The Dark Horse in Belfast

Como siempre, El caballo oscuro nunca decepciona. Stuart estaba en su punto como siempre, whisky y bebidas deliciosas, así como la comida. Contando los días hasta que podamos volver otra vez...

As always, The Dark Horse never disappoints. Stuart was on point as always, whisky and drinks delicious, as well as the food. Counting the days until we can return again…

We had such a fun time here! On our brief visit to Belfast, we explored some of the nightlife and this place is a real treat. Similar to a few bars we visited, there were multiple generations of patrons here and a local told us this is a sign of a good Irish bar. The live music inside gave the place a lively vibe and their courtyard patio area is a great area as well, whether you just want some fresh air or additional seating, but you at least must get a look at the art out there. Personally, I enjoyed Trump and Putin depicted as two of the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Llamamos para ‘una copa’ y nos encantó tanto que pasamos el resto de nuestra noche allí. ¡Posiblemente el pub más impresionante de Belfast! Al instante me enamoré de su estilo vintage, un montón de madera bellamente tallada, bonitos espejos antiguos, accesorios de latón y arañas. El patio realmente es un espectáculo para ver, con sus luces de neón y murales increíbles con mucha lengua - en - piezas de mejillas que sin duda levantará una sonrisa. Personal muy acogedor, buena música en vivo y bebidas de primera categoría, tal vez mi lugar favorito de nuestro viaje reciente.

We didn't eat here, but visited on a Friday afternoon for a quick drink and then here to round our Saturday night off. It's a great spot. Friendly staff and the doorman on Saturday seats you. They had live music on the Saturday, great atmosphere and the courtyard is fantastic.

Great visual art designs on the external walls. Awesome environment!!!

Brilliant pint of Guinness. Paintings in the court yard is worth a look. Very stylish pub.

Aunque he estado en Irlanda muchas veces a lo largo de los años nunca he visitado Belfast, pero debo decir que mi primera visita aquí fue excepcional, una ciudad histórica con una gran arquitectura y repleta de pubs, bares, cafeterías y restaurantes, un pub que se destacó para mí fue The Dark Horse. Un pub de gran aspecto, el interior es tan bueno como se pone, un bar de servicio muy llamativo domina la sala principal, decoración ecléctica y muebles, hermosos espejos abundan en todo este pub y hay un montón de opciones de asientos, es solo un pub muy bueno para relajarse, el patio es realmente increíble, los murales extraordinariamente hermosos. Estábamos aquí en una tarde de enero amargamente fría, pub estaba ocupado con un gran ambiente, un estudio rápido de su gama de cervezas que debo decir que me impresionó y al final los dos optamos por tener pintas de cerveza Harp ( Guinness Brewery ) y estos se sirvieron en excelentes condiciones siendo helado frío y espumoso por un barman muy afable , nos relajamos y empapamos de la gran vibra en este pub ocupado y popular mientras bebíamos nuestras cervezas. Esta cerveza lager es realmente de mi agrado, una cerveza estilo lager dorada, llena de sabor y muy fácil de beber especialmente cuando se sirve helada fría como en este pub, fue tan bueno estar en un pub tan encantador disfrutando de una cerveza de calidad y se sentó con mi hermano gemelo, mejor compañero de cerveza del mundo. Realmente disfrutamos de nuestras cervezas aquí antes de seguir adelante y aunque nuestra visita fue solo fugaz para una primera visita a The Dark Horse nos lo pasamos muy bien. El Dark Horse es fácil de localizar a lo largo de Hill Street justo al lado de Commercial Court, la calle más bonita de Belfast. El horario de apertura es; Lunes a viernes, abierto de 9 am. Sábado, abierto a partir de las 10 am. Domingo, cerrado. Vale la pena buscar si estás planeando unas vacaciones en Belfast.

