We came in for lunchtime and it was pretty quiet. Our server was also the host that sat us. Super friendly guy. I ordered the seafood chowder. And we got some garlic bread to start with. That was super tasty. It took some time to get my seafood chowder but when it came- it was a huge bowl. I barely ate half of it. It was creamy and had a good fishy taste to it. There were chunks of fish in it. read more

Northern Whig - Seafood chowder - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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I would not recommend this place to anyone. The chicken was some of the driest chicken I've ever had. The gravy was below average in flavor and tasted like it had all the salt of Ireland in it. The katsu curry was ok. One of the worst meals we've had in a while. All of the food took quite a long time to come out and the service was subpar. Not very friendly or attentive. The place was well decorated, if you go for drinks you might have a better experience but for the price and poor quality I'd recommend skipping the food. read more

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This was an excellent place to stop and eat. The staff were very friendly and helpful. They recommended the salmon and that was spot on. The salmon is crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside. The potatoes with it are like smashed and fried with perfectly cooked broccoli. *chef's kiss* read more

Northern Whig - Salmon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Over the years I've enjoyed quite a few good meals and nights out in Northern Whig. However having not visited in a quite a while I was keen to try it again after hearing it had undergone a recent refurbishment. Hence I visited this evening, Thursday 26 May 2016 with three friends. I absolutely love the new interior which is luxurious, comfortable, mellow, dark and cosy. I just know I'll be making a beeline for the new Whig during cold winter months as everything about it expresses warmth and welcome. Our waiting staff were friendly and fantastic and we choose from the '2 Courses & a Glass of Wine for £15.95' menu which is available Monday to Thursday between 12 and 9pm. I opted for sesame asparagus frites starter and Mediterranean vegetable brochette main. Wine on this menu was either a glass of white, red or rose. We all choose white which was a fruity light Sauvignon Blanc. Personally I thought my food excellent, full of flavour and extremely great value for money. I loved my time spent in Northern Whig and think the new interior, service, ambience, food and wine superb. I would almost 5 star Northern Whig except for the fact that my pet hate was present - vegetarian options not clearly marked on the menu! Why Northern Whig, WHY??!!! Nonetheless there were a few vegetarian starters and a couple of mains to choose from across the menus on offer. Hence 4 stars for now.... Ultimately Northern Whig is a pleasure to visit and I will be returning soon. I saw some delicious looking cocktails being served and think the new refurb a triumph. It's wonderful to have a regenerated, renewed Belfast city centre spot to wine, dine and relax in. read more

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I'm not really a fan of the Whig. It tends to be too busy at the weekends for me to enjoy it, plus it tries too hard to be trendy for my taste. Now, the food is something I can get behind. I really like going here for dinner with the girls, or calling in for lunch when shopping on a Saturday, so I'd definitely recommend it as a restaurant. It's nice gastropub food and very reasonably priced. As a bar, however, it lacks something. I think it might be that the music is loud enough to suggest a club, but there's no actual dancefloor. I hate this in a bar because it means people dance where they're standing and the traffic flow gets messed up and I get stressed out trying to walk from the bar to the bathroom! No good. read more

Northern Whig - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

The Northern Whig is an impressive looking building, with large windows, a spacious interior, and three large granite statues - it definitely looks great! They have a good cocktail menu, and that would pretty much be the only reason I would go there. Despite the, on the face of it, opulent first impression, the place has a distinctly Wetherspoon-esque vibe about it. I've only ever eaten here once before - chicken wings. I really struggled to find any chicken on them! Definitely a good place to go for a couple of tasty and reasonably priced cocktails before moving on to somewhere else! read more

Been herr a few times with my friends food is always nice down side is the foods always then same menu doesnt change Then we decided to go here for lunch brought the kids wel wasnt that a mistake Staff took forever to see to us there was about two other tables so they were dead Didnt ask if we needed a highchair which we did then we had to go get it r selves No kids menus So if u dnt havr kids it's great for u but if u do then stay away read more

