New Openings

Restaurants and bars worth knowing about

Don't Miss

Events happening soon

• Scrumdiddly's — This popular Irish ice cream shop has expanded to Belfast, offering an impressive menu with 7,000 possible flavour combinations. It is a notable new addition for dessert lovers in the city.
• Belfast Mela — Northern Ireland's largest multicultural festival returns for its 20th anniversary, featuring a vibrant programme of world music, dance, food, and art.
• Belfast TradFest — This premier annual celebration of traditional music, song, and dance features world-class concerts, sessions, and workshops across 30 venues in Belfast.
• Coppi Restaurant — An industrial-chic venue in St Anne's Square serving modern Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh, locally sourced Northern Irish produce.
• Waterman — Located in a converted warehouse, this restaurant provides affordable, contemporary, Italian-led dining in a stylish, no-frills setting.
• Little Wing — The popular pizza restaurant is relocating its flagship Belfast location to a new, larger unit. This move is part of a broader development project for a new hotel and dining complex in the city centre. 10 Nov, The Limelight 1.
• Belfast Pride Festival — The city's largest LGBTQIA+ festival returns for its 35th anniversary, featuring a parade and various community events.
• ForM Sculpture Exhibition — Explore contemporary sculptures and artworks set within the beautiful, non-traditional surroundings of the Walled Garden at Bangor Castle.
• Rhythm: August Craft Month Exhibition — An exhibition at Craft NI Gallery exploring the creative connections between contemporary craft making and the rhythms and harmonies of music.
• Belfast Photo Festival — This major public exhibition and festival explores the theme of 'Horizons' through participatory installations and photography across various city venues.
• Six by Nico — Known for its creative, rotating six-course tasting menus, this popular Cathedral Quarter spot offers an accessible fine-dining experience.
• Eric Kuhne: A Tribute to the Genius Behind the Titanic Belfast Building — A free pop-up exhibition at Titanic Belfast exploring the design philosophy and legacy of the architect behind the iconic landmark.
• Michael O'Connor — Renowned chef Michael O'Connor, who has previously cooked for high-profile figures like Hillary Clinton and Shania Twain, is set to lead the relaunch of a Belfast restaurant. This marks a significant culinary development for the city's dining scene. 15 Oct, Oh Yeah music Centre.
• The Chocolate Manor — Located on Northern Ireland's north coast, this chocolate haven has transformed from a passion project into a destination for high-quality confectionery. It is highlighted for providing a unique, joy-filled experience rather than just a product.
• Daft Eddy's — This restaurant is highlighted for its stunning location and views, making it well worth the drive from Belfast. The menu is described as simple but perfectly suited to the setting.
• The Garrick — The historic Belfast bar is currently undergoing a major expansion project that will see the venue almost double in size. It remains a notable destination for those interested in the city's traditional pub scene. 20 Nov, The O2 Belfast.
• Coq and Bull — Located at the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, this restaurant is described as a must-visit destination in Bangor. It offers an exceptional dining experience in beautiful surroundings.