The Dark Horse on Hill street es un fantástico pub y restaurante que ofrece una fantástica gama de comida y bebida y era solo uno de los muchos pubs / bares y restaurantes que visitamos en nuestro viaje de tres días a Belfast. Tiene un aspecto y sensación soberbios con un patio soberbio con mureles e iluminación de neón. Su interior es tan impresionante como su patio, ya que tiene muchas características interesantes y un montón de buena zona de estar en todo su interior y cuando visitamos aquí estaba ocupado. Visitamos el Dark Horse por la tarde y como acabamos de comer decidimos tomar unas cervezas. Las cervezas teníamos donde de la Guinness Brewery y ellos donde Harp lagers que se servía en perfectas condiciones y donde en cuanto al precio donde a la par con otros pubs de esta zona. Es un magnífico pub y restaurante que está en una zona brillante de Belfast y bien merece una visita. (Esta es mi reseña de 1 calle del Caballo Oscuro) Horario de apertura. Lunes - Viernes - 09 . 00 - 17 . 00 . Sábado - 10. 00 - 18 . 00 . Domingo - Cerrado. Transporte público. Parada de autobús. High Street parada de autobús - Numerosos autobuses muy lejos de muchos para mencionar.

Great atmosphere, excellent service! You shouldn’t miss the paintings at the beer garden

Great atmosphere, live music in the Saturday. Staff are super friendly and welcoming. Great place for a drink

Great atmosphere in a beautiful setting.. very authentic decor with a rich historical feel. Staff always welcoming pints of Guinness are spot on.

Great atmosphere, highly recommended..

Visited here yesterday for a coffee and they didn’t disappoint! The rich perfectly brewed coffee was delightful, but the little touch of a top hat 🎩 on the side a was brilliant. I also loved their eco-friendly initiative of encouraging customers to bring their own cups. Will definitely be back.

Gorgeous place with very friendly people. Definitely worth stopping by.

Decepcionado con el caballo oscuro y no volveremos a visitar. Fuimos a Belfast con la familia que están aquí de vacaciones y fuimos a Cathedral Quarter. Estábamos mirando fuera del pub y una señora salió y nos dijo a nosotros y a otra pareja que entráramos a través del pub y al patio para tener una mejor vista de los murales en lugar de mirar a través de las puertas. Solo estuvimos allí unos segundos cuando un miembro del personal masculino (que ya nos había saludado al entrar) salió y nos dijo que era solo para clientes e indicó que debíamos irnos. No es una bienvenida muy amable Belfast. Considerando que no estaba ocupado y que nos habían invitado a entrar (otras 2 personas en el patio con bebidas) su actitud fue bastante grosera. Ya habíamos decidido almorzar allí, pero estábamos mirando todos los murales primero. No nos quedamos a almorzar como si así tratas a los visitantes, entonces no quiero darte nuestra costumbre.

Great place to stop by for a drink and snack. We had the Irish coffee, Baileys coffee and Strawberry Lime Cider (alcohol free). We did not have food, but passed us looked and smelled great. Please tip Stuart so his kids can eat!

Great Place to stop off for a drink and bite to eat while exploring area.

Didn't have any food so can't comment on great selection of beers, ciders and whiskeys. Was on the bike so had a 0 cider. Barman was good craic and full of stories

Final stop of our food tour, this was to have a drink and relax after walking a lot across this part of Belfast. The Dark Horse is a classy sort of drinking establishment, a bit dressy and a bit fancy. It was a welcome experience as part of Belfast's spectrum of watering holes. Warm welcome from the staff who were setting up for the afternoon. A Bushmills for my friend (when in Northern Ireland, you drink Northern Ireland whiskey!) and a glass of their own Belfast Belle in a proper pint glass. With the warm decoration, art on the walls, comfortable seats throughout. The restrooms are outside and you'll get to experience the wonderful courtyard. In the afternoon, quiet and peaceful. In the evening later when I walked past, folks having a wonderful time.

No kitchen is available at the venue.

