Rad atmosphere! Fun events and a large staged venue for concerts with a full bar both downstairs and upstairs. The upstairs area has a balcony and totally different vibe from the lower level. Tons of seating and a full menu if you're hungry downstairs. We were just swinging by for a drink but everyone said the tacos and burgers were really good. I will try them next time. National artists, local artists and even karaoke with a band at the Rec Room. Place was packed and everyone was having a blast! If you are looking for good music and a cool place to chill and enjoy the vibe, this place is worth a stop. It's awesome that places like this exist for people to have fun in a low pressure environment downtown. Everyone is super friendly, bathroom was clean and a ton of places to enjoy music and even quieter areas if you want to have conversation or just hang out and have a few drinks! A+ read more

My husband and I went here for live band karaoke. First off, we bought tickets for this and when we went to the event, no one asked for tickets. So we spent $25 for no reason. Also, the karaoke started almost an hour and a half after the advertised time. They also advertised it to be 90s rock and pop yet they offered the entire karaoke menu which has barely any 90s rock songs so it should just be advertised as live band karaoke. I sang and it was hard to hear myself- audio wasn't great. Also, it wasn't a full band, just a bassist and a drummer. There was clearly a track playing behind them. I don't know if I'd go back since it's a pain to get to and they got extra money and wasted an hour and a half of our time. Edit- raised from one star to two because the food was decent and the bartenders were attentive and friendly. read more

Went here for the Dueling pianos, and it was an awesome time! The tacos were very flavorful, but expensive! $18 for something that took me 5 minutes to eat. Our server was amazing, we had a table of 15 and she was on top of everyone's drinks and food requests. The place itself is pretty nice, has an upstairs balcony, and the a bar was nice. But the bar service was not the greatest. , I will say that the restrooms were actually very clean. I will be back read more

Rec Room - Dance Clubs Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I went here on a Sunday for the bills game and had a great time! the bartender was very friendly and of course there is plenty of space inside! read more

Rec, a word here short for recreation, and not wreck, at least the bits that I've experienced. All of my experiences here were for concert tours, one this past weekend and two a few years back. I'm always hesitant to go to Buffalo, as I'm the epitome of anxious. Will there be affordable parking? (Yes, a lot around the corner was charging $8, pay via phone only.) The more pressing question is "Will I be safe?" which in this case, I'm glad to say I was. In fact, during the show the band heard noise outside and peeled back the curtain to peek out, prompting the security guard to check that we were all fine. I've been able to maintain my personal space and safety within reason. While I did not get a full metal detector, pat down, or bag search like other venues, we all still felt safe. My mate let his ID expire, but the website allows you to email for alternative options, and he was let in under the conditions that he was treated as a minor. We all got permanent marker x's (those of age get paper wristbands but none of us wanted to drink) and were given the option of either sitting at some tables near the bar (they have pricey food) and standing near the small stage. There's also a second floor where they set up merch for the bands. The bathrooms have enough stalls to keep the line going. There isn't much elbow room in them, at least the ladies room. Thankfully I had enough elbow room off to the right of the stage this go around and only had to suck in a few times to avoid brushing against the scantily clad concert goers who don't seem to sense that it's November out. To their defense, it does get warm in there with all the bodies and dancing. Especially if you take a more centered position, using your tiny arm muscles to hold the lead singer up as he crowd surfs. Or if he comes out and serenades you, standing amongst the crowd. Or if you've made your way to the front, close enough for the beat of the drum to propel your bangs off your forehead. (All separate instances, so I'm guessing this is the norm as far as intimacy is concerned.) The rules seem a bit looser here without making you want to die. In fact, for really affordable prices, I've had positively phenomenal experiences. There's a viewing screen by the bar if proximity is not your thing. Not everyone wants to be surrounded by youths. The age requirement is 16, and we are double that, milking the last few bits of bar music out of our systems before we settle for something a bit less big energy (in such a small place nontheless). Bonus points that the floor isn't sticky like other bars we have attended. Am I going to go out of my way to come club here? Nah. But if there's a show worth seeing, you can scan my ticket at the door. read more

