The 2nd half of our holiday trip to NYC was two free nights at the Hyatt Andaz 5th Avenue, a 184 room hotel in Midtown Manhattan near Bryant Park.
There was not really anything wrong with the Hyatt Andaz but it was definitely a big step down from the 2 nights that we stayed at the Park Hyatt NYC.
Hyatt Andaz 5th Ave Review tl:dr
If you’re visiting Midtown Manhattan, there’s no better hotel location than the Hyatt Andaz Fifth Avenue. Our room featured a comfortable bed, minimalist furniture and a great view of the NYC Public Library.
Cash prices were high at $710 per night when you include fees. Fortunately, we were able to book with Hyatt points and our stay was free. The staff was not particularly friendly but they performed their duties acceptably.
Booking
Cash prices for the Hyatt Andaz 5th started at $538 per night and the room we received goes for $578. Hotel fees and taxes in NYC are (WOW) high so the total cash price for our King Bed with City View was $710 per night.
Since Sandra (aka Zuzu) and I love to stay in luxury hotels but don’t want to pay the exorbitant rates, we’ve developed a process that helps us use credit card points to stay in nice hotels for free.
Redeeming Points
As a Category 6 Hyatt property, the Hyatt Andaz 5th Avenue is normally 25,000 points per night. Hyatt’s dynamic pricing means that the rate could be between 21k and 29k for specific nights.
Our 2 nights during December were 25,000 points each. If you do the math, that means that each points was worth 2.84 cents ($710 / 25k points = $0.0284).
While most travel bloggers say 1 Hyatt point is worth 1.5-2 cents, we track our actual value in a spreadsheet. Since 2021, we’ve gotten nearly 4 cents per Hyatt point in value on our trips!
Considering that we often get 3 points per dollar (or more) when we use credit cards for normal expenses (groceries, gas, restaurants…), that’s like getting 8-12% back on our everyday spending!
Or to put it another way, just by strategically paying most of our normal household expenses on the right credit card, we earn 1 free luxury hotel night every month or so.
Click here to learn how we turn our everyday spending into free nights at luxury hotels and resorts!
Location
Is there a better address in NYC than 5th Avenue?
Across the street from the NYC Public Library and Bryant Park, the Andaz Fifth Avenue is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. You’re roughly in the center of these major NYC landmarks:
- Rockefeller Center
- Empire State Building
- Times Square (a 10 minute walk)
- Chrysler Building
- Grand Central Station (a 5 minute walk)
Address
If you need to map your GPS to the Hyatt Andaz on 5th Ave, here’s the address:
Lobby Checkin
There’s not that much to the small Andaz lobby. You step inside to a small common area and the registration desk is somewhat hidden over to the left.
There was a small seating area with a coffee maker off to the right as you enter the lobby. I never saw more than 1 or 2 people seated there.
As opposed to the Park Hyatt NYC, I never saw a bellman.
Registration
There were 3 checkin stations at the registration desk. Only 2 were staffed when we arrived.
There was no World of Hyatt Elite line.
Both of the the Hyatt staff members were checking in guests when we arrived. After a short wait, a staff member checked us in.
I’m accustomed to registration noting my World of Hyatt Globalist status as soon as they pull up my reservation. Not sure why but that didn’t happen. So after they told me a room number, I asked if there were any available upgraded rooms for Globalists.
The response was a polite no, but they did have a nice view for us.
The staff member then reviewed our breakfast options. Globalists receive free breakfast with a beverage for each person in the room. We had the choice of breakfast in the restaurant or room service.
We received two physical keys to our ninth floor room. Digital keys through the Hyatt app were not available.
After we checked in, we were off to the elevators to our room.
I noted to myself that while the checkin process was fine, it was not as welcoming as what we had 2 days prior at the Park Hyatt NYC.
City View Room
The decor and vibe of the room at Andaz Fifth Avenue could not have been more different than the Park Hyatt New York.
Everything was clean and comfortable at both NYC hotels. But whereas the Park Hyatt room was luxurious, the Andaz room was minimalist to the extreme.
The room’s entryway was not well lit and reminiscent of the dark registration area. Dark wood on one side and glass on the other. Even the closet was glass.
Bedroom Area
First thing I noticed in the bedroom? It just felt empty, especially with the 12 foot ceilings.
There’s nothing on any of the walls (except a TV) and the furniture is minimalist. I assume that’s the look they’re going for but it didn’t appeal to me at all.
It felt like they forgot to finish decorating or maybe they ran out of design budget.
Comfortable Bed
The bedroom had a comfortable king size bed with two well appointed nightstands.
Each nightstand had reading lamps as well as two outlets. There was a wireless house phone on one night stand and this BRIGHT RED Geneva bluetooth wireless speaker on the other.
If you want to get some work done while staying at the Andaz 5th Ave, you’ll appreciate the large desk area with easily accessible outlet plugs.
At the foot of the bed was a 42 inch TV, a spartan chair which doubled as a luggage rack… and not much else.
Free Snacks and Drinks
One of the things that we enjoy about Hyatt’s Andaz hotels is the free snacks and drinks that you get at an Andaz property.
The mini refrigerator was well stocked with water and soda. At most Hyatt properties, only top level elite Hyatt Globalists get free water. Just the water & sodas are worth about $20/day compared to what a hotel would normally charge.
There were even free snacks. Each day, they replenished our stash of chips and the locally sourced chocolate bar.
Bathroom
Compared to the rest of the room, the bathroom at the Hyatt Andaz 5th Ave was downright fancy. But there were a couple oddities.
