New York State’s second largest city, Buffalo has an unexpectedly beautiful skyline. It’s also an interesting place for architecture buffs, as 80 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. On Sunday afternoons in July they host The Buffalo News Summer Jazz Series of free concerts.

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 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. One-way fares are $2.50 each (as of April 2014).

Amtrak Maple Leaf trains stop here on the way between New York City and Toronto, and back.

 

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 is Buffalo’s gay newspaper. It has news and features on western New York. BuffaloGayBars also has local listings. 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 (206 S Elmwood) is the gay community center with David Bohnett Cyber Center, and an LGBT lending library, 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.

Cathode Ray (26 Allen St), mostly men's bar and video lounge, pool and darts, karaoke, outdoor patio, Sunday football on TV.

Club Marcella (622 Main St), party bar and lounge in the Theater District, drag shows/pageants, dancing, old school and alternative performances, theme parties, college nights, Hot Underwear contests, diverse 18+ mix.

Fugazi (503 Franklin St), upscale cocktail lounge and video bar, Showtune Sundays, billiards games, mostly men.

Funky Monkey Nite Club (20 Allen St), most recent addition to the gay scene, friendly bartenders, cheap, strong drinks, Saturday Dance Party.

OHM Ultra Lounge (948 Main St), women's nights, bear nights, live music events, gay party nights, summer patio.

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

Underground (270 Delaware Ave), gay neighborhood bar, easy-to-meet people, big Saturday/late night dancing, karaoke Mondays.

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

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