These Are The 5 Best Neighborhoods In Buffalo

Whether it’s a quiet residential neighborhood, a bustling college town, or a community full of Irish or Italian pride, Buffalo has what you’re looking for. The blue collar residents of this town are bursting with working class pride, making this non-pretentious city attractive to just about anyone.

Upper West Side

Reputation: Diverse neighborhood attractive to new residents
Hotspots: Jake’s Dilemma, Blondies, The Gin Mill
The pride of the Upper West Side is the multicultural and international diversity of the neighborhood. It’s home to many newer residents of the city and boasts a ton of opportunities and amenities. The Grant Ferry Commercial District is the cultural hub of the community and offers a ton of excellent restaurants, specialty stores, and unique locally-owned shops. This area has long been a source of pride for Buffalo.

University Heights

Reputation: College Town
Hotspots: Anchor Bar, Shango, Ulrich’s 1868 Tavern
Situated in the northeast corner of the city, University Heights is a solid college town. It’s home to the University of Buffalo, the largest institute of higher learning in the entire region, and to the world-famous Anchor Bar, where you can get a spicy plate of the original Buffalo wings. The neighborhood offers a ton of stores, eateries, bars, and shops for residents, who enjoy a lively nightlife and vibrant cultural and commercial district.

South Buffalo

Reputation: Working class Irish-American community
Hotspots: Nine-Eleven Tavern, Conlon’s Bar and Grill, Recckio’s Club
This neighborhood was once full of machine shops and auto parts factories, but it’s now undergoing a revitalization. It has been transformed into a largely residential Irish-American community. With a number of excellent public and private schools and tons of lively traditional Irish events, this neighborhood takes a lot of pride in its heritage, and the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration is not one to be missed.

Riverside

Reputation: Economically and ethnically diverse community
Hotspots: Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, Wellington Pub, Mr. Goodbar
Running along the Niagara River, this community has grown from a largely rural area to an ethnically and economically diverse residential neighborhood that continues to grow with the city. Among the most popular attractions in the area is the Riverside Park, which spans 22 acres of green space located on a Niagara River bluff. There are tons of opportunities here for hiking, biking, sports, and picnicking, and the neighborhood features lots of eateries and entertainment opportunities.

North Park Buffalo

Reputation: Italian American Neighborhood
Hotspots: Colonie Lounge, M T Pockets Bar, Vizzi’s Restaurant
North Park is a staunchly Italian-American neighborhood located on the city’s East Side, and it shows. The neighborhood hosts a broad variety of restaurants and shops that shine with Italian pride. The neighborhood is surrounded by train tracks and the locals call it “Iron Island.” It also hosts the Iron Island and Firefighter Museum. There are excellent public and private schools, and the Hennepin Park offers a community center that ‘s a hub for residents.

Feature image source: Flickr user andynash
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