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    The Spaniard

    3.9 (49 reviews)
    ModeratePubs, Cocktail Bars
    Closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    The Spaniard Photos

    THE SPANIARD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise

    Recommended Reviews - The Spaniard

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    Chilled out tunes
    Ru T.

    THE best pub in Belfast... Small and intimate surroundings, ALWAYS a great music playlist and Guinness, brilliant food, wonderfully eclectic décor, great selection of wines, beers and spirits and truly great bar staff and located in Belfast's lovely Cathedral Quarter... Why wouldn't you go and try it out...? Just go and have a pint, you'll see what I mean!

    The Spaniard, calm before the dark and stormy.
    Jules S.

    I accidentally went for a few school night drinks last night and accidentally ended up in The Spaniard. OK, the venue wasn't an accident, I love The Spaniard. It's small and cosy and always has a great atmosphere whether it's a quiet Monday afternoon or a heaving Saturday night. It has been a stand out feature of the Cathedral Quarter for years and despite plenty of new places opening around it, The Spaniard remains a firm favourite. It prides itself on having the best rum selection in town, but even though I hate rum there are loads of fine cocktails and gins to keep me happy. A special mention also needs to go to the tunes, they always rock. I also love the lounge upstairs which has a very strong religious theme. I've seen plenty of shocked faces on seeing it for the first time, but if a little imagery offends you, what on earth are you doing in a bar in the first place! ;-) Long live The Spaniard!

    I have a feeling that The Spaniard is fantastically overrated. Hear me out before you start booing... Why would you want to stand shoulder to shoulder, rammed in like sardines (sorry for the cliché) in a tiny little room with people delighting in their own over-exuberance because they think that they're in the coolest pub in Belfast? Why wouldn't you want to go somewhere with a bit of breathing space? Yes, the place is interestingly decorated, but so are a handful of others in the nearby area. At the risk of sounding like a right old misery guts; In some of those places, you might actually be able to sit down and stretch your legs out. I've never really had an enjoyable experience in The Spaniard as I'm clearly mildly claustrophobic. It's not for me.

    Andrew B.

    One of the smallest pubs that I have ever been in there are literally three tables with chairs and some stools at a small bar...I have never been here when its busy...thank goodness...I'm not sure it would be that enjoyable...But it would be nice to be on the inside looking out one Friday night...I went for food here for a birthday a couple of years ago and I have recently heard some good reviews from friends so I guess their food is still up to scratch..only go with friends here if you are all very thin and/or small...its not gonna really work otherwise!!!!

    Yeah yeah, I know...everyone loves the Spaniard. And you know what, I do too. As far as bars go this has got to be one of the best I've ever visited. It's got that right mix of quirk and practicality, the right blend of anarchy and fun that most bars will never have. It's waaay too small so it's easy to spend most of the night peering in the front window at luckier seated bods but what I find is the clientele is ever changing over the night so be quick and you'll maybe get your bum on the sofa. One minute you'll be surrounded by the after work crowd the next they'll have moved on and the latest hip young musicians will be gathering to plot world domination. It's a curious mix but it all hangs together really well. Special mention must go to the bar staff who have a great turn of phrase and give you the impression that they've seen it all. Décor is great as well, loads of vintage album sleeves and some hanging curios fill the ceiling...don't stare too long or you'll zone out. As I type the place may have become overrun with poseurs but hey, when a bar's this cool... Pros: Great character, does food as well. Cons: Smaller than small.

    The bar!

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

    come here for the unique decor. it's like being in church, but with beer.

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    The Spaniard Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - The Spaniard

    it is set in the cathedral quarter which is seen by many as the best and most trendy place in belfast.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

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    Muriel's

    Muriel's

    4.4(53 reviews)
    0.1 miCity Centre
    ££

    It's a cute cafe and bar in downtown Belfast. The gin selection is good but wouldnt say it was…read moreamazing and the cocktails didnt necessarily highlight the gins given the amount of sugar and other ingredients in them. I think they may have had gin flights but we didnt see anything about that. They get their food from next door (burgers and tacos) which is fine and perfectly acceptable.

    It was our first time in Belfast and decided to do our own pub crawl (especially if you have too…read moremany beers). Luckily we were not driving so Muriel's was our second stop. Since we had already had lunch we sat at the bar for a beer. We were greeted by a nice bartender. We told her we were looking for either a beer or cider. There are a few tables outside to enjoy the weather and a few tables inside. The bar area downstairs is small with quite a sizable collection of bras hanging from the ceiling. We ordered a Hilden Belfast Blonde and a Small Axe Session IPA. It wasn't super busy so talked to the bartender about travel. As another bartender walked in we also discussed beer and cocktails. He told us that flavored Gins were popular. He let us smell a few of the popular ones since we are not big gin drinkers. Decided to stop in the ladies room before leaving and found an interesting group of old photos while there. We didn't try any food but loved the beer and cocktail options and really enjoyed talking to both the bartenders. Stop by and check it out.

    Photos
    Muriel's
    Muriel's - Muriel's (exterior)

    Muriel's (exterior)

    Muriel's - Prosecco is great here as well as gin :-)

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    Prosecco is great here as well as gin :-)

    Ritas

    Ritas

    4.5(15 reviews)
    0.5 miCity Centre
    £££

    Fantastic cocktails, great atmosphere, and if you can grab a seat you can dance to the great music…read morethey have playing all night. The service is a bit slow so if you want more than one drink you'll have to budget some extra time, but if you have no place to be then enjoy!

