The Merchant Hotel

Fantastic experience: Fabulous dinner great service

Fantastic experience: Wow! Wow! Wow! Afternoon tea was a delight, a very special family time. Staff were excellent.

Fantastic experience: Booked for afternoon tea. Lovely experience. Nothing was too much trouble - even getting my phone charged. It's quite a dark room which made it feel a bit gloomy but otherwise great. You'll be taking a doggy bag away...

Negative experience: First time staying - we requested a Victorian room and in the comments box I requested a quiet room (months in advance, when realistically there were numerous rooms available). My husband was feeling unwell that night & it wasn’t until 11ish onwards that I realised how unbearably loud it was. However, as most people can agree, the last thing I want to do is get up, pack my bags and move room in the middle of the night. The noise went on for hours - screaming, shouting, singing non stop. For a luxury hotel, I am shocked that they put people in rooms that would make it very difficult to sleep - just don’t rent out those rooms! I spoke to the receptionist on check out about it & she said the manager would reach out. I had to reach out and explain the situation, hopeful that a reasonable solution would be offered, but instead we have been offered a free drink if we ever come in and pay for dinner or a quiet room if we book in the future (which I think was our basic right this time!) Considering the room was nearly £300, I don’t feel like coming back to spend £100s more. It’s just a real shame that it’s the luck of the draw as to whether you get a quiet room or not, and we were some of the unlucky ones, despite paying full price like everyone else. Lots of other comments mention the noise & the way it’s been dealt with, so just be careful with which room you end up in! Staff in the lead up to this were excellent though & very tasty breakfast!

Fantastic experience: Just enjoyed a lovely 2 night stay

Fantastic experience: Stunning exterior beaten hands down by the interior. Popped in just for a pot of tea for two. Fantastic service and very reasonable price. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: Great rooms, cocktails and atmosphere. Also a great location for shopping and drinks.

Fantastic experience: Awesome food, amazing building lovely staff

Fantastic experience: Retracing steps made 10 years ago with my two sisters, one of whom sadly passed away in February. We were celebrating Caroline’s life on what would have been her 64th Birthday. Remembering special times at The Merchant and making new memories.

Fantastic experience: We loved every minute of our stay. From the room to the service everything was A1 and would recommend this hotel to anyone looking to stay in luxury. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: My friend and I stayed here for 2 nights and we loved every bit of it! From check in to check out, all staff were extremely friendly and professional. We purposely chose the victorian room as we prefer that style. The beds are so comfortable, bathroom very spacious. You will hear some noise from outside at night, but you have to expect this given the central location. It all stops at a reasonable hour too. The breakfast was tasty with lovely options. The cocktails were expertly made. We had the menu tasting with wine pairing option and it was definitely the nicest menu tasting either of us has had! We also made use of the spa, which was lovely. We really enjoyed our treatments! Will definitely be back to this hotel again!

Positive experience: Very expensive. It was a very rushed experience. Tea and sandwiches came before cocktail. The nice waitress said she would box up our food for home. Neither of us got our right leftovers. Very disappointing.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely beautiful and so central, handy for everything.

Fantastic experience: Popped in for afternoon drinks with friends. Beautiful hotel, central location, relaxing atmosphere

Negative experience: It's definitely not worth the price! We stayed 3 nights, and we regret staying at this hotel. The Victorian suite we booked was dark dusty. The furniture was worn out, and we sunk into the couch as soon as we sat down. The bed wasn't comfortable, the outlets are not convenient either. The hallways smell of food. The concierge gentlemen are great, and that was the highlight. The area outside is loud at night, but that's what you get from being around the local bar area. It's definitely not a place we would ever stay again. The floors were filthy as well. Not a 5 star hotel in any way, shape, or form.

