Berts Jazz Bar is a dedicated jazz bar and restaurant at 16 Skipper Street, within The Merchant Hotel in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. The room evokes the elegance of a 1930s New York jazz club, creating an intimate setting for dinner and live performance. Music is presented seven nights a week, making it an essential part of the dining experience rather than occasional background entertainment.
A French bistro style menu changes regularly to reflect the season. Starters, fish, meat and vegetable dishes use classic sauces and careful technique, while sharing options and bar snacks offer a less formal way to eat. The selection is structured so guests can choose a complete multi course dinner or order more lightly while enjoying the music.
Full vegetarian, vegan and children’s menus are available on request. The kitchen handles dairy, gluten, nuts and other allergens in shared preparation areas, so diners should tell their server about any requirements before ordering. Reservations are for dining, and later Friday and Saturday sittings may include a stage charge in return for keeping the table through the live set.
An expertly made cocktail list and extensive wine selection complement the French cooking. The Art Deco atmosphere, attentive service and changing line-up of musicians give each visit its own character. Berts succeeds by treating the food, drinks and performance as one composed evening rather than asking any single element to carry the occasion.
Address: 16 Skipper Street, Belfast BT1 2DZ, United Kingdom
Berts Jazz Bar Menu
While You Wait
BERTS BREAD BOARD
With butter & sundried tomato tapenade
OLIVES
NIBBLE SELECTION
Popcorn/ Parsnip Crisps / Nut Mix
Starters
SOUP OF THE DAY (V)
Please ask your server for details
MOULES MARINIÈRE
Mussels cooked in a white wine, garlic and cream velouté
DUCK LIVER AND ORANGE PARFAIT
Seasonal chutney, sourdough bread
HALLOUMI
Breaded halloumi, rum infused pineapple, coconut, chilli jam
FRENCH ONION SOUP
Slow braised beef cheek, brioche, melted Comté
COQUILLES ST. JACQUES
Baked scallops, pork shoulder, sautéed garlic mushrooms, scallop velouté, nduja crumb
Sharing
WHOLE BAKED CAMEMBERT
Confit garlic, grapes, red onion marmalade, French baguette
CHARCUTERIE BOARD (Per person)
Cured meats, duck liver and orange parfait, pickles, seasonal chutney, bread
Mains
FISH OF THE DAY
Please ask your server for details Price: Market Price
TWICE BAKED GRUYÈRE SOUFFLÉ (V)
Creamed leeks, candied walnuts, poached pear, rocket
LINGUINE (V)
Sautéed mushrooms, truffle, garlic, Parmesan, burrata, rocket, pine nut and balsamic salad
MOULES FRITES MARINIÈRE
Mussels cooked with a white wine, garlic and cream velouté, frites
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
Ham and cheese stuffing, truffle aioli, cavolo nero, beurre blanc, frites
BEEF BOURGUIGNON
Lardon and pearl onion jus, pomme purée, confit mushroom, carrot purée
DUCK À L’ORANGE
Duck breast, nduja stuffed mushroom, orange jus, truffle gnocchi, broccolini, orange aioli
SURF AND TURF
Onglet (hanger steak), Portavogie prawns, garlic butter, rocket, frites
RIBEYE
Béarnaise sauce, salad, frites
Chateaubriand
CHATEAUBRIAND
(To share) Sautéed mushrooms, tobacco onions, béarnaise and peppercorn sauce, frites, salad
Sides
PARMESAN AND TRUFFLE FRITES
SEASONAL VEGETABLES
BERTS HOUSE SALAD
SAUTÉED GARLIC MUSHROOMS
GARLIC FRIED POTATOES
POMME PURÉE
Early Jazz Menu
Available Mon to Thurs 5pm – 6.30pm, Sat to Sun 12pm – 3pm. Two courses £31.50, Three courses £36.50.
SOUP
PARFAIT
HALLOUMI
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
LINGUINE
MINUTE STEAK
Café de Paris butter, salad, frites
CRÈME BRÛLÉE
CHEESECAKE MOUSSE
LEMON POSSET
Sharing & Grazing
Only available during kitchen operating hours
CHARCUTERIE BOARD (Per person)
Cured meats, duck liver parfait, pickles, seasonal chutney, bread
WHOLE BAKED CAMEMBERT (To share)
Confit garlic, grapes, red onion marmalade, French baguette
FRENCH CHEESE BOX
Selection of French cheeses, seasonal chutney, fruit, crackers, bread
SLIDER
Braised beef, Comté, brioche bun, frites
HASH BROWN POTATOES
Béarnaise sauce
Nibbles
BREAD BOARD
With butter and sundried tomato tapenade
OLIVES
NIBBLE SELECTION
Popcorn / Parsnip Crisps / Nut Mix
Something Sweet
Only available during kitchen operating hours
VANILLA CHEESECAKE MOUSSE
Peach and basil compote, elderflower jelly, honeycomb
LEMON POSSET
Raspberry sorbet
CHOCOLATE AND ORANGE CRÈME BRÛLÉE
Biscotti
Desserts
Dishes marked with an * available as part of set menu.
