“In a city falsely stereotyped by beer drinking, bargain shopping and football games, this revamped cultural gem is grabbing headlines around the world, while reinforcing the reality that Buffalo is as much a cultural destination as it is a sports town.” — The Hamilton Spectator
“From its monumental architecture, including a recent multi-million-dollar restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Martin House, to the grand reopening of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, the (Buffalo) metro has exploded on the arts-and-culture circuit. Its transformation is truly remarkable and it’s a place I always look forward to visiting because its evolution is constant and inspiring.”
— NeueHouse
“The AKG is something rare today—an institution that is not at war with its own past, but as proud of its architectural legacy as it is optimistic about making it relevant for the future. Its Gundlach pavilion contributes splendidly to that legacy, even in its smallest details.”
— The Wall Street Journal
“The AKG’s significant collection of modern art make it a required stop for cultural travelers.”
— The Wall Street Journal
“And while urban revival comeback narratives can be overly simplified and reductive, the signs of Buffalo’s next chapter are unmistakably vibrant.”
— Travel + Leisure
“Cities ebb and flow, so the ‘best’ time to visit a particular one might require a time machine, or for the patient Architourist to wait. New York wasn’t great in the 1970s and 80s, but it’s amazing now, and would’ve been in the 1940s and 50s. Paris, many say, was at its best during the Belle Époque, when the Eiffel Tower and the Métro were being built; Toronto would’ve been a blast to witness after New City Hall opened in 1965 and into the 70s, when it awoke from colonial sleepiness and became a dynamic, confident, immigrant city. Right now, in 2023, and for the past 15 years or so, Buffalo, N.Y., has been having a moment: a massive heritage moment.”
— Dave LeBlanc, The Architourist, The Globe & Mail
“The new installation of the AKG Art Museum collection is arranged with remarkably subtle discernment. It leads visitors at a carefully calculated pace through the progress of modern painting from around 1750 to the present day. The splendidly refurbished historic rooms and unfamiliar new galleries constitute a high achievement of presentation, erudition and elegance.”
— Francis Kowsky, Author, The Dual Career of Calvert Vaux, Architect and Landscape Architect
“In many ways, the remarkable financial investment in the museum is a testament to a percolating optimism in Buffalo and the belief that the makeover of this 161-year-old institution—the sixth oldest art museum in the U.S., in fact—will usher in a long-awaited renaissance for the industrial city that has seen its fair share of struggle.”
— Katie White, artnet
“The Buffalo AKG Art Museum–formerly known as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery–didn’t construct its new three-story, glass encased campus addition specifically to house its unparalleled collection of Clyfford Still paintings, although to see the stunning installation, you couldn’t blame the museum if it did. The new building’s ground floor galleries soar, creating cavernous, open, light-infused spaces…Buffalo AKG curators designed the building’s gallery dimensions, not architects, and the wisdom of that decision is immediately felt by guests to the exhibition who are made to feel small in a good way. Like visiting the mountains. Humbling. Sublime.”
— Chadd Scott, Forbes.com
“The galleries here are cathedral-like, with tons of unobstructed floor from which to contemplate these gigantic paintings from afar. When sun pours in from the outside, these spaces live up to their promise of offering something akin to a spiritual experience. Few will regret making the pilgrimage.”
— Alex Greenberger, ARTnews
“Cross over the Peace Bridge into Buffalo, and in about 1.5 hours from Toronto, you’ll discover a vibrant arts scene, architectural gems, a revitalized waterfront and cool neighbourhoods to explore. Once the eighth-largest city in America, Buffalo still boasts an infrastructure from its heyday around the turn of the century; now, artists and a new breed of entrepreneurs are participating in a creative renaissance, capitalizing on readily available (and relatively affordable) warehouse spaces and office buildings.”
— Toronto Star
“Buffalo has long been an under-the-radar pilgrimage site for architecture buffs. The city’s industrial heyday yielded some of the most superlative American buildings of the early 20th century, among them Louis Sullivan’s tile-clad Guaranty building and Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Martin House—a paradigm of his Prairie style, now restored to its original glory (and joined by an ethereal visitor center by AD100 maestro Toshiko Mori). It was here that Frederick Law Olmsted weaved his network of parks in the 19th century; here that Eero and Eliel Saarinen unveiled their sublime Kleinhans Music Hall in 1940; and here that Gordon Bunshaft added his modernist auditorium to what is now the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in 1962. That venerable institution will build upon Buffalo’s rich architectural legacy next spring, when it unveils a spectacular new wing—among other ingenious improvements—by OMA’s Shohei Shigematsu. Buffalo, soon more than ever, will warrant a weekend visit.”
