Hip and Happening Belfast

 
What is happening in Belfast, well the answer is everything. Imposing Victorian architecture, modern art on the waterfront, foot-stomping music in packed-out pubs and the Ireland’s biggest arts festival - Belfast is a city that confounds expectations. The city is compact and easy to get around, with most points of interest within easy walking distance of each other; it has a vibrant nightlife and plenty of good places to eat.

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Belfast’s nightlife is making it one of the trendiest cities in Europe. Café Vaudeville is a dramatic new addition to Belfast’s burgeoning cityscape – a breath-taking milieu that combines a luxurious cocktail and champagne bar with a French café, all-day bistro lounge. It is situated in a historical neo-classical building in Belfast’s Arthur Street. …. but the piece de resistance sits elevated above the busy café-bar. Café Vaudeville’s upper floor is truly a first for Belfast. Ireland’s only ‘Boli bar’ captures the very essence of Vaudeville – a dedicated champagne bar by invite only, for special guests and expensive palate. www.cafevaudeville.com

Amongst these fashionable bars can be founds some truly exquisite accommodation. Malmaison, named after the Chateau on the outskirts of Paris (originally the home of Napoleon and Josephine). Belfast Malmaison was voted a Conde Traveller ‘hot new hotel’ for 2005 www.malmaison.com Also new on the block is Ten Square, hailed by the Sunday Times Newspaper as “one of the chicest boutique hotels in Ireland “, Ten Square has become something of a luxury home from home for celebrities visiting Belfast. Housed in one of downtown Belfast’s most elegant listed buildings, a former linen baron’s headquarters facing the City Hall, Ten Square is a jewel of a hotel – fusing an elegant 18th century façade with a sleek contemporary interior.
www.tensquare.co.uk

Belfast has also taken on the prestigious role of hosting the largest art’s festival in Ireland with the 43rd Belfast Festival at Queen's having secured a total of almost 20 Ireland, UK, European and World Premieres for this year’s festival programme. From 21st October to 6th November, artists and events from countries including Spain, Lithuania, Australia, United States, Norway, Japan, England, Ireland, Scotland, India and Poland will flock to Belfast to entertain audiences in venues right across the city. Amongst the many attractions in a programme featuring the very best in new local, national and international artistic talent are a parade of huge, colorful insects, the world’s shortest theatre show and a classical pianist’s reinterpretation of the work of Radiohead. www.belfastfestival.com

And if Shopping is well and truly in your blood then you may need your credit card in Belfast! All the major high street stores are found in Belfast’s central shopping area which runs from Donegall Place to Royal Avenue. This area is easily explored on foot and it incorporates some lovely examples of Victorian architecture. Another shopping zone to check-out is the Queens Quarter which is packed with designer label clothes, cutting edge interior design shops, enticing delis and fascinating gift and book shops. The beautiful St George’s Market is the oldest covered market in Ireland and It holds a fabulous City Food and Garden Market, each Saturday from 9.30am to 3.30pm, with over 100 stalls and a Friday variety market from 6am-2pm selling lots of fresh ocean fish, local meat produce, speciality foods, and stalls for clothes, antiques, second hand books, crepes and much more. www.gotobelfast.com