The Insider's Guide to Bullitt Belfast

Over the last few months, I’ve been lucky to have a bird’s eye view of the development of Belfast’s coolest new hotel, Bullitt.

We work with its owners, the Beannchor Group – the people behind many of Belfast’s best venues – The Merchant Hotel, The National/sixty6, The Dirty Onion and Little Wing Pizzeria, managing their PR over at MCE.

This has been an incredible project to work on; watching the development from close range, right from the very beginning. Finally seeing it all come together has been a real joy. For anyone that’s been keeping abreast of the news of late, it’s also been an incredibly busy period, for a number of reasons. I’ll not go into ‘The Great Escape’ escapade here but suffice to say, it was definitely not a PR stunt.

Bullitt Belfast's now famous Steve McQueen portrait, just off reception. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

Blurring the lines between work and play, Bullitt has brought something entirely new to the city, creating a fantastic, contemporary new space.

Whilst I am, admittedly and unavoidably, a little biased, the following article is based on my own experience of Bullitt, since it opened in mid-October.

Ask any of the staff - I may as well move in, I’m there that often. My bank manager will attest to the same – ‘Bullitt Belfast’ appears on my statements more than anything else these days.

I apologise in advance for my grainy iPhone pics which punctuate the slicker professional shots. A new camera is definitely on my Christmas wish list. If nothing else, it proves how much time I've been spending here.

BULLITT POINTS: Here’s the lowdown…

BULLITT BAR AND COURTYARD BAR

View into the Bullitt Courtyard from the Church Lane entrance. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

Some of the best bars and restaurants in the world have slightly off the beaten track locations; allowing the visitor to feel a real sense of discovery when they stumble upon it. This is definitely part of the design approach at Bullitt. Whilst you might know the dark glass façade of the building from Victoria Street, entrance to the expansive ground floor public space is via Church Lane (just down from Muriel’s Café Bar), through a gorgeous courtyard and on into the Bullitt Bar.

The Bullitt Courtyard from the Church Lane entrance. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

The Jameson Black Barrel statue at night is quite something.

The Bullitt Bar. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

With a great cocktail list, craft beers and Bullitt’s very own brew, the super-sleek Bullitt Bar is where it’s all happening.

A Jameson Black Barrel Old Fashioned in the Bullitt Bar.

For me, one of the best things about Bullitt is how it has completely regenerated what was previously a fairly grim, lacklustre part of town. Our office is literally across the street and since its opening, you can feel a real buzz in the area; it’s been fantastic to see.

The courtyard, formerly a private carpark backing on to a vacant and unloved building, has been completed transformed, creating a vibrant new public space. The signage is subtle; with a Bullitt sign hanging high above the entrance, which is flanked by two incredible, intricate Spanish wooden doors. Look out for the impressive cascading Jameson Black Barrel statue and you’ll know you’re in the right place.

ESPRESSO BAR

Bullitt Belfast's impressive Kees van der Westen coffee machine. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

With its state-of-the-art Kees van der Westen coffee machine, considered the Holy Grail for coffee buffs, Bullitt’s Espresso Bar has been feeding my inner coffee junkie for the last three weeks now. Ask any of the baristas; they see me at least once a day. I used to be a Café Nero girl but no longer, it’s Bullitt coffee all the way now. And for any cynics, I can assure you it’s not just because they’re a client, or because it’s the closest place to our office either – I take my coffee very seriously.

And if you’re looking for a space to work outside of the office, Bullitt has everything you need to get the job done, including super-fast Wi-Fi and plenty of plug sockets and USB ports – a very thoughtful design element, if you ask me.

TAYLOR & CLAY

This is quickly becoming one of my favourite food spots in the city – in the few short weeks since Bullitt opened in mid-October, I’ve dined here twice for dinner and twice for breakfast and each time it’s been flawless. Fresh, locally sourced food is the focus in this airy, contemporary restaurant, with its bespoke Asador wood-fired Grill and open kitchen spilling a real sense of theatre – and a warm glow - out across the restaurant floor.

The impressive Asador Grill in action at the Taylor & Clay restaurant at Bullitt Belfast. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

A Camila Collins cocktail was the perfect after dinner tonic at Taylor & Clay.

Named after the intersection of the Taylor and Clay streets in San Francisco (as featured in the Steve McQueen movie, Bullitt), it’s apt that the dining experience is punctuated at night by the headlights from traffic passing by outside on Victoria Street.

Prime cuts of meat and seafood, including their much talked about Wagyu beef, are charred and smoked, creating a unique flavour. Both times we’ve dined here for dinner, I opted for the Lamb Plate, though the second time it was a slightly different off menu seasonal special, featuring a lamb shank and sweet potato topped pie. Both were beautiful; incredibly tender and flavourful. The flatbreads and bits and fire pit veggies are fantastic. The seafood platter and wagyu beef burger are real winners too. I know, because I scoffed some off the other half’s plate, as you do.

