FAQs
Click on a question below to jump to the answer:
Where is Buffalo?
Is Buffalo near Niagara Falls?
How close is Buffalo to New York City?
Is Buffalo located on the Great Lakes?
Is Buffalo's weather really as harsh as I've heard?
Were Buffalo Wings invented in Buffalo?
Where can I get the best Buffalo wings?
What is beef-on-weck?
Where are the bars and clubs in Buffalo?
What are the best sports bars in Buffalo?
What are some of Buffalo's best restaurants?
Where do people go to shop in Buffalo?
Is there a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Buffalo?
What is there to do in Buffalo?
What are the best family attractions in Buffalo and Niagara Falls?
What spectator sports does Buffalo have?
Where can I access the Internet in Buffalo?
Where is Buffalo?
Buffalo is the commercial, political and entertainment hub of an eight-county region of western New York State consisting of nearly 1.6 million people. Located at the easternmost end of Lake Erie, overlooking the Niagara River, Buffalo is just across the Peace Bridge from the Canadian province of Ontario.
Is Buffalo near Niagara Falls?
Buffalo is a 20-minute drive from Niagara Falls and its array of world class tourist attractions, including the Maid of the Mist sightseeing boat and the Cave of the Winds, a web of wooden catwalks and staircases accessed through a tunnel in the rock behind the American Falls that provide spectacular up-close views of the cataract.
How close is Buffalo to New York City?
Buffalo is 439 miles from mid-town Manhattan. This is an eight-hour drive via the New York State Thruway, an eight-hour train ride via Amtrak or a one-hour flight from either LaGuardia or Kennedy Airports.
Is Buffalo located on the Great Lakes?
Buffalo is located at the confluence of Lake Erie, the Buffalo River and the Niagara River. Its importance as both a lakefront and riverfront town was immeasurably enhanced with the creation of the Erie Canal in 1825. This historic waterway made Buffalo the gateway to the American west for millions of settlers.
Is Buffalo's weather really as harsh as I've heard?
For much of the year, Buffalo is blessed with a benign and hospitable climate. May is typically the most beautiful and comfortable of the spring months -- a mix of sunny weather and beautiful blossoms.
Our summers traditionally arrive in mid-June and are usually mild and pleasant with breezes from nearby Lake Erie keeping temperatures moderate and humidity low. This "Oasis Effect" makes Western New York's summer weather among the most spectacular in North America, as sunshine is plentiful and the average daytime temperature in July is a comfortable 80 degrees. In fact, temperatures in the 90s are rare. The National Weather Service in Buffalo has never recorded a reading above 100 degrees. Overall Buffalo experiences drier summers than most cities in the Northeast.
Autumn is breathtaking in Western New York. The pleasant temperatures, sunny days, and autumn colors stretch well into late October making this a favorite season for many.
The severity of Buffalo's winter weather is greatly exaggerated by the national media. While most large-scale winter storm systems usually pass by Buffalo, the region does experience "Lake Effect" snows. These snows generally occur just south of the city, a region locals refer to as "ski country". Outdoor activities are plentiful - ranging from downhill skiing to ice fishing, sledding and toboganing -- as day time temperatures often hover at or above freezing and there is usually snow to enjoy.
While the Weather Channel likes to make much of the occasional lake effect snow in this part of the country, we are fortunate to be free of much of the severe weather that routinely besets other regions.
Were Buffalo Wings invented in Buffalo?
Yes. In 1964, Terressa Bellisimo made an impromptu snack for some patrons who were enjoying an evening at the Anchor Bar, her family's bar and restaurant. She took some chicken wings that were left over from the day, deep-fried them, added some hot sauce and served them crisp and hot. Her friends loved them and gradually other restaurants throughout the city - and eventually the world - began serving this new delicacy. You can still find Buffalo wings at the Anchor Bar at 1047 Main Street in Buffalo.
Where can I get the best Buffalo wings?
The Anchor Bar remains the standard by which all other wing joints are judged. Its old school charm and authentic Buffalo bar culture make it the place to go for this local delicacy. Locals also sing the praises of Duff's (on Millersport Highway in nearby Amherst, in Orchard Park or on Dick Road in Depew), Gabriel's Gate on Allen Street in the heart of Allentown, La Nova and Bob and John's (both with multiple locations). Bottom line: great wings can be found in almost every corner tavern and locally-owned restaurant in town.
What is beef-on-weck?
Another of Buffalo's indigenous delicacies: sliced roast beef piled high on a kummelweck roll (a German kaiser roll sprinkled with caraway seeds and pretzel salt and baked again for several minutes until crusty) dipped in au jus and spiced with fresh horseradish. Charlie the Butcher's, Schwabl's, Laughlin's and Eckl's are among the more notable establishments serving this regional specialty.
Where are the bars and clubs in Buffalo?
