 the Atlantic Ocean, the Confidante Miami Beach hotel is set in a1940s art deco skyscraper. It's a 2-minute walk from Miami Beach. Chic rooms with a 1950s vibe feature minibars and flat-screen TVs. Suites add sitting areas, living rooms, and/or kitchens with wet bars and fridges. Some quarters also have private balconies and/or ocean views.

Booked a King Deluxe for $239 (+ taxes & fees) per night & was upgraded to an Oceanfront with Lounge Deck. I booked this hotel specifically to be close to the beach, to lounge in the Miami sunshine & this hotel was perfect for that type of trip.

After living & working in South Florida for almost 10 years, I have come to tolerate Miami's lackluster customer service & premium proximity prices. I was surprised as the staff was pleasant and the hotel felt well-maintained; I would stay here again.

The Confidante Miami Beach - The Unbound Collection by Hyatt Review

The Confidante Miami Beach Room Tour

KYU brings a fresh concept to Miami, the wood-fired Asian grill features a diverse menu and focuses on professional yet relaxed service and a commitment to green practices.

Kyu Miami Chef Tasting Dinner Menu ($95 pp)

We went to Kyu for my youngest sister's birthday. Located in Wynwood, the restaurant has a large inside dining area as well as several tables outside: 4 under the building awning & more located in the street.

With our 615pm reservation, we were seated promptly outside at one of the four tables located right outside the main entrance. After being seated & greeted by our waitress, we asked if we could do the tasting menu due to our party's lactose intolerance. The waitress left to check with the kitchen & upon her return triumphantly announced we could indeed have the tasting menu. 

The chef tasting menu consists of 9 menu items listed as "Enjoy a delicious selection of Chef's favorite seasonal dishes, perfectly sized to your group. Let us do the hard work"

We had a few minutes before happy hour ended (at 630pm) and put in two orders of Old Fashioned (w/ George Dickle Rye) along with one Margarita with Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila. Each drink was $10 ($7 happy hour + $3 specialty upcharge).

We sipped on our drinks, chatted while we waited for the first dish to arrive.

1st course was Krunchy Kale ($9), which ranked 7th out of the 8 entrees for all of us. Overall this starter was okay & not something I would order again.

2nd course was Crispy Spicy Hamachi Tartare (21), which ranked 1st of the 8 entrees for my spouse & sister while ranking 2nd of the 8 entrees for me.

While I don't like meat tartare, I enjoy fish/seafood tartare. The crispy rice base topped with wasabi mayo & the fish was the perfect mixture of crunchy, melty, sweet & spicy. I would definitely order this entree again. 

3rd course was Roasted Cauliflower ($20), which ranked 5th and 6th for my spouse & sister respectively while ranking 4th for me.

Upon setting the entree down, we were instructed to cut up the cauliflower & mix it with the herb vinaigrette. The kitchen placed the goat cheese on the side, rather than underneath the cauliflower for our lactose intolerance, which we greatly appreciated. I loved this entree and would definitely order it again.

4th course was Crispy Pork Belly ($17, which ranked 5th for my sister & me while ranking 6th for my spouse. While the pork belly was nice & tender,  I personally did not like the bun. It was "mushy" and not as sweet as expected. 

5th course was Thai Fried Rice Stone Pot w/ egg ($25), which ranked 3rd for my spouse & sister, while ranked 6th for me. 

The entree came with table-side preparation, where the waiter mixed all the ingredients together & portioned it out in silver bowls. My spouse & sister thoroughly enjoyed this meal, however, the rice, to me, tasted like the burnt rice you find at the bottom of the pot & I felt it needed a bit more, something. I would be interested in trying this entree with the king crab option, to see if the crab provides that special something I was looking for.

The 6th course was Beef Short Ribs ($45), which ranked 2nd for my sister, 3rd for me & 4th for my spouse. 

When the entree was set, we were instructed to squeeze the lime over the meat. The meat was tender, and the contrast of the sauce with the lime was delectable. The sweet soy and garlic soy was so good, my sister refused to wipe the sauce from her hands and saved it for the last lick. This was a flavorsome entree I will think about until my next trip to Kyu Miami.

The 7th course was Grilled Bok Choy ($11), which we all agreed ranked 8th of the entrees. I love bok choy, however, this entree needed to be cooked a bit longer as the stem was tough.

Less than a minute after the bok choy was placed on the table, the 8th course of Wagyu Beef Brisket ($49) arrived. This ranked 1st for me, 2nd for my spouse, and 4th for my sister. 

The kitchen's instruction was to make lettuce wraps with the meat, sides, spices & sauces provided. The meat melted in your mouth & was a great "end" to the meal.

The 9th course was Tropical Fruits ($10) that was brought out with "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate on the plate, along with a candle.

Overall the $95 per person tasting menu was an unforgettable experience. Next time, I will order the brisket, the ribs & either the cauliflower or the tartare to share, to spare my wallet.

Made a reservation at Kyu Miami to celebrate my sister's birthday. Great food & great staff made for a memorable night with my loved ones.

KYU Miami Restaurant Review

, we walked the 0.9 miles to the Andaz San Deigo, a 159-room boutique hotel located in Gaslamp Quarter.

We used a Hyatt Free Night to book a standard Queen room & were not provided a Globalist upgrade at check-in. Thomas at the front desk checked us in & provided us a (plastic) glass of wine & beer. As a King room was not available when I made the reservation, I asked Thomas if a King room was available at check-in. He said to call down to the front desk in 90 minutes & check. (When I called down, they said no King rooms were available).

We took the elevator up to the 5th floor to our room for the night, #507. While were appreciated having a room far from the elevator, the room did not have good views. Also noticed ear plugs in the room, which was a bit concerning, however outside noise was not an issue & I got a great night's sleep.

After placing our bags in the built in closet, we took photos & recorded room tour videos. After we decided to make a cup of coffee with the in-room Keurig & upon opening noticed the machine had not been cleaned since it was placed in the room. So before using, we did a deep clean with some Lysol wipes & did a few hot water rinses.

Andaz San Diego TimeLapse view from the room

Used a Hyatt Free Night to stay at the Andaz San Diego which is a nice hotel in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. While the queen room was small, it was quite functional & used the space well. Would definitely stay here again for the comfy bed & delicious breakfasts.

Blog

Andaz San Diego Review

3.89

Bottom Line

What we loved

What we did not like

Verdict

Andaz San Diego TimeLapse view from the room

Andaz San Diego Room Tour

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