VANILLA CHEESECAKE MOUSSE
Peach and basil compote, elderflower jelly, honeycomb
CHOCOLATE AND ORANGE CRÈME BRÛLÉE
Biscotti
BRÛLÉED BRIE DE MEAUX
Burned apple purée, rye bread, poached pear
LEMON POSSET
Raspberry sorbet
STICKY TOFFEE BAKED ALASKA
Butterscotch sauce, vanilla ice cream
Tokyo
HIGHBALL
Japanese Highball | Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky, mandarin tincture, ice-cold soda
Matcha-Melon
Citrus-infused Ukiyo Rice Vodka, Midori Melon Liqueur, matcha lime cordial, fresh citrus, ice-cold soda
Umi
Pisco Chilean Brandy, Umeshu, salted plum, London Essence White Peach and Jasmine Soda | Tall, effervescent, floral
FAR EAST SIDE
Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin, shiso-cucumber syrup, Fino Sherry, fresh citrus, basil oil | Fresh, crisp, herbaceous
YUZU SGROPPINO
Salted yuzu sorbet, Giffard Apricot Liqueur, sparkling wine | Bright, zesty, luxurious
TSURU
Seedlip Garden, ruby grapefruit and kumquat sherbet, fresh citrus, pink peppercorn, orange blossom, soda | (Non-alcoholic) Citrussy, aromatic, refreshing
Paris
SIDECAR
Martell VS Cognac, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, lemon and orange sherbet, kumquat, fresh lemon | Citrussy, bright, complex
BEE’S KNEES
Beefeater 24 Gin, Lillet Blanc, Giffard Apricot Liqueur, honey water, lemon curd, chamomile, clarified milk | Aromatic, round, subtle
FRENCH 75
Beefeater 24 Gin, Luxardo Maraschino, Brut Champagne, cane sugar, fresh lemon | Elegant, zesty, refined
POMMES ET POIRES
Seedlip Garden, Berts dry aperitif 0.0, Granny Smith cordial, pear, green cardamom, soda | (Non-alcoholic) Delicate, bright, herbaceous
Havana
DAIQUIRI
Daiquiri No. 1 | Berts Spanish Island Rum blend, fresh lime, caster sugar | The Hemingway | Havana Club 3 Year Old Rum, Luxardo Maraschino, fresh lime, ruby grapefruit sherbet | Mary Pickford | Berts Spanish Island Rum blend, fresh lime and pineapple, Luxardo Maraschino, pomegranate | Simple, balanced, refreshing Tart, floral, clean Sweet, fruity, tropical
PICANTE DE LA CASA
Mezcal, Cachaça, Berts Amari blend, fresh lime, habanero shrub, orgeat, coriander | Spicy, smoky, herbaceous
OLD CUBAN
Havana Club 7 Year Old Rum, Falernum, Angostura Bitters, fresh lime, fresh mint, Brut Champagne | Aromatic, clean, effervescent
CUBA LIBRE
Seedlip Spice 94, Berts cola cordial, soda water | (Non-alcoholic) Tall, refreshing, zesty
New Orleans
FROZEN IRISH COFFEE
Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition Whiskey, Giffard Coffee Liqueur, cold brew coffee, vanilla, chocolate bitters, cream, nutmeg | Sweet, creamy, deceptive
PEACH BLOW FIZZ
Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, fresh lime and lemon, cream, egg white, strawberry, orange blossom water | Creamy, fluffy, balanced
LE VIEUX CARRÉ
Sazerac Rye Whiskey, Hennessy VSOP Cognac, Dubonnet, Bénédictine, Angostura Bitters, Peychaud’s Bitters | Bold, boozy, complex
HOUSE HURRICANE
Seedlip Spice 94, house hurricane cordial, sour pineapple, passionfruit | (Non-alcoholic) Tropical, fruity, fun
New York
THE OLD FASHIONED
Classic | Berts Bourbon and Rye blend, sugar, bitters, orange oils | Irish | Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey, sugar, lemon tincture, lemon oils | Caribbean | Plantation 5 Year Barbados Rum, Velvet Falernum, allspice tincture, lime oils | Sweet, sophisticated, serious
Tasting Flight
Sample a taste of all three
DOCTOR’S ORDERS
1800 Reposado Tequila, Mezcal, fresh lemon, cold-pressed ginger extract, honey water | Crisp, fiery, smoky
ENZONI SPRITZ
Beefeater 24 Gin, Berts Amari blend, orange and lemon sherbet, red grapes, fresh lemon, Prosecco Spumante | Bright, refreshing, sophisticated
COSMO NOT
Seedlip Garden, grapefruit shrub, raspberry preserve, cranberry-juniper cordial | (Non-alcoholic) Light, bitter-sweet, zesty