The honest review of The Emory
Fat Score
Doormen and reception staff get singled out by name for going out of their way, but check-in delays, a cold cigar-lounge exchange and one flat refusal to fetch a manager show it isn't consistent.
Floor-to-ceiling park views, Damien Hirst pieces and the best linens people report having slept in make the rooms the reason to book, though a handful land facing a neighbouring building's wall instead.
Tucked behind a discreet Belgravia courtyard entrance across from Hyde Park, close to Knightsbridge and Harrods, though it's a walk from the nearest tube.
ABC Kitchen's eggs Benedict and Cedric Grolet pastries land well and the rooftop bar's drinks and views get real praise, but the only public toilets sit two floors down in the lobby.
Surrenne's pool, snow shower and Tracy Anderson sessions with trainer Javi draw some of the strongest praise in any Maybourne review.
The Verdict
The Emory is Maybourne's one real departure from the Claridge's/Connaught script: Richard Rogers' glass box across from Hyde Park, 61 keys, all-suite, barely a lobby, sharing a spa and rooftop with The Berkeley next door. Rooms opened around £1,600 a night and the entry Courtyard Studios still sit near that, which buys floor-to-ceiling glass, a stocked-free minibar, a Cédric Grolet pastry on arrival, and Surrenne downstairs. The Tracy Anderson studio and the snow shower come up before anything else, and one guest who stayed five months called it the best spa experience of a very long trip.
This isn't a hotel that performs the same on night one as it does on night five. That same long-stay guest tracked their own housekeeping scores and found mornings ran measurably better than afternoons, and said outright that a one or two-night stay is too small a sample to judge the place fairly. Shorter stays back that up: a slow check-in, no manager on hand when something goes wrong, a "suite" facing a neighbouring building with the curtains stuck shut for lack of any view. The website oversells too: the welcome champagne, the unpacking service, the non-alcoholic beer add-on don't always show up as promised, which reads less like malice than a property still smoothing its edges two years in. A few guests have also flagged there's no concierge on-site for basics like booking a car, so you're sent next door to The Berkeley.
Book it for the design, the spa, and the quiet if you can give it three nights or more and shrug off an off moment; it isn't built for a single-night stopover. Give it three nights and the butlers, the glass, and Surrenne make the case themselves.
74 signals from multiple independent sourcesReports span Aug 2024 – May 2026Refreshed Jul 2026Next refresh Sep 2026How this works
Strengths
Considerations
Photos
What People Say
I've had a great experience at The Emory over the past couple months and would 100% stay there again.
It's exactly the kind of hotel I love — everything clicked for me on this stay, and I have no hesitation recommending it.
Honestly, I found the whole experience soulless — other than the price tag, none of it felt genuinely FAT to me.
I expected the personal touches that used to define these hotels, but that's largely gone now unless your family name carries weight. It felt more corporate than personal, which was disappointing given what I was paying.
The cigar lounge staff were cold and honestly rude — one took my cigar off the ashtray without even asking if I was done.
The atmosphere in the lounge itself is genuinely nice, but a hotel at this level needs to have service that matches the setting. I felt unwelcome, and the environment was surprisingly hostile for what's meant to be a luxury cigar lounge.
From the reception onward, this felt like a truly refined experience, and the woman at the front desk set the tone perfectly.
I haven't seen the rooms yet, but everything else has been excellent so far. The Christmas decorations were stunning — elegant and tasteful, adding a genuinely luxurious festive atmosphere throughout. You can tell every detail here is carefully curated.
As an expert critic, I'd score The Emory an 8 out of 10 — a Richard Rogers-designed, all-suite property with a genuinely strong culinary and rooftop offering.
The building's design pedigree and Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant give it real credibility beyond the marketing, and the rooftop bar is a standout space in its own right. It's a confident, contemporary addition to London's luxury landscape.
I stayed at The Emory and immediately noticed how deliberately understated the arrival is — no grand facade, just a small glass room tucked down an alleyway.
I booked a Park Junior Suite on the 8th floor, which is where you finally clear the trees for a real Hyde Park view, and the Andre Fu-designed floors were my favorite of the different designer treatments throughout the building. The Toto toilet, excellent light and blind controls, and a well-stocked complimentary minibar made the room feel genuinely special, and sound insulation was impressive given the busy street outside. Our butler and guest services team knew our names by day two, WhatsApp access made every request effortless, and they had the house car ready almost immediately after check-in to get us to lunch.
This was the best hotel experience I've had — I've stayed at Rosewoods, Peninsulas, and Four Seasons, and none compare.
The rooms are modern, luxurious, and genuinely large, with a well-thought-out layout. Everything in the minibar was complimentary, plus a free bottle of wine or champagne daily. The gym was small but excellent, and the pool/sauna/snow shower combo was awesome. The rooftop bar had great views and food, and concierge was top notch — but I'll say this isn't the spot if you want a traditional British feel or want to be seen; it's private and modern instead.
