A local’s guide to Belfast: margaritas, murals and the Black Mountain

Social entrepreneur Maeve Monaghan on her historic city’s diverse culture, green hills and, of course, great nightlife

Hip street food destinations such as Common Market are popular now, but I still think Saint George’s Market, built in the 1890s, is the place to go on a Saturday for a really big Belfast Bap. They have a crispness to them, but stay unbelievably soft inside, and are filled with sausage, bacon and a runny fried egg. I would also encourage any visitor to try the handmade sausage rolls at cafes such as Loaf and The Bobbin: they’re massive, a meal in themselves.
A favourite – and great-value –restaurant is Mourne Seafood: I’ve never had a bad meal there, whether it’s steamed mussels or a daily fish special. And I love Buba, owned by a husband-and-wife-team who focus on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tapas. The dates wrapped in bacon are amazing, as is the spicy lamb.