Must-see nightlife in Belfast

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    Duke of York

    Belfast

    In a cobbled alleyway off buzzing Hill St, the snug, traditional Duke feels like a living museum. There's regular live music; local band Snow Patrol…

  • Sunflower

    Belfast

    In a city full of buzzing bars, the Sunflower is an authentic corner pub, free from gimmicks and commercial glitz. There are local craft beers on tap, a…

  • Drawing Office Two

    Belfast

    At the Titanic Hotel, one of Harland & Wolff's two historic drawing offices has been transformed into a light-filled bar with an impressive barrel-vaulted…

  • Established Coffee

    Belfast

    Heading up Belfast's burgeoning coffee scene, Established takes its beans seriously, serving a range of specialist drip coffees, as well as light meals…

  • Spaniard

    Belfast

    Specialising in rum (more than 30 kinds), this narrow, crowded bar has more atmosphere in one battered sofa than most 'style bars' have in their shiny…

  • Muriel's Cafe-Bar

    Belfast

    Hats meet harlotry (ask who Muriel was) in this delightfully snug and welcoming bar with retro-chic decor, old sofas and armchairs, heavy fabrics in…

  • Love & Death Inc

    Belfast

    More like a cool inner-city house party than a bar, speakeasy-style Love & Death Inc is secreted up a flight of stairs above a pizza joint. Its living…

  • Babel Rooftop Bar

    Belfast

    On a summer's night, a cocktail at the Bullitt Hotel's rooftop bar is hard to beat. Come on Sundays for boozy brunches (breakfast and bottomless cocktails…

  • National

    Belfast

    Behind the oyster-grey ground-floor facade of the 1897 former National Bank building, and through its post-industrial interior, is the National's pièce de…

  • Kremlin

    Belfast

    Gay-owned and -operated, the Soviet-kitsch-themed Kremlin is the heart and soul of Northern Ireland's gay scene. A statue of Lenin guides you into Tsar,…

  • Dock Cafe

    Belfast

    Run by volunteers, Dock Cafe has an honesty box and no price list: pay what you wish for coffee, tea, cakes, scones and soup. Everyone's welcome to lounge…

  • John Hewitt

    Belfast

    Named for the Belfast poet and socialist, the John Hewitt is one of those treasured bars that has no TV or gaming machines, just the murmur of…

  • Dirty Duck

    Belfast

    On a sunny afternoon, it's hard to beat the Belfast Lough–facing beer garden at this welcoming local, just footsteps from Holywood train station. It's a…

  • Bittles Bar, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

    Bittles Bar

    Belfast

    A cramped and staunchly traditional bar, Bittles is a 19th-century triangular red-brick building decorated with gilded shamrocks. The wedge-shaped…

  • Filthy Quarter

    Belfast

    Four bars make up the Filthy Quarter: retro-trad-style, bric-a-brac-filled Filthy McNastys, hosting local musicians from 10pm nightly; the fairy-lit…

  • Lavery's

    Belfast

    Managed by the same family since 1918, Lavery's is a vast, multilevel, packed-to-the-gills boozing emporium, crammed with drinkers young and old, from…

  • Hatfield House

    Belfast

    On the Ormeau Rd, Hatfield House is no fly-by-night – its original timber and brass bar fixtures and ornate ceiling mouldings are the work of the Titanic…

  • Kelly's Cellars

    Belfast

    Kelly's is Belfast's oldest pub (1720) – as opposed to tavern – and was a meeting place for Henry Joy McCracken and the United Irishmen when they were…

  • Maverick

    Belfast

    Look for the moustached sign to find Maverick, a gay bar that attracts a friendly crowd. Check the Facebook page for the current schedule of cabaret and…

  • Garrick Bar

    Belfast

    First opened in 1870, the Garrick hangs on to a traditional atmosphere with acres of dark-wood panelling, tiled floors, a pillared bar and old brass oil…

  • Eglantine

    Belfast

    The 'Eg' is a local institution, and widely reckoned to be the best of Belfast's many student pubs. It serves good-value food, and hosts numerous events:…

  • Union Street

    Belfast

    A stylish modern bar with retro decor and lots of bare brick and dark wood (check out the Belfast sinks in the loo), Union Street attracts a mixed gay and…

  • Perch

    Belfast

    Piped-in birdsong and flowery murals set the scene as an industrial lift takes you up to the Perch, a rooftop bar in the rafters of a Victorian building…

  • Drop Hopper Coffee Roasters

    Belfast

    Drop in for a Dropper Hopper coffee made with Central and South American beans roasted at their premises near Crossgar in County Down. On weekends, Drop…

  • White's Tavern

    Belfast

    Established in 1630 but rebuilt in 1790, White's claims to be Belfast's oldest tavern (unlike a pub, a tavern provided food and lodging). It's a…

  • Botanic Inn

    Belfast

    Wednesday at the 'Bot' is one of Belfast's longest-running student nights, with live music and DJs on the decks in the basement club. The party continues…

  • Harlem Cafe

    Belfast

    With eclectic art covering the walls, the Harlem is a great place for lounging over coffee, or enjoying a glass of wine after hitting the shops. A full…

  • Clements

    Belfast

    Belfast's homegrown answer to Starbucks. Other branches include Donegall Sq West, Rosemary St and Royal Ave.

  • Northern Whig

    Belfast

    Northern Whig is set in an elegant Georgian printing works, with relaxing sofas and armchairs encouraging serious afternoon loafing, though the pace hots…

  • McHugh's Bar & Restaurant

    Belfast

    In Belfast's oldest surviving building, dating from 1711, McHugh's retains a wonderfully traditional feel with its old wooden booths and benches, and…

  • Linen Hall Library Coffee Shop

    Belfast

    The Linen Hall Library has a small coffee shop selling sandwiches and cakes as well as hot dishes like soup and chicken pie. There are great views of…

  • QUB Student Union

    Belfast

    The student union has various bars and music venues hosting club nights, live bands and stand-up comedy.

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