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The Cathedral Quarter. The Half Bap. Little Italy. Whatever you call this part of Belfast, to stroll the streets here is to enter a world of circus schools, independent art, time-worn cobblestones, clutter-filled pubs and off-beat culture.

One of the oldest areas in the city centre and historically neglected, the Cathedral Quarter has been buzzing since it was rediscovered by creatives and restaurateurs in the early part of the 21st century. Today, it artfully balances its different influences and divergent voices, from cultural meccas such as The MAC to busy, pub-lined streets such as Commercial Court.

There are flourishing businesses and shiny design agencies, Michelin-starred restaurants and hipster coffee shops, but as well as gloss, there’s also grit. You’ll hear stories of resilience and rebirth, of divergent interests of developers and locals, of grand regeneration projects planned for long-neglected structures, such as the Art Deco Bank of Ireland building on Royal Avenue, which is set to be transformed into a £100m visitor attraction.

Walk the Cathedral Quarter at night and it can feel like a purely social hub, but there’s so much more to this place than just pubs and restaurants. Stick around, and you might just discover it’s the most rewarding part of the city.