Everything is excellent and Stuart is a crack!!

Beautiful pub fitout, interesting murals, friendly staff. Definitely a good stop when in Belfast.

This place is incredible and, frankly, a surprise! The outdoor area is really cool with neon lights, benches, tables, and loads of street art! Fun fact: one of the doors in this pub was made with the wood of one of the fallen trees from the Dark Edges, and it's Game of Thrones-Themed (Lannister family)!

Come to Belfast a handful of times each year. I’ve been trying to get in to the dark horse for a while for a drink but each time I’ve timed it wrong when it’s got events booked. Popped in today and wow. Amazing traditional atmosphere, immaculately clean. From the start Stuart gave us amazing friendly service. Very chatty which we love and convinced me to try Belfast blossom cider (lush!) he gave us some great information on the Muriel’s out the back. Then comes along Kevin - again top service. His daughter is away training at university doing the same career as myself so we had a fab chat about that. I really didn’t want to leave this bar. It’s amazing and these two are a credit to the owner. Good luck to your daughter Kevin. We will be seeing you all again soon. Manda and Charlie

Disgraceful portrayal of President Trump likened to Kim Jung Un, Putin, and Bin Laden as one of the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. Put Biden, Obama or Clinton there instead. Obviously, you only watch and listen to propagandist, fake news

Very nice and very cozy pub, with good decoration. It has a game of thrones door! The terrace is full of murals of various styles with tables and chairs to calmly have a few pints while you look at all the drawings. Very good service from the waiter. Very kind.

Six months ago I visited the Dark Horse for lunch with a group of ladies. I loved the food, the ambiance and the murals in the court yard. When my partner suggested that we pop through to Belfast yesterday for a spot of lunch, I thought this would be a lovely treat( we are both pensioners). We entered the restaurant at about 12.45 , and there was one other patron there. I asked if we could stop for some lunch. The man in charge, explained there was no lunch being served and we would need to go else where. I requested, if I could quickly show the murals to my partner. I was rather shocked to be told that we couldn't as it was for people eating/ drinking there. Surely it wasn't our fault that food was not being served. Secondly those may be the rules, but with one other patron in the restaurant could we not have been allowed a 5 minute look. We were just 2 elderly looking forward to a rare outing. This is not the kind of hospitality the Northern Irish are known for. In fact quite the opposite. I certainly won't be returning or recommending "The Dark Horse"

Great fun night out. The decor internally and externally is amazing to see.

What a shame I can't give more than 5 stars... This is an absolute beauty of a pub. They are taking great pride in looking after it. I just feel like I travelled in time. Probably worth visiting Belfast just for the Dark Horse alone

Beautiful decoration in the pub and fabulous outdoor space full of murals that are worth seeing. The owner is charming and the Irish coffee and Irish liqueur are to die for

It was a cozy place with nice waiters. The boys drank delicious drinks. :)

Simply one of the best places for lunch in Belfast. The food is fantastic and Stuart is a perfect host.

Was there for a conference event and it was fantastic. Taxi driver- Barry raved about the place and I was not dissapointed. Apparently Stuart is a great guy but wasn't working when we were there. Great atmosphere!

What an amazing place to visit in Belfast! Stuart and my hubby had an instant connection! I had to get a later flight over and my hubby said how Stuart looked after him all day. I arrived and told the bar we celebrating my hubby Jim’s 50th. Instantly Stuart had him behind the bar getting pics and gave him a lovely book to remember it all! Such a fabulous experience!! Thanks Stuart and all of the staff at the Dark Horse x

What a lovely place! Staff are sooo friendly! Second time coming here and both times it's been fantastic! Came in for a pint of Guiness and some food, I can say that was one of the best sandwiches I've had, I had the lemon pepper chicken and it was so tasty! Came with my mother in law who had a serious nut allergy and the staff were extremely helpful! Would definitely recommend! 5 star!

