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Nietzsche's
Categories: Nightlife Bars Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Bars, Music Venues [Edit]
248 Allen StBuffalo, NY 14201
Neighbourhood: Allentown
(716) 886-8539
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 1 pm - 2 am
Thu-Fri 1 pm - 4 am
Sat 12 pm - 4 am
Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Thu
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
12 reviews for Nietzsche's
12 reviews in English
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Review from Joshua L.
Buffalo, NY
8/6/2010
Nietzsche's is a bit of a local legend. This bar has had many bands who have gone onto big things pass through its doors and continues to be a popular venue for live music.
Nietzsche's has been one of my favorite bars on Allen, or really within Buffalo in total, for a few reasons.
1) Cousin - the man works well with blocks of wood and is a true original on our bar scene. Last time I went down I didn't see him - is he okay?
2) Beer prices - not bad.
3) Nietzsche's, along with maybe Mohawk, are two places in Buffalo that local musicians hold near and dear to their hearts... I for one can't ignore the places the musicians like best.
4) Quirkiness - this bar, with the sum of its parts, is just simply unique in a way that makes it beloved by many people.
A word about the bartenders. They can be annoying and shitty which is why Nietzsche's is not a 5-star in my book. One of them in particular is probably the worst bartender in Buffalo and a tool (a word I hate but it's the only one that's appropriate) - I actually saw this guy tell a customer to go ask another bartender for a drink while he was hitting on a girl at the bar. Haha - seriously? I couldn't help but laugh at that schmuck. Even at a place like Zeitgeist in San Fran, a bar that has bartenders who would eat up and shit out guys like this and has FAR better beer, there's no such stupidity.
The bartenders in general are aloof and not "Buffalo" friendly... so if you're looking for a friend you would definitely be in the wrong place. This is an aspect of Nietzsche's that only bothers me so often but if you haven't been to Nietzsche's before, I think you should probably know that their bartenders are not like what you would find at a typical Buffalo neighborhood bar. -
Review from Diana R.
5/3/2012
"Meh" is a great rating for this place. I know most born'n'bred types love this place and I may just be missing the nostalgia and I know it is THE hip place for music and hanging out, but the few times I've been I was very unimpressed.
The service was not exceptional (some of the bartenders were just okay, others were downright rude), the drinks are weak and overpriced, the place overall is divey in a "trying too hard to stay authentic" sort of way (i.e. they think being artsy means not cleaning or updating anything, to the point that parts of the place are disgusting for no reason) whilst at the same time charging ridiculous cover for events (for this area anyway). All of these things can be avoided simply by going to any of the gay/mixed bars on the other end of Allen where drinks are cheap and strong, bartenders are usually pretty nice and the hipster vibe is at a minimum. I admit they get an interesting mix of music, but if the atmosphere sucks I'm not going to enjoy the concert anyway.
They also let WAY more people than they should in for big events, especially with a stage area that bottle necks pretty badly back into the bar area. Have fun getting out if someone drops a cigarette in the wrong place. -
Review from Todd H.
Buffalo, NY
4/25/2012
Everytime I go here I hear really good music. The only problem is the bar tenders are border line confrontational and the drinks cost way more than I feel they should. Also, if you know the band you want to see is going on later.. come later because the cost at the door usually decreases as the night goes along. Never show up early because the shows always go later than scheduled and they are scheduled late to begin with. Avoid unless you have to. Its no Mohawk place...
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Review from Ria S.
Buffalo, NY
11/3/2011
Nietzsche's wins for it's non-pretentious atmosphere. I feel like this is how Allentown is meant to be. Local musicians, poets, artists and eccentrics. I've been to many shows here over the years and it's never obnoxious. Just a good crowd having a good time. The decor is kinda scary with the lights on and it's rumored to be haunted, but it's all part of the charm.
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Review from Todd V.
11/28/2008 1 photo
Buffalo is surprising. The wings are fantastic. The hockey is decent. And Nietzsche's is one of the best bohemian-esque bars that I have found here or in any other city for that matter. But what would you expect for a bar named after a German philosopher?
This is a gathering place for drinkers, poets, musicians, and comedians alike. An old wooden bar greets you as enter. The décor is eclectic and fun, with art and found-art (read "stuff") found on the walls. There are promotional stickers from bands all over the place and the washrooms are adorned with graffiti tags so numerous you could kill an evening reading them, and wondering for some how on God's green was someone able to write something all the way up there?
There is a stage across from the bar in the front where solo and acoustic acts as well as poetry reads carry on. At the back, a very elevated stage for larger bands and Tuesday night stand-up comedy exists. The layout of the back room is interesting for both the performer and audience alike. The crowd below the stage is quite far below the performer, and those in the balcony area that flanks either side of the stage are eye-level with the performer. Certainly splits the attention. As for the staff, the run of taps, and the cost? Fantastic. I dig, man. -
Review from Susan Y.
Lancaster, NY
1/1/2010 ROTD 1/29/2012
The favorite old standby, Nietzsche's (pronounced Nee-chee's) offers live music every night and for their New Years Eve Extravaganza had four bands and an acoustic entertainer, Andrew Reimers during intermission.
We missed Vessel but a $5 cover provided noisemakers and confetti and the rest of the night's entertainment.
Also not serving Killian's I tried a suggested draft of Bass and after asking my friend to try it we agreed it was definitely flat.
So you know you are in a good place on New Years Eve when the waitress tells you her name is Hope. She suggested a bottle of Howl and, although absolutely interesting, full of flavor and body, I know future visits will be preceeded with a couple calls to the local venues to see if they have my Killian's. :-)
The Queen City Station Band rocked us right to New Years with loud energetic rock. The countdown to New Years was loud and shortly after the Incredibles came on stage. With the crowd bopping balloons back and forth and finally people moving and jumping up and down the entire band and patrons joined together to sing Harvey Danger's Flagpole, leaving the troubles of last year far behind with the waitress Hope leading us into the year 2010. -
Review from Paul R.
Seattle, WA
11/11/2010
Love this place!
Have had far too many nights as a young man doing damage in here. Although it's been many years. -
Review from Pepper O.
Buffalo, NY
10/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
The best bartender ever works here. DANA! :)
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Review from Tiffany F.
Manhattan, NY
12/27/2009
This is a great place to see some live music. Rumour has it that even Ani Difranco played here as a young girl just starting out.
Listed in: Best and Worst of Buffalo
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Review from larry b.
Woodstock, IL
1/21/2010
Used to go to Nietzsche's back in my post Punk days when I lived in Buffalo in the early 80's. I saw several good bands there including Goo-goo Dolls and 10000 Maniacs. Glad to see it has kept up the vibe.
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Review from Katie Q.
Baton Rouge, LA
4/27/2006
yes saxon you will raise some eyebrows by criticisizing this buffalo landmark but you are not entirely wrong. it's just a romantic love for the quirkiness of this place, and the great bands that have risen from this low brow establishment. if i hear one more person say how they used to see ani difranco play here "all the time" or some dude say he partied with the goo's when they still drank...oy.
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Review from Marc C.
Buffalo, NY
8/14/2009
if you like strange people, cans of PBR, and bad local bands that charge cover this is your place. Women with armpit hair - this is for you. This place is not good at all. Been there a multiple times and its stranger everytime
