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MAC Belfast - Dining & Drinking
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Until just a few years ago, dining out in Belfast meant either sitting down to an Ulster Fry, or having a sirloin steak, well done, served with a mountain of chips. Quantity was everything. Little wonder that Northern Ireland came second only to Scotland in the world league for heart disease. However the Northern Ireland culinary landscape has now changed. If you come to Belfast you'll find every kind of restaurant you could wish for, many of which have won prestigious awards. This guide is divided into restaurant category and offers a taste of what's on offer within the city.

Contemporary

Much of the credit for Belfast's culinary change of heart must go to Paul Rankin. Rankin launched his first Roscoff restaurant in 1989 which has now spawned two cafes offering bistro dining - Roscoff Cafe & Express and Roscoff Cafe & Bakery. Rankin completely revamped his restaurant, re-opening as Cayenne. Having discovered the joys of garlic and olive oil over the dubious delights of "a big fry" and chips with everything, the Belfast palate has not looked back.

A fine contemporary restaurant in the city is Deane's Restaurant and Brasserie, where Michelin-star chef Michael Deane (trained by Rankin) wows the local epicures and visiting celebrities alike. If you're feeling very extravagant there's always the restaurant upstairs, but if finances don't stretch that far, the downstairs Brasserie still offers world-class cuisine at a (slightly) more affordable price.

Two other thriving restaurants offering contemporary food – imaginative dishes often featuring a fusion of eastern and western styles - are the Ta Tu Bar and Grill on the Lisburn Road and Opus One, located beside Queen's Film Theatre in the university district.

Seafood

Belfast's best seafood restaurant is Tedford's Restaurant, close to the Custom House and the Waterfront Hall, a great venue for a pre-performance meal. There's a huge range of fish on the menu, all wonderfully fresh and beautifully prepared in delicious sauces, French-style.

Asian

Belfast's ethnic communities have made a vast contribution to the range of food on offer within the city. A Mongolian Barbecue takes you back to the days and dishes of Genghis Khan and is a fun and inexpensive night out. You choose what you want and then watch it fired before your very eyes by an enthusiastic chef – there's no limit to how much you can eat here, so starve yourself for a day before you come. If Japanese noodles, Malaysian curries or Korean spicy beef sound intriguing, make you way over to the recently opened Ba Soba restaurant in the Cathedral Quarter. Alternatively, if you fancy an exclusively Japanese dining experience and don't mind paying the price, the Ginger Tree restaurant is just 30 minutes drive from the city centre and their (truly) Japanese chef will be delighted to oblige. The Suwanna Thai Restaurant on the Golden Mile is also worth a visit.

Chinese

The city's Chinese population constitutes Belfast's largest single immigrant grouping and there are hundreds of Chinese restaurants and takeaways. The Sun Kee is lauded as being particularly authentic and is popular with Chinese families. The décor isn't up to much – utilitarian is the word – but the food is excellent. This restaurant, located in Donegall Pass opposite another good Chinese restaurant, the Manor House, is small and tables are hard to come by so make sure you book well in advance. The Imperial City and Welcome Chinese restaurants are both renowned for their huge choice of dishes, while the most recent addition to Belfast's long list of Chinese restaurants is the Red Panda, on Great Victoria Street. It's doing a thriving trade. Expansive and airy, with excellent service and an eclectic menu, this restaurant is a great choice for larger groups. Check out their Sunday banquet and weekday business lunch deals.

Indian

Indian cuisine is also well represented in the city. The Moghul on Botanic Avenue is recommended for its good buffet and very friendly service, whilst the Little India on the Dublin Road remains Belfast's only entirely vegetarian Indian restaurant, offering a delicious evening menu in simple surroundings, and also the best lunch deal in Belfast in the form of their Thali lunch: two curries, pilau rice and salad for just £2.50, served between 12pm and 2.30pm. The elegant Indie Spice Cafe & Wine Bar in Stranmillis Village specialises in Indian dishes with a slight contemporary twist and would be a good choice if you're planning a romantic meal for two.

Italian

You can also expect plenty of Italian restaurants, such as Speranza's Villa Italia and Grafitti Italiano, where pasta, salad and pizza are all served Mediterranean-style. Pizza Hut is with us, of course, a reasonably-priced child-friendly pizzeria, popular with families. For the best Belfast pizza house, try Pizza Express, within five minutes' walk of the U.G.C. Cinema complex, making pizza after a film the perfect choice. Great pizza is served here with some unusual flavours, such as raw rocket with tasty shreds of fresh Parmesan cheese, belying the idea that chain-store pizza is always bland and unimaginative.

