With each of the neighborhoods in Buffalo as unique as the next, get to know our city’s 31 distinct communities—all bursting with history, art, culture, food and things to do.
by Katie Johnson
Buffalo’s 31 neighborhoods are diverse, surprising, fun, inspiring, and much more. Don’t miss your chance to get out and explore the unique offerings of this historical city
1. Allentown
With wall size murals filling the district and bubbles occasionally falling from a storied building, Allentown’s creative energy is noticeable the moment you get there.
Kleinhans Music Hall
points of interest
Allen Burger Venture (ABV)
175 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14201
Betty’s
370 Virginia Street, Buffalo, NY 14201
Billy Club
228 Allen Street, Upper, Buffalo, NY 14201
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Site
641 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202
Antiques Allentown
146 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201
Kleinhans Music Hall
370 Pennsylvania Street, Buffalo, NY 14201
2. Black Rock
A Buffalo neighborhood with distinct charm, Black Rock continues to emerge with innovative restaurants, museums and businesses.
Buffalo Barrel & Brine is Buffalo’s only fermentation and pickle shop that also serves amazing food
points of interest
Dapper Goose
491 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14207
Buffalo Barrel & Brine
155 Chandler Street, Buffalo, NY 14207
Thin Man Brewery Loft
at Chandler Street
166 Chandler Street, Buffalo, NY 14207
CooCoou Modern
111 Tonawanda Street, Buffalo, NY 14207
Buffalo Religious Arts Center
157 East Street, Buffalo, NY 14207
3. Bailey-Lovejoy
On the easternmost portion of the city Bailey-Lovejoy is widely known for its immigrant history, mostly populated by Italian Americans to this day.
La Verdad Cafe is said to be home of some of Buffalo’s best brisket, mac and cheese, all things BBQ and more
points of interest
Iron Island Museum
998 E Lovejoy St, Buffalo, NY 14206
La Verdad Cafe
1194 E Lovejoy St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Lovejoy Pizza
1244 E Lovejoy St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Carbone’s
1126 E Lovejoy St, Buffalo, NY 14206
4. Central Park
Conceived and named by the then local cement mogul Lewis Jackson Bennett in the late 1880’s on his Buffalo Cement Company property, Central Park was one of Buffalo’s first neighborhoods near Delaware Park. This historic area still glows with impressive old houses on every street.
Deep South Taco is a hip and authentic taqueria. Cinco de Mayo festivities are also traditionally observed (above)
points of interest
Burke’s Green Fountain
Beard Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214
Parkside Lutheran Church
2 Wallace Ave #1599, Buffalo, NY 14214
Bennett High School
2885 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
Deep South Taco
1707 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
Je Ne Sais Quoi
1633 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
5. Cold Springs
Found within the East Side of Buffalo, Cold Springs is a budding neighborhood between Main Street, East Delavan Avenue, Jefferson Avenue and East Utica Street.
The Freedom Wall
points of interest
The Freedom Wall
Michigan & E Ferry St, Buffalo, NY 14209
Doris Records
286 E Ferry St, Buffalo, NY 14208
Trini’s
1632 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208
Buffalo Reuse
296 E Ferry St, Buffalo, NY 14208
6. Delaware District
Located in the west central part of Buffalo, the Delaware District is jam packed with beautiful green spaces and historic sites.
Discover beautiful gardens and spectacular homes in a wide variety of architectural styles just off Delaware Avenue on the Hidden Gems of the Delaware District Tour by Explore Buffalo
points of interest
Garret Club
91 Cleveland Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation
146 W Utica St, Buffalo, NY 14222
Saturn Club
977 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209
Hidden Gems of the Delaware District Tour by Explore Buffalo
Schedule a Tour →
7. Downtown
From the waterfront to historic buildings, theatres and sporting arenas, Buffalo’s downtown is a local tourist destination for a reason.
