It took me a while to locate the entrance to The Emory.
That, I later learned, was intentional.
(Dont worry, you wont be kept waiting.
Photo: Kensington Leverne
The Emory keeps track of exactly who is arriving and when.)
I quickly figured out why I had such trouble finding the place.
The hotel provides complimentary transfers via black car or helicopter to all its guests.
The cigar lounge at The Emory.
Well, it just rarely happensso much so that they dont even need a sign.
Privacy and discretion are a priority for The Emory guests.
When Sfaltos means low-key, he doesnt mean humble or modest.
A suite at The Emory.
In fact, The Emory is one of the most elegant and luxurious hotels Ive ever stayed in.
For starters, all their rooms are suites.
Their smallest offering is around 600 square feet and can sleep three people.
Their largestthe Emory Penthouseis over 3,000.
If you wish, you might even make your own mansion.
“This creates self-contained residencies which allow families and groups to create private inner sanctums.
This architectural explanation explains why I didnt see a single other guest the entire time I was here.
(Actually, I take that back.
Read more about it in ourGlobal Spa Guide.)
The cigar lounge at The Emory.
Several different interior designers worked on The Emory, all lending their specific and distinctive vision to different spaces.
I stayed in a space designed by Andre Fu that epitomized elegant restraint.
Jeweled upholstery accented a calm cream interior with rich wood walls and floors.
(You dont need many accents when your floor-to-ceiling windows boast a sweeping view of Hyde Park.)
Other designers include Pierre Yves Rochon, Andre Fu, Alexandra Champalimaud, and Patricia Urquiola.
Many areas also boast impressive art works, including some by Damien Hirst.
Its the opposite of what youd expect from a traditional hotel, Sfaltos says.
For the first time in my life, I also had a personal assistant!
Anything I wanted I just had to ask for, via Whatsapp.
In my case that was a toothbrush and a Caesar saladdelivered quietly and discreetly within minutes.
A suite at The Emory.
Upon check out, I decided to leave a little differently than the way I had arrived.
Right this way, Ms. Taylor, a footman said as an idling black Rolls Royce waited.
I threw on my sunglasses and slid into the backseat.
It was my final moments at the Emory, after all.
Why not fully embrace it?