NEVER COMING BACK I came in with my friends to the bar for karaoke. After my friends and I got a few drinks I was hungry but the food menu items were mad expensive. So I see on the menu they got these $4 chicken tinga tacos so I ask the bartender about it, specifying i wanted the specialty ones. She tells me that's no issue and goes to get my orders. Now because they were $4 I order two orders one for me and some extra in case my friends wanted any because I figured they wouldn't be very filling. I get my tacos, we eat. Everything's good. End of the night I go to close my tab and my bills is 40 FUCKING DOLLARS and the only thing in the receipt is two fucking tacos. I ask the bartender, she goes to ask someone and comes back and is like "Oh we only do the specialty during happy hour" like you couldn't tell me that when I first asked you? I specifically asked for the $4 tacos and was told it was fine, then when they realized didn't even do anything to make it right just made me pay the forty dollars. Those tacos weren't even worth fucking 10 dollars I don't even eat all of them and drunk me eats almost anything so that's saying something about the food. NEVER again. NEVER NEVER NEVER. One of the most boring bars in Buffalo and shitty customer service. read more

What an interesting night! I remember when this place used to be the lodge. I came to the rec room for the Britney tribute night. Some people were dressed to the nines, cosplaying some of Britneys iconic looks. - Parking, obviously, during the weekends is hard to find. I always appreciate free parking. - Drinks are a little on the pricier side compared to the Buffalo standard. I would come back for a particular event but probably not on a typical weekday read more

Dueling pianos was the most fun I've had on a Thursday night in ages! This is an interactive, live music, full band, show with a video wall and visuals for a memorable night out. The talent here is just that, super talented! This is a really cool experience and something new to this area. It felt like a show that would be in Key West, on a tropical resort or a cruise ship. Guests are encouraged to pick music from a song catalog and make requests. Bump your song up to the front of the line by sending a tip on Venmo. The bigger the tip the night priority you will have. You can also embarrass your friends for $5 by having a message displayed in their honor across the giant video screens. Tambourines and maracas are passed out to guests and everyone is encouraged to partake in the show, dance and if you feel encouraged can sit and dance on top the back of the booths. The show itself is 5+ stars! The menu is currently limited and is available via QR code. There is an extensive drink menu with something for everyone. Craft cocktails, bubble shots, craft beers, wine and buckets of High Noons and spiked seltzer's will get everyone loosened up and ready to sing. The service was very good, helpful and accommodating but not too pushy. The reason I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the food. I know right now things are tough and I am thrilled they have a food menu at all. The menu was pretty basic and had decent bar food type of options. I was disappointed because I ordered the wing dip and it came out cold, like it was just pulled out of the fridge. The server told me it came in a crock, so it would be hot. The flavor was pretty good but heating it up would have made it so much better. The server was able to get me celery instead of pita to dip which was helpful and accommodating. But I need to say the celery was pretty sad looking and on it's last legs. It's not great that I noticed that after a few drinks and in darker lighting conditions. Either way this isn't a place you are coming for a memorable meal and it wouldn't prevent me from coming back. But a few adjustments would have made this even better. Since there is limited seating you are best off to make a reservation. There is a $10 cover charge for the show which runs close to 4 hours. Walk ins are welcome if there is seating available. There are seating options downstairs and upstairs. Each option has some pros and cons. Downstairs is a front seat and close to the action. You are able to interact with the singers and musicians. This area is much busier and you can get up and dance with other guests. By the end of the night you will have played the tambourine at least twice. The upstairs has more room, is less crowded and has a birds eye view. You can see the show very well but don't get the same experience as being front and center. The other perks of being upstairs are there is an outdoor smoking lounge and some pretty neat neon sign/ art installation spots for the perfect selfies. read more

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Somehow, I only recently came to this trendy spot for the first time. Definitely didn't regret it! I really liked the interior a lot. Lots of cool art on the walls, fun neon signs, and interesting seating arrangements upstairs. I did also enjoy the fact that the bar is two levels, since it got slightly crowded downstairs and my friend and I wanted a break. Drinks were decently priced and tasted delicious! We also each had an order of mozzarella sticks. They were tasty as well (despite the fact that they came with hot sauce instead of marinara, definitely interesting). The only thing I didn't love was paying a $15 cover. I know it was because there was a cover band playing that night, I don't know how much it typically costs to get in, but still was more than I was expecting. I'm sure I'll end up here again someday! And when I do, I'll gladly explore more of their drink offerings. read more

