The Crown Liquor Saloon — Restaurant in Belfast

Can highly recommend the fish & chips. Staff was incredibly friendly and catered to our every need. The only downside was that due to the historic windows it gets very cold. We had a private booth and I couldn't take my jacket off. But the experience was worth it. So I would recommend wearing sth warm if you are not used to the cold. Additionally try to get a guide that tells you all the secret stories found in the pub: ceiling decoration was made from paper mache by the dock workers from the titanic ship yard. name of the pub "the crown" was chosen, as this was a mixed couple of protestant and catholic belief. The woman had the money and she was protestant. So she wanted the pub to be called the crown. The man agreed, but put the emble of the crown as decorative element on the floor at the entrance, so that everyone had to step on the crown. many pineapple decorations hidden throughout the pub. A pineapple was a status symbol that people back in the day rented for patties to show they were doing well. So Tanqueray gin choose it as their Embleme and put it on every bottle. They send asked for the Crown to exclusively sell Tanqueray as the Gin of choice and therefore all the pineapple decoration. The largest booth also has pineapple on a glass mirror. the booths were established in 1840 by Italian craftsman working in the docklands so that women and noble men could also drink and join a pub. The booth closest to the bar has a small window from which they could directly order from the bar, so that women did not have to go to the bar.

And that's just some of what I remember. A true symbol of Irish culture and...

We were excited to try this place out at the recommendation of a local, but it ended up being the most disappointing meal of our trip.

The pub area was full of midday pint havers so we made our way upstairs to the night empty dining room (and I t was quickly evident why.)

Upon being handed menus, we were told they were out of oysters, rabbit, and chicken, which feels like an awful lot of “out of”s. While the oysters were a big reason for our visiting, we settled for mussels and a sandwich with side salad.

The mussels were mediocre- a little overcooked in a strangely tangy broth. The chips were fine, but nothing special.

The sandwich and salad were outright bad. The salad was served in a warm bowl for some reason, had a quinoa and bean topping and a sweet dressing, none of which was a good pairing with the sandwich. The club sandwich (really just a BLT) was incredibly bland with a small smear of mayo and no seasoning whatsoever. In lieu of actual lettuce, there was like a browning red cabbage on the sandwich- it was unpleasant.

We had walked in with the intention of also getting drinks, coffee, and dessert, but after seeing the fare provided, we didn’t dare stick around longer than needed.

When we were done, we waiting quite a while for a check even though there was only one other table inhabited. Eventually we had to go up to the bar to pay and get outta there

I’m not sure how this place has such a high rating - I would not recommend...

If pubs were royalty, The Crown Liquor Saloon would be Queen Victoria in full drag—dramatic, dazzling, and slightly tipsy.

Step inside and boom—you’re slapped in the face with velvet, stained glass, gold trim, and woodwork so ornate it probably has its own ego. It’s like someone said, “What if we made a church, but for beer... and with better gossip?”

The snugs are the real stars here—tiny private booths where you can drink in peace, plot world domination, or just pretend you’re in a period drama called Pints & Petticoats. Each snug has a buzzer to summon a server (or a wizard, who knows?), plus little plates to strike your matches like it’s 1890 and you’re lighting your moustache on fire.

Drinks? Solid. Vibes? Immaculate. Food? Let’s just say you’re here for the history, not the haute cuisine. But honestly, after two pints, everything tastes like winning.

Run by the National Trust, The Crown is basically a museum where you’re encouraged to get a little drunk. History lesson with a side of stout? Yes please. Go for the decor, stay for the craic, and leave wondering if you just became a...