The Best Luxury Hotels in Belfast, Northern Ireland

The 12 Best Luxury Hotels in Belfast

Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital, its largest city, and one of the country’s most exciting travel destinations. This is a city that’s bursting at the seams with history, culture, and cuisine, and it’s a city that’s packed with incredible boutique hotels and stylish places to stay!

In many respects, Belfast still has the lingering shadow of “the Troubles” cast over it, but rest assured, the days of interfaith conflict are far behind this city. That does mean, though, that Belfast is still very much under the radar in terms of UK cities. But that’s fine with us because it leaves more luxury suites and cool hotels for intrigued travelers looking for a unique getaway in the United Kingdom. 

You can learn more about the Troubles by joining a Black Cab Tour of the city, where local taxi drivers who lived and worked through the conflict show you around Belfast. You can visit the peace murals or Crumlin Road Gaol for more recent history, or you can visit the Ulster Museum for a more extensive look at Northern Irish history stretching back millennia. 

If that’s not enough, explore the excellent Titanic Belfast, a unique exhibition that tells the story of the world’s most infamous ship, which just so happened to be built here. There are castles, botanic gardens, and bustling food markets to enjoy in Belfast, as well as an impressive mixture of pubs and fine dining restaurants to keep the hunger pangs away. 

While the past is preserved, you’ll find that the city is marching stoically onwards into the future. This is reflected in the accommodation, which offers a unique combination of heritage and luxury. 

If you’re planning a trip to Northern Ireland’s capital city, keep reading as we explain where to stay in Belfast! 

Don’t forget to check out our web story: The 12 Best Luxury Hotels in Belfast

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).


Where to stay in Belfast

Where to Stay in Belfast: Best Luxury Hotels

Belfast has a buzz about it. And no matter where you plan to base yourself in the city, you’ll find every “Quarter” has a fine selection of restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes, museums, galleries, and tourist attractions to explore.

If it’s your first time in Belfast, we recommend choosing one of the many classic luxury hotels in the city center. This is the area that surrounds Great Victoria Street, Belfast City Hall, and the Grand Opera House, and it’s a lively, central location to stay in.

You can find many more boutique hotels in the Cathedral Quarter, which is perhaps the most vibrant place to stay in Belfast. The Cathedral Quarter is trendy, it’s packed with bars and pubs, and it’s an exciting base for your adventure into the capital. 

Then there’s the Titanic Quarter, named for the most infamous ship to ever be built in Belfast’s dockyards. The Titanic Quarter is where you’ll find the Titanic Experience and the Titanic Hotel Belfast, and they form the centerpiece for one of the United Kingdom’s most impressive urban regeneration projects. 

There are lots of fantastic places to stay in Belfast, but now let’s cut to the chase: here are our picks for the best hotels in Belfast!


The 12 Best Hotels in Belfast

1. The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast

Boutique Hotels Belfast United Kingdom: The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast
Photos: The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast is hands down one of the best hotels in Belfast. This five-star boutique offers glamor and comfort without trying to be pretentious, and we know you’re going to love the superb service, the luxury amenities, and the perfect location. 

If it’s your first time in Belfast, or if you just love to be in the thick of the action, you can’t get closer to the center of things than this. The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast is a landmark on Great Victoria Street, right next to the Grand Opera House and just a short stroll away from Belfast’s best sights and attractions. Tell people you’re staying at The Fitzwilliam, and they’ll know exactly where you mean. 

The rooms at the Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast can only be described as luxuriously boutique. You’ll enjoy the wonderful delights of Egyptian linens, the comforts of plush bathrobes and slippers, and practical amenities such as spacious work desks and a fully-stocked mini-bar. All bathrooms come with designer toiletries as standard, and either a walk-in rainshower or freestanding bathtub.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast is known as much for its culinary excellence as it is for its luxury, and you can delve into a delightful menu of locally sourced hake, pork, venison, sirloin, or chicken. For vegetarians, there’s nut roast, pasta, and curry. As this hotel is right next to the opera, there’s a fantastic pre-theater menu to indulge in, or you can enjoy evening cocktails at The Bar before a night out in Belfast.


