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Whites Tavern

4.1 (91 reviews)
Open 11:30 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

Whites Tavern Irish Pub Photos

WHITES TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Whites Tavern

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Reviews With Photos

Gin & Tonic.
Brian L.

After a long day of walking, and a last-minute discovery of this pub last night, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to drop in... mid-afternoon on a Monday. No crowd, quick service. There was plenty of seating, and it was very cozy. I ordered at the bar, though I think they might do table service. I just walked in and assumed I knew what I was doing and sat down and got my Guinness and chowder from the bar... but that might not be standard procedure. Don't blame me. The chowder seems small, but they pack a lot of really good bits of quality fish in there! Don't let the idea of "soup" fool you. This is a proper meal, and delicious at that... I did crunch down on a couple bits of mussel shell, but that's par for the course, eh? Can recommend for wayward travellers, but if you're doing it for the checklist, then drop in when it's off-peak hours. Nobody else really cares if you went to the oldest pub in Belfast, except you.

I snagged the cozy corner best for people watching and the rad is right there too

Cozy little tavern with outstanding food. Live music and friendly servers made his stop a favorite memory of Belfast.

Interior
Eowyn K.

The oldest pub in Belfast. We went through the alley to the oldest part, which apparently was a stable. The pub extends and has a more modern area as well as a covered outdoor area. The old stable is low lite, low ceilings, and friendly bar tenders. It was not overly busy when we stopped by, and the noise level was low. No music during our visit unfortunately. Still a good visit!

Sara G.

During our visit to Belfast, we couldn't pass up the chance to visit White's Tavern. It's said to be the oldest pub in the city. It's very rustic and definitely makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. She's from 1630. I opted for the vegetarian vegetable stew, and it exceeded my expectations. As someone who typically avoids stews due to my diet, this dish was a delightful surprise. The stew was hearty and flavorful, and packed with fresh vegetables. It was a real treat to enjoy a comforting stew without worrying about any meat ingredients. We loved sitting in there enjoying dinner and a couple drinks.

Jensen W.

The oldest bar in Belfast! You need to stop by. The close coming to the bar is so fun & makes for great pictures!!!! Enjoy a pint of Guinness here & grab a bite to eat. Make sure you get a table cleared because this spot is poppin. If you're not u for the menu, walk over to the more modern area to grab a bite! Order at the bar & they'll get the food out to you.

Alli C.

Whites is a very British pub in Belfast; while I am American and will admit that I don't understand the political dichotomy of Northern Ireland, I can say I met with a substantially British patronage on a Saturday morning/afternoon. Whites is comprised of three distinct bar areas - the pub, garden, and beer hall. The beer hall may be the most sophisticated (and has the most sitting area), but each has its place. The original pub has charm, a slightly more 'Irish' patronage, and limited seating. The garden had stags and hens galore (bachelor and bachelorette parties), and the bar had a few designers present, along with cocktails and wine more prevalent than pints. I ordered three drinks here, and the staff was always friendly if distant (they were busy - this isn't a complaint). The British men next to me (London) joked that I received my drinks quicker than them.... Sure? My gin fizz was made incorrectly but it was still drinkable. The Last Desire (not sure if that was the correct name but it was close) was tasty and frothy, and all that an egg white cocktail should be. The Guinness (sampled from my London friends) was frothy and cold. I'm not sure why Americans are amusing to Brits, but I did have a few friendly Brit's ask if we were Americans... which makes me think I either smile and talk too much, or that I'm doing something wrong. Either way, enjoyed the atmosphere, the gaiety and the drinks! Multiple Brit's mentioned the drinks were pricey, but I found the drinks to be slightly under what I'm used to in urban cities (even factoring in the the pound to dollar conversion). I'd visit here again.

Irish beef stew
Evangeline C.

Great Irish beef stew; filling and hearty. The truffles fries were not as expected and just alright. It can get pretty busy and the service is quite nonchalant.

Shawn A.

Cool pub in Belfast. Unfortunately we were only able to get a Guinness because food service was canceled for the night due to a private event (turns out we got bumped by the Clintons). Great pint of Guinness and a very cool pub!

David M.

