Discreet Dining in Belfast
Belfast has a lively reputation for eating out, and the quiet tables are usually found by choosing the right street and the right time. This guide sets out the areas and a few habits that help.
Cathedral Quarter dining
The Cathedral Quarter packs bars and restaurants into narrow streets north of the centre. It is atmospheric and easy to reach on foot, and it is a natural place to begin a long evening. For a quiet dinner, choose an early booking, because the district fills and gets louder as the night goes on.
The Cathedral Quarter packs bars and restaurants into narrow streets north of the centre.
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Botanic Avenue and the university streets
Botanic Avenue and the streets around it have a relaxed, student influenced feel, with many small places to eat in a short distance. The room sizes are modest, so the atmosphere is informal, and the area suits people who prefer a casual meal to a dressy one.
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Somewhere to book a room or a table for the evening, in Belfast itself.
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The Lisburn Road
The Lisburn Road runs south west from the centre and has a long line of restaurants and cafes serving the surrounding neighbourhoods. It feels more settled than the middle of town, and many of the rooms are small, which helps conversation. A taxi is the easiest way to reach it.
The Lisburn Road runs south west from the centre and has a long line of restaurants and cafes serving the surrounding neighbourhoods.
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Ormeau Road
Ormeau Road, south of the centre, is another neighbourhood stretch with a scatter of restaurants. It is less of a destination than the Cathedral Quarter, which is exactly why some people prefer it: tables are easier to come by and the mood is calmer.
Ormeau Road, south of the centre, is another neighbourhood stretch with a scatter of restaurants.
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Making the booking count
Call ahead and ask to be seated well away from the entrance and the bar. If the place has a quieter room upstairs or at the back, say that you would like it. Confirm the booking on the day for weekend evenings, and tell the restaurant honestly if your plans run late.
Call ahead and ask to be seated well away from the entrance and the bar.
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Age line
TheDirectory is for readers of 18 or above, and this guide is written with them in mind.
TheDirectory is for readers of 18 or above, and this guide is written with them in mind.
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Frequently asked questions
At weekends, almost always. Midweek evenings are easier, but a short phone call secures the table you prefer.
Within the centre you can walk, but from the Lisburn Road or Ormeau Road a licensed taxi booked through the restaurant is simpler. Make sure the driver displays a badge before you set off.
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