Linen Hall Library Cafe in Belfast

Used to be the place to visit for lunch when in Belfast. See previous reviews prior to June 2024 . Sadly no more, new company since June 2024. In the past were asked to wait before being shown to a table and given a menu. Cafe was always full. When we arrived today it was ⅔ empty. This should have given us a clue as to what was to come. A hand signal from a member of staff asking us to sit wherever we wished. Sat down and more than 5 minutes passed without an acknowledgement from any member of staff that we we there. The staff we saw were 2 young men and an older woman who all seemed to be faffing about achieving very little. Went to the counter to ask for a menu and were told someone would see to us soon. Sat there for some minutes more and still no one came so we left. There did not seem any sign that food or drinks were being served to anyone. Won't be back.

We arrived and were told that the restaurant no longer has a menu and were told to choose from a selection of stale scones and reheated soup. The new management has stripped it of its beauty and charm. We immediately left. It is a shame because the old menu was wonderful. I used to go here as a treat whenever I had a day off, but I won't be back.

We waited over 20 mins in a near empty cafe for coffee, tea and cakes. The flat whites were lukewarm lattes, uncovered cheeses, salads and meats in a very warm environment. The incredible service and produce that we always enjoyed was no more. Such a shame.

Another fabulous visit . Never disappoints. Setting , service and food top notch as always . Staff are so good , always pleasant and polite. Highly recommended .

The food, atmosphere and service were wonderful. Great coffee and an all day menu. The views of city hall if you get a window seat are excellent.

Arrived there at 9.40 to have something to take away. The chef, a wonderful guy, said to us (me and my girlfriend) that 10 minutes was enough to Cook something, because we Need to take a bus at 10.22. At 10 we had finished everything, the food was Great, the chef and the waiter was fantastic. Heavy suggested.

We found this cafe in the Linen Hall library. It was wonderful, like going back in time. The library itself is beautiful with such friendly and informative staff. The bonus was the fact they have a lovely cafe which they have decorated with lively furniture and paintings. Again the food was lovely and the staff so friendly

The food is average and the setting is pretentious to say the least. The service is very slow and the seating arrangements are not well planned so expect queues because of this. It’s also comparatively expensive. Finally the staff do not appear to enjoy their work and are distant. Do yourself a favour and to Tim Hortens on the corner opposite.

Beautiful setting . It's worth visiting for the setting alone. The food is fine and the coffee is good . Sometimes there can be a queue so be prepared .

Came on the recommendation of the tourist office for brunch. Had a great Irish breakfast in this quaint café in the library.

I visited this place entirely by accident, we had just arrived in Belfast from the airport and wanted to grab a coffee before checking into our air b&b. Saw the sign outside the library so we thought we'd give it a try and we were blown away when we got inside. The service was fantastic, all the staff who we interacted with were really friendly. The food was absolutely delicious, I ordered the poached eggs on avocado toast and my husband had the open Caesar salad sandwich and both were excellent. Would go back in a heartbeat.

Very unpleasant experience. Staff unbelievably surly and completely unprofessional. We were a party of six. We had to queue for approximately twenty minutes. Obviously this was unavoidable and we were happy to wait. At no time during this time were we told that we could not sit together. Apparently because we were in a listed building and the chairs were old only one chair could be moved from one table to another! One of our members suggested that an apology would be in order. She was not in anyway rude or aggressive. Another member of staff who did not introduce herself arrived to say we could not be served. She quickly modified this threat to saying “ if there was anymore bother “ we would have to leave. We were tired and hungry so stayed and quickly ate our lunch. Needless to say none of us will ever be back. We are all in our late sixties/ early seventies and have never experienced such poor service.

We have never had any complaints at all on any of our visits to the Linen Hall Café . There's always a warm welcome and super service. Food is always delicious , beautifully presented in very comfortable surroundings

The cafe is a great choice for a light lunch or tea and Cake. I had a nice beetroot salad with pita while ny colleague had avocado toast with poached eggs. The library sells a nice assortment of gifts.

The Linen Hall Cafe exceeded my expectations with their incredible vegan fry-up. It was unbelievably delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming they were to my one-year-old. Highly recommended for both the food and atmosphere. Thank you, Linen Hall Cafe, for a fantastic experience. We'll definitely be back!

Yet another positive experience at the Linen Hall Café . Beautiful surroundings , always spotlessly clean and very comfortable . Yummy baked treats and reasonably priced . Excellent , friendly service as always. Highly recommended.