Rec Room - Had to get a pic under the classic sign! - Dance Clubs Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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I did not go here for a typical bar/club experience. Rec Room was nice enough to host our November Project Holiday brunch. They let us bring in our own food and ran awesome drink specials for us. The bloody Marys were good. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The downstairs has booth tables, a large bar with several large TVs. Upstairs there is a small aracade area. It looked like there was a small outside deck area that would open in the summer. There are neon signs with different sayings throughout, perfect for photo ops. While I can't speak for the nightlife part it seems like a place my friends and I would have gone to in college. I would definitely check it out. read more

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It's January 17, 2024, our company had a kick off meeting and booked the Rec Room for an evening event. The weather showed up in full force, and we thought for sure (and wouldn't blame them) the Rec Room would cancel. They didn't. They showed up. BIG. They played music, sang songs, gave me a tambourine, and gave us a spectacular event. Big thank you to the Rec Room for showing us a fantastic time - the drinks, service, and music was read more

Absolutely disgusting customer service. Not even worth one star. If you're ever in Buffalo, this is the last bar you want to go to. If you're looking to get drunk in this area, I highly suggest going to a local Walmart and getting a case of Keystone instead of going to this bar. read more

We just attended Badflower at the Rec Room. Loved the band and the venue was nice. Plenty of bartenders and good drink choices. My complaint? I got a migraine and needed to leave and guess where the exit is? Through the crowd right next to the stage. So we had to plow through all the concert goers trying to enjoy their music. We weren't the only people leaving so it was a stream of people trying to exit through the crowd. Meanwhile one guy stands at an exit in the back of the room, and tells us we can't go out there. Go figure. What a stupid set up. read more

We have been spoiled by going to dueling pianos in big cities...BUT, this was horrible. We had to leave. So much going on: a saxophone player that walked around playing random chords, pyrotechnics, a drum that you couldn't hear, and a singer who sounded like bad karaoke. The only redeeming factor was the service was good. Not for us. read more

The place was alright and very crowded. The bouncers treated everyone like rats. They showed some disrespect on all guests making fun of the dress and not even sure why they took a long time in verifying our ID's. Pretty bad experience! read more

FOR YOUR SAFETY: Don't ever buy a mixed drink from Rec Room. Both a friend and I were roofied by a bartender this past summer at the 2nd floor bar. The first drink for both of us - I passed out in the bathroom and my friend was admitted to the hospital. read more

Worst bar literally ever what was that music??? The dj was literally playing off of a Spotify playlist called "emo music" if youre looking for the whitest bar in America this is it read more

Every time I am forced to come here I say I'll never come back. If you like shoulder to shoulder with eardrum crushing cringy club music this place is for you. Look around and you'll see people that have been fooled into thinking this is a place that requires you to put on your best outfit, simply because it's 10-20 dollars to get in the door, giving the illusion that it is a place of importance. If you are into cocaine just go to the bathroom, where you'll find a group of recent Canisius High School grads dapping each other up after they all rip lines - surely now they are ready to go talk to some girls that are prime candidates for a free drink from suckers like them. Rec Room is a place where everyone goes to pretend they are having a good time. read more

Went during Pop Karaoke and it was a good time. Mixed drinks were about 6-7 bucks. Nice stage setup and could definitely see myself returning to enjoy a show from down below or up on the second floor looking down. read more

The bouncers were very homophobic. I waited in line for 45 minutes. When I initially gave the bouncer my ID I noticed rather than inspecting my ID he kept staring at my nails and my outfit. After he made a joke about my clothes he then called over the other bouncer who asked me to step out of line. I was confused so I listened and I was then turned by the bouncer and slapped on my butt for what reason I DO NOT KNOW. This happened in front of the whole line where people laughed when they saw me get humiliated. I asked the bouncer "did you really just touch me" and he told me "you can just go home". I was given no reason as to why I wasn't let it. I can only assume they didn't like the way I looked. I'm embarrassed and feel violated. I've worn the same outfit I wore that night (4/9/22) previously and had no issues. So sad to see discrimination in such a diverse city. DISGUSTING! read more