My Lamb Plate at Taylor & Clay, Bullitt. Serious crockery envy. <3

Flatbread and bits at at Taylor & Clay, Bullitt. Photography by Rob Durston, courtesy of Bullitt Belfast

Seafood plate at Taylor & Clay, Bullitt. Photography by Rob Durston, courtesy of Bullitt Belfast

For breakfast, so far I’ve sampled the fresh cut fruit and smoothie shots and the blueberry buttermilk pancakes. When dining with colleagues this week, I had serious food envy over their eggs benedict and scrambled eggs and after our overnight stay, I was also oggling Dom's Full Bullitt fry.

It’s fantastic to have a quality breakfast spot so close to the office and one with healthy options too. For lunch and dinner, Taylor & Clay’s garden club specials feature veggies that are hand-grown and harvested by Bullitt’s chefs in partnership with David Love Cameron’s organic heritage garden at Helen’s Bay. You don’t get much fresher than that.

Blueberry buttermilk pancakes at Taylor & Clay, Bullitt. Photography by Rob Durston, courtesy of Bullitt Belfast.

The Full Bullitt fry at Taylor & Clay, Bullitt. Photography by Rob Durston, courtesy of Bullitt Belfast

Dom and I enjoying dinner in Taylor & Clay during the dry runs, ahead of Bullitt's official opening.

Breakfast without the guilt at Taylor & Clay.

BALTIC

If you’re from Northern Ireland, you’ll know that it’s Baltic (freezing) here at this time of year, so the name of Bullitt’s ski-themed café bar is about as apt as it gets. Little known fact: the name was developed in partnership with Ulster University as part of a think tank project during the hotel’s development.

I love this space and it’s quickly becoming a regular lunch spot. Yes, the proximity to the office is a bonus (I haven’t counted the steps, but I’m guessing about 20), but the food is fantastic too. I don’t get much time to eat out at lunchtime these days, so the fact that I can grab a hearty, warming takeaway portion of goulash, soup, a salad or a sandwich and take it back to my desk is an absolute god send.

Fighting a cold with help from a takeaway pot of goulash (and some other aids) from Baltic.

There are also healthier options here than some of our other local lunch spots, if I can learn to avoid those darn salted caramel coffee brownies, that is. Try them at your peril; they’re seriously addictive.

Chocolate and salted coffee brownie at Baltic. Picture courtesy of Baltic.

Baltic, Bullit's ski-themed bar. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

At night Baltic morphs into a livelier space with DJs spinning out feel-good tunes at the weekends, including our good friend, Joe Lindsay on Friday nights. Incidentally, Joe’s dulcet tones can also be heard in the lift; announcing in true Belfast style, ‘Second floor, so it is’ and so on. It’s a little touch that has a big impact.

THE ROOMS

One of the 'Comfy' rooms at Bullitt Belfast. Photography by Rob Durston, courtesy of Bullitt Belfast

Bullitt prides itself on its ‘no-nonsense’ philosophy and ‘ditching the over the top extras’ but this doesn’t mean it scrimps on style. Accommodation comes in three options with double rooms ranging from dinky to roomy. All of Bullitt’s rooms have been cleverly designed to maximise space and no matter which size, offer the same great features, including comfy king-size beds, refreshing rain showers, super-fast Wi-Fi, smart TVs and a daily breakfast bag filled with OJ, a granola pot and a piece of fruit to kick-start your day.

Details in one of the rooms at Bullitt Belfast. Photography by Rob Durston, courtesy of Bullitt Belfast

We were lucky enough to get the opportunity to stay here as some of the first guests during the dry runs to ensure everything was tick tock in advance of opening and I can testify that the bed was amongst the comfiest I’ve slept in. I invariably judge a hotel by its hairdryers. I had some seriously hairy moments on our recent honeymoon trying to dry my unruly mane with cold air. Thankfully this wasn’t the case at Bullitt. In fact, their hairdryers are better than my own.

THE LITTLE DETAILS

Puntastic details in the Bullitt Belfast bedrooms.

The inner pun queen in me was also tickled by all the puntastic little touches; in the bedrooms, you'll find Bullitt coffee mugs, which declare ‘Hello Brewtiful’ underneath; the tea bag dish that tells you to ‘Drop it Like it’s Hot’; 2B or not 2B pencils and the laundry bags that tell you ‘It’ll all come out in the wash.’

Great effort has been made to source products locally where possible; the cushions and throws in the bedroom are from local interior design emporium, Maven just off the Lisburn Road and there's a fantastic collection of local art hanging on the walls - every time I visit, I seem to spot another piece.

The 'Bullitt Reccomends guide, which you'll find at reception offers lots of great tips on some of the city's hotspots, whilst a notice board invites guests to share their thoughts and recommendations with others.

Reflection ofBelfast's iconic Albert Clock from the mirrored exterior of Bullitt Belfast. Photography by Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye.

THE GOOD ROOM

Bullitt’s versatile private events space is sure to make a big impression. With its apartment feel, the space includes a kitchen, bathroom, a great long, narrow boardroom style table, pin ball machine and a SMEG fridge to name just a few of its quirky features. We’re hosting our first event here later this month and I have a feeling it’s going to be a popular choice for meetings, events, launches and the like.

Want to know more?

Rooms are available to book now at www.bullitthotel.com, starting from £120.

Stay up to date with all of the Bullitt news on the Bullitt Facebook page, facebook.com/bullittbelfast or follow Bullitt Belfast on Twitter @BullittBelfast