ORLANDO'S OASIS OF SOPHISTICATED LUXURY

Expectations are high when a hotel anchors itself to a star player. The player, in this case, is Akira Back — the Michelin-starred, boundary-pushing chef whose name carries a hefty weight and spoonfuls of cred in culinary circles. The Salt & the Cellar, his acclaimed Orlando outpost, is reason enough for many to book a stay at ette hotel. But in truth, it’s just the opening act of a performance that plays out across every inch of this ultra-elevated experience.

By Colleen Thompson

It’s an unexpected oasis of unapologetic luxury, sandwiched between the Animal Kingdom’s adrenaline and the wizarding-world wonder of Harry Potter. It's not part of a Disney resort and ette is proud of that fact. You won’t find sprawling manicured grounds dotted with palm trees, or man-made beaches kissed by choreographed breezes. My view? A perfectly ordinary parking lot and a CVS. But the magic here isn’t in the backdrop — it’s in what happens the moment you step inside.

The snow-white Italian marble lobby hits like a cleansing breath. Light bounces off polished surfaces, champagne-gold and violet accents whisper, and the air smells faintly of citrus and something else — anticipation perhaps? Staff seem to glide rather than walk, dressed in impeccable off-white ensembles with artfully knotted foulards that echo the lobby’s luminous elegance.

Upstairs, the guest rooms balance minimalist sophistication with thoughtful detail. Crisp white linens, taupe tones, and lighting that flatters a travel-worn face. Each room includes a lacquered box filled with Le Labo toiletries and Salt & Stone facial wipes. The minibar is a rebel — stocked with zero-alcohol, botanical-infused spirits and artisan snacks you’ve never heard of but instantly want to Instagram. For those seeking the ultimate blend of wellness and luxury, book the Wellness Suite: a fully immersive guest experience with in-room access to both a Peloton Bike and a Technogym bench, allowing for a full-body workout in the comfort of your suite. In the bathroom, rainfall showers pour over oversized marble slabs, and the amenities are so lush they'll threaten to derail any evening plans. That, and the dreamy king bed dressed in Frette linens.

The Salt & the Cellar may be the star, but the supporting cast delivers their own standing ovations. Grab a pre-dinner cocktail at the mixology bar — a temple to craft where every pour comes from a family-owned brand. Here, cocktails are equal parts theatre and alchemy. Order Into The Woods—a forest-scented reverie of fresh green herbs, ginger, cucumber, lime, cookie crumble, and a mist of aromatic woodland air—served with your choice of vodka or gin. For something truly rare, opt for Nàdar Gin, one of the few bottles you’ll ever spot behind a bar.

Then, take your seat in the main restaurants velvet-lined, hand-chiselled Sentient chairs and don’t miss ordering Akira Back’s signature AB Tuna Pizza with micro shiso and white truffle oil. Served on custom plates printed with his mother’s abstract artwork, the dish encapsulates Back’s culinary ethos perfectly — sexy, easy to eat, and layered with a deeply personal touch. And for dessert don't miss ordering the heavenly

yuzu curd, with sable crumble, strawberry gelato, and tempura tuile.

Between outings, retreat to the serene book room — a cozy, art-filled hideaway where shelves brim with design tomes, travel journals, and coffee-table curiosities, all meant to be browsed at an unhurried pace.

The spa, a sanctuary scented in sandalwood and sage, leans into wellness without slipping into cliché; treatments are precise, indulgent, and purpose-driven. Then there’s the laundry room gallery — a strangely mesmerizing glass-walled space where you can watch your own fluffy bathrobe being folded with a level of care and precision usually reserved for origami or fine tailoring. It’s both absurdly indulgent and oddly grounding, a reminder that here, even the humblest details get the luxury treatment.

ette hotel doesn’t shout. It doesn’t compete with the spectacle next door. Instead, it rewrites the script on what a theme-park-adjacent stay can be — a deliberate, artful pause between Orlando’s thrills. It’s the place where you put the wand down, hang up the mouse ears, and remember that luxury done well is its own kind of magic.