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New York State’s second largest city, Buffalo has an unexpectedly beautiful skyline, making it an interesting place for architecture buffs. Eighty of its buildings, including many of its classic skyscrapers, are National Historic Landmarks or on the National Register of Historic Places. Most major architects of the 19th and 20th century built masterpieces in Buffalo, and many are still standing. If you’re into art-deco design, you’ll be in heaven here.

Niagara Falls is the long-standing big tourist attraction around here, right at the border with Canada.

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery has one of the world’s most extraordinary modern and contemporary art collections, especially rich in post-war American and European works. They also host The Buffalo News Summer Jazz Series of free concerts on the Delaware Stairs, overlooking Hoyt Lake, on five Sundays every July and August.

The Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center features visual arts and media, music and other performances. The Burchfield Penny Art Center exhibits the works of over 665 painters, with special emphasis on artists of Western New York.

The Nickle City Opera Buffalo’s only major opera company, produces full-scale operas, complete with costumes, sets and full orchestra - usually at the Riviera Theatre Performing Arts Center in nearby North Tonawanda.

The Buffalo gay community is friendy but compact, with a half dozen establishments, mostly around the area of Main Street between Allen and Chippewa. Things keep going quite late at night, as bars here don’t close until 4 am. Buffalo Pride is held in late May/ early June.

 

Getting here

The modern Buffalo Niagara International Airport is the region’s main gateway. See the NFTA-Metro Airport webpage for info on the Airport-Downtown Express shuttle (route 204), with non-stop service between the airport and Buffalo's central business district on weekdays. Departures are approximately every 30 minutes, and include a stop at the downtown Metro Bus station.

Amtrak operates two lines through Buffalo: Maple Leaf trains make a stop here among 20 stations on the way between New York City and Toronto; and the Empire Service runs between New York and Niagara Falls, with stops in Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.

 

Getting around

You might want a car to get around the city, but NFTA-Metro has buses, trains, and tolley-buses that cover Buffalo, Lockport and Niagara Falls. Taxis need to be called for - except at the airport.

 

Media & Resources

Outcome, Buffalo’s gay newspaper, has news and features about the western New York region. BuffaloGayBars has local listings and a weekly schedule of events - which they promise to update sson. Diversity Rules is a monthly gay publication and online magazine for Upstate New York.

For local arts events and listings, and restaurant reviews, see Artvoice website. Buffalo Rising is another useful general listings site.

See upcoming concert dates for the Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus at their website.

The Pride Center of Western New York (200 S Elmwood), the gay community center with the David Bohnett Cyber Center and an LGBT lending library, is home to many local social and support groups with scheduled events. Their website also lists local events, restaurants and gay nightlife.

For a nearby all-male, members only, clothing-optional campground, cabins and RV Park check out Jones Pond, in Angelica NY, in the Genesee Valley to the southeast of Buffalo.

For map locations and website links to the businesses below, and more, see our gay Buffalo listings pages.

 

Going Out

Boomerang's Bar & Grill (995 Niagara St), gay-friendly, casual eatery with big American food menu, veggie options, and good prices.

Look for Buffalo Bear excursions and nights out, including live music events, gay party nights, Potluck in the Park, and Bears On The Boardwalk.

Cathode Ray (26 Allen St), gay/mixed bar, men/women video lounge, pool and darts, karaoke, outdoor patio, sports on TV.

Club Marcella (622 Main St), 18+ Thursday through Sunday gay party bar and lounge in the Theater District; drag shows/pageants, dancing, old school and alternative performances, theme parties/ contests, diverse mix.

Fugazi (503 Franklin St), upscale cocktail lounge and video bar, Broadway Showtunes to South Park Sundays, billiards games, mostly men.

Funky Monkey Nite Club (20 Allen St), gay bar, cheap, strong drinks, Sunday karaoke, theme and special holiday event parties.

Preservation Pub (948 Main St), women-and-gay-friendly locals' dive bar, Buffalo craft beers, burgers and sides, and Western New York's largest patio.

Q (44 Allen St), warm and comfortable, upscale Allentown neighborhood video bar, mostly gay men; karaoke nights.

Underground (274 Delaware Ave), gay/ mixed neighborhood bar, easy-to-meet people, karaoke, burlesque, dance nights.

See some local restaurant and hotel suggestions at our map and listings pages.

Gay bathhouse? Drive an hour west on I90 for the closest sauna: the Rochester Spa & Body Club (109 Liberty Pole Way), with private rooms/suites, steam/sauna, fantasy rooms, tanning booth, sun deck, cafe, movie and TV lounges, and free WiFi.