Grand Central Hotel Belfast

Grand Central Hotel Belfast brings big-city glamour to the Linen Quarter, just south of City Hall. Run by the Northern Irish group Hastings Hotels, it occupies a tall office tower that was transformed into a modern five-star hotel, and the name revives a famous Belfast hotel of the past. The look is plush and contemporary, with rich colours, marble and brass, and the rooms on the upper floors look out over the rooftops to Cave Hill, the Belfast Hills and the cranes of the harbour. The star attraction is The Observatory, a cocktail bar and lounge on the 23rd floor, one of the highest places in the city to have a drink, and well worth booking for sunset even if you stay elsewhere. On the second floor, the Seahorse combines a restaurant, a lounge, a bar and an intimate space called the Cavern. A spa offers treatments for guests and visitors. The service is polished, and the location suits both sightseeing and business.

Location and getting around: the hotel is at 9-15 Bedford Street, in the Linen Quarter, a short walk south of City Hall and the coach departures on Donegall Square. The Grand Opera House, the bars of Great Victoria Street and the main shopping streets are all within a few minutes, and Grand Central Station, the city’s main bus and rail hub, is close by, which is useful for the express bus to Hillsborough or trains along the coast. Queen’s University and the Ulster Museum are about twenty minutes on foot.

Rooms: ask for a high floor for the best views, and consider a city-view room facing north towards the hills and the lough. Suites give extra space for longer stays. The rooms are generously sized for a city-centre hotel, with large beds and well-equipped bathrooms.

Who it suits: couples who want a stylish, central base with a spectacular bar upstairs, first-time visitors who value an easy location for tours, and business travellers. It is a big hotel, so it lacks the intimacy of a boutique property.

Good to know: book The Observatory in advance on weekends, as it is popular with locals as well as guests. Breakfast is usually charged separately, so compare rates. Ask the hotel about parking before you arrive, as there is limited street parking in the Linen Quarter.