Best hotels in Belfast: Stylish stays in the Cathedral Quarter, on the Golden Mile and more

Rob Crossan shares his pick of the best places to stay in the Northern Irish capital

The buzzing, historic city of Belfast is the perfect destination for a city break (iStock)

Not so long ago, finding a quality hotel in the Northern Irish capital required a single phone call. During the Troubles and for some time afterwards, The Europa was the only place in the city that offered anything even approaching international levels of service and comfort. But no longer...

While this fabled old behemoth is still a trusty steed of the Belfast accommodation scene, there are now plenty of places to rest your head. From uber-sleek boutique hotels to bijoux family run B&Bs that punch well above their weight, you deserve to stay in Belfast in style. And after all, this is a city that has it all.

Should you be the outdoorsy type, there’s many a walk and hike nearby with a personal favourite of ours being the rocky climb of Cavehill which overlooks Belfast in all its glory. For the history buffs among you, Cathedral Quarter is well worth a visit, while there are also miriad of pubs, clubs and restaurants to quench your thirst or satiate those rumbling tums. There are, of course, the tourist hotspots too, such as Titanic Belfast – where the infamous cruise ship was built – the castle and zoo and also a number of tours to experience, too.

Whatever’s on your agenda, we’ve taken some of the hard work out of planning your visit and listed our pick of the finest stays on both sides of the Lagan.

The best hotels in Belfast are:

• Best hotel for movie star chic: The Bullitt
• Best hotel for history: The Europa
• Best hotel for Scandi-style: The Fitzwilliam
• Best hotel for a night on the tiles: Benedicts
• Best hotel for a bucolic escape: La Mon Hotel and Country Club

Best hotel for movie star chic: The Bullitt

Neighbourhood: Cathedral Quarter

The downstairs lobby of the Bullitt also plays host to live music and DJs on a weekend (Bullitt)

Named after the 1968 mob crime thriller, much of which is set in the fictitious Hotel Daniels, this hotel is a tribute to Steve McQueen (the late movie star, not the contemporary director). And it’s a great escape indeed, impressively pulling off retro appeal without descending into kitsch. Rooms come in “dinky”, “comfy” and “roomy” sizes, all in sleek, monochrome tones and some with murals of the 1960s Don of Cool himself.

Best hotel for history: The Europa

Neighbourhood: City Centre

Learn more about Belfast's colourful history at Hotel Europa (Hotel Europa)

It once held the dubious title of being the world’s most bombed hotel during the times of the Troubles. But these days, The Europa is urban quietude personified. An immense early 1970s tower block, the dated exterior lacks charm, but inside all is elegant and demure. Rooms are understated, in soothing tones and dark woods, while the Causerie bistro excels at high-end comfort food. The wonderful former gin palace, and best pub in the city, the Crown Liquor Saloon, lies immediately across the street.

Best hotel for Scandi-style: The Fitzwilliam

Neighbourhood: City Centre

Shelter from the cold in the cosy confines of The Fitzwilliam's lobby (The Fitzwilliam)

On a chilly Belfast evening, The Fiztwilliam’s lobby is an appealing prospect indeed, with its amber coloured lamps, faux log fire, atlas-filled bookcases and comfy yellow armchairs. Rooms are simply decorated but comfy with DAB radios, wide beds and great views from the upper floors over the gentle rise of Cave Hill. The hotel equivalent of slipping your feet into a cosy pair of M&S slippers, The Fitzwilliam is easy, reliable and warming.

Best hotel for decadent excess: The Merchant

Neighbourhood: Cathedral Quarter

Party like it's 1925 at the The Merchant (The Merchant)

Seductive, central and easy on the eye, you’ll feel like the star in your very own F. Scott Fitzgerald short story at The Merchant. A recent extension has rooms that retain the Art Deco vibe but without the OTT excess of the original rooms. Bert’s Bar in the basement has live jazz and there’s even a rooftop hot tub – this is the spot where, wonderfully, Bel Air and Belfast converge.

Best hotel for a night on the tiles: Benedicts

Neighbourhood: Golden Mile

Explore Belfast's Golden Mile from Benedict's (Benedicts)

Located on what’s known as the “Golden Mile” for its raft of pubs, bars and restaurants, Benedicts delivers if you’re looking for a big night out. The exterior might look like a bland Florida condo block, but it could scarcely be more individual inside: stone arches, exposed bricks, immense columns and salvaged stained glass give this place a funky yet ecclesiastical look – what a church presided over by Nick Cave and Tom Waits might look like. The retractable roof in the beer garden is a boon if (as is likely at any time of year) rain makes an appearance.

Best hotel for a glimpse into a hot new ’hood: Ravenhill Guesthouse

Neighbourhood: Queen’s Quarter

Ravenhill Guesthouse is in Belfast's most up-and-coming neighbourhood (Ravenhill Guesthouse)

The cafés and bars of Ravenhill and Lisburn Road, just south of the centre, mean Queen’s Quarter is fast emerging as the coolest ’hood in Belfast. The Chelsea gastropub and the Eakin Gallery raise the bar for boho vibes and great food and modern, local art respectively. Ravenhill, a cosy Victorian B&B, has vintage radios in each room, plus immense breakfasts, where the bread is baked in the kitchen and the eggs come from the nearby Mullens Organic Farm where hens are fed on seaweed. Owners Olive and Roger love visitors to use the living room, where tea and shortbread are always available.

Best hotel for a bucolic escape: La Mon Hotel and Country Club

Neighbourhood: Castlereagh

Guests can indulge in a paddle in La Mon's mosaic-tiled pool (La Mon)

Seven miles out of the city centre, and with sublime views over gently undulating hills, this modern, white washed granite and oak building strives for Nordic simplicity, but is a little too busy to truly succeed. The bathrooms are on the small side in the standard rooms, though you’ll want to spend much of your time in the hugely impressive mosaic tiled indoor pool. The in-house Mill Restaurant also makes the most of local produce.

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