Corner shop tinnies not quite cutting it? This lot are upping your drinks game with award-winning concoctions, affordable mixes and craft creations in locations from underground hideaways to hotels and rooftops. Whether it's after work drinks or your next date night destination, consult our guide to Belfast's best cocktail bars and make your next sip a quality one.
When it comes to cocktail bars in the city, make your way to The Tipsy Bird & Brewers Yard for lip-smacking concoctions. From an Ann Street cooler made up of gin, pomegranate, lemon and a splash of soda to a whiskey-laced Raunchy Robin, there are plenty of sips to choose between.
If you like your drinks paired with sky-high scenes, energetic live music and International small plates, then you've come to the right place. Check out Babel Belfast for one of the best rooftop bars around.
Bringing together great food, cocktails, live music, DJs bottomless brunches and more, nothing compares to Revolucion de Cuba's vibrant Latin energy.
The rum-heavy cocktail list will leave you spoiled for choice, with sips ranging from delicious mojitos to twists on the classics – think Pornstar Rumtinis and a salted caramel old fashioned. From the shots to the sharers and even the alcohol-free options, the drinks get more and more adventurous. Make the most of their happy hour by heading down on a weekday between 4pm to 8pm.
With a drinks list that covers vodka, rum, whisky and all the classics, Santeria is a great choice for cocktails in Belfast. There's even hot toddies like Irish coffees and Baileys hot chocolates. Came for the cold stuff? Soak up kiwi margaritas, seasonal concoctions and more.
When you're not tucking into tasty brunch dishes and listening to live bands, Botanic Avenue's Town Square is keeping you watered with a drinks list that includes old fashioneds, daiquiris and espresso martinis.
If you fancy sipping in gorgeous surroundings then Howard Street is your best bet. Choose from signatures like the white chocolate and passionfruit martini or push the boat out with a rum, brandy and citrus-tipped The Devils Slide.
Get ready for a tour across The Caribbean, Central America, Peru, Brazil and The Andes. Stop by Liquor XXX for a menu spanning rum, tequila, pisco, cachaça and beyond. We're talking Cuba Libres, Micheladas and a whole range of sips inspired by Latin America.
One of the city's most acclaimed spots, The Cocktail Bar At The Merchant Hotel is touting swish chandeliers, luxurious seating, warming fireplaces and drinks mixed by some of Northern Irelan's finest bartenders. Going all out? Check out the absinthe tap.
If you're after a bar that'll really impress, then this hotel hangout should be on your radar. Along with plush interiors and top-notch service, you'll be treated to a list of classic cocktails at The Bar At The Fitzwilliam Hotel.
Up there in our list of unique cocktail bars in Belfast, Bert's Jazz Bar is fusing all-day dining and quirky concoctions with a schedule of live music and jazz performers that'll really level up your evening.
Nestled in the Linen Quarter, Rita's is one of our favourite places to drink cocktails in Belfast city centre. Work your way through beers, spirits and the signatures like the punchy rum-infused Bottom's Up Zombie.
A rooftop bar without the pretence, The Perch is our pick for cocktails in a quirky setting. That means floral decor, a lively atmosphere, traditional cocktails and freshly baked pizza in what was once a Victorian warehouse.
