The Great Room Restaurant in Belfast

One of my favourite haunts. The food once again was exceptional the service was excellent. The drinks and the delivery of such was not so hot. The bar was taken over with nothing more than a meh cocktail bar group to whom forgot the reason why they took the bar over it took 15 minutes to get a drink delivered to the table while waiting for our reservation. Sadly the people taking the bar over needed to get to work straight away. They seem more interested in standing behind the bar.

We came here for a celebratory dinner on Sep 6, 2023. This is a stunning restaurant, perfect for a date, special occasion or business meal. It has gorgeous architecture and charm, located in the historic Merchant Hotel. The food was very good and the staff was so friendly. We aren't vegan but they had an entirely separate menu for vegan options which I thought was very accommodating. Thank you to the staff at The Great Room for making our time in Belfast so special!

Superb 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 Belfast Landmark!!!!!

Not the stand out experience we have had before. No more complimentary bread when waiting on starter. Ridiculously small portions of food. Glass of Stoneleigh wine £15, same wine £8 for a bottle in Tescos so not even a premium Marlborough. No more selection of cheeses from the trolley now it's £14 for for a small selection of cheese on a plate. We have had some lovely dining experiences here but we won't be returning in the near future.

Having had afternoon tea in many places this one is very good and service was excellent- this building is worth a visit just to see the restoration- it is magnificent The traditional scones and sandwiches were wonderful and the desserts were a little too sweet for my taste although the presentation was amazing. Also the house blend of black tea was excellent

Ok my partner wanted treat me to somewhere we never been and something different, so he booked the great rooms for dinner . On arrival great took to r table coats took away waiters really nice .So we wanted a bottle of rose wine after being talked over few we left it in waiters had and he made good choice. Ok we looked at menu and need to add my partner is a chef of 35 years so knows his food ,nwe ordered, waiting time was perfect starters was beautiful no complaints well bit more been nice lol So ok mains mmm this were it went wrong 1 r meal arrived and sides I 1st tasted the truffle mash cold zero taste of truffle We vegetables cold so my partner had fish right away tasted it cold and way over cooked and mine same it just seemed it been sitting way to long b4 coming out to us so at 35 pounds a meal we Sent it bk so disappointed that a 5 star hotel would ever send that out of course they asked what was wrong as Manger took my partner aside explain of course he knows what he talking about as a chef. So r waiter come said they would notb on bill and would we like some thing else so we reorder same omg the difference was day and night beautiful but a 5 star hotel should never b severing this standard of food in 1st place. We had dessert beautiful but to be honest I not recommend this hotel 4 food but beautiful surroundings

We ate here last night. The food and service was amazing. We had langoustines to start, beef fillet for main and I had the peach sphere for dessert. They made an Eton mess for my father even though it wasn't on the menu. I was really impressed with our waiter as he was so attentive. We didn't have to wait too long between courses and our water was constantly topped up. Overall, a lovely evening.

We ordered afternoon tea and as my wife is strictly coeliac requested the gluten free option. It was excellent both in presentation and taste. A previous gluten free afternoon tea some years ago was average to poor. Thank you to the chef for listening to feedback in the past regarding gluten free food. Service was also excellent with friendly and efficient staff who looked after us very well. This building has been beautifully restored and is a pleasure to visit. It is expensive however definitely worth it for the experience

Simply magnificent.....super staff...Great menu...and awesome location

Went for cocktails - glass totally filled with ahuge ice cube. Amount of drink is tiny. Staff rude and defensive. Need to treat guests as not idiots and items of “gross pricy”. Embarrassing . Need to treat customers with respect rather than as mugs

We were a party of 8, with several picky people whom at first look didn’t like menu. However they were pleasantly surprised.Food was great and service.

A really beautiful place to have an evening meal. The staff make you feel so welcome and not to fussed over. We really could not fault the meal from the bread and butter (sounds mad but it is different and so nice), right the way through to desert. Great selection of wine and the total bill was very reasonable. My wife and I have eaten in a lot of famous chefs restaurants with the most of them being over priced or average sometimes both. This place however does not disappoint on quality, service and cost. I would highly recommend a visit as it is great...