A really nice cafe within the library at the Linen Hall. Ordered the soup which was truly exceptional. Freshly made and well flavoured.

Another much enjoyed get together with a friend for coffee. Always spotlessly clean and very comfortable. Everyone friendly and welcoming .

We always choose the Linen Hall café when we're meeting up for coffee . Beautiful , comfortable surroundings and everything that we have is yummy 😋 The staff are so welcoming and friendly and we are never made to feel that we've outstayed our welcome . Thanks again 😀

Popped in for cake and coffee during our recent visit to Belfast. Lovely setting with a vintage feel. We had scones with jam and cream…they were delicious. Service was good and we intended to visit the next day but we were told they were short...

Came here for lunch. Three tables left. A single oerson behind us on the wait. Asked for the table free beside the window and was refused as it was peak hour, we got sat at a two person table, the single person behind us got...

I was taken away how beautiful a place this is. Inventive menu, I liked being allowed to chose my own seat and will certainly be recommending it to others. The food is tasty and well priced for what it is. Friendly atmosphere and staff seem...

Totally stumbled onto this second floor Café across from the city hall. Sharing the space with a library, it’s like a trip back to the 1800’s with furnishing, dishes and decor to match. Open ‘til mid afternoon this breakfast, brunch, ‘afternoon tea’ spot has a...

Time for my friend and I to meet for coffee and a chat , we wouldn't think about going anywhere else . Lovely staff , so pleasant , friendly and helpful . Relaxed , comfortable atmosphere and always spotlessly clean . Coffee , scones and...

Suggested by a local guide, we headed to this place for some coffee and pastries. It's a little gem located a minute away from the Town Hall. Staff was very friendly and the cafe is stunning. Lovely spot to chill and try some of the...

Excellent, as always ! We wouldn't go anywhere else for our catch-ups . Comfortable and relaxed , never any pressure to vacate . Staff are all lovely , friendly and efficient . Highly recommended .

Lovely food but service is sooooo slow! Also, its not very pleasant being served by a waiter with a lovebite.....

Another great experience at the Linen Hall Café . Beautiful and comfortable surroundings in which to relax with a peppermint mocha and an apple and cinnamon scone . Staff are all lovely , always polite and friendly .

Another very enjoyable experience at the Linen Hall Café . Such a friendly , welcoming place . Staff are really great , efficient and chatty , so well mannered ! My friend and I would not dream of going elsewhere .

Myself and my friend had an amazing lunch yesterday....from i arrived just before 2pm I was made so welcome and told I could select my own seat.... Stunning surroundings... Offered coffee and menu straight away... I enjoyed a fantastic cappuccino and felt so at ease...

We stumbled across this beautiful cafe by chance and my goodness I am so glad that we did! The decor, staff, food and atmosphere couldn’t be better. The seats, and crockery are all mismatched but it just adds to the personality of the place. The...

The Linenhall If you are searching for a perfect little oasis of calm in Belfast’s bustling city centre, then look no further than the Linen Hall Cafe. On the second floor of the Linen Hall Library, this nod to yesteryear is a sanctuary of relaxation...

A really lovely place to have coffee or a bite to eat . Staff are very pleasant and friendly and the surroundings are clean and comfortable . The food is yummy 😋

It is worth popping into this first floor cafe (with lift) which oozes a mix of old world charm with a lovely all day menu and it’s licensed to sell alcohol. The service is friendly and attentive but not intrusive.

Wonderful surroundings and great location. Enjoyed perfect lunch. Can recommend the haloumi. Excellent!

This little café in the library had a very good range of food and reasonably priced. I had the soup and bread with scones was very nice by lots of other choices. Also the library is very good to visit and look around.

Nice high ceiling and good cappuccino. Perfect place to sit and have a breather and plan your day while supporting this free to enter subscription library. One of the oldest of its kind.

Went here with a friend for a coffee and lunch. Good was great. Though the environment was tremendous. Having lived in Belfast all my life. Its crazy that I hadn't visited before. Will be more of a regular going forward.

Attratto dalle recensioni positive di questa libreria, sono passato almeno 4 volte in tre giorni, in orari "da ufficio" ed...

The library is worth the visit alone, but the cake in the coffee shop was excellent too. Coffee pretty average with the milk scalded which is why I've marked it down but still well worth the visit and way better than the chain coffee shops...