2. The Merchant Hotel

Belfast Boutique Hotels: The Merchant Hotel
Photos: The Merchant Hotel

With a rooftop spa, Victorian heritage, and a restaurant to die for, there are many, many reasons to book a stay at The Merchant Hotel. This is one of the best hotels in Belfast, and we know you’re going to adore the elegance, luxury, and refinery of this five-star boutique hotel.

Where to begin? The Merchant Hotel is found within a Grade I listed Victorian-era building that dates back to the mid-19th century, and the history and heritage of the building have very much been preserved. 

You’ll find Victorian splendor throughout, but especially so in the Great Room Restaurant, where a magnificent domed ceiling, glass cupola, and extravagant chandelier await you. The wine list has upwards of 200 unique bottles to choose from, and the menu features local produce such as freshly caught halibut, venison, duck, and a delectable vegetable wellington. 

Then there’s the Cocktail Bar, Bert’s Jazz Bar (where there’s live jazz every day of the week), and the Cloth Ear, a masterfully restored Victorian Pub that serves all the Irish classics. 

After all that dining, you’ll welcome a session in the hot tub. It’s on the rooftop and offers supreme vistas over the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast. Soak up the views, then hit the gym to work off those calories or opt for a more relaxing stress relief massage at the spa. 

We haven’t even mentioned the rooms yet! There are two distinct room types at The Merchant Hotel. The Victorian Rooms are designed to evoke the hotel’s heritage while also offering modern luxury and undeniable comfort. The Art Deco Rooms are just as comfortable and luxurious, but they offer a slightly more up-to-date style of furnishings (although Art Deco, of course, is still very much retro!). 

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3. Titanic Hotel Belfast

Best Hotels Belfast United Kingdom: Titanic Hotel Belfast
Photos: Titanic Hotel Belfast

The Titanic Hotel Belfast is one of the most unique hotels in Belfast because this unusual boutique hotel is located within the former headquarters of Harland and Wolff, the construction company that built the infamous Titanic. 

You’ll be staying right in the heart of Belfast’s regenerated Titanic Quarter, an old shipyard where “White Star Liners” were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You’ll also be right next to the Titanic Experience, one of the best tourist attractions in Belfast.

As you’re probably expecting, yes, there is a nautical theme (a Titanic theme, to be precise) throughout the Titanic Hotel Belfast. The rooms are designed in a retro Art Deco style, each with its own individual character and each inspired by the design of a ship’s cabin. 

There are vintage posters and authentic historical photographs in every room, as well as antiques and memorabilia designed to transport you back to the Golden Age of steamship travel (don’t worry though, this hotel isn’t going to sink in the Atlantic Ocean!). 

The nautical theme continues in The Wolff Grill, the hotel’s highly-rated restaurant, where Head Chef Nigel Mannion has prepared a menu derived from local specialties, all prepared using local ingredients. You’ll feel like you’re dining on board the Titanic itself, and as you dine on guinea fowl breast, halibut, or duck, you can take in the views over the surrounding shipyard. 


4. The Flint

Best Belfast Hotels: The Flint
Photos: The Flint

The Flint is easily one of the most unique hotels in Belfast. This boutique hotel doesn’t do ordinary, and you’ll love how The Flint tries (and succeeds) to completely do away with the standardized industrial hotel style that we often, unfortunately, come to expect in cities. Every detail in each of the suites is unique, and you’ll love the fact that this is an independent hotel, owned and managed by two brothers from Belfast. 

You’ll find the sleek but understated entrance to The Flint is located right in the center of Belfast, just a short stroll away from Belfast City Hall and the Grand Opera House. The stylish interiors were designed by Terry Designs, with a focus on modern fittings that are made (where possible) in Belfast. 

Those stylish interiors include John Ryan pocket sprung mattresses, parquet flooring, beautifully tiled bathrooms, and wonderfully paired color schemes. The suites at The Flint are as practical as they are stylish, and you’ll enjoy the spacious work areas, the plush sofas and armchairs, and the excellent lighting. 

The suites are perfect for either short or long stays. They all come with small personal kitchens that include toasters and kettles, fridges and freezers, and even a microwave-combi oven. You can prepare your own meals, or you can take a stroll around the block where you’ll find some of central Belfast’s finest restaurants. 


