The best restaurants Northern Ireland

Vegetable Tarte Tatin, fromage blanc and honey mousse; salmon filet with spinach, malt and orange sauce, shrimps and tomatoes; steak flambéed with whiskey, corn and black pepper cream... The restaurant's menu is very original and all dishes are absolutely delicious. You can eat in furnished booths, wooden benches and flowery fabrics, discreet gas lighting, friendly and very helpful staff. It is rural and chic at the same time. The products are local and the salmon is caught in the Bush river in front of the hotel.

Impossible to pass by without Dungannon casting a look (you can always a drink, but the bar is separated from the impressive dining room) in Viscounts. In a church, the restaurant focuses on the medieval atmosphere with armour of knights, swords, spears tournaments and banners, the all of stained-glass windows and a second room mezzanine under the high ceiling. The planted decor makes its small effect and the place is often crowded on weekends. The menu offers a modern and international cuisine that is only provided in local produce.

An excellent address, a former xixe Relais Inn, which offers the most attractive interior, all in plain wood and in a corner. The rooms (pub, bistro and restaurant) are mostly full, because people sometimes move away from Balloo, renowned throughout Ireland and crowned with many prizes. The kitchen is original and fine, based on fresh and local produce (shells St-Jacques sauce, Strangford Lough eel, Strangford Lough eel) and reasonable prices for the special quality of the dishes.

Percy (named local composer William Percy French) at the entrance to the imposing Slieve Donard Hotel, on the edge of Newcastle beach. The building offers a huge and no less warm space inside with its bar (and a wooden terrace) and the dining room. Chef Alan Murdock with a gourmet cuisine.

The Established Coffee is one of the first trendy coffee shops to open in Belfast, renewing the local offer. The minimalist and industrial decoration reminds us of the Nordic countries. When you order, several beans are available, and you can choose the dosage... The coffees from Costa Rica, Ethiopia or El Salvador make you travel. And if you are lost, you can count on the friendly waiters to advise you. To accompany your cup: toast, homemade granola, delicious pastries and some more substantial seasonal dishes.

Brickwork is a bar (where they serve good cocktails) and a restaurant. This restaurant is not necessarily a must in Derry but it is a good place to eat street food and local dishes with an Asian influence. Some suggestions to remember: the terikyaki chicken, the beer battered cod or the vegetarian curry. The choice of side dishes is very large, as often in Northern Ireland. Prices at lunchtime are very reasonable, it is a little more expensive in the evening when you can listen to live music.

If you are staying in Portrush for a few days and are tired of having dinner every night in the Ramore chain, Saffron is a nice alternative. This Indian restaurant may not look like much, but it offers real Indian food, with an impressive choice of dishes and very reasonable prices. Naan, dal, masala, curry, biryani, no speciality is missing. The owner is charming and smiling. The locals are not mistaken and are numerous in the evening in this small colored room.

After a few years of food-trucking a few meters from the famous Chaussée des Géants, Emma and Jo opened their snack-boutique in 2022. But the formula hasn't changed! They offer several original and surprising grilled cheese recipes (cheese, salami and apple jelly, for example). The sandwiches are prepared live. They are made with love from local produce and quality bread. For those with a sweet tooth, take the soft cookie sandwich with ice cream for dessert. A must!

Long after our return from Belfast, Root & Branch and its espresso are still on our minds. At Root & Branch, espresso has no bitterness and is enjoyed like wine. The expert waiters point out the flavors to be deciphered: flowers, chocolate, plum... And even if you don't believe it at first, you have to admit that they are there, and that you really enjoy tasting this smooth, subtle espresso, sip by sip. It's almost as floral as a tea. Root & Branch favors small farmers.

This restaurant serves the best fish & chips in Northern Ireland. In fact, it has won numerous awards, objectively confirming our glowing opinion. All the fish used is sustainably sourced, another positive factor, and on the table you'll even find the Good Fish Guide, to help you eat better. The fish & chips come in different sizes, and you can choose whether you prefer cod or haddock. Other tempting dishes on the menu include shrimp tacos, oysters, grilled salmon..

Nero is a chain of cafes spread across Britain. The one on College Street is impossible to miss. With a full length picture window and a plethora of large leather armchairs, it invites you to come and sit back and enjoy a Fair Trade coffee with a snack or a tasty cake. A terrace outside allows you to enjoy the pedestrian street where passers-by stroll quietly. It is often full at lunchtime, but there is a second room upstairs.

