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    The Merry Shelley

    4.5 (48 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Merry Shelley Photos

    Business Info

    THE MERRY SHELLEY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Merry Shelley

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    the bumble and dirty satan
    Amanda N.

    The ambiance is absolutely lovely. Everyone within is a delight, including the staff. I had a seasonal drink- the bumble. Hot cocoa with peppermint vodka. My best friend had the dirty satan and they loved it.

    Churchyard
    Mary S.

    Fun experience. Especially for October. Cocktails were divine. Atmosphere was creepy and fun.

    Shannon R.

    Cool bar, with a unique literary theme with a dark, moody atmosphere. They have specialty cocktails and an absinthe menu. They only carry limited types of alcohol, so they may not be able to make what you want.

    Ivy Y.

    I adore the Merry Shelley. Absinthe is delicious. And they do it well. Service is good and it's ALWAYS a cool vibe in there.

    Nikki G.

    This is the kind of place I long for. When bars or restaurants pick a theme, I want them to go overboard, but the right kind of overboard. That is what The Merry Shelley is doing and it is working so well. This is the type of bar that you go for the fellow customers at the bar because they are ridiculously friendly, offer recommendations, are chatty and who you want to be best friends with by the end of your conversation. I wanted to order the kingslayer, but they could not make that drink the night I went, so I ended up getting a canned vodka soda cocktail because I didn't know what else to order under pressure. Their menu is extensive and next time, I will be getting an absinthe drink, because if you want an absinthe drink, this is probably the place to get it. There are games at the bar, tarot readings when we were there on a Thursday before 10pm, books and all around the vibes are stellar. Check this place out. I also like that the bar has water at the end of the bar, so you can grab and sit down without bothering the bartender. Tip: Go into the bathroom on the left, when you face the back of the building.

    Wayne B.

    Ambiance was amazing, bartender was a pleasure. She absolutely knows her menu. If you don't know what you want, describe the flavors and she will nail it for you! Small space, but quirky and fun! Chairs could be a little more comfy, but 100%, I am excited to go back!

    The watch dog and Tepache Pina y Canela
    Crystal G.

    By far one of the coolest bars in Buffalo! I've been wanting to stop by for awhile and was thrilled to finally be in the area and have some free time. I was pleased to find a tiny gothic literary themed spot with amazing and interesting drinks. You might have to be patient when ordering or getting a seat but it's well worth the it. This spot is decorated to the nines with Halloween-ish, gothic, spooky stuff and it's fun to check it all out. We tried the tepache which was alcohol made from a fermented pineapple and the watchdog cocktail. The tepache was super interesting and new to us. Was very sweet and pineapple-y. The watchdog was perfect for a cold dark night. It warmed me up and had hints of orange. Lots of neat and different kinds of drinks here and some bar snacks as well if you are hungry. Bartender was friendly and helpful with menu questions. They also serve absinthe and it's fun to watch them put it together. I also learned that this place serves as a community library. There are books all over and you are welcome to take or borrow some to read. They also make it clear they are LGBTQ+ friendly so all are welcome to come and enjoy.

    Courtney M.

    Overall had a great time here! The vibe is so cool and the drinks were really good. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BILLS! My only complaint is that the bartender charged us for 3 shots we didn't get. He was insisting one of us ordered the 3 shots but eventually took it off the bill and then asked if we wanted the gratuity adjusted too... well obviously! He changed the bill and as we were gathering our belongings and getting ready to leave he came back over and said one of the people in our group definitely ordered them and told him to put it on the tab.... We knew no one had shots and it was done and over with and really bothered me he kept saying that... so please please double check your bills!!!!

    Waffle Wednesday with a vegan sweet potato waffle, pimento cheeze, and impossible nuggets.
    Rebecca H.

    Love this weird little bar. It's got a goth literary vibe and a great chef in residence who loves vegetable forward dishes and cresting vegan food. They have lovely cocktails, a nice selection of teas they serve with a timer, and a changing menu of delightful creations. They're testing out Waffle Wednesdays about twice a month. It's not always vegan, but when it is, I plan to be there.

    Mural
    Aly W.

    I've been dying to come here forever. They make fun and effective use of the space, and the Bride of Frankenstein mural on the outside is a great touch. The music sets a relaxed vibe. I think we even caught trip hop like Portishead in the mix. Bar service is stellar. I tried a couple of absinthe, and it's the whole works, flaming sugar cube and all. They also have mead and beer, some local, other exotic liquors and soda, but they are not a full bar. Their focus on absinthe and mead is what drew me in. There's a couple of bookshelves in the shape of coffins, and some elegant seating around the perimeter. I look forward to coming back.

    Sarah D.

    This small bar is very fun! I came here last night for a close friend's 41st birthday. I wish the bar was larger. The website states that it has room for 40 but it was a tight bar. There is a picture of Mary Shelley behind the bartender, at the bar. The drinks sounded interesting. I tried a few. My favorite was The Witching Hour. It is a red chai tea with Krupnik. It had a timer so I knew when the stop letting the tea steep. I wasn't in love with my other drinks but the bartender, bathrooms, and decor were great. I didn't take any pictures of anything. I should have. (I stole this photo from my bestie.) The place has a great vibe and was fun to visit. I'd like to return in the warmer months, to check out the patio.

    This place is amazing
    Leah S.

