Fireplace Lounge at the Hyatt

BF and I came here for an evening drink around 9:00 on a Saturday night, and scored the last table.  A piano player set a lovely jazzy mood, and with a fireplace  burning nearby, this lounge's vibe is nice.  Granted, you are still sitting in a hotel lobby and can clearly see the front desk, plus we also had views into the other nearby restaurants.  But if you want to have a cocktail or nibbles without pretense and head up to your room afterwards, this is a good option.  

BF had a white russian, and I went with their sangria.  Their sangria wasn't very traditional - white wine, made fresh, shaken not stirred...but it was tasty!  We didn't have any nibbles, but seeing the options like small pizzas at the tables of others, it did look like good quality eats.

We came here for an after dinner drink before turning in. The drinks were pricey, but the pour was really generous!

Rather than have three separate reviews, I'm editing them for one review.

They've done a remodeling since I last came here a few years ago.  Hotel lounges are ok for people watching and enjoying an over-priced drink....but this place is different!

I've been here half a dozen times recently.  It is a great spot to grab a very nice appetizer before your evening entertainment.  They did a great job on their cheese varieties for their cheese flight.  The cheese selection includes some goat cheese varieties as well as cow cheeses and, of course, different textures from soft to hard.  The bread that comes with it is very fresh- strangely, I don't see it this fresh at other places very often.  It makes enough of a difference in the taste that I'm now going to take note of other places that do it.

This is a great spot to come in the late afternoon to get some work done.  They serve Starbucks coffee, and all the other coffee drinks-cappucino, latte, etc.  They have at least four tables near an outlet, there is great people watching, your business phone calls won't bother anyone, and you are treated well by staff.  I was seated near a working couple, plugging away on their laptops, and the server kept refilling their drinks and bringing crackers.  They have free wi-fi, and one of the most genius homepages when you sign in.  I was invited to follow Hyatt on Twitter and FB, so I did, which is how I heard about Sonny G playing last Saturday and realized this place is...

Also a great place to check out live music.  The place was busy on a weekend evening, but not so packed that you couldn't walk.  Every seat in the house was taken, except a couch on the outskirts of the lounge.  The acoustics are good, but you can still hear yourself talk.  I sat at the bar and ordered a pizza.  The crowd ranged from music lovers dressed in suits to tourists and their families ordering an evening meal.  The bartender seemed to know a lot of folks, so it's built up a following.

The band was great, playing blues and also adding their own flair to songs like "At last", and "Knocking on Heaven's Door" as well as standards like "My Funny Valentine".  They invited a local singer up for a couple of songs, as well as an outstanding soprano sax player.  There is a feeling of community, support and comraderie in a well-designed spacious lounge.  I was not left out.  People to the left and right included me in their convo, and the band members introduced themselves to me.  

So how was my pizza? It was a pear and prosciutto on thin crust.  Great tasting toppings, but Monterey Brewing does a better job.  Still very high quality, tho. I just had high expectations because the cheese flight and bread was so good.  

I'll be back to try other things and hear some talented local musicians.