Pub Grub

Belfast is a great drinking town. Many bars do serve food, if you wish to combine your drinking and dining pleasure. McHugh's offer a variety of exciting cooking, including great noodle dishes, as well as being the oldest bar in Belfast, dating from 1711. Nick's Warehouse, near St Anne's Cathedral, has one of the best wine lists in the city and merges exquisite vintages with great food. A meal upstairs in the evening can be quite expensive but lunch at Nick's is always great value for money. In the ornate Victorian décor of the Crown Liquor Saloon you can enjoy a plate of oysters or authentic Irish Stew with your pint. This bar is owned by the National Trust and is one of Belfast's most famous institutions. If you want some privacy, bring your drink into one of the many snugs that line the ground floor.

Music

If you've come to these shores to listen to some of Ireland's famous traditional music, step inside a bar to hear it played. Kelly's Cellars is famous for its traditional music sessions and excellent pints of Guinness. The Duke of York and the John Hewitt, practically next door to each other, offer excellent live music, of either the traditional or the jazz varieties. Jammed at the weekends, earlier in the week you can find yourself in these beautiful bars with just a few others, entertained for free with some foot-stomping jigs and reels.

Other bars, such as Morrison's Bar or Katy Daly's, offer you live music of a more contemporary nature to encourage the consumption of liquor. Both these establishments run very popular club nights. At the Fly or Lavery's Gin Palace, one of the city's oldest and most famous drinking institutions, you can simply sit back and enjoy the craic. If you like cocktails and are curious to see some enormous Soviet realist statues, call into the Northern Whig. The weekend trade is always busy in Belfast bars but if visiting Belfast mid-week, you'll find bars will often have promotions or quizzes to keep the customers coming in the doors







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Ba Soba


Asian Noodle Bar
38 Hill Street
Belfast BT1 2LB
United Kingdom
+44 28 9058 6868
This Japanese-style noodle bar is a first for Belfast and a great venue for a night out with your friends. Sleek décor and stylish unisex toilets demand your admiration while long benches urge sociability with fellow diners. The menu is drawn from all over South East Asia: curries from Malaysia, Burma and Thailand complement this restaurant's staple orientation - the Japanese noodle experience. Soba (buckwheat), Udon (rice, thick), and Ramen (wheat, thin), are the three species of noodle served, in a variety of delicious meats, vegetables and sauces, while Udon and egg noodles can also be served as sides. (The rice is sticky deliberately - it's not the chef's fault!) Ba Soba is fully licensed and serves a variety of raw juices, Asian beers and teas.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Cafe Paul Rankin


Excellent Cafe & Bakery
27-29 Fountain Street
Belfast BT1 5EA
United Kingdom
+44 28 9031 5090
http://www.rankingroup.co.uk/c...
This remains a consistently busy city centre cafe, set on the pedestrianised Fountain Street (weather permitting there are outside tables to watch the world go by). It is also just off from the main shopping thoroughfares of Donegall Place and Royal Avenue, so it is ideal for shoppers looking to rest their weary legs. It serves delicious food - lunches include soups, sandwiches on a range of breads, pastas etc. - but Roscoff's is best known for its home-made cakes, cookies and pastries, which are expensive, but worth it. The breakfast menu includes Eggs Benedict (not something you can find easily on Belfast menus) and you can expect excellent coffee too.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Cafe Paul Rankin photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Cayenne


Latest culinary installment from TV chef, Paul Rankin
7 Ascot House
Shaftesbury Square
Belfast BT2 7DB
United Kingdom
+44 28 9033 1532
http://www.rankingroup.co.uk/c...
TV chef Paul Rankin has helped to revolutionize Irish cooking and Cayenne is his latest restaurant experiment. The first recipient of the Michelin star in the city, Rankin has simplified things this time round, creating a light hearted and relaxed ambience in this most contemporary of restaurants on the Golden Mile. Starters are around GBP5-7. Main courses feature vegetarian, meat, local wild game, and seafood dishes in combinations that marry the best of eastern and western flavours and cooking styles.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Cayenne photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Customs House


