If you’re looking to find the best nightclubs in Belfast, you’ve come to the right place, for we have ranked the five best to visit the next time you’re in the city.
Belfast is a city well-known for its incredible nightlife; it has an amazing variety of nightclubs, from Soviet-themed gay bars to amazing venues hosting live music. Belfast is a city that truly has it all. Honestly, narrowing this list down to only five was quite difficult for us to do.
We’ve done our fair share of research on these places and sampled all they have to offer. So, with that said, we’ve managed to bring you our list of the five best nightclubs in Belfast. Look no further than here if you’re looking to plan a great night out on the streets of this wonderful city.
5. Thompsons Garage – for a great student night out
Thompsons is starting our list because it’s the nightclub we visited most often when clubbing in our student days, so it holds a lot of memories for us. It’s definitely a nightclub commonly frequented by those in their late teenage years and early twenties, but don’t let this put you off if you’re older.
Thompsons plays great trance/techno music that will keep you on your feet for hours, and it has one the best smoking areas we’ve ever seen in a nightclub, housing comfortable lounge chairs and a balcony section. Sure to get you up and dancing, Thompsons is a must-visit when looking to go out clubbing in Belfast.
Address: 3 Pattersons Pl, Belfast BT1 4HW
4. Kremlin – because who doesn’t want to visit a Soviet-themed disco bar?
This Soviet-themed gay bar located on Donegall Street is a really fun and welcoming place for a night out in Belfast. You won’t be turned away no matter who you are, as it’s very welcoming and open bar.
Kremlin is divided into two separate floors and it has multiple different themed rooms throughout. The cocktails here are great value for money and, best of all, they’re made strong. You can thank us later.
Address: 96 Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2GW
3. Alibi – for amazing drinks and music
Alibi is one of our favourite nightclubs in Belfast for its wide range of drink choices and its beautiful low-lit interior. This sophisticated three-floor venue has played host to many incredible and hard-to-remember nights out.
The drinks here are fair-priced and it has a fantastic all-round party atmosphere, sure to get you in the mood for dancing. The terrace section in Alibi is a great addition and our favourite place to sit back and relax with a cocktail.
We’ve been here for a couple of New Years Eve parties and they were some of the best nights out we’ve ever had in Belfast. With fire-performers and dancers. At least, we think there was fire-performers . . . it’s all a bit hazy. But we’re sure we enjoyed it.
Address: 23-31 Bradbury Pl, Belfast BT7 1RR
2. Cuckoo – for great local music
This place is seriously amazing. We’ve discovered a few of our favourite local bands because of their having played at Cuckoo. Props to the managers for giving local talent a platform at this place.
Not only does it have great music, but Cuckoo also has excellent drinks. Drinks which won’t cost you an arm and a leg to purchase. The cocktails also come in a cool little mason jar, adding to the quirky feel of the place.
Cuckoo also deserves a shoutout for its staff—they’re all very friendly and helpful, even on jam-packed Friday and Saturday nights. Go here if you’re looking for a great night out without busting the bank!
Address: 149 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 7AJ
1. Limelight – for the best of the nightclubs in Belfast
What can we say about Limelight that hasn’t already been said? The place is well-deserving of the number one spot on our list of best nightclubs in Belfast.
It’s a popular destination for good reason—Limelight is a no-frills nightclub and live music venue that has hosted some of music’s greats over the past four decades. Artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Jeff Buckley, Johnny Marr, and the Kaiser Chiefs have all played at this iconic location.
Limelight even offers a double-pint for a reasonable price, so really, how could it not be number one on our list? You can’t go wrong with a night out at Limelight.
Address: 17 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HD
