Hilton Belfast
4 Lanyon Place
Belfast, Northern. ireland, U. K. BT1 3LP
T. +44.2890.277300; F. +44.2890.277277
Fully non-smoking property now
Pets to 4.5 kg / 10 lbs (hamsters?) allowed
Award Category: 5
Front of House Manager: Ciarán McManus
Guest fllors: 1-6
Deluxe floors: 7-9
Executive floors: 10-12
Club Lounge: 11th floor, open 6:30 am - 11 pm
Breakfast: 6:30-10:00, Canapés 6-8 pm, Bar 6-8:30 pm
LivingWell Express Fitness: 24 hrs, lower ground floor
Sonoma restaurant: 7-10 am, 5:30-10:00 pm
Cables bar (& pub fare): 10-1 am
OK, my turn to contribute.
We arrived at 15:30 from Central Station after crossing at the controlled bridge crossing, walking downward to the 10 or so steps and then a short block to the nrw, spic and span property. Location is really nice, riverside with views, close to Central Station (which isn't central - that'd be Victoria Station downtown), walking close as well to St. George's market, Waterfront Hall and Odyssey Arena - and not that much farther to town and the Titanic quarter. (Convenient unless it's raining.) About fifteen minutes to the airport, no shuttle provided.
There is an adjacent, tricky multi-storey car park (summat like £18 daily), a basement LivingWell Express fitness facility and the river walk area nearby. Also construction between hotel and river. It began at 8:30 am and though you could ear a distant jackhammer in the eastern city views Club Lounge, fom our king studio corner room 1117, nothing. (Construction sheds / containers do effectively block near Lagan River views from the restaurant.)
The concierge came to meet us, offering a map and brochures, offered assistance with luggage and placed himself at our requests for directions, advice or arrangements.
We were nicely received by reception and upgraded from a no smoking King Deluxe (£132 BAR, lowest priced room £89) to a corner "studio" room with two large windows including views of Central Station, the iconic Harland and Wolff bright yellow twin overhead cranes (named Samson and Goliath), River Lagan, etc.
We could indeed hear the trains (and occasional airplanes) but less so when we shut the hinged window insert. Most trains proved a distant mild rumble, but a rare one provides steel against steel wheel screech or very rarely hoot - 60 db measured as a train went by on my sound meter app. One can hear doors slammed or loud noises made by rude, clueless people who never learned "it's not all about you".
Our room is on the 11th floor (floors 9 - 12 are considered Executive level) all the way down the corridor from the lifts and Club Room.
The room itself is spacious and light, fark wood floors, with two window walls, desk, closet with ironing set, bathrobes and electronic safe, ice bucket (there is actually an ice machine near the lifts, not as usual in Europe as in the U. S. A.), coffee and tea set and "touch it and you own it" automatic minibar (no price, but you can be sure it's pricey). The closet has some hangers and a few small shelves.
The desk has an office chair that is not so comfortable, drawers (the hairdryer is unecpectedly in the top desk drawer), lamp, phone (£3.75 per minute to call) and one U. S. prong outlet (not marked but likely 110 VAC - but seems to be inoperative anyway) and two switched U. K. outlets with 240 VAC. Wi-Fi is offered by BTOpenZone and HHonors (latter is free for Diamonds). Wi-Fi signal and speed on the 11th floor is OK, not great, and has the occasional dropout.
There is a piece of furniture with one drawer and one open shelf supporting the large flat screen television. A sofa for two and a chaise with ottoman (very modern and low backed) complete the furnishings other than the bed (covered duvet, no top sheet) flanked by small built in night tables with small drawers, lamps, reading lights, Hiltin arm clock and 'phone. No garish colors, just white duvet, fitted sheet and pillows.
The thermostat has both fan and air temperature adjustments, but no temperature positions are marked so it's "guess and by golly" for the central heat and air.
The bath is also bright with double sink and corner-style shower - bath combination, plenty of toweling and Peter Thomas Roth (but two facial bars are provided, no knobby bath bar).
We breakfasted in the Club Room. It was attended by a bright young woman who fetched our coffee and juices, and offered scrambled eggs, back bacon, bangers, breads, fruits, cereals, two packaged cheeses (and of course the cappuccino machine and selection of teas). The Club Room is pretty empty today (Sunday) though with a capacity of possibly 30 can undoubtedly get crowded.
The Club Lounge is open 06:00 to 23:00, soft drinks etc. and staffed by a very welcoming and pleasant young woman 18:00 to 20:00 with canapés (two kinds of spring rolls, chicken wings for hot, a cheeses, crackers and grapes plate, a selection of breads and peanuts, etc. one night, with topped foccacia and smoked fish instead of spring rolls and chicken wings the next day) and through 20:30 with Kronenbourg and Sol beers, Magner's Irish cider and wines and a reasonable Spanish cava. The Club Lounge is cozy and comfortable. There is also a self-serve cappuccino and chocolate machine, clearly marked.
The hotel apparently accommodates bus tours; tour busses were parked overnight, including one from Vantage Tours, two C.I.E. Tours, and airline crew. (The American cockpit crews hit the lounge, and most of their coversation was about routing, pay, benefits, seniority, places visited and politics (with very little knowledge of the latter).
At departure, we vacated the room and inquired if we could check out after lunch in the pub (more points), and the FDC was very pleasant about that. Check-out was accurate, fast and friendly. All in all, top notch service, good Diamond recognition, excellent, helpful concierge.