One of Belfast's finest buildings
Custom House Square
Belfast BT1 3ET
United Kingdom
+44 28 9056 2617
http://www.hmce.gov.uk
This building is one of Belfast's crowning architectural achievements. It was designed by Samuel Ferris Lynn in the Italian Renaissance style and was completed in 1856. On the side facing the river there are carved angels and classical deities representing manufacture, commerce, ndustry and peace, while the central figures in the pediment are Britannia, Neptune and Mercury. This elegant building conveys the power of the British Empire under Victoria and the commercial success of Belfast as it expanded rapidly in the 19th century. The steps of the Customs House formerly distinguished themselves as the chosen forum for public debate and for many years religious, political and social speakers addressed audiences here up to the 1950s. The Customs House also employed the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope before he discovered literary success.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Customs House photo by Chris Matchett
Photo: Chris Matchett
Customs House photo by Barry Hughes
Photo: Barry Hughes
Customs House photo by Robert McCracken
Photo: Robert McCracken
Customs House photo by zanecurtis
Photo: zanecurtis
Customs House photo by Fenglyph
Photo: Fenglyph
 

 
Fly


Superpub! - and guaranteed to be busy
5-6 Lower Crescent
Belfast BT7 1NR
United Kingdom
+44 28 9050 9750
http://www.theflybar.com/
The complete revamping of an old favourite on the Belfast drinking scene two years ago and this bar/club/superpub has become one of the places to be seen in Belfast. It's a favourite with young professionals, who despite moving up in the world, are perfectly willing to queue, no matter what the weather. Once inside you'll realise it has been worth the wait - a mass of heaving bodies on the first and second floors all dancing and vying to get at the bar. On the top floor it's slightly more relaxed, with luxurious couches being the order of the day. But as ever, in Belfast, the emphasis is on the drinking - so treat yourself to the vast array of cocktails and shots on offer.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Ginger Tree


Authentic Japanese
23 Donegall Pass
Belfast BT36 4TL
United Kingdom
+44 28 9032 7151
The waiting staff in this country-home-come-Japanese restaurant is not Japanese, however the excellent chef is, and the cuisine here is reliably authentic. Have a drink, sweet plum liquor perhaps, while you wait for your table and then glide into the elegant dining room and prepare yourself for a memorable culinary experience. The set meals, lots of small courses served in intricate laquer boxes, are the best value for money, allowing you to sample a broad range of Japanese delicacies without filling up after your starter. Eels from local waters cooked in sake, sugar and soy sauce are particularly recommended. And don't worry, you won't be able to move when you've finally finished. An expensive venue, but worth it for that extra special occasion.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Golden Mile


Belfast's Nightlife Heartland
Encompassing Dublin Road, Shaftesbury Square and Great Victoria Street
Belfast, Co. Down BT7 1LS
United Kingdom
The Golden Mile stretches from Queen's University to the city centre, is approximately one mile long, and hosts about 80 per cent of the city's most happening night spots. The mile includes Internet cafes, bars, clubs, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. In existence throughout the troubles, the Golden Mile was the brightest spot in the city. Now it's flourishing with peacetime investment. If you want to dine, Speranza's, Suwanna, Cayenne, Mongolian Barbecue, Red Panda, and Gipsy Queen are just a fraction of the buzzing eateries. Lavery's, the Crown and Robinson's offer great craic with their pints, while the Grand Opera House across the road dazzles the night viewer with its Victorian opulence. If you've come to Belfast for a good time, head here.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Imperial City


Chinese restaurant with diverse menu
96 Botanic Avenue
Belfast BT7 1JR
United Kingdom
+44 28 9080 8833
Set where the Taj Mahal Indian restaurant used to be, this new addition to the long list of Chinese restaurants in Belfast is already resisting stiff competition. The choice of dishes is diverse, with many traditional favourites: steamed fresh oyster with garlic and black bean sauce, roasted duck in orange sauce, or stir fried Chinese pak choi with garlic. There are a number of five-course set dinners for two or three people, however, the choice for vegetarians is rather scarce so there's room for improvement here. The restaurant is fully licensed. Chinese people eat here—always a good sign that the chefs are producing authentic dishes.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Imperial City photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Indie Spice Cafe & Wine Bar


Where east meets west
159 Stranmillis Road
Belfast BT9 5AJ
United Kingdom
+44 28 9066 8100
http://www.indiespicecafe.com
Set in the cosmopolitan village atmosphere of Stranmillis is this fusion of east and west. Marrying the sensibilities of the sophisticated modern restaurant/wine bar with the aromas of the east, the Indie Spice Cafe & Wine Bar is at home serving modern contemporary Indian cuisine alongside more traditional steak, salmon and lamb dishes. The menu acts as a heat guide. For starters a mince sheek kebab cooked in coriander, mint, garlic and green chillies is thoroughly recommended. This restaurant is aspiring and elegant, so dress up and make an evening of it.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Indie Spice Cafe & Wine Bar photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
John Hewitt