Northern Whig - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Do not be fooled by The Northern Whig. As part of the Botanic Inn group (the Globe, Ryans, Bot) I wasn't expecting that much. In fact, I was expecting pretty much the exact same. Offers, students, nothing that special. How wrong I was. The décor is fantastic, compared to just the usual pubs that you associate with the Botanic Inn group. They have leather chairs, great lighting, fancy cocktails. It's not really aimed at the drunk student. Well certainly not during the day. I've heard about this place at night and it gets properly busy. We were only in it for lunch and it all seemed a little bit classier than we had first expected. We got the lunch (two courses) and a glass of wine for £12.95 as I usually go for the offers and I'm a sucker for anything that comes complete with a glass of wine. If you give me a shower with Elton John and a free glass of wine, I'd consider it (insert inappropriate Elton John song titles at will). The food was nice, wholesome pub food but you get the feeling this place is all about the drinks. The cocktails look fantastic and although I haven't tried any since a fateful night in the Eg where we finished a menu of cocktails and brought home our very first traffic cone... Aw the memories... Anyways, despite the decent food, it is the drink that you come here for. You can get nicer food in close proximity (I'm thinking Brights) so go there for your meal and here for your cocktails. And if you are able to drink your way through the entire menu, I'll give you your very own traffic cone. read more

Northern Whig - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

No stars!!! The system will not let me post without putting a star. We were told our son needed pants. So he put them on. Then another guy said it was fine another guys said no!!! Then we watch some guy walk in with baggy khakis shorts?!?!? I am in a knee walker and felt discriminated against once they saw me. Enough said. Don't go there!!! read more

We were turned away for not being properly dressed. After a day of touring, we didn't return to to our hotel to freshen up for what appears to be a public house. I guess there is a first for everything. The 3.5 star rating seems high, but I suppose I'm only able to rate how they decide who eats and who doesn't. read more

My mate and I popped in for a quiet cuppa coffee earlier and stayed for a couple of hours. First time here since its been done up and it looks well. I like how the dining area is enclosed on the right hand side and good spacious reception area. Great prices and fab staff!! read more

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I love the decor of the northern wig! Its is a large open plan space with plenty of seating available. I have been here for both a meal and drinks and all my experiences have been positive! The food is cooked and presented to a good standard! The cocktail menu is extensive and my fav is always the strawberry daiquiri! You really can't beat it! It can be very busy here on a sat night! So if that's not your thing then maybe give it a miss! read more

The Northern Whig may be were I go to most for a drink this weather. It's so interesting inside with the statues and just lovely decor. The bar has a great selection of drinks and he bar staff are fantastic. The food they serve is second to none and the wait staff and personable as well as knowledgeable. It is a great way to spend an afternoon(doubly so when the weather is poor, looking out the big windows at the front with a nice drink on a bad day is a thoroughly enjoyable experience) A must see for places to drink in Belfast and a brilliant choice for a date. read more

Food/Cost: (5) I came with my traveling companion for dinner last Tuesday. We both chose to take advantage of Whig's meal deal - 2 courses for 10 pounds. What a great deal! For 10 pounds we got to choose 2 items from 3 sections: starters, entrees, or desserts. I opted for the entree of the Haddock Risotto and a dessert of Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream (10 pounds for both). The risotto was very good. It was flavorful -- if not too salty -- and had a great risotto texture that was creamy with a slight bite. There could have been more haddock, but the amount was satisfactory. The dessert was what blew the meal out of the proverbial water. The sticky toffee pudding was amazing; it was already moist and flavorful, but the syrup that it sat in added even more sweetness and moisture. I was left wanting more, and that was not due to a deficiency in serving size by any means. I would have given Whig the same, 5-star rating even if the food was double the price -- it was that good. Best 10 pounds I spent in Ireland for a meal. Ambiance: (5) The decor of Northern Whig is right up my alley. It's classy mix of female glitz and glamour with a bit of something reminiscent of a masculine leather lounge. The large chandeliers that hang down from the ceiling kicks everything up a notch, and the large stone statues that fill the space is unexpected yet fits. Whig feels trendy, classy, and upscale. Location: (5) Located on the corner of Bridge and Waring Streets, this restaurant was situated across from my hotel, which made it super convenient. For shoppers in the surrounding areas, from the Castle Court Shopping Center and Victoria Center, Whigs is only a short stroll away. Service: (5) Our waiter was super friendly and helpful. He was also very funny and joked with us throughout dinner. The food came out promptly after we ordered and the courses came right after each other. Perfect. Overall: (5) I couldn't have asked for a better dinner experience. I would definitely return if I lived in Belfast. read more