Fantastic experience: We came for Afternoon Tea ☕ and we were very impressed! The whole experience from customer service, to tea and the food was perfect! If you're looking for an upscale feel with tasty treats then this is the spot for you. Go as a group to enjoy the full experience and you won't be disappointed! Lots of variety and tastes for everyone

Fantastic experience: Beautiful location. Getting married here in November and all of our experiences so far have been brilliant

Fantastic experience: We came for afternoon tea and were blown away by the beauty and service! Jane was amazing and was so sweet to our baby girl.

Negative experience: They don't want comtory people in the hotel with thick comtory accents. Neither do they want casual clothing. I was there on my own midweek. I ain't gonna go around all dresses up looking like a clown on my own. I just wanted a couple of nights away from home, a drink and a bitta craic it was February. They took €900 off me. Leave it there overpriced and snobby. Boom yourself into a good room in the premier inn

Fantastic experience: Found the bar of this hotel Amazing Great service Great staff GREAT cocktail menu too.....

Fantastic experience: We had the gorgeous afternoon tea to celebrate a birthday and it was a lovely experience!

Fantastic experience: Different style hotel, but great!

Fantastic experience: Was there as a wedding guest. I am vegan and I had the best meal , Shea was most attentive,nothing was a bother. Indeed all the staff were brilliant. Thank you.

Positive experience: My daughter slept in a single bed and the label said Drogheda Hospitals Linen Care do nursing home and hospitals, My friend works in this company and recommended the Merchant Hotel and I found out that The linen they yous gets washed together with the hospital linen in recycled water.... This business is washing linen for foreign Migrants.. All hotels need to look at their linen company especially this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic experience: Gorgeous Hotel. Thanks for a great stance. Will repeat 100%

Fantastic experience: Went for birthday cocktails and dinner with my daughter last night. The bar staff were fantastic - very welcoming and appropriately attentive. A special big shout out to Jamal - who was just superb throughout the night. Coacktails were fantastic - and food was amazing

Positive experience: Greeted on arrival by friendly helpful receptionist . Lunch in the cocktail bar; quick service but very disappointing size of meal comprised of a very small Irish burger and a literally an egg cup of chips. Both burger and chips were gorgeous but just all too little not complimenting a couple of glasses of wine. Lovely environment just let down by an unnecessarily small meal.

Fantastic experience: Easy to book, excellent staff, high-quality food & drink, and facilities all under one roof.

Fantastic experience: One of the best meals we've had. Sumptuous surroundings and perfect service from our waiter who expertly paired the wines with our tasting menu.

Negative experience: Stayed here during Christmas time with my inlaws, it was their first time in Ireland. While the stay in the hotel was fantastic, they organized a black taxi tour of Belfast with a driver named David. I have to say it was the most anti Irish, pro UK few hours I've ever spent in my life. Absolutely disgusted afterwards. He basically drove us to the peace wall and sat there the entire time. The only time he seemed into it was when he finished with the shrine of the queen. When he was dropping us off to the Titanic museum he basically went back over everything, saying why the British were entitled to "retaliate" against the Irish and gave his reasoning (the reason the British did this was because the Irish initially did this). I really hope they don't use him anymore

Fantastic experience: One word: phenomenal. My cup of tea, my kind of ambience & service. Classy yet relaxed. Go treat yourself! You're welcome

Fantastic experience: I went here for cocktails and this was a recommendation and I thanked the person who recommended me this place! Amazing selection of cocktails with a beautiful menu along with great service! Our server gave great recommendations and not just for the cocktails but for where to go later! I would recommend the pistachio cocktail (it another name in the menus) and it was one of the best cocktails I have had and I have had a lot! It was creamy and smooth and you can taste every element! And it was whisky based which is amazing as the whiskey flavour did not overpower!

Fantastic experience: If it isn't the best place to eat in Belfast it is in the top two. The food and cocktails are top notch and the staff have a level of sophistication you don't see elsewhere. We had the clean and the rounded cocktails which were superb, followed by the mackerel and crab starters. The duck was excellent. If you are in Belfast you have to come here.

