REVIEW: Andaz, Scottsdale Resort and Spa by Hyatt

Sleepover Notes

Stamps' Rating

6114 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85253
(480) 368 1234
www.andazscottsdale.com
@AndazScottsdale andazscottsdale

Star rating
Rates Double rooms start from $200 (£156)

Location Ten minute drive from Old Town Scottsdale
Bed comfiness 9/10
Pool One main pool and one spa pool
WIFI Strong WIFI, free for guests
Parking Free parking
Best thing? Design
Worst thing? Pool service
The all-important plug by the bed? YES!

Sometimes you just walk into a place and you just like it. That was my immediate Andaz Scottsdale review when I arrived [not so] fresh from an 11-hour flight from London. There’s no lobby, just a lounge area where staff greet you with ipads and a bottle of water to check you in as you relax on the couch. The open plan lobby leads on to the bar and restaurant and, since lunch is in full swing, we are treated to the scent of something delicious being prepared. There is a glass wall that makes up a whole side of the main building and the sun is shining. Of course the sun is shining. It’s Arizona.

The delightful Andaz Scottsdale opened in 2017 and if you are someone that appreciates intricate design and art, this place is paradise. Funnily enough, it’s situated in an area known as Paradise Valley – just a ten-minute car ride into Downtown Scottsdale and in the shadows of Camelback Mountain.

We follow a bellman as he rolls our luggage between a series of cottages (the Spanish, ‘casitas’) that make up the rooms. The resort is so lovely, with manicured gardens and colourful flowers weaving around cute one story casitas. Outside, people are sat on their patios reading or having a drink and just soaking up the sun.

ROOMS WITH STYLE

andaz scottsdale review — Rooms are in individual casitas around the property

This area is famous for the mid-century modern architecture pioneered by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. His winter home, Taliesin West, is a short drive away and is now a National Historic Landmark and museum. The hotel has embraced this style with a slick industrial feel, and classic colours throughout the rooms. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, there are plenty of Arizona accents too, such as local art in the rooms, Native American patterns and warm colours that compliment the concrete grey. My boyfriend Simon prefers more of a classic, cosy-style lodge, like the Four Seasons Troon North Scottsdale, but to say I loved the design of our room here is an understatement. There was a huge bed, a corner couch and a statement chair. The storage area was an open wardrobe that led onto the bathroom. I thought it was such a well-thought out design with plenty of room to unpack without clunky cupboards imposing on the space.

OTHER COOL STUFF

One thing I got VERY excited about was the offering of full-sized wine glasses in the room. This might sound like a trivial thing, but for someone who travels a lot I have lost count of the times we have drunk wine from the toothpaste glasses in the bathroom or, worse, cardboard coffee cups! There was also a quality coffee machine with proper mugs, high-quality mini bar snacks and water in the room. Next to the lounge chair, a leather magazine rack had glossy titles, coffee table books and design magazines to read. The flat screen TV had WIFI access for streaming your own videos. These touches really give the impression that the hotel wants you to relax and enjoy the room, rather than use it just to sleep and then be forced into the public areas to relax. For a longer stay, this is something well worth taking into consideration.

HOTEL REVIEW OF THE ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE

THE BATHROOMS ARE HUGE!

The bathroom was also very cool with a huge bench, oversized sink and lots of lighting and plug sockets in front of a massive mirror. I’d say a woman definitely had a part in how this went down! There was also a separate toilet room – another underrated hotel perk that I love.

The pièce de résistance was the enormous shower! You could have a shower party in there, if you were into that kind of thing… It had a bench, two powerful shower heads and a ridiculous amount of space to dance to your favourite scrub down song. Maybe giant shower rooms are the ‘thing’ here in Scottsdale as we’ve also stayed at the Hotel Valley Ho, which also had a massive shower. Hey, I’m not complaining!

The bathroom products were from a brand called Argan and, I assume, are exclusive to the hotel as I could not find them for sale anywhere else. The cosmetics were of good quality, the conditioner actually made my hair silky rather than the frizzy mess usually caused by hotel toiletries. As expected, towels were soft and fluffy and there was a decent hair dryer.

From the bathroom, the casita had a back door that opened to a small, private patio. This proved to be the perfect sun trap to air dry after a shower and, at night, to sit back with a glass of wine and look up at the stars.

COOL POOL

The pool wasn’t enormous but a really good size for a boutique hotel. I loved the layout of the pool area and during our stay it was never crowded. There were plenty of sun loungers, day beds and umbrellas. You can also rent private cabanas. There is a beach bar that serves food and poolside service. The service was pretty slow and so make sure you don’t leave it until you’re ravenous before ordering! Luckily, the bar has a large menu of specialty cocktails so they kept us entertained until the food arrived.