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Been here a few times for food and a couple of times from drinks. The food is good, the vibe is nice and the interior is pretty impressive. The corner spot is dead handy and on entering there's a lower seating area of sofas and low tables which are normally filled with drinkers. Up the steps is the main dining/bar area and it's hard not to be impressed with the high ceiling and huge military statues. Even though it's essentially a big square room it always seems cosy enough and pretty buzzing most times of the day. As I said anytime I've eaten there it's been pretty casual and I've found the service really good. Best thing is that even when it's busy the wait for the table is never too long plus you can get a seat and a drink while you wait. One of Belfast's underrated gems. Pros: Nice environment. Cons: Gets very busy and noisy in the run up to Xmas. read more

Northern Whig - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

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First time in Belfast and incredibly disappointed. Great place with good ambiance. Very poor food quality. Fish and chips with package tartare sauce...!! Please if there anything they need to do right it's at least a homemade tartar sauce. Service needs to improve, waited 15 minutes for our bill. I would not recommend this place. read more

Nothing as good as a free day getting the ulsterbus from Ballyclare into the city and hitting the Northern Whig for a nice cold pint. They have quite a selection of "tap" beers to choose from and the surroundings are very luxurious. Was meeting a lass for a bit of a date last week and for the first time I sampled their food. To be honest I wasn't hungry with my nerves so wasn't very adventurous when it came to eating as the Guinness was flowing down at a heck of a rate. Anyway the lady friend had a salad which she enjoyed and I just took a starter which was soup....mushroom and Blue Stilton Cheese no less! The most adventurous I usually am with soup consists of plain old chicken. However it was quite nice and surprised myself to be truthful. The waitress who tended us was friendly and we didn't have to go to the bar once as she kept the drinks flowing on request. The final bill scared me a little bit but anywhere in the city centre you are sure to pay a shilling or two for a day out. They had a dress code which I'm told is pretty strict but my ink was covered and I only broke the rules by wearing trainers (which are quite trendy looking if I may say so) but this wasn't frowned upon by staff or even late on when the doorman came in he didn't mention the strict dress code. Good day/evening out and we enjoyed it so much that we didn't venture anywhere else in Belfast. Thumbs up! read more

Northern Whig - Inside the Whig. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Went here for the first time since it has been refurbished...decor is nice, looks a bit like a few other bars I've been In but it makes such a difference. It brightens the place up. Unfortunately on this particular evening it lacked atmosphere and I wasn't too impressed with the cocktails. I ordered a bramble and it arrived in a very small glass, to get the berry taste they had used a syrup. It just wasnt worth the money. Maybe if they threw in some real fruit it may have looked more appealing and probably taste better. The staff seemed in good form and looked like they enjoyed what they do. We didn't bother to stay for another drink..won't hurry back. read more

Northern Whig - The bramble :( - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

Nice wee spot just as you are going into the cathedral quarter ... They do cocktail promos from around 5pm ... £4 each and usually some other form Of drinks promos as well. At weekends they have live entertainment either a band/singer and dj later on. Food is really good and they sometimes do deals on groupon which are worth keeping an eye out for ! read more

Big but not brash, well situated and always busy; The Northern Whig is one of Belfast's more trendy night spots. Well designed and decorated on the inside, I'm a big fan of the look of this bar, particularly the Soviet era paraphinalia and statues that adorns the walls and plinths. During the day it is a lovely restaurant with a good, varied menu all at an ok price. The food is quality, big portions and well presented so you pay for what you get. I'm ok with paying a wee bit extra but most people couldn't afford to go every day for lunch. At night it is maybe a bit trendy for my tastes, although I've never had a bad night I've never had a complete blast. Perhaps my jeans are a bit skinny, my hair just that little bit too asymetical or my taste in music is too lacking in Usher and Girls Aloud. A lovely place, a bit of a landmark for Belfast to be proud of, just not my kind of place to hang out too often. read more

The Whig really is one of the trendiest funkiest bars in Belfast! Its situated a stone's thro away from the City centre and is alays buzzing at the weekend and ofthen during the week too! They specialise in awesome cocktails with special offers on pitchers (so good!) and the bar is well stocked with all the favourites! I love the decor, it has a boudoir feel with a strangeness about it (mainly the hige statues in the middle of the place) but these add to its quirky charm. There is a balcony area with its own bar which can be hired for functions and looks out over the rest of the pub. The food is really quite good and is always busy! The menu is extensive and each dish sounds even better than its predassessor. I would most definately reccommed the duck walnut salad starter!! so good! The atmosphere is generally, young, loud and lively with DJ's present at the weekends! Definately a great place to go with your mates if you're looking for a good night out in the town! read more

