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.
Built on an old coaching stop and hidden down a narrow lane, The Morning Star is one of the city's most historic watering holes. You can't miss it; just look out for the splendid Victorian sign dangling from an authentic wrought iron bracket. The building dates back to 1810 and the ground floor, dominated by a horseshoe-shaped bar was made in 1925 for the express purpose, delivering quick service and fine liquors. This place has built an excellent reputation for serving superb, traditional food alongside more unique viand, such as crocodile steaks, ostrich and even bison. Although the restaurant shuts down early the bar is open till eleven. An air of the old world blended with the contemporary crowd found here, this little star surely is as bright a they come in nightlife circuit.
Bittles Bar offers the charms of a traditional Irish pub, along with a decent food menu; they're particularly strong on fish, chicken and steak. Most of the food is only served at lunchtime, but soup and sandwiches are available all day. Unofficially referred to as the "smoothing iron" on account of its triangular shape, it's just as intriguing inside. The walls are covered with artworks of over 100 paintings. It also sports a literary theme, with special attention and respect offered to Irish heroes such as James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde.
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.