Inside The Belfast Hotel: Water Butlers And A $41 Bottle of Glacier Water

Photo Credit: Hotel Waring

There are many different forms of indulging in luxury while traveling. A customized pillow menu, such as on offer at Trump SoHo? Check. Personalized pillow cases, like you’ll find at The Peninsula Beverly Hills or Santa Barbara’s Belmond El Encanto? Double check. Or what about the customized amenities, like a chocolate Oscar statue or Hollywood sign, as you’ll find at The Beverly Wilshire and Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills? Checkmate. One Belfast hotel is upping the ante even more by offering up a $41 bottle of water—and for the record, no, it does not contain gold dust.

It shakes down like this: The Merchant Hotel in Belfast, Ireland has created its very own “water menu.” As a sommelier selects from a wine list, a dedicated “water butler” will be on hand to help you make your hydrating choice.

We’re not talking ordinary free-from-the-tap situation, either. The Merchant has imported water from far-flung locales such as Fiji, Italy, Iceland, Finland, and the Faroe Islands. The list comes illustrated with photos showcasing exactly what minerals you’ll find. All 13 bottles are products of Aqua Amore, an artisanal water and soft drink supplier that offers H2O sourced from many different parts of the world.

The priciest on the list is taken from the wall of a glacier in the Canadian Arctic and is being referred to as “purest water on Earth.” It retails for a whopping $41. Yes, you read that right. $41 for water.

For those who would prefer to pay for wine over water, tap is still available.

A little more on The Merchant: this five-star hotel is located in the heart of Belfast’s historic Cathedral Quarter. Guests can expect to find a luxury spa, a rooftop gymnasium with panoramic city views, a dedicated meeting and events suite and a fabulous jazz bar.