Very large for a pub. Was craving a burger and this ended up being just the right place for a delicious Irish beef burger on some excellent brioche. Service was just a tad spotty, but the folks were so kind. It was a welcome change to be in a roomy pub.

Justina L.

Enjoyed a nice lunch here shortly after they opened for the day. Service was super quick. I ordered the Irish beef stew and it was very good. Inside and outside seating, good music playing. Not too loud. Would return again when in the area

Stew was incredible!
Kelsey B.

Food was delicious! Very busy which made for a fun atmosphere! We had stew and the Belfast bap which were both great. The meat on the bap could've been a bit more tender but delicious none the less!

Waited over 40 minutes after placing our order. Found out that there was a rugby game and the chefs were preoccupied. WTF

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10 years ago

This pub started off in 1630. It has stood the test of time. We got here early- good call as it got bunged real quick. Good atmosphere.

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11 years ago

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17 years ago

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10 years ago

Always a classic bar for the old and new customers . lovely old fashioned bar.with lovely staff

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Whites Tavern Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Whites Tavern

Off the beaten path but pretty easy to find, this pub will satisfy your craving for a Guinness and good food.

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The Crown Liquor Saloon

The Crown Liquor Saloon

3.8(215 reviews)
0.4 miCity 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

Photos
The Crown Liquor Saloon - Wooden Dragon

Wooden Dragon

The Crown Liquor Saloon
The Crown Liquor Saloon - Margarita

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Margarita

Holohans Pantry - Chicken boxty

Holohans Pantry

4.6(24 reviews)
1.0 miQueen Quarter
££

Second visit and just as nice as the first. Food is…read moreexcellent. Boxty is best. Desert delicious. Service friendly and quick.

Closing time listed as 9:00pm, actually 7:00pm on a Sunday. Maybe you should update your hours?…read moreGirl walked in right behind me with the same problem, she was also turned away. The guy with blue eyes behind the bar asked how long I was in town for, hoping that I would come back after being turned away... NO THANK YOU . Excellent service for my first hour in Ireland . Update 04-28-2026: wow, I can't believe how both the business and employee (Pearse Duffy) both responded. Completely unprofessional, Dishonest, and Disrespectful treatment of a traveler who just wanted a warm meal. Whatever you're talking about having "all orders 2 hrs before posted time" isn't working because the tall Asian woman in the white sweater walked in and out, just after I did. So I'm not the only one who is being mislead and dismissed for your ignorance and arrogance. You clearly need to make your hours more obvious, change how you display them, or do something else, because I am not the only person having this problem. What you're current doing regarding your hours, or handling of negative reviews is not working! I posted this review to help both this business and any future potential customers from making the same mistake that I did. The correct response would be : I'm so sorry that happened to you, will change it right away. But to call me obnoxious for pointing out a valid criticism? Bizarre behavior from an established restaurant. As for Pearse Duffy, the disgruntled employee who turned me away after laughing at me, noted that it is his 2nd week working in the harassing Facebook message that he sent me, and it shows... The correct response would have been; I'll tell my manager right now to update the hours on Google so that this doesn't happen again. I'm so sorry, what can I do to make this right? Not laughing at me, stalking me, and sending me a harassing message on my Facebook profile. If he contacts me again, I will be submitting all of this information to the local authorities, and filing a police report. This is not how you handle an upset customer, as either a business or an employee. This is exactly how you ruin your reputation and get fired. Stalking an upset customer and then sending them a harassing message over an honest review is grounds for immediate dismissal in any industry. This is a terrible look for your employee, your management, and your business. This is no way to handle a business or a customer, I hope someone who knows how to sees this updated review.

Photos
Holohans Pantry - The bar

The bar

Holohans Pantry - 4.10.25 sticky toffee pudding is so bomb

4.10.25 sticky toffee pudding is so bomb

Holohans Pantry - Outside of restaurant

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Outside of restaurant

Katy's Bar

Katy's Bar

4.4(30 reviews)
0.5 miCity 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.

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Katy's Bar
Katy's Bar - Cosy pints

Cosy pints

Katy's Bar

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Whites Tavern - irish_pubs - Updated May 2026

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