5. Grand Central Hotel Belfast

Where to stay in Belfast United Kingdom: Grand Central Hotel Belfast
Photos: Grand Central Hotel Belfast

The Grand Central Hotel Belfast is a modern icon of the city’s skyline. This fabulous glass-fronted hotel rises high above the city and is currently the tallest building in Belfast. 

You can take in supreme views from the Observatory Bar, which you’ll find on the 23rd floor of the hotel. The bar is the tallest in Northern Ireland, and in the evenings, entrance lines are often long. Don’t worry too much about that, though, because hotel guests get priority seating. 

You’ll have lovely views from your hotel room as well, but you’ll also love the interior design and aesthetic comforts that this modern boutique hotel strives to provide. There are marble surfaces in the bathrooms, soft, plush textiles and fabrics, and ultra-comfortable beds that make for easy sleeping.

On the ground floor of the Grand Central Hotel Belfast, you’ll find the Grand Cafe. This stylish bistro serves up a full Irish breakfast, followed by a boutique brunch and all-day dining menu. 

Head to the second floor of the hotel, and you’ll find the Seahorse Bar & Restaurant. The Art Deco interior of the restaurant perfectly matches the grand ambitions of the hotel, which perfectly complements the fine dining menu curated by Head Chef Damian Tumilty. Indulge in wild mushroom soup or country-style terrine to start, followed by herb-crusted lamb or roasted monkfish. 

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6. Ten square hotel

Unique Belfast Hotels: Ten square hotel
Photos: Ten square hotel

You’ll find Ten Square Hotel hidden away in Belfast’s city center, where its historic, Victorian-era facade is surrounded by sleek, modern buildings. But it’s that history that really makes this boutique hotel stand out from the rest, and you’re going to love the heritage that’s been preserved at Ten Square Hotel.

The building was constructed in 1862 on the site of older Georgian houses, and it spent much of its early years as a linen warehouse. It might not be the most exciting backstory, but the building is older than Belfast’s City Hall, and you can rest assured the tradition of comfortable linen continues in the hotel rooms!

Rooms at Ten Square Hotel are decidedly modern, standing in sharp contrast to the facade. There are luxury linens, walk-in rain showers, and seriously stylish decor and interior design. You’ll find the hotel’s bars and restaurants are just as sleek, but they haven’t forgotten the hotel’s history either.

At the Linen Bar & Lounge, you’ll find live music and sporting events throughout the week, alongside a fabulous range of spirits, wine, and beers. The Loft is slightly more refined, offering Art Deco furnishings, classy cocktails, and afternoon tea packages. Jospers Steakhouse and Restaurant then serves up fine cuts of meats, all of which are grilled to perfection over a Spanish-style “Josper grill.” 


7. Bullitt Hotel

Best Hotels Belfast United Kingdom: Bullitt Hotel
Photos: Bullitt Hotel

The classy Bullitt Hotel is urban chic at its best, and we know you’re going to love the post-industrial designs and modern aura that envelopes this Belfast boutique hotel. 

Rooms at the Bullitt Hotel are no-nonsense, and you can choose between a Dinky (small), a Comfy (larger), or a Roomy (the largest) room. All of the rooms are equipped with king-sized beds, rain showers, smart TVs, and quirky decor and furnishings.

As comfortable as the rooms are, the Bullitt Hotel’s real claim to fame is its dining venues. At the Taylor & Clay Grill, the best seafood, veggies, and cuts of meat are slowly cooked over wood-fired grills while you enjoy the finest Argentinian Malbec. 

In the Lobby & Courtyard, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in casual surroundings during the week, while on weekends, the venue plays host to a Yard Party. The highlight, though, is the Babel Rooftop Bar & Garden, where sourdough pizza is served alongside cocktails. Plus, you’ll have fantastic views over Belfast! 


8. AC Hotel by Marriott

Unique Belfast Hotels: AC Hotel by Marriott
Photos: AC Hotel by Marriott

The AC Hotel by Marriott has one of the best riverside locations in Belfast, and you’ll love how this luxury boutique hotel overlooks the calm waters of the River Lagan and across the old shipyards and docks to the Titanic Quarter. 

