The Sunflower on Union Street is the best live music pub in Belfast, a scruffy, friendly bar that hosts traditional Irish music, folk, and occasional rock and jazz in its small back room. The cage at the entrance — a security measure from the Troubles era that the pub has kept as historical detail — is one of the most striking entryways of any bar in Ireland.
The pub has a small outdoor courtyard with a pizza oven, and the combination of good music, cold beer, and the possibility of pizza makes the Sunflower one of the most pleasant evening options in the city. Traditional music sessions on Sunday afternoons are free and excellent.