Negative experience: My family and I went to the merchant hotel for afternoon tea this weekend, and unfortunately the experience was overall lacklustre. The afternoon tea itself was alright, but we did encounter a few problems. The scones we received were extremely dry and hard, and after complaining to the waitress, she informed the manager who sent us out more scones that were just as hard and dry. We also felt the desserts lacked variety since they were all fruit flavoured mousses. While we appreciated the ability to take away what we hadn't eaten, the desserts were not exactly suitable for transporting home. The shining star of the afternoon tea experience was our waitress, not sure what her name was but she was very polite and accommodating. Overall, we did not feel the afternoon tea package was worth the price with these problems, as minor as they may be. However, our experience was subsequently ruined due to an encounter with a staff member after our afternoon tea. We had decided to go into the cocktail bar after finishing eating and we waited in quite a long queue to make to the door of the bar, as the hotel lobby was quite busy and we wanted to sit inside. Upon making it to the front of the queue, a bar worker came out and directed us to the one empty table in the lobby beside the revolving doors. My mother explained we did not want to sit out there which is why we had already waited so long. The waiter replied in a very condescending tone, "Well, they're all the same", in the reference to the tables. My mother again explained that we did not want to sit there, since it was beside the door and it was cold outside. The waiter abruptly replied that there would be a 30 minute wait, with no solution or accommodation provided, and it really did seem as though we were an inconvenience to him. A decent accommodation would have been to offer the table outside to us while we looked at the menu and then possibly move us inside the bar when a table freed up. We decided to leave solely because of this and take our business elsewhere. We were happy to wait but his attitude was very off putting. Unfortunately these combined experiences will stop us from returning to the Merchant in the near future. I feel as though this hotel is not a very welcoming environment, which is unfortunate as we did spend a lot of money at this establishment. You'd have a much better time going to another hotel with afternoon tea that isn't as overpriced and staff that actually want to you to be there.

Fantastic experience: We went here for the high tea. It was very nice and the tea selection was great. Food were delicious and presentation was wonderful.

Negative experience: Have dined in the Great Room on numerous occasions but was very disappointed by my visit at the weekend & feel I must leave a review. I never left a review a few months ago when my partner who is vegan was given a dish at a wedding and the staff member came & told him they had mixed it up & he had eaten dairy. (I felt I’d let that slide as the staff member made an unfortunate mistake & I thought I would give the merchant another chance). But unfortunately standards have slipped overall. We started with vegetarian afternoon tea. The Indian theme was rather disappointing. Curry flavoured egg sandwiches on dry bread with mango chutney on the side didn’t compliment tea & cakes very well at all. The chocolate cake was dry & by that point we were just put off and didn’t even try the other desserts so can’t comment on those. We ordered Prosecco - it was poured at the table from a bottle that had already been opened & mostly drank from - this didn’t feel very special at all. Nothing was cleared away when we were done & when we asked for the bill, we were told that it would come to the table. We waited & no one came back so we ended up leaving the table with everything still on it & going up to pay. After paying £113 for this experience we tried to cheer ourselves up & went to the cocktail bar - the cocktail menu has been reduced greatly in recent years & the prices have almost doubled. This used to be my favourite spot in the city but £20 for a glass which is mostly a block of ice simply isn’t worth it. All in all very disappointing.

Fantastic experience: This is my third time to visit the merchant, food is outstanding, the service is excellent.

Fantastic experience: I absolutely loved my stay at The Merchant. My mom flew in from Canada to celebrate my engagement and we stayed at The Merchant for a girls weekend. The staff were incredible and went above and beyond to make our stay special. I can't thank them enough. We had breakfast included, which was absolutely amazing with an incredible view in the great room. I will be recommending the hotel to all family and friends who visit Belfast in the near future. I really appreciate the exceptional service.

Positive experience: Spa services were fab and friendly staff. Dinner was in the great room, lovely staff and food was nice. The Rose wine section was terrible and overlooked compared to the red and white sections. Also, a shame the black leather seats were dirty.

