Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Northern Ireland

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Northern Ireland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Afternoon Tea at The Titanic Hotel Belfast

4.8

4.8 (331)

£26 to £40

Afternoon Tea

Belfast

About the restaurant

Immerse yourself in the Golden Age of Hospitality and indulge in a sumptuous Afternoon Tea at Titanic Hotel Belfast. Served in elegant surroundings, our Afternoon Tea is prepared by the same expert team and from the same kitchen as The Wolff Grill.

Let us serve you dainty and soft sandwiches filled with delicious delicacies, freshly baked steaming scones and sweet flaky pastries, all on our best china, and of course tea in a much-loved pot. Experience the epitome of sophistication with our Afternoon Tea at Titanic Hotel Belfast.

Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free menu available on request.

Top review

John

Dined on Apr 21, 2025

Decided to try the afternoon tea at the Titanic Hotel to celebrate my wife’s birthday. From the moment we arrived Matthew who looked after us so well on the afternoon explained our menu and the various parts of same. He checked if any of us had any problems with any of the sandwich contents and when 2 of us explained we didn’t like salmon arranged for substitutes instead. We picked our initial tea choices and the sandwiches arrived along with chef’ surprise which was a soup which was really nice. The selection of sandwiches provided was very good. Next up were the scones which seemed just out of the oven and a lovely selection of pastries. We also took the opportunity to try a different tea selection as well. The whole afternoon was perfect due to the high quality of the food itself, excellent presentation and Matthew’ s expertise and I would highly recommend trying this for that special occasion .

Berts Jazz Bar

4.8

4.8 (1077)

£26 to £40

Bistro

Belfast

About the restaurant

Berts Jazz Bar encapsulates the sleek elegance of the art deco era, complimented by the very best in live jazz, fabulous cocktails and mouth-watering food.

Transport yourself back to the Art Deco glamour of 1930’s New York and the Jazz Age in Belfast’s only dedicated Jazz bar and restaurant: Berts Bar at The Merchant Hotel. Soak up the sophisticated atmosphere and let the cool jazz melodies wash over you. A handpicked list of cocktails completes the extensive drinks selection. A French bistro style menu is complemented by an extensive wine list and, of course, exemplary service. Berts offers live jazz seven nights a week.

All table reservations are for dining purposes only, unfortunately we do not take drinks only bookings.

Please Note Live Jazz Performances for Friday & Saturday evenings are from 9pm-12pm

Top review

Jackie

Dined 3 days ago

A lovely evening at Bert’s. Atmosphere and ambience perfect. Delicious food, served by attentive professional staff. Jazz fantastic and just at the right volume. We couldn’t find fault with anything and would certainly recommend. Well done Bert’s.

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Experience

SPRING EARLY JAZZ MENU 🎷

Experience

Weekend Jazzy Lunch

The Great Room Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (930)

£41 and over

Modern European

Belfast

About the restaurant

The Great Room Restaurant is undoubtedly one of Northern Ireland’s most extraordinary restaurants. Thanks to the remarkable original Victorian interior with its glass cupola, Ireland’s largest chandelier an array of plasterwork detailing, the space is second to none. Needless to say our chefs search tirelessly to bring the finest seasonal ingredients together in eloquent dishes in thoughtfully prepared menus, just one of the reasons The Great Room Restaurant was awarded 2 AA Rosettes. All this is complemented by expert service and a wine list to which all the superlatives apply!
Mid- week lunch is served Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.15

To book our iconic Afternoon Tea, please search for Afternoon Tea at The Merchant Hotel.

Top review

Peter

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food, very lovely waiters. A very memorable experience for a special birthday celebration.

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Experience

Dinner Set Menu 2 Courses £36.50 3 Courses £42.50

Experience

Lunch Set Menu 2 Courses £36.50 - 3 Courses £42.50

Experience

Luxury Spring Tasting Menu £90

FireStone Teppanyaki

4.7

4.7 (278)

£26 to £40

Japanese

Belfast

About the restaurant

Everything about FireStone defies the ordinary, from our displays of roaring fire teppanyaki performance exhibited by our master chefs to mouth watering freshly prepared sushi using the finest local produce and ingredients and so much more. We are open for Lunch and dinner throughout the week with a special lunch menu available.

FireStone offers a delicious menu in a unique atmosphere for guests. Sit back and relax with a cocktail or two and enjoy the service.

Teppanyaki is a shared experience & our tables are made to share with other diners! At the end of the night you may have found some new friends! Our Teppanyaki experience is 90mins per booking & would appreciate customers being on time for their booked slot. All food at the Teppanyaki table is cooked one by one & may not be served at the same time for each member of your party. For all Teppanyaki bookings, please call the restaurant directly to confirm availability as spaces are limited.

Top review

Karen

Dined 3 days ago

Our first visit to Firestone Tepanyaki Restaurant in Belfast was outstanding in every way. A beautiful and very clean restaurant with delicious and very fresh food. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Our server, Mia, was delightful, warm and very attentive. She even surprised my son with a slice of cheesecake with a birthday candle and they played a birthday song and sang happy birthday to him. We ordered a couple of sushi boats, other sushi dishes a couple of sides a cooked dishes and the bill was surprisingly very reasonable. Our whole experience was excellent and we will definitely look forward to visiting again in the near future. Compliments to the chef and many thanks to Mia.

