Northern Ireland has a thriving tourist industry at the moment, and it’s also become a top choice as a filming location with much of the mighty Game of Thrones series filmed in that part of the Emerald Isle. It’s got a growing tech industry, and last year hosted one of golf’s Major championships for the first time in nearly 70 years. The region is buzzing after decades of strife during the period known as The Troubles.
However, what Northern Ireland does best is pubs. Brilliant pubs. Below we count down five of the best in the region.
The Garrick Bar – Belfast
How do you really get to know the best watering holes in a city? Industry magazines? Sure. TripAdvisor? Perhaps. But a good rule of thumb is to find out where bar and restaurant staff spend their nights (and days) off. In Belfast, that’s the Garrick, a city centre pub that fuses old world charm with modern ideas. The Garrick has been around since 1870, and it’s now known for its massive range of beers (it’s widely known as the first bar to embrace craft beer in Belfast) and delicious locally-sourced food. Friday evenings are always one of the best times to experience the bar as it buzzes with throngs of people who have just finished work for the week. Traditional music plays in the front bar most weekend days, whereas the back bar will host live bands on Friday and Saturday nights.
Peadar O’Donnell’s – Derry
An institution in the city of Derry, Peadar O’Donnell’s is rowdy and proud of it. You’ll find plenty of students frequenting any of the three bars in the complex during term time as its one of the best bets for live music. It touts itself as Derry’s best venue for traditional and contemporary music. To be frank, we’d tend to suggest its better for experiencing the former than the latter. Like the Garrick Bar above, traditional musicians will huddle together, strike up a tune and beat on late into the night. Most of these “trad sessions” are welcoming to musicians to join in for a jam, so if you have an instrument, don’t be shy and bring it along.
Henry’s (Fearons) – Rostrevor
We will cheat a bit here because we don’t think you should go to just one pub in Rostrevor. Instead, take a stroll around this stunning village that looks like it was lifted right out of a storybook. Rostrevor was said to have inspired C.S Lewis for his Narnia books, and various other writers. Just like the gameplay in this review of Adventures in Wonderland by casino.com, there seems to be magic around every corner in places like the Fairy Glen, Clough Mór and the Mourne Mountains. As for the bars, Henry’s is a good place to start. Its official name is Fearons, but locals tend to use the name of its former owner, Henry Kavanagh, who pulled pints in the pub for 70 years right up until his death in April 2020 at the age of 93. The Kilbroney and The Corner House are also good places to stop after a wonderous walk in the mountains.
The Spaniard – Belfast
The second bar from Northern Ireland’s capital city on this list, The Spaniard is at the epicentre of Belfast nightlife in the lively Cathedral Quarter. Far from being a typical Irish bar, The Spaniard led the vanguard in a wave of chic establishments opening up as a newly-confident emerged from The Troubles. The décor is brazenly kitsch, with a cluttering of strange memorabilia on the walls that inevitably draw the eye. It’s one of Belfast’s best spots for rums and tequilas, and it’s a great choice for post-dinner drinks after eating in one of the Cathedral Quarter’s many fine eateries. Just a short walk down the road is The Spaniard’s sister bar, Muriels, which is something of a gin specialist. It, too, is a perfect option for a pit-stop on a pub crawl.
The Crosskeys Inn – Toombridge
Not many pubs can claim to be almost 400 years old, but The Crosskeys Inn in Co Antrim can trace its history all the way back to the 17th century. Its other claim to fame is being the oldest thatched-roof pub on the island. From the outside, it looks stunning – belonging to an era long forgotten. Inside, it’s even better on the inside, with low-hanging wooden beams and antique ornaments catching the eye. Again, it’s a nice spot to find some traditional Irish music, and The Crosskeys does a mighty fine pint of Guinness.
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