The Spaniard in Belfast

We got seats upstairs in this Pub and stayed for the night. The decor is worth a visit alone, religious icons everywhere, very cool wall coverings and the staff were great. They have an extensive cocktail menu and it was very covid compliant. Would recommend booking in advance. Fabulous Pub!

I am actually really disappointed to have to leave this review, as the Spaniard was my favourite pub to go to in Belfast, been going for years. I have rated it a one start based on our evening. We went to the Spaniard on 18/9/21 and were treated disgracefully. A group of 4 friends having a drink, and spending alot of money (The Spaniard's drinks are not cheap) Everything was fine, we had a table right at the door, we were chatting to the staff, and just enjoying our company. At about 9.30pm, We wanted to order another round of drinks and we were suddenly and quite inappropriately and rudely told we were not being served any more. We were all very shocked, and asked 'Why?' We were given no explanation whatsoever, and had to leave to go to another pub that treated us as anyone should be treated on a night out. I appreciate that times are difficult at the minute for pubs & restaurants and staff may be under increased pressure, but this is no excuse to treat paying customers this way. I have emailed the Spaniard with a complaint and will be expecting a reply. However, sadly none of us will ever be back, such a shame, as I always enjoyed the Spaniard. I am not sure what has happened in Belfast, as we have come across quite rude & arrogant staff in other places also. Customer service leaves alot of be desired, staff should be trained to deal with their customers with some respect. Incidentally we are a group of a certain age (not in our 20's) so I wonder is this something to do with it? Not the image the Spaniard want to project? Or Possibly they wanted us out, so that younger people would come in and spend even more money. Very very disappointed.

This is my favourite bar in Belfast. Pre-covid, the atmosphere in the place was relaxed and quirky. Even though us different now due to covid, they haven’t lost their quirk. Staff are lovely and accommodating! They make recommendations on drinks and the cocktails are the die for

Visited on a Wednesday night. Bar man was very friendly. Cocktails were great and generous with the measures. Would definitely recommend.

Trendy bar with an alternative crowd. Does cocktails and Guinness carlsberg on tap. Cool decor, we went on pride night and this was the only place we could get a table. Chilled out place.

Took the Mrs here for drinks after dinner last weekend. The staff are very nice and one girl gave us great recommendations for restaurants to try in Belfast, v grateful. Will go here again, thanks.

If you can get a seat this is a great place to spend a few hours. We had a couple of pints of really good Guinness and enjoyed the atmosphere.

My husband and I go here very regularly love this little pub ,best Havana in town ,just something about how they make them 10/10

I love The Spaniard, been going for years and upstairs is favourite for me and my friends, great music, great atmosphere. However the new doorman just turns people away on site without speaking to them, ‘its full’ We could see upstairs and it was dead, we were there early. Good couple of mates, never caused a bit of trouble in a pub in our lives. Hes either crap at profiling a t**t or hes just a t**t himself. Probably both. Please sort this out!!This was 18/01/20 btw.

atmosphere very good,weekends to tight for me i do like my comfort,it is to be expected being a small bar,drink prices like most of the bars in central belfast over the top(greed).

Small but lively bar with good music and atmosphere. I enjoyed the upstairs bar this time which didn’t seem quite as cramped as downstairs.

Absolutely love this little bar. Great selection of rums and cocktails, and really excellent bar servers. Had a Pina Colada that was just superb. Best bar in Belfast.

Small pub, quirky and worth a quick half-pint, but you might struggle to get a seat and if you do it will probably be an uncomfortable one on a small bench.

Great bar in heart of cathedral Quarter serious tunes blaring and savage talent top class closes maybe too early but as the man says we don't buy it we rent it

Dirty smelly and indifferent barmaid who couldn't make a Mojito as they had no mint! Has really gone downhill since last visit.

This bar makes me think of what the college bars in American must have been like in the 70’s. That may sound strange but the decor is amazing and the soundtrack always make me think of 1970’s. It’s small and pokey but that only adds to its charms. It’s like the last place in he world where people actually speak to each other in that it’s not full of people stuck in their phones. Pints are great and the dark and stormy needs to be sampled.

Lovely wee pub serving cocktails. Good service, good Margarita and nice little buzz about the place.

stopped for a note here with my significant other, and a great find. a small bar, spread over 2 floors. and the décor on floor 2.... well, has to be seen for yourself. I've never encountered anything similar :-)

The first thing you notice is how small this bar is, but it has something interesting about it. Some great photos on the wall of the likes of Paul McCartney in his Beatles days. Definitely worth a visit.

