"Along with Belfast’s commercial rebirth as a hip capital comes new life for the former headquarters of the Ulster Bank, a mid-19th century Italianate building that’s still collecting cash as the city’s coolest pad. The Merchant one-ups Belfast’s other boutique hotels with its private club vibe, the best beds in town, 24-hour room service, and a silver Bentley Arnage available for airport transfers. Located in a cobbled quarter that’s buzzing with restaurants, galleries, and clubs, the chic 62-room hotel screams exclusivity right down to fine dining at the Great Room Restaurant on the former banking floor and state-of-the-art sound in the vaults at Ollie’s Club, the city's hottest nightclub. Spacious guest rooms feature striped plush wool carpets, aubergine walls, antique mirrors and artwork, custom-designed furnishings, plus complimentary wireless, while huge bathrooms come with large rain showers, heated mirrors and towel bars, and a soft light over the tub so you can bathe without being in the dark or full light. The service was lovely and very warm. Staff seems to be young and polished, except for the head concierge, William, an elegant older gentleman who is full of charm, chat, and great tips on Belfast culture. With its vaulted ceiling, enameled glass dome, towering Corinthian columns topped by gold-leafed capitals, ornate plasterwork, crystal chandelier, rare clavi-harp dating back to 1830, and a menu just as grand, the Great Room Restaurant earns its name. And the Victorian-style cocktail bar and a sleek contemporary Private Members and Residents Bar are just as glam. Listen up at the casual ground-floor pub called the Cloth Ear—the name comes from the hotel’s owner, Bill Wolsey, whose mum used to ask him if he had cloth ears, meaning that he wasn’t listening to her. At The Merchant, even the ice is five-star—Fiji Water is frozen into blocks, hand-sawed into cubes, placed in glasses, and frozen in a blast freezer for the ultimate chilled cocktail. Brown spirits come with large ice balls that melt so slowly they last through two drinks without melting. For $1,500, you can score a cocktail of rare 17-year-old Wray & Nephew Jamaican rum, orange curacao, and almond-flavored orgeat—they’ve sold three so far."
