The cage and the corner
A pub has sat on the corner of Kent Street and Union Street since the late 1800s. This version opened in December 2012. The steel cage on the front door is a leftover from 1980s security. They kept it. People photograph it. Then they walk through it and order a drink.
It sits behind Belfast Central Library, a short walk from the papers and the Cathedral Quarter without being on the tourist cobbles. Official line from the pub: no theme, no gimmick, local beer and cider on the bar. Wood-fired pizza from The Boxing Hare in the yard, typically mid-afternoon to late evening.
Music
They programme something most nights — open mic Mondays (they have given performers a Beamish), song club, trad and other sessions, upstairs comedy some months. Check sunflowerbelfast.com or the Instagram the week you are in town. Phone 028 9023 2474. 65 Union Street, BT1 2JG.
Who it is wrong for
A polished dinner. A quiet conversation once the band starts. Anyone who wants a National Trust interior. Dogs are usually fine; confirm if you are bringing one inside on a packed night.
Nearby
The Reporter is around the corner. The John Hewitt and the Duke are the Cathedral Quarter options if you want to walk on after a pint.
Sources: sunflowerbelfast.com, Discover NI listing. Last checked September 2026.