Belfast Nightlife Tips by St_Vincent Top 5 Page for this destination

Bittles Bar: In a Bit of a Stew

Bittles is a traditional laid back Irish bar and on reflection one of my favourites in Belfast. It’s very small being at the tip of an iron shaped building but there’s plenty of character packed in. The landlord John was always buzzing around chatting to customers recommending beers and making sure everyone, locals and visitors alike, were OK. There is no cask ale but they do have a range of bottled beers including many from local breweries - try Molly’s Chocolate Stout or Headless Dog from the College Green Brewery. They also serve an excellent Irish Stew that is good value for money. The split level bar has an arty theme with paintings and drawings of famous Irishmen by local artists.

Address: 103, Victoria St, Belfast, BT1 4PB

Directions: Near the Victoria Square shopping centre

Phone: 028 9031 1088

Theme: Eating and Drinking

The Duke of York: A hidden gem

The Duke of York wins hands down in the “how much brewing memorabilia you can display in a pub” competition. There are old photos, beer trays, mirrors, adverts and a plethora of old Guinness and Watney Red Barrel promotional material. There is so much that items are even fixed flat to the ceiling to make more room. It looks like the interior has had some recent work done although it still has an aged look with lots of wooden fixtures, exposed brickwork and flagstone floors. There’s a nice four person snug with closable doors at the back and they have a side room that is open at busy times plus an upstairs function room. The pub has a very attractive old looking exterior and is tucked away down one of Belfast’s oldest streets in the heart of what was once the newspaper district - now the Cathedral Quarter.

Address: Commercial Court, Belfast, BT1 2NB

Directions: A little difficult to find, Commercial Court runs between Donegall St and Henry St in the Cathedral Quarter. Very close to the John Hewitt (q.v.).

Phone: 028 9024 1062

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Whites Tavern: Go for the Craic

Whites Tavern is Belfast’s oldest pub dating back to 1630, as it proudly proclaims on it’s outside wall. It has a rather more modern exterior but whilst it might not look like Belfast’s oldest tavern I found it one of the friendliest with the famous Irish “craic“ well in evidence. An impromptu guitar session was going on outside on my first visit and a young lady insisted, despite my protestations, on buying my pint because she had jumped in front of me at the bar (I could drink all night for free in London on that basis). On my second visit it was quieter as it was during the afternoon but I got chatting to a guy about local pubs and Belfast in general and we could easily have ended up sharing a few beers if I hadn’t had other plans.

Address: 2-4 Winecellar Entry, Belfast, BT1 1QN

Directions: Difficult to find as, like many Belfast pubs, it is hidden down an alleyway. Go to where the High St and Bridge St meet and look for Winecellar Entry.

Phone: 028 9024 3080

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.whitestavern.co.uk

The John Hewitt Bar: Poetry in Motion

An unremarkable exterior but I highly recommend a visit. During the day it’s a place that prompts quiet contemplation and I made many notes for my Belfast VT page here over a couple of pints. Check out the small room to the right and have a look at the literary displays, some by the eponymous Belfast poet. There was an art exhibition on when I was there and they also have music and poetry readings. I heard it is owned and staffed by the Belfast Unemployment Office next door, not sure how true that is but it would certainly fit with Hewitt’s socialist ideals.

It was one of the few pubs in Belfast where I found real ale, there were two pumps, one with Hilden Ale and the other a nice Plain Stout from Dublin’s Maguire brewery. They also have an impressive bottled range and I spotted Sierra Nevada, St. Peters, Innis & Gunn and Fransiskaner. If I had to choose just one Belfast bar to spend an afternoon in it would be this one.

Address: 51 Donegall Street Belfast BT1 2FH

Phone: 028 9023 3768

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.thejohnhewitt.com

Crown Bar: Belfast's most famous pub Crown Bar Review

Probably Belfast’s best known pub and one that is owned by the National Trust. The restored Victorian interior is so extravagantly ornate that it is almost overpowering. It has decorative mirrors, etched glass, mosaic flooring and an ornate ceiling. The bar runs along the left hand side as you enter and around the rest of the pub are ten separate booths/snugs lettered from A to J. Each of them are beautifully panelled with dark wood and opaque glass with a lockable door. It seems to be first come first served to occupy them but I did see some reserved signs on one of my visits. It can get very busy and I imagine it occasionally has the air of a freakish tourist attraction, certainly rarely a minute goes by without another flash from a camera capturing the magnificent décor. Despite this it’s a place that every pub lover should visit. They had three real ale hand pumps on when I was there, one of the few places in Belfast that serves good real ale.

Address: 46 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7BA

Directions: City Centre across the road from Europa bus and rail station

Phone: 028 9027 9901

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Website: http://www.crownbar.com