The Merchant Hotel

Hotels
9.3 (660 reviews)
16 Skipper Street , Belfast , gb

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Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great service
Prime location
Comfortable rooms
Cons:
Cleanliness issues in some areas

Categories

Cleanliness
8.28
There were concerns about cleanliness in some areas of the hotel.
Service
9.75
The service was exceptional and staff were very accommodating.
Location
9.79
The location is superb, close to many attractions.
Room Quality
9.24
Rooms are well-appointed and comfortable.
Amenities
9.27
The amenities provided are top-notch and enhance the stay.
Value for Money
9.23
Good value considering the overall experience.
Food and Beverage
9.28
Food options are diverse and well-prepared.
Overall Experience
9.55
Overall, the experience was remarkable despite minor cleanliness issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-10 17:31

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations and Amenities

The 5 AA Red Star Merchant Hotel in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter offers upscale air-conditioned rooms adorned with original artwork, black-out blinds, and marble bathrooms. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop gym, and a hot tub for ultimate relaxation.

Award-Winning Dining Experience

Indulge in the elegant Great Room Restaurant under a stunning domed ceiling, serving exquisite à la carte dishes and traditional afternoon teas. Unwind at the Veuve clicquot champagne lounge or groove to live music at Berts Jazz Bar while savoring delectable cuisine.

Relaxation and Wellness

Pamper yourself at the spa with 5 treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy area, sauna, and steam room. A Grade I Listed building dating back to 1860, The Merchant Hotel promises a luxurious stay in the heart of Belfast.

Book now for an unforgettable experience at The Merchant Hotel.

Important information:

Please note, any requests made in the Special Requests box at the time of booking are subject to availability.
With our self catering apartments they are subject to a £100 security deposit at check in, which is refunded on departure.

Please note that when booking 3 rooms or more for the same date of arrival an automatic 5 day cancelation deadline will applyPlease inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: BFS

Property Policies

  • Groups

    When booking more than 3 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Parking

    No parking available.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 15 years old stay for £40 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any extra beds.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.3
Based on 660 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.28
Service: 9.75
Location: 9.79
Room Quality: 9.24
Amenities: 9.27
Value for Money: 9.23
Food and Beverage: 9.28
Overall Experience: 9.55
S
Sean • couple • us
10
Lives up to the hype and reviews! Recommended must stay!
Pros:

Location was phenomenal and as advertised for walking easily to major points of interest. Property is gorgeous and food, staff, and room were all wonderful.

Cons:

Not a big concern but the trade off of the great location is that it is very close to nightlife spots that would have music playing loudly until late hours. Only a problem if you are a light sleeper—didn’t bother us much.

2026-03-07 • via Nuitee
L
Lynn • couple • gb
8
Striking hotel in a great location
Pros:

Amazing decor and staff. Great location.

Cons:

No plug for the bath and the water pressure/temperature was a bit erratic.
There needs to be more standard plug sockets, we had to plug the kettle in next to the bed and put out in the floor, not ideal.

2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
K
Kate • extended_group • ie
8
2026-03-06 • via Nuitee
B
Barrett • couple • gb
10
Excellent
Pros:

Beautiful building, great staff, great service.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-03-05 • via Nuitee
W
Willis • couple • gb
10
Pros:

From point of arrival to leaving it was an amazing experience ....

Cons:

Na

2026-03-04 • via Nuitee
N
Neil Yeomans • extended_group • mt
10
I would def recommend this hotel
Pros:

Everything from start to finish was perfect

Cons:

nothing

2026-03-04 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • couple • gb
10
Fav hotel to date, we will be returning
Pros:

Loved room upgrade, including the most delicious bottle of bubbly. Staff were patient kind and friendly. Spa was the best my wife had ever been too.Food was delicious. They went out of their way to accomodate my wifes poor mobility.

Cons:

Cocktail and restaurant prices a little high.

2026-03-03 • via Nuitee
C
Ciaran • couple • gb
10
Pros:

The Merchant is not cheap but it’s always a lovely experience. Luxuriously decorated and well maintained, it’s like stepping back in time. The staff are extremely welcoming and professional.

Cons:

Not the hotel’s fault, but it’s right in the middle of Belfast nightlife and it can be noisy until around 2am at the weekend. Inner Victorian rooms are quieter than street facing Art Deco ones if that’s a concern.

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
E
Elaine • couple • gb
10
2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
K
kem777 • Couples • Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland
10
incredable hotel.
Pros:

Had an other fantastic stay. From the receptionist to the bar manager...all amazing .
The room was out of this world with really comfy bed and large bathroom with freestanding bath and enormous shower which was easy to control with great pressure.
Theres a reason this is the top hotel in Belfast,........ and we've stayed in them all.