— Architectural Digest (Click here for entire article)
“Perhaps the most visible sign of Buffalo’s changing fortunes are its new apartments, which turn up in empty warehouses, former municipal buildings and longtime parking lots converted into much-needed housing. In the last decade, 224 multifamily projects – encompassing 10,150 apartments, most of them rentals, the equivalent of about $3 billion in investment – have opened or are underway.”
— The New York Times
“Buffalo is an exciting place to be these days from a tourism perspective. Revitalization efforts from recent years are paying dividends while new projects and efforts abound. Great food, a one-of-a-kind sports culture, unique accommodation options, bountiful breweries, and many, many neighbourhoods that are worth exploring in-depth.”
— Chris Mitchell, TravelingMitch
“As a first-time visitor to Buffalo, I was impressed and surprised by the arts, culture and history. You’ll find no shortage of things to do and see. It’s a welcoming, progressive city that preserves the old while embracing the new.”
— The Miami Times
“It’s hard not to have a good time in Buffalo. A decade or so ago that might have been a hilarious statement, but if you’ve visited recently you know a fantastic weekend is there waiting for you. The “City of Good Neighbors” is filled with history, culture and bars that don’t close until 4 a.m. Which means you can spend your days exploring one of the industrial era’s great cities, then spend the night making new friends in neighborhood taverns. Not to mention stuffing yourself with wings and other all-American classics.”
— Matt Meltzer in FiftyGrande.com
“Sure, you’ve heard rumblings about Buffalo’s restaurants, or maybe its brewery boom. But lately, the city is getting attention for its visual arts scene — and most notably, a game-changing new gallery that’s Native American-owned and dedicated entirely to Indigenous art.”
— Travel & Leisure (Naming Buffalo one of the “50 Best Places to Travel in 2021”
“The city offers many dining options, including a Buffalo Wing Trail, where tourists can sample variations of the food item at different pubs and restaurants.”
— WikiEZVid.com
“Simply put, to spend a day eating in Buffalo is to spend a day immersed in a distinctively American food culture.”
— NationalGeographic.co.uk
“The (Darwin Martin) house is one of the great masterpieces of Wright’s architecture, and its two-decade return to glory is an inspiring story…(the view from the front door) is as dramatic, and essential to understanding Wright’s large aesthetic, as any view at any Wright masterpiece, including the iconic waterfall vista at Fallingwater, the rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum, and the facade and pools at the Imperial Hotel, preserved in part at an architectural park outside of Nagoya, Japan.”
— The Washington Post
“Perhaps the greatest contributor to the city’s new-found allure, though, is its wealth of parks and gardens…(Buffalo) can hold its own with any gracious Southern landscape or pastoral California setting. From one of the most expansive projects by celebrated landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to the country’s largest garden tour, Buffalo is ever-blooming.”
— AAA World
“‘Keep Buffalo a Secret.’ It seems to be a mantra in the Queen City. It’s even painted on the side of Oxford Pennant on Main Street in Buffalo and printed on shirts, making it the “Keep Austin Weird” of New York. But folks are increasingly whiffing when it comes to keeping that pledge of secrecy. Buffalo’s reputation continues to evolve from ice-coated Rust Belt punching bag to destination for folks craving seriously fantastic food, a buzzing nightlife, (frigid) outdoor adventure, and one of the friendliest (and rowdiest) sets of locals in the Northeast. There’s just too much cool shit to do in Buffalo to keep the lid on the place.”
— Thrillist.com (Click here for entire article)
“Buffalo in the summer was absolutely perfect.”
— Purewander.com
“Being inside of the Darwin Martin House is like medicine for your soul: You’ll leave inspired, refreshed, and calmed to your core.”
— Departures.com
“Man oh man were we impressed. The people of Buffalo rock! And the gardens? Well, you have to go. The homeowners who open their properties during this event are creative, generous, and clearly have a wonderful time creating with color. The people of Buffalo are friendly and generous, and we came away inspired about how garden tourism can improve neighborhoods, become a huge source of income, and bring people together in positive ways“
— Ellen Zachos and C.L. Fornari on the Plantorama Podcast
“Buffalo is also pouring its collective creative energy into its dining scene, with trail-blazing restaurants proving that the city’s culinary talents go well beyond the namesake wing.”
