Belfast City Nightlife
Belfast city has tons to offer you. Whether you’re looking for a high adrenaline gig, a cosy traditional pub, rooftop cocktails or to work the dancefloor into the wee hours, a night out in Belfast has it all in a wonderfully eclectic scene that is as fun and friendly as it is accessible. A perfect place to start your night out in Belfast is the Cathedral Quarter, an upbeat cultural and nightlife zone around Saint Anne’s Cathedral which offers an ungodly selection of bars.
6 Of The Best Nightclubs In Belfast
Filthy McNastys
Filthy McNastys on the Dublin Rd (just off Great Victoria St.) is arguably the most popular of the Belfast nightclubs.
With a state-of-the-art surround sound system and strobe lighting, it offers an immersive experience.
Open four nights a week, the club features resident DJs, live music, and special student night drink offers. Filthy McNasty’s front bar, part of the venue, boasts 30 draught taps and seasonal cocktails.
Additionally, Filthy’s Garden offers a lively beer garden with colourful decor and a fresh summer cocktail menu.
Limelight Belfast
Limelight on Ormeau Avenue is the oldest of the nightclubs in Belfast, having first opened its doors in 1984!
There’s a jam-packed schedule on play here:
- Wednesdays: A student rave night with House, Techno, Disco, and occasional international DJs
- Thursdays: Cheesy pop hits from the last four decades
- Fridays: Chart, hip-hop, disco, and rock
- Saturdays: Three rooms of music, two beer gardens, and top-class production
Thompsons Garage
Thompsons on Pattersons Place is spread over 2 floors and it has been a staple in Belfast’s nightclub scene for over 28 years.
Open 7 nights a week, it features top DJs and musicians from around the world.
The club boasts a Function One sound system, state-of-the-art lighting, a 2-tiered dance-floor, reserved tables, VIP packages, and upstairs and downstairs bars.
Past events have included Electric Playground, Funkarama, Switch, MiSFIT, Stereo Sessions, and Sunday Social.
Ollie’s
Located in one of the best hotels in Belfast, The Merchant, Ollie’s is the most exclusive of the Belfast clubs.
It’s hidden away in the basement of the Merchant, where it occupies the old bank vaults (keep an eye out for the distinctive brick-vaulted ceilings and granite walls).
The club features private booths, a VIP section, a state-of-the-art DJ booth, and premium cocktails.
Alibi
You’ll find Alibi on Bradbury Place in Belfast’s Queen’s Quarter, where it’s renowned for its creative cocktails, gin, and craft beers.
Featuring local talent and guest DJs, Alibi hosts vibrant Hip-Hop, House, and R&B nights every weekend.
Enjoy live performances from DJ Tex and the Fire Angels every Friday and Saturday for an unforgettable nightlife experience.
Kremlin
The Kremlin Nightclub was established in 1999 on Upper Donegall Street and it’s Ireland’s largest LGBT venue.
Known for its guest appearances and homegrown drag acts, the club offers Belfast’s most vibrant night out.
With a lively atmosphere and a commitment to inclusivity, Kremlin is a popular hotspot in the LGBT community, providing unforgettable nights filled with fun and celebration.
8 Of The Best Pubs In Belfast City Centre
The best pubs in Belfast City Centre are all located a short stroll from each other.
Madden’s Bar
You’ll find Madden’s on Berry St. where it’s immediately recognisable thanks to its vibrant exterior, complete with a massive mural on its side wall.
Arguably one of the best-known pubs in Belfast for traditional music sessions, Madden’s is also (in my opinion, anyway!) home to the best Guinness in Belfast.
When you ramble through its doors, you’ll be greeted by a cozy interior with Irish memorabilia, flags, posters, and vintage signage dotted around its walls, along with a blazing stove on the go during the cooler months.
There’s live music here several nights a week and, if you visit on a Sunday, there’s a piping trad session from 16:00!
The Sunflower
Although The Sunflower on Union St. (behind the library) only opened in 2012, there has been a pub on this corner since the 1800’s.
