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The Limelight
Belfast, County Antrim

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Belfast Music & Nightlife

Whether you’re looking for a high adrenaline gig, a cosy traditional pub, rooftop cocktails or to work the dancefloor into the wee hours, a night out in Belfast has it all in a wonderfully eclectic scene that is as fun and friendly as it is accessible.

A perfect place to start your night out in Belfast is the Cathedral Quarter, an upbeat cultural and nightlife zone around Saint Anne’s Cathedral which offers an ungodly selection of bars.

A Box full of choice

With a calendar bursting with daily alternative, fringe-style events, the Black Box reigns supreme as Belfast’s leading performance and arts venue. Visit this original landmark building and you’ll find yourself sampling the delights of a revolving schedule of live music, theatre, literature, comedy, film, visual art, circus and cabaret. For a cosier experience, opt for the venue’s Green Room, which offers a similar vibe in a more intimate setting. There’s a solid collection of craft and draught beers available and you can even enjoy a pizza before you dance it out to sounds of the resident DJs. The venue regularly plays host to tribute nights to Belfast’s own Van Morrison but whether you’re a Van fan or not, marvellous nights and Moondances await you.

History distilled in a punk paradise

Just around the corner on Hill Street, you’ll find the Harp Bar with its plush red velvet decor and antique furnishings reminiscent of Victorian Belfast. This bar is steeped in history and within the confines of its walls and cabinets you can examine rare memorabilia inspired by the building’s origins as the headquarters of The Old Bushmills Distillery Company. The Harp Bar is a proper pub bursting with “Belfast Craic” and is home to regular live musical performances from homegrown talent across two floors. Both features aim to recreate the once famous atmosphere synonymous with the original 1970’s Harp Bar, celebrated as the home of punk rock music in Northern Ireland. If you’re a punk fan, I’d dare not give it a miss.

Top notch traditional in a progressive setting

Also on Hill Street, is the quirkily titled The Dirty Onion. Situated in one of Belfast’s oldest buildings, The Dirty Onion is an authentic Irish pub with a hip, modern twist.

Live entertainment is provided seven nights a week and traditional Irish music fans will feel particularly at home in this spot as the bar's partnership with award winning cultural centre, An Droichead means sessions with top notch traditional Irish musicians are a nightly occurrence. The Onion is bursting with character as its distinctive wooden structure, beams and brick walls throughout nod to the building’s past and create a unique atmosphere. If you’re a fan of spending your nights chatting in a pub smoking area or are looking to hunt down a decent beer garden in the city, the Dirty Onion is home to one of Belfast’s biggest.

An avenue of old school charm

Home to many bigger live music events, The Empire Music Hall on Botanic Avenue oozes old school charm. Having begun life as a Victorian era church the building is visually impressive, and the spectacular Music hall is acoustically sound. With its dark woods and rich red interiors, The Empire will have you feeling like you’ve stepped back in time. The Music Hall has attracted major artists from all over the world but is also open seven nights a week providing three floors of bars and music, including blues, rock, jazz and traditional Irish acts for you to enjoy. So, no matter what you’re into, there should be something here to keep you satisfied for the evening.

Step into the Limelight

If you’re looking for some variety, it doesn’t get much better than the Limelight, over on Ormeau Avenue. From pop to rock and funk to house, The Limelight allows everyone to experience a night of lively entertainment.

This live music and night club venue complex offers four distinct experiences in one as you can find yourself wandering between Limelight 1, a commercial club venue, Limelight 2, an alternative live music/ club venue, Katy's bar, a traditional bar and The Rock Garden, a rooftop terrace. So music lovers can pick and choose to match their musical mood. The limelight is a firm favourite particularly among a younger, student crowd and is conveniently located close to a number of the city’s hotels, perfect if you don’t feel like stumbling too far on your way home after a night on the tiles.

A Nasty night out

Another place that is both youthful and packed with variety is the multi-room party paradise Filthy McNasty’s. Venture between the four bars of the Filthy Quarter including the retro chic, bric-a-brac-filled Filthy McNastys, hosting local musicians from 10pm nightly; the fairy-lit Secret Garden, a two-storey beer garden with open fires and water features, the Gypsy Lounge, with a gypsy caravan DJ booth, and a chandelier- and candelabra-adorned, cocktail bar, Filthy Chic.

If live music is less your scene and a club is more your home, fear not as there are plenty of options available to you.

