Best hotels in Belfast 2023: Stylish stays and cozy city breaks

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:

Neighbourhood: Cathedral Quarter

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.