It’s likely that the first thing to catch your eye when you arrive will be the security cage on the front door. This would have come in handy during 1980’s Belfast, but it’s now simply a reminder of the city’s past.
One of the few bars in Belfast to host live music 7 days a week, it’s also one of the few that’s dog-friendly, too!
Although you’ll often struggle to nab a seat in the pokey yet cosy bar, there’s a large, south-facing beer garden out back. Oh, and if you’re after pub grub with a difference, give the wood fired pizza a crack!
Bittles Bar
A long-time hub for the movers and shakers on Belfast’s theatre scene, Bittles Bar on Victoria St. dates back to the 1860s when it was originally named ‘The Shakespeare’ for this very reason.
Fast-forward to the 21st century and Bittles is still one of the most unique bars in Belfast, thanks to the building’s distinct flatiron shape.
When you walk into Bittles, you’ll struggle to decide what to look at first. There are endless pictures, caricatures, vintage pub memorabilia and many unique and unusual fixtures and fittings.
Although this is another of the best pubs in Belfast when it comes to ‘The Black Stuff’, it’s Bittles impressive collection of whiskey that often steals the show.
Whites Tavern
Few Belfast pubs boast a heritage like Whites Tavern, just off of High St. The very first Tavern license was granted to the building which White’s now calls ‘home’.
You get a sense of the buildings age from the moment you set eyes upon it, with two massive lanterns hanging above its front door.
The magic begins when you step inside, and you really get the feel of what life must have been like in olden-day Belfast as you gaze around.
The interior of White’s features exposed wooden beams, a rustic open fireplace along with weathered-walls adorned with vintage photographs and antique signs, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere.
McHugh’s
Another of the very old Belfast pubs is the brilliant McHugh’s on Queen’s Square. The building started its life as a private home, around 1711, and it was converted into a pub between 1715 and 1725.
On fine days, you’ll find plenty of seating along the footpath outside McHugh’s, but it’s what’s on the inside here that counts.
The bar has ancient, exposed brick walls, wooden beams and an old wooden floor that looks like something from ‘The Green Dragon’, the old coaching inn from the Lord of the Rings.
A good spot for fans of trad music and Guinness, you’ll also find some of the best pub grub in Belfast at McHugh’s.
The Duke of York
A visit to the Duke of York in the city’s mighty Cathedral Quarter is rarely anything but a memorable one.
The experience begins when you take the turn off Donegall St. and head down the narrow Commercial Court – though I’ve been here many times, I still can’t decide what hits the senses first, the vibrant lights or the hum from people chatting reverberating off the walls.
The now-famous street, with it’s colourful lights and signage sets the scene for what lays ahead. The interior of The Duke is about 80% mirrors.
OK, that’s maybe an exaggeration, but there are mirrors everywhere along with hundred of pictures, posters and pub signs.
As you sip, you’ll find your head craning in every direction, attempting to take it all in. If you’re after a unique experience, this is one of the best pubs in Belfast City Centre.
Kelly’s Cellars
Another of the oldest pubs in Belfast, Kelly’s Cellars dates back to 1720 and its interior remains largely unchanged since.
There is a massive outdoor seating around here that’s perfect for those visiting with groups.
However, it’s the interior, with its low arches, open fire, white washed stone walls and many nooks and crannies that make this a great spot for a pint.
If you’re after live music, there are trad sessions here during the week from 9 and then garden sessions during the summer weekends.
The Crown Liquor Saloon
Personally, I think there are few pubs in Ireland that are even remotely as unique as the Crown Liquor Saloon.
These features are all credited to a group of Italian craftsmen who were in Belfast to build churches. It’s said that the pubs owner brought them in to work on The Crown Bar ‘after hours’.
Located on Great Victoria Street, the Crown Bar boasts vintage decor that remains true to the pub’s 1820s roots, with the striking polychromatic tiles of the exterior the first thing that greets your eyes.
Although it’s a popular spot amongst tourists, this is one of the best pubs in Belfast when it comes to appearance and history.