Best & Cool Bars in Belfast

"Deservedly the most famous bar in Belfast, the saloon's listed ornate interior was created by Italian craftsmen in Belfast’s Victorian heyday and has featured in movies as disparate as Odd Man Out in 1947 and Divorcing Jack in 1998. There can be few greater pleasures in the city than settling into one of the ancient snugs, complete with bells to summon the staff and gunmetal match-striking plates, and tucking into Irish stew, colcannon or Strangford oysters, washed down by a creamy pint or two of Guinness. A welcome recent addition is a large and growing selection of real ales."

"There are many historic pubs and bars dotted around Belfast, but it would be fair to say that with its yellow, gold and pink frontage, the Crown Liquor Saloon is the most striking. It is also one of the oldest, having been built in the 1880s, and the interior features preserved wood-carved booths and gas-lamp lighting. View this post on Instagram"

"Undeniably the most famous pub in Belfast, the Crown Liquor Saloon is the perfect place to grab a drink and take in the historical interiors of his alcoholic gem. Although renowned for serving an eclectic range of real ales, the real draw of this pub on Great Victoria Street is it?. s Victoriana interiors."

"The Dirty Onion is one of Belfast’s many institutions in the Cathedral Quarter: a pub on two levels, hosting Yardbird upstairs, a restaurant where you will be served with locally sourced and free-range chicken and ribs. Downstairs during beautiful days and evenings, you can sit outside for a drink."

"Combining a pub and rotisserie restaurant into one unique bar in Belfast, The Dirty Onion and Yardbird is one cool place for a night out. Swing by and catch entertainment every night of the week, washed down with a hefty choice of beer and whiskey alongside delicious chicken dinners."

"Not only is The Dirty Onion and Yardbird boasting to live music, delicious rotisserie chicken and a great list of craft beers, but the city centre spot also has a heated beer garden for alfresco drinks all year round. During winter, you can even keep cosy by the open fire inside."

"The self-proclaimed best cafe in Europe, Town Square is on a mission to create a space for people of all walks of life to get together, share ideas, and create art. Head chef Robert Wisniewski is at the core of the restaurant. It’s the place to be for modern cosmopolitan spins on traditional Irish breakfast foods."

"One of the best places to eat in Belfast, Town Square is a top spot for all your brunch and dinner needs. The café and bar has got a fantastically varied menu for all times of day, including a breakfast avo on toast, some lunchtime tacos and evening cocktails."

"Town Square is a seriously cool café and bar on Botanic Avenue. Get your fill of first-class scran throughout the day, with banana pancakes, veggie katsu and incredible desserts - think DIY smores, chocolate fondue and affogato - all up for grabs."

"A post shared by Dave Mulholland (@mulhollanddave) on Feb 17, 2016 at 9:41am PST. If it’s dinner and a good night out you’re looking for, then Love and Death Inc is well worth a visit. As quirky as its name suggest, the hip venue offers gastro fair in an unusual setting."

"Love and Death helped keep the nation going throughout lockdown with their expert cocktail delivery service. After a busy day shopping in town this Ann Street hotspot is in the ideal location for a cheeky tipple."

"Lavery’s is nothing less than a Belfast institution, it was originally purchased by the Lavery brothers in 1918 and continues to be the oldest family-owned bar in Belfast. Hosting a multitude of rooms, including a pool room of 18 tables, Lavery’s unique chilled atmosphere along with its competitive food and drinks prices is what has kept it a favourite amongst locals for years. In addition to rotating drink offers, the food menu offers a various selection of lite-bites to hearty burgers at affordable prices."

"An iconic Belfast bar, Laverys is packed every night of the week. With more than 14 varieties to choose from and staff more than happy to advise, their craft beer selection includes BrewDog Vagabond and Rockshore Light."

"Start your tour of Belfast’s best beer gardens here at Laverys on Bradbury Place. We recommend you get some food here if you are going to check out a number of bars in one day. The burgers in Lavs’ are fantastic."

"Opened to fund Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre and named after a late socialist poet, the John Hewitt doesn’t just have worthy credentials, it is also an excellent pub. Solid and traditional, all acres of dark wood and stained glass, it prides itself on its list of around 18 mainly bottled Irish beers from such breweries as Kinsale, Hilden, Station Works, Farmageddon, Clever Man (look out for its Ejector Seat turf-smoked stout) and Hercules. This last, under its Yardsman brand, brews a superior lager that you will see everywhere in Belfast."