I'd read some mixed reviews from earlier in the hotel's life, but we experienced zero service issues — clearly the early hiccups have been resolved.
We booked the lowest-end suite, a Courtyard Studio, and were still upgraded to a Deluxe Courtyard Studio on arrival. Despite paying around $1,200 a night for the 'cheaper' room, we were greeted by name throughout and got unpacking and pressing, a champagne welcome, a complimentary in-room wine menu, and a butler for any request. The real standout was Surrenne spa — the 22m pool, sauna, steam, and fitness classes were all beautifully maintained, and it's clearly becoming Maybourne's signature spa brand across the portfolio.
This will be my first look when booking our next stay in London — the hard product and service were both excellent.
Check-in was fast and personal, done in a small glass office just steps from the valet, and by day two I was on a first-name basis with the team, including a standout butler named Carlos. Our WhatsApp assistant typically responded in 1-3 minutes, day or night, and could set up everything from dinner reservations to spa treatments to laundry. Breakfast at ABC Kitchen was consistently warm and attentive — one morning three different staff offered to help me carry my plate upstairs. The design and aesthetic are a real departure from traditional London luxury, but everything about the execution was outstanding.
The Emory is the biggest stylistic departure among the Maybourne London properties — modern, minimalist, vibey, yet still discreet.
Compared to the history-steeped Claridge's and Connaught, The Emory feels dramatically more contemporary — heavy on glass and steel outside, sleek and cool inside. Each floor was handled by a different designer, giving the property a hotel-within-a-hotel character that I found genuinely interesting rather than gimmicky. It caters to a crowd that wants restrained, minimalist elegance rather than traditional British opulence.
The Emory felt less like a traditional luxury hotel to me and more like a private sanctuary that trades spectacle for restraint.
I loved that the architecture was striking without being ostentatious — clean lines, warm textures, abundant natural light, and interiors that felt curated rather than decorated. Afternoon tea was one of the standout experiences, served in a serene setting with an impressively varied tea selection and pastries that felt contemporary rather than ceremonial. Service throughout was attentive without being intrusive, professional yet warm. There's a quiet exclusivity here — nothing needs to shout because every detail already speaks of quality.
Check-in dragged on forever and our Signature booking upgrade turned out to be no upgrade at all despite the hotel being empty.
The doormen were excellent throughout, and our room, once we swapped out of one with an awkward shower/tub combo, was spacious with a wonderful bed and living area. But housekeeping missed heavy stains on the wooden floor and mold in a shower corner, several promised welcome items never materialized, and water pooled from the wet room onto the wooden floor. The minibar was generous and mostly customizable, which was a bright spot.
This is absolutely the nicest hotel we've ever stayed in — and I wish we'd booked more than one night.
The entrance was beautifully decorated for Christmas, and every single staff member was friendly and helpful — Carlos, our butler, was amazing. Our room had a view over Hyde Park and the complimentary minibar was brilliant. We had dinner and cocktails at the rooftop bar, followed by a cigar in the lounge, and both were fantastic; breakfast was delicious too.
My kids and I were treated coldly from the start, and staff even tried to move me away from them mid-stay without explanation.
When I asked to speak to a manager about it, I was flatly told no — no apology, no explanation. There was also no on-site concierge, and I was told to walk to another hotel entirely for basic requests like booking a car. For a hotel positioning itself as luxury, this felt more like a budget property in disguise.
Do not stay here — the service level felt more like a four-star hotel than the luxury property it claims to be.
Guests who arrived after us but had booked more suites were given clear preference over us. Nobody accompanied us to our room despite the confirmation promising a 24-hour personalized liaison, and when I asked about the promised unpacking and pressing service, a butler eventually showed up just to tell me that wasn't his job. The room itself had low ceilings, no view, and felt cramped and dark — nothing like what 'suite' implies, and management was nowhere to be found when I tried to raise concerns.
I've stayed at plenty of Forbes top-ten hotels, and it's rare to find one that executes flawless service from start to finish — The Emory did exactly that.
Louis from guest relations contacted me before arrival to arrange transport, and the doorman personally returned later with printed details of exercise classes for my wife. Our butler Barbara had a wonderful personality and handled every request perfectly, and when Louis learned it was my wife's birthday, he arranged a cake and champagne delivered exactly on time. The room was a great size for London with impressive sound insulation, and the rooftop bar staff made excellent cocktails with a view stretching to the London Eye.
How we score
The 16 signals above are a handpicked editorial selection from 74 signals we gathered across dedicated luxury communities, guest reviews, and editorial publications. Every signal we gathered — not just the ones shown — feeds into the Fat Score and verdict above.
Credibility-weighted
Detailed trip reports from luxury communities and major editorial reviews carry the most weight. Brief ratings add context, not conviction.
Recency-adjusted
Recent experiences matter more. Renovations, management changes, and staff turnover all surface in fresh signals.