Fantastic experience: Afternoon tea was a delight. Exquisite food and staff who could not have been more helpful.

Fantastic experience: Food fantastic and the staff are freindly we have been here a few times always a good night.

Fantastic experience: Popped in for a cocktail after my graduation with my family. Service was amazing and very attentive. I was surprised with a cake which was complimentary!! Cocktails were also delish, would definitely recommend!!

Fantastic experience: Afternoon Tea We had the classic afternoon tea. It is very pricey per person, however it was excellent! The staff was kind and helpful, the artisan menu and treats were incredible! Truly astounding. The tea is also really lovely, I recommend the house blend. If you're up to spoiling yourself or a loved one, I highly recommend afternoon tea at the Merchant. Ps: just be mindful that it is quite a lot, so go hungry;)

Positive experience: Perfect if you like to be in luxury hotel and well treated Kind and f expensive I tried the afternoon tea Was nice though it was over priced Perfectly located

Fantastic experience: I visited this place with my family, I liked everything. Next time I will use their services. I recommend

Fantastic experience: Fantastic customer service very nice and wonderful hospitality from the staff of the hotel,room was very clean and comfortable thank you so much

Fantastic experience: Adore this place, have visited countless times throughout the years and quite happily a regular visitor, excellent service, food, atmosphere and setting, simply stunning

Fantastic experience: We hadn't been to the Merchant in a while. A family celebration gave us the excuse to rock up to the cocktail bar on a Friday evening. Two leather bar stools were available and our fate was sealed. The barmen were most entertaining, all while mixing the most delicious cocktails. There is a catalogue of cocktails to peruse, to help make your mind up, with evocative descriptions and beautiful photography. We tried the Cosmopolitan and wondered why we'd ever tolerated the bright pink chemically version. The Merchant Cosmo was delicate with flavours of cranberry juice and lime, served cold in a coupe glass. The vodka gave this elegant concoction quite a punch. My fellow drinker ordered a tall fruity number which he loved but, strangely, I can't remember the components. I'll have to go back to jog my memory...

Fantastic experience: The Phillip Larkin room was something else! What a fun location on the weekend!

Fantastic experience: This is an awesome place for high tea. It was absolutely delicious. Service was amazing. They accepted us without a reservation. The actual architecture and interior design is absolutely incredible. We came here on a whim and it was great. Come with an empty stomach and a lot of time to spare. It is a bit expensive but totally worth it!

Fantastic experience: Exquisite. Step into your romantic oasis of one of the most beautiful hotels in Northern Ireland

Fantastic experience: Excellent service provided for an equally excellent afternoon tea. Extremely relaxing and indulgent. The ambience was perfect and relaxing even though the hotel was extremely busy with hustle and bustle in the background. An absolute must of a visit

Fantastic experience: This was my first high tea experience and it could not have been lovelier. The staff were so friendly. The space was beautiful. And all the food was delicious. A bonus that they had a vegetarian selection. 10/10 would recommend for a special day out.

Fantastic experience: Perhaps the finest hotel at which I've ever stayed. The Bellman, Amir, was incredible upon arrival, during our visit and during our departure. He provided the type of service that seems to be a thing of the past. His charming personality was a big plus to his outstanding level of service. We stayed in the Larkin Suite and our adult kids stayed in a standard room....both were magnificent in their appointments and design. The hotel was perfectly situated for shipping, dining and pub visits. The only drawback was the wifi was quite poor...very weak signal and cut out frequently. I expected better considering the room cost and the reputation of the hotel. However.....I will never stay at another hotel in Belfast other than the Merchant.....it was that exceptional.