We booked the restaurant for the plant based tasting menu and when enquiring about the additional cheese course we were told really bluntly and as if it was obvious that the plant based menu is vegetarian and not suitable for vegans. We went round in circles with the waiter who only could tell us plant based means vegetarian not vegan which was incredibly irritating. Also weird - he referred to normal dairy cheese as plant based cheese. Asked for the manager who took ages to come and also unhelpfully stated yes plant based means vegetarian. Did not understand why I was confused or help us find alternatives even though I know it is possible from a footnote on the a la carte menu. Contacted merchant and they refuse to admit the menu needs corrected and weirdly insisted the waiter did try to help us find options - totally false. Need to educate the staff and honestly they need to learn some basic customer service skills.

Lovely meal in an absolutely stunning building/serving room. The staff were extremely attentive and professional. The food was very well cooked and presented too. The fillet of beef and accompaniments in particular were delicious. It's not often the quality of the meal matches the quality of the interior but this place manages to do just that. Knocking of a star for eye wateringly expensive (but pretty good) cocktails. The opulence of the room allows for it.

Went for a family dinner; I am vegan and my sister is lactose intolerant so also ate from the plant base menu. I had the aubergine dish wish was very nice but could have had a bigger portion of aubergine. There was two desserts that where vegan adaptable a sticky toffees pudding and a chocolate pistachio tart. We got both to share. The sticky toffee pudding was very good and came with a mango sorbet which was very nice but did not go with the pudding. The chocolate pistachio tart was ok but not very flavorful and would not order again.

For £80, the tasting menu was highly disappointing. The first plate (beef) tasted only like vinegar, the tuna was overly cured, which ruined its flavour, and the lobster plate was made up of three tiny (although very tasty) lobster pieces, with 3 half tomato cherries and a pseudo sauce of olive oil and watery tomato liquid. The main course was lovely (no complaints here). The desserts were just very average. Would definitely not recommend. Having said all the above, the service was exceptional and our waiter was very pleasant.

We booked for the plant based menu - unfortunately which isn’t suitable for vegans because the creators of the menu don’t realise dairy and eggs are not plant based. The waiter or the manager didnt understand why we were confused and were incredibly unhelpful. If you’re vegan really don’t recommend you go here when they don’t understand the definition of plant based on any level. Won’t return.

Superb lunch. It deserves a star. The service is fantastic: friendly and exceptionally trained. Every dish was excellent, with the best produce, perfectly cooked. I'm coming here for over 5 years and it's always amazing and represents great value for money. I don't understand the negative reviews - some people can't be pleased!

Superlative ambiance, delicious food, extremely attentive and gracious service - a real delight. Highly recommended.

We are just back from 5 days in Northern Ireland and our meal here was the highlight of our trip. Everything about it was perfect. We both had the beef fillet which was incredible. The desserts were beautiful. My partner had the non-alcoholic ginger beer which he says was the best one he's ever had...and he's had a lot. But the highlight of it all was the service. Everyone went above and beyond to make the evening incredibly special, particularly Peter. He is a huge credit to the restaurant and hotel and is absolutely outstanding at what he does. We were staying in the hotel and were delighted to be greeted by him when we went down for breakfast the next morning. Thank you for making our trip so special.

Food very commun, service is slow, order get lost, drinks never come in time. Tips is added to the invoice and doesn’t match the service. I would give 0%, normally, as a Canadian, I give between 15 to 20%

Perfect technical execution for each course of tasting menu and interesting wine.

A magnificent experience was had by my wife and I at the great room.Food was superb by the presentation and of course the tastings.Dietery requirements where taken seriously and explained correctly.All our needs where met with a smile and good explanation of our food was done by Cyprian.What a helpful and cheery person he is.