Northern Whig - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Belfast, BFS

I've always loved the interior here at the Whig, especially the lights over the bar and the massive communist-esque statue. While the front part of the bar by the windows has become a little jaded, feeling more like a waiting room, the rest of the place remains the same. I don't know if this is a good thing, as the clientèle seems to have dropped a little in number and style over the years, but for a drink and a pretty decent mid-week meal deal, the Whig is grand. It would never be my first choice, but it wouldn't be my last either, mainly because of the statues, after all, a good night is all about the company. For this area though there are so many better bars round the corner on Skipper Street/ Commercial Court. read more

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I was eager to try the Northern Whig following its recent renovation and last night with 3 friends I finally did. On first impressions you can see a lot of work and thought had gone into the refurbishment and it is a fabulous decadent bar reminiscent of the gin palaces of old. Lots of exposed brick, copper bar and statement lighting it really is a beautiful establishment. We decided to try the 2 courses for £15.95 which included a glass of wine as well - with a bargain like that how could we refuse! I started with the mushroom and three cheese tart and I have to say when it arrived I couldn't get over the size of it - it was packed with flavour and truly delicious I could of ate it all night. One of the best starters I have had and for those of you who don't like a big main this would be perfect to order as a light bite. My main was the Piri Piri chicken which was beautifully presented on a board served with a bean salsa, cucumber and mint dip, sweet potato fries and corn bread - this was again a jam packed tasty main, my only complaint would be sometimes I just want a plate - I don't think that's too much to ask for! As it was I was so stuffed from my starter that my main was somewhat wasted as I could only eat half of it which was a shame. The staff were friendly and helpful and when one of our party was not happy with their main it was easily swapped with something else to her liking without any fuss. Excellent service, beautiful surroundings and scrumptious food - what more could a girl want!! Just a plate maybe read more

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Went to Belfast in April and this bar was one of the best that I visited (and I managed to visit quite a lot of them!). The bar is apparently owned by a guy called Jaz Mooney, who has other entertainment venues. The reason that it's called The Northern Whig is because the building was the offices of the Northern Whig newspaper. When you first walk in, you don't get an accurate idea of how big the place is - it's only when you move past the seating area by the long window at the front of the building you see the size of the main room and the length of the bar running down one end of it. It's BIG! The decoration is opulent - there are chandeliers hanging from the high vaulted ceilings and velvet cushioned sofas dotted everywhere and it seems a really popular place to go. The most surprising thing about this bar is that it's home to four or five ginormous, original, Communist statues imported from Prague. They are fabulous and I had no problem going from cool urbanite sipping a cocktail to gobsmacked, uncouth tourist getting her camera out and snapping away 'cos it meant I got a shot of a statue. It's history man! The cocktails are superb, the food looked and smelt delicious (although I didn't sample anything other than beverages!) and the staff are efficient and friendly. I could have stayed in the Northern Whig all day and when I go back to Belfast (because I definitely want to), I will be going back there to see those statues and sip some more cocktails. read more

Went for lunch mid week with a few friends and my daughter. Food was nice but it's not child friendly at all the servers didn't really take my daughter under there notice. I needed a highchair for her and i had to go find one in the restaurant also no kids menu. So it's nice for people with no kids. The cocktails looked lovely though. read more

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Definitely can't go wrong here -- prices are reasonable, plenty of seating, adequate service and Steve said it was the best soup he ever had in his life (I think it was cream of vegetable). Only thing I can fault them on was lack of ketchup for the chips (table full of Ugly Americans and all they could scrape together were five packets) -- guess we need to get with the vinegar on chips thing. read more

This bar has a great atmosphere and is very friendly and lively. It has a great location and is pretty big for if out with a large group of friends. Cocktails here are great. Great night will def be had if you head out here. read more

I've been to the Whig twice only. Lots of open space and seating. Waiters were quick in serving us and the food came quite quick. I got chicken goujons and chunky chips with a sweet chilli dip. The chips were lovely , fluffy and crisp and the goujons were crispy and tender , the sweet chilli dip had a bit of spice but not too much , nice meal. They also do £4 cocktails during certain hours. Lovely classical interior and quite a busy bar and restaurant. read more

