Talk to chefs, producers, shop-owners and anyone who likes eating out in Belfast and there’s one thing they all have in common: they’re excited. It’s clear something is happening across the food scene in the city – new restaurants are popping up everywhere, chefs are pushing boundaries and offering more adventurous flavours and artisanal shops and delis are the busiest they’ve ever been.

We were there for just a few short days, bringing chefs Robin Gill and Richard Bainbridge along for the ride. It became clear that we needed a lot longer to truly appreciate everything this buzzing city has to offer, but what we did see cemented Belfast as a must-visit destination for anyone who loves fine dining, great food and beautiful restaurants. Here are our highlights.

It is, of course, the chefs who are driving the excitement around Belfast’s food scene. Many of them have worked all over the world, gaining skills and experience at the highest levels, before deciding on Belfast as the place to set up on their own. This new generation of chefs are really taking things to the next level – and one of the stars of the scene is Lottie Noren.

Lottie is originally from the Lake District, but has called Belfast home for over a decade. After making a name for herself as the head chef of tapas restaurant Edo (also in Belfast) and appearing on Great British Menu in 2024, she opened Beau in 2025. It was an instant hit, with the menu of European-inspired small plates showcasing both her talent in the kitchen and the quality of the local Northern Irish ingredients she uses.

Beau is an understated, laidback restaurant which exudes confidence – dishes are served simply without the need for flowery garnishes or unnecessary props. It’s a prime example of why the city is known for its dining scene; a meal here is the perfect way to experience what Belfast has to offer.

beau.restaurant. Open Tue-Sat 12-11pm.

Regency House is the exciting new kid on the Belfast block. A beautiful boutique hotel in Belfast’s Queen’s Quarter, it’s been taken over by hospitality power couple Chris McClurg and Alice Stewart – and is making serious waves.

Chris was head chef at Paul Ainsworth’s Michelin-starred Cornwall restaurant for years before he decided to return to his native Northern Ireland. It is a beautiful space, with a real elegance and refined feel – without any hint of stuffiness. The jewel in the crown is, of course, the restaurant, which sees Chris taking his years of Michelin-starred experience and channelling it into something more accessible and relaxed. Mains are designed to be shared and the menu means you can enjoy something quick and light or go all-out on a celebratory dinner. It’s also becoming very well-known for its brunch.

The standout dish from the get-go is Chris’ potato cake. Inspired by a Victoria sponge, it’s two hash browns sandwiched around a bed of caramelised onions, which is then topped with piped crème fraiche. It’s a side dish that steals the show – and a must-order.

regencyhouse.co.uk.

One of the feathers in Belfast’s culinary cap is its multicultural dining scene – you can enjoy fantastic flavours from all over the world in the city. Yugo is one of the best examples of this, with a pan-Asian menu that encompasses everything from sushi and Thai to Korean and Chinese.

What ties all those cuisines together at Yugo is the incredible talent in the kitchen, the brooding, club-like atmosphere of the dining room and the quality of the ingredients used. Plates come thick and fast, with every bite absolutely packed with flavour. By breaking down the barriers of tradition and having fun with the flavours found across Asia, the team at Yugo offer something distinctly ‘Belfast’ and enjoy a fully booked restaurant most evenings.

yugobelfast.com. Open Tues-Sat.

When we asked chefs in Belfast and beyond where we should be going in the city, one place came up time and time again. At first look, Flout! is a pizza shop which specialises in by-the-slice pizzas with the trendy branding you’d expect. In fact, it’s actually the perfect representation of everything exciting happening in Belfast right now.

Owner Peter Thompson is regularly credited with making the best pizza on the island of Ireland. That’s thanks to his approach; rather than trying to mimic the Neapolitan pizza of Italy or the ever-popular NY-style pies, he takes inspiration for his dough from all over and tops it with great Irish ingredients. This is perfectly encapsulated in his Tayto Pie: a deep, square, focaccia-like base made with organic flour, it’s then topped with a sauce made with cheddar from Cork, local mozzarella, a bright green chive oil and crushed Tayto cheese and onion crisps. It is a marvel to behold and eat.

The menu at Flout! changes every day and new pizzas – both in style and flavour – can disappear as quickly as they arrive. Get there early to avoid queues and try as many different slices as your stomach allows.

flout.pizza. Open Wed-Sat 11-3pm (8pm on Fridays).

The most recognisable part of Belfast is Commercial Court, a cobbled street right in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter decorated with colourful umbrellas. This is the epicentre of the city’s pub scene – and Belfast is home to some of the best pubs in the world.

The Duke of York – on that very same street – is a must-visit, even if you’re only stopping in for a half pint. There’s barely a patch of wall that isn’t taken up by a vintage beer sign and there’s often live trad music being played in the always-bustling front rooms. From there you have a wealth of options – there’s the Harp Bar or The Dark Horse round the corner, or The Dirty Onion for something a little more modern. Just a short walk away, Kelly’s Cellars is known for a particularly good pint of Guinness, as is The Sunflower – a pub with heaps of history that’s now a beloved hipster hangout.