We had the most wonderful evening at the Merchant hotel recently, dining in The Great Room restaurant. We opted for the taster menu with accompanying wines. Not cheap, but I think a wonderful experience. All dishes we superbly executed and the service excellent. I cannot fault it. Highly recommended.

Amazing decore, stylish tea room and restaurant. We walked in on a Sunday afternoon and were able to be seated immediately. The staff were friendly, attentive, and welcoming even though we were casually dressed in a warm June day. Tea was - well, tea. But the little finger foods were delicious and made with care. Pricey - expect to pay for the experience - but just the food - but well worth it. Definitely an experience worth having.

Are you looking for the best restaurant in Belfast? You've just found it. Exceptional in every way. Highly recommended. 6* if I could.

My wife and I visited the Great Room as part of our anniversary celebrations. We opted for the tasting menu… seven courses of the best that The Merchant Hotel had to offer, combined with the wine pairing. Or maybe not…. The first three courses were dry and tasteless. They really were awful. We spoke with the staff and they were most gracious and apologetic. We were given a complementary course, taken from the a la carte menu. It was lovely. However, the remainder of the evening was already spoiled by this time. We paid over £200 for a very mediocre experience and, while a little discount was taken off the bill, our anniversary was spoiled. We have held a family wedding at this hotel and we have stayed on several occasions. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to return unless we are assured of a much better experience.

While visiting Belfast, we decided to treat ourselves with a dinner at The Merchant. A fantastic dining experience. Gabriele, our waiter was very attentive knowledgeable and welcoming. We were unsure which wine would be best with a fillet steak and a lemon sole, so we asked for suggestion and the Manager Mauro come to speak to us and suggest a very nice wine, without breaking the bank 🤗🥳! The overall experience was fantastic and so the food. The final complementary cake with a candle for my partner’s birthday was really the best way to finish the experience!! Thank you all for the magical experience. We will definitely come back !! Sergio & Micaela

Had a terrific small group dinner in the Great Room. Beautiful restaurant, great service, Crab salad, and Cod we're terrific.

This is a beautiful room in a beautiful hotel. We weren’t really dressed to go here, being on a tourist holiday but we were welcomed by the maître d. We had a drink in the lounge before dinner and were shown into the restaurant. This...

Perfect experience and a delicious menu

We are a trio of ladies that lunch, take afternoon tea, dine, go to the theatre - you get the idea I am sure. It was my birthday and we decided the splendid surroundings of the merchant would add a bit of glamour to our...

If you complained about the food here I'd love to know where you dine . A very good menu from starter to dessert. Italian wine was lovely and you are not over crowded by fellow diners or staff. Only point to note your bill total...

From starter to dessert very good. Nice wine list and not an overcrowded setting . Only thing to remember the bill + 10 % service charge . Definitely worth a visit .

Had an amazing meal along with first class service last night . The attention to every detail regarding allergies was noteworthy. There seemed to be a lighter atmosphere, previously on occasion when found it a bit stuffy but there was a more upbeat vibe in the Great room , which didn’t loose its elegance but was a welcome change . Well done to all the staff on your first class service .

Lovely meal beautifully presented and reasonably priced. Went on Sunday evening and found service excellent- very efficient and accommodating. Ethan in particular was a star - polite, chatty and so helpful. Nothing was too much bother for him. Opted for 3 course menu: dressed crab for starters, fish of the day(sea trout) for main and profiteroles for dessert. My husband had the same first two courses but went for pistachio and frangipani tart which he found a little dry. The savoury courses had the edge on dessert but in my case - only just!

Simply amazing! Fantastic food, great service! Highly recommended! The best in Belfast!

Slightly disappointed as had booked through OpenTable for dining to discover their lunch menu finishes just after two and their dinner venue doesn’t start until n the evening . Apparently this is a common misunderstanding for web bookings - they should amend this However -...

Dined in The Great Room with Belfast relatives during St. Patrick’s weekend visit. Room itself is truly “Great”, but it was the service that made the evening really special - professional, friendly and personal - my 19 year old daughter was delighted with how the...

