In the city · Hertel · ~17 min from downtown
Buffalo Tikka House
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Fragrant curries and fresh naan on Hertel. A local critic's favorite Indian spot in the city.
Dinner (13)
In the city · Seneca Street · ~6 min from downtown
Chef's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Red-sauce institution near KeyBank Center. Wearing the bib for spaghetti parm is a rite of passage.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~13 min from downtown
Cole's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Dark wood, burgers and a deep beer list a block from Delaware Park. An Elmwood institution.
In the city · Allentown · ~6 min from downtown
Fat Bob's Smokehouse
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Barbecue and a long beer list in a laid-back Allentown smokehouse.
In the city · South Buffalo · ~19 min from downtown
Imperial Pizza
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
South Buffalo's famous pepperoni cups and wings. Grab a pie and drive to the lake.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~13 min from downtown
Jack Rabbit
Dinner · An evening$$$$
Funky, music-filled Elmwood spot with comfort food, a patio, and a good weekend brunch.
In the city · Hertel · ~18 min from downtown
Kostas
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Family-run Greek on Hertel. Big plates, small bill.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~10 min from downtown
Kuni's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Small, beloved sushi spot just off Elmwood. Locals have been going for years.
In the city · West Side · ~9 min from downtown
La Nova
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
West Side pizza-and-wings institution. Casual, fast, and very Buffalo.
In the city · Larkinville · ~8 min from downtown
Swan Street Diner
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Restored vintage dining car in Larkinville. Make it a breakfast date.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~16 min from downtown
Emperor Dumplings
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Dim sum spot that local critics single out for its roast duck.
Inner ring · West Seneca · ~15 min from downtown
Schwabl's
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Beef on weck carved to order since 1837. Classic, unhurried, and very Buffalo.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~15 min from downtown
Ted's Hot Dogs
Dinner · About 2 hours$$$$
Charcoal-grilled hot dogs and loganberry since 1927. Get the hot sauce.
Drinks (2)
In the city · Downtown · ~5 min from downtown
Big Ditch Brewing
Drinks · About 2 hours$$$$
Two-level taproom downtown pouring Hayburner, with shuffleboard and darts upstairs.
Inner ring · Williamsville · ~20 min from downtown
Buffalo Brewpub
Drinks · About 2 hours$$$$
New York State's oldest brewpub, pouring house ales on Main Street since 1986.
Sweets & coffee (4)
In the city · North Buffalo · ~12 min from downtown
Anderson's Frozen Custard
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Local frozen custard and roast beef stand. Get the flavor of the day.
In the city · University Heights · ~13 min from downtown
Parkside Candy
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
1920s ice cream parlor with an ornate interior. Buy a bag of sponge candy to share.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~19 min from downtown
Mississippi Mudds & Old Man River
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Riverside summer stands with hot dogs, ice cream and Niagara River sunsets.
Inner ring · Williamsville · ~19 min from downtown
Sweet Jenny's
Sweets & coffee · About 2 hours$$$$
Ice cream and handmade chocolates in Williamsville village.
Shows & music (3)
In the city · Sahlen Field · ~4 min from downtown
Bisons game
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Triple-A baseball downtown. Cheap seats, fireworks nights, and plenty of time to talk.
In the city · Hertel · ~18 min from downtown
North Park Theatre
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Restored 1920 movie palace on Hertel showing new releases and classics.
Inner ring · Amherst · ~17 min from downtown
The Screening Room
Shows & music · An evening$$$$
Tiny independent cinema showing classics and cult favorites.
Activities (1)
In the city · Delaware Park · ~16 min from downtown
Buffalo Zoo
Activities · About 2 hours$$$$
One of the oldest zoos in the country. Watch for adults-only evening events.
Arts & culture (2)
In the city · South Park · ~19 min from downtown
Botanical Gardens
Arts & culture · About 2 hours$$$$
Victorian glass conservatory full of palms and orchids. A warm, green escape in January.
