McGarrets
Bar · Buffalo
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About McGarrets
McGarrets is a popular bar located in Buffalo, offering a vibrant atmosphere and a solid 4.4-star rating based on 170 reviews. We pride ourselves on fast service, a great beer selection, and expertly crafted cocktails. Enjoy our outdoor seating and a variety of entertainment options, including bar g...
McGarrets is a popular bar located in Buffalo, offering a vibrant atmosphere and a solid 4.4-star rating based on 170 reviews. We pride ourselves on fast service, a great beer selection, and expertly crafted cocktails. Enjoy our outdoor seating and a variety of entertainment options, including bar games, live music, and live performances. We also show sports games regularly. McGarrets is wheelchair accessible, with both an accessible entrance and restroom. We're open Tuesday through Sunday, offering late-night fun. Please note we are closed on Mondays.
What Customers Say About McGarrets
McGarrets is a cash-only dive bar with a friendly, low-key environment and a good selection of local beers at reasonable prices. It features pool tables, darts, and sometimes live music. Some find it empty at times, while others appreciate the uncrowded space.
Best For
Tip: Remember to bring cash, as McGarrets is a cash-only establishment.
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What to see nearby
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Explore the area around McGarrets
McGarrets is located in Buffalo, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church (A 222m) — church building in New York, United States of America Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
- Richmond Avenue Methodist-Episcopal Church (A 944m) — church building in New York, United States of America Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
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McGarrets Buffalo Reviews
Great service and the drinks are cold! Friendly staff and a warm welcome! Money well spent!
Great service and the drinks are cold! Friendly staff and a warm welcome! Money well spent!
I went to see BEÜ, great show! You can see them every 1st Friday of the month. You won't be disappointed!
The classic dive bar, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Good beer selection, friendly bartenders. Great spot to relax, play darts, hang out on the patio. Can get a little loud when there's a band, but you can always escape to the other room or the patio.
Call me biased, but my father was a DJ for this place YEARS ago, in the 80s when it was known as No Names. It's just nice that the bar's still open, it makes me happy to see that. Thanks for taking care of the ol' joint, sincerely ♥️
Tried and true and cash only. This place has been a buffalo staple since time immemorial. Previously 'Heenans' '946' and 'no-names'. This place is a great bar in a great space and always has something going on. Great tap and bottle selection.
Great, underrated bar. Lots of great craft beer and a friemdly, low-key environment for those of us who can't cope with the Allen or Chippewa crowds. Keep in mind they only accept cash.
Like this place because it's never too crowded or crazy. Prices are very reasonable and there's a pretty good beer selection. Good place to hang out with a few friends.
Great selection for a smaller place, I’ve seen a lot of good bands here too. Two pool tables make it worth the trip and it’s two doors down from Jim’s if you’re down for some late night garbage fare.
McGarrets was a great stop for a cold beer on a hot day. Cash-only, so plan accordingly, but good selection of local beers, very reasonable prices, and a great location in Elmwood. Friendly, helpful staff, plenty of seating, and a good vibe.
Felt very safe, masks on. 1 person restroom, everyone was outside, people inside were definitely 6 feet apart, social distancing and very respectful 🤗
Best bar in Buffalo.
Best bar in Buffalo.
I went to see BEÜ, great show! You can see them every 1st Friday of the month. You won't be disappointed!
Call me biased, but my father was a DJ for this place YEARS ago, in the 80s when it was known as No Names. It's just nice that the bar's still open, it makes me happy to see that. Thanks for taking care of the ol' joint, sincerely ♥️
Felt very safe, masks on. 1 person restroom, everyone was outside, people inside were definitely 6 feet apart, social distancing and very respectful 🤗
Great selection for a smaller place, I’ve seen a lot of good bands here too. Two pool tables make it worth the trip and it’s two doors down from Jim’s if you’re down for some late night garbage fare.
McGarrets was a great stop for a cold beer on a hot day. Cash-only, so plan accordingly, but good selection of local beers, very reasonable prices, and a great location in Elmwood. Friendly, helpful staff, plenty of seating, and a good vibe.
The classic dive bar, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Good beer selection, friendly bartenders. Great spot to relax, play darts, hang out on the patio. Can get a little loud when there's a band, but you can always escape to the other room or the patio.
Tried and true and cash only. This place has been a buffalo staple since time immemorial. Previously 'Heenans' '946' and 'no-names'. This place is a great bar in a great space and always has something going on. Great tap and bottle selection.
Great, underrated bar. Lots of great craft beer and a friemdly, low-key environment for those of us who can't cope with the Allen or Chippewa crowds. Keep in mind they only accept cash.
Like this place because it's never too crowded or crazy. Prices are very reasonable and there's a pretty good beer selection. Good place to hang out with a few friends.
It's a pretty decent bar. It's not a dive but by no means so prissy that you don't feel free to let loose a little. It has its regulars like most bars but strangers are just as welcomed. When they have live music it's at least decent - usually along the lines of jam bands. It's a good place to play pool, darts, or other bar sports, unless it's crowded. Even then, starting a conversation with others waiting their turn comes almost naturally. The beer selection is pretty good, and should offer something worthwhile for any beer connoisseur. Parking can be annoying, but it's Elmwood. This used to be the location of the bar with no name, which, I hear, operated from the 1960s until sometime in the 1990s. So it has some historical significance. It's not the best bar in the world, but it's close. I wish I had the ability to give it another half star.
Kind of divey. Two pool tables, two dart boards. Nice/attentive bartenders. Cash only bar!! Sometimes there's live music, on these nights it's packed and boisterous. Personally I like it better when there's no band (most nights) because it's fairly empty and quiet. They also have a nice patio where you can watch the Elmwood street life from.
