Stepping up to the front door of the Andaz San Diego, a Hyatt property, is like getting a vintage
1950’s Panoramic Sugar Spun Easter Egg with a scene inside. The exterior of this hotel is in a historic building opened in 1913 for the World’s Fair celebrating the completion of the Panama
Canal. It’s old but well maintained. Open the doors, and a completely contemporary world awaits guests.
Little did I know when I was being hosted by this luxurious hotel that there are quite a few Andaz Hotels around the world. Just on the West Coast, there are hotels in Palm Springs, Scottsdale, West Hollywood, and Napa. As you can see, these remarkable hotels are placed in well-known travel destinations. No
cookie cutter layout in these hotels. Each is unique and one of a kind. The goal of Andaz is to immerse their guests in their destination. In San Diego, the Andaz is in the heart of the Gaslamp District and within walking distance of Petco Park.
Of course my curiosity made me wonder why the name was Andaz. “Andaz” is a Hindi word meaning “personal style,” so fitting for the uniqueness of these special hotels. They say, “Our
name celebrates the individuality of every guest.” From watching other guests, I can say that is true, from the family enjoying the pool area to the young couple I found dancing on
the rooftop.
Stepping inside the hotel, I found a sculpture of a mother giraffe and her baby. I imagine this pair reflects the San Diego Zoo which is in close proximity to the hotel. On the wall, there was a painting of a lion dressed in a suit. I later found out that the lion in the suit stands for a very small boutique men’s clothing
store inside the hotel called “Maceoo,” a brand designed by Mahdi Raad and first opened at this hotel. Raad, originally an
MIT grad and telecom engineer, created an algorithm to design his clothing line. On another wall is a giant mural in sunny bold colors reflecting the San Diego spirit and greeting all where I found Instagram-worthy photos being taken.
Once I arrived at my room, I loved the simplistic design which I think reflects San Diego. The layout of this room was very fluid with openness of the bedroom and sitting area. The luxurious shower was even visible if a drape was drawn open, adding to the whole fluid feeling. And, I must say, the beds are oh-so-comfortable.
For me, the biggest treat was the spectacular rooftop area the size of the hotel footprint with views encompassing so much of San Diego. After my meeting, I headed to that rooftop at night to see San Diego all lit up in its glory and to enjoy a cocktail at the bar on that roof. The huge firepit was truly the centerpiece of the rooftop, but there were cozy seating areas throughout.
The next morning, the breakfast on that same rooftop drew me in. I had to first check out the
rooftop pool surrounded on one side with individual cabanas of different sizes with inviting sofas and chairs. I found out there is even a Cabana Suite with access to a private poolside cabana next to the lap-size pool.
Breakfast could not have been more perfect with friendly servers bringing a cappuccino and a plate of the Chicken and Waffle menu item. This hearty breakfast set me up for exploring all that San Diego has to offer.
As is true in my industry, I was hosted at Andaz, but the comments are true to what I experienced. The staff at the Andaz are professional and helpful, and I would suggest you put this hotel on your list for your next travel experience.
