This weekend we were in New Orleans for the lovely wedding of Kevin’s cousin and his beautiful new bride. We stayed at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency and I fell in love with it. I so did not want to leave. I’m already looking for excuses to get myself back there! BlogHer? You need to have a conference here. It’s massive. The conference rooms are enormous. And there’s a Starbucks in the hotel. Need I say more?
This was a first! The TV greeted us (well, me, since I made the reservation, lol!) by name when we arrived. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before! Something else that was cool about this hotel? The elevators. There are no buttons. You just walk up to the elevator, tap your key to the pad outside, and it automagically takes you to your floor. It knows.
We were in room 2005, a corner room on the 20th floor. There was such a fun view of the Superdome!
The Superdome entertained us with its colorful light show every night, lol.
But this is what I really want to tell you about. This is why I never wanted to leave. I could live here.
The Chocoholics Dessert Bar. It’s an all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet. How awesome is that?! Just check out this fabulous menu.
It’s every Friday and Saturday night from 9pm to midnight in the main hotel restaurant on the third floor. How incredibly fun would it be to have a quick girls weekend getaway here?? You can cruise around the French Quarter all day, do some boutique shopping on Magazine Street, and the come back here for an all night gab fest and chocolate party while having a glass of wine and listening to some soft jazz, right in the comfort of your hotel. No one would even mind if you changed into PJs first.
Did I mention they had to drag me away when it was time to check out?
Ahhh, finally we have the chocolate! :)
They had such a beautiful set up, everything was just as gorgeous as it was delicious!
Cookies, tarts, pies, eclairs…
See those mini chocolate pies up front? They exploded with a burst of caramel when you bit in to them. I died.
Cute little pudding shots!
Oh my gosh, those brownies. Those might have been my favorite out of everything!! So supremely rich and soft!
Yummy treats!
Oh baby. Come to mama.
These chocolate chip cookies were amazing!
I love, love, loved these mini fruit tarts! I could’ve eaten about a billion and a half of ’em.
This beautiful macaron tree was an incredible edible work of art. Everything you see — the flower, the red petals, the rings, the base — was all chocolate.
Cake lollipops!! These were so, so yummy! Another fav. And I just love how they have them displayed!
I was seriously like a kid in a candy store.
The coconut rochets were delicious!
Supremely soft red velvet cake.
And macarons!! I’m in love.
And these? Guess what these are. Chocolate covered macarons.
More fun pudding shots! Did I mention I tried one of everything? I had a chocolate hangover for days ya’ll.
This was so fun. What goes perfect with chocolate and cake? Milk of course!
They even had hot milk with these hot chocolate spoons to make your own hot chocolate.
Of course they had some incredibly rich sipping chocolate already made as well! :)
Oh, this? This was the doughnut station. Just check out what all they had for your doughnut dunking pleasure.
Fried yeast doughnuts.
Chocolate cake doughnuts.
Dulce de Leche crepes.
Beignets.
Chocolate churros.
All served with every dunking sauce and topping you could dream of: chocolate, caramel, raspberry, whipped cream, candied pecans and more.
Care for some chocolate bread pudding or a molten chocolate lava cake?? :)
Cute, cute pot au lait with a macaron garnish!
Yummy glazed eclairs.
Loved these chocolate seashells in their brown sugar “sand”!!
Chocolate eclairs!
Hazelnut sugar cookies.
And fun little sponge cake. Everything was so tiny and bite-sized so you don’t feel too guilty about loading up on the sampler platter! ;)
After a night of indulgence at the Chocoholics Dessert Bar, what’s perfect for breakfast? A Peanut Butter and Jelly Doughnut from Blue Dot Doughnuts. But go early! They sell out quick. If you don’t get there in time, bat your eyelashes and ask sweetly if they’ll make you one. They do that, cause they’re just awesome like that. And ya’ll. They also have doughnut ice cream sandwiches. Seriously. I need to get on that.
Okay. So who’s in for a weekend chocoholic getaway here?? I’m so all in. Let’s go!! :)
Have a great weekend ya’ll!! :)
The chocolate bar at the Hyatt doesn’t exist anymore. Broke my heart…..
It was as advertised here. My photos aren’t as professional but you can see the good time we had.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151027248588915.438938.774173914&type=1&l=89c495bfce
This recipe is in my weekly roundup of the most inspiring recipes!
http://saltedspoon.blogspot.com/2012/07/whilst-im-not-cooking-12.html
My husband & I just booked a weekend there all because of your post! We only live 2 hours away. We have been wanting to play tourists in Nola. Thanks for ur beautiful pictures & sharing your experiences so that we may try to do it on our own also.
I think I read this entire post with this expression on my face: O.O
Everything looks so amazingly delicious!! I gotta get myself to New Orleans!