2026-02-25 • via Tripadvisor
J
John • solo_traveller • gb
10
The Merchant Hotel provides an amazing service to its guests. Keep up what you’re doing!
Pros:

A beautiful building which is kept extremely clean. Staff are amazing and the little touches like turndown service at night time is lovely.

Cons:

N/A

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
F
Flore • couple • gb
8
Iconic stay at The Merchant
Pros:

We spent 2 nights at The Merchant for my mum's special birthday. They made the occasion very special for her. The staff was amazing and genuinely lovely, and so was the entire experience in the hotel. As soon as you walk into The Merchant, you know you're in a very special place and you feel transported back in time. The decor is truly incredible. Each room is unique. The hotel is located at the heart of the city centre and you can walk everywhere.

Cons:

Our room was on the main street side where the famous pubs are located so we could hear live music until very late.

2026-02-22 • via Nuitee
C
Claire • family_with_children • gb
8
Luxurious hotel and friendly staff
Pros:

Beautiful and historic breakfast in a gorgeous room
Bedroom large and comfortable and quiet

Cons:

Nothing

2026-02-22 • via Nuitee
D
Dca79 • Couples • United Kingdom
10
Amazing, luxurious and amazing staff!
Pros:

We booked a Victorian room for two nights and got upgraded to an art deco room and it was truly beautiful. We had a meal in Berts jazz bar and breakfast! I have stayed numerous times and used the roof top hot tub and sauna! Anyway it was that amazing I decided to stay an extra night and was upgraded to a Victorian suite and omw it was just beautiful and also had a meal in the cloth ear and breakfast included. I would not stay anywhere else it is the most fabulous hotel and is one of the reasons I can’t stay away from Belfast! Staff are fantastic and attention to detail is priority for sure!

2026-02-20 • via Tripadvisor
C
cathryn • extended_group • gb
3
Not worth the money.
Pros:

Inside was beautiful and the staff at the cocktail bar were fab!

Cons:

We were in the old part and could have done with a bit of touching up.
The breakfast was a huge let down. Nothing was explained when we started and we ended up asking for the special and the bread was stale.
We also went to the hot tub at 5.20 and the receptionist told us it was closed even though it’s said on a letter that was left on our bed that it was open until 6. When talking to other guests the best morning they had actually said it was open u till 6.30.
It was very expensive and it honestly wasn’t worth it. It was my mums birthday so it was just a little bit of a let down.

2026-02-15 • via Nuitee
A
Alice Bernadette • extended_group • gb
8
2026-02-13 • via Nuitee
S
Smith • couple • gb
6
2026-02-13 • via Nuitee
A
Aimee • couple • ie
10
2026-02-11 • via Nuitee
H
HarryG_Belfast • Couples • Belfast, Northern Ireland
10
Luxury hotel in central Belfast.
Pros:

This is a five star luxury hotel in the heart of Belfast city centre. It is not cheap and we only used it as my wife had been given a very generous gift voucher on her retirement from her workplace for the hotel.

Reception:
A warm and friendly welcome from Finola. She was professional and very helpful. She had kindly upgraded us to a better room on the third floor. Our room was not ready on arrival but she took our bags from us and promised to call me when the room was ready. 30 minutes later we got a call and returned to collect our key cards. Our bags had already been sent up to the room.

Room:
Large and spacious and beautifully furnished with a small and narrow outdoor balcony. The room offered plenty of hanging space, a desk, two armchairs, and tea coffee making facilities. The bathroom was large and well appointed with a large bath tub and a separate walk in shower. The bed was comfortable. There was some noise from a nearby bar at night, but it was not excessive and the hotel is right in the heart of Belfast.

We were out for the evening and upon our return we found a balloon, small box of chocolates, and a card from the management, wishing my wife a happy retirement- a very nice touch and much appreciated.

Breakfast:
Served in the beautifully elegant dining room which is old fashioned but features stunning architecture, high ceilings, and beautiful furnishings. All the food is served to you at the table by a team of friendly and efficient servers, no self service here!. There was a wide choice on offer and everything tasted good.

Conclusion:
An excellent luxury hotel in central Belfast. This luxury comes at a high price but if you can afford it, and want to treat yourself, The Merchant will not disappoint.

2026-02-09 • via Tripadvisor
V
V5450OMmichelleh • Family
10
Amazing weekend at a fab hotel :-)
Pros:

Amazing stay at the Merchant hotel in Belfast, from the moment we walked in to the moment we left, we were spoiled! Staff were super, so helpful & professional. Will definitely be returning soon :-)

2026-02-01 • via Tripadvisor