Yum

Handy for the Lyric Theatre and the Botanic Gardens, Yum is an aptly named contemporary restaurant that serves up delicious modern Irish and European cuisine, often with a contemporary twist. Inside you will find a relaxed atmosphere with a casual dining room. Diners report that service is swift and friendly and that the menus offer fantastic value for money.

Food & Drink

Yum prides itself on cooking all of its dishes to order using fresh and local produce wherever possible. Breakfast is available at weekends with the full range of cooked options available. At lunch time there is set priced two course menu with a great range of modern favourites. Think lasagne, fajitas, burgers, and more. The evening menu offers a mouth-watering array of dishes, including 18 hour slow roasted pork and beef, satay chicken, and Irish steak. If this seems a little meat heavy then fret not, for Yum has dedicated menus for vegetarians and vegans with a great choice of dishes available. All of this can be washed down with a glass of wine of two from a reasonable selection.

Child Friendly Dining

Yum has a dedicated children’s menu that features all the usual favourites such as sausages and chips, or beef burgers, followed by a scoop of ice cream included in the price. The restaurant is particularly popular with families on Sundays thanks to the serving of a classic roast dinner with a child’s portion available for those under 12. It’s worth noting that this restaurant does not have baby changing facilities.

Darcy’s Belfast

Darcy’s is a family run restaurant that welcomes families. Located near the Botanic train station in the heart of the city, Darcy’s serves up delicious Irish cuisine using traditional cooking methods and ingredients sourced from local farmers. Diners love the ambience in the restaurant and regularly report that they received excellent service here. Booking a table in advance is highly recommended.

Food & Drink

Darcy’s food can best be described as “comforting” with wholesome classics such as homemade pies, seafood chowder, and traditional Irish lamb stew. It’s soul food for when the soul needs a hug. Vegans are spoilt for choice at Darcy’s with a dedicated menu that is almost as extensive as the main menu, and make sure you leave plenty of room for dessert with homemade cakes and puddings that are simply divine. Meals can be accompanied with wine from a fine selection or a delicious cocktail.

Child Friendly Dining

The children’s menu at Darcy’s really sets this restaurant apart from its rivals when it comes to family friendly dining. So often in restaurants the children’s menu is an after thought and lacking imagination. Not so at Darcy’s where along with the usual restaurant favourites such as pizza and fish goujons, children can enjoy a meal akin to something they might have at home, such as stew or roast ham dinner. Baby changing facilities and high chairs are available here.

Holohan’s Irish Pantry

Holohan’s Irish Pantry is an Irish restaurant that has been run by the Holohan family for three generations. Offering an informal and relaxed atmosphere, the restaurant strives to celebrate Irish culture through its outstanding hospitality and authentic Irish food. A short distance from the Botanic Gardens and in the leafy Queen’s quarter, the restaurant is a great choice for families with weary children looking to refuel after a busy day out. Holohan’s is rated as one of Belfast’s top restaurants, but don’t let that put you off bringing your children here, since everyone is welcome.

Food & Drink

Many of the dishes served at Holohan’s have traditions in Irish history, though the restaurant often seeks to give them a modern update or twist. For the ultimate in comfort food, check out Holohan’s version of the Boxty, aka the Irish potato pancake. Other items on the menu include home favourites such as steak or bacon chop. During the week between 5pm and 6pm there’s an early bird deal with discounted prices and on Sunday’s the restaurant serves up a traditional roast dinner.

Dinner can be finished off with a delectable pudding just like your Grandma made at home and the evening can end with a tipple or two. The restaurant has a wide choice of wines, spirits, Irish whiskeys, beers, and soft drinks.

Child Friendly Dining

Children can choose something to eat from the dedicated children’s menu that has a great range of dishes, including a mini Boxty, with ice cream and fruit juice included in the set price. Alternatively, there is the option to order a smaller version of one of the main menu dishes for half the price. High chairs are available if required and colouring sheets and crayons can often be provided.

Pizza Punks Belfast

Proclaiming themselves as “pizza revolutionaries” the team behind Pizza Punks opened their first restaurant in Glasgow in 2016 and the concept proved so popular that the second restaurant was opened here in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter in 2018. The restaurant combines great pizza with cool interiors, great music, delicious ice cream, and cocktails. Booking is highly recommended.

Food & Drink

What makes this pizza restaurant different to other pizza restaurants is that the consumer has the ultimate choice when it comes to toppings, without being penalised on price. Effectively you pay a fixed price (£11 as of March 2020) and for that you get a sourdough base, your choice of sauce, cheese, and as many toppings as you like, with around 50 to choose from. If you can’t decide then the menu also offers up some of the classic combinations for a lower price, and there are various sides available. Follow it up with ice cream van style ice cream with various toppings. The restaurant’s bar serves up a plethora of cocktails, along with craft beers and other drinks.

