Restaurants near Belfast Christmas markets

It’s that time of the year: Christmas market season! Some people say that when you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. However, we believe that you can never get enough of brightly knitted scarves, fake snow, and endless cheese samples. Whether you’re  a lover or a hater, you’ll all be desperate for some decent grub when you’ve finished wandering. To save you trekking miles, we’ve put together a list of restaurants near Belfast Christmas markets that will warm your cockles right up.

It doesn’t get more fun than dining at Holohans at the Barge, an actual bar and restaurant on a, yep, you guessed it, barge. Firmly in-keeping with the seafaring theme, their menu is filled with fish dishes, seafood, and topped off with some lovely veggie and meat dishes. It’s a good place to head no matter who you’re market-ing with; it’s child friendly, it was shortlisted for the UK’s Most Romantic Restaurant in 2017, and their food is versatile to fit most palates.

Part of the renowned James St Company, Hadskis is born “out of one man’s love for making pots and pans, and another man’s love for cooking great food.” Open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, expect homemade pasta, and locally sourced fish and meats, served up with an interesting array of sides. If you’re looking for something really filling, we recommend the Meat Feast. It’s figs, parma ham, and a parmesan, with a mixed grill, and a glass of wine or beer for just £25 pp. Perfect if you’ve just spent all your money on fake snow at the festive markets.

One of Belfast’s coolest restaurants, this spot is just a ten minute walk away from the Christmas markets. Forget about over-cooked bratwurst, or lukewarm mulled wine, these guys really focus on their produce, so you know you’ll be eating well. Their festive menu runs Thurs-Sun throughout December, with a la carte available Sun-Weds if you’re sick of turkey. With its quirky decor, fun staff, and great food, it comes highly ResDiary recommended!

A cross between a quintessential Northern Irish pub, and a classy restaurant, Howard Street is a cosy spot to thaw out your toes after wandering around City Hall. It’s one of the closest restaurants near the Belfast Christmas markets, with just a four minute walk taking you door-to-door. There’s an al a carte menu available featuring classics like fish and chips, and steak, or a full veggie menu for the non-meat eaters. So stroll along, grab a glass of wine, and settle in for a great feed.

Owned by charismatic chef, Gareth McCaughey, The Muddlers Club focuses on using the best locally-sourced produce to create delicious menus. We recommend heading here for the tasting menu if you’re having a big festive day out. For just £50, you can taste five courses of expertly prepared food, like halibut and courgette bisque and burrata, tomato, and pistachio. Their cocktails are given the same expert treatment as  the food, making it the perfect place to relax after a hard day festiving.

If you like your restaurants unpretentious and welcoming, then Mourne is the place for you. One of the closest restaurants near the Belfast Christmas markets, you’ll have to walk just seven minutes to experience their delicious seafood. Firmly focused on providing the freshest of fish and shellfish, Mourne are renowned for their oysters and for doing a great fish and chips. Oh,and their wine list is pretty good too if you’re looking to get your Christmas tipple on.