Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Belfast

"OX, opened by head chef Stephen Toman and Brittany-born maître d’ Alain Kerloc’h, secured a Michelin star three years after its opening. The interior is Gustavian in its simplicity and the food is understated, yet elegant. Dinner might start with scallops and beetroot and segue gracefully into a John Dory with broccoli and black olive, a succulent Chateaubriand and a chocolate, blackberry and malt ice-cream pudding, which tastes as good as it looks."

"A post shared by OX Belfast (@oxbelfast) onFeb 4, 2018 at 4:12am PST. Occupying the ground floor of a vaulted Victorian building, you could walk past this minimalist restaurant without giving it a second glance. However, tables at this Michelin Star establishment are sought after commodities."

"Awarded best restaurant in Ulster during the very last Irish Restaurant Awards, The Muddlers Club is truly an experience you can’t miss if you’re in Belfast. Chef-owner Gareth McCaughey picks the best of local products available daily to guarantee the quality of each dish served. For this reason, the menu changes very often, and it is also for this reason that we recommend following the instructions of the staff to taste the best of what is available on the same day."

"Situated along Waring Street, The Muddler's Club is a Michelin star restaurant serving up incredible food in a stylish setting. Take your other half here for a tasting menu that's sure to have you both impressed."

"Located in the culturally rich Cathedral Quarter, and a former home to Ulster Bank headquarters, this ornate five star hotel creates an instantly warm and welcoming ambience thanks to its wide stone steps. Built from Giffnock sandstone, the exterior reflects a classic Italian style, with Corinthian columns and mighty sculptures looking over the front façade. The sumptuous interiors of cherub statues and floral designs under the central dome in the main entrance hall, creates a calm atmosphere that embodies pure comfort and luxury."

"Belfast’s most luxurious hotel in the grand 1860 Italianate former Ulster Bank HQ remains a stylish way to run up an overdraft. It's a superb location to experience the Cathedral Quarter nightlife, as well as an excellent spa and fantastic food."

"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."

"Cuisine: Irish TraditionalHolohan’s Pantry on University Road is just a little away from Queen’s University and the listed architecturally brilliant building in which it is housed will immediately catch your eye. Holohan’s serves authentic north Irish dish like goat curd, pearl barley, potato pancakes, pork belly, stone bass, and Portavogie prawns with coleslaw with a special focus on local sourcing. If you go on Sundays then do order the Holohan’s Sunday Roast and then follow it up with sticky toffee pudding and honeycomb ice cream."

"Seasonality is hugely important as is the use of excellent, ethically-sourced local produce. More importantly, Holohan’s showcases the diversity of Irish cuisine using recipes from all over the island, with the North a particular focus. Holohan’s interpret and update classic Irish dishes and keep the menu small to really focus on the quality of each dish."

"Holohan's Pantry is Belfast's only boxty house, located in the Queen's Quarter, serving fresh, local ingredients and authentic Irish recipes."

"A traditional Belfast bar with 5 venues offering Irish music, dining and more. Located in the heart of Belfast city, Robinson’s Bars has something for everyone under one roof. To enhance your experience Robinsons Bars offer Whiskey and Gin tastings with their resident expert in your own private bar who will entertain as well as educate."

"One of Belfast’s oldest and biggest bars, Robinsons hosts five venues under one roof. In the ground floor Saloon established in 1895, you’ll find a traditional interior and original memorabilia from Titanic. Or go to Fibber Magee’s, which is steeped in Irish tradition with live music seven nights a week."

"Those that fancy escaping the city for a while will be treated to a spectacular view out over Belfast (and ever county in Ulster, in fact) from up Divis Mountain. There’s a specifically designed 3-mile loop walk on Divis Mountain that was designed to maintain the condition of the mountain slope while providing handy public access. Difficulty wise, it’s moderate, but if you’re wondering what to do in Belfast that’ll treat you to glorious views without having to travel far, get yourself here!"

"The new 4.2 mile Ridge Trail on Divis and Black Mountain has wide points of view of the city, and the Mourne Mountains. For a long time Divis was unavailable to the overall population, however, in 2000 the National Trust assumed control over the administration of Divis and Black Mountain and have progressively opened it up for the delight and entertainment of local people and visitors."

"The Lagan Valley Regional Park is particularly special, as it is the only regional park in the whole of Northern Ireland. It covers over 4,000 acres and has an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ status. Its focal point is the River Lagan, and the park encapsulates all its nature and wildlife to form a great place to explore and enjoy the great outdoors."

"At the river mouth, you can spot seabirds such as shags and common seals, which venture as far as the weir. There are kingfishers, too – especially further south, in and around the pretty Lagan Valley Regional Park."

"Foundry presents itself as a place for the weirdos and social outcasts, and in a fair and just world it would be such. Unfortunately, everyone that goes here is on a quest to out-edge one another, vigorously side-stepping to whatever beat the DJs play while pretending they're not middle class. But don't let that put you off, there are some genuinely nice people here and the bouncers are sound."

"This is Belfast’s trendiest new addition to an already electric nightclub scene. Weekends are busy at any Belfast club, with Foundry being no exception. However, come down for their Thursday night where club-goers put on their most eccentric and edgy outfits in hope to be picked for the free-entry rewarding ‘Parful Humans’ of the week competition."

"Birdcage a well-established bar/restaurant in Stranmillis, however, I did not visit until their recent launch of their (tasty) StayBar menu. Until the end of February, you can bring a buddy to brunch at the weekend (between 10:30  and13:30) for no extra cost. Brunch offerings range from smoked salmon with grilled asparagus to the ‘Fr-omelette’, the oven baked fry served in a skittle."