Quaywest is both a wine bar and a fine dining restaurant, located in a former 19th century boathouse. The emphasis here is on variety, with a menu divided between meat, fish, pasta/salad, vegetarian and vegan dishes. And, before or after the meal, the establishment offers a very nice and rich cocktail menu. An address to recommend, especially since the staff's welcome is always smiling and warm.

Since 1985, this restaurant, in an elegant but not pompous setting, has always been at the forefront of modern and inventive cuisine in the city of Derry. The restaurant is very popular with the locals and prides itself on the quality of its products, mainly local. The menu changes according to the seasons and the availability of food. The critics are unanimous and the menu suggests duck confit, fish & chips, burgers, mussels, risottos or steaks. An excellent address that the table of the chef Ian Orr.

This is Rathlin's pub, which is the social lung and the main place of exit. You can enjoy a beer as well as a traditional dish. There is music frequently.

In the splendid and rustic decor of the Benedicts Hotel, the restaurant offers a menu with an excellent quality/price ratio, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Breakfast is particularly interesting with a menu that doubles as a buffet. The buffet is always very fresh and of very good quality. In the evening, the menu features chicken specialties and steaks of very good quality. An address not to be missed in this district of Belfast, where you are always welcomed with a smile.

Molly's Yard is one of the best addresses in the Queen's Quarter. In fact, perhaps even in the whole of Belfast. Housed in refurbished Victorian stables, this two-storey establishment places great emphasis on the quality and freshness of the ingredients used. The chef uses almost exclusively local produce. Beer lovers won't be outdone either, with several beverages from the Hilden Brewing Company (Lisburn) available behind the counter. Go for it!

In the heart of Enniskillen, this hybrid establishment offers a traditional pub part and a more quiet restaurant and wine bar part. On the excellent side of the pub, one is immediately seduced by the traditional and attractive decoration, made of posters and bric-a-brac, in the middle of a mainly wooden furniture. Burgers are one of the specialties of the house, but there are also fish and meat dishes. In the award-winning restaurant, you can enjoy a more modern atmosphere and more elaborate dishes.

This food truck on the banks of the Foyle is a perfect address for a quick but tasty break. It is the favorite spot of the locals for lunch. The food is simple but excellent, thanks to good burgers, tacos, fish & chips and others. Quality street food. You can take away, or sit on the tables which are outside, around an old bus which also acts as a room in case of rain. The location is pleasant, by the river. A real restaurant has opened just behind on the Strand Road.

This restaurant occupies the former premises of a Belfast newspaper. The Soviet revolution seems to be the basis of the decoration, with three colossal statues imported from Prague and representing men at work or marching for their freedom. The atmosphere is rather surreal and the place is always full of curious people or regulars. One passes there to have lunch or a drink, assured of the choice and the quality of the food at reasonable price. The menu is Irish inspired, but also offers international flavours, especially Asian.

The interior of this restaurant was the object of all the attention and the effect is striking and unclassifiable. The atmosphere is somewhere between a nightclub setting with its beams of colour structuring the space and a Zen temple with its Buddhas, its (fake) green plants, its screens and its old massive wooden door at the entrance. As for the cuisine, the honour is given to Japanese specialities and fans love it, for the funky side. The food is neat and as spectacular as this zen and greedy establishment.

Burgers, lasagne, fish & chips, pies... the dishes here are traditional, hearty and always well presented. You can enjoy them in a long, dark and uncluttered room, brightened up by the sophistication of the details with its fireplace, its bar and its soft patinas. The concept of Cloth Ear is to "reintroduce the art of conversation" once you feel the special atmosphere of the place. The terrace allows you to appreciate the beauty of the Merchant Hotel's gothic-style building.

Decoration worthy of the most beautiful interiors. The alternation between the stone and gray painted walls is successful, as well as the large windows and the tapestries in 19th century velvet impression. The golden mirrors answer the immaculate beams and the blond floor. The cuisine is inventive, based on fish, seafood, vegetables and local meats. Thai monkfish curry, peas and sweet potatoes with lemon and coriander sauce; Grisons meat with cabbage and saffron purée..

The Cellar is a charming restaurant, a little hidden in the basement, with its fireplace, its wooden benches and its exposed stone walls. A warm setting for a quality menu. The food is simple but efficient, with burgers, wraps, lasagna and other small dishes at lunchtime, as well as a more extensive menu in the evening, including meats and fish. Local products, notably supplied by the local fishermen, and beautiful bottles await the curious gastronomes. The quality-price ratio is excellent.

