Scene Report: Belfast

To celebrate the opening of our new flagship Belfast store, we’ve asked the team at the store for their selection of highlights for this beautiful and friendly city. Belfast has come a long way in the 25 years since Remus Uomo was born - now regularly named as one of the UK’s top cities for nightlife, it is an incredible location for a mini-break. Here are some of our top tips:

WHERE TO EAT:

Belfast’s gastronomic scene has taken off in a huge way in the past five years with a number of Michelin Stars falling to earth around the city. Being surrounded by water, there is fantastic seafood on offer but the rolling green fields of the Northern Irish countryside produce incredible meat and veggies too, so there is genuinely something for everyone.

If you’re planning a short visit, book a foodie walking tour of the city to get a taste of what’s on offer and speak to some of the producers directly. If you’re going for a special night out, Ox is Belfast’s premier Michelin starred restaurant with seasonal tasting menus which combine fresh, local and seasonal ingredients in new and exciting ways.

Ox Restaurant Belfast

Or keep it casual at LaTaqueria for an authentic take on traditional Mexican cuisine. For a quick lunch you could do worse than stopping by the excellent Cuban Sandwich Factory (the Chori-Pan is out of this world) or for something even more substantial, you’ll find it hard to beat Pablo’s incredible burgers (and “Dirty South” Fries) on Church Lane.

WHERE TO DRINK

The Cathedral Quarter and surrounds are the obvious destination for a night out in Belfast and this network of quaint cobbled streets is home to every sort of booze emporium you could want - from traditional irish pubs, to ultra modern clubs and super swanky cocktail lounges. Start the night classy with a few cocktails in the lounge of The Merchant Hotel, before heading round the corner to the small but perfectly formed Muriel’s to sample some local Belfast Gin (Jawbox with ginger and a giant wedge of honeycomb is our top tip), a few metres away you’ll find the courtyard of hip boutique hotel Bullit for some schmoozing with the beautiful people and onwards to the excellent Love & Death Inc for more cocktails and dancing until your feet hurt.

muriels bar

WHAT TO DO:

Arcade Fire and The Kooks, 13th June: One of the world’s most thrilling live acts and passionate, insightful songwriting collectives, there are few rock bands who inspire such consistent devotion and anticipatory fervour for new material than Arcade Fire. Over the last few days, there has been a flurry of activity in the Arcade Fire camp, with a secret performance (as well as their predictably exhilarating headline set) at Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona, the release of new single, “Everything Now”, and the announcement of their new LP. We can’t wait to see what they bring to Belfast.

arcade fire belfast

One feature of the evening that we do know about is that support slot; The Kooks are the kind of group whose music is inextricably tied up to the memories of many Remus Uomo adolescences, now enjoying something of a renaissance with their own arena tour and countless TV spots. We’ll be offering them a very warm welcome as they whet the appetites of the Belfast crowd for the Canadian titans’ set later in the evening. 

Focal Festival, 30th June – 1st July: At the end of June, Botanic’s Crescent Gardens will play host to a wealth of local purveyors of music, beer and gin, showcasing some of Northern Ireland’s finest artists, distillers, brewers and artisans, and underlining the important connections that these gastronomic and sonic experts share. Organisers also hope that the festival will significantly benefit the wider Botanic area; as one of Focal’s local masterminds, Gareth Irvine, told Belfast Live, "It's a good opportunity to rejuvenate that part of the city; it's often walked around rather than through. We are hoping to regenerate and bring a bit of life to the area.” 

Game of Thrones Tours Belfast is home to Titanic Studios where HBO’s hit fantasy series is filmed. The stars of the show can often be seen around the city while filming is ongoing and the cast and crew wrap parties have become the stuff of local urban legend. Take a tour to see the place which is home to the Iron Throne itself and visit some of the locations used for filming around the country.

game of thrones tours belfast

WHERE TO SHOP

Obviously you’ll want to stop by our new flagship store in Belfast’s premier retail destination, Victoria Square. Enter the centre via the Corn Market entrance and head to the ground floor to check out our new location. 

remus uomo belfast

remus uomo belfast store

mens clothes shops belfast new

As well as all the major national chains, Belfast has a thriving independent retail scene with a host of menswear and womenswear stores unique to the city, offering their own take on contemporary fashion. The city centre is small enough to be entirely navigable on foot and public transport is relatively cheap and uncomplicated, making it the perfect spot for a quick city break. 

Have we missed your top tip for a night out or a trip to Belfast? Let us know in the comments on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! @remusuomo