Sunflower Public House

You'll find this spot squeezed between the chain restaurants that dominate Union Street, but step inside and you're in a completely different world. The Sunflower feels like what Belfast pubs should be – proper without being precious, with a beer selection that takes itself seriously and food that actually fills you up. The interior strikes that sweet spot between scruffy and smart, with enough character to feel authentic but clean enough that your mum wouldn't tut. The kitchen turns out decent pub grub that goes well beyond the usual suspects, while the bar stocks local brews alongside the standards. It's become the sort of place where Cathedral Quarter workers end up after work, and weekend visitors stumble upon when they're tired of overpriced city centre spots. Open until midnight most nights, with that extra hour on weekends when things get properly lively.