Belfast, United KingdomCathedral Quarter
The Merchant Hotel
Victorian banking palace
Cathedral Quarter Belfast, United Kingdom
Renovated
2010
Price
$$$
Rated for
Heritage Social DesignOutside the door
Victorian banking palace
The Victorian bank headquarters runs as an extravagant salon, replacing teller windows with gilded chandeliers and vault nightlife.
“Along with Belfast’s commercial rebirth as a hip capital comes new life for the former headquarters of the Ulster Bank, a mid-19th century Italianate building.”
What it’s good at
Remarkable
The 1860 Ulster Bank headquarters, complete with original vaults and Neoclassical banking hall.
Remarkable
Nightly live jazz at Berts and weekend DJ sessions inside subterranean bank vaults.
Notable
Plush Victorian silk-panelled boudoirs contrast with sleek Art Deco rooms and roll-top baths.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
Here, instead of wry modern furniture … you’ll find classic interiors, the sort of thing that can only be described as ‘opulent.’
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Cobbled alleys wind through the surrounding Cathedral Quarter, home to historic drinking dens, live music, and the MAC arts centre.
The rooms
Original rooms feel like Victorian boudoirs with silk-panelled walls, while the newer wing takes on sleek Art Deco styling.
The sauna and hot tub
An outdoor hot tub looks out toward the Albert Memorial Clock, and glass-fronted rock saunas warm the rooftop and spa.
The spa
Treatments draw on Irish seaweed rituals by VOYA, and a dark relaxation lounge sits beneath a curved staircase.
The gym
The rooftop gym lines treadmills and free weights along glass walls looking out toward the Victoria Square dome.
The Cocktail Bar
Antique Baccarat chandeliers hang above red velvet armchairs, where bartenders mix drinks using local spirits like Jawbox gin.
At the table
The Great Room sits under Corinthian columns and a glass cupola, and Berts serves a classic French bistro menu.
How it began
Glasgow architect James Hamilton beat 64 rivals in an 1857 competition to design the Ulster Bank's grand commercial palace.
Belfast
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.