Nightlife
How You Spend Your Nights
No matter what struggles we contend with in the light of day here in Buffalo, once that evening sun goes down there’s no shortage of destinations to take us away from all that. Whether we crave the highbrow satisfaction of an urbane martini, or the lowbrow thrill of a boilermaker at the bowling alley, we can quench either thirst right here. Here in our 4am town, the nighttime is the right time for just about anything.
When people punch out of work at five, they like to get happy. Fortunately, they can stop into a number of establishments known for their happy hours—like Cozumel, Soho, or Bar Louie. Some people prefer the wide selection of beers available at those next-door neighbors on the Elmwood strip, Mr. Goodbar and Cole’s.
Many of our readers like to dance, and when they do they gravitate to Bottoms Up, Encore, or the exotic Club Marcella. Others prefer to get their grooves on at Pure or Bayou. As dancing can lead to other things, it’s not surprising that Pure, Encore, and Bayou also landed top five nominations in the Best Hookup Joint category.
Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name. If that’s your style, our readers recommend Cole’s and Founding Father’s—where you can mix your drinks with popular trivia questions. Other favorites are the friendly Sterling Place and the Essex Street Pub—where your cozy atmosphere comes with a cool rock-and-roll edge, plus darts and pool.
If you’ve been hibernating through the long winter, it’s time you made it out to some of the new hotspots in town. These include Barcelona, City Tavern, Rohall’s Corner, and the much anticipated and widely appreciated Blue Monk. DBGB’s, in the heart of Allentown, has quickly built a reputation as a jumping live music spot.
What would a sports town like Buffalo be without its favorite haunts to watch a game? Fans cite the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery, Thirsty Buffalo, Bada Bing, and the Aud Sports Bar in the city. Suburban sports nuts like the Amherst Pizza and Ale House.
If live music’s your bag, you’re in luck in Buffalo. Nietzsche’s, Mohawk Place, and the Sportsmen’s Tavern will have something cool happening any night of the week, while bigger shows acts make a point of stopping at the Town Ballroom—a theater and bar rolled into one. Papaya is popular on the Chip strip.
—buck quigley
Nominees listed in no particular order. Winners will be announced at the Artvoice Best of Buffalo Party, Monday, May 9, 6-9pm, at Town Ballroom.
Best Bartender
Jimmy Hill, Cathode Ray Josh Lewis, Papaya Pat Gilmartin, Allen Street Hardware Sam Arno, Bayou Roxy, Essex Street Pub Best Absolut Bartender Sam Arno, Bayou Connor White, Pearl Street Jamie Rudd, Mulligan’s Brick Bar Gabe Foley, Mothers Shannon MacFarlane, JP Bullfeather’s Best Beer on Tap Pearl Street Cole’s Buffalo Brew Pub Blue Monk Goodbar Best Dive Bar Mulligan’s Brick Bar Essex Street Pub Allen Street Bar and Grill (Old Pink) Tudor Lounge Nietzsche’s Best Bowling Voelker’s Transit Lanes Strikers Kenmore Lanes Thruway Lanes Best Dance Club Bayou Club Marcella Pure Bottoms Up Encore Best Upscale Bar Snooty Fox 31 Club Mothers Papaya Left Bank Best Bar Only You Know About North Sterling Place The Place Founding Fathers Rohall’s Corner Best Gay Bar Q Cathode Ray Fugazi Club Marcella Roxy’s Best Neighborhood Pub The Place Sterling Place Essex Street Pub Cole’s Founding Fathers Best Happy Hour Soho Cozumel Goodbar Cole’s Bar Louie |
Best Hookup Joint
Underground Bayou Allen Street Bar and Grill (Old Pink) Pure Encore Best Jukebox Frizzy’s Faherty’s Allen Street Bar and Grill (Old Pink) Essex Street Pub Mulligans Brick Bar Best Karaoke Q Klub Karaoke Essex Street Pub Roxy’s Tudor Lounge Best Live Music Nietzsche’s Mohawk Place Sportsmen’s Tavern Town Ballroom Papaya Best New Bar City Tavern Barcelona DBGBs Rohall’s Corner Blue Monk Best Place For Darts Faherty’s Mulligans Brick Bar Frizzy’s Essex Street Pub Goodbar Best Place to Shoot Pool Essex Street Pub Goodbar Hippodrome Slick Willie’s Pearl Street Best Place to Watch a Game Pearl Street Bada Bing Thirsty Buffalo Amherst Pizza and Ale House The Aud Sports Bar Best Strip Club Colonie Lounge Pharaoh’s Mademoiselle Tiffany’s Cabaret Rick’s Tally Ho Best Wine Bar Trattoria Aroma Allen Street Hardware Bacchus Just Vino The Wine Thief |
Our City, Our People The Fine Arts Music Dining Out Shops & Services Nightlife & Drinking The 2011 Winners List |
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