Our beloved city of Buffalo is known for many things, but at the heart of all these things lies one place in particular, and that’s Buffalo’s Brewery District.

Pearl Street Grill & Brewery

The ever-popular Pearl Street Grill & Brewery is situated in a four-level warehouse from the 1800’s. Here you will find house brews, billiards, sports on TV, and delicious food from the grill. Let’s start with the brews: their year-round options include Trainwreck Amber Ale, Lake Effect American Pale Ale, Lighthouse Golden Ale, Street Brawler Oatmeal Stout, Saber’s Edge Double IPA, Blue-eyed Blueberry Blonde, Wild Ox Hefeweizen, Chocolate Stout, and Don Cherry Cherry Wheat. Not yet familiar with the Trainwreck? It’s their signature brew featuring German-style malts with aromas of chocolate, sweet bread, and dry-roasted nuts, rounded out by the prickle of hops.

As for the food, there are local appetizers like chicken wings and sausage stuffed hot peppers. There’s a burger for every preference – Brewer’s Burger for meat-lovers (topped with sauteed onions, mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and in-house Don Cherry Cherry Wheat BBQ Sauce), The Gobbler (turkey burger) for those who want a healthier option, and The Tree Hugger (spicy seven bean burger) for vegetarian foodies. We also recommend trying the Six Cheese Bowtie Pasta (which won the People’s Choice Award at the Taste of Buffalo). All that to say…you really ought to check out their menu!

Located at 76 Pearl Street. Opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at 12 p.m. on Sundays. Visit www.pearlstreetgrill.com for more information.

Brawler’s Back Alley Deli

You will find the comfy, full-service sports bar and restaurant that is Brawler’s Back Alley Deli in the basement of Pearl Street Grill & Brewery. Although this place has a classic speakeasy vibe and occasionally hosts live music, you can also catch your sports game of choice on one of their thirteen available TV’s. For breakfast, enjoy traditional eats like pancakes, waffles, and french toast. If you are feeling adventurous, you might try Brawler’s Breakfast, which is their take on the garbage plate! For lunch, there are hot and cold sandwiches, specialty sandwiches like Beef on Weck and The LEM BLT (which has half a pound of bacon on it), crunchy paninis, hot soups, and fresh salads.

Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 7a.m. to 12 p.m. Entrance is wheelchair accessible. Visit www.buffalobrewerydistrict.com/deli for more information.

The Lofts on Pearl

Neighbor to Pearl Street Grill & Brewery and Brawler’s Deli, The Lofts on Pearl is an 1878 redbrick hotel and also part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham and features comfortable, non-smoking 1- and 2-bedroom suites. Amenities include free WiFi, flat screen TV with cable, fireplace, living area, and a full kitchen which has a refrigerator, microwave, oven, stovetop, cookware, and flatware. On-site you will also find a gym, business center, banquet facilities, and an ATM. The hotel’s convenient location provides easy access to sports complexes, entertainment venues, shops, and restaurants. Just around the block, you will find the Seneca Station stop for the Buffalo Metro Rail as well.

Located at 92 Pearl Street. Check-in is at 3 p.m. Check out is at 11 a.m. Visit them www.wyndhamhotels.com for more information.

Buffalo RiverWorks

Buffalo RiverWorks is a massive sports and entertainment center is fairly new to the area and still being developed, but locals already recognize just how much this giant has to offer! First and foremost, the brews are amazing. In the summertime, adventure-seekers come here to rock climb and zipline between historic GLF Silos, kayak and paddleboard in the canal, and conquer the two-level urban high ropes course. Three escape rooms provide guests will fully immersive experiences. Two covered outdoor rinks are available for hockey, curling, figure skating, volleyball, tennis, roller hockey, and roller derby. RiverWorks also provides several tours: Grand Lady Cruises, Buffalo Tiki Tours, Buffalo Pedal Tours, and Brewery Tours.

If you are in the area on October 25th, RiverWorks is hosting “Doom ‘N Boom” – downtown Buffalo’s largest Halloween party! Guests 18 and over will enjoy heavy metal tribute bands, illusionist Leon Etienne, aerial acts, fire performers, stilt walkers, carnival rides, escape rooms, games, and cash costume prizes. Tickets are on sale now, so be sure to grab yours ASAP!

Located at 359 Ganson Street. Visit www.buffaloriverworks.com for more information.

Hotel Lafayette/Lafayette Brewing Company

Also featured in the Trademark Collection by Wyndam, Hotel Lafayette/Lafayette Brewing Company is a French Renaissance-style hotel designed by Louise Blanchard Bethune (the first American Female architect). Like the Lofts at Pearl, guests will enjoy easy access to popular local destinations, as well as modern amenities such as free WiFi, a flat screen HDTV with cable, and more. Breakfast is free, and valet parking is available for a small fee. Fresh coffee, doughnuts, and locally sourced dishes are available for purchase on-site at Public Espresso and Coffee.

Situated within this hotel, you will also find the Lafayette Brewing Company. This quintessential taproom offers custom craft brews, delicious food, and games like shuffleboard. Breakfast options are creative, such as the Pancake Lasagna and the Creme Brulee French Toast. And don’t forget to top them off with a Bloody Mary or the Signature Bottomless Mimosa! For lunch and dinner, enjoy appetizers like Pulled Pork Nachos and Pot Roast Poutine, soups, salads, pizza, and meaty sandwiches like the Meatball Bomber. Brews include the Terminator IPA, Rough Rider Robust Porter, High Iron Wit, Roosevelt Red, Lackawanna Lager, and Trainwreck Amber.

Located at 391 Washington Street. Public Espresso and Coffee (www.publicespresso.com) is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Lafayette Brewing Company (www.lafbrewco.com) is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit www.thehotellafayette.com for hotel information.

Brews for any season

All things considered, it’s easy to see why Buffalo’s Brewery District is such a popular area to visit! Come on over and check things out before the weather turns so that you can walk around and enjoy all the historic buildings. But if you must wait until the colder months to drop in, be rest assured that there are plenty of hot foods and frothy ales around here to take the chill out of your bones. Looking forward to having you join us!