I have no idea what the service or amenities are like as the place never seems to be open at the times it specifies. We stopped by on 3 separate occasions within the same 3 days and the place was closed. Times do not match up to the times on Google and then after checking on the website itself we hoped to arrive for opening however the place was still not open. We even hung around for a little while after however with no sign of life inside and shutters still down we gave up. If you advertise to be open for short periods of the day surely you should be raring to go at those times. Disappointed as we could not finish our tour of the game of thrones doors.

After a visit to The Crumlin Road Gaol we walked back to the city via The Cathedral Quarter in search of a bite to eat. On entering we were greeting by the barman, Stuart, who asked me if I’d be “having a Guinness”. “No thanks, I don’t like it. I’ve tried it but it’s not for me” “You’ll like ours” he replied, “it’s the best in Belfast”. I still declined but hubby, who doesn’t normally drink in the day, succumbed. “Are you a cider drinker?” He asked me proudly showing me a bottle of Belfast Blossom, which only they brew and sell. Verdict? Hubby had a second pint and I reciprocated with the absolutely delicious cider. The place was so warm and welcoming we stayed a wee while, enjoying the ambiance and heat after the austere and freezing gaol. Our lunch was also good, the homemade Irish stew and wheaten bread was sublime. It even has one of The Game of Thrones doors (no 10). We loved it so much in there that, after a 9 hour trip up the coast to The Giant’s Causeway, we walked back there for a repeat visit. Alas, it was closed but we ventured into a sister pub, The Harp Bar, and enjoyed a Guinness and a BB in there instead.

Really nicely decorated pub, the velvet chairs are a little bit different but very comfortable and the overall design is themed to that of the 1920's I want to say. Service was OK, it was a busy Saturday evening but we got acknowledged then passed over by someone else who just arrived at the bar. The overall feel of the bar was a little dead, not sure of the amount of softer furnishings dampen the noise levels but it just did not feel very alive

Thank you for the welcome and the smile of the person we met today. He is a ray of sunshine, a person you would like to meet every day of your life. We will come back and above all we will bring you macaroons from France. Thanks for all. Keith and Diana

Very friendly staff.. they gave me my Game of Thrones Journey of Doors Passport :)

Just popped in for a quick pint of Guinness on our last afternoon in Belfast, and it was a great pint. Was recommended yesterday on a walking tour to check out the murals out in the courtyard (which were fantastic), but the interior of the pub was stunning and blew me away unexpectedly. Also a large reason for the great review was the bartender, Stuart, who was very friendly and brought the great banter! A definite must visit when in Belfast.

Best wee place, great friendly staff and now serving food wednesday to friday bt gourmet grazing

I have just had the best sandwich I have ever eaten, Gourmet Grazing providing the most amazing food in the Dark Horse

Meh ok. Service quite terse. Quite empty really..

Great food for lunch in the centre of Belfast. Highly recommend the Focaccia Christmas Sandwich. And the caramelised walnuts are to die for. A must buy.

Best pint of Guinness I had all day and I tried a good few, absolutely belter.. super thick and poured to perfection.. the bar lads are great as well 👍

Great facility and amazing staff! Best hospitality yet.

It was a private function and it was excellent!

Wow!!! A wonderful respite from all the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. You walk through the doors and are made to feel welcome and valued immediately The interior is spectacular,make sure to visit the toilet. I know this sounds niche but it is fabulous. The food is all made in house we had the Christmas focaccia with candied walnuts (ADDICTIVE)followed by a chocolate orange is , to die for. Wonderful team ⭐️

This was an enjoyable pub to visit for a couple of pints. The ambience was good and the decor nice too. I would happily come here again when visiting Belfast.

Love every visit, great hosts, fantastic environment and excellent whiskey.

This is a must when visiting Belfast. Located in Cathedral Quarters, this beautiful tavern is manned by the GOAT, Stewart. Knowledgeable, friendly and downright charming. Delicious Guinness and a Friend at Hand Whisky, you can’t go wrong!