17th century pub White’s Tavern transforms into a late-night club while an unassuming alleyway opposite the City Hall conceals the entrance to split-floor dance venue Thompson’s Garage. Attached to Belfast’s five-star hotel ‘The Merchant’, you can party in the five-star, oppulent underground maze that is Ollie’s

LGBTQ+ Paradise

The Smithfield and Union Quarter area, just off the Cathedral Quarter, is Belfast’s unofficial gay quarter, and its centrepiece or HQ is the soviet style Kremlin, Northern Ireland’s first ever gay-owned and managed venue. Soviet-style industrial extravagance permeates “communist chic” rooms in the Tsar Cocktail lounge, Red Square and the Long Bar. The life-size statue of Lenin above the entrance makes Kremlin hard to miss.

Just around the corner, Boombox offers a smaller alternative. This quirky gay club may be small, but its events attract huge audiences and pop culture headliners alike and is known for its dance music DJ's and incredible in-house drag performers.

An EDM Gem in the Telegraph Building

Belfast meets Berghain in the old Telegraph Building. A lesser known gem in the city, if you’re an electronic or dance music fan you will adore this shabby chic, industrial hub which has recently become home to one of the UK’s best known dance clubs Shine.

No matter what you’re looking for, a night out in Belfast will have plenty in store.

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Number of results: 46

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Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival

Belfast

Address

Unit 8, 3 Bridge Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1LU

Telephone
+44 (0)759 9798 472

info@cqaf.com

Type

Type:

Festival

The 25th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Belfast runs from 1-11 May 2025 across the city's historic quarter and beyond. Over 100 events in dozens of venues over 11 days.

Dates

From:

1 May 2025to11 May 2025

More Info
Belsonic

Belfast

Address

Ormeau Park, Ormeau Embankment, Belfast, County Antrim, BT6 8LT

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9032 7007

info@belsonic.com

Type

Type:

Concert

Belsonic returns to the idyllic setting of Ormeau Park in Belfast. The popular music festival will bring a host of international headline acts to the heart of Belfast city centre across the month of June 2025.

Dates

From:

5 June 2025to30 June 2025Various Opening Times

More Info
Belfast TradFest

Belfast

Address

Various locations across Belfast, Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 1ED

Telephone
028 9031 4981

info@belfasttradfest.com

Type

Type:

Festival

Belfast TradFest, the pinnacle of world-class traditional music concerts, fiery pub sessions and Ireland's fastest growing summer school of traditional music, is set to celebrate its 7th edition this 27 July - 3 August across Belfast UNESCO City of…

Dates

From:

27 July 2025to3 Aug 2025

More Info
Belfast Waterfront

Belfast

Address

2 Lanyon Place, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 3WH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9033 4400

conference@waterfront.co.uk

Type

Type:

Live Music

Belfast Waterfront is an award-winning, purpose-built conference, arts and entertainment centre offering a variety of facilities. The venue offers a varied events programme, ranging from classical music, opera and ballet to comedy and rock music.

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Scott's Jazz Club

Belfast

Address

Ballyhackamore Club, 1a Sandown Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT5 6GT

info@scottsjazzclub.com

Type

Type:

Jazz / Folk Club

Scott's Jazz Club is a purpose designed Jazz Club Theatre with amazing sound and lighting. Every major European City has a jazz club where the cream of the crop of local musicians perform regularly in an intimate setting. Scott's Jazz Club is that…

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Licensed
Facilities

Accessibility
- Ramp / Level Access
- Ramp to main entrance
Limelight 1 & Limelight 2

Belfast

Address

17 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, County Antrim, BT2 8HD

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9032 7007

info@limelightbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Established as one of the most famous venues for live music in the country, The Limelight Complex has recently enjoyed a multi-million pound refurbishment. The venue, now encompasses The Limelight & Limelight 2 venues, as well as Katy's Bar.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
968 reviews
McHugh’s Bar & Restaurant

Belfast

Address

29-31 Queen’s Square, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 3FG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9050 9999

info@mchughsbar.com

Type

Type:

Bar

McHughs is within a grade A listed building, built between 1710 and 1720, making it officially the oldest building in the city of Belfast, enjoying a long history and a sometimes colourful reputation.

