The best bars & nightlife in Amherst
38 bars & nightlife we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.
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Pinned in Amherst today
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Two pinned places a day in Amherst — $10 here, $25 adds the newsletter. List your business →Paid placements are always marked.
Raintree Bar and Grill
NightlifeCasual place with homestyle American fare, pizza & sports on TV, plus a patio & regular live music.
Raintree Bar and Grill
NightlifeWoodcock Brothers Brewery
NightlifeCraving a proper pint without crossing half the county? Woodcock Brothers Brewery keeps it easy with fresh house beers on tap, a full…
Woodcock Brothers Brewery
NightlifeBuffalo Wings & Brewhouse
NightlifeBuffalo Wings & Brewhouse is the neighborhood spot for live music every weekend plus 16 rotating taps heavy on local and upstate picks.…
Buffalo Wings & Brewhouse
NightlifeRenaissance Club of North Tonawanda Inc is a members' clubhouse bar with old-school roots (their Giornale Piccolo newsletter dates to 1975)…
Relaxed hangout at the Golf Dome offering comfort eats, beer, live music & simulators for sports.
Holidays Sports Bar and Volleyball
NightlifeWhether your group chat needs a rally point or you just want to trade couch commentary for actual serves, Holidays Sports Bar and…
Holidays Sports Bar and Volleyball
NightlifeWiechec's Lounge
NightlifeFounded over 50 years ago by Henry and Rose Wiechec, Wiechec's Lounge nails that no-frills neighborhood comfort, with hearty plates,…
Wiechec's Lounge
NightlifeSidelines Sports Bar and Grill
NightlifeWhen you need a no-fuss place to catch the game, Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill keeps the TVs rolling, the wings crispy, and the beef on…
Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill
NightlifeJack Rabbit
NightlifeJack Rabbit is the move when you want nightly live music and DJs supporting local talent while a scratch kitchen turns out rotisserie…
Jack Rabbit
NightlifeHartman's Distilling Co.
NightlifeHartman's Distilling Co. mixes the kind of craft cocktails you brag about, built on their own bourbon, rye, gin, and vodka. Slide into the…
Hartman's Distilling Co.
NightlifeGrover's Bar & Grill
NightlifeGrover's Bar & Grill has the burger locals brag about, voted best three years running, plus mammoth patties, that famous cheeseburger soup,…
Grover's Bar & Grill
NightlifeRec Room
NightlifeRec Room keeps your week interesting with modern dueling pianos, rotating live band karaoke, and legit concert nights when you want a break…
Rec Room
NightlifeBrick House Tavern + Tap
NightlifeModern sports-pub chain boasting recliners plus high-concept bar food & a huge selection of beer.
Brick House Tavern + Tap
NightlifeNietzsche's
NightlifeIf your week needs a soundtrack, Nietzsche's has been Buffalo’s live music bar since 1982, with a stacked schedule, weekly residencies, and…
Nietzsche's
NightlifeBallyhoo
NightlifeSet by the Historic Buffalo River and Elevator Alley, Ballyhoo keeps it simple and excellent with house-made sausages and sides, Jam…
Ballyhoo
NightlifeHelium Comedy Club
NightlifeFamous TV comics draw laughs at this stand-up comedy club with a variety of American eats.