Child Friendly Dining

Although Pizza Punks might seem like the kind of “cool” place where young children would not be welcome, the opposite is certainly true. The restaurant has a dedicated children’s menu where for a set price children can have a drink, a pizza with up to eight toppings, and an ice cream with various sprinkles. There are highchairs available and colouring sheets if required.

Little Wing Pizzeria

The flagship restaurant for this small Northern Ireland chain first opened its doors in 2009 and has gone from strength to strength with additional branches opening across the country since. Today Little Wing Pizzeria is one of Belfast’s most popular restaurants for families thanks to the winning combination of a relaxed and friendly atmosphere mixed with delicious, authentic Naples style pizzas. There’s an open style kitchen so you can watch your pizza being prepared by the chefs and diners regularly report that they received great service.

Food & Drink

Obviously as the name of the restaurant implies, pizza is the star of the show here. The restaurant uses Italian flour for its base along with Italian tomatoes, topped with mozzarella cheese that is then cooked in a traditional wood stone pizza oven for that authentic taste. There are numerous options for toppings, and the restaurant is also famous for serving up Northern Ireland’s biggest pizza, measuring 24inches in diameter, for those feeling slightly more peckish. If you’re not a fan of pizza then this probably isn’t the restaurant for you, though there is a limited selection of pasta and salad dishes. There are vegan and gluten free options, plus a great selection of Italian inspired desserts.

Child Friendly Dining

Children receive a warm welcome at Little Wing Pizzeria. In fact, the restaurant even offers pizza workshops for children that are ideal for birthday parties. For everyday diners, there is a children’s menu that includes a starter, pizza or pasta dish, and dessert for a fixed price. High chairs are available if required.

McHugh’s Bar and Restaurant

McHugh’s is probably Belfast’s best-known pub and dates back to the early 18th century. Near to the Albert Memorial Clock the pub attracts a large crowd thanks to its live music sessions, the traditional Irish bar, and the Basement Bar that is akin to an intimate night club. Children are welcome inside the pub until 7pm and it’s a popular place to grab a bite to eat, offering old world charm and a friendly atmosphere.

Food & Drink

The menu is typical Irish pub grub, but it’s cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. It’s a great place to try some traditional Irish Boxty (potato pancake) and the ingredients are locally sourced where possible. Diners love the homecooked style of the food, with favourites on the menu such as burgers, fish of the day, and steak. This being a pub you can of course enjoy a plethora of drinks, including a wide range of craft ales and drinks.

Child Friendly Dining

Families with children often opt to eat at McHugh’s thanks to its children’s menu that offers great value for money. All the usual favourites are covered here, such as sausage and mash or tomato pasta, making it a go-to choice for families that want an easy meal with no fuss. High chairs are available if required.

Fratelli

The same company that owns and operates one of Northern Ireland’s top spa resorts (Galgorm) has successfully operated this Italian themed restaurant for a while now, and it’s proved to be very popular. Located in the centre near the Grand Opera House, Fratelli is a stylish two floor restaurant that serves up modern Italian cuisine, with regular special offers attracting a large crowd. Diners regularly report that they received excellent service here and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere.

Food & Drink

Unlike some Italian restaurants that fall into the trap of only serving up pizza and pasta, Fratelli’s menu offers up a fantastic array of modern Italian cuisine. For a lighter bite, delve into some Italian style tapas, AKA cicchetti, with set prices for two to four dishes. Pizza and pasta do, of course, make an appearance here with all the traditional favourites included, but you will also find a great range of meat and fish dishes. The mini desserts are a great hit, especially if you can’t decide which one to choose as you can opt for four at once if preferred. There are also menus for gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and vegetarian diets.

Child Friendly Dining

Fratelli is very popular with families for children thanks to its fantastic offer for kids. For a set price children can don a chef’s hat and make their own pizza, choosing their toppings. The price also includes a mini starter, dessert, a bambinochino and it’s similarly priced to other restaurants in the city that don’t include the interactive experience, making it great value for money.

Ryan’s Bar & Restaurant

Ryan’s Bar & Restaurant is south of Belfast’s main city centre and a short walk from the Ulster Museum. One of Belfast’s most famous bars, it has a long history in the city, with a number of well known past patrons that include Seamus Heaney. This cosy bar and restaurant is particularly popular with local residents, with diners reporting that it often has a fantastic welcoming atmosphere.

Food & Drink

Ryan’s is famous across the city for its delectable chicken wings which are available as a small or large dish and are pretty much a “must eat” for visitors to the restaurant. There are plenty of other bar favourites on the menu, including Boxty with a choice of filling, build your own burgers, and other classic dishes such as curry, sausages, and risotto. The menu offers great value for money with special offers regularly available, and on Sundays there is a traditional roast dinner with all the trimmings.