The Spaniard. I would start at the beginning, but alas, I feel I may need to go further back.

Really nice bar with compelling decor and a trendy vibe, but not intimidatingly so. Would definitely recommend and will return next time I'm in Belfast!

Called in for a drink on Sunday evening. Great choice of music playing. Staff were friendly enough. Almost £15 for two drinks which is expensive compared to other bars nearby.

We called in for one drink and ended up staying longer than what we expected Not much seating if you are in big groups of people Good Decor - not many pubs in Belfast like this!!

Intento ir aquí regularmente para pintar Guinness, ya que creo que es lo mejor en Belfast, o si Guinness no es lo tuyo, te recomendaría un cóctel oscuro y tormentoso. La parte de arriba del español también es muy diferente, por lo que recomendaría comprobarlo. afuera.

Found this bar by accident and ended up staying for over four hours, great atmosphere and great cocktails

A lovely friendly place decorated tongue in cheek with catholic icons. Mary’s Marys everywhere. Good beer good craic. Upstairs looks are worth a visit!

I’ve never spent a full night here because I find it a bit small but it’s good for a few early evening drinks and the music is decent. The staff are friendly and most of the customers are decent enough too.

the irony of The Spaniard is that whilst it's a great little cosy bar in downtown Belfast, you have to get by a moronic bouncer in order to experience everything that it has to offer. Punters like to have a drink, not have to deal with a cretin on the front door with a God complex. Won't be back.

I love going to the Spaniard Saturday afternoon music session with Jackie Rainey from 4-6. Most enjoyable listening to great music and having a Dark and Stormy or an Extraordinary.

Went here for a few drinks and ended up spending the whole night smashing out shapes and having some dark n stormies (well recommended). Only spent time upstairs and everyone was in great form including the bar staff who had to deal with drunken dribblers, fair play to them. Came back the following day when live music was on, good set and great voice. Loved the place

Visited on a few occasions. Initially, you can go in and it seems to be completely jammed - but that's just the ground floor. Take yourself upstairs and visit the first floor bar - the decor won't be to everyone's taste, it's full of golden cherubs, portraits of Mary and the voguing Jesus picture (the sacred heart?) - but it's all good fun. Good selection of drinks, nice staff - and the odd bit of live music. Also - the toilets are a must for a visit (well, the gents anyway).

Honestly you couldn't make it up. You know who you are bandana man Mark. Firstly you need to know the difference between a track suit and an all wool ensemble. That way you might avoid insulting 4 women, whom by the way are highly affiliated in the hospitality industry on the island. Secondly good manners go a long way and you sir displayed a shocking deficiency in this area. Maybe you forgot to feed your parrot or it was your turn to walk the plank on Sunday evening but that's no excuse for your deplorable rudeness. Compelled to take this further. Can't believe a place of this repute has allowed this to happen. Shocking.

It’s a small bar which I find a bit claustrophobic at times but the music is good and there’s a friendly atmosphere. It can be a bit slow to get served though and hard to find a spot at the bar. Tends to attract a middle aged plus crowd.

Smallish very popular bar, great atmosphere, friendly staff and great selection of drinks. Try a Dark and Stormy and you will be hooked!

My three brother in laws and I had a round of drinks in here on our Christmas pub crawl. Wee place, big atmosphere....easy to get served and tip is to get there early to bag a seat!!

Small bar, with a great atmosphere. You'll find a mix of regular customers with visitors which makes for fantastic "craic". Also, great music (in the background).

I love this pub in winter, it’s so cosy. It always looks packed but if you hang around for a few minutes you’ll usually find somewhere to rest your drink. Love all the posters and pictures on the walls.

Bueno, he leído algunos comentarios sobre este lugar, así que decidí agregarlo a la lista de bebedores que yo y la señora estaban visitando en un perezoso domingo por la tarde, mantén los ojos bien abiertos, ya que puedes pasar por delante fácilmente, como lo hicimos. . ¡Culpo a la mujer obviamente! Mujeres y direcciones! ¡Soy joooookiiiggg! Aunque stevie wonder alguna vez me dio mejores direcciones! Lo primero que notará es que este lugar es pequeño, pero sin duda se suma al encanto que se sentó en el bar y absorbió la amabilidad del lugar y atrae a una pareja encantadora de gales del norte. En esta etapa, el vodka había pateado, así que estoy bastante. Seguro que los aburrí hasta las lágrimas con preguntas sobre Tom Jones y sopa de puerros. De todos modos, nos quedamos unos cuantos y los dos disfrutamos mucho de todo el ambiente. Sin duda volveremos a aparecer, ¡gracias por las nueces gratis! !

