The Richardson Hotel

Richardson Hotel — Buffalo, NY Visited: October 2025 I didn’t go inside the hotel; I was there for the fall market held behind the property. From the outside, the complex makes a strong impression: a grand, old-world, British-style façade with tall towers and long wings that hint at its past as a psychiatric hospital. It appears that part of the complex now functions as a hotel, while other sections look vacant or not in active use. There’s ample open space around the building, and the exterior and grounds near the market area were tidy and well maintained. Overall, it’s an imposing historic structure with plenty of room around it and a distinctive character that stands out even from an outdoor visit.

This hotel was a true experience! So glad that the investment and effort was put in to restore such a historic site in Buffalo. The attention to detail is second to none and every aspect of this property blew me away. The staff was genuine and very polite and proud of the property they work for. The room was spacious, clean, and kept the character of the overal hotel. I could go on and on, but i highly recommend anyone just experience it for yourself. Ive already booked my second trip back!

We booked a suite and stayed for two nights at the Richardson. We loved it. Our standard king suite was huge, very quiet, comfortable and a great value for the price. The staff we interacted with were pleasant. The building itself is an architectural gem and it was fascinating to see the unrestored areas of the old asylum juxtaposed with the renovated hotel. Our only (minor) complaint was that the shower needs either a longer shower curtain, or a raised tile rim to keep water from flooding into the main bathroom area. Daniela, a fantastic Italian restaurant/wine bar is right across the street on the hotel's backside. The start of the Elmwood District with lots of restaurants (and Tipico, a cute coffee cafe/roaster) are also all within a couple of blocks so there were plenty of options close by for food/drink. Finally, it's also within close walking distance to the AKG museum and Delaware Park.

The building and its history are amazing. The room was well appointed and quiet. And that's where it ends. Staff were indifferent or harried. The restaurant and lounge/bar are not in service - though when we booked they appeared on the web page and are still listed under amenities. Good luck finding a place nearby to walk to! Breakfast was included - I've stayed at budget hotels with far superior offerings for breakfast. They had bread, croissants, butter, cream cheese and granola. No toaster. No bagels. Not even a knife. No yogurt. No fruit. So our option was semi-fresh bread with a pad of butter spread with a spoon. I hope the hotel can turn things around. It really is a spectacular building.

As beautiful this place is… their service needs major work. Especially when you contract them for a wedding. Planning a Trunk or Treat the same day as an outdoor wedding is VERY distasteful! The amount of money couples pay, should have included the parking lot for their guest! I’ll make sure EVERYONE in the area knows how you do business! You need to refund Duvi and her husband! Period!

Our daughter got married at The Richardson in May 2025. We could not have been more thrilled with the entire experience holding her ceremony and reception at The Richardson! Our point of contact from beginning to end was Hannah, and she was spectacular in every way…her attention to detail, her professionalism, her communication, her attendance the day of the wedding from beginning to end, and so much more. The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous, and the ballroom was above and beyond! The food was phenomenal, and the service at each table was stellar. All of the staff, the waiters, waitresses, and bartenders were the best. It rained the day of the wedding, so we held our ceremony indoors, and the location for the ceremony was perfect, because after the ceremony, our guests simply walked up the beautiful wooden staircase into the grand ballroom. Hannah worked with all of the vendors to make sure everything was in place for the reception. The ballroom was so lovely, and the bar, dessert table, gift table, seating card table, and DJ were all spaced out beautifully within the ballroom without any crowding. Also, the restrooms were just outside the ballroom, which was very convenient for guests. The ballroom was recently renovated and was so bright and gorgeous. Finally, several guests stayed in the hotel and raved about the beautiful accommodations and rooms. A continental breakfast is offered each morning, which was a plus, and the bar within The Richardson offered many options for dinners for the guests. We just can’t say enough about how thrilled we were at the way our daughter’s wedding went down at The Richardson. Incredibly, we did not have a single disappointment or complaint. It was fantastic in every way!!

This hotel was one of my worst hospitality visits to date. I was part of a wedding block, and had called several weeks in advance to request early check in. It would not have been the end of the world if not getting early check in was the only issue, as that was not a requirement. However, our room was still not ready at the regular check in time of 4 pm. When we left for the wedding at 4:45 we STILL did not have a room. This made getting ready for the wedding a stressful and unpleasant experience. The room we eventually got was on the opposite side of the hotel from the wedding block. We were offered no compensation for any of these issues. On top of this, I was charged $200 over the price of the room. I complained to the front desk at check out, and was told to email the manager and this would be resolved. Several weeks of emails and calls later, and the charges have finally been taken off, although they never even bothered to respond besides the poor front desk folks promising that their manager would answer. I'm only putting 2 stars instead of 1 because the front desk people were so lovely and apologetic. I would advise anyone against staying here, especially for a special occasion.