The heart of Buffalo nightlife can be found along the length and breadth of downtown's Chippewa Street. Here you'll find clubs, bars and restaurants to suit every taste, from Darcy McGee's Irish Pub to the Chocolate Bar and many more. The Allentown neighborhood is also home to an eclectic mix of nightlife options ranging from legendary watering holes like Nietzsche's to the Allentown Hardware Company, Two Two Three Allen, Colter Bay, and Mother's. Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo also has a large concentration of bars, taverns and clubs.
What are the best sports bars in Buffalo?
The Cobblestone across the street from First Niagara Center, Lagerhaus 95 on Perry Street, Pearl Street Grill & Brewery in downtown Buffalo, Rhino's and the Big Tree Inn near Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, Third Base in University Heights and the Buffalo Brew Pub in Williamsville.
What are some of Buffalo's best restaurants?
The list is simply too long to include everything here. A few of the better known restaurants include the Rue Franklin, Buffalo Chop House, Bacchus, Tempo, Hutch's, Left Bank, Papaya, Oliver's, San Marco, Lombardo's, Toro Tapas Bar, Siena, E.B. Green's and Salvatore's Italian Gardens.
Where do people go to shop in Buffalo?
Retail destinations include malls like the Walden Galleria, Boulevard Mall, Eastern Hills Mall, Fashion Outlets of Niagara and the McKinley Mall as well as eclectic and charming shopping districts such as Buffalo's Elmwood Village, Hertel Avenue, Williamsville, Clarence Center and the village of East Aurora.
Is there a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Buffalo?
Actually, there are five Wright-designed residences within Buffalo's city limits - one of the largest concentrations of Wright homes outside of Chicago. Buffalo's Wright stuff includes the Darwin D. Martin House Complex, his most extensive Prairie House, currently undergoing a multi-million dollar restoration that will return the property to its original grandeur. A sixth Wright design - Graycliff - can be found in nearby Derby, a short drive south of Buffalo on the Lake Erie shore.
What is there to do in Buffalo?
How much time do you have? The Buffalo area has outstanding theater, a world-class orchestra, architecture tours, nightlife along the resurgent Chippewa Street, one of the world's top collections of modern art at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and great shopping at the area's many malls and along Elmwood Avenue in the city, on Main Street in suburban Williamsville and in the quaint village of East Aurora. Sports lovers will find Buffalo Bills football, Buffalo Sabres hockey and Buffalo Bisons baseball, as well as major college football, basketball and hockey. For people with an appetite, there are a wealth of charming bistros and restaurants serving local specialties such as chicken wings and beef-on-weck, as well as truly affordable fine cuisine.
Nearby attractions include Darien Lake, New York State's largest amusement park; the "Grand Canyon of the East" at Letchworth State Park; the internationally-renowned Victorian village at the Chautauqua Institution; the Erie Canal; the oldest buildings on the Great Lakes at Old Fort Niagara; and the Genesee Country Village and Museum, the country's third-largest living history museum.
What are the best family attractions in Buffalo and Niagara Falls?
The Buffalo Zoo, the Buffalo Museum of Science, Explore ‘n' More Children's Museum, the Amherst Museum, Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, Martin's Fantasy Island Amusement Park, the Maid of the Mist, the Aquarium of Niagara, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours, Old Fort Niagara and the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.
What spectator sports does Buffalo have?
You'll find National Football League action when the Buffalo Bills take the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium in nearby Orchard Park. National Hockey League excitement when the Buffalo Sabres strap on their skates at First Niagara Center and International League baseball when the Buffalo Bisons mix it up each summer at Coca-Cola Field.
Where can I access the Internet in Buffalo?
Accessing the Internet while traveling around Buffalo with your laptop has never been easier. With free wifi hotspots located near many major attractions in Buffalo you can check your email, the weather forecast, or go to visitbuffaloniagara.com to find out about the latest Buffalo concerts, festivals, tours, exhibitions and restaurants or to simply learn more about the city.
If you're in the Elmwood Village or Allentown, shopping or strolling, take a break and relax at one of these hotspots:
- Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Avenue
- Cafe 59, 59 Allen Street (at the corner of Allen and Franklin Streets)
- Caffe Aroma, 957 Elmwood Avenue
If you're visiting the Buffalo Zoo or the Darwin Martin House in North Buffalo, you can check out what else is in the neighborhood at the Zoo's (300 Parkside Avenue) wifi hotspot.
Taking a stroll and admiring the magnificent architecture downtown? Find out more about Buffalo at these free Internet access sites:
- Buffalo City Hall, 65 Niagara Square
- Niagara Square, Delaware Avenue at Court Street
- Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square
- Cathedral Park, Church and Pearl Streets
- Ellicott Square Building, 295 Main Street
- Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, 76 Pearl Street
- Spot Coffee, 227 Delaware Avenue
- Lafayette Square, Main and Court Streets
- Theatre District, 600 Block of Main Street
Checking out the newly completed Erie Canal Harbor or having lunch at the Liberty Hound on the city's waterfront? You can read more about the historic Erie Canal online at the Erie Basin Marina wifi hotspot.
You can also check your email and access the Internet at the computer terminal in the Buffalo Niagara Visitor Center in the historic Market Arcade, 617 Main Street.