Fantastic experience: The food in the restaurant was top-notch. The staff were very professional and served dishes professionally.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful place! Just popped in for a coffee and the service was impeccable

Fantastic experience: Very nice hotel.have a good time and Very nice manager! Thanks for a Good service

Fantastic experience: The staff at the Merchant are excellent. they make you feel welcome, and the service level is high quality. The building is beautiful, I will definitely be back

Negative experience: A word of warning for anyone buying a voucher!! We bought a voucher for my mother and father, for Christmas. I tried to use it for the end of this month, May, and was told I could not use it as there was no availability till July. I asked could I book a room without the voucher, on the date I wanted in May, and the answer was yes. I asked could I book a table in the restaurant, for the date I wanted, the answer was yes. I just could not book using the voucher till July, due to availability?? I asked them to define availability for use of voucher and the answer was when the hotel is likely to be less busy, not full, just less busy. Another voucher con? There is a time limit of one year on the voucher and now it seems it can only be used when the hotel deems it fit to be used, depending on their quiet times and not on the customers needs. Beware

Positive experience: Used to be absolutely in awe of this hotel, LOVED it from a previous trip so came back. Customer service from management was disappointing, you can tell a lot from a hotel by how the handle complaints, and i think from a top down approach, it was disappointingly handled. Some of the other staff were phenomenal. Food is great. Location is awesome. Have already written a email with feedback, as the way it was handled was that annoying, and it's clear, perhaps, this hotel just isn't for me or my custom. Solo female traveller, so gutted as used to be epic.

Fantastic experience: We had an art deco style room which was gorgeous and huge. Staff were all lovely especially Roisin on reception and one of the housekeeping ladies who very promptly got us a sewing kit to repair my broken handbag strap. Food was lovely for both breakfast and dinner. A lovely experience for our Ruby Wedding Anniversary.

Negative experience: Stayed in this hotel for 2 nights in April. Hotel room was terribly cold and thermostat, although turned up to high, kept blowing cold air. Maintenance came up several times but couldn't fix the issue so we asked them to turn it off completely from the breaker panel, which they did. They reduced our bill for 1 night valet parking for this inconvenience. Food in the restaurant was just OK. We stayed at 10 hotels over 2 weeks while touring Ireland/NI, and this was our least favourite out of all of them. Would never stay again, extremely overpriced for the stay we had.

Fantastic experience: Made our anniversary very special My hubbie and I stayed for our 10th wedding anniversary and can't wait to go back. We were upgraded to the art deco suite which was absolutely gorgeous , spacious room with its own Hollywood dressing table and massive bathroom. We had a few cocktails created by Daniel.... What Daniel doesn't know about cocktails is not worth knowing , so passionate about his job. Dinner was beautiful and they came to us with a gorgeous cake with happy anniversary piped on top. When we went back to our room (which was turned down for us) we were greeted with a happy anniversary balloon attached to a box of chocolates and a hand written card wishing us again a happy anniversary. Little touches that meant so much and will never be forgotten. Such a special experience so thank you

Fantastic experience: 2nd time staying at this hotel. Will definitely be back. Our room was lovely. Spacious, fantastic bed, 2 televisions . Massive bathroom I no longer have a bath at home so I luxuriated in the bathroom. Turn down service with chocolates. Fantastic breakfast in the great room restaurant. Dinner in the Cloth ear both nights was delicious. Cocktails and Irish coffee first class. Close to all the pubs & plenty of local talent singing in the different venues. A wonderful break away from home

Negative experience: My partner and I visited the merchant for the second time on Saint Patrick’s day expecting the same service as before however we had 2 very different experiences. The first time we got a room with a view which we where blown away by and a celebrity level of service and hospitality. This time we didn’t think it was that good. I was so disappointed by the cocktails this time, I left them back. We waited over 20 minutes for 3 cocktails and it was not overly busy. It was such a disappointment when I ordered my classic mojito for it to taste very bitter and undrinkable. The room we received this time was a little old fashioned and whoever fitted the door must not have had a spirit level. There was no natural light what so ever in the room, a window that we could not open and a view of a concrete parapet outside the window. All in all the merchant was a disappointment for claiming to be such a luxurious hotel in the centre of Belfast.

