Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Northern Ireland

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Northern Ireland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Berts Jazz Bar

4.7

4.7 (1029)

£26 to £40

Bistro

Belfast

About the restaurant

Berts Jazz Bar encapsulates the sleek elegance of the art deco era, complimented by the very best in live jazz, fabulous cocktails and mouth-watering food.

Transport yourself back to the Art Deco glamour of 1930’s New York and the Jazz Age in Belfast’s only dedicated Jazz bar and restaurant: Berts Bar at The Merchant Hotel. Soak up the sophisticated atmosphere and let the cool jazz melodies wash over you. A handpicked list of cocktails completes the extensive drinks selection. A French bistro style menu is complemented by an extensive wine list and, of course, exemplary service. Berts offers live jazz seven nights a week.

All table reservations are for dining purposes only, unfortunately we do not take drinks only bookings.

Please Note Live Jazz Performances for Friday & Saturday evenings are from 9pm-12pm

Top review

Karolina

Dined 2 days ago

Amazing place, tasty food, we spent a good time there

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Experience

Jazzy Christmas Lunch 🎅

Experience

2025 EARLY JAZZ MENU 🎷

James St.

4.6

4.6 (359)

£26 to £40

Steakhouse

Belfast

About the restaurant

James St is a casual and contemporary, brick-walled restaurant specialising in chargrilled and aged steaks. The charcoal grill plays centre stage, cooking not just some of the best steaks and prime cuts Northern Ireland has to offer but also fresh whole fish, pork and vegetables.

With a larger, more established bar area, a large range of wines are available alongside a considered spirit list and an extensive whisky offering. Locally produced beer, cider and gins take pride of place on the drinks menu.

Owned by Niall McKenna since 2003 the revamped James St. will offer locals and tourists a great dining experience in a Belfast city centre.

The restaurant team is headed up by Ryan Stringer as Executive Head Chef & Paul Vaughan as Operations Manager

Bookings may be seated on stools at the bar.

Top review

Brian

Dined on Dec 4, 2024

This was the first time we had visited James st and the experience was fantastic. Food was amazing and service was second to none thanks for the great experience.

Tetto

4.6

4.6 (323)

£26 to £40

Italian

Belfast

About the restaurant

Tetto is a bright, modern, design-led rooftop restaurant, bar and garden located on the top floor of Bullitt Hotel. Showcasing fresh local seafood with an Italian accent alongside Neapolitan style pizza and imaginative aperitivo inspired cocktails. Enjoy carefully curated playlists and residents DJs every Friday and Saturday night.

Tetto is located on the fourth floor of Bullitt hotel and can be accessed through the main hotel lobby or via Ann Street.

Top review

Sean

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Amazing flatbreads, pizza and cocktails, overall vibe of the restaurant was really nice too. Can’t wait to go back

Taylor & Clay

4.6

4.6 (903)

£26 to £40

Steakhouse

Belfast

About the restaurant

Bullitt hotel's award-winning restaurant Taylor & Clay Grill, boasts an open kitchen built around an incredible bespoke Asador wood-fired grill. Head chef Saul O’Reilly’s talented team cook the best local meat, fresh seafood and vegetables over roaring flames using charcoal and ash wood sourced from sustainable local forests.

Why not enjoy after-dinner drinks in the lobby or move upstairs for cocktails and city views in Babel, the hotel's incredible rooftop bar and garden.

Top review

Conor

Dined 3 days ago

We celebrated my graduation dinner here with family and could not have been happier. Food was first class, service was quick and the staff could not have been more helpful. I will definitely be back.

Yardbird Belfast

4.6

4.6 (642)

£25 and under

Rotisserie Chicken

Belfast

About the restaurant

Yardbird is our rotisserie chicken restaurant upstairs above The Dirty Onion. Our menu is small but our flavours are big. Ok, we do chicken, but our chicken is famous!

Our local free-to-roam chicken is marinated for 24 hours in lemon, buttermilk, and paprika. It is then dry-rubbed, cooked and blast-chilled to keep it juicy and finally roasted on the spit. Ribs and wings are also available, as are a choice of sides and homemade desserts. Hungry yet?