Worth Watching

What to watch this week

• The Dog Stars — Ridley Scott's new post-apocalyptic film is hitting theaters this week. The director continues to voice his frustration with Hollywood's reliance on repetitive IP and superhero tropes. 7.3/10, 119 min.
• I Swear — As part of the BFI-supported Escapes initiative, this film is being screened for free at over 100 independent cinemas nationwide. It is a great opportunity to support local venues and access independent cinema at no cost. 8.233/10, 121 min.
• Filipiñana — Rafael Manuel’s award-winning debut feature, which received the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at Sundance, is set for a UK and Irish cinema release on 20 November. 2/10, 24 min.
• Akira — The BFI Southbank is hosting special screenings of a stunning new 35mm print of Katsuhiro Ōtomo's 1988 anime masterpiece. This is the first new print of the film created in decades, restoring its original visual impact. 7.944/10, 124 min.
• Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma — After years of slapdash sequels and waning fandom, the Camp Miasma slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director for resurrection. But when she visits the original's star, a now-reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood-soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. 9.8/10, 112 min.
• The End of Oak Street — After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports their neighborhood to someplace unknown, the Platt family soon discovers that their very survival depends on them sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognizable surroundings. 100 min.
• De Gaulle: Résistance — June, 1940. France collapses and signs the armistice. In the midst of the chaos, one man refuses to give up. Alone against the odds, this unknown general flees to London to save what remains of freedom. 7.821/10, 160 min.
• Pinocchio: Unstrung — Influenced by a sinister Cricket and created by Geppetto, Pinocchio launches a violent crusade to carve himself into a real boy like his brother James, one piece at a time. 7.5/10, 82 min.
• Bouchra — Wrestling with writer’s block for her first film, Bouchra, a queer Moroccan jackal living in NYC, starts having difficult yet overdue phone calls with her mother in Casablanca that begin influencing the project. Balancing the precarity of working as an artist, the rift in her cultural identity and an array of romantic interests, Bouchra’s emotional reckoning becomes her path to expression. 5.8/10, 83 min.
• How to Rob a Bank — A crew of social media-savvy bank robbers broadcasts their daring heists, unaware that their growing viral fame has put them in the crosshairs of a veteran FBI agent and a brilliant software engineer. Despite the unlikely duo closing in, the crime ring pushes past their limits, putting everything on the line for their most ambitious heist yet. 5.799/10, 81 min.
• Bad Apples — A struggling primary school teacher begins to make some questionable decisions after one of her students is injured. 4.3/10, 85 min.
• PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie — The Paw Patrol lands on a mysterious dinosaur island after a storm, where they meet Rex, a stranded pup. When Humdinger's reckless mining triggers a volcano, the team faces their biggest rescue mission yet to save the island. 3.5/10, 88 min.
• Comédie-Française — At the Comédie-Française, there is one golden rule: the play is never canceled. Unfortunately for Nina, everything else is—just three hours before the premiere of her first staging. An actor is stuck on a train, tensions explode, equipment breaks down, egos clash, and panic sets in. With no way out and time slipping away, Nina must hold the show together at all costs. Will she make it until the curtain rises? 7.024/10, 75 min.
• Fallen Angels — Two upper-class wives, their husbands away for the day, share a few toasts to their pre-marital dalliances—with the same man, who just may be en route from France to visit. Old rivalries and past scandals bubble to the surface in this intoxicating romp from one of theatre’s comedy masters. 7.692/10, 98 min.
• Fall 2: Deadpoint — On a perilous climb across Thailand's Mount Kwan, two climbers become trapped thousands of feet above the ground, where vertigo-inducing heights, sheer exposure, and impossible odds turn every moment into a fight for survival. 7.333/10, 98 min.
• Colony — Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, this horror film follows a group of survivors trapped in a building during a biological attack that turns victims into a hive-mind collective. It explores themes of societal collectivity and individuality, marking a return to the zombie genre for the director of Train to Busan. 6.966/10, 123 min.
• Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma — Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, this film is a surreal postmodern celebration of 1980s slasher cinema. It follows a filmmaker attempting to revive a dormant horror franchise while exploring themes of identity and the male gaze. 9.8/10, 112 min.
