When most people think of Buffalo, they think of Niagara Falls and Lake Erie (and probably wings), but those who call it home know there’s a lot more to the area than that – in fact, some of our best spots fly under the radar. From restaurants and coffee shops to nature preserves, these are a few must-see hidden gems.
- Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural Center
Google/Victor Bandriwsky Dnipro Ukrainian Center is located at 562 Genesee Street, but when you step inside, you’ll feel like you’re entering another country. Since 1955, this has been one of Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, with weddings, live music, and Ukrainian school taking place here. It’s open to the public every Friday, when you can go for home-cooked Ukrainian food and great beer.
- Eternal Flame Falls
Kim Carpenter / Flickr Located in the beautiful Chester Ridge Park, Eternal Flame Falls has a very distinct feature: a small flame that keeps burning due to the natural gas the waterfall’s base emits. If you live in Buffalo, you owe it to yourself to see this natural marvel at least once.
- Niagara Cafe
GoogleMaps Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you. Inside this humble cafe, you’ll find the best Puerto Rican food in the city (and possibly the country). Niagara Cafe always seems to be busy, yet some locals don’t even know it exists. Discover it for yourself at 525 Niagara Ave.
- The Whirlpool Rapids Trail
andyfrelick / TripAdvisor You’ll find this trail at Whirlpool State Park. Walk to the top of the gorge from the parking area and turn left at the stairs, where you’ll find a quiet (and often uncrowded) three-mile trail.
- Hotel Dalmatia
GoogleMaps This old school bar and grill is nestled in a quiet neighborhood, where it has been serving patrons tasty burgers, wings, and booze since the 1930s. The atmosphere is laid back and welcoming, with 50 cent wings and other specials offered weekly. You can find it at 1187 Tonawanda St.
- Sweet_ness 7 Cafe
Google/Clark Dever It’s kind of hard to miss this quirky gem as you’re walking by, but somehow this spot stays somewhat under the radar. On top of all the coffee and espresso drinks you can imagine, Sweet_ness 7 Cafe serves great brunch food, beer, and wine. Address: 220 Grant St.
- Tifft Nature Preserve
Tifft Nature Preserve/Facebook If you enjoy being near nature but don’t want to deal with the crowds of some of the area’s top spots, you can head to this peaceful nature preserve. The 264-acre nature refuge is quiet and relaxing, with five miles of nature trails and plenty of wildlife.
- Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile
Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile Facebook Local foodies, rejoice: This spot has a wide variety of cheeses, cured meats, snacks, and cocktails. Stop in for their happy hour between 3 and 6 p.m. and you’ll see what an underrated gem it is. Address: 346 Connecticut St.
- Mark Twain Room, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
Google/Dell Williams While most are aware of this magnificent library’s existence, not many realize there’s an entire room dedicated to Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, who spent some time in Buffalo. The room features plenty of mementos from the author, including the original Adventures of Huckleberry Finn manuscript! You’ll find it at 1 Lafayette Square.
How many of these hidden gems have you discovered? Are there others you would add to this list of under the radar places? Share your suggestions in the comments below!
Google/Victor Bandriwsky
Dnipro Ukrainian Center is located at 562 Genesee Street, but when you step inside, you’ll feel like you’re entering another country. Since 1955, this has been one of Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, with weddings, live music, and Ukrainian school taking place here. It’s open to the public every Friday, when you can go for home-cooked Ukrainian food and great beer.
Kim Carpenter / Flickr
Located in the beautiful Chester Ridge Park, Eternal Flame Falls has a very distinct feature: a small flame that keeps burning due to the natural gas the waterfall’s base emits. If you live in Buffalo, you owe it to yourself to see this natural marvel at least once.
GoogleMaps
Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you. Inside this humble cafe, you’ll find the best Puerto Rican food in the city (and possibly the country). Niagara Cafe always seems to be busy, yet some locals don’t even know it exists. Discover it for yourself at 525 Niagara Ave.
andyfrelick / TripAdvisor
You’ll find this trail at Whirlpool State Park. Walk to the top of the gorge from the parking area and turn left at the stairs, where you’ll find a quiet (and often uncrowded) three-mile trail.
This old school bar and grill is nestled in a quiet neighborhood, where it has been serving patrons tasty burgers, wings, and booze since the 1930s. The atmosphere is laid back and welcoming, with 50 cent wings and other specials offered weekly. You can find it at 1187 Tonawanda St.
Google/Clark Dever
It’s kind of hard to miss this quirky gem as you’re walking by, but somehow this spot stays somewhat under the radar. On top of all the coffee and espresso drinks you can imagine, Sweet_ness 7 Cafe serves great brunch food, beer, and wine. Address: 220 Grant St.
Tifft Nature Preserve/Facebook
If you enjoy being near nature but don’t want to deal with the crowds of some of the area’s top spots, you can head to this peaceful nature preserve. The 264-acre nature refuge is quiet and relaxing, with five miles of nature trails and plenty of wildlife.
Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile Facebook
Local foodies, rejoice: This spot has a wide variety of cheeses, cured meats, snacks, and cocktails. Stop in for their happy hour between 3 and 6 p.m. and you’ll see what an underrated gem it is. Address: 346 Connecticut St.
Google/Dell Williams
While most are aware of this magnificent library’s existence, not many realize there’s an entire room dedicated to Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, who spent some time in Buffalo. The room features plenty of mementos from the author, including the original Adventures of Huckleberry Finn manuscript! You’ll find it at 1 Lafayette Square.
Buffalo may be one of New York’s most populated cities, but it’s still possible to escape the crowds. Here are some spots to check out when you don’t feel like being around hordes of other people
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