It's next to impossible to book a reservation for a wedding hotel block without calling them. Know the hotel has recently undergone a management change but it's been incredibly challenging dealing with the hotel - the location is excellent but I wish they were more buttoned up as they try to position themselves as the premier hotel in Buffalo. I would not recommend that anyone stay here for the logistical challenges alone.

Booked our hotel for the Bills game a little late so we looked further from the stadium. I'm glad we went with the Richardson Hotel. The property itself is beautiful and huge. We were able to check in early and both woman at the concierge desk were friendly and informative. Room was spacious and clean. Just a short drive/ walk to many restaurants and bars and Buff State Campus. I think this is such a cool place with lots of history. One downside for us on this particular stay is the Bar is closed currently as they resold to a different company and there was no information on when it will be reopening so keep in mind if you are planning on staying there anytime in the fall of 2025. You will have to make a short drive to other spots in town! Overall, pleasant stay and would definitely return if we are in the area again.

This hotel was so cool! The Richardson hotel used to be an insane asylum that sat empty for at least 40 years before being renovated. The first floor is dedicated to the history of the asylum, propaganda about how the asylum treated people better than other asylums did at the time (but I don't believe that at all) and details about what it took to renovate the space to become a hotel. The asylum is but one building in a cluster of at least 10 hospital buildings. All of the rest of them are still abandoned and in disrepair. In terms of walkability to anything nearby and blight immediately surrounding the hotel, it's not the best location. But the architecture and style was so cool to explore late at night when everybody else in the hotel was fast asleep. And yes, this place is pretty pricey to stay at but somehow the day that I checked prices, it was only $118 per night. There are not really many amenities... Rooms don't have a microwave or a fridge, even though the king room we were in had ample space to accommodate both. They also don't have a pool. And although we slept in through breakfast, I've read reviews that it's pretty lackluster. Definitely not a place I would spend $250+ a night to stay in. But if I could find it for less than $150 in the future, I l'd definitely stay there again!

Love the atmosphere & architecture of this building. Went for brunch- the Spanish French Toast was amazing!!! Be sure to take a walk around the hotel & outdoor space while you are there.

We should get some things out of the way at the outset. If the lack of in-room microwave and fridge, an anemic free continental breakfast, an uninspired restaurant, and a short-staffed crew are dealbreakers for you, move on. The Richardson may not be for you. This mammoth late 19th century complex, designed by renowned architect, H.H. Richardson, was originally what was considered an enlightened institution for the mentally ill. By the 1970s, the complex became too difficult and expensive to maintain. Consequently, patients were moved to other facilities. After a decades-long period, the main buildings were turned into a hotel after a large-scale renovation. This stunning piece of architecture is a work in progress. It may take years for this complex to find its groove for success. If you're here, it's all about taking in the splendor of the place and appreciating the history via the architecture museum on the lower level. You're within walking distance of the city's art museums and restaurants and shops. You can be car-free during your stay. This building is like a castle. That was enough reason for this hotel to be an easy choice for me.

Amazing place to stay for our Niagra adventure. They serve breakfast at 630am. Also, the place is very secured. You must hit the doorbell out front to be let in. Check in is upstairs. The hallways here are wide, the ceilings are tall. A very history place made modern.

The hotel is stunning with a really good mix between ancient and new, the rooms and the common areas are really nice and clean, the staff is also extremely nice and available. However, the restaurant was closed during the whole 6 days of my stay (indicated open on their website) and the bar kitchen closes earlier than indicated so it is pretty hard to get food other than breakfast. The breakfast itself was really limited in options and quantity for what they call a " continental breakfast ". I have read on several review that they overbook and people end up having a different room that expected and the same thing happened to me, they gave my room to someone else because i arrived " too late " and i had to stay in another room for a night - they did get me in the right room the next day though. Overall a nice stay but given the look of the hotel, I was expecting a little more.

Went to the Falliday Market last night at this beautiful complex and loved it! The architecture is stunning on this building. I have been inside before but last night was outside fun.

