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John Hewitt

4.2 (40 reviews)
ModerateMusic Venues, Pubs
Open 11:30 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)

John Hewitt Photos

JOHN HEWITT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Quiet
Classy
Casual

Recommended Reviews - John Hewitt

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Reviews With Photos

Andrew B.

The John Hewitt takes the award as my favorite bar in Belfast. At the weekend it has the best atmosphere...a bit of music and laughter for all. I just love going in and sitting in the little room beside the bar away from the noise...great for going with friends and with that special someone. In the afternoon they serve a pretty good lunch menu.... in my opinion the bar burger is unbeatable at the price. There is a great variety of beers here from lager to wheat beer, they also do well in representing local brews such as 'Belfast Ale' and the latest from Hilden Brewery. So take a trip down there and support the locals at your local.

Judith C.

The John Hewitt is a bar like bars should be. It feels like its been around for eons, and is another venue that has benefited from the revival of the Cathedral Quarter. The bar stocks less common alcohol, which is refreshing for those of us who tire of "Budweiser or Harp?" and the food is delicious. It's always packed at the weekend, and the crowd is an eclectic mix of people which gives the place a great "anything goes" kind of atmosphere. I tend to use this bar as a launching pad on a night out, but if I'm lucky enough to get in early and nab a seat, I could happily stay there all night! There's usually some live music. It could be a man and guitar, a trad band or a full rock band - it's anyone's guess! During the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, the John Hewitt also doubles as a venue, hosting performances and talks throughout. Definitely worth a visit if you want to sample what I would class as a proper Irish pub!

Trad ain't bad.
Jules S.

The Hewitt is what I would call an old man's pub. That doesn't mean it is just filled with old men, it does have a pretty varied clientèle, but it isn't the sort of place I'd go with the girls for a glam night out. Having said that, on a school night and you want to hear your mates across the table and get a seat, it is spot on. It isn't the most comfortable place, but it does have good artwork and efficient barstaff. Also, if you want a bit of a change and some pretty decent live music, this is the pub for you.

Brian G.

A great time to be had at John hewit, layed back atmosphere with quality Guinness, which can't be found in a lot of bars in belfast, great staff an good quality traditional music ,slancha

Magz G.

This is a really cool traditional old bar. It captures the Irish charm you would expect and want from a pub in Belfast (or Ireland in general) and this is probably why its so popular with peoples of all ages and every walk of life. You could easily be brushing shoulders with writers, lecturers and up and coming musicians who often play at the weekends here. Its a favourite haunt of the older generation but just as popular with the rest of us. I love the fact there's no big screen TVs so you actually can have a conversation with whoever your with. The drinks are cheap which makes it popular with students and a great first pub on the start of a night out. The bar is well stocked with alternative beers which I really like as I'm a huge fan of German beer! Its a great pub with a fab atmosphere and great music! Be warned though to get there early if you want a seat and actually want to get in! The food is really reasonable and they also host open mic nights for budidng singers and songwriters! Really great entertainment all round!

Really nice 'proper' bar in the ever popular Cathedral Quarter. Well set-up and great selection of drinks...a few pints of their Hoegaarden on a summer's day is highly recommended. There's some local art adorning the walls and there are a few 'snug' type seating areas on the right hand side of the bar. Perfect for a quiet tete a tete. Occasionally they have live entertainment. Last time I was in on a Saturday afternoon they had a jazz band which made a pleasant change from the usual piped in or jukebox sounds. A bit of a hub for artists, musicians and journalists alike and there's usually a few interesting characters sat amongst day-tripping tourists. One of the best nights I had in here was the annual Pong contest which was definitely a geek fest night to remember. Pros: Relaxed atmosphere, good food. Cons: Can get busy at the weekend.

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12 years ago

"Desired everywhere I live" kind of bar.

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16 years ago

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10 years ago

Best Bar In Belfast! Friendly staff, excellent drinks selection, eclectic musical entertainment, can't ask for more than that

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15 years ago

Solid live music. Engaging bartenders. Good beer. Neighborhood kind of blows.

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17 years ago

Arty pub, great for all the local Belfast beers, but food only served at lunchtime. Try the snug for a small group.

