The Emory - Maybourne Perfection, With The Connaught & Claridge's Help - London

The Emory - Maybourne Perfection, With The Connaught & Claridge's Help - London - November 2025

27/11/2025

The Emory is The Best New Uber Luxury Hotel in London

I have decided my stay at The Emory was better than my stays at Raffles, London at The OWO; Peninsula, London; The Chancery Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair.

Support From House of Maybourne; Born in Mayfair

The fact The Emory can rely on support from The Connaught, Claridge's and House of Maybourne itself contributed to my unforgettable stay.

A Special Mention for Peninsula, London

The way Peninsula, London have spoilt me since my stay with them must get a very special mention.

This is Not Luxury

Must also use this opportunity to mention my 'damaged trouser incident' on Wednesday 19 November 2025 at The Dorchester and the lack of anything but a holding reply from Dorchester Collection about my complaints over not being allowed access to the hotel's lobby.

I will be celebrating US Thanksgiving at 45 Park Lane this evening and get nothing but VIP treatment from that Dorchester Collection hotel.

The Emory is a '9 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) hotel. The least well known hotel of the 5 new in London is discreet luxury at its best.

From superb Josh (Director of Guest Services); to Gintare from the Butlers/ Housekeeping repairing my trousers & saving my evening; to a superb breakfast in abc kitchens; to my initials on my Frette pillowcase; to a window in my spacious Alexandra Champalimaud designed Hyde Park view corner suite that fully opening, thanks to the late Richard Rogers; to the fully stocked complimentary mini bar; to the Billecart-Salmon Rose champagne; to a Cedric Grolet cake; to having the Surrenne pool to myself; to a perfect ice cold 'SF Martini' being served in the Rooftop Bar; to Issy's Surrenne Spa outfit, with tiny slippers; to a legendary dinner in The Grill at The Connaught with Maybourne COO Roland Fasel; and a Christmas tree party at Claridge's where I met Richard E Grant (Barbra Streisand fan) & Jeremy King (co-found of Le Caprice) and The Emory sending my luggage to Claridge's. Would almost award 10 teddies.

Have kept this post very short, after one of my best friends told me I have been posting too much recently. Have more Maybourne photos, & lots more to say, if you see me over Christmas.

The Connaught MD Sandeep on one side & Maybourne COO Roland on the other. Had a fascinating discussion with Sandeep, before Roland arrived.

Even the towels in the bathroom were 'Frette made for The Emory'. There was a guest bathroom in my suite too.

Nothing like an ice cold 'SF Martini'. The mashed potatoes at The Grill at The Connaught were divine.

The photo above me is of Audrey Hepburn at Claridge's. Very auspicious for me.

50 Comments

Peter Gong

27/11/2025 07:10:39 pm

As I prepare for Thanksgiving, more like waiting for the meal to be delivered, a trick I learned from the best. I have my own VIP treatment. You, Simon had a stay the the Emory which you concluded to be best over the other luxury brand hotels. That's a statement and valid the Emory as the premier hotel for true pampering and luxury. So unique that the Emory has support from the Connaught, Claridge's (my favourite place to have tea.), and House of Maybourne is a testament of their commitment to its brand. I approve the statement.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner at 45 Park Lane tonight and I know the VIP service will be spectacular. I am waiting with anticipation to read your IG posts.

Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we will have to walk 300k steps after all that foods.

Cheers. Ta

Si Frew link

27/11/2025 09:20:32 pm

Thanks for these comments. US Thanksgiving & I was ‘cooking’ in a Wolfgang Puck kitchen here at 45 Park Lane. Enjoy your own special time.

Nick and Rick

27/11/2025 10:26:51 pm

Simon,

What a joy to read this from across the Pacific. We are sitting at the Halekulani in Honolulu with Mai Tais in hand, listening to the waves reach the shore at Waikiki, and your review transported us straight back to London. It is one of those moments that makes us grateful that jet travel can shrink the world so easily and let warm Hawaii and elegant Mayfair exist in the same evening.

