Hip Hotel San Antonio: Emily Morgan Review

By Hilary Rowland

      Combine the hip ambiance of a W hotel with the je ne sais quoi of a cozy getaway, and you'd have my ideal hotel. Locate it next to the historic Alamo and San Antonio's romantic Riverwalk, and you've got the Emily Morgan. Despite the lack of in-suite broadband or WiFi internet access, I could see myself living at the Emily Morgan. The hotel was simply THAT cozy.

When you arrive in San Antonio, you'll have no difficulty identifying the Emily Morgan, as its landmark architecture is truly majestic. Step inside, and you'll find yourself grooving to the hip beats of the ORO lounge, located in the hotel's lobby. The lobby itself is very urban mod, a surprising contrast to the hotel's classic exterior.

Our room was very spacious, with high ceilings, and contemporary furniture and décor. Some rooms even feature a Jacuzzi next to a window with an impressive view of the Alamo.

We dined at ORO that evening, although most of restaurant's patrons seemed to be there to sample the bar's wide range of liquors and more than 20 varieties of Tequila. The inspiring location and trendy atmosphere make ORO a local hotspot in which to see and be seen. In what I assure you was simply an effort to experience local culture, we ordered Corazon's finest Tequila, which sells for something over $40 a glass (about 1.5 ounces).

For dinner, I started with the spicy fried calamari and steamed spinach. The dish was served with crispy pancetta and lemon caper aioli. The presentation was in keeping with ORO's hip image. I'd also highly recommend the black pepper beef filet with port raisin glaze, wilted chard, and garlic whipped potatoes.

Unfortunately, I became very ill with food poisoning shortly after my dinner, and while I am not sure if it was the glass of Corazon or the meal, it would be misleading if I ignored that part of my ORO experience. Furthermore, while most of the staff was exceptionally friendly (especially the doorman!), the assistant at the front desk was rather unhelpful when I was desperately seeking some sort of remedy. When I called the front desk hoping for an antacid or something to help me in my unfortunate situation, she suggested I take a $10 cab ride to the nearest pharmacy. To my way of thinking, if you get food poisoning at a five-star hotel, the staff ought to be helpful. Fortunately, I've never had food poisoning before. But I digress. Perhaps she was new.

The Emily Morgan is ideally located next to the beautiful and historic Alamo. For those of you who don't know, Texas defended its sovereignty at the Alamo, and the site is a very important monument in American history. If you want jingoistic propaganda about the Alamo, you'll find plenty of resources and theatrical demonstrations within the fortress walls. If that's not enough, you can relive the American version of the history in an IMAX film that I'm sure plays year round in San Antonio. Amaze yourself by walking across the street and taking a tour of the Guinness Book of World Records museum.

Within a brief walk of the Alamo is the romantic San Antonio Riverwalk. Lined with cafés, lounges, and restaurants, the Riverwalk is a cobblestone pathway that borders the city's historic canal. Tours are available, although we found ourselves enjoying the canal from an amazing restaurant which featured a mariachi quartet. At night, the Riverwalk is maybe the most romantic urban locations in North America, second only to the cobbled streets of Quebec City.

In short, I was surprised by the abundance of romance, history, and authentic character in this southern Texas city. And if you don't come for the history, come for the Emily Morgan, a destination in its own right.

Luxury: Service: Cuisine: Experience:

Check them out online at www.EmilyMorganHotel.com