Niagara Falls, Ontario is my favorite place to take a weekend trip with my friends. The only problem is that most of the best places to go aren’t listed in online travel guides! Nightlife in Niagara Falls starts as soon as you want it to, usually right after check-in at your hotel. If you don’t happen to be twenty one years old the drinking age of nineteen makes Niagara Falls the perfect destination. Nightlife is often listed as “Clifton Hill.” This is a very compact area with a plethora of bars and other attractions. I’ll tell you all about the places I frequent on my many trips to Niagara Falls.
Casino
The finest casino to visit is Casino Niagara located at the bottom of Clifton Hill, just down the street from The Falls. Every time I go to Canada this is my first stop. The money exchange rate can’t be beat, the drink prices aren’t any higher than other bars in the area, and there is that chance you can leave Casino Niagara with more money than you went in with… not a bad place to start your experience!
Food
After you finish up at the casino you might want to check out Niagara Falls or grab some food. Head back up Clifton Hill and you will soon see Montana’s. The food there is amazing! Two of my favorite things about this place are their 34oz draft beers and “birthday surprise.” I recommend telling you waitress (or bartender) that someone in your party is celebrating their birthday. Be prepared for a song, moose antlers and a little bit of ice-cream.
Pre-game
So you got to Niagara Falls a little early and its still daylight. The nightlife hasn’t really taken off yet. Might as well go back to your hotel to do a little pre-gamming. Conveniently enough, Montana’s is only about two blocks away from the liquor store. Head away from Clifton Hill, towards the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Across from AAAA (a shady hotel) is the liquor store, where you can find all pre-nightlife wines, spirits, beers and beverages you’ll need.
Bars
There are many bars to choose from when visiting Niagara Falls. I’ll tell you my favorites and give a brief description so you can pick the best bar for you.
Jack’s – Small bar at the top of Clifton Hill. The owners of the place are often working the bar or hanging out with patrons. Very friendly people here. A group of my friends are even pictured above the bar, having a good time a few years ago. One of the few places you’ll find football on the HD flat screens.
Yank’s – Very large and open. The staff is friendly and the customers are diverse. Early in the evening it is not uncommon to have local Niagara Falls families enjoying a meal and watching sports on television while having a few drinks. Later in the night, however, the younger crowd arrives consisting of 19-25 year olds.
Spicy Olive – If you are a business type then I highly recommend the Spicy Olive whenever you make a trip to Niagara Falls. With live bands on most nights and cheap beer every night you cant really go wrong. The interior is very posh with the high gloss surfaces and neon running lights. One major down side however is the pricy cocktails.
Boston‘s – Something that is very hard to come by in the States! Part bar, part arcade and part pool hall. You can literally lose all track of time in this place. It’s very open and the bar is one of the biggest on Clifton Hill. You have to try the mini-bowling next to the numerous pool tables. The drink prices are average when compared to others in the Niagara Falls area. Nobody under 19 is allowed in after 10pm, so there won’t be any children playing next to you at the pool table or tying up Dance Dance Revolution.
Clubs
Nightclubs, where else are you going to go for your Niagara Falls nightlife experience? The best nightlife is to be had in these clubs! Feel like staying near the hotel on Clifton Hill? Check out Rumors. Complete with a decent size dance floor, two separate bars and plenty of young people to fraternize with. Whether you like to dance or just hang out and watch people to make fools of themselves, this is the place for you. Want to venture away from Clifton Hill a little ways? Take a quick taxi ride to The Daily Planet. This is a very popular bar with a little bit of a Superman theme. This is my new favorite night spot near Niagara Falls. Thursday night is College ID night, no cover charge and drink specials all night. The bar is huge, with three or for bartenders and a dance floor that is jumping all night long. The Daily Planet is a must visit if you want to have the real nightlife experience. Adult themed night clubs are also very popular with men and women alike. There is one building that any legal-aged individual can visit if this is what they are looking for. Upstairs is a bar called Mints, with dancing ladies. Downstairs is the bar for people who want to see dancing men, named Peppermints.
Things to Keep in Mind
After drinking you should walk to all your destinations, or take a taxi, as drunk driving is a major offense in Niagara Falls. Also, remember to exchange your money before visiting any bars, they will take American dollars but they still charge Canadian prices. You are losing out in the end. There are many spots on Clifton Hill, but the casinos usually have better rates. When leaving Canada exchange your money back at Casino Niagara… the Duty Free had a service charge on exchanges. Be safe and have fun in Niagara Falls!