At first I thought we had made a wrong turn, but as we wended our way through the driveway to the hotel, we rounded a corner and beheld the spectacular 19th century building ahead of us. Absolutely stunning on the outside, it felt like a castle. The entire interior had been remodeled as close to the original as possible, giving it a feel of stepping back in time. Reception was friendly and my wife struck up a conversation with one of the managers. Our room was on the second floor at the end of a hallway and very private. A cool feature of our room was one of the original columns which still had years of different colored paints on it. Spacious and with a decent view of the grounds. We slept like logs in the ultra quiet room. The continental breakfast was pretty decent, although we would have appreciated more protein besides the yogurts and mini quiches. We would easily stay here again, and definitely recommend for a convention.

My review seems to have disappeared. I now know why Douglas Jamal has questions about this place. I would ask Mr Jamal himself, how a hotel has breakfast (barely) and tells by 88 year old father, they have NO milk for his coffee nor cereal. Housekeeping also an issue. I reserved two rooms, one received service the other did not. No covid excuses for this faux pas. The front desk apologized for the horrid order as you exit the elevator. Front desk claimed it was old cooking oil. My father and sister sweared it was sewage. I have put my family here numerous times. Can NOT count on reliable service. Lack of on site restaurant also lowers the bar. It is separated from the city. It needs a restaurant, Cucina was amazing but pulled out. Over Winter coffee also gone. Step up to the plate. This historical property has potential. Unlikely getting any more of my money until it improves significantly.

Decided to stay here because I grew up in Buffalo but never would have thought that this would be converted into a hotel. The interior of the hotel is beautiful. We had a comfortable, clean, quiet room on the first floor. They have a great breakfast and coffee. I have mixed feelings about their staff. For example one afternoon after the room was cleaned the maid forgot to provide towels. I walked to the front desk and requested towels but they never arrived. Had to go back again in the morning to get those towels. Marquis stood out and was by far the nicest and most helpful employee that we dealt with there. We loved walking around both inside and outside of this hotel. I would definitely recommend a stay.

It's going to be really hard to put into words just how amazing this place is. My friend talked me into splurging at this hotel. Noted that it used to be a mental hospital built in the 1800s with a sprawling campus that had fallen into disrepair and was slowly being remodeled and this hotel was part of it. We pulled up to what felt like a huge campus. Many different buildings and some of them still have not been updated. They really did try to keep the antique look of the hospital from back in the day at the Richardson. Parking is there in front but you might have to park in a lot nearby as they can only hold so much. You walk in and you can either go upstairs to check in or there is a museum on the bottom floor of the whole campus. Check in was easy! We didn't get a chance to explore any of the restaurants or bars or any of the other amenities but it was a pleasant walk to the room. We walked through some doors and took an elevator up and then walked through more doors to get to a long hallway. The supports from the building are literally built into the hotel which was so cool. it's like old meets new. Everything was updated so well in the room! You could still see the beams and everything from the old construction but the room was amazing. We got a suite and it really was cool. The bathroom was huge! Huge standalone bathtub as well. The main room was a very big with a TV facing a couch and chairs and on the other side of the wall that held the TV was the bed with another TV on that wall. Sort of like a room divider. The rest of the room held a large buffet table with the hotel amenities on it like the coffee machine and the other part was a table. This was such a cool room and then it had vaulted ceilings. Highly recommended! We did not encounter a single problem at all at this location. Definitely worth staying just for the coolness of it!

We stayed at the Richardson for 3 nights during the summer. The unique historic construction made it a one-of-a-kind experience, with 20' ceilings, soaring hallways and a grand central staircase (there are elevators too!). The interiors were modern and very well done. They were in the process of changing the restaurant so there were no in-hotel dining choices but there were plenty of walkable restaurants around (Daniela is terrific and right across Forest Ave). Free outdoor Shakespeare in the Park a few blocks away was a real treat - summertime only. Would stay there again in a heartbeat.

The hotel is beautiful and the room was nice! The staff were phenomenal, so kind and accommodating. But this is not a luxury hotel by any means. The linen are very poor quality and rough. The pillows are laughable. The linen and pillows at the hospital I work at are nicer. The toilet paper feels single ply and there is no refrigerator or microwave! For such an enormous building you would think there would be nicer amenities too. The continental breakfast was pitiful. The bananas were rotten! Who serves black bananas? And the hallway smelled so terrible. It reminded me of the smell of preservatives used for dissection specimens in biology lab. I think you can get way more bang for your buck at a different hotel. Still happy for the experience to stay in such a beautiful and historic hotel!

Very nice weekend at this hotel. The room was large and well appointed, bed comfortable. The continental breakfast was very good. Highly recommend this hotel when in town.