I absolutely loved this pub. THe music was lovely and we had a really nice time looking at the murals in the courtyard. My only issue is that there are no toilets for women only. Being that there are multiple gender neutral loos, I was surprised that there wasn't a space for me who would never to use the same loo as men on a night out. I absolutely applaud the fact that there is a gender neutral loo but wondered why they all had to be gender neutral? I found it upsetting in the extreme. The loos were stinking and there was urine splashed around the toilet and the floor. Otherwise a lovely pub that I would definitely visit again.

From the cheery welcome at the door, to the very well poured and settled Guiness at the bar, this is a great place to visit. Floor and ceiling are resplendent in tiles whilst the red valour seating suggests old world style, panache and comfort. Well worth a drink or three in this delightful drinking "palace".

excellent pub , finished to a very high standard. very professional staff

Belfast is blessed with some of best pubs anywhere, and the Dark Horse is definitely among them. Like so many pubs in Belfast, its interior is a beautiful Victorian building with wood panelling, plush chairs, polished brass, ornate mirrors, and fancy chandeliers. Also notable is its back courtyard which features tongue-and-cheek murals of Irish history in a way that only Belfast could do. Moreover, the staff are very warm and friendly. The selection of beers is alright, and they do of course serve the black stuff. Unsurprisingly, the pub is a little expensive by Belfast standards, but actually the costs are decent by UK standards, and I couldn't recommend this (or most any pub in the cathedral quarter) enough

What a beautiful old timey pub! Service was above and beyond, there’s a very neat courtyard to enjoy as well

Very friendly staff and great game of thrones door

This is a wee gem hidden away in commercial court. Lovely atmosphere with craft and speciality beers . Also home to door 10 in the Game of Thrones collection.

Go for the server...he's HILARIOUS....oh and the Guiness is a fine pour!

We didn't eat here but we had a great wee night. Friendly vibe from staff and clientele. The courtyard alone is well worth a visit. Ohh and a huge plus for me ,the seating is so comfortable. No rickety stools 🥰

Quirky, unique, great bar staff and door staff. 1st visit. Welcomed and seats provided. Great outdoor space (weather permitting). Perhaps not the fullest range of beers & spirits, but sure to find something suitable.

We visited on chance and really lucked out, as only went inside as couldn't even get near the Duke of York pub, this place was just next door and seemed less chaotically busy... To then find this pub has a huge courtyard with large expanse of walls filled with the most amazing murals! Its definitely worthwhile walking through this pub and to the courtyard for at least 1 drink or 2 (or 3!). A huge pub inside with good ye olde fashioned pub vibes. The seating indoors is very comfortable with plenty of tables and space but we recommended sitting outside to gaze at the fun murals! Service at the bar was fast and there are several toilets outside in the courtyard so waiting time was only ever a couple of minutes. Located off the popular "Umbrella Street", which does look great in photos once it is completely dark. This is the busiest area in Belfast and was absolutely packed on a saturday night! Luckily The Dark Horse was a quiet(er) oasis where we managed to get a seat in the courtyard and enjoy a few drinks and a chat with friends.

Part of city walking food tour, amazing pub, great atmosphere and surrounding is unbelievable, bar staff so welcoming and very friendly. Great choice of drinks. Highly recommend.

I’ve always felt that the dark horse is one of the lesser known bars in Belfast and is somewhat underrated. They now have a brilliant outdoor courtyard out the back with great artwork to look at. There are also several toilets installed out the back as well. The seating indoors is very comfortable with plenty of tables and space and there was no problem getting served at the bar. The music on Saturday night was great too.

Amazing bar definitely one to visit if you are in Belfast great craic and awesome murals

Staff are so accommodating, Belfast hidden Gem

This is our first pub in Northern Ireland the bar staff were lovely and friendly our visit guiness and baileys....the beer garden is something else.