Fantastic experience: Thoroughly enjoyed our stay in The Merchant . From the luxurious lobby and warm welcome on our arrival we were highly impressed with the decor and luxury of our bedroom / bathroom and its thee most comfortable hotel bed we’ve ever slept in ! Fab quality of bed linen and comfy down pillows and duvet . The rooftop hot tub and sauna / steam room enhanced the relaxation of our stay and the dining experience was very enjoyable and made special by our waiter Lorcan who stood out among the very attentive and courteous staff ! We would highly recommend The Merchant and we plan to return Mandy & Danny , Donegal

Positive experience: The check in desk forced us to take an art deco room even though i specifically booked a victorian room. No apologies, did nothing to compensate. Said the victorian side was full, that means you overbooked and decided to put us somewhere else. She even called it an "upgrade" and started talking down on the victorian rooms in her own hotel! (Smaller, older, louder than art deco).

Fantastic experience: Simply superb. Beautiful surroundings, lovely cocktails and Finn the barman and the rest of the staff were brilliant.

Fantastic experience: Super hotel in a great area close to good shopping, pubs, restaurants. Walking distance to the Titanic and the waterfront area. Staff fantastic couldn't do enough for us, would definitely recommend a stay, we'll be back soon.

Fantastic experience: From the moment we arrived until our departure we could not find fault. The Merchant Team were professional,courteous, attentive, approachable and above all welcoming and friendly and they made our stay such a relaxing and wonderful experience. The Great room & cocktail bar served great food and wonderful cocktails a truly memorable experience from lunch,dinner and breakfast and so good we returned to enjoy lunch again before leaving. A special mention to Lubo who proved to be a master in the field of hospitality, thank you!

Fantastic experience: Great place - love it. Very clean and comfortable rooms, frendly and attentive staff, fab food and drinks.

Fantastic experience: The Merchant Hotel has such a beautiful and delicious afternoon tea. The staff were so kind and welcoming. The interior was absolutely beautiful and tastefully decorated. I would happily return in the future.

Positive experience: Went for cocktails, as I have many times. The new simplified cocktail menu is not great. Loved the old one with all the classics. Service, unusually was poor. It wasn't that busy but at least two tables around us left without getting served. It doesn't currently feel as classy as it used to.

Negative experience: The room was freezing, reported to reception, and wasn't fixed had it set @28°c always was blowing but no warm air. The bathroom door was broken, wouldn't close or lock tv wouldn't work, and marks on carpet floor just as well channel 4s 4 in a bed didn't stay . I've stayed in far better, and third of the price was my 50th that my fiancée had paid for and highly disappointed as was a big build up.

Fantastic experience: Lovely surroundings in Cocktail Bar. Lovely young man found us a seat but waitress could have been more pleasant to be honest.

Fantastic experience: Stopped in to have Christmas cocktails with friends on the 27th. Always a great vibe, beautifully decorated and great service. The spicy margaritas were hotastic. Belfast's finest hotel

Positive experience: It was busy but the service was disappointing. The maitre d was quite abrupt. Had one drink but struggled to find a waiter to order a second. Beautiful building and comfy seating. Finding a spot in a more high traffic location or visiting on a less busy evening might improve the experience.

Fantastic experience: Lovely hotel, the double bed room was a really good size. Beautiful cocktail area. The included breakfast was also really good value. Would definitely stay again.

Fantastic experience: Title: A Luxurious Experience at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast I recently visited The Merchant Hotel in Belfast for drinks and dining, and it was an exquisite experience. The selection of wine was impressive, and the cocktails were truly out of this world, showcasing a delightful blend of flavors. I opted for the burger, and it exceeded my expectations. Cooked to perfection, the burger's highlight was the caramelized onions, adding a perfect touch that elevated the overall taste. The chic lobby and luxurious decor instantly caught my eye, creating a sophisticated atmosphere. The attention to detail in their Christmas decorations was noteworthy, adding a festive charm to the already elegant ambiance. In summary, The Merchant Hotel provides not only exceptional food and drinks but also a luxurious and festive setting that makes it a standout choice for any visit to Belfast.

