Buffalo Nightlife

At 2 am on a Monday night there are still people eating here and as such it could perhaps qualify as a restaurant tip, but I'll keep it as a nightlife tip for the moment.

If this is Buffalo on a Monday night I'm in some ways glad that I missed it on Saturday - Monday night is lively enough for me! Lovely mix of people here at Founding Fathers, including the famous "Barman - who is the fountain of ALL American historical knowledge".

I probably did attempt to pick his brain when I mentioned I would be in Boston in a couple of days and I probably did get some useful info - all of which I had forgotten by the time I left the bar ;(

Yep, memory of a goldfish!

Dress Code: Not that I noticed but for men a shirt with a collar seems to be appreciated.

Soft, body-hugging, sweaters (jumpers?) seem to be the female requirement :)

The Chippewa District runs from Main St to Deleware Ave and is home to about a dozen bars and clubs. Popular with the college crowd but attracting a wide variety of ages, you can party til 4:00 am at just about any type of bar you're looking for.

One of Buffalo's gems, this historic theater was originally opened in 1926. In 1975 it was listed on the national registry of historic sites and the restoration that followed by many dedicated volunteers was remarkable. Today, it is a beautiful link to Buffalo's past glory.

The theater is home to the many Broadway theater productions whose road shows attract sell out crowds. A recent 32 show run by Wicked drew sell out crowds throughout its stay.

Besides theater, you can also attend concerts and other spectacular shows throughout the year.

Best part of Buffalo- Last call is 4 am in Buffalo, which is special because most of the nation is 2am. Several distinct and thriving nightlife districts have grown around clusters of bars and nightclubs in the City. The most visible nightlife district is West Chippewa Street, between Main Street and South Elmwood Avenue, home to high-energy dance clubs, crowded bars, trendy coffehouses, a sex shop, and restaurants.

However, something you might wanna remembered. There is no indoor smoking in the Bar, this is the NY State law. The weather in BUffalo is extremly cold during winter and fall, you wont wanna freeze yourself off in the street because of cigrarettes.

Dress Code: Normal US clubbing dress code

Buffalo has one small strip on which you'll find all the bars on. It's about two blocks long and well populated in the evenings when the party is started. What I don;t get is the locals all drink Labatt Blue....ew!!! But I guess given the alternative of Bud or Miller I'd do the same thing too :)

Dress Code: Snow pants and bamboo shoes!

If you can't find a place to get drunk in this town, then you aren't looking. Buffalo is a drinking town, no THE drinking town. It has 4 precise drinking districts. Everybody drinks because there are so many bars. For the college scene, check out Main Street by UB which offers Molly's (the cheapest place to drink), third base and the ever popular and ever irritating frat house/bar The Steer. If you go to the Steer on a Thursday night, wear riot gear. Oh, and bring a flask because it will take you 45 minutes to get up to the 10 deep bar.

For the gay folks, try out Allen Street. Cathode Ray is the best place for the mixed gay crowd. Fugazi is a little pricey but the make great drinks. Cabaret is a great place to see a drag show.

And finally the world famous Chippewa Street. It may take you 2 or 3 weekends to find "your bar". But they're all pretty much the same. If you want to stay on Chippewa St. but not deal with the crowds, go up to Shaker Lounge in the Hampton Inn and order yourself a delicious white chocolate martini.

If you want to dance your ass off, Level is a great new big city style dance club on Chippewa. Marcella's, at Pearl and Chippewa is a mostly gay but somewhat mixed dance club with hot bartenders and fun drag shows. Sphere is the decadent new night club up a block on Main Street. It's got the best DJs in Buffalo and it also features a quiet martini bar to relax from dancing. Sphere does enforce a strict dress code.

Finally, South Buffalo along Center Road features mostly Irish Pubs and bars like Whiskey Dicks. I've never really gone to any bars in South Buffalo so I cannot comment.

But if you want to experience what Buffalo is truly about, find a little corner bar, order a Labatts on draft (I can guarantee you that there will be a special and you won't pay full price), a basket of chicken wings and play a game of darts or quickdraw and kvetch about the Bills with your new friend sitting next to you.

Just remember you have to go outside to smoke.

They have their own set of Microbrews that are fantastic. Very popular place to watch sports, Sabres a lot of the time, or go to after a sporting event at Dunn Tire Field or HSBC Arena. This is a big bar with two large floors. I generally make my way upstairs.

Dress Code: Casual. Some people will dress up a little bit, depending on what they are there for. I will show up in a button down shirt one time and shorts and a tee-shirt the next time.

Chippewa Street.

Bars are open till 4:00AM! (It's later than you think, trust me).
This is a gathering of bars downtown at Chippewa, Franklin, Delaware, and Main St. Some of my favorite bars to visit are: The Atomic, Crocodile Bar, House 'O Quinn, Bradford Bar and Grille, 658 Main St, Zoo Bar, The Tap Room, and Genesse Sports Bar and Grill. My LEAST favorites are the Coliseum which has seven bars in this huge building. It is a great place to go if you are 18 and love loud techno music. It is also a great place to go if you want to be packed into a bar and pass out from a excess of Cologne and perfume. If you are like me, go the the very top and hang out. Many bars, many good places to eat, and of course good people watching. They have a bar for every type of person and crowd.

Dress Code: Most people stay in the casual realm. You of course have the girls that go all out with the latest fashions and 'cool' clothes. Sometimes it is pretty funny, other times just annoying.