Visitamos anteriormente y nos encantó aquí. Regresé el fin de semana pasado y no me impresionó tanto. Conseguimos un asiento en la planta baja, pero estaba cerca de la puerta y se estaba congelando, así que conseguimos una bebida y subimos las escaleras. Había muchos asientos, pero olía a rancio y no había ningún ambiente. Nos quedamos para terminar nuestra bebida y nos fuimos. Volvería pero me aseguraría de que tengo un asiento abajo.

Great wee bar music was good not to loud you could have a chat and the music could listen to and not shout at each other

We stopped off here for a short on our pub crawl around the Cathedral Quarter. A quaint ‘wee’ yes literally wee pub with lots of character

This pub is a great little find, the staff are super friendly with a wide selection of drinks with an amazing atmosphere. Definitely worth a drink or three!

Went for a drink Saturday afternoon and it was already busy. We luckily got seats at the bar the staff were good and had a good atsmophere. A real mix of people from all ages which I think is usually good sign.

We called in by chance this evening and were planning to have one drink. 2 hours later and still there!

Visited here on recommendation of it being one of the top ten bars in Belfast. Wasnt impressed. Small, expensive and noisy full with a group of loud swearing men that the bar staff did nothing to calm down. Only available seats downstairs were next to the toilet door which wasnt the most inviting place to enjoy a drink. On the plus side great artwork on the walls, good music and the potential in nice weather on an evening to sit outside. We visited around 5pm on a Tuesday so maybe we were missing the point. Wont rush back.Much nicer bars in the area.

Walked in, went to the bar, two barmen just looked at us and then continued to talk to each other. Waited two minutes, still talking. Walked out. Disgusting.

Having seen some good reviews for the Spaniard we thought we would pop along.

I usually drink here when in Belfast. Bar staff are always pleasant and offer some banter throughout the night.

Took an American friend (just in the city for one day) to the Spaniard, because I thought it was quirky enough to illicit some kind of a favourable response. The Hendrick's jug full of cucumbers, the drinks selection and just how SMALL it was REALLY impressed the visitor. Also, the locals did their bit as well. Very friendly atmosphere. Belfast, you winner!

My first day in Belfast and stopped for a Guinness. Great indoor and out door ambience. Cozy. We sat inside, then moved outdoors. My Partner lives in Belfast and it's one of his favorite pubs. I can see why.

Was thrilled cousins from Belfast took us here. This place has serious CHARACTER and we were just in time for last call on a Monday night out in Belfast. The fact that it was busy tells you it's a favorite. We could have stayed for hours looking at the walls full of posters and interesting items which led to some great conversations. Can't wait to return next time I''m in Belfast

Every time I visit Belfast I have to have a pint in The Spaniard. It's a great little pub and one that you could easily walk past without giving it a second glance, but that would be your loss. They have a great selection of drinks (especially rums) and the atmosphere in the place is brilliant, with great music always playing in the background and some good live musicians too.

This bar looks tiny from the outside but when you get inside and go upstairs there is an incredible area which is full of religious memorabilia. When we visited there was a singer playing live music which really added to the ambiance of the bar and it was a really unique experience. this is a must see place when you visit Belfast PS if you like rum you will love this place!!

I love the Spaniard with all its holy relics but it's seriously over priced. We paid £11.60 for a pint of Guinness and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, the wine was dire by the way. We only stopped for that one and moved on to two other bars, both quite new with live music and plush surroundings, the same drinks were at leat £2 cheaper, time to justify your prices The Spaniard, little wonder there were only four people in the upstairs bar.

Been a few times for drinks and this is a great place, had lots of great evenings and afternoons with friends , popped in with our son for graduation drinks and we all enjoyed, so why not excellent, well the decor and seats are really starting to wear and do look very tired, the 2nd floor is a laugh but seats and some broken class in some pictures need attention, so close to perfect, go enjoy great service. Thanks

Great bar ,one of belfasts best ,great drinks choice n you must try the dark n stormys! You can also get pablos takeaway burgers delivered ,if I owned a bar it wouldbe this ,also check out the upstairs bar.

