stopped by for a couple of quick pints after the Titanic Belfast experience thing. Had a couple of College Green brews on cask. good local bottle selection. didn’t eat but the few things that went by me smelled awesome. i enjoyed my stopover. also had free newspapers which i know isn’t crazy but i love reading local papers when i’m on vacation.

Medium sized fairly characterful pub, crowded in the evenings. Locals and staff alike are friendly and outgoing, and were a bit (pleasantly) shocked that I was visiting from the US. I paid for very few of my own drinks.

Warm, cozy, characterful pub with a writerly vibe. Not the greatest beer selection but the atmosphere makes up for it. Didn’t eat but heard the grub is above-average.

A cool place, busy often with live music. Two local cask ales, about six bottles of NI brews. Good service. Proper glasswear. Nice place.

Nice place named after the poet John Hewitt, who was famous for being an independent thinker and not taking sides during The Troubles. The bar is neither republican nor unionist, and is one of the few in Belfast not to employ a bouncer (because it doesn’t need one). Crowded in the evenings, but less packed during the day. Usually spontaneous live sessions every Saturday around 1600. Serves two cask ales, at least one of which will be a Hilden (possibly under the College Green label). The bottled stuff may contain some real oddities (like Peruvian or Thai beer) and is worth checking out, even if the beers are unlikely to be very good. Highly recommended!

Excellent little bar with (usually) cask Hilden ale. Be prepared for some good old-fashioned socialist, or other non-conformist, propaganda being aired! Only one real ale - usually Hilden - although this can vary depending on what beer swaps Hilden has been doing with other breweries - on my visit, Bank Top Fred’s Cap was on the pump. A very sociable and interesting locals bar, far enough from the centre to be almost visitor-free!