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The Cloth Ear, Belfast,

The Cloth Ear

4.4
4.4
1048 Reviews
£26 to £40
Irish
16 Skipper Street, Belfast, BT1 2DZ

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 9 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Good for groups
  • Good for special occasions
🏉 SHOWING ALL GUINNESS 6 NATIONS MATCHES LIVE! 🏉
No bookings taken for 6 Nations, walk-ins only

The Cloth Ear provides patrons with a pleasing twist on the quintessential Irish Pub. We are nestled in the oldest quarter of Belfast and we’ve woven a rich seam of our wonderful Victorian heritage into what is ultimately a thoroughly modern experience. At The Cloth Ear the welcome is warm and the atmosphere convivial. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the gentle art of conversation.
Our drinks list combines classic creations and innovative ideas. From punch bowls to hoptails and wine by the keg, we’ve carefully crafted an eclectic array of drinks to quench your thirst, tickle your tastebuds and get the conversation flowing.

We are story tellers and we look forward to hearing your story too.
No shaggy dogs, no braggarts, no windbags. Just tall tales,

All Tables reservations are for dining unfortunately we do not take drinks only bookings.

Additional information

  • Area
    Belfast
  • Parking details
    None
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,048 people are saying

The Cloth Ear reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseEnergetic

Loved For

  • Northern Ireland

    Good for business meals

  • Northern Ireland

    Most Booked

  • Belfast/Antrim

    Good for business meals

  • Belfast/Antrim

    Good for groups

  • Belfast/Antrim

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Cloth Ear offers a vibrant atmosphere with "excellent service and friendly staff." Guests rave about the "great food," especially the fish and chips, though some dishes like the beef can be inconsistent. The cocktails are a highlight, and the ambience is perfect for a relaxed meal. Despite occasional service hiccups, diners appreciate the overall experience and welcoming environment.

1,048 Reviews
  1. Hazel

    N. Ireland3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great speedy service and good continuing contact from staff during meal but not over intrusive

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  2. Susan

    Dublin2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was amazing but side portions were lacking. Curry had 1 spoonful of rice and pie had 1 spoonful of mash. Might have been ok if had starters but was disappointing. The service was excellent!

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  3. Adrian

    London2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Grand spot. Good location and nice place. Easy to relax and well looked after. Staff are friendly but not in your space.

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  4. Mandy

    London4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 20 April 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The atmosphere and staff were lovely. We sat in a booth and had a wonderful time. All the food was excellent….apart from the beef! Loved the Chowder and tempura. Our main was the Sunday roast. Everything was great apart from the beef. We went pink but it was a bit chewy. This is the only reason we didn’t give it 5 stars. We would return for aure

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  5. Sorcha VIP

    Dublin2 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on 20 April 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    was very disappointed in the Sunday Lunch in The Cloth Ear, I ordered the Roast Beef, I got one slice of beef which was very stingy I felt, I ordered it pink but it was tough and barely any vegetables, a flabby Yorkshire pudding and roasties that were undercooked and not crispy, we also ordered a side of cauliflower cheese which was watery, considering the price of it, it was very poor cooking, I could have done better myself, they need to do better, the staff were lovely but at the price they are charging, I would expect a whole lot more.

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  6. Elaine

    N. Ireland3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 19 April 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Day out with the girls at the cloth ear service was excellent, food great, staff friendly and efficient, very good experience overall and not rushed from table.

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  7. Anthony

    N. Ireland2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 16 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very nice meal and the service was impeccable. A special shout out to Richard who was outstanding and very witty!

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  8. Donna

    N. Ireland1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came to Belfast for a holiday from England this was our first meal out and it was amazing thank you.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Dorset1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 15 April 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely large table for two of us, three staff were attentive without being overbearing. The food was delicious and the cocktails were the best in the area.

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  10. Avril

    N. Ireland1 review

    3.0

    Dined on 14 April 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Overall it was decent - it's a lovely building and we had a comfortable booth by the window. Food-wise, 2 mains were good - 2 were disappointing. Drinks-wise, we tried to order 2 of the wines but both were off the wine list so that's not good for a hotel. Our main issue was the welcome and initial service we received...every food business should be open arms on a Monday night to a table of 4 ordering food and wine. Would make me reluctant to book again.

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FAQs

The Cloth Ear is rated 4.4 stars by 1048 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Northern Ireland
  4. Belfast/Antrim
  5. Belfast

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 9 times today
Google Map for The Cloth Ear

16 Skipper Street, Belfast, BT1 2DZ

Additional information

  • Area
    Belfast
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 12:00–20:45 Fri, Sat 12:00–21:30
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    Irish, European
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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