Europa Hotel
A central Belfast base offering massive, comfortable beds right opposite the famous Crown Liquor Saloon.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Situated next to the Grand Opera House, the Europa Hotel delivers spacious, well-soundproofed rooms right in the heart of Belfast. Guests regularly praise the exceptionally comfortable king beds, friendly reception staff, and expansive views over Great Victoria Street. However, reviewers complain about minor room layout snags like a lack of bathroom towel hooks, confusing screen-operated lifts, and pricey cocktails in the bar. 17121811
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- Sleep quality earns universal acclaim, with guests praising sturdy king-size beds, comfortable pillows, and effective soundproofing from city bustle. 716
- The location is a prime asset, placing visitors an eight-minute walk from City Hall and directly opposite the famous Crown Liquor Saloon Bar. 11717
- Bathrooms reliably impress with deep bathtubs, powerful showers, and signature yellow rubber ducks. 711
- Front desk and restaurant staff receive consistent praise for being friendly, prompt at check-in, and accommodating with high-floor requests. drawn from the full read
The catch
- While the dinner menu earns praise for dishes like roasted vegetable curry, some guests found fewer hot-plate options for vegetarians at breakfast. 13
- Some travelers consider room rates and pre-theatre dining great value, whereas others single out the lobby bar drinks as among the most expensive in the area. 15
Who it's for
- — Theatregoers visiting the Grand Opera House next door
- — Walkers wanting central access to transport hubs and City Hall
- — Light sleepers who need soundproofed rooms with king beds
Skip it if
- — Budget-conscious cocktail drinkers
- — Guests easily annoyed by destination-dispatch screen lifts
- — Vegetarians looking for extensive hot buffet options at breakfast
Seen on camera
24 moments · 3 videos · Europa Hotel
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“Pretty large toilet facilities just off the lobby bar, but it's more really to take into account big events in the the g…”
youtube.com3:36“Wood down on the floor here. Nice quality carpet here.”
youtube.com10:34“And then you've got couple of we bars across the road which is handy. You've got a Gregs right across the road as well,…”
youtube.com13:48“and I'm going to walk into the bathroom because it's quite nicely set up with the tub and then the ring shower”
youtube.com3:18“so they don't have buff rope but they do have good towels okay”
youtube.com3:33“so I think that this is a lovely lovely bathroom because it is a seeth through door and you can actually see through wha…”
youtube.com3:16“so this is a really massive bed that we have right here I think this is like a king size it seems quite soft and sturdy…”
youtube.com4:16“so we also do have ample charging units so there is two on this side two on that side and we also have two sockets right…”
youtube.com4:40“I did like this light option where you could turn it on and have these main lights off when it was really dark or really…”
youtube.com10:58“I think this was our first day here this safe wouldn't work properly so I put our valuables in and then I turned the lev…”
youtube.com12:23“and I think we had really good views of the black mountains in the distance over here that you can see because it's not…”
youtube.com15:22“I think that they could make some adjustments such as having the sh shower Hooks and also better design for the bathroom…”
youtube.com19:52“Now today, it stands tall as a symbol of hope and peace in Northern Ireland. There's over 270 beautiful rooms inside ove…”
youtube.com0:31“this TV was really good let me lower it so this TV was really good it had all the terrestrial channels and it also had t…”
youtube.com15:47“It's just across the road from a very famous little pub that I'll be telling you about shortly as well. And it's conveni…”
youtube.com0:43“I love this huge kind of panel mirror they have right across the the top of the bed. In fact, it's the full width of the…”
youtube.com8:29“As always with a lot of these sort of hotels in Belfast, they're kind of quite boutiquey, so there's no great natural li…”
youtube.com8:37“Pretty decent size TV on the wall. It's maybe 32 in.”
youtube.com8:51“But the bed's actually for how small the room is, the bed takes up so much space, but it's a it's a good size. very comf…”
youtube.com9:15“very comfortable, I have to say. I have plenty of these plump feather pillows as well.”
youtube.com9:22“And we'll have a look at the small bathroom next. You can see a clouded glass door, which is fine”
youtube.com10:53“I got a little bit of an upgrade as well, thanks to Carly on the check-in, which I wasn't expecting. She put me into a d…”
youtube.com19:33“I booked on their own website. So, I signed up, give my email address, and got 5% off my room. So, £92 was really good.”
youtube.com20:20“The drinks are very good. The cocktails are excellent at the Europa Hotel, but it is known as being one of the most expe…”
youtube.com20:39Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
No loyalty-earning direct rate was found for these dates, so the lowest cash rate is shown first.
