Where to go out for Halloween in Belfast

Set in the heart of Ballyhackamore in East Belfast, Bistro Este offers a casual yet refined dining experience that is suitable for all occasions. An independent family-run business headed by a husband and wife team, the menu here focuses on fresh locally sourced produce from all across the Emerald Isle. With a warm, neighbourhood vibe, this is the perfect place to dine with the whole family during the Halloween half term break. The fantastic Early Bird menu is available from 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and from 5pm to 6:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays, allowing you ample opportunity to enjoy delicious seasonal dishes for a very affordable price. Kids will also be well catered to, with a wholesome menu featuring childhood favourites such as a fresh and delicious homemade soup, spaghetti bolognese, chicken goujons, and more. A great place to dine with all the family, Bistro Este is one you won’t want to miss.

Another Ballyhackamore gem, Neill’s Hill is an all-day restaurant and brasserie serving up delicious food, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and friendly Irish hospitality. Whether you’re calling in for a laidback brunch, a relaxed lunch, or a casual evening meal with friends and family, this is the perfect spot for all occasions. Staff go above and beyond to make diners feel welcome, always greeting guests with a smile and ensuring all your needs are catered for. With options to suit all tastes and dietary requirements, there are plenty of options for vegans, vegetarians, and those following a gluten-free appetite, meaning everyone will leave feeling more than satisfied, regardless of their specific dietary needs. The kids menu is just as thoughtful and creative as what’s available for the adults, making this the perfect place for family dining. And come Halloween, you can expect an array of decorations and the team to be fully in the spirit of the season with many dressed in costume and face paint.

A vibrant indoor/outdoor bar and street food hangout, serving everything from cheesy pizzas to spicy chicken wings, Haymarket Belfast is the place to be this Halloween. Conveniently located in the heart of the city centre, this lively spot proves busy every weekend and bank holiday. Last year, the venue hosted an exciting Halloween bottomless brunch, where customers were encouraged to come dressed in their very best fancy dress costumes. Nothing has been announced for this year just yet, but we expect they’ll come up with something just as epic. So, if you love cocktails, fancy dress, tasty street food and live music, then Haymarket Belfast is the place to be this Halloween.

One of the most popular neighbourhood bar and restaurant complexes in the city, The Devenish is known to go all out for special occasions. Last year, these guys hosted a fantastic Halloween Family Festival, complete with bouncy castles, cartoon characters, sweetly delight stalls, kids’ amusement rides, party balloons, and an inflatable toddler play zone. This year’s Halloween Carnevil is taking place on Sunday 29th October and will be hosted by Q Radio DJ Declan Wilson. Plenty is planned for the evening, including bumper cars, a kid’s carousel, fancy dress, face painting, and much more. So, if you’re looking for an unforgettable family outing this Halloween, make sure to check out The Devenish.

From a Creepy Crawly Sunday Buffet Lunch to a Spirited Afternoon Tea, the Stormont Hotel in east Belfast is the place to be this Halloween. Book a ‘Spooky Stayover’ with friends or family for a fantastic place to stay in the city, from which you can explore all the brilliant Halloween events taking place all across Belfast. The hotel usually goes all out with Halloween decorations, so you’ll be greeted with ghosts and ghouls everywhere you turn. Just make sure you’re ready for a fright!

A city centre favourite, Home Restaurant is the place to dine if you want to feel right at home. With a thoughtful and creative menu, friendly Irish hospitality, and a warm and cosy dining room, you can expect nothing short of excellence here. A Michelin Bib Gourmand eatery, Home specialises in offering Michelin-style dining for affordable prices, making this the perfect spot for all occasions. Focusing on fresh, locally sourced produce from all across the Emerald Isle, you can expect rich, autumnal flavours in each and every dish that will warm you from the inside out. Catering for all tastes and dietary requirements, everyone will get to enjoy something delicious here, including the little ones who will have their pick of the tasty wholesome offerings from the fantastic kids’ menu. 

Located in the iconic Crumlin Road Gaol, which hosts some of the city’s best Halloween experiences, Cuffs Bar and Grill is the perfect place to dine this 31st October. A family-friendly eatery, Cuffs offers a menu with something for everyone and come Halloween, you can expect nothing short of spooktacular. With everything from cheeseburgers to battered fish, locally-sourced butcher’s sausages to chicken or vegetable curry, pasta, and much more, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to delicious dishes on offer here. To make the most of the experience, we also recommend booking in for one of the unforgettable Halloween events at Crumlin Road Gaol that takes place throughout the month of October. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a fun and spooky experience with the kids like the Pumpkin Patch Extravaganza, a fun night out with friends with the Jail of Horror, or fancy communing with the paranormal on the Paranormal Tour or Investigation experiences, you’re sure to find something to suit you here.

Located in North Belfast at the foot of Cave Hill, Ben Madigan’s Bar and Kitchen is certainly one of the best places to dine with the family this Halloween. With a friendly local feel and award-winning food and drinks, diners can sit back and relax in this warm and traditional bar and restaurant. Dedicated to good food, the menu offers unique and creative twists on traditional dishes, with everything from the simplest, locally-sourced ingredients to the finest meals. So, whether you fancy some traditional seafood chowder, a filling buttermilk chicken burger with smoked bacon and herb mayo, or a spiced chicken and wild mushroom pasta, you’re sure to find something that tickles your fancy here. There’s also an extensive vegan and vegetarian menu, with tasty options such as buffalo cauliflower wings, salt and pepper tofu, or a vegan nut roast, so those with specific dietary requirements don’t have to miss out.

Ideally situated on the Ormeau Road, The Errigle Inn first opened all the way back in December 1935 and has been a local favourite for generations. Known for its top-quality food, wide selection of beers, wines and spirits, and unforgettable events, there is always reason to visit this friendly local pub and restaurant. This spooky season, it’s hosting a fun-filled Halloween party in the Arbele Lounge with a fancy dress competition, live music and big screen visuals. The menu features a vast array of pub grub favourites, including chicken goujons, burgers, steak, curry, hot dogs, and more. There’s also various vegan and vegetarian options, including a mouthwatering tempura cauliflower curry, a succulent veggie stack complete with a plant-based fillet, champ, peppercorn sauce, and an onion ring, and tasty vegan crispy goujons served with a chilli dip and your choice of side. So, no matter whether you’re a meat-eater or following a plant-based lifestyle, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to delicious dishes on offer here.

When it comes to theatrical dining experiences, nowhere tops the charts quite like AMPM. This Halloween, it has a fully packed schedule of events including a screening of the 1993 classic Hocus Pocus, as well as Hocus Pocus Two, on the run up to Halloween in The Treehouse. Fancy something a little extra? We recommend checking out the unforgettable Halloween Cabaret at the Cabaret Supper Club. Guests will be wined, dined and entertained at this home of burlesque, comedy, live music and aerial acrobatics, a truly extravagant experience and a bohemian Halloween you certainly won’t forget. The menu here is just as exquisite as the entertainment, with delicate small plates and gourmet dishes galore. From steamed mussels to a roast chicken supreme, duck two ways to a massaman curry, you’ll be spoilt for choice by the abundant selection on offer. There’s also a vast array of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, meaning those with specific dietary requirements don’t have to miss out.