Tucked down a city centre side-street is this bijou bar that makes up with champagne what it lacks in size. Gilt-edged mirrors break up dark painted walls, and a large fish tank vies for space with the resident DJ. Meanwhile if you're prone to claustrophobia but like the designer vibe, head so [...]

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Subdued lighting, pot-bellied Bhuddas and fusion food lure city slickers in their droves for a cheeky apres-work tipple or pre-nightclub cocktail (La Lea's upstairs). Snuggle up in cushioned corners and enjoy a devilish Chocolate Martini before the crowds arrive and music rises to an ear-splitting volume. [...]

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Deep purple velvet seating, dark wood panelling and rich red walls dominate this popular Botanic Avenue bar. Office workers, and students craving a classier ambience, scatter their bods amid its booths, sofas and bar stools. Weekend DJs spin classic tunes and there's a popular quiz every Tuesday. Elegant in an unforced way, and with the equally appealing Metro Brasserie and the Crescent Townhouse - the city's first boutique retreat - in situ, this is a three-in-one Queen's Quarter stop we heartily recommend.
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A riot of ritzy glamour and rich hues,  the only things missing from this downtown watering hole are a girl on a swing and a bird in a gilded cage... but we're sure they're working on it. Beneath the stained-glass dome of this neo-classical former bank building is an upstairs 'Bolli Bar' and ground floor flirting zone favoured by the 'second chance at romance' brigade (you get the picture). Cheesy retro tunes sit incongruously with the sumptuously ornate, chandelier-strewn wonderland, but the glammed up natives seem happy. Food is served late morning to evening.
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This day-to-night food, drink and entertainment emporium has taken as its design influence the upmarket speakeasies of 20s & 30s America. Dubbed the Blind Tiger - the name given to the era's more decadent drinking dens - the interior is swathed in opulent fabrics, palm fronds and dark wood panelling. Subdued lighting and alcoved seating positively encourage patrons to lounge long after their hearty meal. And the cocktails and tapas menus set the scene for live music across the week. The Chester's proximity to Cavehill Park and Belfast Castle make it the ideal watering hole for intrepid tourists and fun-loving thirtysomethings. [...]

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Time the bar staff with the kitsch 1950s Bakelight and starburst clocks, as you jostle for position among the baying hordes. You could be waiting a while, as this popular city centre bar can get crammed at night. The dining area, cocktail list, resident DJ and lounging sofas provide day-to-night di [...]

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Once the offices of an old Belfast newspaper, this 19th century listed building was reborn in 1997 as a big, bold bar/nightclub. Avoiding the obvious newspaper theme, the Whig's new interior is inspired by the Soviet Revolution. Three colossal socialist statues imported from Prague take centre stage, and the cocktail list features bolshy-faves Lenin and Archangel. The space is cavernous - rising up three floors - but it's still packed every weekend with trendy sorts of varying wrinklage. Good food is served throughout the day. [...]

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Part of the Park Inn hotel, though very much a stand-alone venue, this stylish American-themed city centre bar and restaurant is perfectly poised to attract nearby office workers for post 9-5 drinkies and all you visiting weekenders. Behind its long, shiny marble-top bar sits a good selection of sp [...]

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Queen's Quarter's Stranmillis set and sophisticated students (what that? - Ed) have a relatively new imbibing emporium on their red-bricked doorstep. Swathed in black and bedazzled with chandeliers and mirrors, The House is a cool bar with a feature outdoor seating area from which to wave your cocktails and designer beers at passing serfs. A cosy back area with sofas and real fire adds to the 'homely' feel. And the plasma TVs keep sports fans happy too.
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