Serenity in the city: our pick of spa hotels in Belfast

Get ready to enjoy some R&R at one of these gorgeous spa hotels in Belfast...

Take some time out with the girls or your partner with a rejuvenating spa holiday at one of these lavish spa hotels in Belfast. Home to the immersive Titanic museum, Victorian botanic gardens and lively bars, this buzzing city provides a diverse menu of things to see and do.

We’ve chosen these hotels for their world-class spas that have everything you need for a restorative break – from luxurious indoor pools and hot tubs to pampering massages and facials. And that’s not all: you’ll also find gourmet restaurants showcasing locally-sourced Irish cuisine, welcoming rooms with decadent stand-alone baths and city views at these urban spa havens.

The Merchant Hotel: a gorgeous Art-Deco spa hotel in Belfast

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With a rooftop hot tub and Belfast’s largest guest rooms, the Merchant is luxuriously opulent. The hotel is known for its unique Art-Deco wing – where you’ll find Bert’s Jazz Bar – and decor inspired by the dazzling style of 1930’s New York. Lie back on a comfy velvet chair and sip on a French 75 cocktail (a heady combo of gin and champagne, cut through with zingy lemon juice). Or head to the Great Room restaurant and admire the original Victorian interior – including Ireland’s largest chandelier, an elegant glass cupola and a gilded ceiling dotted with plump cherubs. Sit down with the girls and try dishes like mackerel paired with bold horseradish or luxurious lobster.

Choose between an Art-Deco room or a Victorian-inspired suite, decorated with textured headboards, reflective gold doors and sleek marble walls. In the bathroom, a Hollywood-style mirror surrounded by gleaming bulb lights creates a glamorous, 1920s film-star feel as you get ready in the morning. On a romantic spa break? Pull out all the stops and go for a Victorian suite, where you can lie back on your plush four-poster bed or soak in your freestanding, roll-top bath – with a chilled glass of prosecco (or two).

The spa immerses you in relaxation: treatments such as invigorating body scrubs, soothing massages and hydrating facials use premium products from French brand Darphin, as well as Cosmedix – which uses innovative ingredients made with Nobel Prize-winning technologies. Slip into the hydro pool and let the jets massage your muscles, or sweat out toxins in the sauna or aromatherapy steam room. The ice fountain energises the body using pockets of crushed ice. Spend an hour reading a glossy mag in the tranquil relaxation room, tucked up in a blanket among flickering candles, or drift straight into the in-spa dining area for a decadent afternoon tea. That’s right, you don’t even have to move to sample finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and a patisserie selection. Bliss!

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The Merchant Hotel

Top rated

Belfast

9.6 Excellent (1135 reviews)

Culloden Estate & Spa: a luxury spa hotel in Belfast with a cosy traditional inn

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Splash out on your next break with mum or the girls with a restful stay at the 5-star Culloden Estate, located just 6 miles from Belfast. The jewel in this coastal property’s crown is undoubtedly the luxury spa – an oasis of muted gold tones, dark wood and low lighting. The plant-fringed indoor pool, with its elegant, Roman-inspired sculptures, pillars and glass cupola, lets you imagine you’ve gone back in time. Luxury treatments here use natural, premium ESPA products – choose from muscle-melting massages, glow-boosting facials and exfoliating scrubs and wraps to help you feel brilliant. Go all out with a Celtic Dream full-body ritual, which harnesses the power of Irish seaweed and moss to revitalise both body and mind. Let your worries drift away as you lie back in the Jacuzzi or unwind in the steam room.

Feeling hungry? Make a beeline for the Cultra Inn. It uses the traditional Irish pub as its inspiration, with a roaring log fire and low, dark oak beams to create a cosy feel. On the menu, you’ll find classic favourites that have been given a contemporary spin, such as hearty buttermilk chicken burgers served with hot sauce and hand-cut chips, and creamy crème brûlée infused with honey and lemon. After a Sunday afternoon stroll exploring the estate’s 12 acres of garden and woodland and admiring the sea views, try dishes like Irish beef and glazed root vegetables accompanied by a glass of full-bodied Merlot.

