It’s always a pleasure to try a new property and Hyatt rarely lets us down, but the Andaz Savannah experience was a mixed bag.
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Location
Positioned in the historic district on Ellis Square, the Andaz Savannah by Hyatt is in the heart of the city. Just a few blocks from the river, surrounded by restaurants and bars, the hotel is well positioned for a weekend stay. We arrived late and the bars were a little loud and intimidating (with a family) and some of the revelers on the street had us concerned but we couldn’t hear them inside the room. There is parking available for $49/night by valet across the square or self-parking in the same garage for $24/night.
Address: 14 Barnard St, Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: +1 (912) 233-2116
Property
Initially opened as the Avia Savannah, in 2012 Hyatt bought the property and renovated it to become the Andaz Savannah that exists there today. On the main level, a restaurant, 22 Square, and bar serve guests and patrons amidst an upscale but casual lobby aesthetic. Upon entering, the concierge greets visitors with the front desk to the back of the lobby near the elevators. A small shop with local products and Andaz merchandise is situated between the two.
Meeting facilities on the main floor were significant, the hotel also offers a small pool with cabanas and loungers as well as a small fitness center. The property is pet friendly for those traveling with furry friends.
Benefits
Unfortunately, our stay was brief so we were unable to test the early check-in/late check-out option and as we required two queen beds, were not eligible for an upgrade as they do not have any suites with two beds.
Hyatt Privé and World of Hyatt Globalist will enjoy breakfast in the hotel restaurant, 22 Square, which is offered from 6:30 AM to 11 AM daily. The menu had a mix of American breakfast classics and some new innovations that were well-intentioned but missed the mark. Our family of four (one baby) ordered an omelet, the southern fried french toast and the Gourmond. while aspirational, none hit the mark for us.
To illustrate this, the Southern Fried French Toast, is a bread pudding adapted into fresh toast but this has a practical issue. Dry bread is soaked to create bread pudding which is then dried out again by the frying process. It was dry and a bit bland with neither the opulence of a bread pudding nor the caramelization of french toast. The concept – decadence on top of decadence – is a noble one but when executed it simply failed.
The Gourmond is shaved Georgia ham (subbed for bacon in our case) on top of a waffle with gruyere cheese, an egg, (good so far) and then topped with a mustard seed maple syrup. We are adventurous eaters, my wife has a culinary degree, but still this one just missed. On the first couple of bites, my wife commented that the mustard syrup added a Christmas component to the dish, but it lost its luster quickly.
The omelet was unremarkable, the toast unbuttered and cold.
I appreciate the chef going beyond the traditional bounds and trying something new, something edgy, but on these dishes it just didn’t work. I might recommend the two-egg American breakfast instead.
Room
We stayed in room 301 with a view of the pool and at the end of the hall. Some of the design elements were premium but others felt very much like any business Hilton. In fact, I initially thought the hotel was converted from a Hilton based on some of the design elements. Despite the historical nature of the building, it’s a traditional American hotel rectangle. Immediately to the right is the entrance to the bathroom and then the desk and TV run along the left with our pair of beds to the right; a small table and chairs at the window.
The bed was comfortable and the TV allowed for Chromecast which is always helpful with a family.
One feature of Andaz is a help-yourself minibar which sometimes includes booze but not always. The Andaz Savannah includes some non-alcoholic beverages, and chips but the rest is pricey.
Bathroom
The bathroom is a mix of basic and premium. The vanity is a standalone similar to most Hilton hotels, the bathroom is unremarkable save for two things: the shower, and the toiletries.
The shower is large but tiled and hidden around a corner with no glass – it felt like a gym shower, maybe an old YMCA.
Toiletries are C.O. Bigelow and were premium but not life-changing. Even though the shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel are attached to the wall, if they were mini bottles I still wouldn’t take them home with me but it was better than a basic option.
Value
For Globalists or Privé guests traveling without the need for two beds, this is one of the better values in the Andaz chain with nightly rates ranging from $190-350. When you include an early check-in, late check-out, breakfast for two adults, and a property that didn’t fight the upgrade, it’s a good cash value. For those with the Hyatt credit card, this is a Category 4 property so guests can use their annual Category 1-4 free night certificate, or 12,000 points for the stay. That said, for a family on a short stay it didn’t fit the bill for us, but if I was visiting Savanah on my own, I would likely stay here again and it was a good value for money.
What do you think?
Mustard seed and maple sounds like a pork glaze not a waffle topping!