In Portrush, this is a popular meeting place for locals and visitors alike. 55° North has a bay window façade and overlooks the East Strand beach, with its usually rough seas. You can watch the waves and surfers frolicking in the water while you eat. The outside has a large terrace, which is a really nice spot in good weather. On the plate, simple food and well prepared dishes, from burgers to Thai chicken, shrimp tempura or a rare rump steak.

The Kaffe O is a famous spot among the small cafes established in Belfast. It has several addresses in strategic locations in the city. To enter this café is to travel to Scandinavian countries, to find Nordic flavours and to be immediately transported to the land of hygge. The decoration is pure, mixing white and wood. On the plate, you can taste the small pleasures of the North, salmon, black rye bread, red cabbage. The pretty ceramic cups and plates in shades of blue finish seducing us.

Bright's is a good central address for enjoying Irish specialties without breaking the bank. The front may not look like much, but it's worth stepping inside to discover a large, long room and a menu featuring all the region's essential dishes. For breakfast, try the award-winning Fry, and for lunch, the burgers and sandwiches are excellent. Generous portions, fast service. Bright's serves a variety of comforting dishes that will warm your heart and stomach on a rainy day.

Sweet Afton is the typical English pub, revisited and modernized, with a high-quality menu worthy of a real restaurant. The atmosphere and decor are reminiscent of traditional pubs, but with a slightly trendier touch: muted lighting, big soft leather armchairs, small intimate spaces, stylish bar... Located in the heart of the historic center, you'll discover a wide cocktail menu, which has made its reputation in Belfast. For the stomach, a short but effective list of great classics. The dishes are highly refined.

Tired of fish & chips, burgers, garlic fries, and other Northern Irish pub fare, especially known for their high fat content? Go to Hadskis for a culinary experience you won't forget! One of our favourites in Belfast and indeed in the whole of Northern Ireland... Hadskis is a fine, refined cuisine, based on fresh and local products, a careful presentation, for a meal worthy of the greatest restaurants. A good address to discover modern Irish cuisine.

Right in front of the Queen's University building, The Pocket is the kind of cozy little café that bloggers and students love. A trendy café, where you can enjoy avocado toast and poached eggs. But despite this trendy side, it's a very good address for a brunch or a coffee break. As its name suggests, the room, housed in a small brick house with a yellow door, fits in a handkerchief and you have to play elbows to find a place. A small plus for the staff, adorable and coffee experts.

One comes first to Babushka for the idyllic view. This small café is indeed located at the end of the pier, facing the beach and the waves. Then, you can enjoy with pleasure outside on deckchairs, or in their pretty bright interior with pink walls, tasty avocado and poached egg toasts, vegetarian cakes, a good flat white or tangy home-made lemonade. The staff is young, pleasant and smiling. Babushka is a nice little address where you can relax in the sun with a fresh and light snack. We like it a lot.

This chain opened in 2013 in Portstewart and has since conquered other Northern Irish towns including Belfast. Here, you can sit back and sip a hot or cold drink in comfortable surroundings, with the range of drinks changing with the seasons. The same goes for the food, where you can enjoy sandwiches, wraps, pancakes, hot dogs, soups, toast, a traditional Irish breakfast and pastries. Whatever you choose, you'll always find something gourmet on offer. Dripping, crunchy, refreshing and comforting: we're bound to melt!

Inside this charming café-restaurant, you'll find a creative corner (photos, ceramics) next to a pretty fireplace and charming flower-filled tables. You'd think you were in an English doll's house. You'll eat the best scones, which have won several awards. But the place is also renowned for its well-stocked crêpes, which you can enjoy savory or sweet, with meat or vegetarian versions. The hot drinks are also worth a detour!

More than a restaurant, it's an experience that awaits you here. For around two hours, a series of 6 dishes with a theme that changes every six weeks (theme, destination, concept) is served up in a perfectly rhythmic ballet. You can choose from a classic or vegetarian tasting menu, or one that includes a wine and food pairing. The plates are beautifully presented, and the explosions of flavor linger in your mouth for a long time. With every dish served, explanations are provided, making the experience complete and truly atypical.

Renowned for its coffee, which it features every month, this address also offers delicious homemade English cakes (shortbreads, cookies, scones...), a different soup every day, fresh sandwiches, a traditional beef stew and a wide choice of hot and cold drinks. From breakfast to afternoon tea, you'll be able to enjoy your meal at low cost, seated in comfortable sofas or vintage chairs. The team is very pleasant and the shop even makes its own compost. When the weather's nice, you can enjoy a terrace area.