Child Friendly Dining

Ryan’s attracts a large crowd of families at weekends because on Saturdays and Sundays children who are accompanied by an adult eating a main meal can enjoy a main meal for free from the children’s menu. All the children’s classics are featured here, including pizza, pasta, nuggets, sausages, and fish fingers. Activity sheets are provided to keep them quiet whilst you wait for food to arrive and high chairs are available.

Cuffs Bar & Grill

The Crumlin Road Gaol is a brilliant visitor attraction where visitors can explore a 19th century jail and learn about its gruesome history. It’s also home to Cuff’s Bar and Grill, a family friendly restaurant housed in what once was the jail’s kitchen with low arched ceilings and bars on some of the doors and windows as a nod to the venue’s history. You don’t have to be a visitor to the jail to enter Cuff’s, though if you have the time it’s certainly worth a visit.

Food & Drink

The team at Cuff’s use locally sourced and seasonal produce wherever possible to create a menu packed with bar favourites. There’s a good range of burgers, along with steak, chicken dishes, pasta, and fish. The varied menu has something to suit most tastes and special dietary requirements are also catered for. Diners particularly rate the pulled pork and pleasant service.

Child Friendly Dining

Children are very welcome at Cuff’s, and will no doubt love the idea of eating in a former prison. On Wednesdays children under 12 can eat for free when accompanied by an adult eating a main meal. The children’s menu has some great choices for picky eaters, including soda bread pizza and BBQ chicken strips.

Kamakura Sushi & Ramen Restaurant

Widely considered one of Belfast’s best restaurants, the Kamakura Sushi & Ramen restaurant is so good, a second has opened in Belfast’s Eastside. The original restaurant on Donegall Pass is just south of the City Hall near the Botanic Train Station, making it easily accessible. Step inside and you will start to wonder if you have been transported across the globe to Japan with Japanese artwork on the walls and orchids adorning the tables. Diners particularly love the relaxed atmosphere inside and the friendly service from staff for whom nothing is too much trouble.

Food & Drink

The menu might seem a little intimidating if this is your first visit to a Japanese restaurant but staff will happily explain it all to you. As the restaurant name implies, sushi and ramen feature heavily and whilst this might be a Japanese restaurant, you can rest assured that the team use the best local and fresh produce wherever possible. You can order individual portions of sushi or opt for one of the chef’s combinations, and there are plenty of vegetarian options for those who are not fans of fish. There is an abundance of rice and noodle dishes including favourites such as Yaki Soba plus a variety of grilled meat dishes served in a traditional Japanese style.

The restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol, but you can bring your own for a small corkage fee.

Child Friendly Dining

Kamakura happily welcomes children and there is a dedicated children’s menu. Children will love the elephant themed bento box that comes with chicken katsu, gyoza, rice, and salad, a meal that is ideal for picky eaters who like plain foods, though the children’s menu does include other options for the more adventurous. The set menu also includes a scoop of ice cream.

Wagamama

Wagamama is one of several successful chain restaurants that have firmly established themselves in Belfast. Like most of its other restaurants, the Belfast branch has its famous communal style bench seating, placing diners next to complete strangers, something to bear in mind if you have a particularly wriggly child. The chain is famous for its ramen based dishes and its Belfast restaurant has recently been fully refurbished.

Food & Drink

Noodles, noodles, and more noodles are what you will find at Wagamama, either in a stir-fry style dish or as broth in a large bowl. As this is Japanese inspired cuisine, flavours such as teriyaki and miso feature heavily. There are alternatives to the noodle, with rice and salad dishes available, including curries, plus a delicious selection of sides in the form of dumplings and crispy fried prawns, chicken, and squid. It’s worth noting that a quirk of the Wagamama chain is that food is cooked to order and served as it is ready, so you might get your main before your dining partner, and your side dish sometime after. There is a reasonable selection of alcoholic drinks, but the freshly pressed juices are delicious.

Child Friendly Dining

A trip to Wagamama is a great way of introducing your child to more exotic flavours, as it’s very family friendly. High chairs and baby changing facilities are available, and the children’s menu forms an activity and colouring sheet with crayons provided. Child friendly chopsticks that are akin to giant tweezers make a fun addition to the experience. The menu has plenty of child friendly options, such as the chicken katsu which is effectively breaded chicken served with rice, but there are also miniature versions of some of their most popular noodle dishes for more adventurous eaters.

Kathmandu Kitchen Nepalese & Indian Restaurant

Located in the south of the city centre, near the Botanic train station, Kathmandu Kitchen is a Nepalese restaurant that also serves a range of Indian cuisine. Diners will receive a warm welcome on arrival and the restaurant’s interior features Nepalese artwork and design. Diners love the friendly and welcoming service along with the willingness of the chef to customise dishes to suit taste and dietary requirements.