    My brother and I had the best time at The Merry Shelley. There was a DJ and it was Cedric's birthday, and the place was packed! We enjoyed ciders, absinthe, dried fruit, and a pretzel. I can't wait to go back and highly recommend. Everyone was fun and friendly, and the place is so perfectly outfitted

    How it arrived wrapped
    Maria B.

    So we picked up our meat board yesterday. We loved it Since presentation can make or break the experience I'm going to tell you about ours. When you arrive your bag is clearly marked with your name. It's an easy bag with handles, which were nicely tied shut, with black string, because, well, its a goth bar. When I arrived home I opened the bag. There were two boxes, and for a moment I thought perhaps I'd ordered 2 (in error), or they made a mistake and gave me 2. Basically, I assumed one of us made a mistake. And THAT was the mistake. Instead the order came in two takeout cardboard boxes because its so carefully wrapped up. We had the meat board, cleverly named, and it included: 2 types of meat 2 types of cheese 2 sizes/types lives 2 types nuts Bread I feel like I've forgotten something, but its all been eaten, so I cant tell you. This could stand alone. But that's not what we did. We sliced the bread a little thinner (basically each piece we carefully sliced in two), added some mustard to the meats and a little fig jam with the cheese. We also added some of our own olives, we found the olives they offer good, but not quite as piquant as we we expected from a "Spanish influence" board. While we had no complaints, we had a few tweaks, and the olives would be one. This was great, a nice change from our usual meal, and fun to see this new place on Hertel. Update 10 2021

    Cheese and crackers

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    4 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    6 hours ago

    Amazing staff and drink menu great vibes for an alternative crowd. Meads, beer, cocktails and more

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    4 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Funky atmosphere, very welcoming environment and staff, great drinks and music. Wish I lived closer, I'd be there regularly.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Best place good vibes! The bartenders are v nice and very open to my question and requests! Will go here again

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Merry Shelley

    Review Highlights - The Merry Shelley

    The bar offers a selection of wines, ciders, seltzers, ipa/craft/sour beers, and Absinthe.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Sterling Place Tavern - Various items off our menu

    Sterling Place Tavern

    3.7(16 reviews)
    0.7 miHertel Avenue, North Buffalo

    I've only been here twice and not long each time. It was just a stop for one beer type thing and…read morethen go to the bar that you're planning on staying at for the night. It was nice and big in there. I like the way that there was room to move. It's not real small like most bars I end up going to. The bartender was OK, it was very, very crowded, so they were low on seats. Like I said, I wasn't there very long. I didn't spend a lot of time there so I don't really know much about the place. I didn't even so much just use the restroom there so I don't know about those. I don't know if they have food or not. I just like the fact that it's spacious.

    We went to Sterling for the first time, and I had been looking forward to it for a while--and it…read moreabsolutely lived up to the hype. The food was so good. We ordered the NYC chopped cheese and the Caesar sandwich, and both were packed with great flavor. The rolls were awesome, and the French fries and onion rings were the perfect finishing touch. The staff was very friendly and always nearby (which came in handy when we needed extra napkins, lol). The dining room is on the smaller side, so I can see there being a bit of a wait during the dinner rush. Parking is street parking on a busy strip, but trust me--it's all well worth it.

    Photos
    Sterling Place Tavern - Series of our cocktails morning Joe the Sterling spritz in the hot and dirty

    Series of our cocktails morning Joe the Sterling spritz in the hot and dirty

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    Més Que - Diet Pepsi, water, bread and oil

    Més Que

    4.1(150 reviews)
    0.6 miHertel Avenue, North Buffalo
    $$

    I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at this Spanish restaurant…read more The ambiance was perfect for me--soft lighting, just the right amount of music, and a touch of romance permeated the air. Here, people could converse naturally, and time seemed to slow down. The food was exceptionally well-cooked. Classic Spanish dishes were prepared to perfection, with fresh ingredients, distinct layers of flavor, and rich complexity. Paired with a glass of red wine, it felt less like a dinner and more like a savorable experience. The service was warm and attentive, yet perfectly balanced, without making me feel intrusive, which I always appreciate. If I had to nitpick, a few dishes didn't quite impress me, but overall, the restaurant's atmosphere and the experience made up for it. I'll definitely bring my friends here next time! LOL

    I'm giving them 3 stars to be generous. The drinks were pretty good but expensive. The service was…read morepoor, understaffed and slow. The owner was socializing instead of helping his staff out. Worst of all was the food. They don't have a proper kitchen, they are literally cooking food on hot plates behind the bar. I was shocked and unsure how they could possibly have passed any inspection or get a permit. The refrigeration and freezer is across the room so the staff has to continually go across the room to get ingredients for drinks and food. There was a power strip swinging from the bar to provide power for decorative lights. It seemed like an accident waiting to happen. The food quality was terrible. Soggy pizza, soft flavorless pasta but again they don't have a proper cooking area. They need to either stop selling food or build a real kitchen with proper refrigeration and that the customers can't see into.

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    Més Que - Watching Spain-Netherlands Women's world cup

    Watching Spain-Netherlands Women's world cup

    Més Que
    Més Que - Mes Que Tom and Jerry, spicy

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    Mes Que Tom and Jerry, spicy

    The Merry Shelley - bars - Updated June 2026

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