Traditional Irish Pub
51 Donegall Street
Belfast BT1 2FH
United Kingdom
+44 28 9023 3768
http://www.thejohnhewitt.com/
Recently opened in the Cathedral Quarter, the John Hewitt Bar is the latest pull for the discerning Belfast punter and is hugely popular. Try out their wonderful gourmet lunches, their evenings of live traditional music, their acclaimed jazz sessions, or just come to pull on a pint and admire the fine examples of paintings by renowned Irish artists that complement the tasteful décor. Named after the Belfast poet and socialist, John Hewitt, this bar is owned by the centre for the unemployed next door. Interesting conversation is guaranteed.

Review © 2007, Wcities
John Hewitt photo by John Baucher
Photo: John Baucher
John Hewitt photo by Jett Loe
Photo: Jett Loe
John Hewitt photo by Phil O'Kane
Photo: Phil O'Kane
John Hewitt photo by Richard
Photo: Richard
John Hewitt photo by Ric Fera
Photo: Ric Fera
 

 
Katy Daly's


Bands galore in hub of local music scene
Ormeau Avenue
Belfast BT2 8HD
United Kingdom
+44 28 9032 5968
Katy Daly's is the place to be if you want to view the local band scene. Apart from the alternative pub quiz on Mondays, every other night is filled with musical treats. Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays play host to live bands and singer/songwriters for the price of a pint. Although the bar is small it is ornate as well as being a good venue for the punter as you're almost on top of the PA and when the music's good the crowd is a pleasure to be a part of. Mostly guitar-based bands grace this stage.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Katy Daly's photo by Alex Donald
Photo: Alex Donald
Katy Daly's photo by Conor O'Connell
Photo: Conor O'Connell
Katy Daly's photo by Steve Graham
Photo: Steve Graham
Katy Daly's photo by leesub60
Photo: leesub60
 

 
Kelly's Cellars


Traditional music in friendly, genuine atmosphere
30-32 Bank Street
Belfast BT1 1HL
United Kingdom
+44 28 9024 6058
http://www.kellyscellars.co.uk/
"What? Yet another pub claiming to be one of Belfast's oldest?!", I hear you cry. But Kelly's Cellars really does have a long history of pub-ism, (it opened for business in 1720), and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere. The friendly, toe-tapping crowd are attracted by the famous folk music sessions on Fridays and Saturdays, when you'll experience Irish pub culture at its musical best. Hidden away down a side street off Royal Avenue, you could easily miss this little pub in the midst of the city centre shopping buzz, but once you make it inside all the elements of that proverbial Irish welcome - music, alcohol and lively conversation - make it hard to leave.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Kelly's Cellars photo by Rohan Caldwell
Photo: Rohan Caldwell
Kelly's Cellars photo by Barry Hughes
Photo: Barry Hughes
 

 
Lavery's Gin Palace


Landmark on the Belfast drinking map
12-16 Bradbury Place
Belfast BT7 1RR
United Kingdom
+44 28 9087 1106
A firm favourite with students. If you are not from Belfast you are assured engaging company at Lavery's. The Bottom Bar plays host to local storytellers and hidden at the back is "The Cobbles", a smaller bar that has live bands playing three nights a week. The middle bar attracts a younger drinker, background noise consists of funk, soul and commercial chart. The decor is New Age and shiny but nowhere near the tempestuousness of the Attic Club's on the third floor. Florescent, gyrating figures adorn these walls where music is geared towards the clubbing student. Be prepared to pay a door fee to bouncers after 10:30p.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Lavery's Gin Palace photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Little India


A welcome vegetarian addition to Belfast's Indian restaurants
53A Dublin Road
Belfast BT2 7HE
United Kingdom
+44 28 9032 3719
Little India is the only Indian restaurant in the city which is completely vegetarian. There's an excellent lunch offer - the Thali lunch - which consists of two kinds of curry with delicious pilau rice and a small salad for a mere £2.75. Evenings allow you to choose from a more extensive menu, and you'd be wrong if you thought, "vegetarian" meant limited options. Dahls are here as well as all the traditional varieties of curry, with a great choice of naan breads and rice. You can wash it all down with a glass of wine from their wine list, (the restaurant is fully licensed) or with an Indian beer like Cobra, which, you've guessed it, tastes great with Indian food.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Little India photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Manor House


