The Merchant Hotel

The best part of the stay was the staff. They are exceptional! Courteous and kind and they almost make up for the hotel itself. This is not a 5 star resort, rundown, and very shabby. Our room bathroom was a complete nightmare, shower flooded, pipes would scream with the hot water piping through. Luckily our suite had two sinks so we used the other one. The bathroom floor was stained in various place and the toilet area was simply gross with what we could only surmise were old urine stains. Horrible. Last it’s a busy area and a club across the street started a live show which blasted through entire room through midnight: Maybe she was grand dame once upon a time, but that time is long gone. It needs a drastic refurbishment.

Our stay in The Merchant Hotel was exceptional! From the moment we arrived we knew it was going to be a special stay! Immediately greeted by welcoming staff with a friendly smile! We arrived early as we had made a reservation for Afternoon Tea. Staff kindly stored our luggage and transferred it to our room while we had afternoon tea. Afternoon tea was fabulous! Service impeccable and all the food was divine. Staff were all so friendly and attentive. It really was the staff that made our experience outstanding. They even brought a beautiful cake to mark my husband's birthday. Afternoon Tea in The Merchant feels like such a luxury experience and it exceeded our expectations! We spent some time in the spa, it was small but not busy at all. Very nice and the views from the roof top hot tub were amazing! Our room was clean, comfortable and had all the necessary facilities needed to have a relaxing and enjoyable stay. The toiletries were gorgeous! We had a wonderful night's sleep! We had drinks in the bar before dinner and they were amazing! Really fabulous choice of cocktails and they were delicious. Staff regularly topped up glasses of water and checked in to make sure we had everything we needed. Even though the bar was busy, staff were always available and very friendly. Dinner was in Berts Jazz Bar. Atmosphere was amazing! Food exceptional and staff outstanding! We had such a lovely meal, faultless! Breakfast the next morning was perfection. Once again, staff were exceptional. Choice of food was great and everything was cooked perfectly! Overall, we had an amazing stay. We had booked an overnight with breakfast and dinner package was very good value for money. We cannot wait to stay again!

We have stayed here a few times but I think this was our last. The staff on reception are always lovely and helpful but that’s were it ends. There was one member of the bar staff that was lovely and actually made an effort to chat (Rueben was his name), the rest of the staff never smiled. Breakfast was the same, the guy greeting us at breakfast hardly spoke two words, we asked him for some coffee, it never arrived. The rest of the breakfast staff wizzed by incase you asked for something. You basically had to go after them. And again no interaction and no welcoming smiles. There was 1 lady I approached, she said she was kitchen staff but went and got me what I needed. The rooms are always clean and tidy, bed really comfy and a great shower. We noticed plates from room service sitting on the corridor for 2 days. Sorry if this all sounds very negative but this is one of the more expensive hotels in Belfast and I feel customer service really lets it down.

There's a huge difference between what's said and what's done. This rings true in the hotel industry, particularly at the Five-Star Merchant in the Cathedral Quarter. Their commitment to guest satisfaction is evident in every department. During my recent stay, I was impressed by the efficient check-in, excellent concierge service, stunning rooms, and superb cuisine. Dinner at The Great Room was a highlight, with exceptional food, service, and incredible architecture that felt almost European, yet I was in vibrant Belfast. The Great Room Restaurant truly stands out, featuring the best local produce, an exquisite wine list, and a remarkable dessert. The experience was outstanding, and even breakfast the following morning was top-notch, thanks to Mal and Ben’s exceptional service. An unexpected touch was the birthday cake with a candle, graciously provided by the amazing staff. Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch?

Outstanding room and property overall,as well as service from the front desk to the Great Room restaurant and the bellmen, one of whom, John Mac, was especially helpful in recommending restaurants and retrieving our car. The hotel is also in a great location for restaurants and even a by-the-slice pizza pop- up across the street. And, best of all there is a cabaret onsite with live Jazz music and good food called Berts. We highly recommend this hotel for tour stay in Belfast

Don't stay at the weekend. The noise level from the music at the outdoor bar across the street was horrendous. It was like nightclub level. Finished at 1.30 and the music was so loud we couldn't hear even the TV. Which was my attempt to drown it out. Spending the next day on 5 hours sleep is not worth it, no matter how nice the hotel is. Especially considering the cost. No compensation offered by reception