Our top picks for international bites in Belfast

Set in the heart of the city centre in the up-and-coming Linen Quarter, Coco Restaurant has been serving Belfast locals for over ten years. So, it’s safe to say they know what they’re doing when it comes to great food and epic Irish hospitality. Known for its quirky artwork and relaxed atmosphere, Coco Restaurant provides a great setting for any occasion, whether it’s a graduation celebration, a birthday night out, a catch up with friends, or a romantic date night.

The menu makes the most of fresh local ingredients while taking influence from international cuisine and cooking techniques. You can expect everything from an indulgent seafood linguine with tomato, basil, garlic crumb, and lobster cream to madras spiced chicken with a feta and heirloom tomato salad with fragrant rice.

Boasting the title of one of the most popular food and drink spots in the city, Lavery’s and The Woodworkers is a great spot for a laidback catchup with friends, no matter the season. With a traditional and changing menu that features a vast array of local favourites alongside creative, globally-influenced creations, you can expect all kinds of flavours here.

If you fancy some picky small plates to go along with your pints, you’re in luck. You’ll have plenty to choose from here, with a wide selection of tasters like halloumi fritters, mushroom arancini, salt and pepper squid, or southern fried no-chicken bites. In the mood for something more substantial? Not a problem. You can choose from their wide range of classic pub grub, burgers, and tacos, or opt for something more daring from their sharing platters menu, which features a great selection of sharing boards that feature tasty bites like hot chicken wings, cauliflower wings, salt and chilli calamari, onion rings, salt and chilli prawns, and much more.

Located on the busy and bustling Ormeau Road just south of the city centre, the brilliant Pavilion Bar is known as one of the city’s finest live music venues. However, that is not all they have to offer. This popular spot also functions as a pub showing live sports and an atmospheric candlelit Irish restaurant with a decadent rooftop terrace.

The menu features a vast array of lite bites and main meals, as well as a great selection of vegan and vegetarian options, so those with specific dietary requirements don’t need to worry about missing out. Whether you fancy a classic and traditional crispy beer battered catch of the day served with chips, mushy peas, and tartare sauce, a falafel kebab pitta with buffalo cauliflower bites, salad, and tomato relish, or a Chinese chicken, beef, or vegetable curry, which comes with onions, peppers, peas, half basmati rice, and half chips, you’re in luck at the Pavilion Bar.

Owned and operated by award winning chef Marty Murphy, Ora Tapas and Wine Bar can be found at the heart of Belfast City Centre on Great Victoria Street. A quirky and fun tapas spot that boasts a spot on the Michelin Guide, Ora Tapas and Wine Bar echoes the city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere with its bright and vibrant feel.

Aiming to provide relaxed dining with exciting wines in sumptuous surroundings, diners are encouraged to “live life to the full with good food, good wine, and good times.” Keeping a firm focus on fresh, local produce and taking inspiration from global cuisine to create unforgettable taste, the tapas dishes here are truly exquisite. They also offer an extensive international wine selection and a vast array of delicious cocktails that are sure to perfectly complement the epic flavours offered in each and every dish.

A relatively new addition to Belfast’s thriving dining scene, Waterman Restaurant first opened in June 2022 and has since become a firm favourite among locals looking to enjoy an unforgettable meal out in the city. Owned and operated by renowned local chef and restaurateur Niall McKenna, Waterman Restaurant is fast becoming one of the top spots to visit in the bustling Cathedral Quarter.

Offering contemporary European dining and global influence, the menu features delicious dishes such as smoked cauliflower, romesco, and lemon dressing, house ricotta gnudi with spiced butternut squash, and an indulgent chateaubriand for two served with red wine jus and chimichurri. Bright and airy, Waterman Restaurant offers a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere, making for a truly unique and unforgettable dining experience.