Quite obviously the 'cool bar' in the local vicinity, and yes it does have a quirky vibe about it. Saying all that, my Diplomatico was far from the best cocktail I tried during my trip to Belfast, so the hype wasn't totally justified.

Picked this bar because on a Sunday very few bars were open. But so glad my friends and I did great atmosphere, great selection of drinks although the Joe Bloggs Rum at £40 a shot was a tadge dear for us. Great decor in line with fantastic background old pop and rock music. Hospitality top notch a must go to bar

Visited this place as was recommended to us for its good choice of Rums and Cocktails. Bar is really quirky and good atmosphere. Is around £8 per cocktail. Would visit again.

Happened to stumble across the Spaniard on a walk. Popped in and glad we did small friendly and a great atmosphere. Will pop back if returning to Belfast.

Tiny little bar with a great atmosphere! We were visiting Belfast just for the weekend and came in based on a recommendation. Worth a visit- good drinks!

This bar apparently has been open for years. I’d been in all of the bars around it in the Cathedral Quarter, but never got through the door. It is a very cramped place, but that was fine on a cold Boxing Day. The staff were good craic. It seems to be a Rum bar, with some really expensive selections. I’ve heard it does Tapas, but that must be upstairs as I never saw any food. There were members pricing for some drinks, which again suggests another element to it. The Guinness was good though and that is all that matters. All told it is a fine bar in a popular part of town. I’d not suggest coming in, if there’s more than 10, as you’d fill the place. For a comfortable pint as a couple or three, it’s a must do.

Tiny little bar. Full of memorabilia on the walls. Fantastic atmosphere. A must go to when in the cathedral quarter in Belfast!

We’ve been upstairs in the Spaniard a few times, my friends and I always get the Long Island iced teas which are really good. It looks tiny and crowded when you first walk in but once you get settled in it’s a great bar

The Spaniard is, for those of us lucky enough to have enjoyed the experience, a bar you could slot into Beirut's eclectic and fizzing Hamra or Gemayze districts and it would have no problem being there at all. It gets madder and weirder the later into the night you wander, so go to the Dirty Onion or the Duke of York for a few before you wander Spaniard-wards.

A teeny bar, adorned with music memorabilia and 45”s for those who remember them! You can place an order for burgers from the nearby Pablos, and they’ll deliver. How cool is that?!!

Put out for not abiding to a certain dress code, unacceptable considering the amount of people who might not wish to wear jeans and shirts at all times. Just quite taken aback that this happened.

Nice little pub for a few drinks with friends or your partner. Comparing to the bigger pubs in that area this pub is a great alternative. It has something special. Drinks are Ok. If you are in Belfast just drop by and have one.

Had always loved the Spaniard, i used to like strolling in after a hard week of work to loosen up with one of their delicious signature drinks!!!

With an wide variety of drinks this is a great place to get a cold one, but the atmosphere and location makes this place extra special, and for some people it will be heaven, a visit to the second floor is a must.

My boyfriend and I came here around 4:30pm on a Saturday and it was already packed and had live music going. The music (Jackie Rainey) was great and could be heard right when you walked in. The band was upstairs so we headed straight up past the "Sinner's Welcome" sign - loved it! There seemed to be more cocktail options than beer but that wasn't a problem. We were only up for the day so I'm not sure on average prices for pints in Belfast, but a pint of Guinness and Carlsberg was around £8.50. When this is converted to euros it seems a bit high for 2 normal beers. Great atmosphere though so I would recommend it if you're in the area!

Fue un día muy frío, pero este pub era tan agradable y acogedor que nos alojamos felices durante unas horas.

There's a fabulous atmosphere in this little pub and it really is little!

This is the second time I have found myself relaxing in this intimate pub having a quiet beer.

Loved this tiny bar probably not good for a large group of people as it only sits about 15 any more might be a bit of a squeeze

We stumbled in around 3pm, it was not busy however the seating is VERY LIMITED and 15 people will make it look crowded in here. The staff were friendly and rather knowledgeable which was great. The cocktail was great although we couldn't remember which one it was.......Sign of a good cocktail haha. Musical icons adorn the walls and give it a quirky kind of vibe. Great bar, expect to stand.