First, it didn’t match the vibe of the bedroom at all. While the room just felt empty & incomplete, the bathroom was beautiful. Lots of glass, mirrors, rich wood, chrome and black tile made it much more fitting of a $700 per night luxury hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
Even though they tried to tie in the design of the rest of the room with that chrome and glass closet, it still felt like the bathroom belonged to a different room.
You’ll find a glass vanity with dual sinks, plenty of nice quality towels and a pair of good robes in the bathroom.
While there was no soaking tub, there’s a good size walk in shower that has both a rainfall shower head and a handheld showerhead.
The shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, hand soap and body lotion were from Fellow Barber. Fellow started in NYC in 2006 as a trendy alternative to expensive salon haircuts and stodgy old barbers.
I liked their products but found it odd that Andaz was providing what’s primarily a men’s hair care line. Well, Sandra liked it just fine so no complaints here.
All the toiletries in the bathroom were replenished daily without us having to ask.
The light switches in the bathroom, as well as in the bedroom, were push button and labeled for different options.
Water pressure in the sinks and shower was strong.
What’s the second oddity about the bathroom? There’s no door on the water closet.
Most high end hotels that we’ve been in have a toilet with a privacy door. While there’s a dividing partition, I was surprised that there was no door.
View of NYC from our Room
Besides the location, the best part of the Hyatt Andaz 5th Avenue was the view.
Our ninth floor window was directly facing the NYC Public Library. You can’t see it but Bryant Park is behind the library on the same block.
Restaurant & Bar
In the Andaz basement, there’s a place called The Bar Downstairs & Kitchen. The Andaz restaurant was serving breakfast and lunch during the day. In the evening, they were more of a bar with a limited menu.
Although we didn’t try lunch or dinner at The Bar Downstairs & Kitchen, we did have breakfast in the Andaz twice.
Breakfast by Room Service
As a World of Hyatt Globalist, we received free breakfast both mornings.
On the first morning, we elected to have room service. We placed our order via the house phone and our breakfast arrived in about 40 minutes.
The room service menu wasn’t extensive. Zuzu got eggs, hash browns and some delicious thick cut bacon.
I ordered an Egg Sandwich with avocado and hash browns. It was pretty good.
As opposed to the exceptional room service delivery at the Park Hyatt, our server at the Andaz Fifth Ave barely brought the room service cart into the entryway of our room.
Breakfast was good but just not on par with what we got at the Park Hyatt NYC.
On the second morning at the Andaz 5th Avenue, we had breakfast in the restaurant downstairs.
Breakfast in the Restaurant
In the Bar Downstairs & Kitchen, it was the opposite of bright and cheery. It was dark and moody.
The Andaz 5th Ave restaurant would be perfect for a late night NYC speakeasy but is was a little weird for breakfast or brunch
Zuzu was really excited to try the seasonal Pumpkin Spiced French Toast. It was good but didn’t live up to our expectations.
I had an omelet which was also pretty good.
Overall, the food from the Andaz 5thAvenue restaurant was good but not a highlight of our holiday trip to NYC.
In hindsight, we really should have tried the lemon soufflé pancake. There are several travel bloggers who rave about this dish (except this blogger) which used to be on the menu as the lemon poppy seed pancake.
Gym
Down in the basement (or the Cellar as the Andaz elevator signs refer to it), you’ll also find a well equipped fitness center.
The well-equipped gym includes weight machines, free weights, Peloton bikes and treadmills.
There’s a funky, artsy set of rules on the wall in the fitness center.
Pool
Nope. There’s no pool at the Hyatt Andaz 5th Avenue hotel.
Parking
If you have a car, nightly valet parking at the Hyatt Andaz 5th Avenue costs $80 for a car and $90 for an SUV. Parking tax is on top of that. Valet parking does not include in and out privileges. The Andaz does not offer a self parking option.
While there are plenty of parking options is the 5th Avenue area, there’s no free parking. It looks like the Andaz 5th Ave parking prices are not out of line with other nearby parking prices.
Things to Do Near Andaz 5th Avenue
The Andaz Fifth Avenue is right across the street from the main NYC Public Library which shares a block with Bryant Park.
NYC Library
We could have spent more than a day in the main NYC Public Library but we just didn’t have the time.
One (of many) awesome exhibits at the library was Winnie the Pooh and Friends. Visit NYC to see the stuffed bear that author AA Milne gave to his son Christopher Robin!
Bryant Park
On the far side of the NYC Public Library, Bryant Park was exactly what we were hoping for on our holiday trip to NYC. There were close to 100 Christmas shops and places to eat as well as the only free outdoor skating rink in New York City.
Grand Central Station
Just a short walk from the Andaz is THE Grand Central Station that you’ve always heard about. It wasn’t crazy busy when we visited but it’s easy to see how it could be.
Andaz 5th Avenue Review: 4 of 5
As a base for exploring Manhattan, the Hyatt Andaz 5th Avenue was pretty good. It’s not a 5 star luxury hotel but it was a solid 4 star hotel.
If we had not spent the previous 2 nights at the fantastic Park Hyatt, I would have been more impressed. The location was perfect for what we wanted, our room was comfortable, and the free Globalist breakfast was very good.
Unfortunately, there was nothing that made this a truly great stay for us.
The Bottom Line: Would We Visit Again?
With so many other fine hotels in Midtown South, I don’t think we’ll visit the Hyatt Andaz 5th Avenue again.
As a fan of Hyatt, I’d go back to the Park Hyatt in a heartbeat. And if we wanted to stay in this same part of Manhattan, I’d try the Hyatt Centric Midtown instead of returning to the Andaz 5th Avenue.
More about this NYC Trip
Zuzu & I had a fantastic time on our first vacation trip to New York. I love writing about our travel adventures so I hope you’ll also enjoy these other stories:
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