Fantastic range of Cantonese cuisine
47 Donegall Pass
Belfast BT7 1DQ
United Kingdom
+44 28 9023 8755
There's a family-run feel to this Egon Ronay recognised restaurant. It offers an excellent range of Cantonese dishes; over 200 in fact, all freshly cooked and bursting with flavour. Seafood is a speciality of the house, and the menu swims in Eels, Scallops, Oysters and larger fishes too, spicy, sweet, hot, sour - or perhaps a combination of these. If you're feeling dazzled by choice, they've done the hard part for you and devised a comprehensive, highly-recommended range of set meals. Try their four-course high tea menu as a sampling of this restaurant's best.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Manor House photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
McHugh's


Oldest pub in Belfast, recently rennovated
29-31 Queen's Square
Belfast BT1 3FG
United Kingdom
+44 28 9050 9999
http://www.mchughsbar.com/
Down at the Albert Clock, McHughs boasts of being the oldest pub in Belfast. Originally opened in 1711, it has recently been renovated with due deference to its architectural heritage. You will be greeted by massive 18th-century oak trusses and a restored ship's boiler that warms the whole area embedded into the walls. The ground floor is mainly a bar, divided into small rooms and liberally furnished with artworks depicting Belfast's past and present. The basement hosts live bands every weekend while mellower jazz and ballad singers are in residence midweek. The first floor is a 100-seater restaurant with food ranging from traditional pub fare to great open wok cooking, with noodle dishes a speciality. The highly affordable wine list boasts some excellent New World wines.

Review © 2007, Wcities
McHugh's photo by Yvette
Photo: Yvette
McHugh's photo by Catherine Donnelly
Photo: Catherine Donnelly
McHugh's photo by Shay Harper
Photo: Shay Harper
 

 
Moghul Restaurant


Indian restaurant with an excellent lunchtime deal
62a Botanic Avenue
Belfast BT7 1JX
United Kingdom
+44 28 9032 6677
There are always delicious aromas coming from the kitchen of this pleasant, spacious Indian restaurant. So give your taste buds a treat with a vegetable pakoras, paneer makhai (the chef's own paneer in mild buttery sauce), or with a firm favourite such as tandoori chicken. At lunchtime, the Moghul offers a platter of two curries, with rice, samosa and naan bread for just £2.99, and you can choose between vegetarian curry, lamb or chicken. In the evening, you can take advantage of the, "meal and movie deal" with the nearby Queen's Film Theatre. For just £11.95 for two courses and tea or coffee, either before or after the film, it's a real bargain. The Moghul is fully licensed and, situated upstairs, offers prime views over buzzing Botanic Avenue.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Moghul Restaurant photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Movie House Cinemas


Movie Multiplex
14 Dublin Road
Belfast BT2 7HN
United Kingdom
+44 28 9024 5700
http://www.moviehouse.co.uk/
This 10-screen cinema offers film fans in Belfast the chance to see all the latest commercial blockbusters in luxurious surroundings. Situated right on the bustling Dublin Road this is the main city centre cinema. It also plays host to an annual international film festival for young people, Cinemagic. Adult admission is £5, children £3.50 and a concessionary rate is available at £3.50.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Movie House Cinemas photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Nick's Warehouse


Belfast's first wine bar, and fine contemporary restaurant
35-39 Hill Street
Belfast BT1 2LB
United Kingdom
+44 28 9043 9690
http://www.nickswarehouse.co.uk
Nick's Warehouse started off as Belfast's first wine bar, located in an old Bushmills warehouse down on an attractive cobbled alleyway. Nick's has since expanded into a buzzing contemporary restaurant popular for both lunch and dinner. The food here is imaginative - so imaginative, in fact, that it's impossible to pin down one culinary genre - ideas are mixed up, and unusual bed-fellows are forced to sleep together in an enthusiastic orgy of tastes.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Nick's Warehouse photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Northern Whig


Belfast's socialist realist experience
2 Bridge Street
Belfast BT1 1LU
United Kingdom
+44 28 9050 9888
http://www.thenorthernwhig.com/
Three two-ton sandstone statues commissioned to celebrate the October 1917 Russian revolution and hailing from the Prague Communist party headquarters dominate the floor of the Northern Whig - Belfast's latest and most ambitious cafe bar experiment. Besides a mesmerizing fish tank built into one wall, the Whig offers everything from morning coffee and pastries, to lunch, dinner, classic black and white movies and a cocktail menu four pages long.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Pizza Express


