Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A stumble away from The Pink, you'll find
Mulligan's Brick Bar
(229 Allen St., 716/
881-0545, noon-4am daily). Here you will find inexpensive drinks (but no draft beer). The
extroverted barkeeps are entertaining and will even share a shot with you. The front patio
is a makeshift porch, usually tightly packed with smokers and those watching the parade of
partiers pass by. The atmosphere is playful and skews to the 30-plus crowd, although the
clientele is diverse.
Nietzche's
(248 Allen St., 716/886-8539,
www.nietzsches.com
,
5pm-1am Sat.-Wed.,
5pm-3am Thurs.-Fri., cover $5 and up) is the place to see live bands in Allentown. Music
acts are eclectic (blues, indie, rock, world, funk, jazz, Celtic), as is the crowd. The bohemi-
an ambience and good acoustics are perfect for enjoying the bands. However, the layout is
not conducive to dancing, since a bottleneck in the floor design leads to some congestion.
But the crowd is cool and, if you are patient, you'll make your way to the cash-only bar.
The bathrooms here are grungy. Cover charges vary, based on the musical act.
Elmwood
One of the two anchors for nightlife along the Elmwood Strip is
Mr. Goodbar
(1110 Elm-
wood Ave., 716/882-4000,
www.mrgoodbarbuffalo.com
, noon-4am daily). Once a college
bar (it's one block from Buffalo State College), it has kept its comfortable ambience while
appealing to a wider age range. You'll find 30 brews on tap at all times, served by bar-
tenders who are happy to chat knowledgeably about the qualities of the beers and ciders
they pour. There is live music 10pm-2am on Fridays.
Coles
(1104 Elmwood Ave., 716/886-1449,
www.colesbuffalo.com
, 11am-11pm Mon.-
Thurs., 11am-midnight Fri.- Sat., 11am-10pm Sun.) is right next door to Mr. Goodbar. It
has embraced the craft beer craze and has 36 beers on tap. You'll pay a bit more here for
a pint ($6 and up), but you'll find consistently diverse and interesting selections, including
local craft beers. The atmosphere is brighter and cleaner than most bars on the Elmwood
Avenue strip. It attracts a healthy mix of adults 25 and older. If you are bar-hopping, Coles
is a good place to start, when your wallet is a bit thicker and your taste for alcohol is more
discerning.
The Blue Monk
(727 Elmwood Ave., 716/882-6665,
www.bluemonkbflo.com
,
3:30pm-3:30am Mon.-Thurs., 11:30am-3:30am Fri.-Sun.) is designed to feel like a Belgian
pub.Thisbarisdeservedlypopular,soitgetscrowdedonweekendevenings.Thebackyard
beergardenisparticularlynice,butduetoneighborhoodnoiseordinances,itclosesby9pm.
