Top Rated Nightlife in Belfast

Opened to great acclaim in the late 90s, Deane's has played a prominent role in the upgrading of cuisine in Belfast, proving that there was a market here all along for fine contemporary and fusion food. As renowned Michelin-starred chef Michael Deane puts it, come and sample some serious, indulgent dining. The clientèle range from high flying city types to Belfast's most distinguished visitors. Beware though, the menu changes regularly. There is a fine range of wines, with a bottle of house wine.

You might think this is just another pub claiming to be one of Belfast's oldest. However this is definitely true. Kelly's Cellars really does have a long history; it opened business in 1720. Friendly, toe-tapping crowd are attracted by the famous folk music sessions, 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.

Definitely worth finding, especially as the winding walk you'll take to get here will lead you round some of Belfast's oldest streets. So you've negotiated the entries and the damp cobblestones and you've found the Duke of York. Inside it's crammed with mementos of Belfast's maritime and industrial past, so there's plenty to look at whilst you sip away at a good range of beers and lagers (they serve a particularly good Guinness). The Duke of York attracts a widely disparate group of drinkers, with students from the nearby Art College mixing with seasoned old drinkers and radicals.

When at Belfast's MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre), if you wish take a break from the entertaining acts and nourish yourself, head over to the canteen for some delicious treats. The Canteen at the MAC serves a range of contemporary preparations inspired by global recipes. Soups, salads, breads and meats cooked in various styles are on offer. It is an ideal place for a pre-theater meal with dinner being served from 5p onwards, or even an after-show meal as the doors remain open till much later on nights that performances are held at MAC. Concerts and dinner shows are regularly organized here, making your dining experience here a joyful one.

The Crown Bar, situated in a prime location on the Golden Mile, is one of the jewels in Belfast's entertainment domain. The look of the place imitates that of an old Wild West saloon. Rays of sun come from Victorian etched-windows and the old gas lamps lends a 19th-century charm to the place. It is the most famous bar in Ulster; the most attractive feature though, are the wood paneled partitions that give drinkers some privacy to enjoy their poison.

Even one of Belfast's oldest pubs can boast an eclectic taste in music. On weekdays there are sizzling traditional folk sessions in the front bar while the trendier tunes prop up the back bar. The bar easily retains an old worldly charm, even after a modern face lift; think of ornate, high ceilings, dark mahogany walls and secluded booths dimly lit with oil lamps. This pub has great music and offers diverse and locally sourced dishes. These dishes are from steamed mussels to homemade beef burgers. This place is located near the famed City Hall.