Stopped by about 9:20 pm on a Friday and it was very chill - only a few people here, but I…read moreunderstand that it picks up. We enjoyed some C & C (Cider and Cher) in the light of the CCCP sign. Great ambiance and service. Really cool and unique vibe. Props for the trans pride flag flying outside.

International visitor here. I am visiting Belfast for a few days on a multi-city trip from…read moreoverseas. First thing, the side of the building says "Kremlin" and on the other block there's a sign for "Shoe Factory," both of which show up when you search for gay bars in Belfast. I walked up on the Shoe Factory side and there was no signage explaining where the entry is. Thus, I headed over the Maverick, where I had a pleasant cocktail and drag show. From there, I went onto the sidewalk and saw the sign for Kremlin and walked up the steps. Two gentleman explained to me that's not where the entry is, it's around the corner. So for those out of towners like me, in the center of the alley street there is a group of bouncers and a line - that's how you get both into Kremlin AND Shoe Factory (in case you stumble across this review while googling, now you know). Security checks IDs so be sure you're carrying something valid. I had a EU and US passport - showed the bouncer my EU passport and he gave me an odd look, which made me wonder - maybe they don't get many tourists? There was a £6 cover charge, which you can pay by card. I went inside and on the Kremlin side, they had good drink specials. Ordered one cocktail but the dance floor and bar were dead, so I headed to Shoe Factory, which was more my vibe. While I was there, I was taking some videos of the atmosphere and people dancing and sending it in a group chat to my friends in the US to show them how Belfast gets down. When I went to get another drink at Kremlin - since that side of the bar is dead, I started to video the dance floor and then decided not to because it was dead. The bartender at Kremlin (a she) asked me if I knew the girls on the stage / she had to ask me like 3 times cause I couldn't hear her, and I told her no, and she walked away to grab security. They escorted me out and when they brought me outside, the security guard told me I was taking inappropriate videos of girls and being a creep, and needed to leave. lol. For one, I'm not into girls...and second...I was taking video of multiple spots to share on my blogs, with my friends, and in reviews. I wasn't gonna argue so I just left. Needless to say, here is what I have to say in a nutshell: *Belfast does not have a "gay" scene. It is very small, so if you're looking for a gay bar on a visit, I recommend you skip that part of your trip and find something else to do. *I am not sure if this place is a "locals" only place and if maybe I looked out of my place with my foreign IDs, non-Irish accent, and cultural difference. For example, in Amsterdam and in the US, clubs would *want* you to take video and post them in reviews so they can attract more visitors. *in future bar/club visits, I'll ask the bartenders/staff when and if it's appropriate to take pix and videos - which of course, they are going to take as "weird" but apparently that's what you need to do. Don't assume. At the same time, they could've handled it better and told me not to record and/or ask more questions than assume I'm some kind of pervert. *I would not recommend this place to anyone. As I said above, have a nice cocktail somewhere else and don't expect to find a thriving gay scene in Belfast. *I am not sure this business really wants people other than locals because there was no "clear" signage or direction on how to enter. If it wasn't for the dudes on the steps of Kremlin, I would've never made it inside. Also, the way the security guard looked at me after checking my ID, suggested some kind of prejudice. It would not surprise me if maybe to the staff inside I wasn't welcome (again, a very "local" crowd).

Slide is a newly opened gay friendly bar/club bang in the centre of Belfast. It is situated on the…read moretop floor of an old Victorian building and in order to get up there you enter by a little door next to the pizza parlour and you have to climb a lot of steep narrow stairs - I'm not grumbling but it was kind of hard in heels. The bar itself is situated on two levels. In the lower bar there is a massive bed which patrons can feel free to lounge on while they drink - the first night I saw it there were about 8 people on it - cosy! The music was so good - from Florence and the Machine to Stevie Wonder, our group danced the night away without being squashed as the dance floor was only comfortably crowded and the bar was easy to get too, which for me makes the night. I do remember dancing on top of a speaker and theoretically playing a full sized piano placed near the dance floor - thankfully it doesn't make any sound. As far as I'm concerned there were only two drawbacks to slide: the smoking area is tiny and not sheltered and the toilets are one floor down - narrow, steep stairs and booze isn't a great combination. All in all a fun-filled night - I'll be sliding again soon.