This place sucks like most places in Buffalo on Chippewa Street . The bouncers there are like Neanderthals they treat their customers like garbage throw people out practically for sneezing and then hold a permanent lifelong grudge against them never letting them back in their establishment again . They will lie about people and say that they cause the problem even when they did not which is what happened to someone I know they are wrongly accused of something just because they didn't like something they had on and it had nothing to do with the dress code violation at all , nor were they wearing anything offensive at all but the staff outright lied about them to get them kicked out of there. Not only are the security there unprofessional but they look unprofessional as well. They look disgusting and they're not clean cut like you would expect professional people to do to represent and establishments image like that and this is why downtown Buffalo has been going down hill for decades read more

If you're underage or a creepy frat boy, this place is for you. I did not feel safe here. My drink did not leave my hand, and I was on high alert for me and my friends the whole time. Don't waste your money on the shitty neon lights. The music was so loud that I couldn't even tell what song was playing. The bartender didn't even know what I was saying, and I had to type it out for him. It's the next day and my ears are still ringing. There's a cover because they know once you walk in you'll be walking right back out if you know what's good for you. Overall, worst bar experience I've had. read more

I must have seen at least twenty "It was all a dream" Sunday afternoon Instagram pics before making my way over to REC Room. Thus far, I have been told Friday vs Saturday nights are very different with Friday featuring cool bands and attracting a less clubby group. While Saturday is reminiscent of a Toronto club. I have only been Saturday so I'll hopefully update on Friday soon. I really love going out with friends, especially during the cold months when things have a way of just getting a little under the weather in Buffalo. Let me start from the beginning, I went there with 3-4 other people on a Saturday and waited in line for over 30 minutes during a very, very chilly night around midnight. Man, we must have considered leaving the line more times than I can remember. People were budging, pushing, and getting pretty aggravated. I even felt a tad claustrophobic after being sandwiched in between two massive groups of college students. Then, once we got in the cover was $10 which is a little steep for a new bar in Buffalo. However, the coat check is free. So feel a little more comfortable wearing your trusty down parka out. All this and I still give this place four stars. Despite the line and oddly high cover. This is because the second we walked in the place has awesome larger city vibes with A+ service (I know I'll be changing that). As I was walked up to the crowded bar the bartender was already asking what I would like to order. This same service followed for the rest of the night. If there is one complaint about Buffalo I have it would be directed towards the general level of hospitality at bars and restaurants. I do not think I'm alone in saying this is the kind of place I expect for a Buffalo Chipawa bar/club. Buffalo has really been in desperate need of a new club. So far, REC Room sports a slightly, just slightly, posh feel with a nice ambiance. More wow and less "Wow these floors are unusually sticky even for a club" feels. The only thing holding me back from an all-around raving review is the insane line and $10 cover on Saturdays. For anyone who can reference this, it felt like Spring Fest 2016 at UB when the line was so crowded people were being physically moved from everyone shoving in attempts to get inside. read more

I attended the Rec Room Christmas party and it was such a fun time! Tickets were sold in advance so there was no waiting at the door. There were specialty drinks, food, and a raffle. The place was not too crowded at all! This is the second year in a row my friends and I have been the rec room Christmas party and we loved it! There was a professional photographer taking photos and I'd love to know where to find those? read more

Pretty shitty that you have bartenders that are racist Every bar, the bartender has their section and rotate from left to right or vice versa. Me, my husband and our friend went up to the 2nd floor and were waiting for a drink, mine and my husbands friend was the one at the bar waiting to order drinks, as was everyone else, the bartender made his way towards us, waited on the people to the right of us and COMPLETELY SKIPPED over us, and went to the people on the left of us. If I was the one waiting to be served, I would've been served right away. Little puny piece of garbage bartender. Don't judge someone until you know them, regardless of race!!!! POS! I ask for the manager but my husband knows how I am and stopped me, but I am NOT LETTING THIS GO! You establishment is disgusting! read more