I know The Merchant is popular especially on a Saturday night But Nearly half an hour to be served a cocktail seems excessive. We had a table booked for 7 30 and the staff were excellent as usual, our waiter was apologetic for the long...

Had a lovely meal here while we were staying at the Merchant Hotel. Service superb, food really lovely and staff so friendly.

Great food and service today. My only criticism is that the food was not hot enough. Starter was Monk fish and was very good apart from the heat of the monk fish which was lukewarm. Main was Venison which was excellent apart for, once again,...

We booked the afternoon tea at the Great Room of the hotel The Merchant. At the time of booking, we mentioned that 1 person is gluten free. It worked out perfectly. The service was impeccable. The food was delicious. We also ordered the cocktails which...

Amazing building, service and food. Highly recommended. Thank you.

We wanted a special dinner to end our short break in Belfast and couldn’t have chosen better. An AMAZING venue with bags of history, a brilliant menu, super attentive staff, very knowledgeable on all aspects of the menu and a very ‘high’ end feel to...

We had a lovely time at the great room, the setting and atmosphere is amazing. The service was very good also, the food are drinks were nice but I would have to say that the the great room is very overpriced and at the end...

Probably the top place to eat in Belfast . Ate from the festive menu and it was immaculate, even the wine was served at the perfect temperature. Had the smoked salmon, Iberico pork and the cheese selection.

Christmas dinner was divine . Service was excellent the waiter gave us top fine dining experience

A true fine dining experience. Service and food was absolute top tier.

My friend and I had afternoon tea in The Great Room, and the food was spectacular as well as the tea! We loved that they offered a vegetarian afternoon tea selection because she is vegetarian. We both enjoyed everything and are still dreaming of the...

The last time my family and I drove to The Great Room Restaurant, Belfast on 16 Skipper St, the car suddenly ran out of gas. Fortunately, there was a good and inexpensive gas station nearby called TOP Petroleum Station, Roseville Spar, located at 16 Skipper St. The service there is considerate and the the quality of oil is always good. I often get there for refueling recently.

There is no way you won’t love it here! The structure is so beautiful, it is one you won’t be able to take your eyes off 😀. The food was really good but pricey. The staff were so nice and at your beck and call. I can’t remember the name of the champagne 🥂 I ordered but I loved it so much. I requested for a birthday cake though my birthday is long gone but I still wished to celebrate myself and it was given to me without paying extra.

Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful food and service. Staff was professional and attentive. We had breakfast daily and would definitely recommend dinner as well.

This was my first visit to this spectacular restaurant and I was not disappointed. Delicious lunch and customer service second to none. Unfortunately the whole experience was sadly spoiled by the rudeness of the General Manager as we left by the way he spoke to...

Afternoon tea a bit overpriced. Considering cost service from staff ok but not much more. Nice setting, though not enough to make up for cost and average we age service.

Went for breakfast and had the full Irish fry. Cooked perfectly with black and white pudding, bacon, sausage, tomato, mushrooms, soda bread and potato bread… Washed down with tonnes of coffee and tea, toast and loads of pastries. They had to roll me out of there!

We chose the Great Room for our 30th wedding anniversary dinner. The splendour and opulence of this great location was not lost on us. We chose the tasting menu with the flight of wines. What a fantastic meal. Beautiful. But what cemented the night for...

What a wonderful and special place. I was a walk-in and they treated me like a guest. From the smile at the door to the exquisite breakfast, always checking in to see if I was ok or needed anything. I thoroughly recommend the Great Room. An architectural wonder which elevates a delicious breakfast to a feast fit for a queen. Thank you for your attention and making me feel at home. I will definitely come and stay next time.

Part of The Merchant Hotel we ate in The Great Room for a special meal and we were not disappointed Superb quality food served by well trained friendly helpful and professional staff. You ate allowed to savour the food and not rushed between courses. A...

