Hotel Andaluz Albuquerque, Curio Collection by Hilton — Restaurant in Albuquerque

This is based on how my wife (the Bride) and I (the Groom) were treated when we kindly e-mailed our wedding planner (Delaney) in April of 2020 to reimburse us for having to cancel our July of 2020 wedding due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. We requested that Hotel Andaluz honor the Act of God via "FORCE MAJEURE" stipulation of our contractual agreement. People were getting sick and dying. We had many elderly family members from the east coast who had to cancel their flights. The following is from the scripted reply we received from Hotel Andaluz (Delaney) when we asked for our money back. "As the situation with COVID-19 is ever-changing in these uncertain waters we can keep the event and see if there are parameters that invoke the provision creating it “illegal or impossible” to host the event. However, we understand that you have already gone through planning the event and we would love to celebrate your love story in the future by rescheduling the celebration with a rebook credit. The hotel will provide a rebook credit for the wedding where 100% of the deposit paid to the Hotel could be applied as a rebook credit toward the Master Account of a replacement wedding or event booked, actualized and paid for by no later December 31, 2021. Would you like to send over the documents to create a rebook credit?" REALLY? DO YOU REALLY THINK BRIDES AND GROOMS FEEL SAFE REBOOKING THEIR WEDDINGS IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WITH NO END DATE IN SIGHT?? Do you have no integrity when the opportunity to initiate integrity matters most? We would have felt safer re-booking if we didn't feel forced to re-book during a PANDEMIC! Safer if our feelings were respected when we politely asked for our refund FOUR MONTHS IN ADVANCE. Where was your compassion, empathy, and understanding? You made us, the Bride and Groom feel terrible in not knowing whether we were going to be reimbursed or not for FOUR MONTHS, pushing stress levels through the roof. This choice in behavior felt hurtful, unfair, unwelcome, unnecessary, and ETHICALLY, MORALLY WRONG. If you want 5 Star reviews, treat your guests like 5 Stars. Treat people with love and respect if you want people to love and respect you and your establishment. Your staff (Delany and influencers for Hotel Andaluz) DISHONORED THE BRIDE AND GROOM'S REQUEST FOR FOUR MONTHS WITH NO REGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY, ELDERLY, CHILDREN, and FRIENDS who had to CANCEL THEIR FLIGHTS FROM NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, FLORIDA, etc. How many Brides and Grooms you did this to is beyond us, as we cannot speak for others. This was YOUR choice of behavior towards YOUR paying guests. We paid to have OUR wedding at YOUR establishment. Your place has beautiful atmosphere, good food, friendly staff (all reasons to come and give business). We would have loved to have our wedding at Hotel Andaluz under the right circumstances, but we were not given that option-- rather the carrot dangling at the end of the stick regarding our refund so that we could rebook when feeling safe and less stressed. We would have appreciated someone reaching out personally, and have not received a phone call to this day which says it all. Put yourselves in our shoes. How would you have felt? After all that? If this was your daughter or son getting married? Or if you were the Bride or Groom? You appear to be no different from other establishments that hide behind attorney approved dialogue and self-serving [to the establishment] policies in order to minimize lawsuits and...

Andaluz review

I booked Hotel Andaluz over a year ago in anticipation of bringing my husband to the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. We looked at several hotels, and while our first choice hotel was already booked (even over a year in advance) I was excited to stay at this hotel.

Unfortunately we did not have the best experience. We called ahead of time and let the hotel know that we had a late flight arrival time but wanted them to know that we would for sure be there for our room. We reserved a studio with a queen bed in it for my husband and myself. Once we got up to the room, we realized they gave us 2 double beds instead of 1 queen bed. We called the desk but they basically said, too bad that’s all we have. Now, my husband and I are used to sleeping in a king bed, so a double bed for 2 grown adults was really not great for us... especially since it was also not what we reserved. In addition, there was no hot water that came from the sink in the bathroom. The man and the desk was quite unhelpful in this regard.

The next morning we got up and went straight to the front desk and asked if there was anything they could do (my husband and I also work in customer service so we are always careful and mindful of being as polite as humanly possible). Again we were met with another girl who seemed horribly inconvenienced by the fact that we wanted to be put in the same type of room that we reserved. She huffed and puffed and told us how she would have to move several things around to make that happen for us (trying to make us feel guilty about wanting to stay in the room glass that we reserved?). She told me she would call the room in a while because she had so much work to do to make that happen.