Prices shown are an estimated range, not a live quote — the booking site confirms the real rate for your dates.
This sits inside our estimated range for this hotel.
Confidence: low · modelled estimate, not a live quote. Check the supplier for the real rate on your dates.
Score breakdown
How the 86/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
92- “Full marks for the bathroom, which had a large, well-lit mirror, powerful self-contained shower and a bath (plus a little signature Hastings rubber duck).” 7
- “Oh the luxury of the room I was in (634) - I had a bath and a shower!! Amazing - pure fire way to relax. Hot water, luxury toiletries and peace at last.” 17
Location
96Room
87Service
89- “When I opened the door of the room I was just amazed by it. As a general rule, Northern Irish people are tidy, clean and well presented and the Europa fits with this local stereotype. Pristine rooms, carefully laid towels, tea and coffee stand neatly on the cabinet and everything immaculate for your entrance.” 17
- “The staff on reception were very friendly. There was no queue and the process was quick.” 7
Bed & Sleep
89- “Guess what? My bed was so comfy that I fell asleep early and didn't waken until sunrise! Amazing - thanks Europa - best sleep in months and months, even better than the luxury nights in Xanadu in Belize and Casa Morada in Mexico!” 17
- “Similarly when you roll up tired and hungry, dropping the keys with the concierge and heading upstairs for a welcome bath complete with complimentary yellow rubber duck, fluffy bath robe and a bed to end all beds.....” 11
Value
84- “Bill Clinton even stayed here on his peace talk visits (although I am sure his rooms were a bit larger and more expensive than ours!). We had an executive room with a very comfortable bed, arm chairs, robes, even a sensor light in the bathroom for those disorienting night time visits!” 14
- “With prices starting from £100 per room per night, I think it will be a viable alternative to Dublin pretty soon where prices have gone through the roof, especially for anyone wishing to visit the Giant's Causeway or the Titanic Quarter.” 11
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-08-31
Where it sits
Europa Hotel and the 2 other hotels we cover in Belfast. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
What’s nearby
Landmarks and transport around Europa Hotel. Distances are straight-line, so walking times are approximate.
- Grand Opera House — 1 min walk · 0.1 km
- Belfast - Great Victoria Street — 1 min walk · 0.1 km
- Belfast Grand Central — 4 min walk · 0.3 km
- Belfast City Hall — 5 min walk · 0.4 km
- Botanic — 9 min walk · 0.7 km
- Ulster Museum — 17 min walk · 1.4 km
- St. Mary's University College — 4 min drive · 1.7 km
- Titanic Belfast — 5 min drive · 2.2 km
- George Best Belfast City AirportBHD — 5 min drive · 4.7 km
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
On par with what $$ usually buys
Scores 2 points below the mid-range median of 88, across 613 hotels in the same bracket.