Canalside is one of Buffalo Niagara’s most popular gathering places for year-round, family friendly activities
points of interest
Canalside
44 Prime St, Buffalo, NY 14202
Shea’s Buffalo Theatre
650 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14202
Sahlen Field
Griffin Plaza, 1 James D, Buffalo, NY 14203
Keybank Center
1 Seymour H. Knox III Plaza, Buffalo, NY
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino
1 Fulton St, Buffalo, NY 14204
Pearl Street Grill & Brewery
76 Pearl St, Buffalo, NY 14202
8. East Side
Buffalo’s physically largest district, the East Side, is filled with impactful murals, beautiful churches and is the city’s official Polish food mecca.
Broadway Market is one of Buffalo Niagara’s largest and most popular indoor markets featuring exclusively local vendors
points of interest
The Broadway Market
999 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14212
Buffalo Central Terminal
495 Paderewski Dr, Buffalo, NY 14212
Church of St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr
389 Peckham St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Welcome Wall
751 Fillmore Ave, Buffalo, NY 14212
9. Elmwood Village
Buffalo’s “little Brooklyn”. Elmwood Village is a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood chock full of locally owned shops, restaurants and cafes as well as historical and cultural landmarks.
Cafe Aroma is Buffalo’s longest running locally-owned coffee shop, serving great coffee and espresso
points of interest
Burchfield Penney Art Center
1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
*Reopening as the Buffalo Albright Knox Gundlach Art Museum (AKG) in 2022*
Bidwell Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14222
Cafe Aroma
957 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
Elmwood Village Victorians Walking Tour by Explore Buffalo
Schedule a Tour →
Anna Grace
799 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Kuni’s
226 Lexington Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Ro Homeshop
732 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
10. Fillmore-Leroy
Another neighborhood full of invigoration on Buffalo’s East Side, Fillmore-Leroy is the home to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park as well as beautiful murals.
Blue corn tacos from Las Puertas – just one of the dishes on the ever-rotating menu
points of interest
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
Martin Luther King Park, Buffalo, NY 14211
Dance Every Day
537 East Delavan Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14208
Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14211
Sloan’s Antiques
730 William St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Desi Khabba Halal
898 Genesee St, Buffalo, NY 14211
11. First Ward
The Old First Ward, known to Buffalonians for its Irish working class roots, is to this day a tight-knit community filled with parks, taverns, homes and businesses.
Buffalo RiverWorks the city’s premier waterfront, boating, sports, music and entertainment destination located along the banks of the Buffalo River
points of interest
Buffalo RiverWorks
359 Ganson St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Gene McCarthy’s Old First Ward Brewing Company
73 Hamburg St, Buffalo, NY 14204
Mutual River Front Park
41 Hamburg St, Buffalo, NY 14204
Cargill Grain Elevator
2 Buffalo River Pl, Buffalo, NY 14210
Ballyhoo
211 South Park Ave, Buffalo, NY 14204
12. Fruit Belt
Buffalo’s Fruit Belt, found on the East Side, gets its namesake from the German immigrants who planted fruit orchards in the area when they settled here in the 1800s.
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
points of interest
Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
East North Street to Goodell Street, and Main Street to Michigan Avenue
Sunshine Vegan Eats
893 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14204
13. Hamlin Park
Named after Cicero Hamlin, Victorian horse racing aficionado, Hamlin Park was one of the nation’s premier horse tracks and the city’s first planned subdivision. Filled with tree-line streets and significant homes and architecture it was designated a Historic District in 1999, the largest African-American community in the nation to be defined as so.
Open for over 20 years, EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe is a staple of the Hamlin Park community
points of interest
Canisius College
2001 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14208
Forest Lawn
1411 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209
EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe
80 Oakgrove Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208
14. Hospital Hill
Known as the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Hospital Hill is a mecca of health care, medical research and education institutions located across 120 acres in downtown Buffalo.
Roswell Park was founded in 1898 as the world’s first institute devoted exclusively to cancer research
points of interest
John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
818 Ellicott St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Buffalo General Hospital
100 High St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Roswell Park
665 Elm St, Buffalo, NY 14203
15. Humboldt Park
The famous landscape designer, Frederick Olmsted, designed Humboldt Parkway to allow pedestrians to travel from Delaware Park to what is now Martin Luther King Park without ever having to leave a park-like atmosphere while simultaneously connecting neighborhoods and creating a formal gateway to the Buffalo Museum of Science. Six rows of large maple trees were planted in the 1900s, Lincoln Parkway and Bidwell Parkways still remaining vital to their community’s culture.