More Info
Ulster Hall

Belfast

Address

34 Bedford Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT2 7FF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9033 4400

ulsterhall@belfastcity.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Music Hall

Built in 1862, the Ulster Hall has been entertaining the citizens of Belfast for more than 150 years. Fondly known as Belfast's 'home of music' the venue was completely restored in 2009.

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The Cloth Ear

Belfast

Address

16 Skipper Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 2DZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9023 4888

clothear@themerchanthotel.com

Type

Type:

Bar

The Cloth Ear is The Merchant Hotel's comfortable public bar. The warm and welcoming interior provides the ideal environment to relax and enjoy yourself in style. Combining both modern and traditional design features with a healthy dose of eccentric!

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
361 reviews
Lavery's Belfast

Belfast

Address

Laverys Gin Palace, Bradbury Place, Belfast, County Antrim, BT7 1RS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9087 1106

info@laverysbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Laverys Bar has long been a favoured drinks emporium for more seasoned individuals, a place to meet, eat, drink, converse and have almighty craic with the punters and staff.

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Cabaret Supper Club

Belfast

Address

38-42 Upper Arthur Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 4GH

Telephone
02890249009

marketingandpr@cabaretbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Night Life

Step into the lavish embrace of Cabaret Supper Club, where every guest is a star amid the glitz reminiscent of 1920s Hollywood. Immerse yourself in an environment brimming with live melodies, tantalising burlesque, captivating drag performances,…

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Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available
The Spaniard

Belfast

Address

The Spaniard Bar, 3 Skipper Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 2DZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9023 2448

spaniardbelfast@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Hidden within the Cathedral Quarter is this little gem of a bar. We pride ourselves in offering the most intimate atmosphere along with an outstanding selection of Rum. Join us and sip on our famous Dark n Stormy or Extraordinary! Not to be missed!

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Dogs Accepted Inside
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
587 reviews
The SSE Arena, Belfast

Belfast

Address

2a Queen's Quay, Belfast, County Antrim, BT3 9QQ

Type

Type:

Event Venue

Northern Ireland's premier entertainment venue, where world class entertainment comes alive!

More Info
Hearth Pub Ballyhackamore

Belfast

Address

199 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 3JB

Telephone
+44 (0) 2890921920

hello@hearthpub.co.uk

Type

Type:

Bar

Hearth - warmth, stories, a place to gather and share memories (a place so dear to everyone's heart, it even has heart in the name.)

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The Dirty Duck

Holywood

Address

Kinnegar Road, Holywood, County Down, BT189JN

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9059 6666

Type

Type:

Bar

The Dirty Duck situated looking over Belfast Lough, known for their delicious food and cold pints is a great spot to meet with friends and have great times while embracing the beautiful view.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
120 reviews
The Bowery

Belfast

Address

701 Lisburn Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT9 7GU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9066 4442

info@thebowerybelfast.co.uk

Type

Type:

Bar

Set in the heart of the Lisburn Road, The Bowery is South Belfast’s newest neighbourhood pub for fantastic food, classic cocktails, live sport & entertainment. You can join us all year round, whatever the weather, on our fully heated covered outside…

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
157 reviews
The Dark Horse

Belfast

Address

34 Hill Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 2LB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9023 7807

darkhorse@dukeofyorkbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Restaurant

The Dark Horse is a European style coffee house nestled along a narrow cobbled alleyway in the historic Half Bap area of the Cathedral Quarter.
Available for private hire Thursday - Saturday.

More Info
Ulster Orchestra

Belfast

Address

Seymour House, 9 Gloucester Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 4LS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9033 4455

info@ulsterorchestra.com

Type

Type:

Classical Music

Founded in 1966, the Ulster Orchestra has been at the forefront of musical life in Northern Ireland and the Orchestra’s full-time musicians form the region’s only professional symphony orchestra.

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The Northern Whig

Belfast

Address

2-10 Bridge Street, Town Parks, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1LU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9050 9888

info@thenorthernwhig.com

Type

Type:

Bar

This specialist cocktail bar is bright, stylish and chic, with the square bar on the central floor being the focal point.

More Info
The Maypole Bar

Holywood

Address

High Street, Holywood, County Down, BT18 9AB

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9042 2588

Type

Type:

Bar

The Maypole Bar builds on its roots and keeps a tradition perfectly pairing alongside the rustic, classy and traditional interior. The Maypole Bar is a feel-good bar and you know fine rightly upon entrance you will be given a big greeting and made…

More Info