- This hotel
- 86
- Bracket median
- 88
- Index median
- 90
Based on 613 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 2 mentions
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 64 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “The hotel enjoys an ideal location in the heart of Belfast, within walking distance of dozens of shops and restaurants, the River Lagan and the Grand Opera House, as well as being easily accessible to the history of the Titanic Quarter by both car and public transport.” 18
- “I agree with the writer that Belfast is a very walkable city and this hotel is in a very good location for the transport hubs.” 7
- “The Europa's interesting history gives it prestige, but we love its central location and deluxe rooms.” 18
- “The top-notch location complements elegant rooms that are well stocked with amenities.” 10
- “Superbly located in Belfast, the world-famous Europa is often referred to as the heartbeat of the city.” 3
- “The location is perfect with the Grand Opera House next door and the famous Crown Liquor Saloon Bar just opposite.” 11
- “Here's why Belfast should be on your travel list for 2022... Just a 30-minute cab ride from Belfast International Airport (or 15 minutes from Belfast City Airport), The Europa is the perfect base for exploring the city.” 15
- “Belfast is a small city and extremely walkable, and the hotel is central, if not directly in the centre. City Hall is an eight-minute walk away, and the Cathedral Quarter and convention centre ICC Belfast are about 15 minutes' walk away.” 7
- “The location of the hotel is perfect - right in the centre of the action, and within walking distance to pretty much everywhere.” 14
- “Its location couldn't be more central, right in the heart of bustling Belfast.” 4
- “right next door on this side is the opera house so very centrally located great location” On camera54:23
- “Pretty large toilet facilities just off the lobby bar, but it's more really to take into account big events in the the grand ballroom. Lovely and clean in here. Smells good.” On camera123:36
- “Full marks for the bathroom, which had a large, well-lit mirror, powerful self-contained shower and a bath (plus a little signature Hastings rubber duck).” 7
- “and I'm going to walk into the bathroom because it's quite nicely set up with the tub and then the ring shower” On camera53:18
- “Currently undergoing a £10m refresh, the hotel's rooms are exactly what one wants from a city break: a bed big enough to do a full-on starfish and still not come close to the sides, a bathroom that wouldn't look out of place in a chic Shoreditch boutique hotel, and panoramic views of the bustling streets below.” 15
- “I think that they could make some adjustments such as having the sh shower Hooks and also better design for the bathroom and stuff” On camera1619:52
- “Oh the luxury of the room I was in (634) - I had a bath and a shower!! Amazing - pure fire way to relax. Hot water, luxury toiletries and peace at last.” 17
- “so I think that this is a lovely lovely bathroom because it is a seeth through door and you can actually see through what's there” On camera163:16
- “And we'll have a look at the small bathroom next. You can see a clouded glass door, which is fine” On camera1210:53
- “The staff on reception were very friendly. There was no queue and the process was quick.” 7
- “Wood down on the floor here. Nice quality carpet here.” On camera1210:34
- “so they don't have buff rope but they do have good towels okay” On camera53:33
- “When I opened the door of the room I was just amazed by it. As a general rule, Northern Irish people are tidy, clean and well presented and the Europa fits with this local stereotype. Pristine rooms, carefully laid towels, tea and coffee stand neatly on the cabinet and everything immaculate for your entrance.” 17
- “All staff members we dealt with were attentive, friendly and helpful - although I think expecting one concierge to deal with collecting cars and helping people with their luggage during the morning check out period was a bit much.” 14
- “I think this was our first day here this safe wouldn't work properly so I put our valuables in and then I turned the lever and then it just wouldn't open and so then I had to call reception to send up the engineer to fix it” On camera1612:23
- “As mentioned, the Lobby Bar and Piano Lounge were both recently refurbished, which added extra seating. We had a drink in both and found the ambience pleasant, staff friendly and drinks reasonable for a hotel (£7 for a glass of wine, £10 for a cocktail, £5.60 for a local craft beer).” 7
- “As always with a lot of these sort of hotels in Belfast, they're kind of quite boutiquey, so there's no great natural light getting in.” On camera128:37
