The Dark Horse in Belfast

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.

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!

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

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

Ein ganz super Pub mit einem sehr spannenden Innenhof. Ich war extrem beeindruckt von den schönen Bildern. Der Service ist sehr zuvorkommend und hilfsbereit. Natürlich haben wir auch ein Bier in der tollen Atmosphäre genossen.

Magnifique et le serveur super sympa

What a wonderful pub. The decor is opulent, the welcome warm and the staff attentive. Enjoyed a pint of Belfast Session. We managed to visit on a Monday lunchtime when it was nice and quiet. But come here on a Friday or Saturday night and it will be very busy.

An absolutely fantastic place for a meal or a quiet drink. Stewart is very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.

Nice venue with an alright drink selection. They don't turn music on until a bit later to let people chat. The murals in the courtyard are really stunning. Well worth a visit

Visited on a weekday afternoon so the place was t too busy but still had a nice atmosphere! Nice bar with a wide selection of drinks, nice service and good coffee. Reasonable prices in the center of Belfast in a lovely touristy walking street. Would recommend and would return!☺️

A wonderful place to stop for a drink the staff are awesome and make you feel so welcome it's hard to leave.The atmosphere is relaxed and chilled so a great way to lose the stress of shopping if you are near here and like game of thrones then you need to stop

Great looking pub, a bit quiet but nice for a local beer Very clean and great outdoor space, which is used for music

Like it. Great character and staff, worth a trip for the venue alone. Enjoyed a Guinness there. Only gripe would be one toilet for all but alternative nearby.

Really nice pub, usually can pull your own Guiness in there and get a few photos etc. Good coffee and cakes too!

Lindo lugar para tomar una copa.

Visited with my boyfriend over from England seeing the sights in Belfast. Stuart is absolutely amazing, great craic and perfect service!!! Go and see Stuart what a guy xxxx

Nice decor and service in a good location

A rainy afternoon was spent in gorgeous surroundings with fabulous host Stuart - he of the beer mat fame! Hospitable with good craic - part of a group of establishments all with the same ethos and drive. Outdoor area also superb and well presented - The Wishing Tree and murals a must see. The Friend at Hand whisky shop just next door is also well-worn a visit. Highly recommended. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

We had an awesome experience here. The waiter was great. Super energetic. He showed us around the pub and shared some must see places in the area. I wish we had more time.

Stuart and Kevin, top bar men really enjoyed your craic

Lovely friendly staff, great drink suggestions. Calm place with one of the Game of Thrones doors. It's beautiful!!! The pub itself is carefully decorated, will be returning, lovely pub!

Just had a drink in here and it is a really beautiful bar. The red velvet furniture is opulent and the barman was really friendly and helpful. Looking forward to going back for a longer visit

My favourite spot in Belfast. Great food, and the some of the nicest staff I have ever encountered. The manager even gave us a tour of the property when we chatted to him.

Very limited beer choice, nice room but zero atmosphere.

The gentleman running the bar today was a professional of the hospitality industry. Welcomed us in, advised on our drink and dining options, recommended areas and other establishments in the area. Five stars! A must see in Belfast!

Very unfriendly staff. Asked to borrow toilet for my 9 year old at 11am today and the young chap just said no.

Good pint of guinness lovely traditional pub very friendly staff

Just around the corner from The Friend at Hand Whisky Shop this is a great Pub. Lots of space and great staff with atmosphere. If you visit do go into the courtyard as this should not be missed.

spent the afternoon in their courtyard eating toasties and drinking Guinness. Staff were really nice and helpful - couldn't do enough for us. Its a great place to start a night out if you are in a group. Also they have the friendliest bouncer in...

Had been for a really poor meal in Shu restaurant on the Lisburn Road, with family. Decided to go to the Cathedral Quarter to cheer ourselves up afterwards. Went to the Dark Horse and we were not disappointed. The Barman was great, a real Belfast...

excellent Guinness, and very friendly staff. the barman knew what my tipple was before i spoke. impressive. I'll be back.

Really nice pub! Service is great. Love the decor inside. The Toast Office also offer their menu in here now too which is great.

Excellent bar in Cathedral Quarter. Nice food. Excellent staff

Best toasties ever! Highly recommend to go there

It was fantastic great day love it 😀😍

Went for lunch, friendy staff , good coffee, beautiful atmosphere.

Very friendly bouncer invited us inside when my daughter was flagging from the heat and the street outside was bustling. Inside is beautiful and the staff very attentive. Checkout the back yard which is covered in murals.

Customer service wasn't great at the start but improved. Tall, dark, handsome bouncer was a lovely man.

Slow service to the outside area but nice spot

First time I've been and I was amazed at the decorated walls full of old advertising mirrors and signs/posters. Place obviously popular as it was very busy, staff did an excellent job with the table service. A bit too loud for a conversation with my drinking buddy as table's nearby were louder to speak to each. Had to leave as my throat was sore from trying to speak across small table. Noise alone was enough to make my head hurt. If I go back I'll have to check how busy it is.

Great bar, the beer garden is lovely with lots of funny art. Stewart is an absolute gent, made us feel very welcome, He should be running the place, fantastic host. Try the house whiskey!