    I think Daniel S hit the nail on the head when he said, 'if Hollister did bars' As he mentioned…read moreit's very dark but it's also atmospheric. For me the darkness adds to the smoking club feeling of Ritas, it kind of feels underground. The decor is definitely vintage with a geisha feel, there's loads of hanging Japanese umbrellas and framed geisha girls. The seating is extremely comfortable, if you get plonked in one of their huge, velvet armchairs that might be you settled for the night. For me, the most impressive thing about Ritas is the cocktails and the staff. I actually commented on Saturday evening that no matter how busy the bar is the staff put the same care and detail in to their creations. I say 'creations' because these really are works of art. I ordered a French Martini for Stacey K and the mixologist seemed to be completely zoned in on making the drink, it was almost as if the 30 other people clambering over the bar didn't exist. I love this attention to detail. They serve a good range of beers as well as having an extensive cocktail list. Blue Moon on tap is always a winner for me. The Linen Quarter is absolutely thriving and in truth it's down to the swanky elegance of Ritas, The Perch and Sweet Afton. I've been to each of these bars a good few times and never once have I experienced any sort of drunken trouble. There's a relaxing atmosphere in all these bars and I really think they highlight the new booming, bussling, vibrant Belfast.

    Photos
    Ritas - Enjoying a selection of cocktails with Nicola S & Caroline S

    Enjoying a selection of cocktails with Nicola S & Caroline S

    Ritas
    Ritas - If Hollister did bars - Very dark and expensive. Looks cool though!

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    If Hollister did bars - Very dark and expensive. Looks cool though!

    The Perch - Lemon meringue and watermelon sugar

    The Perch

    3.8(34 reviews)
    0.5 miCity Centre
    ££

    This place is very nice and has a good rooftop to get some drinks. Reservations required for the…read moretables but walk ins allowed to sit at the bar. We got the Jug, it was good but didn't have much alcohol in it. We also got the lemon meringue and watermelon sugar drink which were VERY good. Definitely a cool place for cocktails, recommend NOT getting the jug though.

    My wife and I would be in Belfast for the night, so finding some cool bars to enjoy a drink in the…read morecenter of town was on our list of things to do. Through Yelp, I had heard about The Perch that from the pictures looked like a cool place to grab a drink. Little did I realize how cool the bar really is when we made our way down this side street and discovered the entrance. The outdoor rooftop bar is located on the fifth floor in the historic Linen Quarter, which can be accessed through a series of twisting and turning hallways before reaching an old school sliding door lift, which one of the door people take you up. Upon reaching the rooftop, you certainly understand why the owners call the bar "The Perch" because it feels like a bird perch between the various bird perches hung over the bar and the overall decor that has an open-air approach, combined with both a 19th Century steampunk meets polynesian feel. Unlike most bars, The Perch only has in stock a few spirits on the shelves (whether this is due to the pandemic or the actual intent). But from my observation, there seems to be a purpose for this as they focus on making a handful of cocktails -- and making them well, they do. The Brambles was my favorite cocktail that was refreshing and delicious, while the Aperol Springs was tasty but strong. But having a couple of delightful drinks but us to a place of spiritual purity and understanding. Highly recommended if you're in town and looking for a cool and chill bar with a sweet ambiance and funky way to enter.

    Photos
    The Perch - Sex on the beach jug

    Sex on the beach jug

    The Perch
    The Perch - The Largarita

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    The Largarita

    The Muddlers Club - Clementine, honeycomb, and yogurt

    The Muddlers Club

    4.9(14 reviews)
    0.1 miThe Cathedral Quarter
    £££

    I booked a late reservation here at the Muddler's Club. I came solo and got dropped off by a taxi…read more I got a little lost while trying to find the restaurant. It's pretty hidden in the alley and not going to lie...coming to a new city, let alone a new country by myself was a bit intimidating, but I found it just in time for my reservation. I absolutely loved my first Michelin Star restaurant experience. I was born in Belfast, and have never been back since I was born, so I enjoyed every opportunity to tell a server. The staff was so friendly and described every dish. I ordered the Seasonal Tasting MenuEach dish was excellent. My favorite was probably the duck and the savory mousse pastries. Food in order of serving: 1. Sourdough Guinness bread with vanilla butter and olive oil 2. Olive sponge crab and apple, chicken and caramel with some type of mousse 3. Scallops, cucumber frothy brown butter 4. Bluefin tuna tartare with avocado and heirloom tomato 5. Halibut with crispy chicken skin 6. Duck 7. Sorbet and then....my phone died before I could write down the other yummy dishes I ate! The ambience was dark, romantic, and vibey. A little mysterious because of the hidden aspect, but overall I loved my whole experience here.

    My weekday dinner at Muddler's Club seemed a bit directionless…read more The food is excellent, taste, flavor combinations and présentation. That is not the concern. The space itself has a very long and interesting history, just over 40 seats have been cramped into that space. A couple tables have small glass walls to separate them and squeeze in more diners. And it's pretty loud. So loud, I can barely hear the sommelier describe her wines. There may have been music playing... but who can hear? There seems to be an attempt to elevate the bartender over the sommelier, with the menu encouraging the guests to try specialty cocktails instead of selecting whole bottles of wine. And the bartender's constant ice shaker only adds to the noise. The service is very relaxed, with servers in t-shirts and jeans, sneakers, paper napkins. And the servers seemed a bit inattentive, watching the chefs through the pass, not paying attention to guests' needs. Oh, and the server even wrote "thank you" on the printed bill... How kind. Excellent Flair. Pure Chotchkie's. For the food, I'll return. 2025 04 16. M1. 235.

    Photos
    The Muddlers Club - Bread

    Bread

    The Muddlers Club - Venison Carpaccio

    Venison Carpaccio

    The Muddlers Club - Filet

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    Filet

    The Spaniard - pubs - Updated May 2026

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