Fodor's Expert Review The National Grande Café

Named after its former bank occupant, the National underwent an eco-friendly face-lift in 2019 to enhance the overall experience at this café as well as food and drink offerings. The £425,000 renovation included a new retractable roof, energy-efficient natural-gas heating in the popular beer garden, and the introduction of a closed-loop system enabling all parts of the fruit to be used in cocktails without waste. Ingredients in the food are sourced within 64 km (40 miles) of Belfast and, to cut down the amount of glass or plastic, the bar filters and carbonates its own tap water. Quality deluxe sandwiches with beef brisket, chicken, or pulled pork, along with tapas, croques, and salads span the menu throughout the day; to wash your food down choose from hangover cures, low-alcohol gin, or bracing cocktails such as the National Spritz, Nitro Espresso martini, or Irish coffee made with Powers whiskey (all £10). The upstairs nightclub has also been rebranded as Sixty-6. In the beer garden, look for the quirky art installation "Living Barrels." It was created by French artist Sylvain Ristori, who collaborated with Jameson whiskey brand to produce a sculpture using recycled materials from the barrel staves of Midleton Distillery.