Our best date ideas: Belfast

dating in Belfast

Have you met someone on EliteSingles who you would like to take on a date in Belfast? Wondering where to go? Choosing a Belfast date idea that you’ll both enjoy can be a little tricky, especially if it’s a first date! That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favourite romantic things to do in Belfast in 2018.

Dinner Date

Belfast has a thriving dining scene and you may feel spoilt for choice over where to take your date for an evening meal. On Lisburn Road, the fine dining hub of Belfast, you will find one of Belfast’s best restaurants. Shu serves modern French cuisine in a stylish and charismatic atmosphere.

If your date is fan of fish, you should suggest meeting at Mourne Seafood Bar where you can eat fresh, local seafood in a friendly low-key environment. If you are really hoping to impress, then an evening spent under the chandeliers in The Great Room at The Merchant Hotel will not disappoint.

READ MORE: Would you rather cook something delicious for your date? Read our tips on how to perfect a romantic meal with recipes included!

Drinks Date

If an evening meal seems too formal for your date, suggest meeting in one of Belfast’s many bars for a couple of drinks instead. For a birds-eye view of the city, head up to The Perch Rooftop Bar and sip on cocktails in their colourful outdoor area. Scared of heights? There are plenty of bars worth a visit for a date night down on ground level too. Try 2 Taps Wine Bar for drinking al fresco in their heated terrace or visit the Belfast institution The Crown Liquor Saloon, avoid the tourists by cosying up in one of their secluded booths.

If you think just having a few drinks won’t provide the date with enough entertainment or if you are afraid the conversation might dry up, awkward silences can, of course, feel very painful! Then, you could suggest going to a pub quiz. In Belfast, there is at least one quiz in a bar every night of the week. The Botanic Inn holds a particularly good one on Tuesdays and try The Parlour’s on Thursdays.

READ MORE: Want to try out our Belfast date ideas? Register with EliteSingles and start meeting interesting Belfast singles!

Coffee Date

In an EliteSingles survey, 55% of our members revealed that meeting for coffee would be their idea of a perfect first date.1 Steer clear of big-name chains and try one of Belfast’s independent coffee shops instead. Root & Branch was originally a custom bicycle repair shop, now they roast their beans in-house and serve delicious continental coffee. Kaffe O, a Nordic-inspired café, is a simplistic Scandi-styled place where you can get to know each other in a chilled out atmosphere.

Outdoors Date

In Northern Ireland, we are surrounded by stunning spots of natural beauty. For an evening spent star-gazing, take a walk along Helen’s Bay beach at sunset and set up a night-time picnic under the starry sky.

If you have a whole day to spend with your date, suggest going on a day-trip to Castle Ward, looked after by the National Trust it includes 820 acres of landscaped gardens and a fortified tower. If you think of yourself as a thrill seeker and your date is also adventurous, you could visit the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, suspended almost 100ft above the crashing waves below. The reward for your bravery though is a fantastic view of Rathlin Island, Scotland and the Causeway Coast.

READ MORE: Nervous about your first date? Follow our advice to make it go swimmingly

Cultural Date

If you are both art lovers, peruse the displays at The MAC together and you’ll find plenty to talk about. If you’d rather experience the real hustle and bustle of the city, head to St. George’s Market and check out the local arts and crafts, antiques and tasty food.

Now that we’ve given you some options of our favourite romantic Belfast date ideas, you’re ready to get out there and start making memories with some special. Meet your match.

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About the author: Esther Moriarty

Esther Moriarty is an editor for EliteSingles.

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