Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Belfast

Recently opened in Whiteabbey Village overlooking Belfast Lough, the Kinara brings Indian cuisine to the Belfast suburbs. The extensive menu enables you to sample lamb and chicken dishes cooked in mouth-watering, dazzlingly colored sauces, ranging from the mild to the highly spicy (the menu acts as a heat guide). Fish is also on the menu, as are a number of dishes that fuse east with west which are unique to this restaurant. The chilli naan bread is not for the faint-hearted! This restaurant is fully licensed and sells the popular Indian lager Kobra on draught. Their takeaway service is very popular. Come in the evening with your loved one and watch the lights come on across the Lough in neighboring Co. Down.

Set along Warehouse Lane in Belfast, The Muddlers Club opened its doors in 2015. This one-Michelin starred restaurant is owned and managed by Chef Gareth McCaughey. Most of the high-quality ingredients used to prepare their delectable meals are sourced from local farms and markets in Ireland. The restaurant’s open kitchen is perfect for patrons who want to watch their meals get freshly prepared. They even offer a fantastic selection of cocktails that pair well with their unique dishes. This dimly-lit restaurant’s Rustic-style interiors will surely take you back in time.

For a great meal at a low price, head down to Howard Street, located on Howard Street. This friendly gastro-pub, serves some delicious dishes like the smoked haddock risotto, Ewing's salmon and fish cake and the very best Irish Whiskey creme brûlée. The staff are very friendly and enthusiastic, which in turn, turns up the excitement levels of the restaurant. If you're headed out to the theater, you can dine here and try their pre-theater menu, consisting of starters, mains, desserts as well as some delicious pre-theater cocktails.

The Cuan is a family-run business set in the quaint fishing village of Strangford, a haven where visitors have found rest and refreshment for over a century. There is a friendly warm atmosphere with open fires and a cozy lounge. All the outstanding food served here is made from locally produced ingredients, including seafood from the Lough, fresh vegetables and Irish beef and lamb from neighboring farms. The restaurants commitment to local produce has won it a Taste of Ulster Award. During the day you can enjoy a range of tempting bar snacks. In the evening why not stay on to try something from their à la carte menu?

The Mourne Seafood Bar has to be top of any seafood-lovers list. Although the food is cooked in a traditional style, there are distinct continental and Asian twists. This restaurant has a great atmosphere, cozy setting and a laid-back attitude; splash out on everything from beer battered fish n' chips to a whole buttered lobster. Their specialty is an abundance of fresh oysters, mussels and cockles cultivated in their private shellfish beds in nearby Carlingford Lough. The daily menu focuses on the best of local produce and their specials reflect what was caught in the nets that morning.

The Golden Elephant is by and large one of the best Thai restaurants located in Belfast. The food is prepared by Thai chefs, ensuring one has a taste of authentic Thai flavors. Other than the regular pad Thai, one can also taste other specialties such as Khao Phad Sapparod (pineapple fried rice), Khao Phad Pla Kem Kai (chicken and salted fish fried rice), stir fried duck and a lot more. Their curries are mix of spices, while dessert consists of black sticky rice with coconut milk. One can also find gluten free options for many dishes on the menu.