The Emory Unveils The Cigar Merchants

[JohnS]

The Emory Unveils The Cigar Merchants

The Emory by Maybourne debuts The Cigar Merchants, a luxurious rooftop haven that calls to cigar connoisseurs.

By Felicity Carter, Feb 27, 2025, 06:45am EST

The Emory, London - The Emory

The Emory, London’s ultra-luxurious hotel, which was designed by late Richard Rogers and Ivan Harbour of RSHP, has announced the public opening of The Emory Cigar Merchants, a refined rooftop sanctuary that's dedicated to cigar connoisseurs.

The Emory, of course, is brought to you by Maybourne, the operator of Claridge’s, The Connaught, and The Berkeley, renowned for its discreet elegance. Its latest 5-star hotel is no different; an all-suite establishment, the interiors have been thoughtfully designed to evoke the calming nature of an upscale residential setting, complete with a private entrance on Old Barrack Yard, set between Belgravia and Knightsbridge.

The Emory, London - The Emory

Head to the 10th floor for The Cigar Merchants, and the 360-degree views of the capital. The hotel's pièce de résistance—a spectacular rooftop designed by renowned French designer, Rémi Tessier—features burl wood details, paying homage to traditional cigar boxes, along with soft, atmospheric lighting. Very practically, the space also includes a state-of-the-art Airkel concealed extraction system integrated into the floor and ceiling to control airflow and pressure, keeping the air fresh, and is of only three in the city.

The hotel comes complete with Blue Curran, Head Of Cigars, and on its interior design and atmosphere, says, "The unique ambiance we have created at The Emory Cigar Merchants has been achieved with a series of different elements. Our interior designer Remi Tessier has done a fantastic job creating a lounge with a level of luxury and comfort needed to match the stunning views we have from the rooftop Cigar Merchant."

The Emory, London - The Emory

An expansive retreat, it’s the place to sit back, relax, and savor the world's finest cigars to the backdrop of London’s skyline. There's a whole of cigars to choose from too, nearly 200 available by the stick or by the box; Curran says on the array, "With a wide variety of Cuban cigars there is always something new and interesting to try. My personal love of vintage cigars showcases itself on our shelves, surrounded by a large selection of special releases such as limited edition, humidors, and regional editions.”

The Emory, London - The Emory

Some of his personal highlights include, “the full set of Millennium Reserve Jars from 1999; the San Cristóbal 1519 and Romeo y Julieta Romeos (2008), which are two very special humidors; and finally, I am very excited about the regional Editions made for the U.K and the rare Regional Editions made for: Taiwan, Serbia, Lebanon, and Germany."

Lastly, whilst overlooking London, Curran recommends teaming a cigar with vintage Champagne, rye whiskey, and says, "My personal favourite Scotch distillery, Dalmore, always elevates a more medium strength cigar, from their Cigar Malt to the 45 year old, we have something for everyone."

Address: The Emory Cigar Merchants, The Emory, Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP

Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 2pm - 1am (last seating 11:30pm) Sunday: 2pm - 12am (last seating 10:30pm)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/felicitycarter/2025/02/27/the-emory-unveils-the-cigar-merchants-and--london-hotel-happenings/

[Glass Half Full]

To anyone who may know, what is the purpose of all of the seemingly strongly engineered articulated arms with steel connectors on the side of that building? Is the whole building structurally supported from the exterior?  

[Cestis4]

Hello all,

I recently spent several days in London and visited multiple cigar lounges, including this one. My experience at The Emory was that it felt quite sterile. The single-stick selection was nothing special, consisting mostly of current limited-edition and regional-edition offerings. The more unusual selections mentioned in the article were available only for box purchases. However, there are several other excellent options within walking distance in Knightsbridge.

For selection, my favorite was the Wellesley Hotel cigar lounge literally two minute walk from the Emory. The variety of single sticks available for sampling is simply incredible. Including Davidoff Dom at 1k a pop ( listed as an example )  Don’t miss it if you go to London. 

For an overall experience, I preferred The Garden Room at The Lanesborough. It’s prices were reasonable, good selection, good service and great atmosphere. 

The cigar lounge at The Peninsula is pricey, but the selection is solid, and both the view and service are top-notch.

On the other hand, my least favorite experience was at The Connaught in Mayfair for two reasons:

1. The attendants, including the manager, Mario, had no idea what box codes were or what they meant. I asked because I was smoking an exceptional Cohiba Lancero and wanted to check the box code. To my surprise, they were completely unfamiliar with the concept, I literally had them pull a box and proceeded to explain it to them. I am not exaggerating. 

2. The manager, Mario, was overly focused on pushing box sales (box sales 10% off). It felt more like a sales pitch than a cigar lounge experience, and I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

It’s a shame because The Connaught has a great location, a great view, and when it comes to ambience, it’s the polar opposite of The Emory. If they improved their service and approach, it could be a fantastic spot.