I am glad to see that the Richardson Hotel has reopened, along with a cafe, restaurant and bar. It's well worth it just to spend time taking a look at the interior ms exterior of this marvelous structure and piece of Buffalo history. We stopped by for a Jazz performance on the lawn where the hotel staff were serving drinks and cooking up some tasty dishes. I can't wait to go to the restaurant again now that it's reopened.

One of the more interesting hotels I have visited. This is a former mental hospital where the main entry and two of the wings have been converted into a three star hotel. The remainder of the facility remains abandoned and is behind construction fencing. You enter then have to go upstairs to the hotel lobby. Staff was friendly at checkin. There is a long winding path to the actual hotel rooms, and you can definitely get turned around easily. The room was interesting as well, with a long narrow setup and extra high ceilings. But it was clean and modern inside. I do recommend stopping in the exhibit on the lower level of the lobby which has a great history of architecture in the region as well as the hotel itself. A decent hotel to stay in with a fascinating history.

Such a cool place. Good breakfast, actual live plants, very clean. A little language barrier with staff at times but whatever. Nice beds!

We booked this hotel due to its Historic location but unfortunately we're not able to enjoy it. We booked 3 rooms for 4th of July weekend. We got to the hotel after midnight and once we got to the check-in desk the clerk asked our Last name and he confirm that we have 3 rooms. We were asked to wait few minutes and we waited for 3 hours. In the meanwhile my husband went to re-park our car and he saw the clerk getting in his vehicle and driving off. He thought maybe someone else will come to help us while we were waiting but no one came. ( we left in the middle of night after waiting for 3 hours)There was no one there , no security, NO ONE. We had eight kids with us and we were stranded in the hallway. Anyone could enter the building and exit. No one was protecting the building from thieves, criminals ext... And cherry on the top. You can't get hold of management of the hotel it's been over months, I left messages and haven't heard anything from anyone!!! Do not to stay at this historical hotel because you're not guaranteed a room even if you pay and your life is in danger from possible intruders!!!

There were several lots opened for the guests tonight and a shuttle service was provided to take us to the hotel entrance, luckily!!! There are 4 floors in the Richardson Hotel. As we entered, we were handed a check-off card to get stamped at each of 10 locations spread out over the 4 floors. At the ballroom on the top floor, the card gets turned in for a drawing for a $500.00 gift card. We stayed in the ballroom for awhile, listening to a band. Several guests even got up to dance to a little rock and roll. There were a couple of cash bars, but there were also a couple of taster tables throughout the hotel. One had sparkling wine and the other, three types of red and white wines. There were also food tasters on each floor. I had a chorizo meatball, a polenta appetizer, some cheese cubes, ham strips, grapes, brie, to name a few. No sweets! Considering how crowded the parking lots were, it was surprisingly easy to move around through the rooms on each floor. The Richardson is a lovely old building, still being renovated. There are several dining rooms, conference rooms, business dining rooms and, of course, hotel rooms for overnight guests.

Pros- Very clean, historic and nice building. Cons- Booked a King bed room for my wife and I a month prior for our anniversary. Showed up to the hotel to be told they were overbooked and a King room was not available. Some communication would have been nice prior so we can find an alternative option. But no. My information was on file. The point of the king bed was for my wife and I to share a bed. Anyways we were offered a lesser room (instead of an upgrade) with two full size beds and told our stay would be discounted for the inconvenience when we checked out. She said she would put a note on our account. We reluctantly took it as it was getting later in the afternoon and we had dinner reservations and no time to get another room. The following day at checkout a different desk person said there was nothing they can do for us with a discount because we paid through a booking site (like 99% of normal people). We feel lied to and misled. I advise anyone booking at this hotel to not have any expectation of getting when you purchase. They will lie to you to appease you when you're unhappy about the bait and switch and then they will lie to you when they say that can't do anything to rectify the matter. There is always a solution when it comes to customer service and The Richardson Hotel failed miserably. Aside from lack of communication on my room availability, lying, baiting and switching, not having a room fridge and being stuck with two small beds for my anniversary the hotel room was clean and nice

Bar Vaux at The Richardson Hotel. Great spot; the food, music, service and cocktails!

My boyfriend and I stayed at this hotel for the weekend. I booked it because I fell in love with the architecture of the place just by the pictures and it did not disappoint. We were extremely please by how accommodating the hotel was. They allowed us to check in a few hours early, which is rare to find in the big chain hotels. The gentleman that checked us in was very professional and kind. The only reason why I gave a 4 star is because parking was awful. Parking is free on property, but for a hotel as big as this one, a big lot is essential. We got back extremely late one night and there was no parking available. I understand they are sold out but not having enough parking for your guest is just unacceptable. Thankfully the front desk guy came out to assist and eventually gave us his parking spot, which was completely incredible. The only other small issue is that from the bathroom, you can hear everything going on in the bathroom upstairs. You are 10 minutes from the airport which is a plus, 35 minutes from Niagara Falls state park and 45 minutes from Canadian border. We would recommend to stay here; we definitely will stay here if we are ever back in the area.

