Chic new Gallery Cafe sets the trend

Chic new Gallery Cafe sets the trend

A stylish new café and bar on the Dublin Road has officially opened, creating 32 full and part-time jobs, as part of a £1m investment by the London-based Richland Group.

Situated on the ground floor of the award-winning Gallery apartment building, Gallery Café, which opened earlier this year, brings the industrial chic of New York’s meatpacking district to the streets of Belfast and features an elegant open-plan restaurant, bar and art gallery.

Designed according to Feng Shui principles by leading local expert Master San Wu, the café has a contemporary metropolitan style with floor to ceiling windows, Philippe Starck ghost chairs, chalkboard menus and the largest crystal chandeliers in Belfast.

The local man behind the new development is Gary McCausland, chief executive of The Richland Group.  He said recently that he saw the Dublin Road is “an up and coming buzzing area”:

“We have created a versatile place in the heart of the city which offers the perfect spot for social or business occasions,” added Gary.

The Gallery, which is split across a ground floor and mezzanine level, is open all day, with late nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and offers breakfast, lunch and bistro menus.

The food offering is complemented by an extensive drinks menu, featuring a selection of wines from JN Wine, and a bespoke cocktail menu.

And in a nod to the history of the area, the café is showcasing a range of artworks from established artists such as Colin Davidson, Brian Ballard, Neil Shawcross and William Conor, as well as new local artists such as Francis McCrory, Hanna Johnson and John McMacken.  For years, the Dublin Road was a focal point for famous artists including William Conor, Paul Henry and Gerard Dillon.

 

Our picture above shows Gary McCausland, chief executive of The Richland Group with Amy Johnson and Niamh Whelan in the new Gallery Cafe.