(415 Ormeau Road. Tel. 028 9069 4293 ) This fantastic little restaurant serves excellent Asian cuisine at very affordable prices. You may have to share a table and it has a BYO policy—there’s an off licence next door.

  (701 Lisburn Road. Tel. 028 9038 0818) Situated on the trendy Lisburn Road, this recently refurbished bar/restaurant has a great ambience. The food is scrumptious and there are lots of comfortable circular booths from which to survey the room.

  (Callendar Street. Tel. 028 9024 5385) Tucked down a quiet side street, this recently opened restaurant is already getting a reputation among Belfast foodies. The food is affordable and good quality.

  (27 Talbot Street. Tel. 028 9031 2884) Situated in the heart of Belfast’s cultural quarter, this ultra-trendy restaurant tends to attract the business lunch crowd by day and a cool evening clientèle. Serves classic modern cuisine.

  (30 Bank Street. Tel. 028 9024 6058 ) One of the oldest and most historic pubs in the city. It serves a great pint of Guinness and there’s a good chance you’ll catch some traditional Irish music, especially if you visit over the weekend.

  (75-87 University Road. Tel. 028 9097 1062 ) Housed in Queen’s University Student’s Union, this concert venue has hosted early gigs by U2 to Richard Hawley recently.

  (10-14 Tomb Street. Tel. 028 9027 8876) Although it doesn’t look very exciting from outside, this is a terrific club that's busy most nights of the week and tends to attract a lot of students. Situated across the street from the massive Post Office sorting depot.

Wellington Street is a quiet place in the shadow of the City Hall and home to some of the best designer shops in these parts. Check out Bureau, followed by lunch in Made in Belfast, just a few doors away.

Visit the viewing pod in the dome at Victoria Square Shopping Centre. It’s free and on a clear day commands great views of Belfast and the surrounding hills.

North Belfast is a somewhat overlooked part of the city but a great place to spend a few hours. It’s home to some terrific Victorian architecture, and at the top of the Antrim Road you’ll find Belfast Castle and Cavehill Country Park, with terrific views over the city.

Now in its ninth year, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is a cutting-edge arts festival that continues to go from strength to strength. Highlights this year include legendary indie band The Fall and comedian Jerry Sadowitz (1-12 May. Tel. 028 9023 2403. www.cqaf.com).

 – With its recently upgraded promenade and spectacular views of the Mourne Mountains, the pretty seaside town of Newcastle, in County Down, is the perfect destination for a day trip. Enjoy lunch in the Burrendale Hotel on the way into town. It's about an hour from Belfast.

The city's name originates from the river nearby. In Gaelic, Beal Feirste means 'Mouth of the Farset River'.