The Belfast Empire is a landmark pub and music venue in a converted church on Botanic Avenue. The building combines the ground floor Empire Bar with an upstairs Music Hall, giving a visit a character shaped as much by performance as by food and drink. Vintage details, a large sports screen and a busy weekly programme make it one of the neighbourhood’s established social spaces.
The bar serves a substantive pub menu during the day and early evening. Fresh pizza, burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches and sharing snacks provide familiar choices that work before a show or alongside a televised match. The approach is casual and practical, with dishes designed for the pace of a working bar rather than a formal dining room.
Vegetarian toppings, salads and lighter snacks give mixed groups alternatives to the meat based pub staples. Desserts and hot drinks allow diners to extend a meal, while event catering and buffet menus show the venue’s ability to feed larger gatherings. Guests attending a ticketed performance should allow enough time to eat before moving into the Music Hall.
Beer, spirits and cocktails remain central to the Empire Bar, joined by a programme of traditional music, blues, comedy and weekend bands. The venue also hosts weddings and private events, making use of the church architecture and stage facilities. The Belfast Empire is best understood as a food serving cultural pub where a simple meal sits naturally beside live entertainment.
Address: 42 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JQ, United Kingdom
The Belfast Empire Menu
Snacks, Starters & Sharing
Garlic Bread
hand-rolled, pizza style, topped with garlic butter & Italian herbs
Cheesy Garlic Bread
hand-rolled, pizza style, topped with garlic butter, mozzarella cheese & Italian herbs
Loaded Nachos
corn tortilla chips topped with Mexican salsa, jalapeños & cheddar cheese
Chicken Goujons
in a light batter, served with sweet chilli mayo & salad garnish
Buffalo Chicken Wings
chicken wings tossed in Franks hot sauce, served with garlic mayo
Gourmet Burgers & More
Our homemade burgers are prepared inhouse, served in a brioche bun with choice of side.
Empire Burger
caramelised red onion and rocket
Chicken Burger
chargrilled chicken breast, served on lettuce and tomato with mayo
Mexican Chilli Chicken Burger
chargrilled chicken breast with spicy Mexican salsa and jalapeños, on a bed of rocket, topped with chipotle mayo
BBQ Pulled Pork Burger
slow cooked pulled pork, in jerk BBQ sauce, with caramelised red onion, on a bed of rocket
Grilled Halloumi Burger
chargrilled halloumi with caramelised red onion and jalapeños, on a bed of rocket, topped with chipotle sauce
Fish & Chips
traditional beer battered haddock, served with chunky chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce & lemon wedge
Famous Empire Pizza
Rolled fresh in-house to order
Margherita
tomato sauce | mozzarella | Italian herbs
Hawaiian
tomato sauce | mozzarella | ham | pineapple
Greek
tomato sauce | mozzarella | feta | red onion | black olives
Cajun Chicken
tomato sauce | mozzarella | cajun chicken | red onion | fresh chilli
Veggie
tomato sauce | mozzarella | mushroom | peppers | onion | sweetcorn
Farmhouse Pizza
tomato base | pepperoni | bacon | mushroom
Meat Feast
tomato sauce | mozzarella cheese | ham | salami | pepperoni | spicy beef
Build Your Own
Start with a Margherita and add your favourite toppings
Sides & Dips
chips
cheesy chips
spicy wedges
sweet potatoe fries
dressed salad bowl
crispy onion rings
garlic mayo
sweet chilli sauce
buffalo hot sauce
chipotle sauce
chipotle mayo
peppered sauce
Desserts
with fresh cream or ice cream
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Cheesecake of the Day
Cocktails
£10.95 each. 2 for £16 on all cocktails, available Sunday – Thursday 4PM to 10PM.
WHISKEY SOUR
WHISKEY, LEMON, SUGAR, EGG WHITES, BITTERS
AMARETTO SOUR
AMARETTO, LEMON, SUGAR, EGG WHITES, BITTERS
FRENCH MARTINI
VODKA, CHAMBORD, PINEAPPLE
MARGARITA
TEQUILA, COINTREAU, LIME, SUGAR
BLUE MARGARITA
TEQUILA, BLUE CURAÇAO, LIME, SUGAR
DARK ’N’ STORMY
DARK ROM, LIME, BITTERS, GINGER BEER
COSMOPOLITAN
VODKA, COINTREAU, CRANBERRY, LIME
LONG ISLAND
VODKA, RUM, GIN, TEQUILA, COINTREAU, LEMON, SUGAR, COLA
DAIQUIRI
RUM, LIME, SUGAR
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+ Log your visitHow prices compare
Against typical prices in Belfast
- Sticky toffee pudding Typical in Belfast: £7.25 £6.95
- Chicken burger Typical in Belfast: £12.00 £11.95
- Fish and chips Typical in Belfast: £17.50 £14.95
- Margherita pizza Typical in Belfast: £13.00 £9.00
- Chicken tenders Typical in Belfast: £10.25 £7.95
From our guide
Best Restaurants Near Me In Queen’s Quarter, Botanic and Lisburn Road
Our closest guide to The Belfast Empire
- British D Deanes at Queens 0.4 mi ·£ British · European
- Indian B Bites of India Botanic 0.1 mi ·£ Indian · Street Food
- Italian S Scalini 0.1 mi ·£ Italian
- Indian H Himalayan Nepalese and Indian Restaurant 0.1 mi ·£ Indian · Nepalese
- Italian N Nico's Pizza Pasta Lisburn Road 0.3 mi ·£ Italian · Pizza
- Cantonese T The Welcome Restaurant 0.5 mi ·£ Cantonese · Chinese
Around the corner
Within half a mile of The Belfast Empire
- Japanese M MU Asian Barbeque Restaurant 0.1 mi ·£ Japanese · Korean
- American B Bunsen Botanic Avenue 0.1 mi ·£ American · Burgers
- British D Darcy’s Belfast 0.1 mi ·£ British · European
- Middle Eastern U Umi Falafel Belfast 0.1 mi Middle Eastern · Vegan
- European F FireStone Teppanyaki 0.1 mi ·£ European · Grill
- Japanese K Kanagawa Sushi and Ramen Belfast 0.1 mi ·£ Japanese · Ramen
More Irish nearby
Within 6 miles
- European T The Practitioner 0.2 mi ·£ European · Irish
- European H Holohan's Pantry 0.2 mi ·£ European · Irish
- European G Ginger Bistro 0.4 mi ·£ European · Irish
- British M Maggie Mays Cafe Malone 0.4 mi British · Irish
- Irish T The Hatfield House Belfast 0.4 mi ·£ Irish · Pub
- Irish H Harlem Cafe Belfast 0.4 mi ·£ Irish · Breakfast & Brunch