Your description of The Emory had such clarity. The way you highlighted the design, the personal service and the quiet Maybourne polish made the stay feel vivid. The photos added so much. The lighting in the suite, the clean lines, and the soft colors gave such a real sense of calm. Even from Waikiki, the images made the atmosphere feel immediate and very present.

We also enjoyed the touches from The Connaught and Claridge’s. It is always impressive how Maybourne creates that unified sense of calm and generosity across their hotels while still allowing each one to feel distinct. You also made it clear how exceptional the team was throughout your stay, which is something we always appreciate in your reviews.

This was a pleasure to read from the calm of Waikiki. Thank you for sharing another beautifully observed London moment.

Nick and Rick

28/11/2025 12:12:02 am

Thanks for these comments. Yes, The Emory was pure luxury. Even the toothbrushes were the best I have ever been given at a hotel. Should also have mentioned the plate of cut fresh fruit and berries left in my suite. The raspberries were heavenly.

Love the photo of Halekulani you sent me. It does look like heaven too,

AISHA

28/11/2025 08:57:12 am

Through your very evocative narrative you always manage to send one on a journey to perfection. It always feels as if we are with you wherever you go. I have a Bucket List of fabulous hotels around the world and will now add The Emory to the top of the list. You have had the privilege of staying in some of the world’s most famous and iconic places, enjoying superb hospitality in every one of them it is hard to choose between them.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend!! ☺️🤗

28/11/2025 09:52:07 am

Reading these comments made my morning. The Emory is definitely a 'bucket list' hotel. The hotel stationary there is from Smythson of Bond Street.

Lady Maria Teksnes

29/11/2025 11:44:49 pm

Thank you so very much Simon, you’re a star. You have always so perfectly written such amazing pieces, one cannot dismiss your talent in everything you put forward. Looking forward for more exciting reads, once again thank you. Best wishes!

Tala Stevenson

28/11/2025 09:48:52 am

Looks lovely Si! Glad you have so much to be thankful for this year! I, for one, am thankful for your friendship over the years. Cheers to a wonderful holiday season to come! Looking forward.

28/11/2025 10:42:51 am

I can hear your voice reading this. Value your friendship so much too. Thanks for saying this. Must start writing my Christmas cards soon.

The Emory

28/11/2025 11:18:28 am

It is a great read, with some awesome photos. It was a fun challenge to create the outfit for Issy, and we truly hope you had a relaxing stay with us at The Emory.

28/11/2025 11:21:10 am

Thanks for saying that. It is some time since I felt as relaxed as I did at The Emory and the outfit is one of the best Issy has.

Sonia - Moscow

28/11/2025 11:48:29 am

I had not spotted that photo of Audrey Hepburn either.

28/11/2025 11:59:35 am

The photos is from Audrey Hepburn's 'Welcome Home' party at Claridge's, after returning from filming 'Roman Holiday'.

Justine

28/11/2025 12:06:31 pm

Really think you should write a book. A mixture of your life & guidance on having a career overseas.

28/11/2025 12:10:45 pm

The present idea is an unusual travel related book. Need to find a publishing contact to discuss the feasibility of this.

Graham - Bermuda/ Barbican

28/11/2025 12:21:26 pm

Wonderful as always. Great to see you yesterday.

28/11/2025 12:23:50 pm

Always awesome to see you. The two hours flew by. Sorry The Emory woolly slippers were too small.

Gus

28/11/2025 08:23:24 pm

The judge has spoken and The Emory it is. Redefining luxury, second to none service and delightful management. Unlike others.

28/11/2025 09:14:25 pm

Thanks for taking the time to say this. Luca, GM of The Dorchester, personally rang me this afternoon.Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is causing his hotel problems.

Philippe Leboeuf - CEO, Dorchester Collection

29/11/2025 07:35:26 am

So good to see you again on Thursday.

29/11/2025 07:40:37 am

It was a thrill to walk into the 45 Park Lane kitchen on US Thanksgiving, with Chef Elliott Grover, and find you there.

