Belfast’s tourist hotspots are lovely, but if you’re looking for a real local pint, check out these ten zero tourists pubs in Belfast.
The Harp Bar, Bittles, Kelly’s Cellar, the Duke of York, the Crown Bar – just a few of the Belfast city centre bars that tourists love to check out.
These bars are lovely, and tourists visit them for a reason. They’re the most popular bars in the centre of Belfast. The Duke of York draws tourists in with its picturesque umbrellas.
Meanwhile, the Crown, with its location opposite the Europa Hotel and reputation as one of Belfast’s oldest pub, appears in every Belfast guidebook known to man.
These bars are always thriving with locals and tourists alike, but if you’re in search of a quiet pint that tourists don’t know about, check out these ten pubs.
10. The Errigle Inn – bustling Ormeau Road
The Ormeau Road is one of the most thriving areas in Belfast. It has an abundance of excellent cafes, pizzerias, the lovely Ormeau Park, and is home to the iconic Errigle Inn.
On a sunny day, you’ll find every local and her granny vying for a seat in the Errigle’s outdoor area.
Just about a ten-minute drive or bus journey from the city centre, the Errigle is a great spot to enjoy a pint, catch a trad session on a Saturday afternoon, or have a tasty meal, and you definitely don’t see a lot of tourists here.
Even with its location outside of the city centre, the Errigle is one of Belfast’s pricier pubs, with a single, standard pint like Guinness or Harp costing almost £7 these days.
Address: 312-320 Ormeau Rd, Ormeau, Belfast BT7 2GE
9. Bullhouse East – craft beers and tasty pizza
We head over to East Belfast for our next entry – Bullhouse East. Bullhouse East is a relatively new establishment in Belfast.
While tourists might be more inclined to visit Boundary Brewery, due to its proximity to the popular market and event space Banana Block, this remains a lesser-known spot to visitors outside of the city centre.
A craft beer spot equipped with 20 taps of their own and other local craft beers, this is an excellent spot to drop in for a casual pint and some tasty pizza served from the beer garden.
Address: 442-446 Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 1HJ
8. The American Bar – good grub, good vibes
The American Bar is located in the Sailortown area of Belfast, not too far from the city centre, yet you won’t find many tourists here at all.
The American Bar serves up good grub, good music, good pints, and an overall good pub vibes just outside of Belfast city centre.
You’ll meet nice, friendly folks here, hear some good tunes, and leave your visit to Belfast with some great stories.
Address: 65 Dock St, Belfast BT15 1LF
7. Voodoo – punks and rockers in the city centre
A lot of Belfast city centre pubs are full of tourists, but not Voodoo. Voodoo is where punks and rockers go to grab a pint or hear some good live music.
It’s not a young crowd, it’s not an old crowd, it’s just a load of like-minded individuals looking to have a good time, whether downstairs in the bar or catching some live music upstairs.
As one of the best small music venues in the city, you’ll have the opportunity to catch local bands like Silent Running pictured above, as well as an abundance of international talent.
Address: 11A Fountain St, Belfast BT1 5EA
6. The Sunflower – popular local spot
We’re not sure if people will come for us for this entry, but we think the Sunflower Bar is a pretty local heavy establishment.
The Sunflower Bar isn’t located directly in the city centre, so even though it’s one of the best bars in Belfast, it doesn’t quite get the popular tourist tracks like Kelly’s Cellar or Bittles Bar.
The Sunflower Bar quite famously doesn’t serve Guinness or other well-known beers, ales, and stouts, focusing instead on smaller, independent Irish breweries. As well as local libations, you’ll find great trad sessions and tasty pizza in the beer garden.
Address: 65 Union St, Belfast BT1 2JG
5. Northern Lights – laid back, friendly atmosphere
We had back to the Ormeau Road to give you Northern Lights. Northern Lights is another craft beer joint that focuses on local beverages and also imported and local bottled beers.
The atmosphere in Northern Lights is laid back and friendly. Just over the road from the Errigle Inn, this is a great stop if you decided to do a little bar crawl of the Ormeau Road.
Address: 451 Ormeau Rd, Ormeau, Belfast BT7 3GQ
4. The John Hewitt – a tourist-free city centre pub
Just a stones throw from some of the most touristy bars in the city is The John Hewitt. Located in the bustling Cathedral Quarter, it was the first Social Enterprise Bar in Belfast.
Named after the late Irish poet and political activist John Hewitt, the pub has a focus on the arts and live music. You’re guaranteed to have a great, local experience in the John Hewitt.
Address: 51 Donegall St, Belfast BT1 2FH
3. The Devenish – west or south Belfast?
Sitting on the cusp of west Belfast, the Devenish is an excellent local haunt that sees everything from a causal pint to wild nights out, football screenings, private events, and much more.
Serving up drinks that won’t break the bank and tasty food, the Devenish is a great year-round pub, but it’s particularly pleasant in the summer when you can sit outside and enjoy a sunny pint or two.
Address: 33-37 Finaghy Rd N, Belfast BT10 0JB
2. The 3 C’s Social Club – the cheapest pints in Belfast city centre
The 3 C’s Social Club is little known to locals, let alone tourists in Belfast. Serving affordable pints and food in the city centre, this is a no-frills social club that constantly has new offers on food and drinks for visitors.
Address: 43A Rosemary St, Belfast BT1 1QB
1. The Deer’s Head – no tourists in the city centre
Last on our list of no tourist pubs in Belfast is the Deer’s Head. Located right in the city centre off Royal Avenue, the Deer’s Head is a traditional pub that has a functioning brewery on site.
You can try out the produce of the on-site Bell’s Brewery with one of the Deer’s Head tasting flights. Including lager, IPAs, stout and more, this is a great way to find the local drink for you.
The Deer’s Head has live music gigs, comedy nights, and shows major live sporting events on screens in the bottom bar.
A vibrant Belfast pub that also has a tasty food menu, this is one to check out on your trip to Belfast. If cocktails are more your speed, one of the best cocktail bars in the city, Angel & Two Bibles, is located just above the Deer’s Head.
Address: 1-3 Lower Garfield St, Belfast BT1 1FP
