The Banshee. Buffalo, New York

257 Franklin Street

Guinness Tag: $7.50 | Overall Rating: 9.40

Today's Dedicated Pint: Kevin from Ireland

Buffalo has a little cruise line called Grand Lady, and they were hosting a Bubbly Brunch Cruise during the afternoon of July 12th, 2026. My alibi is that I was busy sipping on a terrifically poured Guinness while watching the Dublin Gaelic football team lose to Kerry inside the marvelous Pub, The Banshee. No bubbling mimosas for me.

I consumed quite the delightful experience under The Banshee's roof, as it offers barflies a warm little library with a fireplace, a mass explosion of patina, and a big ass horseshoe bar that holds roughly 25 patrons. For a while, the locals knew the place as D'Arcy McGee's, but now it's being ran by a charismatic Irishman named Kevin. From the moment we bent our elbows at the bar to the moment we left, Kevin was constantly walking around the dining room, making sure every single person was having a good time and felt acknowledged. The Craic is definitely coming from both behind and in front of the bar here at The Banshee.

I had no plans on coming here, as time was tight and we originally just had our eyes set on Adolf's down in the First Ward. My wife and I are currently driving out to Bar Harbor, Maine to visit Leary's Landing, the closest Pub to Ireland here in the states. Buffalo seemed like a good place for a quick pitstop, and time became on our side. We decided to hit up The Banshee before grabbing some wings at Adolf's, being that they open their doors at 9 a.m. on Sundays. Had they not opened until 11am, we would have missed out on experiencing one of the best Pubs in the country. This place slaps, and I essentially demand you witness it yourself if you live nearby.

The barstools are upholstered nicely, the bar itself came from Ireland, and there seems to be a ledge every 5 square feet for you to rest your pint on. The craftsmanship throughout the place is awesome, and everything you lay your eyes on is pure, as opposed to gimmicky signs from Amazon or mass-produced ones from beer vendors. The light fixtures put off a great ambience, and you'll even find some kerosene lamps above your head. If you're sitting at the bar and look at the wall to the opposite of the bathrooms, you'll even see a picture of Jesus as he looks down at you, judging your every sip.

They provide Taytos for those looking for a snack, an abundant whiskey selection (150 of them), a healthy wine list, and everything you want on tap. After chatting with Kevin for a little bit, we sat in the library area in the back as we finished our liquid bread. It's an incredible spot for watching football, both American and Gaelic. I've never spent an NFL Sunday here, but I can only imagine how fun it would be to do so. I'm telling you, this Pub is the real deal. If I could have it my way, I'd throw a couple of steel tip dart boards on the wall and touch up the toiletries, but I'm not at Burger King and I'm just a nobody.

Whenever I'm on a time crunch while visiting a particular city, I always try to pick out the best Pub or two as opposed to the poor ones (sometimes I get deceived), if I can't make it to all of the Pubs throughout the area. I'm lucky to say I picked correctly, because as possible as it is that Adolf's or any of the other Pubs around here are better than The Banshee, my gambling senses tell me not to put the house on it.

Not only does the Pub offer everything you want on the inside, but it also offers a welcoming curb appeal as well as a ginormous patio with a live music stage attached to it. You'll see better front entrances out there though, don't get me wrong. If I make it back to Buffalo anytime soon, you can bet your ass I'm stepping foot in here again.

Thanks, Kevin. Your Pub is awesome. Slainte!