• I Want Your Sex — When fresh-faced Elliot lands an exciting job for renowned artist, icon and provocateur Erika Tracy, his fantasies come true as Erika taps him to become her sexual muse. But Elliot soon finds himself out of his depth as Erika takes him on a journey more profound than he ever could have imagined, into a world of sex, obsession, power, betrayal and murder. 4/10, 90 min.
• Momo — Momo is a young orphan girl who lives in the ruins of an old Roman amphitheater and becomes friends with everybody in the neighborhood. But when a powerful international corporation starts stealing everybody’s time, nobody has any time left for her, let alone their friends or families. Momo, together with Master Hora, the custodian of time, are the only ones who can go up against the time thieves before all is lost forever. 7.2/10, 93 min.
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day — The latest Spider-Man film, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, features a reinvented musical score by Michael Giacchino to reflect Peter Parker's new status quo. The film is set to hit theaters on July 30, 2026. 9/10, 145 min.
• Holy Days — When young Brian discovers plans to close a convent of delightfully eccentric nuns, he sets off with them on a wild road trip across New Zealand to save their home. 6.8/10, 101 min.
• Sheep in the Box — Set in the near future, Otone Komoto works as an architect. She is married to Kensuke Komoto, who runs a construction company. The married couple decide to welcome a humanoid robot into their home as their son. 5.167/10, 126 min.
• Wildwood — After her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows, headstrong teenager Prue McKeel launches a desperate rescue mission into an enchanted forest hidden just beyond Portland. Joined by hapless but loyal classmate Curtis, Prue risks it all as she navigates a world of bandits, talking animals and powerful figures driven by grief and ambition. 7.3/10, 59 min.
• The Summer Book — The story of the relationship between Sophia, an eight-year-old girl who is growing up fast, and her grandmother, who is nearing the end of her life. They are spending time together with Sophia’s father, at the family summer house on a tiny unspoiled island in the Gulf of Finland. All three are coming to terms with the recent death of Sophia’s mother in very different ways. 7.3/10, 94 min.
• Fatherland — In 1949, German writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika embark on a road trip across a Germany in ruins, from US-dominated Frankfurt to Soviet-controlled Weimar. 6.237/10, 106 min.
• Possible Love — A laid-off worker and his wife cross paths with a documentary filmmaker and her spouse and confront their hidden desires. 5.86/10, 98 min.
• All Wishes Come True! — Eight grassroot mortals use their street smarts and hilarious schemes to defy powerful gods, earning their title as the "Eight Immortals." 8.231/10, 144 min.
• Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass — Small-town Kansas hairdresser Gail Daughtry's fiancé uses his 'celebrity sex pass' on Jennifer Aniston, prompting Gail to travel to LA with her friend Otto to find her own pass, Jon Hamm, to even the score. 5.2/10, 93 min.
• The Yellow Tie — The extraordinary life of Sergiu Celibidache, from his childhood in Romania to his exile in pursuit of a career in music, his struggle for survival in wartime Germany and his rise, fall and rise again, in an unimaginable life journey. 8.4/10, 145 min.
• Just an Illusion — In 1985 suburban Paris, 12-year-old Vincent lives with his distant older brother and quarrelling parents. Amid laughter and unease, he navigates friendship and first love, while beginning to confront the adult world. 7.4/10, 119 min.
• Khalifa — Aamir Ali, a notorious gold smuggling kingpin who inherited his multi-million dollar criminal enterprise from a lineage of gangsters, is drawn into a web of vengeance, legacy and power. 5.2/10, 52 min.
• Hope — In the remote South Korean village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok and officer Sung-ae are called to investigate a mysterious creature wreaking havoc on the community. But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions. 8.391/10, 122 min.
• De Gaulle: Liberté — Part two of a two-part biopic following French army officer Charles De Gaulle's life and political commitment between 1940 and 1945, and trace his development towards a political career. 7.806/10.
• Tad and The Magic Lamp — Tadeo, his girlfriend Sara, and his friends Momia, Jeff, and Belzoni embark on an adventure after Tadeo accidentally unleashes an ancient spell. 2/10, 94 min.
• Kiki's Delivery Service — Hayao Miyazaki's beloved animated classic returns to the big screen. A heartwarming tale of a young witch finding her place in a new city. 7.8/10, 103 min.
• Ish — Imran Perretta’s debut feature film has moved from its roots in Luton to international festival acclaim. It is a notable example of distinctively British independent filmmaking. 8/10, 89 min.
• Avengers Endgame: Encore — Marvel is bringing a re-release of the 2019 blockbuster back to IMAX and Infinity Vision screens. The version includes four minutes of new footage intended to bridge the narrative gap to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. 8.24/10, 181 min.