We prepare all our food in-house and service is fast!

This is a booking for Yardbird the restaurant, The Dirty Onion bar operates on a first come first serve basis.

Top review

Jane

Dined 3 days ago

First time in Yardbird and really enjoyed Graby loaded fries. Staff were friendly and attentive. We’ll be back!

FireStone Teppanyaki

4.6

4.6 (242)

£26 to £40

Japanese

Belfast

About the restaurant

Everything about FireStone defies the ordinary, from our displays of roaring fire teppanyaki performance exhibited by our master chefs to mouth watering freshly prepared sushi using the finest local produce and ingredients and so much more. We are open for Lunch and dinner throughout the week with a special lunch menu available.

FireStone offers a delicious menu in a unique atmosphere for guests. Sit back and relax with a cocktail or two and enjoy the service.

Teppanyaki is a shared experience & our tables are made to share with other diners! At the end of the night you may have found some new friends! Our Teppanyaki experience is 90mins per booking & would appreciate customers being on time for their booked slot. All food at the Teppanyaki table is cooked one by one & may not be served at the same time for each member of your party. For all Teppanyaki bookings, please call the restaurant directly to confirm availability as spaces are limited.

Top review

Joanne

Dined on Dec 10, 2024

Amazing team night out great experience and food was delicious

Henry's

4.4

4.4 (759)

£25 and under

Irish

Belfast

About the restaurant

A licensed premises for over 100 years and steeped in Belfast history, Henry’s is the regeneration of a old favourite. Named after Henry Joy McCracken, Henry’s has been created to keep alive an old spot from the past, amongst the ever expanding and wonderful new. Join us for tipple, tales and some grub from the entries.

For any bookings after 7.30pm, please contact us via email at hello@henrysbelfast.com and our team will be happy to help!

Top review

ANGIE

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Great service and good food. Staff very friendly and efficient

The Cloth Ear

4.4

4.4 (982)

£26 to £40

Irish

Belfast

About the restaurant

The Cloth Ear provides patrons with a pleasing twist on the quintessential Irish Pub. We are nestled in the oldest quarter of Belfast and we’ve woven a rich seam of our wonderful Victorian heritage into what is ultimately a thoroughly modern experience. At The Cloth Ear the welcome is warm and the atmosphere convivial. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the gentle art of conversation.
Our drinks list combines classic creations and innovative ideas. From punch bowls to hoptails and wine by the keg, we’ve carefully crafted an eclectic array of drinks to quench your thirst, tickle your tastebuds and get the conversation flowing.

We are story tellers and we look forward to hearing your story too.
No shaggy dogs, no braggarts, no windbags. Just tall tales,

All Tables reservations are for dining unfortunately we do not take drinks only bookings.

Top review

Paul

Dined 7 days ago

Just a fantastic experience. Beautiful food. So tasty and the festive toastie was delish. Highly recommend

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Popular dish

Fish and Chips

The Hillside

4.2

4.2 (808)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Hillsborough

About the restaurant

The Hillside is a charming, rustic pub situated in the historic Georgian village of Hillsborough, County Down, only 15 minutes drive from Belfast city centre. The Hillside first opened its doors to patrons in 1752 and has been enjoying a busy trade ever since thanks to our excellent food and drinks selection and our friendly, welcoming service. We are renowned for our roaring open fires in the winter and our pretty cobble stoned beer garden in the summer.

Top review

Stephen

Dined 4 days ago

Great Christmas dinner.

House Belfast

4.1

4.1 (273)

£25 and under

European

Belfast

About the restaurant

Residing in the heart of the Queens Quarter, House Belfast hotel and bar is designed with elegance, comfort and you in mind.

The venue strives to combine business and pleasure when you stay in one of 31 beautifully designed boutique bedrooms. All are welcome to enjoy three elegant bars and dining spaces set over three floors, complete with a life-size cherry tree sprouting from the main bar.

Whatever the occasion, House Belfast provides everything you could need to stay and socialise in style.

Top review

Niamh

Dined on Nov 30, 2024

The staff were amazing, so attentive and friendly.a lovely experience

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Explore Diners' Choice best of Northern Ireland