By Alaric 
Did you know that you can visit an authentic Victorian Gin Palace in Belfast?
It’s called The Crown Liquor Saloon, an icon of the city owned and protected by the National Trust.
The entire place is decked out in captivating 1820s decor and has 10 snugs you can sneak into for a tipple. It feels like stepping back in time.
Although most people will say this tavern is a bit of a tourist trap, I would wholeheartedly disagree.
It’s well worth stopping by for a drink if you love places with both history and character.
Here is a complete guide to The Crown Bar Belfast and why you must visit!
History of the Crown Liquor Saloon
The Crown Bar was constructed by Felix O’Hanlon in 1885 and was originally called The Railway Tavern due to its close location to the Grand Central.
The tavern was decorated in elaborate tiles, opulent stained glass, gas lamps and intricately carved woodwork.
Most of this incredible design was completed by Italian Craftsmen who were brought to the city to work on the new churches in the area at the time.
Flanagan convinced them to work on his new venture and it quickly became one of the most famous and renowned Gin Palaces in the city.
It also attracted the bourgeoise thanks to its snugs which gave its noble customers some privacy.
A National Trust Gin Palace
The National Trust purchased the bar in 1978 and restored the Gin Palace to its original state with a costly conservation project.
Ever since they have continued to sympathetically restore and protect the bar.
It’s leased to the Nicholson’s Pubs Group which deals in securing fine ales and food for customers.
Today, The Crown Bar is a Grade A listed Building, a landmark of the city and one of the finest examples of a Victorian Gin Palace that you can visit.
It’s well worth stopping by, even if you just admire the dazzling interiors.
How to get to the Crown Bar in Belfast
The Crown Bar can be found in central Belfast, just a stone’s throw away from the Grand Central Train & Bus Station (5-minute walk).
It’s the perfect place to grab a drink before your journey or at any time of the day when you fancy a wee tipple.
Belfast is an easy city to walk around but if you’re using public transport, you can alight at the Great North Mall bus stop right outside.
Entering The Crown Liquor Saloon
As soon as you step through the doors of the saloon, it will feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Beneath your feet, you’ll see the floor decorated in monochrome tiles with a mosaic of a crown on the floor outside the entrance.
There are also mosaic tiles and mirrors on the walls. The bar is lined with red granite and has numerous kegs and bar stools.
If you look up, you’ll see an elaborately embossed mahogany ceiling where several Victorian gas lamps hang to dimly light the room.
The best feature is the collection of vibrant and quirky stained glass windows you’ll find dotted around.
These were decorated this way to provide more privacy in the Victorian era.
If you look closely at the patterns, you’ll see fairies, sea shells, pineapples, clowns, crowns and fleurs-de-lis.
You can’t help but be wowed by this place. Everywhere you look there is something incredible to see.
It honestly looks like the inside of the Leaky Cauldron from Harry Potter or a bar scene from Peaky Blinders!
Sit in one of the famous snugs
One of the best parts about visiting the Crown Bar is the 10 snugs that are available to sneak into.
These were originally created so that ladies of high society could have a drink in private without being seen.
Although it’s very normal for women to drink alone in bars nowadays, back then it was quite scandalous.
They still have metal panels to strike matches and ‘Gin Bells’ that were created so customers could order a drink without leaving the booth.
These are both still here today and you can press the bell. The staff told me this mechanism still works and alerts them which table has rung to order.
Alas, they no longer serve drinks like this today. It’s a shame as it would be perfect to not have to order through the crowded bar.
Today, these snugs are a great hideaway if you want to have a drink alone, with friends or with loved ones.
Most of the snugs are different sizes and I was able to sit in a small one near the end big enough for two people.
As soon as you shut the door, you feel a world away from the noise and crowds outside.
It made me feel like I was a fine Victorian lady enjoying a sinful drink without prying eyes haha!
Enjoy some traditional Irish cuisine
I wasn’t intending to have lunch here on my visit but I was enjoying my little booth so much I couldn’t resist.
The Gin Palace have a menu of traditional Irish dishes and pub classics that you can order like Steak and Ale pie, Irish stew etc.
I decided to go for Fish & Chips with a half pint of Guinness which was really tasty.