• A. Rimbaud — Patrick Wang’s experimental biopic of Arthur Rimbaud is a unique cinematic experience featuring a single actor performing against a backdrop of musical instruments. It is described as an extraordinary and unconventional take on the poet's life. 8.167/10, 141 min.
• Lady — An eccentric mockumentary by Samuel Abrahams focusing on the complex, parasitic relationship between a struggling filmmaker and a narcissistic aristocrat. It is noted for being both oddball and strangely moving. 6/10, 69 min.
• The Odyssey — Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of the Homeric poem has become a major box office success, praised for its practical effects and commitment to traditional filmmaking. Experts note that while the film takes significant liberties with the source material, it remains a compelling and visually striking work. 5.75/10, 172 min.
• The Last House — Directed by Louis Leterrier, this Netflix sci-fi thriller depicts a family trapped in their home by a sentient, rain-generating force field. The film explores themes of survival, environmental impact, and family connection during a global crisis. 6.942/10, 110 min.
• On the Sea — Jack has been married to Maggie for over half his life. He works as a Hand Raker on the mussel beds in North Wales alongside his younger brother, Dyfan, and Dyfan’s three sons. Jack has always assumed that his own boy, Tom, will join the family business on leaving school but Tom’s resistance to follow in his footsteps creates familial tension. Tensions are further inflamed by the arrival of an itinerant deckhand, Daniel, who makes known his feelings for Jack. In this remote, rural community where life revolves around Church and fishery, Jack is faced with an impossible dilemma. On The Sea is a beautiful, sensual and at times, tragic exploration of masculinity, place and desire. 6.5/10, 115 min.
• Vishwanath & Sons — Sanjay Vishwanath is an acclaimed professional handgunner in his 40s with a major stake in fame and wealth. When he comes across a woman named Maddy in her 20s, their dynamic poses many issues that they must come to terms with. 8.7/10, 161 min.
• Brunello: The Gracious Visionary — A farmer's son transforms into a fashion mogul, building a billion-dollar luxury empire while staying true to his humanistic values and commitment to ethical business practices and fine craftsmanship. 8/10, 121 min.
• The Dog Stars — After the world's population has been ravaged by a pandemic, a man lives a lonesome existence in a Colorado airplane hangar with his dog and a dour gunman he has befriended. When a mysterious transmission comes through on the radio while he’s flying his old Cessna, it sparks a hunt for the provenance of the sound. 7.3/10, 119 min.
• Sunny Dancer — Ivy is a teenager in remission from cancer, whose mum and dad insist she attend Children Run Free Camp, a summer retreat for young adults affected by cancer. However, as Ivy is reluctantly dragged through camp experience, she discovers new feelings with new friends. 9/10, 106 min.
• Irumudi — An alcoholic with a violent past—living peacefully with his daughter beside a waterfall—decides to take Ayyappa Deeksha (a 41-day spiritual vow and period of intense austerity) at her request. 3/10, 152 min.
• Bethlehem Kudumba Unit — Ashley's homecoming from abroad takes an emotional turn when a wedding next door stirs memories of her first love, Justin. 8.333/10, 155 min.
• Chennai Love Story — Two young people navigate their first experience of love, dealing with its powerful emotions and obstacles while discovering the delicate nature of newfound romance. 4/10, 184 min.
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day — Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn't remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter Parker he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see. 9/10, 145 min.
• Coyote vs. Acme — After Acme products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation. 7.429/10, 103 min.
• Jana Nayagan — A clash of ideologies. One stands for the people, the other feeds on control. Their paths collided once before. Years later, a child’s silent fear ignites the past, drawing a former police officer into a battle far bigger than personal revenge. 5.5/10, 183 min.
• Dhamaal 4 — The Dhamaal boys are back for another treasure hunt, facing hilarious challenges in their quest for the Treasure of Life. 3/10, 143 min.
• Chasing Home — A 30-year-old British-Mexican comic creator visits her parents to secure a deposit for her first flat, only to find help won’t come because her mother, 51, is pregnant. 10/10, 75 min.
• Super Troopers 3 — When Farva's over-the-top Indian engagement to Thorny's sister spirals into chaos, the Super Troopers must navigate Thorny's schemes to break up the relationship, all while trying to bring down a pernicious new drug ring. 6.3/10, 100 min.
• Nimrods — Three friends journey from Kansas City to Los Angeles, mistakenly believing that their band is opening for Green Day on New Year’s Eve. 6.4/10, 116 min.