Best nightlife places in Belfast

The capital of Northern Ireland has been transformed in recent years – to become one of the UK’s top nightlife spots. The city combines all the best of the classic Irish craic, or good time vibes, with the sophistication and style of a flourishing and vibrant British capital.

As a centre of international trade and business, a big tourist destination and a city teeming with students from all over the world, it’s no surprise that there’s a varied and cosmopolitan atmosphere to Belfast’s streets after dark.

Any night of the week the nightlife on offer can range from a homely local bar serving pints of Guinness to a glamorous gourmet restaurant serving fresh seafood from the Irish Sea. There are clubs, theatres, cinemas, restaurants and bars that match anything in the rest of the UK.

If however, you feel like heading to a casino beware that there are strict local restrictions on gaming. You can find slot machines and electronic games but no traditional live gaming tables.

So if you fancy some real gaming while in Belfast – try visiting a top online site like Megaways Casino.

If your idea of Belfast is that it is full of political graffiti sprayed on the walls of bombsites and gloomy terraced slums, you’ll soon realise you’re wrong and completely out-of-date. Today’s Belfast is a thriving, affluent and attractive city.

Since the Good Friday Agreement more and more people are choosing to visit Belfast for its unique nightlife, whether they’re travelling up from the Republic or crossing from the UK mainland. The city’s reputation seems to be growing fast.

You’ll find an impressive range of upmarket restaurants and cocktail bars in the centre, particularly around the landmark City Hall, the leafy Queen’s University Campus and artsy Cathedral Quarter. Look out for the latest bars and clubs around these spots, they are always changing – but usually offer live music or DJs later in the evening.

The streets around here are always lively with locals, students and visitors. To cater for so many customers you’ll find there are rows of bars, many with gardens, roof terraces and cool basements.

You can’t fail to notice the groups of night-time revellers on one of the city’s most distinctive night-time features: huge party bikes. These can be shared by up to 16 pedalling occupants and only cost a few pounds per person.

The giant group bikes tour the central streets after dark and you’ll probably notice their loud music soundtracks as they cycle past. Some of the Belfast party bikes even have a bar on board.

They demonstrate that the main feature of the Belfast night-time offering is the sense of fun – and the great variety of venues that are clustered around the centre, all in easy reach of each other.

New venues are springing up all the time in these busy areas but at the time of writing here are some of the very best that Belfast has to offer:

Try Margot, a stylish underground cocktail bar in the central Donegall Square that also serves a famous signature Irish coffee.

Or experience trendy Santeria, in Fountain Street, a favourite music bar and café enjoyed by local artists and creatives. There’s usually someone playing music later.

Fancy some Latin grooves? Revolucion de Cuba, in Arthur Street, is full of Caribbean rhythms, with live salsa, rum cocktails and lashings of tasty Cuban food.

For something completely different, look out for Henry’s, a traditional wood-panelled Irish pub with real live music every single night of the week. It may look like a historic monument but it’s a busy venue for all sorts of fun-seekers.

Henry’s is also one the main places to watch sports on its big screens, to eat fine traditional Irish pub grub… or drink anything from local craft beers to the most exotic cocktails.

Just round the corner, the Duke of York concentrates on serving the very best possible Guinness (you’ll see that the locals are very fussy about it!) – and offering the biggest selection of Irish whiskeys in Ireland.

You can’t miss White’s Tavern, in Winecellar Entry – it’s painted white all over. The classic old inn is the oldest pub in Belfast, dating back around 400 years.

White’s is still going strong today. It’s great for food, chat, drink… and sometimes live Irish music too.

Later, if you are looking for a bit of all-out clubbing action try Limelight, in Ormeau Avenue, a long-standing Belfast institution. Inside there’s a maze of different rooms offering live DJs, bands and bars.

Or for a chance to be entertained pop into the landmark Belfast Empire, a converted church right in the heart of the city. Throughout the week the Empire has a mix of comedy clubs and dance nights.

And Pug Uglys pub is another good Belfast comedy venue, Thursday night is the main time for laughs here.

Overall visitors are amazed by Belfast. There has been a rapid resurgence in social atmosphere and ways to have fun.

It has become a major tourist destination with sights linked to the Titanic and Game of Thrones attracting people from all over the world.

The Belfast locals are very friendly and there’s great sense of humour everywhere you go. Best of all is the increasing range of places to enjoy the nightlife, whether you choose to eat, drink, dank… or simply sit back and be entertained.