When Hyatt announced it was building a new hotel alongside Villa Christina in Atlanta, I thought it was a good fit given the number of weddings the restaurant hosts each year. What I didn’t realize is what a great hotel it would be for any occasion – or none at all. With a location convenient to all major Atlanta attractions and venues as well as great shopping, dining and entertainment, Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina offers a relaxing stay for all ages. In fact, due to the landscaping around the hotel, it’s hard to tell you’re just minutes from the city’s posh Buckhead community, attraction-packed downtown or even nearby Perimeter Mall.
The Accommodations
Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina features three different standard rooms as well as four different suites. My husband and I were fortunate enough to stay in an executive suite, which included a spacious living room and separate bedroom with a king-sized bed. There also was a separate wet bar area that included a refrigerator, Keurig coffeemaker and sink. Now, this was much more room than we needed, but it was wonderful to have it just the same. We did love having both the master bath and a half bath off the living room. The master bath also contained a separate glassed-in shower and soaking tub.
We had 40-inch flat screen TVs in the living room and bedroom, as well as plenty of seating in both rooms. The most comfy spot, though, was the king Hyatt Grand Bed®, which I was reluctant to leave come checkout day. The pillows were stiff enough to support me when I was sitting up in bed, but soft enough to snuggle into when I turned out the lights. Suffice it to say that I could have stayed in bed during our entire stay and been quite happy.
The Dining
Of course, a girl has to eat, and eat I did. My husband and I walked the short journey from the hotel lobby to the entrance of Villa Christina for dinner. I had only been to Villa Christina once before, some 15 years earlier for a business luncheon, so I didn’t eat off the regular menu or even in the main restaurant. Thankfully, I did this time! Touted as a Mediterranean-inspired experience featuring North Italian pasta dishes among others, Villa Christina has been an Atlanta favorite for special occasions, including bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries and more.
My husband and I started our meal off with a set of appetizers, seared yellowfin tuna for him and a mixed greens salad topped with feta cheese, kalamata olives and balsamic reduction for me. Both provided a tasty preview of the dinner yet to come. Next, my husband had the Old Bay crab chowder, and I sampled the risotto with jumbo shrimp, English peas and grape tomatoes. FYI, all pasta dishes are available as appetizers, so if you have a difficult time deciding which to choose, this is a great way to sample more than one.
For our main course, my husband chose the 16-ounce New York steak with demi-glazed steak fries, crispy onions and jumbo asparagus. I opted for the filet mignon topped with melted Gorgonzola cheese served with buttermilk mashed potatoes, jumbo asparagus and truffle oil. Both steaks were perfectly tender, easy to cut and cooked just right. I especially loved the Gorgonzola cheese topping. Neither of us were wowed by the potatoes, but given how much we had already consumed, it was probably better that we didn’t eat much of them. Besides, we had to save room for dessert, right?
As a diehard chocolate fanatic, I selected the chocolate almond torte: stacked layers of milk chocolate mousse, passion fruit and almond chocolate brownie. Although my husband is not the chocolate fan I am, he still went for the Sinfully Chocolate, a trio of chocolate ice cream, chocolate crème brulee and warm lava cake. While both desserts were delicious, they didn’t quite measure up to the steaks. Or maybe we were just too full to truly appreciate them. Overall, though, it was a tremendously satisfying meal, and we definitely have plans to return to Villa Christina again in the future.
Villa Christina also offers breakfast, both by menu and via buffet. Now, if you were paying attention earlier, you’ll recall I was reluctant to leave the bed in my room; as such, my husband enjoyed breakfast on his own. He decided to go the buffet route, and said it was a good choice. There were the usual bread choices, such as bagels and croissants, along with fruit and sausage, but there also were cooking stations where he was able to order up eggs, omelets and Belgian waffles. All in all, he was quite satisfied with his morning meal.
Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina also features Café Christina, which serves up pizza, soups, quiche, burgers, sandwiches, salads, featured dishes, and desserts. Near the hotel lobby, Sassafras welcomes guests to nosh on light appetizers and sip their favorite cocktails in the relaxed lounge. If you prefer to dine in your room, room service is available during similar hours to those of the restaurant.
The Activities
Given we had just a brief stay at the Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina, we were not able to fully explore the hotel’s activities. If we’d had more time, you can bet we would have spent some time at the hotel pool, both in the water and lazing poolside on the comfy loungers along the water’s edge. The hotel also contains a nicely done fitness center that, sadly – especially given the dinner I consumed – I was not able to experience firsthand. And, just after our stay, the hotel announced the opening of its spa, with services provided by The Buckhead Massage Company. That, too, will be on my “to do” list during my next stay at the Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina.
My husband and I loved our stay at Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina, and we definitely will return again. If you have the pleasure to experience this hotel and restaurant, let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear about your stay!
Disclosure: Karon and her husband stayed one night at Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina and dined at the restaurant for dinner only as guests of the hotel for the purpose of this review. All opinions expressed herein