Observatory

Head up to the top of Grand Central Hotel on Bedford Street and you've landed somewhere that feels properly separate from the city below. Observatory does wine seriously — the list is thoughtful without being pretentious, and the staff know what they're on about. It's the kind of place where you can nurse a decent glass of natural wine for an evening, or go full tilt on cocktails made by people who actually care about technique. The rooftop location means you're looking out over Belfast's centre, which on a clear night reminds you why the city's worth sticking around for. It's polished without feeling stuffy, and busy enough that you won't feel like you're intruding.