- “I got a little bit of an upgrade as well, thanks to Carly on the check-in, which I wasn't expecting. She put me into a deluxe king room.” On camera1219:33
- “Everything was beautifully plated and tasted delicious. We were asked how much time we'd like between courses, which was quite nice as sometimes you need a little break!” 13
- “A warm welcome from the team is followed by a chance to delve into Europa's history as I pore over the interactive exhibition in the lobby.” 15
- “I'd also like to thank the staff at the Europa for their friendliness especially Andrew in the Piano Bar and Rachel on Reception.” 17
- “The Lobby Bar is the perfect place to take a break and watch the world go by - whether you're stopping by for a quick coffee, a casual bite, or a classic cocktail, our attentive staff will ensure your experience is seamless.” 3
- “The decor is subtly masculine; the lobby has marble floors with a modern gas fireplace...the large guest rooms are contemporary in style, with comfortable beds and sizeable bathrooms” 10
- “We stayed in the Shannon Suite on the eighth floor. The lounge area was spacious, with a large dining table and chairs, a sofa, mirror and chest of drawers.” 7
- “The living/dining area is separate to the bathroom making it like a small one bedroom apartment. There was TV in both rooms and the wifi was strong in all areas.” 13
- “Currently undergoing a £10m refresh, the hotel's rooms are exactly what one wants from a city break: a bed big enough to do a full-on starfish and still not come close to the sides, a bathroom that wouldn't look out of place in a chic Shoreditch boutique hotel, and panoramic views of the bustling streets below.” 15
- “My room was 634 and had a view out to Sandy Row, the City Hospital and Windsor Park. Awesome!” 17
- “I booked on their own website. So, I signed up, give my email address, and got 5% off my room. So, £92 was really good.” On camera1220:20
- “Rooms are particularly well soundproofed from the city center bustle. However, decor is inconsistent throughout; some rooms are modern and appealing while others -- with outdated patterned carpets and drapes -- could use an update.” 4
- “Overall it was a spacious, comfortable room with luxurious design elements in a classic style. Perfect for a weekend break!” 13
- “But the bed's actually for how small the room is, the bed takes up so much space, but it's a it's a good size. very comfortable, I have to say.” On camera129:15
- “I love this huge kind of panel mirror they have right across the the top of the bed. In fact, it's the full width of the room.” On camera128:29
- “There is a fancy lift system which sees you press your room number on a screen before you get in. While in theory it's straightforward, in practice it seems to cause a bit of confusion among guests. The lift also seemed to take a fair while to come, though whether this was because of the screen or just because the hotel was busy I'm not sure.” 7
- “Bill Clinton even stayed here on his peace talk visits (although I am sure his rooms were a bit larger and more expensive than ours!). We had an executive room with a very comfortable bed, arm chairs, robes, even a sensor light in the bathroom for those disorienting night time visits!” 14
- “The drinks are very good. The cocktails are excellent at the Europa Hotel, but it is known as being one of the most expensive hotel bars around this place.” On camera1220:39
- “With prices starting from £100 per room per night, I think it will be a viable alternative to Dublin pretty soon where prices have gone through the roof, especially for anyone wishing to visit the Giant's Causeway or the Titanic Quarter.” 11
- “Bedrooms are tasteful and elegant, the food in the Causerie bistro is top notch and there's good pub grub to be had in the traditional Lobby Bar downstairs.” 10
- “It was definitely the best hotel breakfast I have ever had in Ireland, and as we all know a good breakfast sets you up for the day!” 11
- “A ten-minute stroll from the city center, the Clayton is the only hotel in the area with a leisure club and swimming pool, plus an endless choice of restaurants on its doorstep.” 10
- “The vibe was relaxed and the dress code was relatively casual. There's a "Pre-Theatre" menu (available at set times) of two courses for £18 which I think is reasonable.” 13
- “The hot plates were constantly being topped up by a friendly chef who wished us good morning. There was a bit less on offer for my vegetarian companion, though there was of course fruit, yoghurt, toast, eggs, beans and porridge.” 7
- “I, being a vegetarian, had the goats cheese parfait for starter, the roasted vegetable curry for mains and the flourless chocolate brownie for dessert. Everything was beautifully plated and tasted delicious.” 13
- “In terms of breakfast, quite simply you are spoilt for choice here at the Europa. What I really love though is that the Europa Hotel keeps it local.” 17
