During the Blizzard of ’77, then-mayor Jimmy Griffin advised Buffalonians to stay inside and drink a six-pack of Genny. While few agreed with his choice of beers, everyone agreed that drinking was a good idea.

Truth be told, we don’t need a blizzard to drink. Buffalo’s packed with watering holes of every stripe, and a lot of them are even open ’til 4am. Without looking at our list of nominees, you might think that “Best Bar Food” means greasy burgers, thick reuben sandwiches and chicken wings. But Allen Street Hardware and Mother’s, with their cosmopolitan menus, remind us that it simply means good food, served at a bar. Beer Selection is key, and if another huge blizzard hit us today, Byron Brown would probably say, “Get out a shovel and dig your way to Prespa.” Though no one quite understands why they have a neon sign advertising dirt-cheap PBR, Prespa won this category in last year’s Best of Buffalo, offering customers more than 60 beers from around the world. Pearl Street Grill & Brewery also made the cut this year, based on its own delicious brews, including the popular Trainwreck Lager, Lake Effect IPA, Canal Street Oatmeal Stout and their rotating seasonal list.

Three of our Best Dive Bar nominees are conspicuously located in a two-block section of Allen Street—Mulligan’s Brick Bar, The Old Pink and Nietzsche’s. All we can say is that we think they’re raising property values in the neighborhood. When it comes down to it, every bar is simply a gathering place. But only particularly friendly, long-established saloons are deemed Best Neighborhood Pub. Among those nominated are Founding Fathers—who won this category last year—and relative newcomer Allen Street Hardware.

There are plenty of affable bartenders in Buffalo, but Roxy’s Green Room seems to take the cake, scoring hits in Best Bartender with both Jamie and Aimee. Roxy’s was also nominated for Best Lesbian-friendly Bar, along with its new neighbor just up Main Street, Miss Kitty’s.

Of course, all those late nights of boozing mean that we love our coffee, too. It’s not exactly Seattle, but Buffalo has its fair share of coffeehouses that can brew an excellent cup of joe. Among those nominated are the usuals, SPoT and Caffé Aroma. In fact, both were voted in for best coffee and best coffeehouse. Hundreds voted for Tim Horton’s for best coffee, and Starbucks would’ve been nominated for both coffee categories, but they’re national chains, so their votes were tossed.

Notable is Café Allegro, a quaint neighborhood coffee shop on Hertel Avenue, which was nominated for best coffee and which hovered just off the top five list for coffeehouse. Allegro is owned by a local family, displays artwork by local artist and has almost nightly entertainment. Not to mention they have delicious baked goods. Café 59, at Franklin and Allen Streets, also was nominated for best coffeehouse, and for good reason. The popularity of its coffee and deli has recently merited an expansion into a neighboring storefront that once housed an antiques shop.

Best Bar Food

Papa Jake’s

Mother’s Restaurant

Gabriel’s Gate

Founding Fathers

Cole’s Restaurant

Buddies II

Allen Street Hardware

Best Bartender

Will Waterrose at Amherst Pizza & Ale House

Sammy at Mother’s Restaurant

Jamie at Roxy’s Green Room

Elizabeth Chadwick at Frizzy’s Bar & Grill

Aimee Zinzola at Roxy’s Green Room

Best Beer Selection

Prespa

Pizza Plant

Pearl Street Grill & Brewery

Mr. Goodbar

Colter Bay

Cole’s Restaurant

Buffalo Brew Pub

Alternative Brews

Best Coffee

SPoT Coffee

Solid Grounds

Caz Coffee Café

Caffé Aroma

Café Allegro

Best Coffeehouse

SPoT Coffee

Higher Grounds

Clarence Center Coffee Co.

Caffé Aroma

Café 59

2-2-3 Allen (The Old Pink)

Best Dive Bar

Nietzsche’s

Mulligan’s Brick Bar

Merlin’s

Essex Street Pub

2-2-3 Allen (The Old Pink)

Best Gay-Friendly Bar

Underground

The Cathode Ray

Q

Fugazi

Club Marcella

Buddies II

Best Happy Hour

Soho Bar

Darcy McGee’s Irish Pub

Crocodile Bar

Cole’s Restaurant

Buddies II

Best Lesbian-Friendly Bar

Roxy’s Green Room

Q

Miss Kitty’s

Club Marcella

Adonia’s

Cecelia's Ristorante & Martini Bar

Best Martini

Simme’s Martini Bar & Restaurant

Shadow Lounge

Prespa

O

Nektar

Fugazi

Cecelia’s Ristorante & Martini Bar

Best Neighborhood Pub

Mulligan’s Brick Bar

Founding Fathers Restaurant

Essex Street Pub

Doc Sullivan’s

Cole’s Restaurant

Allen Street Hardware

Best Upscale Bar

Prespa

Nektar

Mother’s Restaurant

David’s Grille

Club Diablo