Mourne Seafood Bar

You'll find this place tucked down Bank Street in the Cathedral Quarter, where the cobbles meet proper seafood that actually tastes like it came from our coast. The dining room feels intimate without being stuffy – exposed brick, wooden tables, and that sort of grown-up warmth that makes you want to linger over a second glass of wine. The menu changes with whatever's been hauled in, but the Carlingford oysters are consistently brilliant, and their take on fish and chips elevates the dish without losing its soul. The service knows their stuff too – they'll talk you through the catch of the day without any pretension. It's the sort of place that reminds you why Belfast's food scene has got so much better in recent years.