Hoyt Lake at Delaware Park
points of interest
Lincoln Parkway
Soldiers Place to Forest Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Bidwell Parkway
Bidwell Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14222
Chapin Parkway
Chapin Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14209
Soldier’s Circle
Soldiers Place, Buffalo, NY 14222
Hoyt Lake
199 Lincoln Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14222
Japanese Gardens at Buffalo History Museum
One Museum Ct, Buffalo, NY 14216
The Terrace at Delaware Park
199 Lincoln Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14222
Statue of David
199 Lincoln Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14222
16. Kaisertown
Surrounding the intersection of Clinton and South Odgen, Kaisertown is an under the radar community of Buffalo packed with an eclectic mix of businesses and houses.
Declared “best donuts on the planet”, Donut Kraze doesn’t serve your average donut
points of interest
Clinton & Bailey Farmer’s Market
1443 Clinton St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Yummy’s Deli & Restaurant
1527 Clinton St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Weichec’s Lounge
1748 Clinton St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Cedar’s Bakery & Deli
111 Dingens St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Donut Kraze
406 Dingens St, Buffalo, NY 14206
17. Kensington
Located in the northeastern part of the city, the University at Buffalo neighborhood is noted for its two major commercial streets in the neighborhood, Kensington and Bailey.
University at Buffalo (South Campus)
points of interest
99 Fast Food Restaurant
3398 Bailey Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215
University at Buffalo (South Campus)
Buffalo, NY 14214
18. Lower West Side
Containing part of the Frederick Law Olmsted Buffalo Parks & Parkway System, the Lower West Side is a largely Hispanic populated area bustling with recent renovation and reinvestment.
Community Beer Works is passionate about beer and devoted to supporting (and inebriating) the Buffalo Niagara community
points of interest
Community Beer Works
520 7th St, Buffalo, NY 14201
Fargo Estate Community Garden
272 Jersey St, Buffalo, NY 14201
Kleinhans Music Hall
3 Symphony Cir, Buffalo, NY 14201
Prospect Park
Niagara St, Buffalo, NY 14201
LaSalle Park
Buffalo, NY 14202
19. Masten Park
Getting its name from former City of Buffalo Mayor, Joseph Masten, in 1843 the Masten Park neighborhood is the home to the prestigious City Honors high school on the East Side.
The Foundry is a creative education space and business incubator, providing affordable access to tools in wood, metal, tech and textile makerspaces
points of interest
The Foundry
298 Northampton St, Buffalo, NY 14208
Masten Park
369 Best St, Buffalo, NY 14204
Golden Cup Coffee
1323 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208
City Honors
186 E North St, Buffalo, NY 14204
20. North Buffalo
A pedestrian-oriented neighborhood with close proximity to downtown Buffalo, North Buffalo is reemerging as a popular neighborhood full of young families, quaint 1920s houses, shops, restaurants and culture, much of it found on and near Hertel Ave.
Local fav Lloyd Taco Factory has a menu of delicious spins on Mexican classics, and innovative takes on current popular trends like chicken ‘n waffles
points of interest
Shoshone Park
1978 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214
Lake Effect Ice Cream
1900 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214
Lloyd Taco Factory
1503 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
North Buffalo Farmers Market
780 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
21. North Park
One of the several neighborhoods that makes up the larger community of North Buffalo, North Park adds even more family friendly vibes to this community.
Clocking in at over a century, North Park Theatre is Buffalo Niagara’s oldest movie theater
points of interest
Hanna’s Frosty Treats
140 Taunton Pl, Buffalo, NY 14216
North Park Theatre
1428 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
Gino’s Italian Bakery
1104 Kenmore Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216
22. Parkside
Made up of two historic districts, east and west, Parkside is noted for its association with the 1876 Parks and Parkways developed by Frederick Olmsted.
