If you plonked a point on a map denoting Stuttgart’s absolute centre, I’m fairly certain it’d be directly right on top of the EmiLu. Or it may as well be. Dead opposite the city’s Rathaus (town hall) and a few steps from Königstrasse (Stuttgart’s main shopping street), EmiLu is within easy walking distance of most city-centre sights.
Just a couple of years old (it opened in 2022), EmiLu occupies an old mid-century city government building and gets its name by combining the names of its co-owner (Petra Luise Bräutigam) and her daughter (Emilia). A self-professed ‘design hotel’, it boasts 90 ‘unique and special’ rooms that range reasonably in price per night from €85 to €200 (£72 to £170).
So, the good: EmiLu, with its focus on individual, tasteful design, is a handsome and neat establishment. The chic reception is kitted out with dark wooden furnishings, while the rooms are airy and uncluttered. Cuboid furniture and crisply-shaped décor work well with bare-material walls; an open shower-room (with a curtain) and a mini-bar cut into the corner wall fit the minimal, trendy vibe.
In another positive, my room looked out over the atmospheric street below (with floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony) but also boasted exceptional sound insulation – an entire crowd of football fans in the space outside were reduced to noiseless silhouettes. Elsewhere, EmiLu’s staff are delightful, the rooftop space is great for taking in Stuttgart’s skyline and the ‘fitness area’ is remarkably well-equipped – and has a sauna.
Is it a five-star experience? Not quite. While the EmiLu errs on the fancier side of convenience, a few elements are imperfect. As quiet as the rooms are, light sleepers may struggle with stiff mattresses and a flashing blue light in the room’s corner that cannot be turned off. The breakfast buffet was also rather routine – though it should be noted that given the EmiLu’s value for money, these are minor gripes.
Neighbourhood
As central as it gets. From the Königstrasse and Rathaus to the Marktplatz and Schlossplatz – it’s all within a 10-minute walk from EmiLu. The area is also full of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, plus several galleries, museums and points of interest.
Nearby
- Schlossplatz, or the ‘palace square’, a downtown area surrounded by shops, cafés, museums and greenery that also often hosts public events like live music concerts and fan-parks for watching sports events.
- Museum Hegel-Haus. Sure, everyone knows that Stuttgart is the home of car manufacturers Porsche and Mercedez-Benz, but it was also the birthplace of one of the most influential philosophers ever. Learn all about Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel – and experience a ‘The Phenomenology of Spirit’ escape room.
- Vegi, a snack bar and Stuttgart institution that specialises in falafel dishes. Great playlist on the soundsystem, too.
Time Out tip: Get your bearings by heading straight up to EmiLu’s rooftop lounge. Take in some city views and plan some sightseeing.