"The John Hewitt is another bar situated in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, just around the corner from St. Anne’s Square. It’s a real old-world pub, with an open fire, a selection of real ales, gastro-food and regular live traditional Irish music. It feels like the type of place a playwright would’ve gone to sit in the corner, working on his latest story over a pint and some Irish stew."

"The breakfast menu at The National contains a simply mouth-watering selection of classic breakfasts and brunch dishes with a twist. From a traditional fry to rhubarb crumble pancake stacks or a turkey and mozzarella butty, there’s plenty to choose from whether you want to try something new or stick to what you know. Dine in The National’s ultra cool interior with sharp industrial and minimal design."

"Tuck into mouthwatering COQ Burgers (think chunky friend chicken burgers with all the trimmings and loaded fries on the side) in The National’s spacious beer garden. Their outdoor areas also plays host to entertainment and live music. No booking required."

"The breakfast menu at The National contains a simply mouth-watering selection of classic breakfasts and brunch dishes with a twist. From a traditional fry to rhubarb crumble pancake stacks or a turkey and mozzarella butty, there’s plenty to choose from whether you want to try something new or stick to what you know. Dine in The National’s ultra cool interior with sharp industrial and minimal design."

"Tuck into mouthwatering COQ Burgers (think chunky friend chicken burgers with all the trimmings and loaded fries on the side) in The National’s spacious beer garden. Their outdoor areas also plays host to entertainment and live music. No booking required."

"Tasty homemade foods and freshly blended coffees are on offer at Paper Cup situated in The Arc Retail. Find us onlineen-gb.facebook.com"

"Farmhouses, forges, churches, mills and a complete village have been reconstructed at this excellent museum, with human and animal extras combining to give a powerful impression of Irish life over the past few hundred years. From industrial times, there are red-brick terraces from 19th-century Belfast and Dromore. Another highlight is the Picture House, a silent cinema that was housed in a County Down hayloft from 1909 to 1931. There's even a corner shop dating from 1889 selling sweets from glass jars."

"Devoted to the province's social history, the excellent Ulster Folk and Transport Museum vividly brings Northern Ireland's past to life."

"For history buffs, the Northern Ireland War Memorial recounts the impact of the two World Wars on Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole. The small museum has an interesting exhibit on the Belfast Blitz 1941 and a number of artifacts related to the wartime industries that dominated Belfast life during WWII. There are also several pieces of art that serve as memorials to those lost during the wars, as well as a wealth of information about the role U.S. forces played in Northern Ireland during the Second World War."

"The war memorial gallery is a must-see attraction for visitors with an interest in the Home Front and US Forces in Northern Ireland during the Second World War. The activities of the local people on the Home Front and the US Forces are displayed in life size dioramas. The fallen are remembered in a magnificent stained glass window, a commemorative wall in black Belgian marble and a granite plinth containing Books of Remembrance from both world wars."

"Located in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter beside Belfast Cathedral, the War Memorial Gallery is a ‘must see’ for anyone with an interest in Northern …"

"While Belfast has come a long way in recent decades, the so-called Troubles remain a major part of the history of the city. The Irish Republican History Museum was established in 2007 and recounts the story of just one side of the struggle—the Republican cause. The museum offers artifacts from the Troubles and highlights the role of women during the difficult moment in Northern Ireland’s history."

"The Eileen Hickey Irish Republican History Museum is located in Conway Mill in West Belfast. The museum first opened in 2007 but it located in a former linen mill that dates to 1842. It opened on the anniversary of the death of the main benefactor of the museum, Eileen Hickey."

"Queen's Arcade is a Grade B1 listed shopping arcade in the centre of Belfast. An ornate Victorian 4-storey building, painted pastel yellow, featuring muted copper spires on the roof, a small white clockface in the centre of the 2nd floor, and ground floor shopping units framed in black, either side of the arched entrance to an arcade. On the third floor is an Art-Deco-influenced monogram with the letters "A.R."."

"CastleCourt Shopping Centre, in the heart of Belfast, offers the ultimate shopping experience and is home to over 80 stores and eateries to meet all your shopping demands. This family-friendly centre is home to a host of favourite high street brands including Shuh Kids, H Samuel, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, New Look, Miss Selfridge, Boots, Dorothy Perkins and Burton."