Negative experience: In short, disappointing faux luxury. I stayed in a Victorian suite for a single night, which was £369 with breakfast. I also had dinner at Bertz bar, which none of the criticism herein relates to - as that was excellently run and delivered great food and service. The room was booked as part of an engagement party weekend, ahead of the Christmas festivities. After entering my room, I happened to open the toilet and was met with encrusted faeces on the very top of the toilet seat. To be clear this was on the very top of the seat, not tucked away hidden under it, or on some hard to see part of the toilet, not that that would have made it any more acceptable! I phoned the front desk and to their credit we were moved rooms within about 20 minutes. Thankfully this room had a clean toilet, but still the general cleanliness was not in keeping with a supposedly five star experience - in particular the fridge was dirty (and practically empty!), as was the glassware, but that was probably a consequence of the last minute room switch. While we were staying, there was a large wedding on and it was close to Christmas, so I think the staff were stretched. Even still, a luxury hotel should have the capacity to serve its guests at large, or at the very least be able to complete the basics - like having clean facilities. Aside from switching rooms, we were also offered a complimentary bottle of Prosecco, but unfortunately that never made its way to us. When the manager found out, he organised a couple of free cocktails instead. Whilst that was a nice touch, the failure to produce the Prosecco was in keeping with the clear lack of organisation and running standard of my stay. Aside from cleanliness, the rooms were incredibly noisy, with our first room, in particular, being massively in-fluxed with noise from the surrounding bars. Whilst some noise is to be expected, given the Merchant’s locality, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a noisier hotel room. As such, if you are considering booking here - avoid the first floor if you can. I am from Belfast, but live and work in England, so was returning home for both Christmas and an engagement and was hoping a stay at the Merchant would be in keeping with the general feel of both Christmas and the excitement of getting engaged; but sadly that was not the case. It is such a shame that Belfast lacks a true luxury experience, as the Merchant seems better suited as a dining experience than a properly capable luxury hotel. I had hoped to get some form of special treatment, given the occasion, but I feel we failed to even receive a middle of the road service provision one would expect of the atypical hotel stay. All in all, heavily disappointing, as I had been considering the Merchant as a possible venue for a future wedding, but I just don’t think I could trust it to put on a full service of a proper standard.

Fantastic experience: Stunning Hotel with lovely features, luxury and private meeting rooms. Excellent food selection was provided too!!! Belfast’s finest Hotel

Positive experience: Have visited here many times. Over this period it has gradually become tired in decor and slack in general upkeep. While the standard of food remains high, the little attention to detail has slipped. Please address before it gets worse.

Fantastic experience: We just stopped in the cocktail lounge before dinner. Wow! Such a beautiful sight to see. Lots of detail in the ceiling and walls. I'm not sure about the hotel portion, but worth spending a little money on drinks just to experience this place

Fantastic experience: A gift for my mum's birthday and she loved it. The atmosphere in The Great Room is so inviting and warm. We were made to feel like royalty, the service was next to none. I was unaware when booking that an occasion cake would also be brought out which was a lovely extra touch.

Fantastic experience: I brought my mum here to have afternoon tea for her 70th birthday, it was quite expensive but worth every penny to see my mum so happy. I emailed the hotel asking if they could pop a little candle into a bun instead of me having to buy a cake so it was a wonderful surprise when they brought out a little cake with Happy Birthday written on it! It was lovely of them to go to the trouble to make my mums day even more special. I will definitely be coming back for my own 50th birthday in May!

Fantastic experience: The hotel was so amazing I was shocked when I see the exterior and the building is so beautiful. when I entered in, The ceiling was stunning. the guestroom was like a home, the furniture, the so fa, and fabric….everything is so warm and feel like back to warmest home. had drinks in the bar with fabulous bartender n the services. Great evening.