Beautiful place with excellent customer service. The staff are lovely and very attentive. Food from the a la carte menu was delicious. The decor and architecture is a proper historical trip and makes up for a unique dining atmosphere. Looking forward to coming back.

Lovely venue, food and customer service (especially Natasha). We celebrated our wedding anniversary there and they surprised us with a yummy cake. We appreciated how accommodating they were of our 6-month-old daughter, who also had a great time.

We went there for our 10th anniversary, I knew the place was adequate for this kind of situation. We have been seated in a very comfy and silent corner, and food, even though it consisted in small portions, was served in the right time to appreciate flavors and the architecture around us. Since we reserved a table for the anniversary occasion, we had a little cake at the end, with the option to take it away. Sadly, this was the less astonishing part or the dinner (just because of the amazingness of the rest of the food) however, much much appreciated. Our dinner was chosen from the plant-based menu, I would say they have enough options to be surprised when the dish comes to you, but I'm sure the regular dishes would be much more well-finished. Obviously, being as 5 stars hotel, the food is gourmet. So don't expect to be full satiated like when you eat by your grandmother!

Went for dinner in the Great Room . Beautiful setting : very impressive . However a few details do not make it great ! The portion size took me back to the 80s and nouvelle cuisine ! You will leave hungry . The music played...

Service was good - food just ok. Half way through the meal a disc jockey arrived and it was impossible to hear one another. Completely inappropriate for this type of so called fine dining restaurant. Would not go back

From start to finish we had a fantastic lunch. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff.

Having been to the Merchant a number of times before I was a bit disappointed this time. We were left too long before our drink order was taken. We had wanted to go to the bar first but as it was busy it was suggested...

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Great vegetarian options.

The Great Room restaurant is our favourite place to celebrate Christmas , birthdays or any special occasion that comes to mind! There is something quite unique about the room and how beautiful it is. I would like to personally thank the amazing staff and in...

This was the setting to celebrate my partner's birthday, and was certainly a 'great' surprise for her. The room itself also deserves the adjective 'great'. Very luxurious and impressive. Service is impeccable, but you would expect this at this price. We went for the tasting...

This room is simply stunning. The food is quality and served by friendly professionals.we would certainly recommend this restaurant for a special meal.

Food was delicious with servings sized perfectly. Staff were very prompt, professional and friendly.

We stayed at the hotel and ate in here a few times but each time we ere blown away by the beautiful decor and lovely food , good service and ambiance .

We went here for a birthday meal. The service from staff was fantastic throughout our dining however once we had finished dessert , they left us alone which meant that we were never asked if we would like a further drink before leaving. The decor is absolutely beautiful and the food delicious even if expensive. A nice treat once in a while.

We stayed two nights at this hotel. We had dinner one night and breakfast both days in the Great Room. Food and service were excellent. The dinner and breakfast menus offered lots of choice.

From start to finish, staff were excellent and the food was perfect. Harry, the front of house, struck the perfect balance between a friendly welcome and efficient professionalism. Gabriel, our server, was well informed on the menu, personable and attentive. Food and drinks were top...

We went for the tasting menu for my husband’s birthday whilst spending a couple of days in Belfast. We also had the flight of wine each and as I don’t like red wine they adapted it to just white for me. The food was absolutely...

We had a lovely experience last night in The Great Room. We had the tasting menu and all courses were delicious. I would like to thank our waiter and the chefs who made a great effort to adapt the dishes for my husband who has...

My husband and I had lunch in The Great Room yesterday and we were very impressed by the quality of the food. My crab starter and lamb main were beautifully presented and tasted even better than they looked. I could not find fault with this...

The staff, food, drinks and atmosphere are all faultless. An exceptional restaurant for a special occasion or for an elevated night out. The owners of the merchant have made this landmark hotel a must visit for locals and visitors. It is wonderful that Belfast has...

We had booked the restaurant 6.2.22 for a late Sunday lunch as a treat . We chose our food and drink ,our starters came and we tucked in but instantly my husband said to me “is that a hair “? I had my glasses on...