Watching over the pool is the hotel’s resident inflatable flamingo (which we named Flossie). Flossie makes for the perfect instagram picture and a very comfy place to lay back and work on your tan… if you can stay on!

READ OUR POST ON THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS IN SCOTTSDALE HERE

WEFT AND WARP RESTAURANT AT ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE

Weft and Warp scottsdale review — The Weft and Warp Art Bar and Kitchen had some incredible food

Like the rest of the Andaz Scottsdale, the restaurant and the bar have a slick, modern design and is a stylish space to meet friends and socialise. There is also an open kitchen and an impressive menu of, what has been referred to as, ‘Sonoran cuisine’. Dishes have been designed to incorporate local flavours with Mexican and international influences. There is a strong farm-to-table message of using local produce here and the result is a delight. In fact, this was one of our favourite places to eat in Scottsdale!

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

Breakfast at Weft and Warp was a mix of classic offerings such as Belguim waffles, eggs benedict etc, alongside some original choices such as spicy chilaquiles ($14) with egg, avocado, smoked cotija and ranchero sauce, blue corn short stack pancakes with orange-poppy seed custard and rye whiskey syrup ($16 and luxurious) and the recommended dirty hash brown ($14) consisiting of green chili pork, queso and fried egg. You need to stay for a week so you can try everything!

DINNER TO REMEMBER

The evening menu at Andaz Scottsdale’s Weft and Warp Art Bar and Kitchen was the highlight, with such interesting and exciting options it was difficult to choose! Everything came with a slight twist. The charred corn, commonly served in Arizona, was served mashed with aioli and cojita cheese ($6) and was otherworldly. I probably could have stopped there and feasted on corn and chips until I exploded but we also sampled the chorizo bone in pork chop with sweet peppers ($35), blistered shishito peppers ($7), the quirky seared mushroom cap with chimichurri sauce ($8) and the, franky delicious, market catch fish with grilled lemon, rainbow chard crisp, fried quinoa desert spiced butter sauce ($30).

Diet? What diet? I come to Scottsdale for the food and this place is firmly on my list. Can’t wait to go back.

THE GUEST HOUSE

The hotel has a friendly vibe and I loved the use of cheerful colours throughtout the resort. One of my favourite things about the Andaz Scottsdale was to discover that in the building of the hotel, developers worked closely with local artists at the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound and touches of their creations can be found dotted around the resort. There were prints, sculptures, rugs and furniture in our room. The restaurant uses ceramics made just down the road by Mary Van Dusen – these are also for sale in the gift shop which also celebrates locally made products.

My favourite was the pom pom ‘wall’ dividing the check-in area from the lounge and bar and when we visited Cattle Track I was excited to actually meet the artist, Chance Phillips, herself and check out more of her designs. Another really cool thing to look out for is the giant pencil painting in the lobby created by celebrated artist Mark McDowell. Dotted around were chairs, footstalls and furniture all using the unique Arizona patterns and prints.

There is also a seriously gorgeous spa on the resort, with a private pool to relax by. Keeping with the local theme I opted for a Cactus and Apple Stem Cell Anti-Aging Facial ($205 for 75 minutes) which used cactus extract and antioxidants in an attempt to make me look younger and more vibrant. How could I not pick the cactus one? When in Rome and all that!

CRUISE CONTROL

Finally, one of the coolest things about the hotel is Nora, the 1962 house Cadillac. She sits pompously outside, gleaming in the sun and reminiscent of a flagrant, more glamorous era. Ask nicely and they might let you pose for a few pictures in the driving seat for a Facebook post to make your friends back home jealous! If Instagram is your thing, you can rent the classic car with your own personal chauffer to whiz you around all the most Instagrammable spots in Scottsdale for the ultimate open-top city tour! This costs $125 per hour with a maximum of five guests and ends with a fun cocktail making class back at the Andaz to toast to all your perfect pictures!

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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FROM ANDAZ TO DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE?

To get to Downtown Scottsdale and Scottsdale Old Town from the Andaz, it’s around a ten-minute drive. Just far enough away to feel part of the action but with enough space to stretch out and enjoy your beautiful surroundings.

You can probably tell from my Andaz Scottsdale review that I adored this hotel. As well as being huge supporter of local business and traditions around Scottsdale, the hotel embodies breezy, laid back luxury with a charming smile. I’d move in tomorrow if I could!