I stayed at this hotel a few years ago when it was Hotel Henry and had an amazing experience, so when planning a return trip to my hometown, I was excited to go back under the new ownership. Unfortunately, the new ownership and management of The Richardson is nothing like Hotel Henry. A few weeks ago, I made a reservation for September 27-30 using my Wells Fargo travel points, which apparently went through Booking.com to make the actual reservation with The Richardson. I contacted The Richardson on July 1 to confirm the reservation and to add on another night. I was told they had no record of the reservation. I called back on July 2 and spoke with manager Kelly. She also indicated that the reservation was not showing in their system but that she could see it in Booking.com. She advised she would work with Booking.com to resolve and get back to me. I did not hear back from her, so I contacted her again on July 5. During that call, she told me the same thing she had told me on July 2 and now she had to have the general manager "force" the booking into their system. She stated she would get this done on July 8 and call me to confirm everything was done. Per usual, I did not hear back from her, so I called the hotel again and requested to speak with general manager, Sophia. The gentleman who answered the phone stated Sophia was not available, but he would leave my message and she would call me back right away. I waited and heard nothing, so I called AGAIN. This time, Sophia was in a meeting and would call me back. She never returned my call. At that point, I got Wells Fargo and Booking.com involved and they tried on several occasions to contact the hotel to no avail. I even called The Richardson's management company, 1901 Hospitality, and spoke with Angelina who promised she would get back to me with a resolution. Once again, no reply. The shocking lack of professionalism and basic courtesy is truly unbelievable. Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue, I was met with indifference and incompetence. There was no effort to rectify, leaving me wasting time, frustrated, and now needing to book at another hotel. Avoid this hotel at ALL costs if you value your time and sanity. They simply don't care.

Surprised my husband for our anniversary with an overnight here. I've always been intrigued by the architecture and history of this campus. I was happy that the hotel was resurrected following its closure after the pandemic. The living areas were beautifully restored and subtly decorated. The simple, yet elegant decor makes this one of my favorite hotels of any I've been to in Chicago, San Francisco , Philadelphia and New York City. Once the bar and restaurant are up and running. this will certainly be a true destination spot close to home.

For a beautiful and very expensive hotel, the amenities were lacking. No mini fridge or microwave, no dressers, no extra pillows or blankets, no extra toilet paper, exactly 2 pods for the keurig . Also, our showers leaked all over the bathroom floor when used - it was lacking a seal on the door. They didn't know how to handle or check in or check out because we booked through Expedia. We never received a final checkout receipt. They added a 10 cent charge to the security deposits which I had to continuously dispute to get it refunded. There was a weird $210.92 charge on my credit card form them which I am still disputing. Ended up disputing it through my credit card because the hotel manager couldn't explain the charge and just said it wasn't showing as a charge on his end. I would not stay here again.

My husband and I stayed overnight on St. Paddy's day weekend. We both grew up in the area and used to cut through the campus to get to classes at Buff State, so it was really cool to be able to see the inside. The exterior is imposing and looks breathtaking when lit up at night. The interior is beautiful, incorporating original architecture into the updated décor. The location is very convenient, within walking distance of some great restaurants and bars. The staff was friendly and helpful. We are told that the place is haunted, so we were excited at the prospect of seeing a ghost. No dice, but we will be staying there again, so maybe we will get lucky!

My wife surprised me for my birthday as she took a risk with booking a hotel that she had never known about even though she is from Buffalo. When I mean it is by far the best hotel we have ever stayed in. We felt like we were in a Scottish Castle from the outside and in a modern Art gallery from in inside. Cucina is the restaurant that is inside....I have to pause cause I am upset that I live so far away cause I have never had such great food, with the top notch attention to service. Our server Michael is the greatest server that we have ever experienced. His knowledge of food and drink is far beyond something we have ever felt before. I can not wait to go back

Great stay. Comfortable beds, very clean room. The whole feel of the building was So much better than staying at a chain hotel

Nice spot with amazing architecture and imagery throughout. Nice and airy with very chill vibes. Room was nice, bed comfy and service was great.

Spent a lovely evening dining outdoors at The Richardson where our group enjoyed a number of the small plates and a few pizzas, all of which were delicious! Definitely will be back!!