1st trip to Buffalo!

[Draconator]

Come see my band! 

 

Friday night - Ice House Pub - Lackawanna

Saturday night - The Cove - Depew

[hondo in seattle]

First of all, I hope you have fun and the Bills deliver a victory!

 

As a former Buffalonian who (I duck as I type this) has visited and lived in bigger & better cities, I'll say that Buffalo has its charms. 

 

IMHO it's food scene is not world-class.  It doesn't have any Michelin-starred restaurants.  As far as I know, no James Beard award-winning chefs.  Asian food is far better on the West Coast.  Latin food is far better in the border states.  Almost everything is better in NYC.  But I do highly recommend the Buffalo classics: Wings and Beef-on-Weck.  And if there were a way to measure this, I think Buffalo would lead the nation in most good pizzerias per capita.  "Buffalo Pizza" with its cup-and-char pepperoni and cheesy overload is a thing in its own right. You can find some good Polish food, too, since a lot of Poles live in Buffalo.  In my opinion, btw, Mighty Taco (mentioned previously) used to be awesome but has faded over the years into a grim shadow of Taco Bell.  

 

Niagara Falls is a must-see.  Both the Canadian and American sides (including Goat Island).  The Maid of the Mist boat ride is definitely worth the money.  It'll take you to a spot where you're nearly surrounded by cascading water.  Very cool.

 

If you're into architecture, there's a Frank Lloyd Wright house in the city and another about 20 or 30 minutes to the south.  Both are open to the public.  In fact, there's a lot of good/great architecture in Buffalo dating to the early 1900s when Buffalo was a booming metropolis, though much of it is in rough condition now.  

The zoo and some of the museums are decent.  In my opinion, none are must-see.  If you like presidential history, you can see the house where McKinley died after being shot in Buffalo, and a different house a few blocks away where Teddy Roosevelt was then sworn in.  But of these are skippable, too.  

 

Delaware Park (mentioned previously) is frustrating.  It was beautifully designed in the 1860s by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the same landscape architects who designed Central Park and some other fantastic spaces.  But in the 1960s, we stupidly built a highway down the middle of Delaware Park, forever scarring it.

 

I recommend wearing Bills gear every day.  The Mafia is for real.  I've lived in or near KC, SF, Oakland, Indy, Atlanta, Seattle, San Diego, and St. Louis, and been to nearly every other NFL city.  Buffalo's love of their team is different.  You might want to stop at The Bills Store, next to the stadium, to get outfitted.  

 

 

[SoonerBillsFan]

Congrats!  you are going to finally see and experience Bills Mafia at its fullest. Just make sure you walk all around the stadium, so many fans!

[hondo in seattle]

8 hours ago, DrZ said:

Wife surprised me with a trip to Buffalo for my 40th bday. Would really appreciate any suggestions/local spots/recommendations on must do things. We are staying at Curtiss Hotel  Thanks everyone!

 

Where are you coming from?

 

[BillsPride12]

If you have time check out Jamestown, NY.  It's a beautiful ride out that way in the Fall and it's the birth place and hometown of Lucille Ball which has some cool landmarks and a Lucy Museum.  Also the National Comedy Center is in Jamestown.  If your a comedy fan it's worth a visit

[SF Bills Fan]

8 hours ago, DrZ said:

Thanks! We are on our way now. We will check out Gabriel's Gate. 

The Gate has my favorite wings downtown. 

[Maine-iac]

11 hours ago, DrZ said:

Wife surprised me with a trip to Buffalo for my 40th bday. Would really appreciate any suggestions/local spots/recommendations on must do things. We are staying at Curtiss Hotel  Thanks everyone!

Last game I went to in Buffalo I didn't stay downtown.  I guess you could call it mid town (?) but there was several blocks between Main and Delaware with lots of small restaurants.  I wouldn't call it up scale or fine dining but I'm as big a fan of small restaurants as I am fancy ones.  I think we went to Taqueria Ranchos Dos one night and Anchor Bar the next night. We stayed in Buffalo and took a Rally bus to the game.  I'll be at the Miami game next week but I'm driving in instead of flying so I'm not staying in Buffalo.

[TwoFlocksofFury]

I've heard there's an Applebee's.

[Bill from NYC]

Eat at The Eagle House in Williamsville. The place is GREAT!!!

[billybob71]

Ellicottville NY

[HOUSE]

Stay away from the blue water tower at 5 pm

 

 

 

Edited September 13 by HOUSE

[dave mcbride]

11 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

A little obscure from the typical WNY recommendations but I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House complex near Delaware Park. It wasn’t available when I lived in WNY but is well worth it. Truly amazing to see this 125 year old landmark restored. 

The Martin House is one of the greatest things to see in Buffalo.

28 minutes ago, billybob71 said:

Ellicottville NY

Also great. But not close!

[Draconator]

7 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

If you like presidential history, you can see the house where McKinley died after being shot in Buffalo, and a different house a few blocks away where Teddy Roosevelt was then sworn in.  But of these are skippable, too.  

McKinley's assassination site is pretty cool, and a part of American history. The neighbors have done a really nice job with the landscape around the marker. Look for the 20 ft American flag and pole. The marker is just off to the left when looking north. 17 Fordham Drive, Buffalo. https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4kKvY9raZ4pCxco6

[Bills!Win!]

See, do, and eat everything in east Aurora. That’s all.

[Thrivefourfive]

I can tell you that when I went to my first home game last year, it was a perfect day. Parked at a good neighbor’s home on Sheldon, tailgated some, and walked in. Let go of all the preplanning minutiae in my head that can ruin a good time, and kept it as simple and spontaneous as possible. Wife and I had the time of lives. Three back a few at the two corner spots after the game and had the best time with more fans and good neighbors. Nothing will ever compare. 
 

As for the other stuff to do, you’ll hear it all here in the posts. Follow the advice. Oh, go shopping at the Bills stores. All of them if you have to. Needed to buy two suitcases at TJ Max for the flight home. 
 

Wishing you good vibes on your trip, youuuu!!!

[Richard Noggin]

Pizzeria Florian in East Aurora is the best pizza in WNY, without question. Ranked in top 50 worldwide, if I'm not mistaken. It's run by the Jay who founded Jay's Artisan Pizza, which he eventually sold to an understudy. There is much else in East Aurora, including Bar-Bill (elite wings) and a nationally impressive Borderlands music festival lineup this weekend, so consider a slight venture east of town for all that. 

[hondo in seattle]

2 hours ago, Draconator said:

McKinley's assassination site is pretty cool, and a part of American history. The neighbors have done a really nice job with the landscape around the marker. Look for the 20 ft American flag and pole. The marker is just off to the left when looking north. 17 Fordham Drive, Buffalo. https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4kKvY9raZ4pCxco6

 

I didn't know about this.  I'll have to check it out next time I'm in Buffalo.  

 

This is a little idiosyncratic, but I visit Parkside Chocolate on Main Street roughly every other time I'm in town.  I like chocolate and I like architecture and Parkside Chocolate is a little, decaying architectural gem with decent chocolates, including Buffalo's unique "sponge candy."  

 

[DrZ]

17 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Where are you coming from?

 

Beavercreek Ohio

[Dan Darragh]

On 9/10/2025 at 6:21 PM, chris heff said:

Somebody named their restaurant Adolfs?

Prolly 'cuz someone named their kid Adolf.

Edited September 11 by Dan Darragh

[chris heff]

Just now, Dan Darragh said:

Prolly 'cuz someone named their kid Adolf.

Prolly 'cuz someone named their kid Adolf.

Has anyone really named a kid Adolf since 1939?