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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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Open House Festival

Bangor

Address

Bangor Castle Walled Garden, Bangor, County Down, BT20 4NB

Telephone
+44 028 9148 2053

info@openhousefestival.com

Type

Type:

Festival

Open House Festival Bangor includes a programme of free and ticketed events during July and August. There'll be ticketed music, comedy, and film events at Bangor Castle Walled Garden and The Court House. Free events include Seaside Revival Vintage…

Dates

From:

1 July 2025to31 Aug 2025

More Info
Belfast Mela

Belfast

Address

Botanic Gardens, Belfast, County Antrim, BT7 1LP

Telephone
028 9023 1381

admin@artsekta.org.uk

Type

Type:

Festival

Experience the wonder of Belfast's diversity with a spectacular 9 day programme of world music, dance, food and art across the city.

Dates

From:

16 Aug 2025to24 Aug 2025

More Info
Féile An Phobail

Belfast

Address

141-143 Falls Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT12 6AF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9560 9984

info@feilebelfast.com

Type

Type:

Festival

Féile an Phobail is Ireland’s Biggest Community Arts Festival. Féile provides a programme of arts, cultural and community-based activities throughout the year, with its flagship festival, the August Féile being the highlight of Ireland’s festival…

Dates

From:

31 July 2025to10 Aug 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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The Botanic Inn

Belfast

Address

23-27 Malone Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT9 6RU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9050 9740

info@thebotanicinn.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Trading since 1867 The Botanic Inn, which is more affectionately known as ‘The Bot’, is a Belfast institution. One of the city's top destinations for anyone seeking great food, quality drinks, a lively night out & big screen sports.

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Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
70 reviews
Katy's Bar

Belfast

Address

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

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9032 7007

office@limelightbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Katy's Bar is at the hub of Belfast's most exciting music venue. In 2012 along with the whole complex the always welcoming Katy's Bar enjoyed a simple, subtle refurb. This was followed by The Rock Garden, a brand new roof terrace.

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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,…

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available
Orisha

Belfast

Address

19 Fountain Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 5EA

Telephone
02896209618

info@orishabelfast.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Orisha is an intimate city centre venue for cocktails, coffee and everything in between. Sister bar of Voodoo Belfast, the venues name draws inspiration from an ancient Afro-Carribbean faith.

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Dogs Accepted Inside
Facilities

Catering
- Licensed
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available
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
1539 reviews
Revolución De Cuba

Belfast

Address

25 - 39 Arthur Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 4GQ

Telephone
02895909249

bookings-belfast@revoluciondecuba.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Belfast’s authentic Cuban bar and restaurant within a breathtaking Art Nouveau building in the heart of the city. Freshly prepared Latin menus, inspired and innovative cocktails and – yep, you guessed it – plenty of rum.

Dates

From:

1 Dec 2024to23 Dec 2025Various Opening Times

From:

24 Dec 2024to26 Dec 2025Various Opening Times

From:

27 Dec 2024to1 Dec 2025Various Opening Times

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Facilities

Establishment Features
- Wifi
- Wi-fi available
The Oh Yeah Music Centre

Belfast

Address

15-21 Gordon Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 2LG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9031 0845

info@ohyeahbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Live Music

Opening doors to music, the Oh Yeah Music Centre is where local music is celebrated and supported in the heart of Belfast. They have been proudly recognised as Belfast’s dedicated music hub since 2007.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
559 reviews
Kelly's Cellars

Belfast

Address

30-32 Bank Street, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 1HL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 90246058

Type

Type:

Bar

In the heart of Belfast's city centre, this pub has maintained the friendly atmosphere of over 250 years ago. With a long tradition of quality beer and fine food, Kelly's Cellars offers all customers a chance to enjoy the perfect pint of Guinness.

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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
498 reviews
Ben Madigan's Bar & Kitchen

Belfast

Address

169 - 175 Cavehill Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT15 5BP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9692 2009

info@benmadigansbar.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Join us in Ben Madigans at the foot of Cavehill, belfast home of friendly atmosphere and award winning local food and drink, sure to make you want to stay a while at your new local.

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Dogs Accepted Inside
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
92 reviews
Pavilion Bar

Belfast

Address

The Pavilion Bar, 296 Ormeau Road, Belfast, County Down, BT7 2GB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9028 3283

info@pavilionbelfast.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Established in 1899, The Pavilion or "The Big House" draws its clientele from all over the city and beyond, and is a must for all who wish to experience a traditional Belfast pub with three floors, three bars, in one Big House with five-star food.

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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.

More Info
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
408 reviews
Bittles Bar

Belfast

Address

70 Upper Church Lane, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 4EL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9031 1088

Johnbittles@googlemail.com

Type

Type:

Bar

Bittles Bar is one of Belfast's more curious pubs located close to the bustling Victoria Square. Red-bricked and 'flat-iron' in shape Bittles is a wonderful example of a traditional Victorian Bar. Founded in 1868.

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.

More Info