AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast
by the TopOfHotel team
A Marriott stay on the River Lagan with a rooftop cocktail bar looking over the Belfast Hills — score 8.8/10.
A Marriott stay on the River Lagan with a rooftop cocktail bar looking over the Belfast Hills — score 8.8/10.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The AC Hotel is a modern 11-storey glass building in the brand's European Contemporary style, with all 188 rooms done in a minimalist modern look on Serta beds with quality linen and marble bathrooms. Rooms on the River Lagan side get a better outlook than those facing Donegall Quay. One guest summed it up as feeling like AC's other European branches — clean, modern and dependable. The higher Premier rooms and suites add a separate sitting area and fill the window with the river view.
Food and amenities
The rooftop Novelli Cocktail Bar on the top floor is the draw — a local evening spot with views over the Belfast Hills, the Cathedral Quarter and the river, especially at sunset, with drinks built by award-winning bartenders. Cocktails run about $13-18. The hotel restaurant serves AC-style tapas alongside Irish dishes, and the gym is open 24 hours. You get the full Marriott Bonvoy programme — points plus a welcome bonus for Gold, Platinum and Titanium members — high-speed Wi-Fi at no charge, and an airport transfer on request.
Location and getting there
It sits at City Quays on the River Lagan, a 5-minute walk from the Cathedral Quarter, where The Duke of York and The Dirty Onion are the classic Irish pubs. Belfast City Hall is a 10-minute walk and Titanic Belfast Museum about 15 minutes. Lanyon Place Station, a 7-minute walk away, runs trains to Dublin. Belfast City Airport (BHD) is only 4 km out, a 10-15 minute drive — about as easy as it gets for anyone flying in and out for work.
Things to know before booking
The trade-off for the riverside quiet is distance: you are about 10 minutes' walk from Belfast City Hall and the dead centre, and well away from the theatre district around Great Victoria Street, so show-goers face a longer walk. Parking is not included in the rate and costs extra. If you want the best outlook, ask for a room on the River Lagan side rather than the Donegall Quay side.
Our take
City Quays opened in 2018 out of the old docks, and this is the stay that fits it — a reliable Marriott address on the river that earns Bonvoy points, with a rooftop bar worth the lift up. It scores 8.8/10, rates start near $109 a night, and it lands best with business travelers and Bonvoy members who want the Cathedral Quarter a short walk away and the airport ten minutes out.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Full Marriott Bonvoy property — you earn and redeem points worldwide, and member rates often beat the OTAs.
- Riverside spot on the Lagan in City Quays, a newer and quieter part of town built out of the old docks.
- The rooftop Novelli Cocktail Bar looks over the Belfast Hills, the Cathedral Quarter and the river — best at sunset.
- Five minutes on foot to the Cathedral Quarter, Belfast's arts-and-old-pubs district with The Duke of York and The Dirty Onion.
- Rooms follow the AC Hotels European standard — clean, modern and minimalist, the same look as the brand's other branches.
- It sits about 10 minutes' walk from central Belfast City Hall, so you are a bit removed from the dead centre.
- Parking is not included in the room rate and costs extra.
- The location is away from the theatre district around Great Victoria Street, so show-goers have a longer walk.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Book through Marriott Bonvoy — you collect points and the member rate usually undercuts the OTAs.
- Hit the rooftop bar in the evening; sunset over the Belfast Hills is when the view is best.
- Walk 5 minutes into the Cathedral Quarter for The Duke of York, a classic Belfast pub.