10 Best Things to Do in Buffalo

Designed for a wealthy local businessman in 1903, Frank Lloyd Wright considered the Martin House Complex his masterpiece. The light, open-plan buildings give nearly every room views over the sweeping gardens, but the showpiece is undoubtedly the 400 intricate and colourful stained-glass windows which took years to complete.

Wright designed every part of the complex himself, from the furniture to the light fittings. 1- and 2-hour guided tours of the interior are available, while separate tours take you around the historic grounds and conservatory.

Niagara Square is the central hub of Buffalo's radial street pattern and the oldest part of the city. There is a small, peaceful garden with numerous signs explaining the history of the beautiful Art Deco buildings surrounding the square.

Stop in at City Hall before you leave to admire the beautiful murals in the grand lobby. Then climb up to the viewing platform on the top floor (Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm), where you can see the whole of the city laid out along Lake Erie. On a clear day, you can even make out the city of Niagara Falls on the horizon.

Albright-Knox Gallery has been actively collecting since 1862. Their remarkable collection includes work by artists like Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Frida Kahlo. Temporary exhibitions showcase cutting edge photography and thought-provoking works by contemporary artists.

Located in Buffalo's cultural district, the gallery has a sculpture garden where you can see some of the larger pieces. Public tours with knowledgeable guides are offered from Thursdays to Sundays. Finish up with a glass of wine on the cafe terrace and admire the artsy view across the grounds.

Market Arcade is a Beaux-Arts building dating from 1892 that houses a collection of Buffalo's finest independent and boutique shops. Stores across 3 floors sell everything from jewellery handmade by local artisans at Buffalo Adore to Rust Belt Love's custom-made stationery.

When you're all shopped out, grab a coffee and crepe at Maison Le Caer patisserie. You can also wander around three floors of free public art which rotates monthly. And the building's architecture is a work of art in itself – check out the bison sculptures on the front facade that proclaim the building's civic pride.

Buffalo Botanical Gardens combines extraordinary architecture and landscaping with trees and flowers from all over the globe. The 19th-century conservatory shelters warm weather plants like fruit trees, palms and orchids and provides a little taste of the tropics even in the depths of winter.

There are exhibitions on the history of the garden, displays of medicinal plants, and an aquatic garden with ponds full of koi carp. There are 1-hour guided tours available with advance bookings as well as hands-on activities for kids in Wegmans Family Garden.

Kids will be entranced by the fascinating animal exhibits at Buffalo Zoo, which include lions, giraffes, red pandas and cute capybaras. The Rainforest Falls exhibit, which mimics conditions in the South American jungle, is particularly popular, as is the newly opened Arctic Edge exhibit and its resident arctic foxes and polar bears.

Workshops are available with zookeepers involving hands-on activities behind the scenes, and there's even the opportunity to camp out overnight in the Ecostation Exhibit and observe the secret life of nocturnal animals.

Enjoy a relaxing tour of Buffalo from the water and learn more about the city's maritime history. Several local companies run 1- and 2-hour cruises around Lake Erie and along Buffalo River.

Take a narrated tour that explains the history and architecture of sites like Black Rock Lock and Silo City, or go on a party trip around the lake with a fully stocked bar, cocktails and live music. There are also traditional red-sail schooners that offer peaceful sunset sails and pirate adventures for kids. Most cruises depart from Prime Street’s Canalside at the south end of the waterfront.

Beef on weck is a Buffalo speciality, consisting of roast beef on kummelweck (a bread roll topped with kosher salt and caraway seeds). This dish was most probably brought to the city by German immigrants in the 19th century. Nearly every eatery in Buffalo serves this popular dish, but there are a handful of places that stand out.

Grab a quick lunch at Charlie the Butcher's, run by celebrity chef Charlie Roesch, where the chefs carve up the meat right in front of you at the counter. Schwabl’s, in West Seneca, is a Buffalo institution that has been serving sandwiches topped with their special horseradish since 1942. Or, if you like German-influenced menus and imported European beers, satisfy your cravings at Ulrich’s Tavern on Virginia St.

You might be able to eat them at any pub in American, but Buffalo wings were invented right here at the Anchor Bar in 1964. The sauce is made using a secret recipe, which means you're getting the original, authentic taste.

Anchor Bar offers a full menu of bar food and a range of draft beers, and you can listen to live jazz on Friday and Saturday nights. You can also buy bottles of the sauce in 6 different flavours to take home with you.

Buffalo's brewery district has experienced a resurgence in recent years, with the renovations of several craft breweries and taprooms. One of its standout venues is Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, a beautifully restored brewpub in a historic converted warehouse building.

There are 8 bars within the 4-floor venue, where you'll find signature beers brewed on-site, seasonal options, and a pub menu of burgers and wings. When the weather is nice, make sure to get there earlier in the evening to grab a seat on the wrap-around patio.