Like the Michelin Stars for restaurants, the Michelin Keys represent the most outstanding hotels
A Belfast hotel has become the first venue in Northern Ireland to receive ‘Michelin Key’ status.
Michelin Guide Inspectors have revealed their new Key distinctions, highlighting what they consider to be the most outstanding hotels in the UK and Ireland.
Like the Michelin Stars for restaurants, the Michelin Keys represent the most outstanding hotels
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The hotel selection for UK and Ireland includes 14 Three-Key hotels, 43 Two-Key hotels and 82 One-Key hotels, with 19 hotels newly awarded for 2025.
5* Belfast boutique hotel, Regency House, has been awarded ‘One Michelin Key’ status – making it the first hotel in Northern Ireland to be recognised in the guide.
Carefully assessed by inspectors using five universal criteria, the Keys evaluate each hotel’s overall hospitality experience, extending beyond individual amenities, and establish a new and independent global benchmark for excellence in lodging.
According to the Michelin Guide, One Key highlights a “very special stay”.
They said: “This is a true gem with its own character and personality. It may break the mould, offer something different, or simply be one of the best of its type.
“Service always goes the extra mile and provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments.”
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The Michelin Guide describes Regency House as “imparting a certain grandeur from the moment you set eyes on it”.
“Regency House is a haven of modern-day luxury inside a beautiful Georgian building.
“Well-located in the Queen’s Quarter within easy reach of the picturesque Queen’s University, it boasts individually designed rooms with elegant décor that let you escape the city with a touch of countryside-esque charm, thanks to roaring fires, wooden floors and copper bathtubs.
“The Presidential Suite is a nod to a former US leader who stayed here.”
Just as Stars recognise the world’s finest culinary experiences, Keys highlight the most outstanding stays within the Guide’s hotel selection.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of TheMICHELIN Guide said: “125 years after its creation as a guide for discerning travellers, The MICHELIN Guide is once again redefining excellence — this time in the world of hospitality.
“Just as MICHELIN Stars celebrate the world’s most exceptional restaurants, MICHELIN Keys now honour hotels that offer truly remarkable stays, where design, service, and location come together to create unforgettable moments.
“With the introduction of the MICHELIN Keys, the Guide establishes a new, global, and independent benchmark for outstanding hotel experiences.
“With their unique field expertise, MICHELIN Guide Inspectors have selected the finest properties from across the globe, reflecting the diversity and excellence of today’s hospitality landscape.
“Whether travellers seek iconic resorts, historic city hotels, or hidden gems off the beaten path, the MICHELIN Keys provide a trusted guide to discover, explore, and book truly memorable stays that inspire and delight.”
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