Situated within the revamped shipyard district of Belfast, famously known as the Titanic Quarter, this 4-star lodging named after the iconic ship helps recreate a bygone period.
With 119 rooms, the Titanic Hotel fills the Victorian and Edwardian structures that once served as the offices of Harland & Wolff, the firm responsible for constructing the ill-fated vessel in 1911.
Adjacent to the distinctive structure housing the expansive Titanic Belfast museum, designed to resemble the bows of four ships and cloaked in countless silver aluminum tiles, earning its local moniker: the Iceberg.
Functioning both as a hotel and a museum, the Titanic Hotel – a companion to its Liverpool counterpart managed by Harcourt Developments – boasts an authentic collection of over 500 pieces of art, artifacts, and photographs that transport visitors back to the ‘Golden Age of Ocean Travel.’
Central to the hotel are the paired 19th-century drawing offices of Harland & Wolff, meticulously built to optimize natural light and featuring soaring three-story barrel-vaulted ceilings. Drawing Room No. 1 houses the hotel’s ballroom, while No. 2 houses The Harland, an expansive bar and lounge, complete with plush blue velvet sofas encircling the space.
Adorned with exquisite art deco and art nouveau travel posters, the lounge showcases a substantial model of the ship and offers vistas of Titanic Belfast and the famous slipways alongside. The cocktail menu even features a drink named Ms. Millvina Dean, paying homage to the final living survivor of the maritime tragedy.
Above Drawing Room No. 2 resides the Presentation Room, once utilized to display oil paintings of Harland & Wolff’s ships to potential buyers, now adorned with contemporary photographs. In the original directors’ foyer lies the gracefully etched-glass telephone compartment, where news of the Titanic’s catastrophe was initially received. Adjacent, the mahogany drafting table belonging to the former chief naval architect, Thomas Andrews, who perished while assisting passengers into lifeboats.
Each room in the hotel exudes a maritime aura, boasting art deco furnishings, ship lanterns, riveted panels, and sea-inspired artwork. Within our own quarters, expansive windows with nearly 180-degree views overlooked the very site where the colossal ship was constructed. Two leather armchairs and a petite table adjacent to the window offered a prime vantage point for observing these historic locales. The bathroom floor’s black and white tiling mirrored that of the ship, while industrial aesthetics prevailed, featuring various ship components adorning the walls, as well as vintage iron bedside lamps, cabinets, and a writing desk.
Arriving late from abroad, our dinner at the Wolff Grill, set within what was once the office of the Titanic’s designer, included delectable starters such as duck rillettes with madeira, dates, and brioche; seared scallops with chili; and garlic and rum-glazed chicken wings, followed by slow-cooked pork with celeriac and charred leeks, as well as a 28-day aged ribeye. Indulging in sumptuous desserts like sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel and banana ice cream, and baked chocolate mousse with orange and candied hazelnuts was a must.
The proximity of the Titanic Hotel to the city center offers easy access for exploring the sights, with just a brief ten-to-twelve minute walk along Belfast’s Maritime Mile. This waterfront journey encompasses various attractions such as the Titanic Exhibition Centre hosting sports and conferences; Vertigo, an indoor skydiving hub; a marina teeming with yachts; intriguing sculptures like the ‘Big Fish’; and the 10,000-seater Odyssey (SSE Arena) entertainment venue, home to the Belfast Giants ice hockey team and a multitude of artistic performances.
Titanic Belfast, the flagship attraction, features nine interactive exhibits, a grand Titanic Suite catering for up to 750 guests, and a comprehensive multimedia display and educational space complete with a cinema and authentic reproductions of select cabins aboard the ill-fated ship.
