Belfast’s best coffee shops

Grand Cafe is a cosy, stylish spot that’s become a local favourite for its amazing coffee. Set in a beautiful historic building, it’s the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a perfectly brewed cup, whether you’re into a strong espresso or a frothy cappuccino. They really know their coffee, using top-quality beans to get that rich, smooth flavor in every cup. It’s a great place to catch up with friends or just relax with your favourite drink in the heart of the city.

With four locations across the city, General Merchants is a firm favourite among Belfast locals on the hunt for fine coffee and delicious food. Renowned for their rustic, industrial-style décor, defined by exposed brick, wooden benches, and low lighting, this is the perfect place for a slow weekend brunch.

The coffee on offer is from local Belfast roasters, White Star, who have redefined the meaning of coffee production, focusing on quality sourcing and managing from farm to cup. General Merchants also offer a range of milk alternatives from Rude Health and Minor Figures, to ensure all dietary requirements are catered for, meaning you won’t have to miss out on the perfect latte, flat white, or cappuccino.

Located in the city centre beside Victoria Square Shopping Centre, The Pocket is the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee before a day of retail therapy. This laid back café serves up great coffee to accompany its fresh, high quality food. Visit once and you’re sure to keep coming back for more. With an impressive coffee menu, including some unique options such as a Prana Masala Chai, an Iced Vietnamese, or an Iced Coffee Slushie, grabbing a coffee from The Pocket is sure to be an experience like no other.

This bright and airy coffee shop just off Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is popular among those who like to get some work done while sipping on a delicious roast. Using a blend of Irish and American beans, Established pride themselves on serving up high-quality drinks. Open daily from 8am to 4pm, you can enjoy your coffee to sit in or takeaway, and ‘keep cups’ are encouraged when ordering to go. While the coffee here is the main attraction, the food served is also sure to delight the tastebuds. With an ever changing menu focusing on fresh, seasonal ingredients, while also featuring some delicious staples, this is a great place to grab a weekend breakfast or brunch.

Come Saturday and Sunday morning, Belfast’s Lisburn Road becomes bustling with locals looking for great food and coffee. One that stands out from the crowd, however, is Output Espresso. With its unique black and pink décor, this place is not only eye-catching, it’s also a great place to grab a morning coffee. Whether you choose to sit in or order to go, you’re sure to be impressed at what’s on offer here. To accompany their coffee, Output serve up a range of fantastic brunch options, from sweet and savoury fluffy pancakes, breakfast baps, and plenty of vegan options too.

With various locations around the city, Kaffe O is a Nordic-style coffee shop that has proven to be a hit with locals since first opening in 2013. Whether you choose to sit in and grab a bite to eat with your coffee or opt to grab a cup to go from their city centre hatch, we bet you’ll be impressed. The minimalist design of this coffee shop adds to the Nordic allure, not to mention the delicious coffee bean roasted in Copenhagen by master roaster, Ricco Sørenson. With a menu inspired by Danish cuisine, this is sure to be among the most authentic Nordic coffee experiences you’ll find this side of the North Sea.