"Imagine Emeline as a very stylish Southern aunt with a penchant for all things retro. She pours stiff drinks, loves jazz, throws killer parties, and enjoys trimming the jasmine in her courtyard. The Makeready hospitality group has modeled this 212-room hotel to make you feel right at home. Right at Emeline’s home, that is—a blend of wicker, velvet, palm-printed wallpaper, and craftsman woodwork. This sophisticated, top-to-bottom redo of an old DoubleTree is a departure from the city’s more traditional interpretation of Southern hospitality (no front porch; not a mahogany four-poster in sight). But it’s the little surprises that really make the place sing: working record players in every suite, a resident chocolate-truffle chef, a discreet panel leading to a speakeasy behind the bar, and a brilliantly curated gift shop worth a visit even if you’re staying elsewhere." - Allston McCrady