Northern whig bar is defo a great place to visit the staff and doormen are fab would recommend this place every time

Id forgotten to review the Whig and if it had been left alone id have given it four or maybe five stars. The refurbished Whig is ok but lacks the wow factor that it had. Its gone down the route of putting the bar in the middle with a few nice chandeliers which is fair enough but if you've ever been in when the pre refurbished Whig you'll remember how unique the interior was in Belfast. There's no promotions on meals or cocktails which was a let down and we ended up going elsewhere. I'm beginning to think Belfast has a problem with promotions and struggles to entice people in. The Whig has gone from stunning and unique to an ok venue. read more

I've been here a few times before and it's in a great location with really nice decor. There are lots of large granite statues and a very impressive bar. Unfortunately the food is quite poor. We recently had Sunday lunch and it was so disappointing. To start we had vegetable soup which was literally just boiling water with veg in it. It had zero flavour and we couldn't eat it. For main I had turkey and ham. This was a bit better but still nothing exciting. Service is good but due to the food I wouldn't be in a rush back. I wasn't drinking so can't comment on the drinks. read more

Lovely place to go for a meal and also a drink. Also deliver a various range of delecious cocktails! Food is just as nice as the cocktails. Qwerty environment and alive at weekend nights. read more

Randomly picked this place while wandering around our first evening in Belfast and it ended up being one of the best meals of our trip. My boyfriend had the duck and I had some ravioli with shirmp and scallops inside in a lobster bisque sauce. We were there during happy hour in which they have good deals on cocktails. It's a trendy looking bar but with these huge communist statues in it so it's an interesting mix, just like Belfast. I would definitely check this place out. read more

Dropped in for a meal here and the food was quite good. The mix grill was really good and the banoffe pie was heavenly. Will go back for food however the ambience of the place left a bit to be desired. Too big and noisy for my liking. read more

Went here on Halloween night, was my first time going there, and I was looking forward to it. Was slightly disappointed only because it was really really quiet! Anyone who knows Belfast on Halloween knows that it is usually busy everywhere you go. Now, we moved on elsewhere later, so it may be that it filled up after a fashion - but we didn't see that. I thought it had a good atmosphere and the DJ was good craic, getting people involved in games and competitions all with a Halloween theme, and the bar staff were quick off the mark and pleasant. We had quite a few mojitos and they were really fresh and lovely and the staff took the time to prepare them properly - and they were a few pence cheaper than cocktails I've had elsewhere. I would imagine if I went on a normal Saturday night it would be livelier and more fun, so I fully intend to. read more

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The Northern Whig is a bar/restaurant on the outskirts of the city centre's Cathedral Quarter. The interior is beautiful; dimly lit with mahogany floors and wooden tables. It's an upmarket bar, yet the food and drink are not overly expensive and you can still turn up (during the day) in jeans and t shirt (though not by night). The food is delicious, with everything from noodles to chicken goujons offered, and the staff are so polite and eager to please. Great place for a bit of food and drink and a quiet chat before hitting the noisier nightclubs. read more

Not bad, and at least it was open on Sunday evening, other restaurants in the city centre take note...people DO actually want to eat after 6pm on a Sunday, we are not living in some backwater in Utah. Its Belfast City Centre for gods sake! Dimly lit inside but we got a table right away, I realise the price of electricity is high here in good 'ol NI, but maybe put in energy saving bulbs instead of turning the lights down so no one can read the bloody menu! Clean place, with some bizarre large stone monuments right in the middle of the place, God help you if one of them can away from its mooring, friendly staff and a nice enough menu, service was pretty quick and food was tasty and hot. All in all an AOK experience. The prices were reasonable too. Uncomfortable seating though, and warm britvic (refrigerator anyone??) even when it was served with ice kind of put me off a bit, but apart from that I would say go for it, its not a bad place. read more

Great food and cocktails. Try and get a seat upstairs, you can people watch in peace.

Been in a couple of times for a drink but decided to try it for something to eat on last night. Good quality bar food and the best burger I've had this trip (especially with the added raw onions on the side!). Lovely atmosphere and very friendly efficient staff - thoroughly recommend it. read more

A lively atmosphere & a mixed crowd. Staff are friendly & interior nice. Good for a night out.