— Foodism/Toronto
“The great thing about it is, and this is unprompted, I’ve always been fascinated by the city. And it is true that every day that I’m here I fall in love more and more with it.”
— Guillermo Del Toro (Click here for entire article)
“Buffalo’s resurgence continues. Plan a visit now to take advantage of expanding budget air routes and a fast-growing hotel and restaurant scenes. The city’s super-interactive children’s museum, Explore & More, is new for 2020, and the recently restored Frank Lloyd Wright houses of Graycliff and the Martin House are another highlight.”
— Lonely Planet
“Landmark buildings dotted throughout Buffalo’s downtown are one of the many examples of how the city surprises and impresses first-time visitor.”
— Foodism/Toronto
“I love it when a city surprises you. A trip to Buffalo, New York did exactly that. I was expecting to find diehard sports fans, friendly people and the birthplace of Buffalo chicken wings. Our family did find that but also so much more. We also found a city filled with amazing architecture, a vibrant waterfront and a music scene with a rich history.”
— Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
“Going far beyond the immediate titillation of ‘ruin porn,’ there is a sense of majesty here. One can feel the weight of these buildings, both physically and psychologically; powerhouses of industry, commerce and trade, these form-follows-function grain elevators and no-nonsense warehouses shaped the waterfront and how people interacted with it. Ultimately, they shaped lives.”
— Dave LeBlanc, the Architourist in The Globe and Mail
“Buffalo is one of the great under-the-radar major cities in the country – almost to the point that it’s becoming not hip to say that Buffalo has become hip.”
— SFGate.com
“I was dazzled by Buffalo’s waterfront, reclamation of old facilities, architectural gems, and food tourism. Truly, if you haven’t been to Buffalo lately, you haven’t been to Buffalo”
— Nadine Robinson/The Sault Star
“A new wave of bars and restaurants are putting Buffalo on the contemporary food map.”
— The Sunday Telegraph
“Although it may feel like Buffalo has been dormant for decades, this Rust Belt city is in the midst of a resurgence thanks to its beautifully restored architecture, burgeoning culinary scene, and new art compounds.”
— Architectural Digest
“While Wisconsin and Arizona are the locations typically associated with Wright’s work, It’s in Buffalo, of all places, that architecture enthusiasts can find a plethora of his work.”
— Kristine Hansen/Architectural Digest
“Unpretentious, yet lively, Buffalo has quietly morphed into one of American’s great food cities.”
— O.Canada.com
“It didn’t take long to discover the quiet revival taking place in New York’s Queen City: cool neighbourhoods you could picture yourself living in, old buildings and homes getting a new lease on life, once derelict parts of town now the talk of the town. We also locked into the hospitable vibe from all the nodding; people actually acknowledge your presence – in store lineups, on street corners, bellying up to the bar – just like in a small town. Turning off the Toronto anonymity is often a vacation in itself.”
— Doug Wallace/In Magazine
“If you’re not a Buffalo native but want to eat like a real Buffalonian, I’ve got the answer for you: the Buffalo Wing Trail.“
— Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Historic restorations, repurposed structures, and a hotel in an old psych ward have helped make the City of Good Neighbors an increasingly exciting place to visit.”
— Afar.com
“(Buffalo’s) strategic position at the end of the Erie Canal made it the conduit of commerce between New York City and the rest of America. As a result, the city created and attracted barons of industry, who brought famous architects here to design civic buildings and parks, as well as personal homes—and helped transformed the city into a hotbed of innovation. Now, Buffalo is in the midst of another transformation. Adding to the historical treasures is a new wave of innovators who are restoring buildings, re-imagining industrial spaces, and luring travelers to discover all that this culturally rich city has to offer.”
— Afar.com
“A road trip to a revitalized Queen City yields warm hospitality, rich heritage, vibrant art and landmark architecture.”
— In Magazine
“Tucked on the western edge of New York State, often overlooked for the nearby Canadian city of Toronto and the attraction of Niagara Falls, the former boomtown of Buffalo is reaffirming its spot on the map. Buffalo, the second most populated city in the state behind New York City, reached its most populous and prosperous times in the late 19th to early 20th-centuries largely thanks to the business brought by the Erie Canal. Steel and grain were major industries for the city and fortunes were made in banking as well. However, like most boomtowns, Buffalo eventually went bust. But now, the city is making a comeback.“
— untappedcities.com
“Buffalonians are proud to introduce visitors to a plate of Buffalo delicacies. Buffalo wings date back to 1964, when they were invented by Teressa Bellissimo at the Anchor Bar. The origins of sponge candy remain a mystery, but Fowler’s has been making it since 1901, the year entrepreneur Joseph A. Fowler made and sold the sweets at Buffalo’s Pan-American Exposition. But the beef on weck predates these — it’s Buffalo’s original culinary specialty.”