In my quest to seek out new venues i've come across a nice new gay/lesbian bar which seems to be…read moretucked away out of site, the bar? Well its called 'Slide' and is based on Ann's Street, Belfast. Its a persian styled venue with table service on one floor and on another a small but comfortably sized dance floor, considering this is like a well kept secret size here really isnt important. The staff were extremly friendly and welcoming which is a plus point considering some of the other LGB venues in belfast tend to employ staff who dont exactly know how to smile. For those who cant find it, its above Little Wings Pizzeria, on Anns Street Belfast.

Great atmosphere on a Friday night very welcoming will be back next week good crowd too and nice to…read morebe able to vape inside too

Un-ions make your eyes water…read more... Union Street Bar is a gay institution in Ireland. Its where all the fun and excitement takes place. Firstly there is something on every single night from around 9pm. If you are on Gaycation or from the city, you will always find something to keep you amused. The bar has recently had a face lift, long over due if you ask me. The atmosphere in here is unrivaled. Union Street has some of the biggest names on the drag circuit in Ireland (Tina Leggs Tantrum, Trudy Scrumptious & Glitzy Glamour). Each queen has a night or two of their own and you are guaranteed a laugh. The most entertaining days are Saturday afternoons and Sunday nights. Saturday afternoons in Union Street is Tina's T-Oke & has become Hen Party central. Good luck getting a seat or a table to eat food as the restaurant is usually booked out weeks in advance. Don't let the Hen party comment put you off. Tina Leggs Tantrum hosts and keeps them in check and still tailors her show for the gay collective. Sunday nights are the biggest gay-fest with the Famous Sunday Bingo Show. Join Tina Leggs Tantrum and guests on stage to enjoy cabaret & bingo. For any first time people attending its important to be open minded, the content is meant to be funny and close to the bone. Expect to struggle to get a seat as the die hard fans will queue religiously from 7:45pm on wards at the entrance to the Shoe Factory (entrance through Union Street Bar) just to get a seat. This can make Union Street extremely busy. Drink promo every night from 7pm to 9pm £2 a drink on selected products.

Xenophobic bar. During the last pride party, Saturday 26th…read moreJuly, I was expelled of the bar with no justification. The security guard communicated me the reason was "inappropriate behaviour" inside the bar, which is quite unlikely, as I never went inside the bar, and I spent my whole time in the outside. The supposed video of the CCTV cameras that showed this presumed inappropriate behaviour was not shown to me. It was not specified what kind of behavior I had, quarrels, fights, harassment, nothing was specified. Of course, no chance was given to me to prove my correct behaviour, asking the people I was meeting in the place, for example. When I asked for a complain form, it was denied. The person who said to be the manager, identified himself as "Andrew", finally showed up. But he said that he was too busy so he will not give me any complain form. In my opinion, the only inappropriate behaviour, it was to be a foreigner. Paradoxical, that a xenophobic bar celebrates a party of tolerance.

So, I was in Belfast for a night and spent most of it drinking and dancing here!…read more Maverick is a gay bar in the "Queer Quarter", but is very welcoming to all ;-) The bar itself has pretty cool decor, if not a bit mishmashed and bizarre (which is good). I was there on a Saturday at about 6pm, there was very nice live music and a good atmosphere. After checking out a few other bars, my mate and myself returned to Maverick later that night. The bar had filled up and the dance floor was open, so it was time to party. The dance floor is in a room in the back of the bar that has real....... charm. The room is quite small yet they managed to fit a fairy-light covered car, obviously the DJ is in the car, and two tables with candelabras on them. The candelabras were burning candles (fire hazard) so there was an added feeling of danger. The music was great, lots of dancing, and there was a good crowd. I would definitely head back here if in Belfast again.

Great pub! Traditional, loud, fun. The bartender was helpful and the Guinness and cider was…read moredelicious oldest bar in Belfast 1711.

