Side-by-side
The Emory vs The Connaught
A direct comparison across five dimensions: Service, Design, Location, Dining, and Wellness. Scored from signals across luxury travel communities, editorial publications, and verified guests.
Scoreboard
| Dimension | The Emory | The Connaught |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Fat Favorite | Fat Favorite |
| Overall Fat Score | 17.0/20 | 17.0/20Wins |
| Service | 16.5 | 17.5 |
| Design | 18.5 | 16.5 |
| Location | 17.5 | 18.5 |
| Dining | 16.5 | 17.0 |
| Wellness | 18.0 | 16.0 |
The Verdicts
The Emory
The Emory is Maybourne's answer to the question of what London luxury looks like when you strip away the chintz and history: Richard Rogers' glass-and-steel box overlooking Hyde Park is deliberately, almost defiantly modern, a sharp contrast to the tapestries-and-tradition register of stablemates Claridge's and The Connaught. Different floors handled by Andre Fu, Patricia Urquiola, Pierre-Yves Rochon, and Alexandra Champalimaud give it a hotel-within-a-hotel quality, and the consensus favors the Fu floors up top, where you finally clear the treeline for park views. The Surrenne spa, with its Tracy Anderson studio, snow shower, and 22m pool, is repeatedly singled out as one of the best wellness offerings in the city, and the all-suite, all-inclusive minibar model (plus a shared house car with The Berkeley) makes the steep rates feel less punitive. Service is the more contested variable — long-term and repeat guests rave about butlers who learn names within a day and WhatsApp-based requests answered in minutes, while a meaningful minority of short-stay guests report cold check-ins, unfulfilled promised amenities, and unresolved complaints with no manager in sight. The honest read: this is an exceptional hotel for guests who stay multiple nights and lean into the residential, low-key format, and a slightly riskier bet for a single night when any hiccup gets outsized weight.
The Connaught
The Connaught remains London's most confidently discreet luxury hotel, occupying prime Mayfair real estate with the gravitas of a gentleman's club that's learned to smile. This is hospitality at its most refined — staff who remember your name after one visit, martinis that justify their £30 price tag, and rooms that feel more like a private London residence than a hotel. The 2007 renovation struck an elegant balance between masculine heritage bones and contemporary comfort, though entry-level rooms can feel cramped by modern luxury standards. What sets The Connaught apart isn't flashiness but substance: this is where discerning travelers come when they want to feel like insiders rather than tourists.
Strengths & trade-offs
The Emory
Strengths
- Richard Rogers architecture with genuinely spacious, all-suite rooms rare for London
- Surrenne spa and Tracy Anderson studio rank among the best wellness facilities in the city
- Butler service via WhatsApp delivers fast, personalized responses for long-stay guests
- Rooftop bar and cigar lounge offer some of the best 360-degree views in London
- Discreet, residential feel that stands apart from the traditional British luxury template
Trade-offs
- Service consistency swings sharply between glowing and dismissive depending on length of stay and occupancy
- Entry-level rooms can face a neighboring building with poor natural light and no park view
- Website oversells amenities like unpacking, welcome champagne, and car service that aren't always delivered
- No dedicated on-site concierge for basic external bookings, per some guests
The Connaught
Strengths
- Unmatched Mayfair location with private drive
- World-renowned Connaught Bar and martini trolley
- Exceptional service with long-tenured staff
- Timeless elegance without stuffiness
- Aman spa on-site
Trade-offs
- Entry-level rooms small by London standards
- Overpowering floral scent in lobby
- Some spaces feel dark and cramped