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At Central Belfast Apartments, one of our most frequently asked questions is where to find authentic Irish food. We’re talking about wholesome, hearty and delicious dishes that bring comfort and warmth after a busy day sight seeing in our often chilly city. Family-run Holohan’s Irish Pantry is undoubtedly the answer. Nestled in the heart of Belfast’s Queen’s Quarter, it offers an unforgettable traditional Irish dining experience.

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Holohan’s Pantry holds an impressive 5/5 Trip Advisor rating, as well as being able to boast that they are the number one rated restaurant in Belfast. You can’t argue with brilliant reviews like these. Indeed, we haven’t been disappointed on any of our visits here, most recently with friends for Sunday lunch a few weeks ago.
At Holohan’s, a warm and friendly welcome awaits you upon arrival, with all diners greeted as though they are friends, not merely customers. This helps to adds to the personal and homely feel of the restaurant: there’s nothing quite like an Irish welcome! The authentic and cosy feel is further helped by the décor. Features such as open fires, stone floors and original images depicting Ireland’s linen heritage help to transport you to a traditional, remote and rural Irish cottage. It’s easy to forget you’re actually dining in the heart of the bustling city with these touches.

Holohan’s Pantry pride themselves on serving traditional food made from family recipes that are packed with flavour and bring comfort. One of the traditional dishes that forms a central part of the menu is the Boxty, expertly described as being similar to a potato based pancake. The friendly and knowledgeable staff explain the menu clearly, including the different variations of Boxty available. In addition to the traditional Boxty, other delicious choices include fish, chicken and a range vegetarian dishes. As we were eating here on a Sunday, there was a delicious Roast of the Day option available too. Our group devoured the Ham Hock Terrine for starter. We’d made the mistake of sharing this before, but it’s just too delicious: we made sure to get one each this time!
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We tried a Beef and Guinness Boxty: perfect rich and warming winter comfort food on a chilly Sunday afternoon. We also enjoyed the Roast Beef special, served with all the traditional trimmings such as Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and mash. Again, perfect, hearty comfort food done brilliantly! Despite the myth that there’s a different part of your stomach specially reserved for desserts, the generous portions filled even this. However, what was on offer sounded mouth watering. Next time, I’ll be sure to leave enough room to sample the Sticky Guinness Pudding!

The traditional, authentic feel even extends to their drinks menu, which offers a number of locally brewed beers and ciders such as McGrath’s, Fulcrum and Farmageddon.

After dining here a few times, it’s easy to see why this Belfast restaurant is so highly rated. Not only is the food exquisite and authentic Irish cuisine, but the whole dining experience leaves you feeling as though you’ve been a guest in a friend’s home, not a restaurant. Holohan’s Irish Pantry is definitely one of Central Belfast Apartments top picks for delicious, traditional Irish food!