Hotel Emma

We live in town and visit the Pearl fairly often, but this was our first time staying at the hotel. My wife and I had a wonderful, fun weekend for her birthday, and we'll be back. The hotel tour, offered twice daily, is well worth doing. On weekend evenings the bar gets busy, but there are tucked away spots reserved for guests, so you can get out of the crowd without leaving the bar. Our Terrace River Cellar room with a king bed was immaculate and had just about everything we wanted. The balcony was large and lovely, and we used the fireplace on our last morning during an unusually warm January weekend. No coffee machine in the room, but you can have complimentary coffee delivered in the morning. There are brochures and flyers about the local Pearl area if you're new to it. The concierge answered questions we hadn't even thought to ask and replied to emails promptly. They offered options for a birthday surprise setup, and we ordered roses, a fruit tray with Topo Chico, a banner, balloons, chocolate, and more. We also had turndown service, a lovely touch after our dinners and drinks Friday and Saturday. The concierge team can help if you're not sure where to eat, drink, or what to do. Every employee we dealt with, from the front desk and housekeeping to room service and valet, was welcoming, friendly, and professional. I can't say enough about the staff.

The lobby bar is unbelievably cool, though on weekends it's nearly impossible to find a seat. The hotel is old, so you can hear noises while sleeping. They provided ear plugs, and I use a sound machine anyway, so it wasn't a problem. The room was very nice, the location was incredible, with loads of restaurants to choose from, and only 10 minutes from the airport. I was there for one night and had one of the best stays ever. Every single person provided top notch service. I've stayed at elite hotels around the world, and none comes to mind that does it better than Hotel Emma.

We loved the pool, library, hotel tour, and restaurant Supper, and there was plenty to do around the pearl district. I wish we'd had more time. The only hiccup was breakfast arriving 45 minutes late on our second morning, but it wasn't a big deal. The views were amazing, and the stay was perfect. Everyone was friendly from check-in to check-out and went out of their way to make things special. The flower petals on our bed were a lovely anniversary touch. And wow, those showers are so powerful, almost like standing under a waterfall. Probably the best hotel we've stayed at.

We stayed in a standard king room for our 10th anniversary. It was remarkably clean and quiet, even though it faced the Pearl District. They had champagne, fruit, and chocolate waiting for us, and both the room and hotel smell so good that I bought the signature scent to take home. Hotel Emma is definitely an investment, but a worthwhile one. I waited a few months to write this so I could take off my rose-colored vacation glasses and give a balanced review. I still can't find anything negative about the experience. It's impeccably clean and maintained, with a calm atmosphere. When the lobby and bar are bustling with tourists, you can find peace and quiet in the library. As a history fan, I loved seeing so much of the original brewery preserved, as well as the history written along the walls leading to Larder and Southerleigh. The hotel is in the pretty, walkable Pearl District, with shops and dining. We visited a few museums, but mostly enjoyed walking around the hotel grounds. A few nights we finished with a nightcap at Sternewirth, a cozy bar with a good selection. What made the stay memorable was the staff. Everyone was friendly, knew their stuff, and seemed genuinely glad to be there. Service never fell short. Special thanks to Chelsea at Curio, Jailene and Ninette at reception, Nicholas at Valet, and the great bartenders and servers at Sternewirth.