The menu is also good value for Belfast, especially as you’re sitting in such fine surroundings.
Is the Crown Bar in Belfast worth visiting?
Yes, although many people call this a bit of a tourist trap, I think this Victorian Gin Palace is a must-visit. Even if you only go once.
They don’t make pubs like this anymore, especially with the private snugs, and the elaborate decor.
It really does feel like you’ve been transported through time to Victoriana.
I usually go to bars alone when I travel and I don’t usually mind if it’s crowded and rowdy.
But, the fact that I could sit in a private booth here made my visit so much more comfortable!
You could shut the rest of the world out and I didn’t want to leave. It’s an introvert’s dream.
Don’t skip a visit to the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast, this is one of the famous pubs that’s actually worth visiting.
What are the opening hours?
The Crown Bar in Belfast is open every day from 11.30 am to Midnight. On Sundays, it opens slightly later at 12.30 pm.
So, you can pop along at any time to see this incredible Gin Palace.
The opening hours may seem late but Belfast has very strict alcohol laws.
You will find that all the bars in the city only serve alcohol after 11.30 am (much to a stag party’s chagrin).
What is the best time to visit?
As it’s one of the most popular bars in all of Belfast and it’s close to Grand Central Station, you can expect this place to be packed throughout the day.
If you wanted to experience sitting in one of the snugs without waiting too long, I would book a table or arrive for opening time at 11.30 am.
At 11.15 am you’ll usually see a small queue forming outside so I would get here around that time to guarantee your choice of a booth.
I would normally say around closing time would be good too but Belfast is a city that drinks all night and it gets messy.
Even close to midnight, it will still be packed full of people with their last orders.
Do you need to reserve a table?
You don’t need to book a table to enter the Crown Bar for a drink. Just go in and try to make your way through the crowds to order at the bar.
However, if you want to eat food it’s recommended to book a table. You can do this on the Nicholson’s Pubs website for free.
I would try to make a reservation a few days in advance as it is very popular.
You can even book the snugs and they’ll place a reservation sign on one for you!
Good to know: although there is the option to book the snugs, when I arrived at opening time I was told they were on a first come first served basis. This is why I recommend getting here for opening time to snag one!
Are you looking for more things to do in Belfast?
Beyond the Crown Bar, there is plenty to do in this gorgeous city in Northern Ireland.
If you want to continue your bar crawl, I would recommend heading to the Cathedral Quarter to visit iconic bars like the Duke of York.
It’s located down the famous Umbrella Street with other famous venues like The Dirty Onion.
No visit to Belfast would be complete without a visit to the Titanic Museum where you can see the real story behind the ship that was never meant to sink.
You can head to the Belfast Botanic Gardens which are gorgeous and the Queen’s University which is a dark academic dream.
The Belfast City Hall is also very impressive with a great exhibition of the city along with the historic St Anne’s Cathedral.
Belfast Castle is also somewhere I would recommend stopping by. It has a wonderful garden and endless views over the city and coast.
Game of Thrones is a big thing here and you can head on a walking tour of Glass of Thrones. This has six stained glass windows to find.
Or, why not head to the Ulster Museum and visit the Game of Thrones Tapestry? It’s a 90-metre-long tapestry that has scenes from every episode from The Red Wedding to the Mad Queen.
There is even a Game of Thrones Studio Tour that you can visit located just outside of the city in Banbridge.
Never forget that from Belfast, you’re only a 60-minute drive away from the ancient and magical Causeway Coast!
You can visit highlights like the Dark Hedges, which is one of the most magical locations.
You also have the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, and the famous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
Read more of my Northern Ireland guides
Ballintoy Harbour – Welcome to the Iron Islands
How to visit Dunluce Castle
A complete guide for Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
Game of Thrones Studio Tour review
How to visit the Game of Thrones Tapestry
Glass of Thrones walk in Belfast
How to visit the Dark Hedges
Cushendun Caves Game of Thrones location
How to visit Pollnagollum Caves
How to visit the Garvagh Pyramid
Glenarm Barbican – Visit a fairytale castle in Antrim
How to visit Gleno Waterfall
Discover Northern Ireland
Save the Crown Liquor Saloon Belfast for later!
