<strong>Best of Belfast:</strong> "The thing that an Irish pub offers better than anybody is the welcome," says Sean Muldoon, right, pictured with his Dead Rabbit co-owner Jack McGarry in city center bar Maddens. "We've taken the best elements of back home and built them into the Dead Rabbit." (Belfast pub photos by <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elainehillphotography.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Elaine Hill</a>).
Best of Belfast: "The thing that an Irish pub offers better than anybody is the welcome," says Sean Muldoon, right, pictured with his Dead Rabbit co-owner Jack McGarry in city center bar Maddens. "We've taken the best elements of back home and built them into the Dead Rabbit." (Belfast pub photos by Elaine Hill).
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Dead Rabbit:</strong> Muldoon and McGarry opened Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog in 2013 in Manhattan's Financial District. By 2016, it'd been named the world's best bar in Drinks International's prestigious annual awards.
Dead Rabbit: Muldoon and McGarry opened Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog in 2013 in Manhattan's Financial District. By 2016, it'd been named the world's best bar in Drinks International's prestigious annual awards.
Brent Herrig
<strong>Empire state of mind:</strong> The Dead Rabbit was the first of their New York ventures. In 2016, they opened the Cuban-themed BlackTail bar in Battery Place (pictured).
Empire state of mind: The Dead Rabbit was the first of their New York ventures. In 2016, they opened the Cuban-themed BlackTail bar in Battery Place (pictured).
Courtesy BlackTail
<strong>Duke of York: </strong>Aside from one detour out of the city, every stop on the CNN pub crawl in Belfast is within five minutes' walk. The Duke of York is an "out-and-out classic Irish pub," says McGarry.
Duke of York: Aside from one detour out of the city, every stop on the CNN pub crawl in Belfast is within five minutes' walk. The Duke of York is an "out-and-out classic Irish pub," says McGarry.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>The Merchant Hotel:</strong> Victorian Italianate outside, art deco-inspired inside, the five-star Merchant Hotel is the city's swankiest lodgings. Muldoon and McGarry worked at the bar here from 2006 to 2010.
The Merchant Hotel: Victorian Italianate outside, art deco-inspired inside, the five-star Merchant Hotel is the city's swankiest lodgings. Muldoon and McGarry worked at the bar here from 2006 to 2010.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Duke of York:</strong> In the heart of what was once Belfast's newspaper district, the Duke of York draws a mixed crowd of locals and tourists. It's also become "an industry hangout" for the city's bartenders and restaurateurs, says McGarry.
Duke of York: In the heart of what was once Belfast's newspaper district, the Duke of York draws a mixed crowd of locals and tourists. It's also become "an industry hangout" for the city's bartenders and restaurateurs, says McGarry.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>The Garrick: </strong>The traditional three-room layout of the Garrick was a model for the Dead Rabbit's Taproom, Parlour and Occasional Room. The first room, or Public Bar, is finished in dark woods and black and white tiling, while the second room -- the Lounge -- offers a more cozy, dimly lit intimacy.
The Garrick: The traditional three-room layout of the Garrick was a model for the Dead Rabbit's Taproom, Parlour and Occasional Room. The first room, or Public Bar, is finished in dark woods and black and white tiling, while the second room -- the Lounge -- offers a more cozy, dimly lit intimacy.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Kelly's Cellars:</strong> "All my friends are here, most of my family are here," says McGarry. "My cousin's playing tonight in the session and her fiancé as well." (Pictured left and right).
Kelly's Cellars: "All my friends are here, most of my family are here," says McGarry. "My cousin's playing tonight in the session and her fiancé as well." (Pictured left and right).
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>The Friend at Hand: </strong>The newly opened Friend at Hand whiskey shop and museum holds 600 Irish whiskeys, 200 of which are for sale.
The Friend at Hand: The newly opened Friend at Hand whiskey shop and museum holds 600 Irish whiskeys, 200 of which are for sale.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Whiskies:</strong> The Dead Rabbit has 56 Irish whiskeys on its menu and Muldoon and McGarry are working on a whiskey drinker's guide to Ireland. Pictured: The Friend at Hand.