Despite the historic, industrial location, the AC Hotel by Marriott is neither historic nor industrial. This is one of Belfast’s best modern hotels, featuring both contemporary architecture and postmodernist interior design. 

Rooms at the AC Hotel by Marriott are tech-friendly, offering 49-inch flat-screens, Nespresso machines, and many other practical, hi-tech features. Rooms are spacious, with workstations and king-sized beds as standard. 

The hotel features a fully-equipped gym, where you can work out, and a riverside terrace where you can take in the views with light bites or a beer. The highlight of a stay at the AC Hotel by Marriott, though, is dinner at Novelli City Quays, a fine dining restaurant that’s run by multi-Michelin Star award-winning chef Jean Christophe Novelli. 

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9. The Malone

Best Hotels Belfast United Kingdom: The Malone
Photos: The Malone

The Malone is simple, elegant, yet delightfully refined, and we know you’re going to love staying in this beautiful Belfast boutique hotel when you’re exploring the Northern Irish capital. 

The Malone has just 71 rooms and three apartments. This boutique is located within a repurposed and refurbished Victorian-era townhouse, and you’ll notice that many of the original features – including the doorways and windows – have all been masterfully restored. 

Rooms are Victorian in terms of their amenities, and you’ll love the modern decor, the practical work desks, and the spacious beds. Apartments offer fully equipped kitchens, but you’ll only be cooking if you can drag yourself away from the excellent on-site restaurants. 

The Gallery serves wonderful Irish cuisine, including Kilkeel crab, pan-fried cod, and crispy pork belly. The Grayhound is the hotel’s classic Irish pub, where local beers and spirits are served through the day and night.


10. Malmaison Belfast

Cool Belfast Hotels: Malmaison Belfast
Photos: Malmaison Belfast

The Malmaison Belfast started life as a Victorian-era warehouse but now stands proud as one of the best hotels in Belfast. You’ll find this heritage-laden hotel in the Cathedral Quarter, and you’ll love how the Victorian facade, complete with stone gargoyles and authentic iron pillars and timber beams, has been wonderfully well preserved.

Step inside the Malmaison, and you’ll find the interior has been masterfully inspired by Belfast’s most famous ship, the Titanic. Meeting rooms are designed with portholes, rooms are decorated with nautical maps, and Belfast’s maritime and shipbuilding past flows throughout the hotel.

The Malmaison’s rooms offer a delightful combination of period furnishings and boutique antiques, alongside modern comforts and practical amenities such as mood lighting and power showers. You can order room service 24/7, relax in your hotel room’s plush armchair or sofa with a glass of carefully selected fine wine, or indulge in the Afternoon Tea, complete with scones and champagne. 

Better yet, reserve a table at the Malmaison Belfast’s Chez Mal restaurant, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in an ambient setting. Start with a creative tipple from the “Malchemy” cocktail menu, then try and choose between the gnocchi, the guinea fowl, the massaman curry, the Chez Mal burgers and grills, or the seabass. You might need another cocktail before you can decide!

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11. Europa Hotel

Cool Hotels Belfast United Kingdom: Europa Hotel
Photos: Europa Hotel

Centrally located and with an unbeatable position between Great Victoria Street Station and the Grand Opera House, Europa Hotel is one of the coolest boutique hotels in Belfast. 

For half a century, the Europa Hotel has been welcoming guests in Belfast’s city center, and you’ll love the polished service and outstanding amenities that await you in this four-star classic. 

Each of the stylish rooms has been individually designed and decorated. Plus, the hotel has recently received a huge modernizing makeover to keep it in league with the best hotels in Belfast.

Rooms feature King or Super King “Cloud Beds,” offering unparalleled comforts while you sleep. There are automatic window blinds to keep the light in or out at your leisure, while the bathrooms have beveled mirrors and deconstructed glass showers. 

You can order coffee or cocktails in the hotel’s Lobby Bar, or you can book an indulgent Afternoon Tea at the Europe Hotel. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks in the Lobby Lounge, but save room for dinner at the Causerie Restaurant, where the diverse menu includes vegan burgers, Irish seafood chowder, and chicken tikka masala. 


