These 6 private dining places in Belfast saved our peace!
At least twice a month, I ask myself: Why is it that every time I go to any eatery, noise follows me? Restaurants, cafes (best cafes to work in Belfast), and even the supposedly ‘quiet spots’—somehow, my crew and I always end up next to a crying toddler or someone having a meltdown.
One of my friends has it even worse—he tried to propose in a packed restaurant. Right in the middle of his big moment, he got interrupted by someone asking for ketchup. It was a disaster!
That’s when we all agreed. Next time, for any birthday or milestone, it’s private dining in Belfast or nothing. No interruptions, like music or random people ruining the moment. Here are some of our top picks for a wonderful, intimate dining experience.
Where can I book intimate dining in Belfast?
There are a bunch of places where you can book intimate dining in Belfast! Swing by spots, like The Muddlers Club, The Great Room, James St, and Zen for a comfortable experience with friends and loved ones.
The Muddlers Club
– Media credit: themuddlersclubbelfast
Website: http://www.themuddlersclubbelfast.com/
Address: 1 Warehouse Ln
Contact Details: +44 28 9031 3199, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Friday – 12:30 PM to 1 PM, 5 PM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday – 12:30 PM to 1 PM, 5 PM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday to Tuesday – Closed
Pricing: Around £100+ per person
The Muddlers Club is among our top picks for private dining in Belfast. This restaurant serves Modern Irish cuisine with locally sourced produce. And since it’s Michelin-starred in an elegant setting, we think it’s great for fancy dates and small celebrations.
While the menu changes a lot, we recommend getting your hands on the aged beef with celeriac and truffle or the duck breast with beetroot and elderberry. If you want seafood, we also like the turbot fish with mussel and seaweed beurre blanc (butter sauce).
For us, the desserts are quite innovative too! Why not try new flavours like chocolate tart with miso caramel or rhubarb with white chocolate and sorrel (a sour leafy green)?
| Pro tips: Visiting The Muddlers Club for the first time? Our advice would be to opt for the chef’s tasting menu to get the full experience! And though this spot is Michelin-starred, no worries! You can still wear your best smart casual attire. Still, why not wear something like a vibrant red to stand out amid its slate blue and brown interiors? |
The Great Room
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Website: https://www.themerchanthotel.com/the-great-room
Address: 16 Skipper St, Floor 1, The Merchant Hotel
Contact Details: +44 28 9023 4888, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 7 AM to 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 7 AM to 10:30 PM
- Sunday – 7 AM to 8:30 PM
Pricing: Around £100+ per person
Want fine dining with a blast from the past? The Great Room is in an upscale hotel, offering private events in sophisticated, classy rooms. There are also many options featuring modern European dishes that cater to vegetarians and vegans.
The highlights for us are the Skeaghanore duck breast, wild sea bass, and root vegetable Wellington for a good variety. We’re in awe of the drinks as well, having over 200 wine bottles to choose from!
And should you want something sweet, the profiterole swans and black forest sphere caught our eye—we think they’re also perfect to star in your dinner photos.
| For the foodies: Make the most of The Great Room when you book its traditional afternoon tea service! We believe this is amazing for those who get very hungry in the middle of the day. We heard that you can stay for as long as 5 hours too! |
James St
– Media credit: jamesstbelfast
Website: https://www.jamesst.co.uk/
Address: 19 James St S
Contact Details: +44 28 9560 0700, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday to Saturday – 1 PM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday – 1 PM to 8 PM
- Tuesday – Closed
Pricing: Around £60 per person
For us, James St makes intimate dining in Belfast serene with its popular steak and a good mix of stylish interiors (brick walls, high ceilings, and warehouse-style windows). You can go upstairs for private functions too!
We love that most of its offerings are charcoal grill-inspired. Besides the Tomahawk (a bone-in ribeye) steak, you can try standout dishes like crab and chilli linguine (flat pasta) and smoked ham croquettes (small, breadcrumbed, and fried balls).
To end on a sweet note, we recommend the buttermilk panna cotta (cooked cream dessert), 70% chocolate tart with raspberry sorbet, and watermelon jelly. We say try the coconut martini for a refreshing drink too!
| Savvy suggestions: Did you know that James St is only a 5-minute walk from the Grand Opera House? If you want a nice pre-theatre meal, we recommend booking 2 hours earlier than your show so you can indulge in a relaxed meal. But if you’re short on time, we say skip dessert for now and just grab gelato or coffee after the show. We think there are great spots in the Cathedral Quarter, northeast of James St. |
Zen
– Media credit: zenbelfast
Website: http://www.zenbelfast.co.uk/
Address: Enterprise House, Adelaide St
Contact Details: +44 28 9023 2244, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 12 PM to 2:30 PM, 5 PM to 10 PM
- Friday – 12 PM to 2:30 PM, 5 PM to 11 PM
- Saturday – 5 PM to 11 PM
- Sunday – 2 PM to 10 PM
Pricing: £10 deposit per person
If Asian flavours are your thing, Zen showcases authentic Japanese cuisine with modern flair. And here, your party of 10 can have a private room to make gatherings even more special.
We live for the diverse menu, especially the sushi, sashimi, and teppanyaki (grilled meat and veg). Should you want something new, we suggest getting the fusion dishes, like deep-fried monkfish tails or pan-fried rib-eye steak rolls.
On top of that, we appreciate the extensive drinks menu. We especially like Cherry Blossom (apple and cherry vodka) for a sweet, cool pair with your meal. There are mocktails too, like the Pineapple Mojito as a delightful alternative.
| Insider scoop: Consider getting Zen’s High Tea menu for a more cost-effective dining option! This is served around 5 to 6:30 pm from Monday to Saturday. |
The Crown Liquor Saloon
– Media credit: crownliquorsaloon
Website: https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/
Address: County Antrim, 46 Great Victoria St
Contact Details: +44 28 9024 3187, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 11 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:30 AM to 12 AM
- Sunday – 12:30 PM to 11 PM
Pricing: £10 to £30 per person
Love history? How about enjoying it with traditional cuisine at The Crown Liquor Saloon? It’s a Victorian gin spot with ornate interiors, stained glass, and carved woodwork.
There are also unique mahogany private booths which you and your crew might like. These are called ‘private snugs’, and we like the antique bell systems here to make service more efficient.
Some of our favourite pub fare here includes the Irish stew, grilled ham with champ, and Iberian black pig and apple burger. In our opinion, you can’t go wrong with the classic toffee pudding and caramel biscuit torte too.
| Just remember: The Crown Liquor Saloon’s private snugs may not always be available to book online, so we suggest calling the staff to request one to be sure. |
SHU Restaurant
– Media credit: shu_restaurant
Website: https://www.shu-restaurant.com/
Address: 253 Lisburn Rd
Contact Details: +44 28 9038 1655, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday – 12 PM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday – 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM
- Monday – Closed
Pricing: £18 to £30 per person
SHU Restaurant is a wonderful option for a diverse menu with French, Mediterranean, and Oriental cuisines. You can also go upstairs for a private room, which could be set up for a business dinner or a big party.
From the menu, we say treat yourself to some halibut with English asparagus or pork belly with cauliflower purée. There are veggie options too, like wild garlic gnocchi (dumplings) and conchiglioni (shell) pasta.
Of course, we’re totally into balancing the savoury stuff with sweets, like chocolate fondant with dulce de leche (sugary caramel) ice cream. Just be sure to have water or tea nearby—these can be a tad too sweet sometimes.
| Cool idea: Need to spice up your private event at SHU Restaurant? Let the staff know, and they can arrange live entertainment to enhance the vibes! |