GM Luca has since rung me personally & my issue with The Dorchester is now resolved. Have a restful weekend.

Kostas - MD, The Berkeley & The Emory

29/11/2025 08:00:32 am

Thanks for this. Really looking forward to catching up later in December. Best wishes.

29/11/2025 08:01:48 am

Same here. I hope Cannes goes well.

Samantha Garvin

29/11/2025 09:51:38 pm

No such thing as too much luxury blogging.

After a horrendous couple of weeks it was wonderful to live vicariously through your experiences (minus the trouser issue of course).

Looking forward to reading about Christmas.

Xx

29/11/2025 10:09:34 pm

Thanks for your comments about my legendary coffee table too. On US Thanksgiving Graham could not believe they were the same trousers. The Emory did an unbelievable job.

John

29/11/2025 09:52:21 pm

What a joy it is to read this account, Simon — and what a testament to the evolving standards of London luxury. Your write-up of The Emory captures something both deeply refined and wonderfully personal, and, in keeping with the spirit of Nick and Rick’s earlier comments, it’s clear that this stay wasn’t just about marble, amenities, or architecture. It was about feeling understood — and in that sense, The Emory seems to have excelled.

Nick was absolutely right in his observation that The Emory feels like a “next-phase Maybourne property,” a confident continuation of the group’s heritage rather than an imitation of its elder siblings. And Rick’s point about the emotional resonance of the service comes to life most vividly in one moment of your story: the rescue of your trousers. That anecdote will stay with me for a long time.

It’s the sort of episode that perfectly encapsulates the difference between good hospitality and extraordinary hospitality. Many hotels can provide sophisticated environments; far fewer can take a potentially evening-ruining mishap — torn or damaged trousers just before a reservation — and turn it into a moment of theatre, grace, and quiet efficiency. The way the staff at The Emory swooped in, repaired them with urgency and care, and returned them in immaculate condition says more about the property’s ethos than any design feature possibly could. You can’t train that kind of instinct; you cultivate it through leadership, culture, and an understanding that true luxury exists in the details guests never see coming.

And speaking of details: your comparison to The Dorchester was particularly striking. The Dorchester has long stood as one of London’s grande dames — a bastion of old-world glamour, loved for its heritage and revered by generations of travellers. It’s a place where one expects flourishes, history, ceremony. Yet what your narrative reveals is that even against such formidable, iconic competition, The Emory prevails in its own distinctive register. If The Dorchester is the polished orchestra, The Emory is the exquisitely tuned quartet: quieter, perhaps, but ultimately more revealing.

What sets The Emory apart — and what Nick and Rick both picked up on in different ways — is that it offers luxury without heaviness. The architecture breathes. The suites feel like retreats rather than stages. The service is present without being performative. There is no need to announce grandeur; it is simply lived.

Your mention of the softly opening suite window, the rooftop martini ritual, the serene spa immersion, and the Frette pillowcase embroidered with your initials all create a tapestry that is unmistakably Maybourne in sophistication, yet unmistakably Emory in mood. One senses that The Connaught and Claridge’s are not overshadowed by this new addition but rather complemented — as though each property expresses a different facet of the same jewel.

And so your 9-teddy rating feels exactly right. Not just because the hotel achieved perfection on your stay, but because it managed that rarest of feats: transforming a small crisis — yes, those trousers — into a story you will treasure more fondly than any immaculate check-in.

A beautiful review, and an even more beautiful experience.

29/11/2025 10:14:59 pm

These comments are so perfect.

Taking Issy in his outfit from The Emory, with the tiny slippers, to Four Seasons at Tower Bridge for breakfast tomorrow. Cannot wait to see their Christmas decorations.

Aidan

29/11/2025 09:55:33 pm

Wow! So many fabulous events this year.

29/11/2025 10:17:41 pm

Yes, when I watched ‘Withnail & I’ with Toby I would never have imagined I would one day being drinking champagne with Richard E Grant at Claridge’s.

