Buffalo, New YorkElmwood Village
The Richardson Hotel
Romanesque sandstone asylum
Elmwood Village Buffalo, New York
Renovated
2023
Price
$$
Rated for
Heritage Design LocalOutside the door
Romanesque sandstone asylum
A 19th-century psychiatric asylum is now a hotel, where guests sleep in former wards and roam forty acres of parkland.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Red Medina sandstone towers and preserved psychiatric wards on forty Olmsted-designed parkland acres.
What they say
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The Romanesque property, known for its red Medina sandstone facade, twin towers, and castle-like appearance, sits on 40 acres of land, offering a quiet escape among the bustle of Forest Avenue.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Elmwood Avenue boutiques and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum sit just a short walk beyond the grounds.
The rooms
Bedrooms occupy former patient quarters with high ceilings, crisp white walls, and en-suite bathrooms built into hallway bump-outs.
At the table
Cucina prepares handmade Northern Italian pastas, and The Richardson Lounge pours evening cocktails beside tall arched windows.
How it began
Physician Thomas Kirkbride conceived the 1870s asylum layout, staggering each wing so patients had abundant sunlight and fresh air.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.