The rooms at the Gothic Culloden Estate and Spa honour the hotel’s 19th-century history, with their high ceilings and decorative cornices – and they also have plenty of modern conveniences. Comfy ‘cloud beds’ and oversized textured headboards make the ideal environment for a good night’s sleep, while views over the hotel grounds and the nearby lake make mornings worth getting up for. In a Junior Suite, get ready for another day of pure indulgence in your refined all-marble bathroom complete with a deep, stand-alone bath and deluxe ESPA toiletries.

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Culloden Estate & Spa

Top rated

Holywood

8.8 Excellent (722 reviews)

Clayton Hotel Belfast: a warm and welcoming spa hotel in Belfast with organic products

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Clayton Hotel is both friendly and intimate. Rooms are decorated in oranges and coppers for a cosy feel, with softly lit lamps and king-size beds with plush cushions and textured throws. You’ll find refreshing power showers and individual climate control, whatever room type you choose. If you’re celebrating a special birthday or anniversary, why not splash out on a 7th-floor suite? Spacious Executive Suites feature queen-sized beds with pure Egyptian linen sheets and separate living rooms, where you can begin your morning by making a fresh Nespresso coffee as you watch the city of Belfast wake up outside the window.

Spa Revive is the ideal antidote to the busy schedule of your day-to-day life. Gather your friends and spend a lazy day lounging in the 15 metre heated indoor pool or the bubbling Jacuzzi. The spa uses lush organic products by Mary Cohr, as well as offering EVN Spa Therapies – from sensory aromatherapy to moisturising body wraps and facials. Wind down and rid yourself of any stress with Dermalogica touch therapies, such as calming neck and shoulder massages and scalp treatments. Take some much-needed ‘you time’ and while away the rest of the afternoon in the steam room and sauna, before grabbing a good book and heading to the poolside relaxation area.

Spend your evenings at the relaxed Avenue 22 Restaurant and Bar. Floor-to-ceiling windows give you a front-row seat to Belfast’s buzzing Linen Quarter, known for its hip bars located in atmospheric 19th-century linen mills. Slide into a blue crushed velvet booth and order from a diverse menu that showcases locally sourced ingredients. Start with a dish like chicken marinated in sweet honey and a kick of chilli, before moving onto succulent lamb served with a hearty array of vegetables. Wash everything down with a glass of fruity rioja as the sun sets over the iconic cityscape outside the window.

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Clayton Hotel Belfast

Belfast

8.3 Very good (2189 reviews)

Hilton Belfast Temple Patrick Golf & Country Club

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This country retreat is ideally placed for exploring renowned attractions like the Giant’s Causeway, Lough Neah – and Bushmills (which is Ireland’s oldest working distillery). Book a break with your other half and you’ll have the benefits of both city living and country pursuits here. It’s just a 20 minute drive from the city of Belfast and you’ll be surrounded by open countryside and the hotel’s 72-hole championship, year-round golf course. Practise your skills before hitting the green, or treat yourself (or your partner) to a new club at the pro shop.

For some relaxation, head to the spa or fitness club and begin with a calming dip in the indoor swimming pool – in the daytime, floor-to-ceiling windows offer you views of the rolling green lawns as you swim. Pamper yourself with a treatment in one of the serene single or choose a couples room if you’d like to relax together. Go for a warm marine lava shell massage, a revitalising facial or an invigorating body wrap. Afterwards, lie back and detoxify your body in the steam room or the softy lit sauna.

The hotel’s rooms and suites are just as calming. In a deluxe suite, slip into your soft bathrobe and slippers and begin your day with sweeping views of the manicured golf course. Curl up in a comfy armchair in your private seating area and plan your itinerary or catch up with the morning papers with a freshly made tea or coffee.

There’s no better place to fuel up for a day of sightseeing than Treffner’s Restaurant. Light wood, pops of red and lots of natural sunlight create a relaxed venue for your morning meal. Tuck into a full Irish breakfast of peppery sausages and grilled rashers. At night, you can choose from Irish classics with an international influence: think salads with salty chorizo, buttery potato and soft halloumi, or beef rib served with root vegetables and a hearty stout sauce. For dessert, go for a zingy lemon tart with a Baileys coffee to round it off.

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Doubletree By Hilton Belfast Templepatrick

Templepatrick

8.4 Very good (2294 reviews)