The pubs in Belfast really are one of the highlights of the city – they have a charm and character that gives you a real sense of the local history. Start with The Duke of York then venture out and see where the night (or day) takes you.

visitbelfast.com/explore/city-areas/cathedral-quarter.

Just around the corner from The Duke of York (and owned by the same people) is an unassuming shopfront. Go through the door of The Friend at Hand, however, and you’ll be transported into an Aladdin’s Cave of whiskey. This is where you’ll find the largest collection of Irish whiskey in the world, all beautifully displayed across a maze of mirrored rooms bathed in golden light.

Whether you’re after a drinkable memento of your time in the city or are looking to invest in a seriously special bottle, the shop will have something for even the most discerning of whiskey connoisseurs. Just make sure you put some time aside to wander through the rooms beyond, where bottles of whiskey worth hundreds of thousands of pounds are proudly displayed amongst historic and rare memorabilia – all of it a homage to the most culturally important drink in Ireland’s history.

dukeofyorkbelfast.com/venues/the-friend-at-hand. Open Mon-Sat 11-6pm. Contact in advance to check availability for tours and tastings.

While the Cathedral Quarter may be where you find the buzzing nightlife and a brilliant new restaurant every few steps, the Titanic Quarter – about a half-hour walk or 10-minute drive from the centre – is a must-visit for a very different reason. The Titanic was designed and built in Belfast, and today the dockyards have been transformed into a modern homage to the world’s most famous ship.

At the heart of it lies Titanic Belfast, a huge gleaming building that contains a museum, galleries and interactive experiences that really immerse you in every aspect of Titanic lore. Next to it is the Titanic Hotel, built inside the beautifully restored headquarters of Harland and Wolff (the ship’s designers). Even if you’re not staying there, heading inside to Drawing Office Two for a coffee or a cocktail (depending on the time of day!) is a must – the beautiful room the bar sits in is the very same where the ship’s blueprints were drawn up.

Even if you’re not massively invested into the history of The Titanic, the Quarter’s Maritime Mile trail is a wonderful way to spend an hour, taking in the city’s historic docks with plenty of public art dotted along the path.

titanicquarter.com.

On an unassuming street just a short walk north from the bustling Cathedral Quarter sits one of the coolest shops we’ve ever been in. It’s a clear extension of owner Michael Thomson’s personality, and the beautifully illustrated signage and posters inside the small shop is as impressive as the cheese itself.

Mike’s Fancy Cheese focuses on cheese produced on the island of Ireland, and is even responsible for creating its own cheese, Young Buck – which is the only raw milk blue cheese to be made in Northern Ireland. There are tasting opportunities abound, and the way the cheeses are displayed mean you’ll want to try everything you can before settling on a select few wedges. There’s plenty of cheese-adjacent shopping to be done, too – charcuterie, chutneys, butter and pickles mean you can curate your ultimate Irish cheeseboard all under one roof. The staff are great, and you can’t leave without picking up a pack of Mike’s Fancy Cheese stickers to adorn your laptop or fridge – they’re the stuff of legend amongst the wider food community.

mfcheese.com. Open Mon-Sat 10-5pm.

Anyone who loves food loves a good deli – and Sawers is one of the best delis in the world. It’s been open since 1897 and has been the place to go in Belfast for fine food from the island of Ireland and beyond for as long as anyone can remember.

It’s a huge shop with shelves piled high, covering everything from artisanal Italian pasta to Mexican hot sauces. There’s a cheese counter featuring the best Irish and continental cheeses; a deli counter serving gargantuan homemade sandwiches; top-end teas and coffees and unique delicious offerings from small local producers. You could spend hours in there taking in everything that’s on offer – the staff are also particularly welcoming and always up for recommending an edible souvenir or two.

sawersbelfast.com. Open Mon-Sat 9-5pm.

Niall McKenna is a real figurehead of Belfast’s dining scene, being at the helm of his own restaurants in the city for over 20 years. Today, he owns Waterman House, a beautiful building in the city centre which is home to events spaces, a bustling bistro and the city’s best cookery school.

The classes on offer cover every aspect of cooking, from speedy 90-minute workshops and three-hour lessons on world cuisines to in-depth, all-day courses which show you how to plate like a pro, master breadmaking or learn how to pair wine with your food. Attending a class means you’re being taught by some of Belfast’s brightest culinary talent, but don’t think it’s all intense restaurant-style learning – the focus here is on having fun, learning things along the way and enjoying your creations at the end with a glass of wine in hand. And if you’re not in the mood to rattle the pans yourself, the Waterman Bistro is next door and always reliable for a knockout meal.

waterman.house.

It’s simple, really – if you want to experience a city that’s right at its peak when it comes to eating out, book a trip to Belfast. We were genuinely blown away by the passion of its chefs, the diversity of its restaurants and the flavours of its dishes. Whether it’s a mini-break over a weekend or a longer stay, one thing’s for sure: you won’t be going hungry. In the meantime, check out the dishes Robin and Richard cooked up after being inspired by their time in the city.