Food & Drink

Fans of Indian cuisine will love the range of dishes that are available at the Kathmandu Kitchen, with favourites such as Tandoori Chicken, and the usual selection of curries, including Rogan Josh, Madras and Vindaloo all featuring on the menu. However, what sets this restaurant apart is the selection of traditional and authentic Nepalese cuisine available, including Dhal-Bhat-Masu, a traditional daily meal that is served as a pre-plated selection of curries, rice, lentils, bread, and sides, creating a family style dining atmosphere. Complimentary poppadums are provided for every diner and the restaurant has a good choice of wines, beers, and other drinks available.

Child Friendly Dining

If your child loves spice then they will love the Kathmandu Kitchen, since children can have a small portion of any dish on the menu for a reduced price. However, not every child is a fan of spicy food and thankfully the restaurant recognises this, offering a couple of “safe” dishes, including fishfingers and chips.

The Albany

It might be cool and sophisticated, but the Albany still welcomes children and offers an alternative to dreary chain restaurants with little atmosphere. Bringing a small piece of America to Belfast, the restaurant is oozes with old school cool, taking inspiration from American art deco. This restaurant is located on Lisburn Road, part of the city’s golden mile offering a plethora of upmarket shops and restaurants.

Food & Drink

The menu offers a good mixture of American and Irish bar favourites. Think club sandwiches, steaks, burgers, and buffalo wings. There’s an early bird menu available on weekdays before 7pm that offers great value for money and is deal for families, whilst on Sundays a traditional roast dinner is served up, alongside a limited number of other dishes. The restaurant has a tempting dessert menu, whilst the bar serves up a fantastic selection of cocktails, and is home to a vast array of alcoholic drinks, including an impressive selection of American whiskey.

Child Friendly Dining

Children are welcome at the Albany, though we suggest you might want to take them early on in the day before the bar gets busy with evening drinkers. The set price children’s menu features much loved dishes such as pasta, sausages, and fishfingers, with ice cream and a drink included.

Cosmo

With branches across the UK Cosmo has certainly discovered a winning formula: An all you can eat buffet for a set price with dishes from around the world. Brilliant for families on a budget and for groups with differing tastes, Cosmo enables diners to explore everything from traditional British and Irish cuisine, to street food from Delhi, and authentic Italian pizzas. What’s more, much of the food is cooked in front of you at cooking stations, so you can learn more about how dishes from around the world are prepared. Booking is advisable as the Belfast branch, located in the Victoria Square shopping centre, fills up fast.

Food & Drink

Take a tour of the world’s cuisine at Cosmo. Everyone pays the same price and can eat as much as they like from the various buffets, with a slightly higher price at weekends. Global foods that are covered including Chinese (with dishes from several different regions), Japanese, Indian, Southern Europe, Greek, British & Irish, and more. Those with a sweet tooth will love the dessert section, brimming with bite size portions so you can fit in plenty, and there are drinks from around the world, with free refills on some soft drinks.

Child Friendly Dining

Children under 150cm tall eat for half the price of adults, which keeps things nice and simple. For very young children under three years old there is a small charge (£3 as of March 2020). Just like the grown-ups, children can help themselves to whatever they fancy from the buffets and go back for more if they desire. There are plenty of child friendly options for fussy eaters, such as pizzas and pasta, and high chairs are available if needed.

Tribal Burger

Gourmet burgers have taken off in a big way across the UK and Ireland in recent years and Tribal Burger have capitalised on this trend. The brainchild of chef Paul Catterson, the business originally started life as a burger van, Burger Republic, that specialised in high end burgers. Burger Republic is still going strong, but Catterson opened his first restaurant in 2017 and it’s now a very popular place to grab a gourmet burger in Belfast.

Food & Drink

Obviously, this being a burger restaurant, the menu consists almost entirely of burgers. However, there’s a fantastic choice available, with various extra fillings accompanying the beef patties that are handmade each day using locally sourced Irish beef, along with chicken and vegan burgers. Sides available include hand cut chips, though fries are available for a more authentic American burger experience, along with salads and dips. Wash them down with a milkshake, with various flavours available, including “hardshakes” with an alcoholic twist.

Child Friendly Dining

It’s burgers, chips, and milkshakes! What isn’t to love for children here. Of course, it being a gourmet burger place, you can wave goodbye to the parenting guilt you might succumb to in other, well-known burger joints, and rest assured that your child’s burgers have been made with locally sourced, fresh ingredients. There’s a simple cheeseburger / chicken burger option for children under 12 that includes chips in the price.