Europa Hotel

The world famous 4 star Europa Hotel is superbly located in the heart of Belfast City Centre, and simply epitomizes indulgence.

The Europa Hotel has been famous for years.  In the times of Northern Ireland’s troubles, this hotel was a base from many of the worlds’ journalists and war correspondents.  Kate Adie and Trevor Macdonald used the Europa as their base to report on all the news of the region.  Those days are long gone, but still the hotel holds a special place in the heart of many – particularly the long time staff here who have been in residence through thick and thin and add their own particular brand of style, service and humour to the hotel today.

This hotel is the tallest in the city of Belfast, and its iconic lettering on the exterior of the top floor spells out its name bold and proud.  Those illuminated letters have appeared on many photographs across the world.  They stand for all that’s good about this place – one of our very favourite city hotels in Ireland.  It has the right name too – an international monika to suit a clientele of a very international flavour.  Walk through the revolving doors into the lobby on any day of the week and you’re likely to find a group of Spanish visitors chatting, Americans enjoying a city break and exchanging views on what to see, English, French, Germans you name it.  All creeds of the world are here and the place has a very upbeat cosmopolitan feel.  You might even see a famous face or two as well.  Presidents, politicians and celebrities choose the place as a base regularly. Staff are predominantly Irish, and they bring warm city humour and generous hospitality to proceedings.  James McGinn has been General Manager here for years – he’s a full on professional who knows his job and this hotel inside out.  Gerry Rosato, the Executive Chef has been here the same length of time as James - the two of them started their careers here together, and they were the upcoming professionals of the hospitality industry.  Between them they run a pretty cool ship we think – with a crew just as eager to offer an efficient and slick service as they do themselves.

Your entrance to the Europa is made through the imposing curved stone entrance on Great Victoria Street, and into the Grand Foyer buzzing with life.  For that driving, limited hotel front car parking is available for unloading only, before the Concierge steps in to park your car for the stay.  A member of staff will always be available to help with bags, and your check in will be smooth and relaxed.  It’s just the sort of start you want to a break in this fine city.  You’re right next door to the Grand Opera House and very close to the Waterfront and Odyssey concert venues too, with Belfast’s commercial and business district in walking distance, and all those lovely city shops just waiting to be browsed. Museums, galleries, bars, right on the doorstep here.  We think it’s perfect.

Rooms are spread over the upper floors, with good views to be had across the city.  There are 272 bedrooms in all including classic rooms, superior doubles and twins, executive doubles and family rooms, four junior suites and two presidential suites - the Clinton and the Titanic.  So lots to suit every budget.  Classic rooms are comfortable and compact, with Hasting’s hotels signature comfy beds, crisp bed-linen and rich fabrics and throws, tea and coffee making facilities, trouser press, work stations room service and laundry service too.  All you need for a comfortable stay.  Superior rooms have dining tables and chairs and armchairs to relax in.  Executive rooms are more spacious again with bigger bathrooms.  If it’s a suite you want, the juniors make a luxurious choice.  Two executive suites will suit any VIP or those wishing to live like one!  Stay in the historic Clinton Suite, named because Bill Clinton stayed here when he was President, or the Titanic suite with its open plan style and gorgeous bathroom with double ended bath.  Both are extremely comfortable high end offerings.

In food terms, the Hastings Group of hotels which includes the Europa has recently made a serious commitment to using local suppliers for food.  This means fine Irish meats and fish, local breads, yogurts, and other locally sourced ingredients which go across the board at all hotels.  A little booklet available to visitors states the provenance of the different ingredients used throughout the group.  It’s a great commitment to supporting local suppliers and puts the group very much in the bracket of food destination hotels for visitors wanting a real taste of the area.

Each hotel has its own style of presenting the produce at hand.  At the Europa, food style is in keeping with the city feel.  If you fancy a bit of pizazz, no finer place than the elegant Piano Bar on the first floor.  This is Sex and The City brought to Belfast!  Ladies who lunch, girlfriends catching up with girlfriends, friends having a gathering, couples out for the night – whatever bracket you fit into you will fit right in here.  During the day, the Piano Bar serves a tea and coffee with a complimentary homemade tray bake – it could be a piece of Rocky Road – a wonderful chocolate creation studded with marshmallows – or some shortbread, an oaty flapjack or caramel bar.  The modern daytime menu has casual bites if you want a light lunch in chic surroundings.  The biggest treat of all here though is the Europa’s grand Afternoon Tea.  This comprises a generous selection of finger foods, sandwiches and homemade pastries, presented on a tiered cake stand, with a tea of choice or even a glass of fine champagne.  It is bliss and the ivories are being tinkled as you dine.  In the evenings, the place comes to life and proves very popular with those who have the taste for a cocktail or two – the list is long and the choice difficult!  There’s a full bar service here too for spirits, beers, and wine.

More substantial dining takes place in The Causerie restaurant just off the main lobby on the ground floor.  We love it here – a very lively brasserie ambience spreads from the open fronted kitchen, with jazz on the airwaves, low lighting and a trendy contemporary look.  Windows on two sides of The Causerie look out over the street and all its comings and goings.  For a light bite, try the Signature Lentil and bacon Soup, a hearty bowlful served with local Fivemilestown cheese and onion scone.  Homemade chicken liver pate is delicious with a rich pear chutney and toasted brioche.  We enjoyed the Prawn and Crab cocktail, packed generously with flakes of fresh crab and pearly pink prawns, with a zingy citrus dressing and intense Guinness Wheaten Bread.  On the mains, beautiful Dorset Lamb raised in Northern Ireland is cooked slowly with thyme, rosemary and vegetables in a delectable Irish stew served with soda bread.  From the grill, try the Dexter Irish Rare Breed Dry Aged Sirloin – this comes from a local supplier, aged on the bone for three weeks to allow the flavours to develop.  Dexter meat is tender and flavoursome and grilling preserves its succulence.  Glenarm Organic Salmon will please fish lovers, a slab of thick fillet served with garlic sautéed greens, roast baby potatoes and Dill Cream sauce.  Desserts are also pretty pleasing – Belgian Chocolate Fondant or one of the locally sourced Glastry Farm Ice Creams being just two to tempt.  At dinner, we also enjoyed the separate ‘Seventies’ menu celebrating the hotel’s years in business.  All dishes hark back to the day – luscious Prawn Cocktail served in stemmed glasses with heaps of Marie Rose Sauce, and a wonderful version of Coq Au Vin with free range chicken and red wine were the ones we couldn’t resist.  There are things on this menu that take you right back to the earliest years of dining out in style.  The Europa wine list has something to match all its restaurant offerings, particularly good reds for the prominent local meats on offer.

Just off the lobby, you’ll find the door to the Lobby Bar, which also has its own entrance on the street.  This place has an Irish pub atmosphere, and at weekends you may catch a jazz session in the afternoons or some live trad music at night.  Food is also served here – good pub grub to enjoy with a pint.  The upstairs banqueting suites can take large parties for conferences, dinner dances and weddings.  Food choices are wide and varied for banqueting menus and prepared with the same care and provenance as those on the restaurant menu.  The Europa Hotel has it all and we’re sure you’ll think so too.

Follow the Europa Hotel on  Facebook >>>

Follow the Europa Hote on Twitter >>>

Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

Great Victoria Street
Belfast
Co Antrim
BT2 7AP
+44 (0) 28 90271066
Email: marketing@eur.hastingshotels.com
Web: www.hastingshotels.com/europa-belfast

 

Print this page »

Map and Directions »

 

Facilities