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11 years ago

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15 years ago

Great bar very down to earth and nice crowd

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John Hewitt Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - John Hewitt

It feels like its been around for eons, and is another venue that has benefited from the revival of the Cathedral Quarter.

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The Crown Liquor Saloon

The Crown Liquor Saloon

(214 reviews)

££

City Centre

On our last day in Belfast, I said I need to experience dining in or have a drink at The Crown Bar…read more I was lucky enough to get a reservation at the dining room upstairs. The ground floor bar area was packed and busy! It was a good vibes. We sat and had dinner in a quiet setting upstairs. We enjoyed our food and drinks. My margarita was delicious. The lamb irish stew was yummy, finished it. It was a great experience!

I wanted a place where I could try multiple classic traditional Irish dishes, and I found this…read moreplace - a very popular spot! During the time I visited, it wasn't very packed so I was seated swiftly. The kind staff accommodated my request to get a corner table. The vibe can be describe is a classic. I really enjoyed all the dark stained wood furniture - gave it such an "old Irish saloon" vibe...maybe because it is haha. I did not have much time to spend in Belfast, so I tried to taste as many traditional dishes as possible with being just one person. With that being said, I ordered a few of their notable dishes - Crown Bar Irish Stew, Steak & Ale Pie, and to finish it off, the Sticky Toffee Pudding served with both the custard and ice cream (really thankful the server offered to give me two toppings, and they were both delicious). All the dishes were great, and are definitely hearty. The stew as well as the pie filling had a rich roux - nice, thick and flavorful. I will say, the pie pastry was not as flaky as I would have liked it; kind of too thick. Overall, it was a great taste of Ireland

Katy's Bar

Katy's Bar

(30 reviews)

££

City Centre

This would probably be my favourite bar in Belfast. I'm not quite the party animal I used to be…read moreback in the olden days, but I do like a night out from time to time, and Katy's is right up our street in terms of the crowd that go there, the music they play, and the general ambiance. They are in a handy city centre position and can be easily reached from anywhere in the city centre. If you're not drinking, there is parking right out the front (if you get there early enough!) if not there are plenty of side streets too! For weekend visiting, be sure to get there before 7-ish, or you may find that you won't get a seat, although it does calm down later on in the night when the Limelight opens and some of the patrons move next door to the club. I must make a point of going back to Katy's soon, it's been too long!

I have travelled a fair bit in my time. Unkind people tend to put it as I've been around a bit, but…read moreI prefer to think of it as romantic wanderlust. Anyway, apart from the wonderful Public Bar in Melbourne, and possibly Dubliners in Tokyo (actually no, their Guinness is questionable and their 'soda bread' is in fact wheaten), Katy Daly's is my all time favourite bar in the world. This says quite a lot if, like me, you fled screaming from these shores at the first possible opportunity and spent several years abroad. But I've come to realise on my frequent returns, to sign on, that Belfast is actually quite a cool wee city. And Katy Daly's is one of the main experiences for me that encompasses that vibe. Imagine my shame and horror last year in Australia when one of the lead items on the news was the spides in the Village burning the Roma population out of the area. And when any July overseas the pictures beamed in from Belfast are of riots, bottle-throwing spides and triumphalist sweaty-faced Orangemen doing their damnedest to make sure no-one can get down the Lisburn Road. 'Belfast isn't like that!' I'd wail to anyone who'd listen, and plenty who wouldn't. 'Look at Katy's for example!' A rock bar with great music both live and on the jukebox, an unpretentious and friendly crowd, the best pub quiz I've ever been to (yes, even better than Melbourne's), friendly staff who remember your usual (ahem), and good food at good prices, makes Katy's a must visit for any tourist who thinks Belfast is all burning buses and bodhráns. Oh, and most unusually, and welcome, for an average city bar - the ladies are normally outnumbered by the men. Most of whom are of an alternative ilk and not decked out in Ben Sherman and Timberlands, and therefore are generally gentlemanly instead of trying to cop a quick grope as you go past them on the way to the loos (Bot, I'm looking at you). Many of them are long-haired and tattooed to boot. Yummies. In fact, I'm sitting in Katy's right now writing this. Goddesses bless mobile broadband.

John Hewitt - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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