The Restaurant at The Fitzwilliam Hotel

4.6

4.6 (328)

£26 to £40

Steak

Belfast

About the restaurant

At The Fitzwilliam Restaurant , we exclusively source our beef from our local Northern Irish supplier Lisdergan Meats . Their grass-fed cattle roam freely, ensuring flavourful, high-quality meat. Our partnership with Lisdergan reflects our commitment to quality and sustainability.
Awarded an AA Rosette for culinary excellence at fantastic value, with pre-theatre menus, a la carte menus, and private dining all on offer.
Experience the best of Northern Irish cuisine in a 5 star luxurious setting.
We are proud to be members of Taste of Ulster & Restaurants Association of Ireland.

“There is a difference between dining and eating. Dining is an art.
When you eat to get most out of your meal, to please the palate, just as well
as to satiate the appetite, that,my friend, is dining.”
-Yuan Mei

Top review

Caroline

Dined on Apr 21, 2025

Very good roasted tomato soup and selection of breads, other dishes were good, and an interesting wine list. Service was excellent. We had a nice quiet niche, but the room got quite noisy after two large parties arrived.

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Experience

Pre-Theatre Menu

Experience

Divide & Conquer-Sharing Steak with Wine

Experience

Starter, Steak & Sweet

Afternoon Tea at The Fitzwilliam Hotel

4.6

4.6 (254)

£26 to £40

Afternoon Tea

Belfast

About the restaurant

A Trio of Hot Starters, Spiced Pork and Herb Sausage Rolls, a Demitasse of our Soup, Goats Cheese and Sriracha Bon Bon! Dainty Finger Sandwiches, Home Baked Buttermilk Scones. And that's just to begin! A Selection of Sweet Treats, Delicious Fruit Tarts, Rich Chocolate Ganache, French Macaroon - what better way to finish than with a glass of our Delightful Henri Abele Champagne, the very one served on board the Titanic! Pots upon Pots of our Delightful Teas, Coffees Created by our Skilled Baristas. Mix it up with a Gin Bramble or a Cosmopolitan.

An Experience to Remember, Afternoon Tea at the Fitzwilliam Hotel

Top review

Paul

Dined on Apr 13, 2025

Wonderful experience staff made it really special the food was great

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Experience

Crafternoon Tea

Experience

Jawbox 'Spritz at the Fitz' Afternoon Tea

Experience

Fathers Day 'Crafternoon' Tea

Afternoon Tea at The Merchant Hotel

4.5

4.5 (421)

£41 and over

Afternoon Tea

Belfast

About the restaurant

Enjoy our traditional afternoon tea in the elegance of The Great Room whilst being entertained by live music. Our three tiered silverstand boasts finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam and a delicious selection of cakes, pastries and sweet treats. This will be accompanied by your choice of tea or coffee.

Please note, we require 24 hours' notice for our vegetarian, vegan, gluten or nut allergen Afternoon Tea or any other special dietary requirements. Please make a note when booking online or inform us directly and we will be happy to accommodate you.

Top review

Kerry

Dined 4 days ago

Took my 87 year old mum to The Merchant for afternoon tea for her birthday with my sons and daughter in law. Very attentive service, lovely food and they brought a wonderful surprise mum for her birthday. She rated it 10/10! Very high praise!

Maisie’s

4.5

4.5 (54)

£25 and under

Bistro

Portadown

About the restaurant

Discover the charm of Maisie’s Bar and Restaurant, a haven of warmth and comfort that promises a delightful dining experience. Nestled in Mandeville Street, Portadown, our menu shows our commitment to local produce.

We presents an array of choices to excite your taste buds, from savoury tapas to scrumptious homemade desserts, each dish carefully presented to highlight the finest flavours and ingredients for an unforgettable meal.

Maisie’s stands out not only for its food but also for its bar, a sanctuary for drink aficionados with a vast selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The cocktail list shines with creative mixes sure to delight even the most particular patrons, while wine enthusiasts will rejoice in the handpicked wine selection that pairs flawlessly with the menu, enhancing the dining affair.

Ideal for a romantic evening, a celebratory event, or a cosy meal, Maisie’s Bar and Restaurant stands as the quintessential venue for all of the family.

Top review

Edwin

Dined 3 days ago

As usual our visit to Maisie’s was a good experience. The atmosphere is great and the food is of a consistently high quality. I strongly recommend Maisie’s.

Novelli at City Quays

3.9

3.9 (256)

£25 and under

European

Belfast

About the restaurant

Novelli at City Quays is a stylish Mediterranean and French influenced brasserie. Open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Situated right along the River Lagan, with a stunning outdoor terrace, Novelli's is the perfect setting to sit back, relax and allow the world to pass you by.

Only a 15 minute walk from the SSE arena, with nearby car parking, its the perfect base to stop off at before your concert or event.

Bon appetite!

Top review

Cathrin

Dined 2 days ago

The food was excellent. Very modern and upbeat atmosphere, yet relaxing for evening dining.

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Popular dish

10oz Ribeye

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