Just popped in for a pint and a snack after visiting W5. Had a great time…read more Classic pub atmosphere. Excellent service. Really enjoyed the tomato soup.ot was extra thick and served with some local Irish bread for dipping. We ordered a second side of bread. If I didn't have my kids with me on this trip, I could have easily spent a few hours hanging out in this very comfortable pub chatting up the locals and other tourists.

This is one of my favorite pubs in Belfast. The decor is a feast of Guinness memorabilia-I love…read morechecking out the various Guinness signs throughout the bar. The bartenders were extremely nice and poured some creamy pints of Guinness. The pub has wonderful seating, a very comfortable spot to sit back and chat with friends. Btw, they have a nice selection of whiskeys, and some special blends from A Friend in Hand down the street.

Great atmosphere. Grabbed a Guinness. Glad we went. Fun…read moreplace. Would love to go back. Friendly

Wow! I'm blown away from the interior design! It's a great getaway from the realty of the world…read morehere! Grand live music with refined cocktails! I felt like I was in a mythical bar and a bird's creation! Awesome concept and bar! Recommend to check out and enjoy here!

Nice little pub in Ireland with live music and drinks. They serve dinner but we didn't eat…read more Seating available for drinks only. But a little tight. Fun atmosphere and friendly staff.

This was another restaurant that was featured on the food tour I took when I was in Belfast,…read moreIreland. We ate our dessert here and we drank a wonderful drink made with Copeland gin called Gimlet. Nice pub. I can't speak on the menu because we only had the Guinness chocolate cake. The service was great. We climbed a lot of stairs even to go to the restroom. So be aware of that. I would come back the next time I'm in Belfast.

The Jailhouse is termed a Cafe/Bar. But I didn't see anyone enjoying caffeinated beverages. It's…read moremidway between the Belfast city center and the Cathedral Quarter. Hence the name, it used to be an actual jail. According to the website, its dog friendly. I didn't see any dogs there, but it's nice to know that it's an option. Great atmosphere to it. I appreciated the lovely, fresh flowers on our table. The Jailhouse has a rooftop/ upstairs area too. It was a vibe of laughs and hen parties galore! There were at least two hen parties being celebrated here on this Friday night in June. The bathrooms seemed like a trek to get to. They are not on the main floor with the bar area, so I gave up. I ordered something called the Pimm's (UK gin based liqueur) Spritz. It was a bit strong for my taste, so my sister in law finished it for me. The music selection in the background was great, albeit a little loud, but its a good place for locals and tourists alike.

Small, historic, brimming with the best craic! These bartenders don't get enough credit for all…read morethey endure day in, day out....plenty of larger pubs don't see this much foot traffic. The modern covered outdoor patio with electric heaters is a great extension of the space (although nothing beats being inside and cozy close to live music on a cold rainy day!) Stop in for a pint and a bowl of their famous stew - hearty and only available until it runs out each afternoon!

So this one is a classic and favorite of just about every Guinness loving Hero out there. I…read morepersonally thought the atmosphere was charming and the pints delicious and creamy. My only regret was that I visited this pub during the day, for I feel my experience might have been better when live music was playing some of the Irish favorites. That being said, this pub is renowned favorite, and always manages to claim a top spot on just about everyone's top ten list.

So I know that Belfast locals may take issue with this one, as the owner has a bit of gruff…read morereputation. I think it stems from his refusal to serve half-pints--which I didn't even know was a thing--but you can't ignore the fact that Bittles Bar is a beautifully iconic pub. The building reminds me of NYC's Flatiron building, with its streamlined but cozy interior. The pubs walls are covered in local history; it really is like stepping back in time. And of course, the Guinness is delicious and certainly worthy of a full pint. Another plus in Bittles favor is that it has a nice selection of bar swag. The shirts and hats are really worth every penny, and you are bound to wow friends and family back home when you sport a hat that proudly proclaims: "No Half Pints"

We stopped in here for a drink right before closing on a Friday night and there was plenty of…read moreseating. This pub was so cute and we really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere compared to other Belfast pubs. The place did smell like pee in the front door though.