Chic and cheerful outlet of the popular chain
25 Bedford Street
Belfast BT2 7EJ
United Kingdom
+44 28 9032 9050
http://www.pizzaexpress.co.uk/...
The Pizza Express restaurants prove that you don't have to give up on sophistication just because you're a chain. Pizza Express is fully licensed, with one side of the restaurant given over to a pleasant bar, where you can enjoy a pre-pizza drink. There are, of course, lots of Pizzas on offer. They are cooked in the open-plan kitchen by dough-tossing chefs, and are guaranteed to be fresh and devoid of production-line plasticity. Try the Soho - topped with Raw Rocket and fresh Strips of Parmesan, this is one of the most unusual Pizza varieties in town. There's a good selection of Salads and Pasta dishes, including many vegetarian options. Finally, it's all brought to you at extremely reasonable prices.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Pizza Express photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Pizza Hut


World-wide pizza chain on the Dublin Road
44 Dublin Road
Belfast BT2 7HN
United Kingdom
+44 28 9031 1222
http://www.pizzahut.co.uk/
Hit the hut! Yes, Pizza Hut, inevitably, is here in Belfast too, and you'll find it on the buzzing Dublin Road near Queen's University on the fringes of the Golden Mile. A substantial choice of pizzas - deep pan, crispy, pre-stuffed crusts etc. - and friendly prices ensure this chain's enduring popularity, especially with families. Medium pizzas are around £9, large pizzas, which can feed two, around £12. Choose from their ready-made varieties or create your own. There are some unusual toppings, such as fresh green chillies, and spicy meats are a house specialty. Salads, starters and fattening deserts to keep the kids happy are on the menu, and Mum and dad can have a glass of beer or wine with their meal too.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Queen's Film Theatre


Showcasing the best in independent cinema
20 University Square
Belfast BT7 1PA
United Kingdom
+44 28 9097 1097
http://www.qub.ac.uk/qft
The QFT is a purpose built cinema, established for Queen's University. It has been the main provider of global cinematic entertainment in Belfast, bringing to the screen films that the big cinemas won't touch because they won't bring in large profits. The QFT has two screens; both cinemas are small, cosy and intimate, with specially designed seats that guarantee a maximum-comfort viewing experience. The annual Belfast Festival involves exciting premiers which are screened at QFT; QFT also hosts the Martell French Film Festival. There are several special offers, membership discounts and a meal and movie deal run in conjunction with local restaurants.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Queen's Film Theatre photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Red Panda


Excellent Chinese eatery
60 Great Victoria Street
Belfast BT2 7BB
United Kingdom
+44 28 9080 8700
http://www.theredpanda.com/
The Red Panda is a recent addition to Belfast's fine Chinese restaurants and is enjoying a thriving trade. Come early and don't forget to book! The restaurant is large and well decorated with legions of industrial staff. Starters start at EUR2.95 for Sui Mai-the most famous Chinese dumpling-or for Dim Sum and go right up to EUR6 for something more exotic, such as crab and shark's fin soup. Servings are generous. The list of main dishes is extensive, and includes mouth-watering seafood hotpots from the Schezuan region of China. The restaurant is fully licensed and you can also order Chinese beer or Chinese tea with your meal. The Lai Chi portions for dessert are generous.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Speranza


An Original
16-18 Shaftesbury Square
Belfast BT2 7DB
United Kingdom
+44 28 9023 0213
http://www.speranza2.com/
Set on the Golden Mile, (Belfast's entertainment epicentre, our version of Piccadilly Circus, only with less lights), Speranza's an old favourite with the people of Belfast since 1983. Indeed Speranza's was one of the pioneers, bringing new tastes to what was once a culinary-challenged city. It has been refurbished, to three times its original size, and serves good Italian fare - pasta dishes, salads and pizzas with meals starting from around £10-£14 (based on two courses) and a bottle of house wine from around £8. There's a bar to relax in after eating, a children's menu and plenty of room for large groups - a great place to soak up the atmosphere and relax. (Bookings taken for parties over 6). You can bring your own wine - no beers or spirits are allowed - but there is a £2 corkage fee. Brad Pitt ate here to develop his Italian accent for his role as an IRA terrorist in The Devil's Own - if you've seen the film you'll realise how successful he was.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Speranza photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
St  Anne's Cathedral


