Whether you are having a night out with friends, a stag party or hen do, or a corporate outing here are some of Belfast’s best nightlife spots.
Belfast is a city full of trendy bars creating an energetic vibe. The bars, pubs and clubs serve the full gambit of drinks to ensure every thirsty patron has their alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) desire met. From delicious cocktails to the latest imported lagers and from wine to a pint of Guinness, Belfast has it all.
There is also a fantastic music scene in Belfast with an eclectic range of options. Belfast really gives most cities in the UK and Ireland a run for their money. The live music is buzzing with many up and coming acts always ready to entertain a crowd. There is no shortage of DJs playing all types of music from heavy house through to cheesy 80s hits.
Here is a list of some of the top spots and suppliers when it comes to Belfast and it’s fantastic and colourful nightlife.
Fancy Spots & Cocktail Bars
Here are some upmarket bars that serve fantastic cocktails and go down a treat if you are looking for something a little fancy when having a night out in Belfast.
Margot
Beautiful underground bar that is open seven days a week. The menu includes wines, spirits, beers and a collection of creative cocktails. These can be drunk while getting your groove on to local DJs playing from Thursday to Sunday.
Santeria
This energetic bodega is located on Fountain Lane which is fast becoming a hotspot. With great vibes influenced by rhythm, soul and funk you will meet some real characters in this spot on a night out.
Granny Annies
Do you remember being in your granny’s house? Now you can relive that but through the lens of somebody with the funkiest granny that ever sat in a rocking chair in Belfast. This lively bar is a gem, full of rustic charm reminiscent of your granny’s house, Granny Annies is a lively bar and restaurant offering quirky cocktails, shots paddles and a wide range of gin serves. Renowned for its live music, there are traditional and modern sessions seven nights a week.
Live Music & Traditional Pubs
Live music and great beer puts a pep in everybody’s step. If you are out with colleagues, friends or on a stag do or hen party here are some of Belfast’s liveliest traditional pubs.
Henrys
Great drinks, live music and a fantastic traditional food menu Henrys has it all. The pub is named after Henry Joy McCracken, a United Irish man and historic Belfast figure.
Although the pub is over 100 years old it was refurbished in 2018. Located on a very narrow 17th-century street, Joy’s Entry, Henry’s is a must-visit if you are interested in experiencing Belfast’s fantastic nightlife.
McHugh’s Bar & Restaurant
Located at Queen’s Square and based in one of Belfast’s oldest buildings McHugh’s Bar has a proud 300-year tradition of great drink and a homely atmosphere. The open fires and comfy seats are a fantastic backdrop to the drink, delicious food and great banks that play here.
John Hewitt
Set up by the Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre in the mid-nineties as a way of generating revenue the John Hewitt has become a stable establishment on the Belfast live music scene. The atmosphere is warm and friendly and the music styles include traditional, ulster scotts folk, cajun and even jazz. They also have a wide range of beers including local draughts as well as global brands.
Nightclubs
You’re never too old to pop on the glad rags and polish the dancing shoes for a night on the tiles. Belfast has some amazing nightclubs that are sure to keep all types of groups happy when enjoying Belfast’s nightlife.
Ollie’s
Located in the basement of the five-star Merchant Hotel, Ollie’s Nightclub offers an unrivalled experience of nightclub sophistication in Belfast. Although not the largest nightclub in the UK or Ireland, Ollies has a unique intimate atmosphere that oozes luxury. With a fantastic menu of lip-licking cocktails, you will be sure to impress your date, friend or crew by bringing them to what was once the vaults of an old bank.
Limelight
One of Belfast’s main nightclubs is Limelight. This multi-million pound live music venue and club has three rooms that host a wide range of gigs and club nights. With fantastic drinks being served you are bound to catch an international touring act as Limelight has hosted the likes of Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol and The Manic Street Preachers. If your work crew or those on your hen do or stag party love music then this is a great place to include in your weekend package.
Alibi
Alibi is one of Belfast’s best nightclubs with a focus on liquor, food and fantastic music. Spread out over two floors Alibi has everything to keep all types of patrons happy. Friends, hens, stags and corporates have all their boxes ticked while on a night out in Belfast. The ground floor offers a wide range of drinks to a backdrop of live entertainment throughout the week, while the first floor is a premium club with local and UK DJ talent on display each weekend.
Corporate Nightlife in Belfast
Belfast is a very popular location for conferences, business events, team building activities and corporate days out. Whether you and your colleagues are in Belfast on a team bonding expedition or if you are a company based in Belfast the nightlife on offer is exceptional. A few drinks and laughs with your co-workers and colleagues is a great way to make sure the culture of the organisation is positive and the employees are happy.
By day there are super excursions to keep every workforce happy, these include the Titanic Museum, St. George’s Market, Black Taxi Tours and the Ulster Museum. A great site to check out what is on offer for corporate days out, team bonding experiences and company events is EverTribe.
Belfast Hen Do Nightlife
If you book a hen do in Belfast you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the range of fancy bars serving amazing cocktails. There are also more dancefloors than you could shake a stiletto at. Although hen party groups do not face the same trouble as stag group it can very often still be worth going through a hen do planner to ensure the weekend goes off without a hitch and that you go to all the best spots.
Belfast Stag Do Nightlife
Belfast has a vibrant nightlife and is a popular choice for stag do weekends. With a wide range of activities, hotels, pubs and nightclubs it ticks a lot of the boxes. Belfast, like most cities, have a lot of bars and clubs that will not accept roady stag do groups so keep that in mind. It is worth using a specialist company to help you book a stag do if you want to save a lot of the stress and hassle involved in figuring things out.