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Star Bars
The Duke of York - Belfast is a heady mix of cool contemporary design and retro chic and The Duke of York, one of Belfast's most famous pubs, has both in spades. Enjoy the 'craic', in what is a fantastic place to kick start your hen night and possibly one of the best pubs in the UK.
The Dirty Onion - If you don't visit The Dirty Onion during your Belfast weekend then you really are missing the very flavour of modern Belfast... Erm, we don't mean Belfast tastes like a dirty onion.... But with fantastic food, superb music, a wonderful atmosphere and jam packed at the weekends this really is one of the best nights out in the city.
The Hudson Bar - Whenever we're in Belfast (which sadly isn't nearly often enough) we make a bee line for The Hudson Bar. Spread over three floors and full of shabby chic, retro cool this is a huge night out just waiting to happen. Having taken over what was once the red light district The Hudson has totally reinvigorated the area and is one the top venues in the city.
Café Vaudeville - If your night requires a touch more opulence and a sprinkling of fine cocktails then Café Vaudeville is for you. Café Vaudeville have taken a twist of jazz, a measure of big band, a slice of burlesque and a double shot of elegance to create the perfect venue for any girls night out.
Best Bites
21 Social - With a little something on the menu to suit everyone, 21 Social mix great food with a chic atmosphere and a very welcome cocktail menu to help get your evening underway. Definitely one to add to your "to-do" list.
Apartment - A bit of foodie heaven in the centre of trendy downtown Belfast. Uber cool and with a superb menu we really do recommend a visit to Apartment. Oh, and their desert list is dangerously good, you have been warned.
Sights & Sounds
Sights
The Titanic Museum really is worth a visit, Not only will you get a peak at the luxury design of the world's most famous cruise liner but also a real sense of the tragic story that still touches a chord with so many. You can also do your Jack and Rose impressions.
If you want somewhere calm with plenty of fresh air to help reinvigorate any sore heads then the Botanic Gardens and Palm House are stunningly beautiful (and they serve some darn good cakes as well!).
The Ulster Museum is also really worth a quick visit, while you might not fancy the older exhibits the museum regularly features the latest cutting edge artists and designers.
Sounds
Voodoo is one of the city's best music venues with a seriously eclectic taste where you'll find everything from traditional acoustic sets to top DJ's. Hugely popular, there's a superb atmosphere and a great night out waiting just for you to turn up.
If you want some traditional Northern Irish sounds then McHughs is definitely the place to be. Not only will you get great music and friendly, welcoming atmosphere but the food is worth a visit for as well.
In the Diary
April - Festival of Food A celebration of the flavour of Belfast when you can get deals for some of the best eateries in the city!
May - Festival of Fools The very best in street entertainment and theatre. If you can time your visit to coincide you're in for a real treat.
August - Mela A celebration of music, cultures and foods from around the world.
August - Belsonic Northern Ireland's biggest live ticket features the biggest and best headline acts from Biffy Clyro and Imagine Dragons to top DJ's.
September - Belly Laughs is the Belfast International Comedy Festival where you'll find some of the best comedy acts in the UK as well as top US comics.If you've ever had dreams of finding your own Mr Darcy then this is the perfect place to start your search as hundreds of fine folk dress in costume and take to the city streets.
Top of the Shops
ReFound - Refound is stuffed to the brim with truly beautiful stuff. The incredible team here are focussed on the art of 'upcycling', meaning making old furniture look fantastic with just a little love and care. Even if you don't quite have the room in your weekend bag for a desk or chest or drawers, you can pick up reasonably priced jewellery, screen printed bags and kitchen pieces too.
Liberty Blue - Another shop we love is Liberty Blue, full of quirky, vintage, kitsch and retro clothing, no trip to Belfast is complete until you've paid homage at this retail shrine.
Lisburn Road - One of the most buzzing and lively spots to hang out, drink, eat and shop in Belfast, the Lisburn road is home to beautiful independent shops, boutiques, gift stores and trendy wine bars. A real must for a stylish afternoon in the city.
No Alibis - No Alibis is definitely one of the coolest book shops you'll ever visit. Specialising in crime fiction it is an absolute must for any literary fans.
Girls About Town - Getting around Belfast...
Bus or taxi are currently the best ways to get around Belfast city centre, ahead of time you can book an iLink card to make travel cheaper.
In 2015 the city will be unveiling a public bike scheme (Belfast "Boris bikes") which will be stationed in and around the city centre.
However for nights out the Cathedral Quarter is where you'll find the party and you can navigate the whole area quite comfortably on foot (even in heels).
Hen Days
Hotel options in Belfast make it a really budget friendly destination where you can find yourself in a 4* or 5* hotel for the same price as 2* option in England. This makes spa hotels and spa treatments incredibly popular with hen parties visiting the city. For something a little more adventurous you can give that bucket list a kick and try Bungee Jumping.
Hen Nights
The biggest and best nights out in Belfast centre around the trendy Cathedral Quarter. There are some grunge and boho venues to be found in the Queen's Quarter thanks to the student population around Queen's University. If you're looking for something to get your party started then a Cocktail Mixing Class is a fantastic way to shake things up a bit.
Getting There
By air...
By far the easiest and fastest way to get to Belfast is in the air and luckily, loads of budget airlines travel there really frequently from all the major UK airports. Get in to George Best City airport and get to the city centre in around 30 minutes by taxi or a little more on a far cheaper bus service which leaves every half an hour at least.
By sea...
In the Northwest of the UK, there are plenty of terminuses from which you can take a ferry in conjunction with a rail ticket. Known more commonly as a 'RailSail' ticket, pick one up from any UK train station and reach the dock via rail before boarding ship!
By land...
It might take a while but if you're keen to have your car with you in Belfast, take a ferry which allows cars and then roll into port and drive straight off. Ideal for busting annoying taxis and buses and works well if you and the girls want to explore the Irish countryside when you're away. Belfast is also accessible via train if you arrive at Dublin airport or ferry terminal.