Cathedral that gave the Cathedral Quarter its name
Donegall St
Belfast BT1 2FG
United Kingdom
+44 28 9032 8332
http://www.belfastcathedral.org
You'll spot the Neo-Romanesque façade of this cathedral long before you step up to the door. Inside you'll find lots of splendid marble and some impressively enormous mosaics. Lord Carson, leader of the campaign against Home Rule, is buried here. St Anne's Book of Common Prayer, written on cigarette papers in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, serves as a poignant reminder of human suffering. Some marvellous classical concerts are held here, and evensong on a Sunday afternoon is a beautiful musical experience, if nothing else. In recent years, the cathedral has been at the forefront of cross-community initiatives in Northern Ireland. People from any denomination, or none, are welcome to attend their weekly "heal our land" services and to take communion here. It is open through the day for visitors.

Review © 2007, Wcities
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Tony Millar
Photo: Tony Millar
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Roger Price
Photo: Roger Price
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Alan in Belfast
Photo: Alan in Belfast
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Terrys Photos1
Photo: Terrys Photos1
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Roy Burns
Photo: Roy Burns
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by woodchop
Photo: woodchop
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Jason Jarrett
Photo: Jason Jarrett
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Everybody's Photos
Photo: Everybody's Photos
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Stephen Martin
Photo: Stephen Martin
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Tom McClelland
Photo: Tom McClelland
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Robert Massey
Photo: Robert Massey
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by digitalEnvironmentalist
Photo: digitalEnvironmentalist
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by Whisper Twomey
Photo: Whisper Twomey
St  Anne's Cathedral photo by H Freelend
Photo: H Freelend
 

 
Sun Kee


Authentic Chinese cuisine favoured by local Chinese community
38 Donegall Pass
Belfast BT7 1BS
United Kingdom
+44 28 9031 2016
Despite the utilitarian decor, this is a restaurant with a friendly ambience. Popular with the local Chinese community, the dishes are prepared according to traditional recipes and are not watered down to suit Western palates. Authenticity in Chinese cooking means variety, and dishes are composed here on the basis of some unexpected food combinations. The Hot 'n' Sour Soup is particularly recommended—a warm and flavourful bowl of just about everything, including melt-in-the-mouth Bean Curd. And the Spicy Squid Starter will blow your head off.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Sun Kee photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Suwanna Thai Restaurant


Authentic Thai on the Golden Mile
117 Great Victoria St
Belfast BT2 7AH
United Kingdom
+44 28 9043 9007
This intimate restaurant prides itself on its dedication to authentic Thai cuisine. Set right on the Golden Mile, it is an ideal starting place before heading out on the town. On the menu are beautifully aromatic green curries, wum salads or peanut noodle stir fries. If you want to sample the restaurant's best, and are absolutely starving and with someone else, take on their banquet menu for five courses with tea or coffee.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Suwanna Thai Restaurant photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Ta Tu Bar and Grill


Lisburn Road Hot Spot
701 Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7GU
United Kingdom
+44 28 9038 0818
What looks like exposed industrial piping weaves ominously above your head in Ta Tu Bar and Grill — quite possibly Belfast's trendiest eatery. Such abrasiveness is contrasted, however, with plenty of ambient lighting, a palatial eating area that could have fitted in double the amount of tables and didn't, and decadently comfortable seats. Come along and spend the evening — service is laid back, and there's no pressure to move you on. Ta Tu cuisine is exceptional. Their Thai soup is delicate and wonderfully fragrant, their roasted quail served with split figs a dish worthy of the most special occasions. The Samsonelles currently offer a live heady cocktail of soul, jazz and blues on Tuesday evenings, and men and women can even hold hands across the washbasins of their respective restrooms. Honestly.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Tedford's Seafood & Steakhouse


Nautical theme and excellent seafood by the Lagan Weir
5 Donegall Quay
Belfast BT1 7HF
United Kingdom
+44 28 9043 4000
The building which houses Tedford's dates from 1843. The 2-floor restaurant is broken up into three distinct areas, each of which has a nautical theme. The Porthole Cafe Bar is perfect for enjoying a pre-meal drink before moving through to the bistro area, decorated with wood and brass fittings. Seafood of course is the speciality with some excellent shellfish on offer. There is also a bistro-style menu with food more geared to those on terra firma - steaks, chicken, or vegetarian meals. This restaurant is ideal for a pre- or post-theatre meal, especially given its proximity to the Waterfront Hall. Special function dining is available in the restaurant on the first floor, decorated like an old liner.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Tedford's Seafood & Steakhouse photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Villa Italia