12. The Culloden Estate and Spa

Where to stay in Belfast United Kingdom: The Culloden Estate and Spa
Photos: The Culloden Estate and Spa

Escape the city with a stay at The Culloden Estate and Spa, a countryside lodge that looks out over the beautiful scenery of Belfast Lough. You’re just a 15-minute drive from Belfast’s city center, but you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a new world. 

Enjoy fine views over the water as you explore the 12 acres of gardens and grounds that surround this 5-star spa hotel. The house itself dates back to 1876, and you’ll love the Victorian splendor that’s been preserved throughout. 

The house was intended to be a palace for the local bishops, and you’ll find that the interiors are royal in design and palatial in their extravagance. There are antique furnishings in every room, alongside the modern comforts of a “King Coil Cloud Bed” that’s guaranteed to provide even the lightest of sleepers with an uninterrupted night’s sleep. 

The real relaxation occurs in the spa, where you’ll find an indoor swimming pool with garden views, a combined sauna and steam room (known as a Tylarium), and a range of treatments and ESPA products that will leave you feeling refreshed. 

Top off an excellent spa weekend away with a culinary journey through Northern Irish cuisine at the Vespers Restaurant. Scallops, halibut, and Irish beef filet are top of the menu, while stuffed red peppers and fresh garden vegetables are the top picks on the vegan menu.

That completes our list of the 12 best Belfast hotels! Did we miss any cool boutique hotels in Belfast? Comment below so we can add them to the list!


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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most unique hotel in Belfast?

The Titanic Hotel Belfast is one of the most unique hotels in Belfast because this unusual boutique hotel is located within the former headquarters of Harland and Wolff, the construction company that built the infamous Titanic. You’ll be staying right in the heart of Belfast’s regenerated Titanic Quarter, an old shipyard where “White Star Liners” were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You’ll also be right next to the Titanic Experience, one of the best tourist attractions in Belfast.

What hotel in Belfast has the best views?

The Grand Central Hotel Belfast is a modern icon of the city’s skyline. This fabulous glass-fronted hotel rises high above the city and is currently the tallest building in Belfast. You can take in supreme views from the Observatory Bar, which you’ll find on the 23rd floor of the hotel. The bar is the tallest in Northern Ireland, and in the evenings, entrance lines are often long. Don’t worry too much about that, though, because hotel guests get priority seating.

What hotel in Belfast has the best spa?

Escape the city with a stay at The Culloden Estate and Spa, a countryside lodge that looks out over the beautiful scenery of Belfast Lough. The real relaxation occurs in the spa, where you’ll find an indoor swimming pool with garden views, a combined sauna and steam room (known as a Tylarium), and a range of treatments and ESPA products that will leave you feeling refreshed.

What is the best historic hotel in Belfast?

You’ll find Ten Square Hotel hidden away in Belfast’s city center, where its historic, Victorian-era facade is surrounded by sleek, modern buildings. But it’s that history that really makes this boutique hotel stand out from the rest, and you’re going to love the heritage that’s been preserved at Ten Square Hotel. The building was constructed in 1862 on the site of older Georgian houses, and it spent much of its early years as a linen warehouse.

What hotel in Belfast is best for foodies?

The Malmaison Belfast started life as a Victorian-era warehouse but now stands proud as one of the best hotels in Belfast. Make sure to reserve a table at the Malmaison Belfast’s Chez Mal restaurant, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in an ambient setting. Start with a creative tipple from the “Malchemy” cocktail menu, then try and choose between the gnocchi, the guinea fowl, the massaman curry, the Chez Mal burgers and grills, or the seabass. You might need another cocktail before you can decide!


About the Author:

  • Richard Collett

    Richard is an award-winning travel writer based in Southwest England who’s addicted to traveling off the beaten track. He’s traveled to 75 countries and counting in search of intriguing stories, unusual destinations, and cultural curiosities.

    Richard loves traveling the long way round over land and sea, and you’ll find him visiting quirky micronations and breakaway territories as often as he’s found lounging on a beach (which is a lot).

    When he’s not writing for BBC Travel, National Geographic, or Lonely Planet, you can find Richard writing for the Wandering Wheatleys or updating his off-beat travel blog, Travel Tramp.

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