- “Breakfast was a celebration of local produce, including yogurt, breads and preserves (among other delights) from the surrounding areas.” 15
- “After an early flight, lunch couldn't come soon enough. We headed for the piano bar, where I tucked into a comforting bowl of creamy Irish chowder like no other. Chunky, smoky and made with love, it's served with a warm wheaten scone and lashings of salty butter. Heaven.” 15
- “The breakfast spread is solid. I was very happy with my Irish breakfast, tucking into a hearty (if not healthy) plate of black and white pudding, soda bread and locally-sourced bacon and sausage.” 7
- “Emphasis is on comfort, with large beds having pillow-top mattresses and extra thick duvets.” 4
- “so this is a really massive bed that we have right here I think this is like a king size it seems quite soft and sturdy so I think it would be good to actually have a good night's sleep on this and I will review this at the end of our say” On camera164:16
- “Similarly when you roll up tired and hungry, dropping the keys with the concierge and heading upstairs for a welcome bath complete with complimentary yellow rubber duck, fluffy bath robe and a bed to end all beds.....” 11
- “Guess what? My bed was so comfy that I fell asleep early and didn't waken until sunrise! Amazing - thanks Europa - best sleep in months and months, even better than the luxury nights in Xanadu in Belize and Casa Morada in Mexico!” 17
- “Currently undergoing a £10m refresh, the hotel's rooms are exactly what one wants from a city break: a bed big enough to do a full-on starfish and still not come close to the sides, a bathroom that wouldn't look out of place in a chic Shoreditch boutique hotel, and panoramic views of the bustling streets below.” 15
- “Rooms are particularly well soundproofed from the city center bustle.” 4
- “Today, it stands stoically on Belfast's Great Victoria Street - traditional, but esteemed, like a glamorous dowager who has seen it all and barely batted an eyelid. And it is a perfect spot from which to explore Northern Ireland's biggest city.” 9
- “With five to choose from, each individually styled, these spacious rooms which come with a city view and have a separate lounge area, are the perfect way to enjoy a stylish break in Belfast City.” 3
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- 12 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Europa Hotel
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Deep coverage · 20/100We read 0 sources for this property, covering 0 traveler mentions, boiled down to 0 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-08-31.
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Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
5 of 6 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 18 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 18Europa Hotel | Hotels in Belfastaudleytravel.comReview site2025-11-26Recent5 quotes used
“The hotel enjoys an ideal location in the heart of Belfast, within walking distance of dozens of shops and restaurants, the River Lagan and the Grand Opera House, as well as being easily accessible to the history of the…”
Read originalaudleytravel.com - 4Europa Hotel - Belfast Review: What To REALLY Expect If ...oyster.comReview site2024-08-16Ageing4 quotes used
“Emphasis is on comfort, with large beds having pillow-top mattresses and extra thick duvets.”
Read originaloyster.com - 9Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Irelandoutthere.travelReview site2021-08-31Ageing1 quote used
“Today, it stands stoically on Belfast's Great Victoria Street - traditional, but esteemed, like a glamorous dowager who has seen it all and barely batted an eyelid. And it is a perfect spot from which to explore Northern…”
Read originaloutthere.travel - 7Hotel review: Europa Belfastbusinesstraveller.comReview site2019-12-15Ageing12 quotes used
“The staff on reception were very friendly. There was no queue and the process was quick.”
Read originalbusinesstraveller.com - 13Review - The 4* Europa Hotel Belfastwhereistara.comReview site2018-01-22Ageing6 quotes used
“I tried the legendary beans that changed my mind when I was about 9 years old and I'm happy to report that they are still as delicious as I remember.”
Read originalwhereistara.com - 14The Europa Hotel, Belfastbontakstravels.comReview site2012-05-12Ageing3 quotes used
“Bill Clinton even stayed here on his peace talk visits (although I am sure his rooms were a bit larger and more expensive than ours!). We had an executive room with a very comfortable bed, arm chairs, robes, even a senso…”
Read originalbontakstravels.com
More in Belfast
All Belfast hotels →A central Belfast hotel beside the Grand Opera House with city skyline views and plush king-size beds.