Best Restaurants in Belfast

Northern Ireland’s capital is steeped in wonderful culture and history and is an ideal place to visit for a weekend getaway. But recently Belfast has also seen a bit of a renaissance when it comes to its food and restaurant scene meaning that you won’t be short of places to eat whilst you’re visiting. From ground-breaking fine dining, to cosy Irish bistros and seafood fresh from the Belfast harbour, there is high-level cookery on show in all quarters of the city. To help you pick from all these amazing offerings, we’ve written this handy guide of the Best Restaurants in Belfast so that you don’t miss out on the best places.

Updated on 07 February 2023

Whether it’s London, Edinburgh or somewhere further afield, there’s something about capital cities which draws in loads of chefs, restaurants and foodies alike meaning that the level of cooking is constantly getting better and better. This also means that whenever you’re visiting a capital you are never short of places to grab lunch or dinner in between whatever activities or sightseeing you have planned.

This is certainly the case with the beautiful city of Belfast, with eateries on every corner. Be warned though, visiting the best food spots in Belfast requires a bit of pre-planning, with many of the top restaurants proving extremely popular and therefore booking up early. In this area though there’s no need to worry as we’ve carefully put together the below guide of our best restaurants in Belfast meaning that you can get planning in plenty of time.

Whether it’s a top Michelin starred establishment, a cute independent bistro or something completely different and quirky that you’re looking for, you can be sure that we have got you covered in our guide; so by the time you leave Belfast you will leave feeling like you’ve tried some of the best food that the Northern Irish capital has to offer.

OX Belfast

OX Belfast

1 Oxford Street, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 3LA

Stephen Toman’s Michelin starred kitchen serves creative modern British dishes using top quality seasonal produce. The bright, spacious dining room is the perfect place to enjoy the six course tasting menu which is on offer.

Over £80

Modern European

British

Irish

One Michelin star

SquareMeal UK Top 100

Coppi

Coppi

Unit 2 Saint Anne's Square, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 2LR

Coppi is a very affordable, contemporary Venetian restaurant serving cicchetti and various other small dishes alongside some larger dishes and of course pizza. It’s a great option if you want some great quality food on a budget.

£50 - £79

Mediterranean

Italian

EDO

EDO

3 Capital House, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 6FB

This stylish, modern restaurant serves a European tapas-style menu with most dishes designed to be shared. They also however have a charcoal grill which they cook their steaks over to give them a perfect level of charring.

£30 - £49

Modern European

Tapas

Coco

Coco

7-11 Linenhall Street, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT2 8AA

This smart restaurant with eccentric pieces of modern art filling up the walls serves luxurious food near City Halls. For couples they serve a good value £60 date night menu which includes three courses and a bottle of wine.

£30 - £49

Modern European

British

Home Restaurant

Home Restaurant

22 Wellington Place, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 6GE

Home is a relaxed all-day restaurant serving reasonably priced modern European dishes. With a huge number of menus to pick from including plenty of vegan options, everyone will be able to find something they like here.

£30 - £49

International

The Ginger Bistro

The Ginger Bistro

68/72 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT2 7AF

Since opening, The Ginger Bistro has been much-lauded for its high-level of cooking and use of locally sourced ingredients. The relaxed atmosphere and fun décor make it a brilliant place to visit with friends and family.

£30 - £49

Modern European

British

The Muddlers Club

The Muddlers Club

1 Warehouse Lane, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 2DX

Winning its first Michelin star in the 2020 guide, The Muddlers Club is definitely one of the hottest restaurants in Belfast right now. Tucked away in the Cathedral Quarter, it serves brilliant locally sourced Irish food.

£50 - £79

Modern European

British

Irish

One Michelin star

SquareMeal UK Top 100

Blank

Blank

43 Malone Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT9 6RX

The name blank suggests plain and unexciting, but the restaurant prides itself on pushing the boundaries. At Blank, guests are invited to trust the chefs with a no-menu approach, while only using ingredients that have been sourced from the island.

£50 - £79

Irish

Mourne Seafood Bar

Mourne Seafood Bar

34-36 Bank Street, Belfast, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 1HL

If you’re looking for fantastic fresh seafood in Belfast then look no further than Mourne Seafood Bar. Having been open since 2008, Mourne serves top quality fish dishes in a relaxed rustic setting.

£30 - £49

Fish

Shu Restaurant

Shu Restaurant

253 Lisburn Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT9 7EN

Based in a beautiful white-washed terrace on Lisburn Road, Shu’s broad menu is largely European-inspired and can be enjoyed in the bright, modern-furnished dining room. In the basement hides a cocktail bar for after your meal.

£30 - £49

Modern European

Roam

Roam

6a Callendar Street, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 5HX

Starting its life as a pop-up concept, Roam has now found its home in the centre of Belfast. Sticking to its original ethos of keeping things simple but sophisticated, the menu changes with the seasons and showcases local produce in a relaxed atmosphere.

£30 - £49

International

Molly

Molly's Yard

1 College Green Mews, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT7 1LW

The charming courtyard setting of Molly's Yard, which is housed in a converted Victorian stable, is the perfect place to enjoy their small but well-cooked menu of classic British dishes, alongside their long list of beers.

£30 - £49

Modern European

Irish

Il Pirata

Il Pirata

279-281 Upper Newtownards Road, Balyhackamore, Belfast, Counlty Antrim, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT4 3JF

This chic modern restaurant serves crowd-pleasing rustic Italian food on the outskirts of Belfast. Expect pizzas, pasta, cicchetti and more, with a brilliant selection of wine and cocktails to go alongside your food.

£30 - £49

Deanes at Queens

Deanes at Queens

1 College Gardens, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT9 6BQ

One of Michael Deane’s many brilliant eateries in the capital, Deanes at Queens serves hearty British food in the leafy university quarter of the city. You can also sit outside during the summer.

£30 - £49

Modern European

British

Irish

James St.

James St.

19-21 James Street South, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT2 7GA

James St is the lovely result of two former restaurants (James St South & James St Bar & Grill) coming together. Serving classic bistro dishes, some of which are cooked over charcoal, the food is top notch.

£50 - £79

Modern European

British

Can't make the trip over but want to try some proper Irish cooking over here? Check out our roundup of the Best Irish Chefs in London.

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