Ah, Belfast.
My second ever venture to the Northern Ireland capital and with every trip, I fall a little bit more in love with the city.
From the history to the architecture, the eateries to the nightlife; Belfast is a true haven for couples and girl gangs alike and a must-visit in 2019 if you haven't explored the city yet.
Last month, I headed to the city for a two-night breakaway and I have two notes to make. Firstly, Belfast is so romantic during the winter period and secondly, make sure you do the black taxi tour, it's such a must.
But this article isn't about the historic sights, it's more so about the moreish sights; I'm taking grub and pubs. Belfast is bustling with delicious places to eat in and as always, I made sure to jam pack as much into a short stay as possible to provide you with the intel to go and follow suit.
So where am I still raving about a month later?
Made In Belfast
If you're heading to Belfast, do yourself a favour and BOOK a table here. The interior, the food, the cocktails, and the ambiance creates date night heaven and I could have spent the night sitting here talking over a bottle of red (if I hadn't more discovering on the agenda). This place is a must.
Rita's
Similar vibes to House Dublin, Rita's is a cool bar located on Franklin Street. The lights are dimmed, the interior reminds you of a quirky vintage house (think fringing and velvet seats) and the drinks are flowing all night long. You'd be lucky to nab a seat here during a busy night but once you do you won't want to leave.
The Dirty Onion
A traditional Irish pub within one of the oldest buildings in Belfast (it dates back to 1780). This was one of our favourite pubs on our trip simply because it was traditional, casual and utterly relaxed. As the evening progressed, the live music commenced and so it gets a little bit more hectic but nonetheless enjoyable.
The Thirsty Goat
Right next door to The Dirty Onion is the Thirsty Goat. I'd describe it as an outdoor session where everyone dances and sings in the front-facing beer garden until the early hours of the morning. A predominately young crowd at the weekends, The Thirsty Goat is one if you love the craic, crowds and an aul' sing-song.
The Perch
The Perch is Belfast's stunning rooftop beer garden. Open all year round, this is the perfect place to come and have a drink with your partner or a group of mates. We sat on the bar stools around the large indoor bar as outside was a little too nippy and it was the perfect way to end the night.
Christmas markets
Although these have passed *sigh*, I'm still going to include them as they were one of the highlights of my trip up north. From toasting marshmallows on an open fire to eating potato and chicken stew, prawns and chips - the Christmas markets are a dream of overindulgence and you can then work it all off with a boogie in the German beer tents. Prost!
Granny Annies Kitchen
We hit this spot up for some hungover lunch on our final morning after a recommendation from a friend and it does what it says on the tin. Provides you with a massive feed that's tasty. It's nothing fancy but it sure is delish.
Coppi
This one gets a special mention as we didn't get a chance to eat here again but we did on our last trip to Belfast and it's divine. Small tapas-style plates washed down with tasty wine and cocktails again, make sure you book in advance and dress to impress.
Where did you stay?
We stayed in the Fitzwilliam Hotel and I will be sure to again on my next trip. Not only were the rooms divine and extremely spacious but, the hotel has a seriously central location with the city accessible by foot. The staff were great and the food was yum, which led us to order the 24h room service not once, but twice because we're THAT good to ourselves and with a selection of sandwiches and pizza on the menu, we couldn't not give it a go.
You can book your stay at the Fitzwilliam
here.
Belfast is certainly one I'm planning to head back to as soon as possible and a trip to put on the agenda for 2019 if you haven't yet - I promise you won't be disappointed.