Fantastic experience: A fantastic, old fashioned hotel, in the heart of the city. Staff were excellent, cocktail bar and restaurant were exceptional. Rooms spotless & spacious. A little bit “old fashion” but what we expected in such a grand building. Will definitely stay here again.

Fantastic experience: Bert’s bar seemed quite busy (and when we stepped in it felt way too crowded and hot) so we decided to try the cocktail bar at Merchant Hotel. Didn’t regret our decision, the Merchant bar is so beautiful and service was amazing. Enjoyed the complimentary intro drink and nibbles. Especially liked one of the bartenders who made our cocktails; was humorous and gave me a complimentary piece of chocolate too (as my partner got a cocktail that’s paired with chocolate). Cocktails are slightly pricey but the atmosphere and service made up for it. Like how they have a curated selection of unique cocktails too instead of just way too many basic choices.

Fantastic experience: Love this hotel, In the center of the city which has access to all the restaurants nearby. Rooms are well-designed and have all the accessories needed. A very clean hotel and the stuff are friendly and very polite. The lobby and bar are a must experience also.

Positive experience: We stayed here for two nights and whilst the public rooms are elegant and beautifully finished, our bedroom was very disappointing. It was large and spacious but the interior designer had put looks before practicality. Lights, switches and towel rails were badly located, two king beds but only one washbasin, the two chairs were very uncomfortable and when the wardrobe door is opened a bright light shines upwards straight into your eyes! The staff were delightful but the service in the bars was patchy - probably understaffed?

Fantastic experience: Exquisite Hotel in the centre of the vibrant city of Belfast. The capital of Northern Ireland. All the city's attractions and commerce are within walking distance. With transport hubs also close by. Staff and facilities are all very nice, well presented and attentive.

Fantastic experience: We had dinner here. The food and atmosphere were outstanding. Had a Tipperary cocktail which I loved! One of the highlight meals from our trip.

Positive experience: Nice cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere, great service, however, they add automatic 10% service charge to the bill, I am a good tipper and I expect that type of business behaviour from a 2nd class restaurant, not from a place that sees itself as classy.

Fantastic experience: Beautiful cocktail/whiskey/wine bar hidden in the restaurant upstairs from Bert’s. It was open until a little later which suited us perfectly. Staff were incredible and friendly, and the drinks were delicious. The atmosphere in this gorgeous space is perfect for classy catch-ups with friends.

Fantastic experience: Visiting from Sydney , Australia. Our visit to The Merchant was one of the best times we have had on our vacation . This place is a treasure and a ‘must visit’ when in Belfast. Great food & selection of cocktails. The Great Room Restaurant is truly beautiful. Amazing service from friendly professional staff. Well done :)

Fantastic experience: Went there for cocktails. Lovely cocktail list, excellent service, and sumptuous surroundings. A definite must visit for cocktail lovers.

Fantastic experience: Lovely food and staff made us feel so comfortable in such a fancy place. Excellent options for gluten free, vegan, vegetarian etc. Would go again!

Fantastic experience: on Saturday 19th. August-Monday 21st. our son Justin and daughter Amy booked my husband Thomas and myself into the Merchant for our birthdays. We had no idea what to expect. The Seamus Heaney Suite exceeded our expectations! The quality of service in Bert's Jazz bar, and the restaurant were exceptional! staff could not have done more to make our stay special. We felt enriched and pampered the entire weekend. Thanks to all the amazing, welcoming staff. We will be returning soon. Now we know why Van Morrison loves Belfast! Warm Regards and congratulations on your outstanding hotel. Thomas and Bernadette

Fantastic experience: Always loved this hotel... customer care service excellent... Cocktails superb..and the ambience fantastic.. Enjoyed my birthday celebrations here..Cheers!

Negative experience: Ordered coffee with soya milk - never experienced anything as bad in my life. There was a sludge/gloop in the coffee. Not sure how this was achieved. Felt very disappointed given the high standards and cost of the coffee.