to start a what's great about Belfast thread

[isthatapugunicorn]

in response to the other one decrying this beautiful city as a 'stinking hole'??

I'll go first:

it's a really lovely, easy to get around city. Hills on one side, lough on the other - gorgeous

people - they can't help but talk to you. Super friendly.Like really, really friendly.

Food - from the food at St George's Market to Deanes, Molly's Yard to Coppi, Made in Belfast to Boojums. There's seriously good food, reasonably priced and lots of locally sourced ingredients.

The craic, and the music, and the craic - You can go to a bar that's near 500 years old (Whites Tavern) or the one's that are a mere 100/200 years old all within walking distance of each other. You can see live music, hang out with the locals, and enjoy the fact our standard measures are larger! The Sunflower, The Spaniard, Laverty's, - classics. Perch, Muriels, new and fabulous.

Titanic Museum - Titianic Studios - GOT - the entire quarter - all brill.

W5 - awesome science experience.

Anyone else?

The W5 science centre is the best one I've ever been to (and I've been to a few). Didn't sadly have time to see much else as couldn't drag offspring away.

This thread makes me happy, I love Belfast so much.

The Ulster museum and Botanic gardens.

All the amazing places to eat and drink, brilliant variety and not too expensive.

St George’s Market.

Sitting outside city hall on the grass on a summers day and watching the world go by.

The Cathedral Quarter at night, lots of great places to go.

It’s not the biggest of cities but it has such a buzz and warmth about it and the people are so friendly.

W5 - EVERY time we go to Belfast it's no 1 on the kids list. We have spent soooo much time in there and still haven't seen it all. They love the robot at the entrance, the flying simulators, all the AI stuff obvs but the thing they love the most is the pretend shop area with the play cafe, the aquarium, the rock studio etc. it really is awesome... and fab on a rainy day

Me!

I love Belfast. After living in Dublin for years it is a breath of fresh air - affordable, walkable, less stressful, great and varied bars and restaurants, great theatre and arts scene. Friendly people - but not too friendly (i.e. nosey) all the amenities of a city without the stress.

Rainy days - belfast is totally set up for that - so much good indoor stuff. The leisure centres are great, and cheap drop in for activities. cinemas are so cheap compared to England, 3 of us went on a Sunday morn and I go change from a tenner!

Didn't expect such lovely unspoilt countryside. The Europa Hotel (if you can get a deal like we did, fantastic breakfasts), The two pubs opposite, The Crown and Robinsons, I think it was the Crown that has stunning Victorian tiles and Robinsons for the live music every night. The people are so proud and friendly and love to talk, Giants Causeway, lots of
good small cafes dotted around, the shopping is good, the black taxi tours, the airport isn't too busy. We went mid October and touched lucky with the weather. Want to go back.

Black box - great wee indie art/music venue.
QFT - queens film theatre, one of the best art house cinemas I've been to ( plus I remember when it was basically a lecture theatre!)

The Crown bar - not many pubs owned by the national trust! but the best thing about it is the locals all go too, it's not some tourist trap, and the wee booths are great, particularly on a cold day and I love that if you have room in yours then you budge up and let people in and make some new friends.
Robinsons - wasted many a night in there as a student, but also heard some amazing live music too...

Already have plans to head to Antrim for New Year so will do Belfast again but hopefully something different to the Titanic museum as have done that 4 times now 😂😂

TripleSeptic doesn’t live there

GREAT university ( Queen's) which means a lovely diverse, studenty population around Botanic and beyond...

Belfast Castle,Stormont Castle and park,Both really beautiful and a bus ride from each other.The traffic-takes hardly any time to get anywhere!

We have the most beautiful beaches, parks, forests, all within an hour of Belfast. Belfast itself is cheaper to eat, drink and stay in than a lot of other European cities, and is a fab mix of culture, history and modern. The NI people are amongst the friendliest you'll meet anywhere.
Every single person I know who has visited Belfast for the first time in recent years has absolutely loved it!

The Dock honesty box cafe - no prices on anything and you just put in however much you want to pay.

Cycling routes are pretty good for casual cyclists - nice wide, flat paths.

Lovely scenery in easy reach - Ards Peninsula, Antrim Coast Road.

We have the most beautiful beaches, parks, forests, all within an hour of Belfast. Belfast itself is cheaper to eat, drink and stay in than a lot of other European cities, and is a fab mix of culture, history and modern. The NI people are amongst the friendliest you'll meet anywhere.
Every single person I know who has visited Belfast for the first time in recent years has absolutely loved it!

The Harp Bar, the Duke of York & I nipped down to Ballymoney to Joey's Bar (slightly off topic). Honourable mention to the café whose name I can't remember but whose breakfast was legendary!

So much more interesting to visits than Dublin

I LOVE Belfast I love just outside it, our all time favourite restaurant is Darcys on Bradbury place - try it ❤️

I live I mean

Love Belfast. It's a city that doesn't rest on its laurels, perhaps because it's had to work hard to overcome its 'image problem'. Fantastic pubs and restaurants, great shopping, supremely walkable, superb hotel accommodation for the price, and my god, are people friendly!

After three nights on Rathlin Island, I had a swanky night in Belfast back in March. Stayed at the Grand Central Hotel. I wasn't keen on the Observatory bar (I already had a breathtaking private view from my room on the floor below) but I had a fine cocktail on the ground floor before heading to The Crown and Robinson's.

Like Glasgow, it's a city which feels homely, not aloof. I felt so relaxed there.

Reading with interest as we go next week

John Long's on Athol Street.

Best fish and chips in the world, bar none.

We went on holiday a few years ago and very much enjoyed it. Titanic wasn't quite as amazing as we'd been led to believe but it was certainly very good. My dc enjoyed W5. A lovely lady helped me find M&S after I'd ended up walking around in circles (from abroad and rather pregnant at the time and had a craving for Wensleydale and carrot sandwiches). We were only there for the day, but I'd have liked to stay longer.

Duke of York is a great bar- lovely out door area in the alley in good weather, good wee LGBT scene as well

Haven’t read the full thread but 110% the people. I was there last year for a conference and everyone was friendly and welcoming and seemed genuinely delighted to see visitors. Hotel was great, v modern, taxi drivers fab and the staff at the Titanic exhibition treated me like family.