In a casual chic bistro atmosphere, Bullitt Hotel's award-winning restaurant, Taylor & Clay Grill, features incredible local meat cooked on a bespoke Asador wood-fired grill, but also fresh seafood prepared with great refinement. Chef Saul O'Reilly's talented team cooks the finest Iberian Pork Pluma, presented with a Romesco sauce, and an excellent salmon fillet, served with couscous and lemon tagine. The establishment also offers a fine selection of wines.

Located between the Grand Opera House and City Hall, Flame is a unique venue combining a delicious, theatrical dining experience with a stunning interior décor, filled with chandeliers and elegant antiques. Serving some of Ireland's finest meats, this delicious restaurant also has a strong sense of effective drama with its fully visible kitchen where chefs deliver every dish from the "Asador Grill", the name given to the amazing wood-fired grill. Nevertheless, this institution also offers excellent vegetarian options.

Just a stone's throw from Queen's University, Holohan's is a family-run restaurant housed in an old listed building. Owner Sabina offers an authentic culinary experience based on fresh local produce and genuine Irish hospitality, with seasonal menus and updated classics. With its roots in North-West country cooking, try Cráibechán, a delicious savory porridge made with pearl barley, and of course the signature dish, Boxty, a traditional Irish potato pancake.

Just steps from Queen's University and the Botanical Gardens, this family-run Italian restaurant features a Tuscan-inspired design highlighting an ochre palate. It's home to hearty Mediterranean cuisine, with a menu featuring traditional southern Italian dishes. From arancini with chorizo and fried rice to delicious pennete con polpette served with homemade rosemary meatballs, and a tasty orange and chocolate cheesecake to end the meal on a sweet note. Delizioso!

Nestled above the famous open bar The Dirty Onion, Yardbird has become a benchmark for gourmets over the years. This cozy, lively rotisserie bistro offers local chicken, marinated in lemon and sprinkled with paprika, then roasted to perfection. Ribs and wings are also available, along with a choice of side dishes and homemade desserts. All at unbeatable value for money. On Saturday evenings, the place transforms into a lively concert hall, featuring some of the best-known local bands.

Whether you're meeting up with friends or sharing a hearty brunch with the family, Panama Café is a stylish and entertaining meeting place. With its city garden in the heart of Belfast's business district, the venue has become increasingly popular with locals and visitors to the capital. The establishment serves fresh and quick brunch and breakfast options, from marinated Halloumi served with pomegranate salad to avocado and egg toast, to homemade and seasonal juices to suit all budgets.

Named after the favorite musician of one of the two chefs in the kitchen, Hendrix is an excellent address in town. Here, the atmosphere is trendy but not too trendy, and the menu is audacious and very gourmet from starter to dessert. Opened in June 2023, the restaurant is always busy, whether in the dining room or on the (heated!) terrace. And it's easy to see why, once you've entered the cosy, green dining room. Don't miss the carnivorous specialties and homemade fries with garlic butter, parmesan, crème fraîche and salt crust. To die for!

Take a cozy place that loves dogs, coffee and puns, and you'll get Nine Hostages Coffee Co. Here you can enjoy the best coffee in town, on the premises or to take away, accompanied by a cruffin (a muffin that meets a croissant) or delicious cakes of the moment. The team is young and dynamic, and the menu is really tempting. The portions are generous, the vegan choice complete, and the flavors in the mouth are very present, like these Elvis Pancakes with caramelized bananas or The Cheesus Christ Toastie, a grilled cheese with 3 cheeses!

At the foot of the War Memorial, it's hard to miss this former bank converted into a restaurant, which hasn't been empty since it opened in 2021. In an industrial atmosphere, with a woody, plant-based decor, you'll enjoy Irish meat, vegan dishes, local bread, fresh morning scones, craft beers and other seasonal products prepared by the chef and his team. A chef famous in town for his hospitality, and who won't hesitate to show you his office, tucked away in the old bank vault.

This is the Derry restaurant to watch. This gourmet restaurant, little brother of Browns Bonds Hill, offers a real culinary experience from starter to dessert. The interior may not look like much, but it's all the better for surprising you on the plate. On the menu, a cleverly crafted blend of Irish and European influences. You feel every ingredient and leave wondering how the chef came up with the idea of combining them. Don't miss the Irish fish soup as a starter, and one of the juicy meats as a main course.