Ten years ago Belfast was an Ulster-fry-and-chips town. The food scene now is one of the most exciting on the island, with a generation of chefs who trained in Dublin or London and came home to open small restaurants. Here is the local shortlist for 2026.
The Michelin places
OX on Oxford Street has held a Michelin star since 2016. Stephen Toman cooks a tasting menu that is as good as anything in Dublin or London at less than half the price. Eipic, in the Howard Street area, also has a star and a longer-running reputation. Deanes Eipic is the dining room within Michael Deane's flagship; the tasting menu is around seventy pounds, half what equivalent menus cost across the Irish Sea.
The Cathedral Quarter
The neighbourhood that has anchored the food revival. The MAC arts centre, Aether and Echo, the Cathedral Quarter Brewery, Yardbird, Kelly's Cellars (one of the oldest pubs in Belfast, with proper food at the bar). The Pocket and the Dirty Onion both occupy beautiful old buildings and do good casual food into the evening.
The Cathedral Belfast
Wait, that is not food. Skip this paragraph.
Where do locals eat on a Saturday night?
James St South is the long-running fine-dining-but-not-tasting-menu choice and is fully booked most Saturdays. Mourne Seafood Bar in the Cathedral Quarter is the seafood pick. Permit Room (the Indian small-plates place from the Dishoom group) opened in 2023 and is the busiest restaurant in town. Bar and Grill at James Street takes walk-ins for the bar seats.
What is the best brunch?
French Village Cafe (multiple locations) for a casual proper brunch. Established Coffee on Hill Street for the coffee and pastry version. Maggie May's on Botanic Avenue for the full Ulster fry, traditional version, with soda farl and potato bread. The Ulster fry differs from the Irish fry on the soda bread and the potato bread; both are essential.
Where is good but cheap?
Made in Belfast on the Ann Street side of City Hall does proper food at well under thirty pounds for two courses. Maggie May's Wholefood Bar (different from the breakfast Maggie May's) is the long-running budget healthy option. Yugo on Wellington Place does excellent dim sum and small plates. Chinese in Belfast is much better than its reputation.
What about St George's Market?
St George's Market is the Friday-Saturday-Sunday food market in a Victorian covered market hall, ten minutes' walk from City Hall. Saturday is the food day proper. Get there before noon. The Bay Tree's lemon tart, the Mexican stall, the Belfast Bakery, the Mourne Seafood Bar stall, all worth the trip. Coffee from Established or Bullhouse.
The neighbourhood revival
Ballyhackamore in east Belfast has filled with small good restaurants in the last few years. Local bakers and breweries have opened in the same area. North Street and the Cathedral Quarter were the first wave; Ballyhackamore is now arguably more interesting for casual dinner.
How does Belfast compare to Dublin on price?
Belfast is meaningfully cheaper. A Michelin tasting menu in Belfast is around seventy pounds; the same menu in Dublin is around 120 euros. A casual two-course dinner with wine in Belfast is forty-five pounds; in Dublin it is sixty-five euros. The pound-euro exchange and lower restaurant rents in Belfast mean a food trip here is one of the better-value trips in the British Isles.
Reservations
OX, Eipic, James St South and Permit Room: book three or four weeks ahead for weekends. Cathedral Quarter pubs and casual places: walk in, generally fine. Sunday lunch: book a few days ahead at any of the proper Sunday-roast places (the Hadskis, the Pocket).