I popped in here on my first late afternoon in Belfast - too late for lunch and too early for dinner. I had a hot veggie dish, which was just okay, and a nice glass of wine. It's quiet, not crowded, and lovely to just...

Enjoyed a visit here after tour of library. Sausage rolls were lovely as was the cheesecake. Coffee and hot chocolate were ok. Would return.

Really enjoyed the ambience here and the pleasant service. The self service was quick and allowed us to see what we would eat. The soup was lovely..warm and tasty and the sandwiches fresh and varied. We followed this with tea and tray bakes..which we lingered...

Was here with my brother today. Very busy at lunchtime. Both had the vegetable broth with wheaten bread. Very tasty and not over seasoned. Cafe was full unlike some other city centre venues so they must be doing something right. Good food at sensible prices,...

Had coffee and scone with friends and was very happy with what I had. Scone was light and very tasty. Quick service and friendly staff, worth a visit.

Buen lugar para leer y una taza de café, este es un muy buen lugar para encontrar algunos conocimientos de Irlanda del Norte y al mismo tiempo disfrutar de su comida. Si es un almuerzo rápido te gusta, este es el lugar.

the Linen Hall library is well worth a visit and this little cafe provides more than just snacks and drinks but things like soup and a little more filling food. The service is excellent and the library itself is well with the visit.

Decided to have lunch here whilst visiting the library. Was surprised at how busy it was. Has carrot and lentil soup with wheaten bread. Very tasty. Followed that with an Americans and a caramel square. The coffee was very good and on a par with...

It may not be the latest trendy lunch spot, but the Linen Hall Library Cafe is the ideal setting for a good quality light lunch, centrally situated with excellent views over City Hall from the windows on the First floor. The welcoming and efficient Cafe...

The Linen Hall Library Cafe is a real hidden gem. Quiet and peaceful; comfortable tables and chairs and a simple but tasty menu. We had a cheese/tomato sandwich and a mixed selection of salads plus a really delicious pear tart. Very reasonable prices. The walls...

Step off the bustling streets of Belfast in this converted linen hall. Here you will find a small cafe with deli counter. They had a selection of soups, salads and sandwiches from which to choose. I tried the vegetable soup (just OK) and panini (which was a bit too dry), but that was offset by the delicious carrot cake for dessert. The family also tried the "chicken and mushroom pie" which was so good and eaten so fast, I could only contribute a photo of the half-eaten version. Spending some time in the historical building made for a nice respite.

A great place for reading the papers in peace and quiet with the best view of a belfast City Hall going.,great cafe and snacks. Unrivalled book collection too with lovely helpful staff.

While it's a small Clement's (a local chain), they have sandwiches and sweet stuff to share. Great ambiance and lovely views if you don't mind a light bite rather than a hearty warm lunch!

working on my research time to stop for lunch, I could smell the food in the library .the staff are friendly helpful the tell what's good ,its a bite expensive for what it is bur it saves you moving ,

its a very nice place to just sit and relax and unwind the food is also very nice .i would visit again.

Very nice place to eat, read and relax with family and / or friends. Is central to shops and is quick for those who are in a hurry over their lunch breaks from work.

Great because its in the linen hall library!Cafe itself is decent with nice coffee and buns but the main reason to go here is the beautiful old library itself.Spend a peaceful afternoon exploring,reading and people watching.

Quiet haven in city centre, atmosphere nice knowing where you are.......Teas and coffee fine with a small selection of scones cakes and sandwhiches sufficient. Very clean and polished.

If you want somewhere pleasant, chilled and full of history to read a newspaper or meet some friends, this is the place to go...only thing is check their opening hours, particularly on Bank Holidays!

I've been going in here for years, usually on a Saturday during a lull from my "messages". I think Clements have the concession? Anyway, they have a nice selection of scones, pastry and sandwiches. I nearly always opt for the soup and brown bread. Yummy. Sit and read / day-dream / chat - this is the place for me.

One of the good cafe center in the heart of Belfast City. Will defiantly recommend tourist to visit the place

As a couple of friends we meet for coffee at the LHL and enjoy a chat over lovely coffee.The LHL in the centre of Belfast is a great place to meet with friends for lunch or coffee and whilst there why not avail of the opportunity to view the many books on display. A worthwhile visit when in Belfast.

Unter Ausstellung -Räumlichkeiten die mehr auf der Geschichte der Stadt orientiert sind, findet man eine schöne Kaffee Ecke für eine Pause weg von der Schaufensterbummel der Haupteinkaufstraßen.