Cash only with an ATM. Bottle beer. Selection various domestic and import beer. Don't know about indie or microbrew beer. Wine? Not guessing. Elmwood Strip, so it's possible.Mixed drinks. Not sure if it incudes well drinks or top shelf.One electric dart board. 2 pool tables and an old school foosball game. TouchTunes jukebox. I don't know if they have a menu, or even serve food. It's Sunday night and there weren't too many patrons.
Solid quiet and homey bar. Prices are reasonable, bartenders are always cool, and a very relaxed and comfortable environment. Definitely good for a drink with a friend
Cash only Elmwood dive that has the same feel from 10 years ago. Nothing changes about this place, and that's what makes it a great spot to stop in during the inevitable Spring and Summer bar crawls.
Cash only with an ATM. Bottle beer. Selection various domestic and import beer. Don't know about indie or microbrew beer. Wine? Not guessing. Elmwood Strip, so it's possible.Mixed drinks. Not sure if it incudes well drinks or top shelf.One electric dart board. 2 pool tables and an old school foosball game. TouchTunes jukebox. I don't know if they have a menu, or even serve food. It's Sunday night and there weren't too many patrons.
Solid quiet and homey bar. Prices are reasonable, bartenders are always cool, and a very relaxed and comfortable environment. Definitely good for a drink with a friend
Cash only Elmwood dive that has the same feel from 10 years ago. Nothing changes about this place, and that's what makes it a great spot to stop in during the inevitable Spring and Summer bar crawls.
Kind of divey. Two pool tables, two dart boards. Nice/attentive bartenders. Cash only bar!! Sometimes there's live music, on these nights it's packed and boisterous. Personally I like it better when there's no band (most nights) because it's fairly empty and quiet. They also have a nice patio where you can watch the Elmwood street life from.
It's a pretty decent bar. It's not a dive but by no means so prissy that you don't feel free to let loose a little. It has its regulars like most bars but strangers are just as welcomed. When they have live music it's at least decent - usually along the lines of jam bands. It's a good place to play pool, darts, or other bar sports, unless it's crowded. Even then, starting a conversation with others waiting their turn comes almost naturally. The beer selection is pretty good, and should offer something worthwhile for any beer connoisseur. Parking can be annoying, but it's Elmwood. This used to be the location of the bar with no name, which, I hear, operated from the 1960s until sometime in the 1990s. So it has some historical significance. It's not the best bar in the world, but it's close. I wish I had the ability to give it another half star.
I don't know if it's my timing but every time I've come here it's always been pretty empty. I mean the bar is full but there's more room. I'm not unhappy about the extra space for games, of which they have pool and darts, but still. It seemed empty. I'm normally in for a beer and then out again because it just didn't seem too fun. Maybe I need to try going at other times.
I don't know if it's my timing but every time I've come here it's always been pretty empty. I mean the bar is full but there's more room. I'm not unhappy about the extra space for games, of which they have pool and darts, but still. It seemed empty. I'm normally in for a beer and then out again because it just didn't seem too fun. Maybe I need to try going at other times.
Not advertised at all, I do not know how they stay open. The bartender was basically drinking alone with his back to the small group of customers. Being so slow I'd hope it'd be cleaner, a shame as the building itself has a historical quality. Its sports bar layout but its missing the screens, flannel crowd of mixed ages. Pro: secluded pool table room Con: regular elmwood pricing without the people watching
Not advertised at all, I do not know how they stay open. The bartender was basically drinking alone with his back to the small group of customers. Being so slow I'd hope it'd be cleaner, a shame as the building itself has a historical quality. Its sports bar layout but its missing the screens, flannel crowd of mixed ages. Pro: secluded pool table room Con: regular elmwood pricing without the people watching
went in on halloween night, wasn’t getting drinks, was just there to see some friends and the bouncer, eric, walks up to us saying he can’t let us in. he checked my id, new york state id, im 22 years old. then checked my friends who are both 21. he starts asking one of my friends questions about her home town which she answers. he said “i’m not suppose to let people in under 25” we knew people in the bar. playing pool. who were 21. he walks away for a little less than 10 mins while we stood in the same spot and talked to our friend. we decided to sit and right as we did he tells us he can’t let stay. no one was at the door when we walked in to check our ids. as he was walking us out he asked which one was from jackson. my friend annoyed didn’t answer. then he mutters under his breathe “right.” so disgusted with the atmosphere and the service. so sure he made up this rule for an unknown reason, i don’t care. if ur only letting people in 25+ have someone at the door stating that or advertise. and if it was a lie, get better staff.
Worst bartender in Buffalo. Brother was acting like it wasn’t his job to serve beers. Sad individual. I’ll never go back and that’s from someone who loves dives bars. Avoid at all cost
went in on halloween night, wasn’t getting drinks, was just there to see some friends and the bouncer, eric, walks up to us saying he can’t let us in. he checked my id, new york state id, im 22 years old. then checked my friends who are both 21. he starts asking one of my friends questions about her home town which she answers. he said “i’m not suppose to let people in under 25” we knew people in the bar. playing pool. who were 21. he walks away for a little less than 10 mins while we stood in the same spot and talked to our friend. we decided to sit and right as we did he tells us he can’t let stay. no one was at the door when we walked in to check our ids. as he was walking us out he asked which one was from jackson. my friend annoyed didn’t answer. then he mutters under his breathe “right.” so disgusted with the atmosphere and the service. so sure he made up this rule for an unknown reason, i don’t care. if ur only letting people in 25+ have someone at the door stating that or advertise. and if it was a lie, get better staff.
Worst bartender in Buffalo. Brother was acting like it wasn’t his job to serve beers. Sad individual. I’ll never go back and that’s from someone who loves dives bars. Avoid at all cost
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About McGarrets
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946 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
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946 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
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