At The Buffalo Zoo, even the rhinos know what’s up
points of interest
The Buffalo Zoo
300 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House
125 Jewett Pkwy, Buffalo, NY 14214
JAM Parkside
301 Parkside Ave, Buffalo, NY 14214
23. Polonia
Located two miles from Downtown Buffalo, The Historic Polonia District is home to an unique collection of cultural, ethnic and architectural landmarks in Broadway-Fillmore.
Saint Adalbert’s Basilica
points of interest
Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle
612 Fillmore Ave, Buffalo, NY 14212
Corpus Christi Church
199 Clark St, Buffalo, NY 14212
Saint Adalbert’s Basilica
212 Stanislaus St, Buffalo, NY 14212
24. Riverside
Located in the northwestern part of the city along the Niagara River, Riverside is a tight-knight community often associated with its neighbor to the south, Black Rock.
If you’re about that soosh life, Sun Cuisines is a must-try. They also have the city’s only black rice sushi
points of interest
Riverside Park
Buffalo, NY 14207
Sun Cuisines
1989 Niagara St, Buffalo, NY 14207
Lin Restaurant
927 Tonawanda St, Buffalo, NY 14207
25. Schiller Park
Named after John G. Sattler, of Sattler’s Department Store fame in 1938 on the east side of Buffalo, Schiller Park is a residential community that buds up to Cheektowaga.
Soul food at Park Vue Soul Food Bar & Restaurant
points of interest
Walden Park
Buffalo, NY 14211
Park Vue Soul Food Bar & Restaurant
34 S Crossman St, Buffalo, NY 14211
26. South Buffalo
Traditionally known for its large Irish-American community, this historically industrialized district with many steel mills and factories is still a tight knit, working class community filled with residential homes, architecture, businesses, restaurants and annual parades.
With year-round events and exhibitions, Buffalo Botanical Gardens is a great choice for the horticulturally inclined
points of interest
Larkin Square
745 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY 14210
Buffalo Botanical Gardens
2655 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14218
Cookies & Cream
2114 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY 14210
Public Espresso
2178 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY 14210
27. University District
When the University at Buffalo purchased the Erie County Almshouse and Hospital in 1909 it would go on to spur the growth of it’s nearby neighborhood, today’s University Park Historic District. Buffalo’s first gated community, it’s peppered with landmarked sites as well as a strong commercial district along Main Street.
Old-time elegance at Parkside Candy
points of interest
Parkside Candy
3208 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
University Presbyterian Church
3330 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
28. University Heights
Just as diverse as the nearby student body, University Heights is the University at Buffalo’s south campus neighborhood community filled with a strip of affordable restaurants, bars and small shops.
Lake Effect Diner is a popular go-to for the late night crowd
points of interest
Lake Effect Diner
3165 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214
Sato
3268 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214
UB Anderson Gallery
1 Martha Jackson Pl, Buffalo, NY 14214
Tandoori Hut
3171 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
The Steer Restaurant & Saloon
3151 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
29. Vernon Triangle
An isolated neighborhood between Main St, Amherst Street and Fairfield Avenue, the Vernon Triangle is a charming neighborhood with a small variety of stores and diverse people.
A live music joint with a neighborhood feel, Central Park Grill is great place to catch a game or a show, with a full menu and great, growing local beer selection
points of interest
Habibi Halal Restaurant
2614 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
Central Park Grill
2519 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
30. West Side
One of Buffalo’s largest neighborhoods, the West Side centers on Grant Street and is seeing a buzz of revitalization around popular cafes, shops and restaurants.
Las Puertas is a 35 seat restaurant that features Mexican food with a modern blend with classic french techniques
points of interest
Remedy House
429 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213
Five Points Bakery
44 Brayton St, Buffalo, NY 14213
Las Puertas
385 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213
The Left Bank
511 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213
Butter Block
426 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213
31. Willert Park
This small reemerging Buffalo neighborhood features a historically important park, Willert, with bas-relief sculptures, depicting scenes of African American life and achievement that have been recognized by the Museum of Modern Art.
Since 1923 Chef’s has been a neighborhood icon that brings the taste of Italy back home to Buffalo
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