Taste of Italy in heart of university area
Haarlemmerdijk 180
Belfast 1013 JK
United Kingdom
+44 28 9032 8356
http://www.villaitaliarestaura...
This enormously popular Italian restaurant is a haven for families with young children, (colouring books provided), couples and individual diners alike. The decor is Italian-villa-ish and all the expected staples are here - good garlic bread, pizza, pasta dishes and devilish deserts. Expect to pay between £10 and £12 for a two-course meal without wine, though this Villa is fully licensed so you can indulge in the juice of Bacchus if you wish. A busy, buzzing, no-fuss restaurant, perfectly located in the university area for an after-dinner stroll, drink, dance - whatever takes your fancy.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Villa Italia photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Waterfront Hall


Jewel of Laganside Redevelopment
2 Lanyon Place
Belfast BT1 3WH
United Kingdom
+44 28 9033 4400
http://www.waterfront.co.uk
This dazzling building on the banks of the Lagan is the original signature building of the Laganside redevelopment and one of the architectural stars of the city. The superb auditorium, which has a capacity of 2,235, has witnessed concerts from all walks of life: from Jesus Christ Superstar to Robbie Williams (superstar), from opera, ballet and classical music through to pantomime and stand-up comedy. This thoroughly modern complex features handsome bars and restaurants with fine views of the surrounding area, as well as the NTL Studio, a smaller auditorium with a capacity of 400.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Waterfront Hall photo by Chris Matchett
Photo: Chris Matchett
Waterfront Hall photo by Phil Woodbridge
Photo: Phil Woodbridge
Waterfront Hall photo by Dave Mitchell
Photo: Dave Mitchell
Waterfront Hall photo by John Self
Photo: John Self
Waterfront Hall photo by Phil Woodbridge
Photo: Phil Woodbridge
Waterfront Hall photo by Felix Haslimeier
Photo: Felix Haslimeier
Waterfront Hall photo by Heather Little
Photo: Heather Little
Waterfront Hall photo by LondonSLR
Photo: LondonSLR
Waterfront Hall photo by kevin
Photo: kevin
Waterfront Hall photo by Russell Matbouli
Photo: Russell Matbouli
Waterfront Hall photo by Chris Smith
Photo: Chris Smith
Waterfront Hall photo by Fintan Hurl
Photo: Fintan Hurl
Waterfront Hall photo by Gavin Mullan
Photo: Gavin Mullan
Waterfront Hall photo by moniquinha corso
Photo: moniquinha corso
Waterfront Hall photo by Chris McKeown
Photo: Chris McKeown
Waterfront Hall photo by dukeyandelmo
Photo: dukeyandelmo
Waterfront Hall photo by Emmanuel M. Diver
Photo: Emmanuel M. Diver
Waterfront Hall photo by Gohir M
Photo: Gohir M
Waterfront Hall photo by Craig Butler
Photo: Craig Butler
Waterfront Hall photo by Colleen Robinson
Photo: Colleen Robinson
Waterfront Hall photo by Colin McCoy
Photo: Colin McCoy
Waterfront Hall photo by Jennifer Toal
Photo: Jennifer Toal
 

 
Welcome Restaurant


Cantonese cuisine in pretty Stranmillis village
22 Stranmills Road
Belfast BT9 5AA
United Kingdom
+44 28 9038 1359
Attentive service and well-prepared Chinese cuisine is to be found here in the salubrious Victorian village area of Stranmillis. Welcome specializes in tasty south Chinese dishes. You can leave the hard work up to them and opt for a set meal from their extensive range, or choose from the abundance of their à la carte menu: this restaurant serves a choice of 34 main Chinese dishes alone! If you have a particular dish in mind, it's probably here. Delicious and quite reasonable, it's no surprise that Welcome has been awarded Belfast's best restaurant and carry-out three years in a row.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Welcome Restaurant photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Belfast - Dining & Drinking"
Belfast
Belfast - Historical Background
Belfast - Neighborhood Guide
Belfast - Where to Stay
Belfast - Art & Entertainment

Other nearby cities:
Dublin (147 miles)
Glasgow (159 miles)
Edinburgh (228 miles)
Liverpool (235 miles)
Galway (254 miles)
Manchester (271 miles)
Newcastle upon Tyne (280 miles)
Leeds (299 miles)
Sheffield (323 miles)
York (323 miles)

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