Warehouse, then pub
3 Hill Street. The Dirty Onion’s own history page dates the building to 1680: fish, tea, linen, whiskey in the walls before anyone pulled a pint here. Discover NI also calls out the “Stack N” spirit warehouse years and the painted N on the brick. The pub itself opened in 2013. Original beams and brick are the point of the room; the beer garden is the point of the night.
Two bars, Yardbird for food (they take bookings up to 12), one of the larger yards in the quarter, dogs welcome, peat fire when it is cold. Live music most nights, usually free. Same group as the Second Fiddle. Phone listed around 028 9024 3712. thedirtyonion.com.
Who it is wrong for
A short look at “Belfast’s oldest building” if you hate noise and tour groups. A white-tablecloth dinner. Anyone confusing a 17th-century warehouse with a 17th-century pub — Kelly’s and White’s are the licence stories; this is a reused store.
On the same street
The Duke of York is the memorabilia alley. The John Hewitt if you want lunch and a quieter ownership story. The Sunflower if you want the cage door instead of the yard.
Sources: thedirtyonion.com/history, Discover NI listing. Last checked September 2026.