Inner ring · Lackawanna · ~12 min from downtown
Our Lady of Victory Basilica
Arts & culture · About 2 hoursFree
Jaw-dropping marble basilica across from the Botanical Gardens. Free to step in, quietly.
Outdoors (13)
In the city · Outer Harbor · ~12 min from downtown
Buffalo Harbor State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Marina boardwalk and lakefront lawns. Bring a blanket and takeout.
In the city · Waterfront · ~5 min from downtown
Canalside
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Waterfront boardwalks, free concerts and events, and the visitor center at the new Chandlery.
In the city · Delaware Park · ~14 min from downtown
Delaware Park & Hoyt Lake
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Olmsted's big park. Loop the lake, find the Japanese Garden, and visit the Rose Garden in June.
In the city · Elmwood Village · ~11 min from downtown
Elmwood Village stroll
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Boutiques, Talking Leaves bookstore and patios from Bidwell to Forest. Window-shop and talk.
In the city · Waterfront · ~5 min from downtown
Erie Basin Marina
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Free observation tower, flower gardens and a front-row seat for the Lake Erie sunset.
In the city · North Buffalo · ~18 min from downtown
Hertel Avenue stroll
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Little Italy turned eclectic main street: coffee, bookshops, bars and the North Park Theatre.
In the city · Outer Harbor · ~8 min from downtown
Outer Harbor & Wilkeson Pointe
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Lakefront trails, beach chairs and one of the best sunset spots in the city.
In the city · South Buffalo · ~13 min from downtown
Tifft Nature Preserve
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
264 acres of trails and boardwalks minutes from downtown. Snowshoe it in winter.
Inner ring · Amherst · ~21 min from downtown
Amherst State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Wooded trails along Ellicott Creek. Quiet, flat, and pretty in fresh snow.
Inner ring · Tonawanda · ~20 min from downtown
Ellicott Creek Park
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
Island picnic spots and paths along the creek. Pack sandwiches.
Inner ring · Williamsville · ~20 min from downtown
Glen Park & Glen Falls
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
A waterfall in the middle of Williamsville village. Short walk, big payoff.
Inner ring · Depew · ~19 min from downtown
Reinstein Woods
Outdoors · About 2 hoursFree
State nature preserve with ponds, old forest and guided walks. Snowshoe programs in winter.
Inner ring · Blasdell · ~16 min from downtown
Woodlawn Beach State Park
Outdoors · About 2 hours$$$$
Sandy Lake Erie beach with the skyline to the north. Sunset here is unreal.
Seasonal (3)
In the city · Broadway-Fillmore · ~9 min from downtown
Broadway Market
Seasonal · About 2 hours$$$$
Buffalo's Polish market. Busiest before Easter, but Potts Deli serves pierogi and kielbasa year-round.
In the city · Larkinville · ~8 min from downtown
Larkin Square
Seasonal · An evening$$$$
Food Truck Tuesdays and live music on the square all summer.
Inner ring · West Seneca · ~17 min from downtown
Mayer Brothers Cider Mill
Seasonal · About 2 hours$$$$
Fresh cider and warm donuts. A five-minute fall tradition.
Make it a whole night
Stack dinner, something to do and dessert. The planner estimates drive time, timing and cost for two, and adds it all to your calendar.
More occasions
By town & neighborhood
- Buffalo
- Elmwood Village & Delaware Park
- Allentown
- Downtown & Canalside
- Hertel & North Buffalo
- Old First Ward, Larkinville & South Buffalo
- West Side & Black Rock
- Amherst, Williamsville & Northtowns
- Hamburg, Orchard Park & Southtowns
- East Aurora
- Grand Island & the Tonawandas
- Niagara Falls & Lewiston
- Lockport & Niagara wine country
- Ellicottville & ski country
- Letchworth, Chautauqua & beyond
- Across the border