— eater.com
“Canadians who think Buffalo is only good for cross-border shopping and watching sports have got it all wrong. I’ve been going since the early 2000s for completely different reasons. Architecture is a big one. Micro museums. Memorable meals. Waterfront innovations. Quirky Americana. Grain silos. Let me count the ways that I love our American neighbor.”
— O.Canada.com
“Like many once-successful cities, the Queen City suffered a slide after World War II that subsequent urban-renewal efforts steepened. With downtown living once again popular across the country, though, Buffalo’s long-neglected assets are being embraced in a citywide revitalization- illustrated by the asylum’s adaptive reuse, a meticulous restoration of a major Frank Lloyd Wight residence, and a series of waterfront redevelopment projects – that has drawn global media attention and is driving tourism.”
— Northern New England Journey
“The people of Buffalo could not be nicer. Seriously it’s the weirdest place that I’ve ever painted. I had cops stop in front my mural and shout out ‘hey’ only to be followed by ‘would you mind if we took a picture?’ I had burly guys stop their pick-up trucks, roll down their windows and shout out ‘Thanks, what you’re doing is great.’ Whatever it is, I could get use to this.”
— @LoganHicksNY on Instagram
“I’ve been coming to Buffalo for food and travel stories since the early 2000s and still can’t believe that every single person I know doesn’t realize how great it is.”
— Jennifer Bain, Travel Writer
“Refurbishing old buildings for some newfangled purpose, called adaptive reuse, is a trendy term these days. But few places are pulling it off as seamlessly—and charmingly—as Buffalo. Silo City is the most poignant example. The five-acre cluster of former industrial buildings now serves as a venue for art exhibits, concerts, and literary events. Grain elevator tours are available, and the newest addition on site is a cozy tapas bar.”
— Men’s Journal (Click here for entire article)
“Go some place like Ulrich’s where you experience the basic and delightful duality of the Buffalo experience: cold and harsh outside, warm and hospitable inside.“
— Anthony Bourdain
“From immigrants to visionaries, open-hearted Buffalo has always welcomed both workaday folks and ambitious leaders to its cramped Victorian rowhouses and handsome turn-of-the-century mansion. These days, immigrants still bring their traditions and skills to Buffalo’s historic spaces…The city’s proud history, in short, is gaining a fresh 21st-century life.“
— Washington Post (Click here for entire article)
“Buffalo has seen economic ups and downs over time, this city in Western New York is on a revitalized upswing. An industrial powerhouse and a major port city over a century ago, today’s Buffalo is getting noticed for its architectural wonders, historic ties, an inventive food scene, and repurposed buildings.”
— Travelocity (Click here for entire article)
“Buffalo is the only city in America where the nation’s three greatest architects still have buildings standing: Sullivan’s Guaranty building (now a bank and office building), Richardson’s mental asylum (now a hotel and restaurant) and Wright’s Martin house (now a museum).”
— nationswell.com (Click here for entire article)
“I see (Buffalo) as a very distinct personality, a very distinct culture with its own architecture, its own kind of feel. It’s actually a weirdly wonderful place.”
— Anthony Bourdain
“Buffalo is in the midst of a second act. While its place along the Erie Canal once made Buffalo an industrial powerhouse, nowadays this city in Western New York State is seeing a major revival. Buffalo’s vibrant architectural past, particularly the contributions made by Frank Lloyd Wright, can still be seen today. Add walkable neighborhoods, an engaging park system, and a switching-up dining scene and you’ve got a perfect weekend getaway from New York City”
— OffMetro.com (Click here for entire article)
“At the turn of the 20th century, Buffalo welcomed waves of German, Polish, Italian, and Irish immigrants – and you can taste their impact in the superlative pierogi, pizza, and red sauce joints across the city today.