Not a bad wee pub. ..don't know that I would like to be there when it's busy but was great to have a quick drink in

Buen personal, buena selección de bebidas, pero para dios ordenar sake la calefacción, incluso el personal tenía abrigos! ! ! Congelación

When we went inside, all the people started looking us weirdly (I was over eighteen). Suddenly a person from the staff came and kicked us out because he said I couldn’t wear a trousers tracksuit (when more people in the pub were wearing one). Ridiculous and definitely not a place to recommend.

This is a warm cosy place to hang out with friends. Unusual decor is fun to see but atmosphere is good and live music is a bonus.

If you want to feel local come and grab a drink, amazing music , great decoration, locals make you feel as one of their own

Simplemente pasear por el casco de la catedral vi este bar que parecía acogedora así un salto. Es un lugar pequeño y estaba muy concurrido, así que sólo estaba parado en el bar. Tuve una casa de Ron" que era muy agradable y cálido. Conseguimos charlando a la gente que trabaja allí en su fiesta de Navidad y el jefe me insistió en comprar otra bebida. . . . . . .

Pub acogedor, un ambiente genial y una buena variedad de bebidas. Personal amable y clientes - ¿Qué más se puede pedir?

Qué genial (aunque muy pequeña) bar con un montón de carácter y un lugar para el verdadero "rummies". Ir temprano para conseguir un asiento cerca del bar.

Lo presuntuoso, pretencioso me subió multitud. Music Choice conservador y estrecho de mente abierta. La discriminación homofóbica. Repugnante.

Stumbled upon this great pub. An interesting display of religious paintings etc on the wall. Staff friendly. Atmosphere great

If you get a little tired of the traditional pubs, and want something more like home (for us at least!), this is a great place. Very funky and small, with great ambience. Both times we went, the upstairs was closed. I was hoping to check it out based on what I heard about it . Its done in a church/religious theme. The night we went they were playing great music (The Cure, New Order, etc), which was a relief from the traditional Irish Music. Not knocking Irish music, but sometimes a variety is good. ;)

Great little city centre bar with friendly welcoming staff, pleasant surroundings and a genuinely wonderful atmosphere.

Had a drink here with my friend last saturday night...lovely wee bar, friendly staff and great atmosphere. Would highly recommend visiting here

We visited here during the cultural night in September. Great bar with good staff and good selection of drinks. Worth a visit

We stumbled across this place as we were wandering around, and it was a lovely little bar - friendly staff and customers.The guy singing on guitar with his little dog made the night.Guinness was great Highly recommended.

Fun, small little pub with a great vibe. The decor is quite eclectic and seem to be filled with a lot of locals. Centrally located and easy to find. We would definitly go back. They do not service food however there is a hamburger joint that will deliver, the bartender has menus.

Ya había pasado varias veces por el Pub pero nunca había entrada, fui un día de semana en amigos, un grupo de 5 personas y estuvo realmente bien, el ambiente muy bueno, pero lo mejor sin duda fue la música, excelente, la única pega por la cual no le pongo 5 estrellas; quizás debería tener las variedades de cervezas, por lo demás todo muy muy bien, eso si, solo estuve en la planta de abajo.

Great little find in the popular Cathedral Quarter in Belfast. Cosy and quirky and specialising in rums of numerous types and prices

Although this pub does not serve food, the staff were quite quick about producing a menu and ordering in some hamburgers for us. The décor and the true Irish character of the patrons, made this well worth the visit

Spent a couple of hours in here, sampled some nice rums & Irish Gin with Ginger Ale - Yummy.Staff helpful & locals friendly.

This is an extremely small pub, so be prepared to be squashed at peak times! This is well worth it for the experience of visiting this bar. It is unique, and needs to be seen to be understood. What a wonderful pub!

Stopped by for a drink, which quickly became two. Specialises in mojitos and pina coladas, which are worth trying. Got a seat at the bar without too much difficulty, and found the barman to be very knowledgable about his spirits. Started experimenting with dark rums, which tasted beautiful. Perhaps not the authentic Belfast pub, but a good shout for friendly locals and a good ipod playlist.

Called in for drinks last Tuesday and had a fantastic evening. Lovely selection of drinks, especially rum! Live music and great craic. Bartender was very pleasant and knowledgeable. My friends and I really enjoyed our experience here. I would highly recommend this place! It's a little gem in the heart of Belfast.

Great little pub, excellent Barman, good to see someone passionate and expert in their trade. Highly recommend for late evening drinks, good music, good atmosphere and good drinks.