Alejandro

29/11/2025 10:41:03 pm

Great to see how the hotel is evolving adding better experiences for the costumers

29/11/2025 10:44:35 pm

Thanks for taking the time to write this comment in Tokyo. Hope you sleep better tonight.

Charlie Thomson link

29/11/2025 10:50:34 pm

Interested to see this i have never stayed at the Emory so will book there in the summer when I visit next year from Asia.

29/11/2025 11:00:58 pm

The Emory will blow your mind. So shocked about the fires in Hong Kong.

Leanne Arnold

30/11/2025 04:14:10 am

Dear Si. Your vivid descriptions and storytelling truly transport readers into the world of luxury hotels. You take such great care in capturing the essence of each experience - I almost feel as if I’m with you! Thank you for sharing your journey with us; it’s a delightful escape.

30/11/2025 06:37:44 am

Awesome to wake to find such beautiful & thoughtful comments from you. Breakfast at Four Seasons at Tower Bridge for me this morning. Hope Qatar is going well.

Barbara

30/11/2025 12:21:16 pm

Reading you from Rome, sipping a wonderful Alta Langa Limited Edition and dreaming of that level of hospitality through your vivid words. Your reflections make everything feel warm and alive. I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving and that the Christmas spirit is already bringing you joy and calm moments.

30/11/2025 01:10:26 pm

These comments brought a smile to my face. Enjoy Sunday in Rome. US Thanksgiving at 45 Park Lane was unbelievable.

Tanja

30/11/2025 03:43:34 pm

There’s nothing a hotelier likes to hear more than succeeding in creating that magic for their guests… since I started out, that’s been one thing that guided me - doesn’t matter what happens in the background, let’s make magic for guests!!

Greetings from cold New York where the magic also happens for hoteliers… at least this one - last night’s Christmas special by Rockettes at Radio City Hall was a dream come true - just better!! 🤩

30/11/2025 04:42:17 pm

Yes, The Emory stay was a dream. Hope the rest of your New York trip goes well.

Linda

1/12/2025 01:21:57 am

What a lovely place!

1/12/2025 06:01:40 am

It is a very special hotel. Hope all is well in New Jersey.

Katherine

1/12/2025 09:14:12 am

What a great month! Will have to go and check out the Emory now. Thanks for sharing your adventures. Catch up soon, K

1/12/2025 09:16:45 am

It is a very special hotel. I am seeing Matthew, from Dubai, this evening. Excited about that & taking him to The Eagle Bar at The Chancery Rosewood.

Peter Akesson

2/12/2025 06:26:58 am

Funny with the trousers. Amazing they could fix it so well and quick. Your experience must been absolutely amazing. Always nice to follow your luxury traveling. Wishing you all the best/Peter

2/12/2025 02:39:45 pm

Good to hear from you & thanks for saying this. Glad Chiang Mai is going well,

3/12/2025 09:57:01 am

Simon
What an amazing place and so many beautiful people fabulous memories for you, you so deserve all of this it’s like being there with you, the way you describe everything and the amazing photos of you, love your smile, thank you for sharing another amazing moment. Xxx

3/12/2025 10:35:42 am

Your comments brought a smile to my face this morning. Just rung mum & off to The Times Building at London Bridge this afternoon to talk about the UK Budget etc

Aloysius - from The Times Event

5/12/2025 04:25:58 am

Great meeting you at The Times Event. What is your favourite story about flying on Concorde to New York?

5/12/2025 04:29:42 am

Have sent you an email but the Luxembourg tax accountant who say next to me & US Immigration saying “so you live in Bermuda, & just flew in on Concorde from London, you must live quite a life” are stories I still tell.

Ed - New York

5/12/2025 04:31:32 am

Still trying to decide if I go on that Caribbean cruise with my brother & his family.

the luxury travel blog

The Emory - Maybourne Perfection, With The Connaught & Claridge's Help - London - November 2025

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