The Merchant Hotel

You'll feel properly underdressed walking into this Cathedral Quarter palace, but that's half the fun. The main cocktail bar sits beneath soaring ceilings and ornate Victorian detailing that makes every other hotel bar in the city look like a Premier Inn lounge. The cocktails are serious business here – think £12-15 for perfectly balanced classics and inventive house creations that actually justify the price tag. The service strikes that sweet spot between attentive and unobtrusive, and while you're paying Cathedral Quarter prices, you're getting something genuinely special. Whether you're impressing clients or celebrating something worth celebrating, this is where you come when you want to feel like Belfast royalty for a few hours.