Whiskies: The Dead Rabbit has 56 Irish whiskeys on its menu and Muldoon and McGarry are working on a whiskey drinker's guide to Ireland. Pictured: The Friend at Hand.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Maddens: </strong>Maddens wears its nationalist identity with pride, hosting live Irish traditional music every night, as well as regular set dancing and Irish language events.
Maddens: Maddens wears its nationalist identity with pride, hosting live Irish traditional music every night, as well as regular set dancing and Irish language events.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>The Spaniard:</strong> It's got a "lot of the cosiness, a lot of the tightness, a lot of the knick-knack stuff hanging on walls" you'd associate with an Irish pub, says Muldoon, but "without being overly Irish in the Irish sense."
The Spaniard: It's got a "lot of the cosiness, a lot of the tightness, a lot of the knick-knack stuff hanging on walls" you'd associate with an Irish pub, says Muldoon, but "without being overly Irish in the Irish sense."
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Back to basics:</strong> TVs and background music are a distraction, says McGarry. "When you take distractions out, there's much more emphasis on connecting with the person you're with."
Back to basics: TVs and background music are a distraction, says McGarry. "When you take distractions out, there's much more emphasis on connecting with the person you're with."
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Pub grub:</strong> An old-school Irish pub is unlikely to serve food, but if you're lucky, they might pass round free trays of sandwiches and cocktail sausages at the end of the night.
Pub grub: An old-school Irish pub is unlikely to serve food, but if you're lucky, they might pass round free trays of sandwiches and cocktail sausages at the end of the night.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>The Crown and Shamrock: </strong>Guinness famously doesn't travel well, so a pint of the black stuff is a must-try on home turf. The island's best pint is said to be served at <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mulligans.ie%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank"><strong>Mulligan's</strong></a> on Dublin's Poolbeg St.
The Crown and Shamrock: Guinness famously doesn't travel well, so a pint of the black stuff is a must-try on home turf. The island's best pint is said to be served at Mulligan's on Dublin's Poolbeg St.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Maddens: </strong>The Dead Rabbit guys regularly travel round Ireland checking out pub recommendations. With so many to visit, Muldoon explains his system: "Half a Guinness means it's a good bar, pint of Guinness means it's a really good bar, two pints of Guinness means it's exceptionally good."
Maddens: The Dead Rabbit guys regularly travel round Ireland checking out pub recommendations. With so many to visit, Muldoon explains his system: "Half a Guinness means it's a good bar, pint of Guinness means it's a really good bar, two pints of Guinness means it's exceptionally good."
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>The Crown and Shamrock: </strong>Guinness drinkers, explains Dead Rabbit co-owner Sean Muldoon, say the first pint should be drunk in "three gulps," leaving just two foam lines on the glass.
The Crown and Shamrock: Guinness drinkers, explains Dead Rabbit co-owner Sean Muldoon, say the first pint should be drunk in "three gulps," leaving just two foam lines on the glass.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>The Garrick: </strong>The Garrick is an "old building with a modern soul," says Muldoon. "It's got a young, dynamic sort of an owner."
The Garrick: The Garrick is an "old building with a modern soul," says Muldoon. "It's got a young, dynamic sort of an owner."
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Dead Rabbit for life:</strong> Jack McGarry wears his commitment to Dead Rabbit on his sleeve, with his left and right arms both dedicated to the bar's iconography.
Dead Rabbit for life: Jack McGarry wears his commitment to Dead Rabbit on his sleeve, with his left and right arms both dedicated to the bar's iconography.
Elaine Hill/elainehillphotography.co.uk
<strong>Belfast and beyond:</strong> Belfast's biggest tourist attractions include the newly built Titanic Museum (pictured) and tours of "Games of Thrones" filming locations, all a short drive from the heart of the city. (Photo by <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Ffaughan%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Tom O'Hare</a>).
Belfast and beyond: Belfast's biggest tourist attractions include the newly built Titanic Museum (pictured) and tours of "Games of Thrones" filming locations, all a short drive from the heart of the city. (Photo by Tom O'Hare).
Tom O'Hare