The Best Boutique Hotels In Belfast

Boutique hotels are a hot travel feature this year, and Belfast has more than a handful from which to choose. Whether you want a quaint, rustic lodge or a Victorian boutique suite, Northern Ireland’s capital city has it all – for an affordable price too! Take a look at Culture Trip’s top picks for 2020.

1. Ten Square Hotel

Hotel

It’s all about location when you book with Ten Square Hotel, located south of Belfast City Hall in Donegall Square, the heart of the city’s shopping district. This boutique hotel will suit all travellers as it offers standard and budget rooms, along with several deluxe suites for those extra-special weekend breaks. The in-house restaurant, Jospers Steakhouse, is one of the best in the city – and it’s family-friendly. For those who prefer a hotel bar, Ten Square Hotel has a fantastic outdoor atmosphere every night of the week in the Linen Bar.

2. Malmaison Hotel

Hotel

Double bedroom at Malmaison Manchester with tiled wall and leather headboard

For a little Belfast class, visit Malmaison Hotel, which has a mix of contemporary style with Titanic-inspired interiors in each room to give visitors a taste of Belfast’s prided history. The hotel’s location on Victoria Street is the perfect distance from the City Centre and Cathedral Quarter – the home of cuisine, culture and nightlife every day. The Malbar, Malmaison’s very own cocktail bar, has so many quirky drinks to offer in another wonderful interior – think classic luxury mixed with funk. This former seed warehouse turned hotel is a great place for those who like something a little different.

3. Malone Lodge

Hotel, Lodge

Large double bedroom and living room in room at Malone Lodge Hotel with muted colour palette and stylish features

South Belfast is full of quality lodgings, and Malone Lodge is no exception. Adjacent to the Queen’s University extended campus, this lodge is famous for attracting Pinterest-perfect weddings and couples who love the cosy atmosphere and luxury surroundings. Those who fancy quiet weekends will enjoy the deluxe suites, private lounges and outdoor seating areas, which ooze comfort and class. Surrounded by residential avenues and parks, Malone Lodge is number one for a detox weekend escape.

5. The Merchant Hotel

Boutique Hotel

Colourful double bedroom at The Merchant Hotel with striped carpet, floral bedding and arm chairs and orange curtains

This five-star, AA-standard hotel is close to Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter and has earned many awards that speak for themselves. Each room features decor in the style of the Art Deco era or with detailed Victorian interiors, while the five Victorian Suites are each presented with their own unique style, service and a four-poster bed. The Great Room Restaurant has a dinner menu like no other – an AA-Rosette-winning menu from Chef John Paul Leake. Other extras include the Cocktail Room, Bert’s Jazz Bar and Champagne Lounge – you won’t want to leave this amazing hotel.

6. The 1852 Hotel

Boutique Hotel

Double bedroom at The 1852 with grey carpet, white linen and light wooden headboard

You can’t stay in a more traditional boutique hotel than the 1852 Hotel, located just off Botanic Avenue, Belfast’s revered food and drink hub. Tucked inside a converted townhouse, this budget hotel has maintained the original wood panelling and channelled the original Victorian decor into each room, from the bedding to the drapes. Down the street, check out Empire Bar, one of Belfast’s hottest music venues and comedy clubs.

7. Culloden Estate and Spa

Spa Hotel

Grand exterior of Culloden Estate and Spa with drive way and neat lawn

The Culloden Estate & Spa is the ultimate luxury boutique experience. Built in 1876, the Gothic mansion perfectly sits on the eastern side of Belfast Lough, just outside of the city. The hotel is a treat year round, complete with beautifully decorated suites and a world-class spa, which will calm the storm in any busy life. From extensive on-site gardens to the Zest Juice Bar, there is no greater way to detox than in this countryside manor.

8. Titanic Hotel Belfast

Boutique Hotel

Double bedroom at Titanic Hotel Belfast with grey walls, white linen and grey carpet

In the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter is the Titanic hotel, offering an unforgettable experience for anyone visiting Northern Ireland for a city break. Exquisitely designed and furnished rooms reflect the legacy of Harland & Wolff’s innovative design and craftsmanship. The magnificent dual Drawing Offices, with their three-storey-high barrel-vaulted ceilings, are the only surviving example of this type of shipyard architecture in the world. Half-hotel, half-museum, the building is home to an original collection of over 500 artworks, artefacts and photographs transporting the viewer back to the Golden Age of Ocean Travel.

9. Dukes at Queens Hotel

Hotel

Those who like to experience the local buzz of the city will love staying at Dukes at Queens, located on Belfast’s Botanic Avenue – abundant with eateries, cafés and university students every day of the week. The hotel itself has some of the best rooms in the area, paired with a popular restaurant and famous cocktail menu at Claudine’s bar. Local music plays every Friday and Saturday, drawing in people of all ages from Queen’s Quarter. The surrounding area is the hotel’s greatest asset, which boasts the Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum.

10. Tara Lodge

Hotel

Two single beds in room at Tara Lodge with wooden headboard and large windows

Tara Lodge is a quaint boutique hotel located in the southern district of the city, just off Botanic Avenue. Don’t be fooled by the size – this hotel offers some explosive weekend packages, including the Titanic Experience Stay and a Game of ThronesIce and Fire Tour, which includes a luxury bed-and-breakfast stay followed by a Northern Ireland tour of the TV series’ stunning filming locations.

Visiting Belfast on a budget? Check out our guide to the best hotels to book in Belfast for every traveller, or discover the most incredible places to stay in Northern Ireland, bookable with Culture Trip.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.