Consensus-driven
When independent sources agree on a strength or weakness, that signal gets amplified. One bad night doesn't tank a score.
Kept current
Scores are re-gathered and re-calculated from scratch, continuously — no score is ever more than a quarter old. Last re-scored July 11, 2026.
About The Emory
The Emory is a Maybourne property in Belgravia, London, set across from Hyde Park and connected internally to its sister hotel, The Berkeley. Designed by Richard Rogers, the building is an all-suite hotel entered through a discreet courtyard, with a glass facade and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the park. Interiors favour clean lines, warm textures and natural light, with art on display throughout, including pieces by Damien Hirst.
On property, guests have access to ABC Kitchen, a restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten, along with a rooftop bar and cigar lounge offering views across London. The Surrenne spa and fitness centre, shared with The Berkeley, includes a lap pool, sauna, steam room, snow shower, cabanas and a gym with fitness classes such as the Tracy Anderson Method. The hotel offers complimentary house cars within a set radius and operating hours. Its Belgravia setting places Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and Harrods within easy reach.
Luxury amenities
- Surrenne Spa with Tracy Anderson Studio
- 22m Indoor Pool with Snow Shower
- Rooftop Bar and Cigar Lounge with 360-Degree Views
- ABC Kitchen by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
- Complimentary House Car with Driver
- All-Suite Rooms with Complimentary Minibar
- Damien Hirst Art Collection
- Cédric Grolet Pastries
Social Vibe
What guests are sharing
@bradsplanet_
@outside.exposures
@empresstravelclub
@knightsbridge_ldn
@miss.bent
@chic.hotels
Videos from TikTok creators — tap to watch
What fat travellers ask
Is The Emory worth it?
For multi-night or long-stay guests who want spacious, design-forward suites and access to one of London's best spas, yes — the consensus from extended stays is overwhelmingly positive. For a single night booked at the lowest room category, the risk of an inconsistent experience is real, so it pays to book a park-facing suite rather than the cheaper courtyard rooms.
What's the best time to visit The Emory?
The hotel shines any time of year, but repeat guests especially highlight the Christmas period for its decor and atmosphere, and the spa and rooftop are strong draws in warmer months when the pool and outdoor views come into their own.
How does The Emory compare to nearby alternatives?
It's the modern, minimalist counterpoint to Claridge's and The Connaught's old-world grandeur, and shares facilities with its sister property The Berkeley, so guests choosing between the two should know they share ABC Kitchen, Surrenne spa, and a rooftop bar — The Emory simply wraps it in a more private, boutique shell.
Who is The Emory best for?
It suits design-conscious travelers who want a discreet, residential feel over theatrical grandeur, wellness-focused guests drawn to Surrenne, and longer-stay visitors who benefit most from the personalized butler service — it's less suited to families seeking a lively, kid-centric resort vibe or short-stay guests who want guaranteed perfection on night one.
How does The Emory compare to Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane?
The Emory is rated Fat Favorite at 17/20 on Fat Voyage; Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is rated Fat Favorite at 17/20. Both are scored across Service, Design, Location, Dining and Wellness from community, editorial and verified-guest evidence — the side-by-side comparison shows where each one leads.
How do I book The Emory?
Two routes, and both end with the reservation sitting at the hotel in your name. Direct on the hotel's own site is the fastest — the Reserve button on this page goes straight to it. The other is through a travel advisor with consortia access: you pay the same rate the hotel is charging publicly, the hotel pays the advisor's commission instead of you, and an amenity package comes attached — breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 property credit for food, drink or spa, room upgrade, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. We handle that side ourselves for readers who ask.
What is the smartest way to book The Emory?
Through a travel advisor with consortia access, for almost everyone. You pay the hotel's own public rate and an amenity package comes on top that direct booking doesn't include — typically breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 property credit for food, drink or spa, room upgrade, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. It costs nothing extra, because the hotel pays the commission rather than you. The one real exception is brand loyalty: advisor rates don't always earn nights toward status, so if you're chasing a tier or points, book direct. Short of that, there's no version of booking direct that leaves you better off. We're advisors ourselves, so you can just ask us.
Can I get a free room upgrade at The Emory?
Never guaranteed — it depends on what's still unsold the day you arrive, and anyone promising one is guessing. Two things move the odds. The reliable one is booking through a consortia programme, where a room upgrade is written into the amenity package subject to availability; it costs nothing extra and it is the closest thing to a lever that exists. The other is telling the hotel in advance that you're celebrating something, which works more often than people expect. The first part is already handled if you book it with us.
Similar Hotels
Key Details
Brand
Fat Score
Fat Favorite · 17/20
From the desk
Most weeks, we leave you alone
When something worth knowing happens in fat travel — a verdict that shifted, an opening worth waiting for, a hotel that earned its place — we write. Never a paid placement.
Compare The Emory with