We visited the grand room on a Friday evening for drinks for my fiancés 30th. My mum and 10month old baby were also with us. I would just like to say thank you to the lovely Marta from Portugal who was very accommodating, kind and...

We visited here almost 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon and had planned have lunch here,but just know the only served afternoon tea at this time .So we tried the traditional afternoon with earl grey and cocktail as well flat white.The desserts and sandwiches are the same either you ordered is tea or wine .The sandwiches were incredible delicious which beyond my expectations.And we were treated with the utmost courtesy by the staffs. All the staffs are attentive and knowledgeable.The most important is the setting,which l heard were transformed and decorated from a band,was really definitely fabulous and beautiful,just like sitting in a castle.However,you may visit in other times if you want to try the main courses rather than a afternoon tea.

I was blown away by the sublime decor. The food was absolutely fantastic. I personally recommend the duck and the chocolate “gâteau”. The only negative thing is that I felt judged for my presence in this luxurious environment…

Absolutely fabulous. I was here with a group of friends for New Year’s Eve night for some fine dining. The atmosphere was great. Really relaxed. Staff were pleasant. A beautiful restaurant in the merchant hotel. I’m a regular so I will definitely be returning.

Food and service was exceptional. The building and decor was beautiful. There was a set festive menu, I had scallops, fillet beef and Christmas pudding, my partner the same main course with duck and creme brulee and it was all excellent. Atmosphere was lovely, background...

My wife pre-booked and pre-paid afternoon tea in the Merchant for Christmas Eve . Afternoon tea was excellent and we had a very relaxing afternoon - completely ruined by staff attempting to tell my wife that she had only paid a deposit and she owed...

Just had Christmas afternoon tea with friends and have to say how disappointed I was. Sandwiches were minute and uninspiring. Overall underwhelmed. Have had afternoon tea here twice before - a steady deterioration while cost has risen steeply.

We visited for afternoon tea. The Great Room is amazing inside, such a beautiful setting. The service was exemplary, all the staff super friendly and attentive. The tea itself was lovely, great scones and nice sandwiches. The assortment of sweet treats was huge!

Got proposed to at this beautiful, elegant restaurant! Staff were amazing and food was exquisite. Will definitely be returning again!

The restaurant is magnificent in decor and the food good. It is expensive and don’t think it’s really five stars for what you pay for. The service is very good.

i have been visiting Belfast at least twice a year since 2009 and i am amazed that no one has recommended this hotel and restaurant to me? It is a fine old Victorian building, said to have been the head office for the Ulster Bank...

Brilliant food and gorgeous room.great service and good wine menu. Highly recommended

Nice place. Staff was a bit unprofessional.

An amazing restaurant in the heart of Belfast. Delicious food prepared and presented to perfection. Ambiance of the experience was fantastic and made dinner perfect. Staff we attentive and extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Cannot praise enough

The foods are good and the staff are very nice and friendly. The place was also excellent, with lots of ornates very good for taking photos

What an amazing building, the one time headquarters of the Ulster Bank. My tea was excellent and as it was the final day of Prosecco September I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary glass of prosecco. The sandwiches, scones and cakes were lovely although...

Had afternoon tea in the Great Room recently with a friend. It was excellent. The food, the service and ambiance were all fantastic. As September was Prosecco month, we received free glass of Prosecco with our afternoon tea - a lovely surprise and very enjoyable....

We had the tasting menu during our visit. It was excellent. Great service, great food and an incredible building, it was beautiful.

We had a fabulous meal at this restaurant. Our crab starter was superb. Food 10/10 service 10/10 Setting 10/10 Our only negative was that we had to use the torches on our phones to read the menus and see our food! Please turn the lighting...

Well done the Merchant Dining Team - you served myself and my fellow diners beautifully, with truly delicious food for lunch. I know how much pressure the hospitality sector is under, so to continue to provide the same high level of service and quality food...