Amazing pub with impressive interior and gorgeous outdoor courtyard. This pub has excellent and welcoming staff who are very chatty and brilliant with the tourists. Really good Guinness as well! Highly recommend checking out all the art and murals in the courtyard out the back

The inside bar is beautiful and feels like an old time bar. The outside is fun, young, and colorful. Really great place with friendly bartenders

Great hearty atmosphere and live music. However often packed so can be hard to get a seat/drink/toilet but not to be mistaken for poor service like some other busy bars

Lovely spot for a few drinks, staff friendly and very conscientious

Magnifique Pub où il est fort agréable de s'y poser un bon petit moment. L'accueil est fort chaleureux avec un sourire éblouissant. Ils étaient ravis de rencontrer des Français car encore peu nombreux. Merci à ce charmant jeune homme qui a conversé avec nous en français et merci à notre barman pour sa gentillesse. Pour les fans de GoT, c'est dans ce lieu que se trouve 1 des dix portes sculptées à partir des Hêtres du Dark Hedges... À voir aussi impérativement la cours extérieure, magnifique...

What a cool place. The murals in the courtyard are just amazing. Great service and right in the middle of all the action.

Splendide et personnel très agréable !

The Irish Coffee is Amazing! I couldn't resist getting a second

The Dark horse is a beautifully decorated pub along the way as I just happened to pass. It caught my with its name the Dark horse. It’s got a yard or a beer garden as it is called a really nice place to be when you are in Belfast near the St. Anne’s square or the cathedral in the city.

Very welcoming woman on door security. Made us feel very welcome and wished us well when leaving. Friendly bar staff. On a very lively Saturday night, this place still had a few seats and we could even have a conversation as the music was not too loud. Enjoyed watching the world going by towards the Duke of York, taking photos and selfies of the illuminated umbrellas.

Beautifully decorated bar, with a really brilliant courtyard/beer garden, full of interesting and funny murals, the Guinness is really good and the service was the highlight, the guys were funny, friendly and made us feel at home from the moment we walked in.

Très sympa pour boire un verre, la terrasse est incroyable, ne pas hésiter à y aller pour admirer les fresques.

Very nice place to drink and talk and watch the world go by, compared to the more busier bars nearby its still busy

Bar staff were great, first time I've been in the bar and would definitely be back

Location bellissima nel pieno del Cathedral quarter

Such a great place! The entire place was so friendly. Wevloved the atmosphere and comraderie of the Irish. Stewart/Stuart was best host ever. Loved the murals and the spiced ginger cola. This needs to be massed produced! We found Belfast to be a friendly, wonderful place with the friendliest people on Earth!

Pub en el centro de la ciudad. Es impresionante el patio trasero y sus murales. Recomendable.

It really is a Dark Horse. Fist Time in this place and i must say I was pleased 😀 nice pint to. I will be back

Came across this place. Lovely friendly staff

Great pub with a nice outdoor atmosphere

This place is beautiful, very well decorated and we were greeted by some of the friendliest people ever - and they know their whiskey. G.O.T door is a nice touch, and the courtyard has amazing paintings/murals.

What a great find. Beautiful pub with even more beautiful staff. Courtyard is smashing. Couldn’t ask for a better send off from Belfast!

freindly pub excellent staff and game of thrones door as a bonus

Lovely bar, comfy seats and beaut outdoor area

Great bar with amazing outdoor area,fantastic Guinness and very pleasant and helpful barman. Highly recommend

Good Guinness... you can also usually get a seat

Amazing pub, Stewart the barman was brilliant! We'll be back to Belfast soon!

Attended a private event here. Lovely large outside courtyard at the back and staff were amazing.

Great pub with a fantastic outside yard! Nice pint of Guinness served as well!

Unassuming exterior, but very plush and comfy interior after a long day on your feet. Courtyard a must see

First time in here very friendly and efficient staff was very impressed by the courtyard setting I was just visiting back home again