Vegetarians rejoice! Great spot for catching a game or partaking in ample weekly community game nights, movie nights, and other events where you can win a prize (usually tickets to a New York sporting event). There is also outdoor table seating with designated smoking and non-smoking areas. You just get the feeling the owner really cares about your comfort and happiness. read more

It's had been a while since my last review. Stopped by this place based on yelp reviews. Nice intimate place, friendly service. The beef beef on weck.... yum... huge sandwich with deep fried chips that are very good. Not a great plate for the weak...the beer selection huge read more

Thumbs up for the beef on weck sandwich! This bar featuring exclusively New York native food and drinks is a must as you pass through Albany or if you're a local. Great atmosphere, great libations, and excellent barstaff and service. Tuesday, September 24th's soundtrack of all alternative 90's music spoke to my sole. Seriously, this is a cool place to hang out. read more

I love it here! The only authentic garbage plate in Albany. All NY breweries and spirits. I want to eat the garbage plate every day for the rest of my life. Happy hour every time the Mets or Yankees hit a home run. Such a cool spot. Glad it exists, hope it lasts. read more

It's a great neighborhood bar where the bartenders are nice, down to earth, and knowledgeable. Prices are very affordable, especially during their happy hour. And three well maintained pinball machines in the back! Can't say enough about this place, it's definitely worth a look. read more

I'm not from Albany but I was lucky enough to find this awesome bar. Food was amazing and the bartender (julie I believe) was great. I would for sure recommend this bar anytime of the week. If you like New York you'll like Excelsior Pub read more

Maybe it was the rain or maybe it was bad news but our bartender greeted us with the warmth of an IRS agent. I actually selected this place using Yelp reviews but it didn't live up to the hype. When we walked in the bartender looked absolutely miserable and she acted like she didnt want to serve us. My sister ordered the advertised cocktails and I ordered a Long Island which were fine but again the place was empty at 2m on a Thursday and the bartender acted like she had better things to be doing, It was so dismal my sister suggested we bounce so we did. And the prices were pretty high for a dive bar. read more

lol i love skating to this bar. the last part of madison ave is so trash that at least one person skating is bound to go down. lol probably julius cuz hes a big dummy and hes always in his phone. next time you see julius tell him hes a big loser buttface dumpster ballsack eater lol thanks! read more

Jay is the third coolest bartender I've ever met, and I've been to all but three bars in the world. We're lucky to have Mr. Excelsior himself reopen his amazing establishment in the historic Mansion area! If you want the best selection of craft New York State produced beers and spirits, this is the spot. They also have cool drink specials and events throughout the week, amazing hot wings and fresh chips! I've heard there's a crazy ladies night, but haven't made it yet. There's darts in the back, and even a guy that draws ridiculous and cool cartoons of patrons (I forget what nights). read more

I stopped here for a quick beer after a show at Times Union Center last night. Next thing I knew, it was 1am and a few beers later! The bartender/owner, Jay, was amazing!! He greeted me the second I walked in, the patrons (mostly regulars) were fun, and the beer was excellent :). I ended up trying a Big Ditch Jalapeño Cream Ale, and was hooked. A delicious hint of jalapeño was noticeable, but not too overwhelming, as some flavored beers can be. And if you go to a concert/event in town, you get happy hour specials before and after the show (which made it even easier to stay for more than one beer!). Jay went way out of his way to make sure we all got home safely, and did so in a way that made it obvious that he really cares about his clients. Thank you again Jay!! I am now looking for excuses to come back to Albany just so I can come back here. Wish I was a regular!! read more

This place is the neighborhood bar I've pined for since moving to Albany. As an advocate for locally-sourced food and drink -without the locavore tag -Excelsior was a fantastic find. Jay's hospitality, enthusiasm, and creativity are second to none. read more

I usually do not review bars. Only because I feel like I get the same thing at every bar I go to. Good beer selection, good food, and the like. But there is something that is special about Excelsior. And that thing is the people who work here. The owner, Jay, is always behind the bar, and is always ready to serve with a f*****g phenomenal attitude, a joke, and a smile. He and the rest of his team do a great job making you feel at home. Easily the nicest people in the service industry in the area. Also it helps that their beer selection always changes from unique beers from big and small breweries around the state. You can find your Genny Creams, but sometimes find something from a small brewery in Delmar. Even popular breweries like Ommegang they often have a more unique draft selection than most places that serve Ommegang. I have not really eaten here, but I want to. Make a point to come here if you are visiting. read more

I went here excited to try some different dishes from around New York State at this new restaurant. What I found was more like a pop up dive bar with no tables to sit down and eat. If I was a 20 something hipster I wouldn't mind standing up while I eat in a spartan room. So I'll preface this review by saying if ur more into the beer choices than comfort, add 3 stars. If you want to sit in a clean restaurant and enjoy a beef on a wick, you'll have to still drive to Buffalo. read more

Great staff, board games and local spirits! Perfect for a few drinks after a busy day!

We had Beef on weck and the garbage plate, both were delicious. The garbage plate's Mac salad had carrots in it, making it interesting. There was a great balance of salty and sweet in it, hitting all points of the taste buds. Chips were homemade, served with the beef on weck. Both were such big portions we got to take home half of each plate, allowing us to eat the garbage plate later, after a night of drinking beer, which makes it even tastier! read more