I'd give a 0 if I could... I'll never understand how a business owner can pridefully run a business whilst treating their guests like absolute shit. Of course it's a beautiful venu, but if you have any self respect, you won't provide any business to a place like this. I feel I don't need to share much on my experience other than my time there was very short lived due to an instant mistreatment by both the bouncer and the owner, which felt entirely based on me being a young woman, thus I had automatic disrespect? Do better. read more

I came here last night for 90s themed karaoke. They have about four pages of songs that you can choose from. A live band will play the music and you can read the lyrics off the tv screen. The tv screen didn't work the entire time so be prepared to have the lyrics pulled up on your phone. There's a large young crowd that comes just to take pictures. There's a few games to play on the upper level and drinks are cheap. read more

I came here for the first time for a show last month, and I loved it! Intimate feel, you feel close tot he stage regardless of how far back you are. The sound was great, and I love the decor (cute neon lights), and booths for eating food or VIP drink service. The drinks are reasonably priced, they had my favorite hayburner beer, and a large beer and cocktail selection. The customer service was great, the bartenders were friendly, and they even had food you can order before or doing the show. I saw people eating Chinese, and various other bar food/snacks. I heard they have live band karaoke nights here, such as 90s themes or 80s themed. I will def be back to check this out. They also have happy hour specials and bar games, and host private events. Most shows are 18+, but there were a couple parents with younger kids at the show I was at. read more

Such a great atmosphere!!! My friends and I love going to Rec Room. The bouncer Dan has a great attitude and loves his job! Couldn't recommend more. Will definitely be back. read more

Great way to spend a Thursday evening. Dueling pianos was excellent. The servers were attentive but not overbearing and the food was pretty good. They handed out tambourines, which was a really good idea. I really enjoyed the experience here and they went out of their way to ensure that I did. Highly recommended. read more

Rec Room as a venue as a whole is a great place. Great bartenders. Great drinks. But the music just really puts me off. They only play remixes and it really ruins the mood. If they played better music, Rec Room would 100% be my go to spot. Really ruins the vibes. So much potential but misplaced focus. read more

Although I like this bar, my most recent visit was upsetting. I coat checked my jacket and accidentally left it there that night. Went back the next morning with my coat check ticket and they couldnt find my jacket anywhere. Left my name, number and description of the jacket and havent heard back for a week and a half. Doesnt make sense to me that it could have been "lost". I don't recommend checking your coat here. read more

The bouncers are on a power trip. Went with a friend and immediately met with dick head energy. Would not recommend to anyone who cares about quality of service. read more

I was treated very rudely by the security for having a very recently expired driver's license. I was yelled at and they put their hands on me and were very forceful. They were extremely rude and unprofessional! read more

Came here for the Leprecon Bar crawl. I had tickets for the bar crawl, but ended up only being able to participate in the crawl for about an hour, so my boyfriend and I figured we would check out Rec Room. When we came in, I went to the bar and ordered a water. The bartender was VERY nice. Then we headed upstairs and sat down for about 10-15 minutes before deciding to head back downstairs. After one step down the stairs, I completely slipped and fell down 3-4 more steps due to the stairwell being wet (with no grip-its a metal staircase). I burst out screaming and crying from the pain. I stayed on the staircase for about 3 minutes just crying because I couldn't/didn't want to move from all the pain. My boyfriend tried to help me up. What aggravated me about this situation was that there were 3 staff members (might've been security) that were upstairs, sitting on the couches, talking and laughing with each other who either saw the fall and did nothing about it, or were not doing their jobs and paid no attention. The fall was absolutely viewable by the second floor, especially because there might have been a total of 15 people of there, not crowded at all. We left immediately after. I now have a fractured tailbone and am unable to sit or put any sort of pressure on that area. I also have a bruise that is dark purple and about 10 inches in length, 2 inches in width. Only reason I gave two stars is because of the bartender. read more

Love this place! It is such a unique spot as it caters to many different "trends". Bands, karaoke, DJs, oldies music, and sports games.