The National Grande Cafe is set in the historic surrounding of one of Belfast’s oldest buildings, the former National Bank Building on High Street. Inside lies an intentionally unfinished industrial modern interior of exposed bricks, steel girders and concrete floors. The girders are now painted in the unmistakable yellow of Samson and Goliath and sit alongside artwork by local artist Gavin Millar.
It is home to one of the largest dedicated beer gardens in Belfast and the first in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter, which comes complete with its very own apple tree, direct from the Magners orchard in Clonmel. This outside space brings a new dimension to al fresco socialising in the city.
From morning until early evening, customers can relax in the airy contemporary space, enjoying the breakfast, lunch and evening menus. There are old favourites for breakfast like the full National or eggs Benedict and newbies like brioche French toast with jam and mascarpone or baked egg with avocado, sunblush tomato and feta on toasted sourdough. Lunch options incorporate café style food and hot specials which run into the evening. The Sunday brunch menu has given a boost to the local culinary scene, with a varied menu which has gained a faithful following since opening.
Drinks wise, the cocktail list is small but clever and sits well alongside a wide range of gin, whiskey, rum and tequila. There is also a number of locally brewed craft beers.
OPENING HOURS
| Mon – Weds |
8:30am–9pm |
| Thurs – Fri |
8:30am–1am |
| Sat |
9:30am–1am |
| Sun |
9:30am–12am |
Transport yourself back to the Art Deco glamour of 1930’s New York and the Jazz Age in Belfast’s only dedicated Jazz bar and restaurant: Bert’s Bar at The Merchant Hotel. Soak up the sophisticated atmosphere and let the cool jazz melodies wash over you.
Taking inspiration from a typical French bistro menu, Bert’s offers a sophisticated selection of mouth-watering dishes created by our Head Chef Michael Weber – from Chateaubriand to Moules Frites, all complemented by a handpicked list of cocktails and, of course, exemplary service.
Bert’s offers live jazz seven nights a week from 9pm until midnight, providing the perfect backdrop to a delicious brunch or relaxed weekend evening.
Please note that on Friday and Saturday evenings there will be a stage charge of £10 per person for reservations on our 8.30pm sitting. This will ensure that the table is yours for the evening to enjoy the live jazz music.
OPENING HOURS
Monday – Friday: 4pm – late Saturday: 11am – late Sunday: 11am – midnight
Restaurant Opening Hours
Monday – Thursday: 5pm – 10pm Friday: 6pm & 8.30pm Saturday: 11am – 5pm (brunch 11am – 3pm), 6pm & 8.30pm Sunday: 11am – 10pm (brunch 11am – 3pm)
A Shack, right on the beach, serving fresh local fish, meats, vegetables and more. That was Donal Doherty’s dream and now it’s come true. The location couldn’t be more perfect. It’s literally on the beach at Portstewart Strand on the stunning North Coast. The place itself was a National Trust Information Centre back in the day.
Harry’s Shack is actually the brother of another Harry’s in Donegal. Ex-airline pilot Donal first took over his family’s restaurant, Harry’s at Bridgend before opening up the Shack last August.
They do coffee, brunch, lunch and dinner at this uber-hip joint beloved of food critic Jay Rayner and more. We’re talking prawns fresh off the boat, spiced whitebait and traditional fish and chips. There’s plenty of green stuff on the menus too. They have their own walled garden full of seasonal goodies. Jay Rayner also raved about Pastry Chef Monto’s Crème Caramel.
This place is a big hit, so book!
NEED TO KNOW
Opening Hours
| Mon – Sat: |
10:30 am – 9:00 pm |
| Sun: |
10:30 am – 7:00 pm |
|
|
Aine’s Kitchen Cookery School is run by Chef and Nutritionist, Aine Boyle. She opened it in 2014. Naturally she’s big on healthy eating.Her adults clasess are relaxed and informal. She uses fresh local produce that is organic where possible. Aine’s goal is to share her passion for real food and teach you how to cook it, appreciate it, eat it and be inspired to cook more often from scratch at home.
She also regularly runs Kids and Teenagers Cookery classes from 7 years upwards. These are designed to teach kids in a fun environment about cooking and baking. Once again, the emphasis is on encouraging kids to make healthy choices when it comes to their meals and snacks.
Aine’s Kitchen also offers corporate services for businesses on Staff Health and Wellbeing in the workplace. She understands that a healthy diet and lifestyle can help improve productivity and employee happiness. Future plans include her own range of fresh homemade healthy food products. We can’t wait!
Clients include Diabetes UK, BE Aerospace Kilkeel and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Jane McClenaghan is the best advert we have ever seen for her job. She just glows with health. Good food has been a lifelong passion for her. At Limavady Grammar, she excelled at Home Economics and went on to study Food Science at Reading and then Nutritional Therapy in London.
She grew up in a family where growing, cooking and eating healthy food was part of the fabric of life.
Jane has been a Nutritional Therapist for more than fifteen years and has helped thousands of people make easy, manageable changes to their diets for the good of their health. As well as her busy clinic in Belfast she runs cookery classes and wellbeing workshops and specialises in developing workplace health programmes for companies across Ireland.
Jane believes that food should be celebrated and relished. Her philosophy of health and wellbeing is one of balance – simple, effective and practical changes that can fit into anyone’s lifestyle, to rejuvenate your motivation for eating well
She appears regularly on BBC Radio Ulster with Kerry McLean and U105 with Carolyn Stewart. She is the author of the Vital Nutrition Cookbook. Jane is also the NI Ambassador the Big Lunch.
She will soon be offering online learning in nutrition and health. Her website is launching in September 2015 and will include membership offers like exclusive webinars, fact sheets and discount off healthy products. Watch this space
Northbound Brewery hails from Derry-Londonderry where David and Martina Rogers craft premium beers. Returning home in 2010 after almost a decade in Australia, the couple felt bound by the North West of Ireland hence the brewery name.
These emigrant years have been invaluable as David gained experience within Australian and Japanese breweries. David’s knowledge has now been recognised by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, having been awarded the prestigious Master Brewer qualification, a rare recognition only bestowed upon a dozen people globally each year. Martina worked within the financial services sector where she gained sales and marketing skills.
Northbound Brewery prides itself on producing premium, unpasteurised beers that are unfiltered, with no artificial additives and bottled fresh on site. Using local ingredients where possible including Irish malt, Derry water and Irish carrageenan moss the brewery has released 2 beers to date, “08” a Kolsch Style Ale and “26” a Pale Ale.
Looking ahead, Northbound Brewery is continuing to trial natural new ingredients that celebrate the high quality of produce in the region, and are collaborating with local producers to bring out the best of the North West.
The award-winning producer, Dart Mountain Cheese has washed its cheese with their 26 Pale Ale. Bannagher Bold will be released in September 2015.