Helium Comedy Club
NightlifeBada Bing
NightlifeNeed a spot where game-time cravings meet actual game time? Bada Bing is a downtown Buffalo sports bar and grill serving crowd-pleasing…
Bada Bing
NightlifeBacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant
NightlifeInnovative American small plates and seasonal entrées meet a seriously deep wine list in a chic, candlelit setting at Bacchus Wine Bar &…
Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant
NightlifeThe Gypsy Parlor
NightlifeWhen you want cocktails that don't taste like copy-paste and food that actually travels, The Gypsy Parlor delivers with bohemian vibes,…
The Gypsy Parlor
NightlifeEddie Brady's
NightlifeWhen you’re craving a proper beef on weck, jumbo wings, or the legendary Weck A Dilla, Eddie Brady's delivers the no-nonsense pub grub that…
Eddie Brady's
NightlifeBuffalo Tap House
NightlifeBuffalo Tap House keeps downtown buzzing with 31 drafts, a deep bottle list, and pub grub that hits the spot... think homemade burgers,…
Buffalo Tap House
NightlifeGene McCarthy's Old First Ward Brewing Company keeps it hyperlocal with taps running straight from the brewery to your glass and roughly…
Blue Bull Tavern
NightlifeCraving something new without driving far? Blue Bull Tavern pours a crowd-pleasing lineup, from their Hazy Owl IPA to CBW Let’s Go Pils,…
Blue Bull Tavern
NightlifeVice
NightlifeVice is spinning cup & char pepperoni pies out of a blazing oven, stacking juicy burgers, and turning out comfort classics like wood-fired…
Vice
NightlifeBrunner's Tavern
NightlifeBrunner's Tavern has been feeding the neighborhood since 1915, and the playbook still hits: a legit 12 oz steak sandwich, wings, a Friday…
Brunner's Tavern
NightlifeBuffalo Comedy Collective
NightlifeBuffalo Comedy Collective keeps things lively with competitive, all-ages ComedySportz where the crowd decides who wins, plus weekly 18+…
Buffalo Comedy Collective
NightlifeMés Que
NightlifeBuffalo’s original soccer bar and restaurant, Més Que channels a European matchday vibe with carefully crafted cocktails, good food, wine,…
Més Que
NightlifeHouse Of Charm
NightlifeWhether you need a post-shift bite or a not-quite-ready-to-go-home nightcap, House Of Charm keeps the party fed with apps, paninis, and…
House Of Charm
NightlifeUlrich's 1868 Tavern
NightlifeBuffalo’s oldest tavern since 1868, Ulrich's 1868 Tavern keeps the German grocery-saloon spirit alive with a cozy, locals-first vibe and…
Ulrich's 1868 Tavern
NightlifeWine On Hertel
NightlifeWine On Hertel is the cozy, dimly lit nook where you trade inbox pings for clinks, with an extensive wine list, craft beer and cider, plus…
Wine On Hertel
NightlifePAUSA art house
NightlifeWhen you want the music to actually be the main character, PAUSA Art House delivers a true listening room vibe, with acclaimed local and…
PAUSA art house
NightlifeCole's
NightlifeCole's keeps the taps changing and the pub grub playful, served under pennants, mounted deer and actual carousel horses... which is exactly…
Cole's
NightlifeThe Merry Shelley
NightlifeBuffalo's only literary-themed romantic horror bar offers moody, library bar vibes and drinks that fit shoegaze, darkwave, doom metal, and…
The Merry Shelley
NightlifeRob's Comedy Playhouse
NightlifeRob's Comedy Playhouse turns a quaint former schoolhouse into a cozy, no-attitude room for stand-up and the occasional music night, with…
Rob's Comedy Playhouse
NightlifeSnyder Bar and Grill
NightlifeSettle in at Snyder Bar and Grill for crispy, Buffalo-worthy wings, juicy burgers, and a neighborly vibe that feels like your living room…
Snyder Bar and Grill
NightlifeLucky Day Whiskey Bar
NightlifeLucky Day Whiskey Bar keeps a warm, historic vibe with an expansive whiskey library, cocktails, and casual bites. Perfect for those Buffalo…
Lucky Day Whiskey Bar
NightlifeDoc Sullivan's
NightlifeKeep your week easy and let Doc Sullivan’s handle the comfort food cravings, with cold beer, spirits, and pub fare in a true Irish-heritage…
Doc Sullivan's
NightlifeHigh Violet
NightlifeHigh Violet brings a posh-but-not-pretentious vibe, pouring inventive cocktails alongside shareable small plates on a seasonal menu that…
High Violet
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