City Centre
Kelly’s Cellars
A low-ceilinged, whitewashed institution associated with Belfast’s eighteenth-century political and social history.
Why it belongs: Old-school Belfast atmosphere
city centrehistorictraditional musicCurated Belfast pub collection
Traditional Irish Music Venues
Belfast venues strongly connected with traditional sessions, Irish music and cultural programming.
Editorial note: This collection is based on the structured venue profiles currently published on BelfastPubs.com. It is designed for comparison and cultural discovery, not as a claim that every possible venue is included.
At a glance
| Venue | Area | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Kelly’s Cellars | City Centre | Old-school Belfast atmosphere |
| The Dirty Onion | Cathedral Quarter | Traditional music & courtyard |
| The Garrick Bar | City Centre | Traditional sessions & central location |
| Fibber Magee’s | City Centre | Nightly traditional entertainment |
| The Points | Dublin Road | Music and Irish pub food |
| The American Bar | Sailortown | Sailortown heritage & sessions |
| Maddens Bar | City Centre | Traditional music and cultural identity |
| The Second Fiddle | Cathedral Quarter | Irish traditional music and cultural programming |
Explore the collection
Cathedral Quarter
The Dirty Onion
A large pub in a historic building with a prominent courtyard and frequent traditional music, alongside Yardbird upstairs.
Why it belongs: Traditional music & courtyard
cathedral quarterfoodtraditional musicCity Centre
The Garrick Bar
A central traditional pub with wood-panelled rooms, food and a reputation for music sessions.
Why it belongs: Traditional sessions & central location
city centrefoodtraditional musicCity Centre
Fibber Magee’s
A compact, lively traditional-style bar beside Robinsons, known for regular music and a visitor-friendly atmosphere.
Why it belongs: Nightly traditional entertainment
city centretraditional musicDublin Road
The Points
A large Irish pub on Dublin Road with frequent live music, food and a high-energy visitor-friendly format.
Why it belongs: Music and Irish pub food
foodgolden miletraditional musicSailortown
The American Bar
A community-minded pub in Belfast’s historic Sailortown, valued for music, conversation and neighbourhood identity.
Why it belongs: Sailortown heritage & sessions
historicindependenttraditional musicCity Centre
Maddens Bar
A compact central Belfast venue strongly associated with traditional music, Irish-language culture and an intimate sense of place.
Why it belongs: Traditional music and cultural identity
city centreintimateirish culturetraditional musicCathedral Quarter
The Second Fiddle
A contemporary traditional-music venue focused on Irish culture, language, art and regular folk sessions.
Why it belongs: Irish traditional music and cultural programming
artscathedral quarterirish languagetraditional musicKeep exploring: Browse all Belfast pub collections, compare the full pub directory, or use the night planner.