— Thrillist.com (Click here for entire article)
“Last year, as part of the Garden Writers annual conference, I visited Buffalo, New York, for the first time to experience Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest garden walk in the United States. It was a life-changing, inspirational flower extravaganza for me. In all my world travels, I have never seen such a multitude of private gardens that were so creative, so magically decorated, made up of tropical and northern plant palettes! I took thousands of photographs! Those who saw me afterwards know that I was in a daze – stunned by all the beauty of Buffalo”
— Teresa Watkins, Radio host/Garden writer
“Only knuckleheads – and the obstinately unenlightened – write off Buffalo, N.Y., as nothing more than a winter icebox and the birthplace of a certain sports-bar delicacy.”
— The Wall Street Journal
“New York’s second-largest city, Buffalo, owes its prominence – and its remarkable collection of early 20th-century architecture – to the Erie Canal, which turned it into a shipping powerhouse, and Niagara Falls, which made it one of the world’s first electrified cities. Today, the same water features that built Buffalo are now facilitating a varied slate of outdoor adventures, all within easy reach of anywhere in the city.“
— Lonely Planet (Click here for entire article)
“I’ve eaten pizza at many of the most well-respected pizzerias in America. For starters, Di Fara in Brooklyn, Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, Frank Pepe in New Haven, Pizzeria Beddia in Philadelphia, and Great Lake in Chicago before it closed. They and so many other great places have their merits. But I’m going out on the line and putting a decade of pizza cred built by writing about and visiting hundreds of pizzerias in New York City and across America to say that, Buffalo-style pizza is America’s most underappreciated regional style.”
— The Daily Beast (Click here for entire article)
“Buffalo is one of the two or three best eating cities in my book.”
— Michael Stern, Roadfood.com
“I loved Silo City, it was just one of the most extraordinary places I’ve ever seen. I went back five times… it’s just a special experience”
— Julia Buckley, The Times of London (Click here for entire article)
“This former punchline in Upstate New York is enjoying a enjoying a millennial-driven renaissance, with hip, affordable restaurants and bars materializing in converted turn-of-the-century buildings, especially in the Waterfront district.”
— The Washington Post (Click here for entire article)
“Buffalo just may be America’s No. 1 ice cream city.”
— Michael Stern, roadfood.com (Click here for entire article)
“Like many older American cities, Buffalo, which had early booms from various industries, including railways, shipyards and steel manufacturing, is shedding its rusty roots and experiencing a bona fide renaissance. No longer merely the portal to nearby Niagara Falls, Buffalo is a modern and multifaceted city, more than ready for its moment.”
— The New York Times, “36 Hours in Buffalo” (Click here for entire article)
“There’s a positive energy in Buffalo; a polite (Buffalo folks are unfailingly nice) but definite swagger in the step of their residents. It’s as if they’ve looked around and said to themselves the same thing a lot of journalists are saying, which is, ‘Wow, this place is COOL.’”
— Jim Byers Travel (Click here for entire article)
“The recurring theme in Buffalo is a by-the-bootstraps makeover… The city’s residents are turning old buildings and forgotten neighborhoods into unexpected gems supporting a growing dining scene and a diverse array of entertainment options.”
— Cleveland Scene
“I finally visited the revitalizing Rust Belt city that people call “The City of Good Neighbors” and found a generosity that seems ingrained in its makeup. From a happy reunion with my basketball friends to a tour of a thriving bazaar populated by immigrant vendors, Buffalo went from a place I didn’t think about, ever, to somewhere I would consider moving.“
— Jada Yuan, The New York Times
“Buffalo has seen a resurgence of creative energy, evoking the rich legacy of artistic innovation historically associated with the city”
— Art Monthly
“From blue-collar bars to Irish pubs, suburban restaurants to historic downtown hotels, the tour is the best way to experience the culture, food, and people that make Buffalo one of the most interesting places to visit in North America. And eat some of the best wings in the world along the way.”
— The Globe and Mail on the Buffalo Wing Trail (Click here for entire article)
“In a time when every American city starts to seem the same, when Dallas looks like Tampa looks like Charlotte looks like Phoenix, Buffalo feels solidly like Buffalo, New York…The people are real, the food is great, and they’ve repurposed beautiful relics without a hint of pretension. You will party harder, eat better, and make more new friends in a weekend, all for less money, than anywhere else in America.”
— Matt Meltzer, Thrillist.com (Click here for entire article)
“Buffalo is making a big comeback in large part by repurposing its historic buildings and long-dormant grain silos. Downtown Buffalo now buzzes with life thanks in part to the ever-expanding Canalside entertainment and recreation complex and a host of new dining and drinking establishments.”
— The New York Times, 52 Places to Go in 2018