Not much longer, she called and said she would have a new room available for us at 1pm. We thanked her and told her we were going to take a nap until it was ready (we had just gotten back to the hotel from the fiesta so it was about 9am). Then, while we were sleeping the housekeeping woman tried opening our door and coming in! Luckily we have the safety guard on, otherwise she would have walked in on us sleeping in our pajamas! We jumped out of bed and were so caught off guard. We told her we were moving rooms, but not until 1pm and she gave an eye roll and walked away.

Lastly, the room temperature is not controlled in the room. So there were moments when it was quite warm. Too warm to sleep, and then icy cold. It was a bit of a mess.

Overall, the hotel building itself had charm and is a great location, but it is quite dated. In addition, the level of service we received was quite underwhelming and put us off quite a bit (with the exception of the valet, which was great and efficient). Honestly we shouldn’t have had to pay for that first night in a room that didn’t have hot running water nor was the hotel room class that we reserved, but everybody we dealt with was far less than helpful so it seemed like a waste of effort to bring it up to anyone there at the time.

I think next time we go to ABQ, we will book way in advance and stay at Hotel Chaco (which was our original 1st choice). We went by there for dinner and the hotel and service...

Char at Hotel Andaluz, a Hilton Curio Collection gem, offers a dining experience that’s as visually stunning as it is delicious. From the moment you step into the artfully lit dining room—where a dramatic chandelier hangs over a striking mural—you know you’re in for something special.||||Wagyu Steaks on the Josper Grill||||The highlight of the meal is unmistakably the Wagyu steaks, presented tableside on a sizzling 400°F charcoal brick. The sirloin and carne asada cuts arrive with a perfect charred crust, their interiors a beautiful medium-rare, glistening with natural juices. The steaks are garnished with a sprig of rosemary, adding an aromatic flourish as they continue to gently cook on the hot stone. Each slice is impossibly tender, with a melt-in-your-mouth richness that only top-tier Wagyu can deliver.||||Sides and Sauces: Elevated Classics||||Accompanying the steaks are sides that deserve their own spotlight. The parmesan truffle fries are golden and crisp, tossed with fresh herbs and a generous shower of parmesan, making each bite irresistible. The Mexican street corn is served in a rustic terracotta bowl, dusted with cotija cheese and chili, and finished with a wedge of lime for a burst of freshness.||||A quartet of sauces—chimichurri, red and green salsa, and pickled onions—are elegantly arranged on a wooden tray, inviting you to customize each bite. Fresh, homemade mini flour tortillas are soft and warm, perfect for wrapping up slices of steak or scooping up the vibrant sauces.||||The Bamboo Salt & Pepper Tower||||A unique touch is the bamboo tower featuring Himalayan pink sea salt, coarse white sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. This interactive tableside element allows you to season your steak to perfection, enhancing the flavors and adding a personalized touch to the meal.||||Dessert: Pan de Muerto White Cake||||The meal concludes with a show-stopping Pan de Muerto white cake. This delicate slice is moist and light, topped with a generous drizzle of strawberry coulis and a sprinkle of white chocolate. Garnished with a fresh mint leaf and artful dollops of chocolate and cream, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious—a sweet, festive finale that lingers on the palate.||||Service and Atmosphere||||What truly sets Char apart is the exceptional service. Alysha’s attentive and charming hospitality redefines the dining experience, anticipating every need and making each guest feel genuinely cared for. Her thoughtful recommendations and warm presence elevate the meal from great to unforgettable.||||Continuous Improvement||||Having visited Char before, the continuous enhancements are clear. Each visit brings noticeable improvements in both food and service, reflecting a commitment to excellence and guest satisfaction.||||Final Impressions||||Char delivers a steakhouse experience that blends culinary artistry with genuine hospitality. The Wagyu steaks are among the best in Albuquerque, and every detail—from the bamboo salt tower to the decadent dessert—shows a restaurant at the top of its game. Whether you’re a steak connoisseur or simply seeking a memorable night out, Char is a destination that delights...