Went last night with my husband, brother, and sister-in-law. We enjoyed it, but there were a number of things pictured here that were missing! I agree about the mini chocolate pies, the coconut rochets, fruit tarts, and hazelnut sugar cookies. But I wanted to try a brownie and a cake pop and a yeast doughnut and a sponge cake and a chocolate seashell, too! Sadly, there were none to be found. Maybe next time.
Wow! I’d be in some serious trouble going there!
I was in New Orleans for part of last week. CLEARLY I stayed at the wrong hotel.
I live 3 hours away from NO and cannot believe I’ve never known about this. It. All. Looks. Amazing!! How on earth did you not explode, Amanda?? Or gain 300 pounds? I think I would have gone treat crazy! Did y’all eat dinner that night or just go straight to the chocolate buffet?
And yes, that should be next year’s BlogHer!!
totally jealous right now. I have to check out that chocolate buffet for myself so I will be driving to New Orleans soon! :)
Oh. My. Word. I would have never wanted to check out! What a fun idea and I am soo glad you took advantage of the experience. It is always fun to indulge. Hooray for you! And DOUBLE Hooray that you chose to share it with us!
Gah! I was just there, staying at that exact hotel in May for a conference. Unfortunately we weren’t there on a Friday or Saturday night. BOOOO!!!
The hotel is pretty cool, those elevators were crazy. The starbucks is awesome, and my absolute favorite thing was the big circular couches in the lobby and on the third floor. I wanted to be sitting (or should I say laying) on those things at all times.
There are no words. *faint*
Thanks for all ya’lls nice comments of Hyatt. My son works at one and he aims to please just like this. Hyatt’s are great. BTW, I’ll be in NO next weekend too and will hit it!
Oh my dear goodness… I think I’ve planned our next vacation!! Yummmm! And a donut bar too? I just died and went to dessert addict heaven!
** Will wear stretchy pants!! **
a chocoholic’s dream!
Oh my goodness, chocoholic bar and beignets. Does it get any better? Hyatts always do everything so well. They just seem to add that extra touch that makes your stay special. I will say that this particular Hyatt seems to add several extra touches! Beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing!
I was in New Orleans last week too and I wish I knew about this little gem!! I already told my sister that we need to plan a girls trip to NO and this place will definitely be on my list of places to go!!
Sigh! It looks like a chocolate wonderland. Luckily I just ate a pretty great birthday cupcake or I’d probably have stuck my hand through my screen grabbing at several of those treats! My sis is moving back to NOLA in a year. I’m hoping that bar is still around! When my sis lived there before we did a lot of stuff the town had to offer so I’m excited to find more things to add to my fun list! Thanks for sharing the deliciousness!
This post made my mouth water! I LOVE chocolate and the thought of an all you can eat chocolate bar makes me giddy! Love the post, you always do a great job with written description and photos.
=)
These photos are not helping my already oversized sweet tooth! I think the macaron tree is my fave. :)
Oh my gosh, that all looks so amazing. I wish my husband liked dessert more. Maybe I need to organize a girl’s weekend to New Orleans. I’m drooling over here.
OMG, this looks so incredible and so cheap!!!! Can’t believe it. We are just back from dinner and had a very delicious chocolate cake with icecream and wipped cream for dessert but it was already 13,90 Dollar for just the dessert which wasn’t a huge portion at all…..I want to go to NEW ORLEANS :-))) I already told my husband and he said that a few weeks ago I wanted to go to NEW YORK. ;-))) This was after your NYC Sweets. :-) Greetings from Switzerland, Danni
um…WOW!!! I just put this place on my bucket list….ha ha :)
OMG, I think I’m dreaming…this is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!! How did you not eat everything?!
OMG, Hyatt really know how to do things right? Their desserts are like works of art. Love how they package the spoon with the chocolate so that people can make their own hot chocolate – awesome. Now I have one more place to check out the next time I have a chance to visit New Orleans.
You need to go back…and take me with you, immediately! That looks so amazing!!
I think I’m in love…. :-)
Amanda, while you were at the Hyatt I hope you ate at Borgne! The food was good but the desserts…. Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding with CONDENSED MILK SORBET… Literally to die for! Live in NOLA… Want to go to the chocoholics bar soon! All i can say is the desserts at Borgne were awesome! Actually all of the Besh restaurants have amazing desserts.
Can you please tell me why you don’t weigh 8,899 pounds? I gaied about 15 just reading the blog, much less tasting any of it!!! Looks scrumptious!!!
I wish I had picked up a glass of milk before I read your post!! We will be in New Orleans in August and this is now at the top of my list!! I just got back from New York today and went to many of “our” favorite places that I discovered from reading your blog before my last trip in May of last year. You make my trips so much more delicious!!! Thanks Amanda!!
THAT is amazing!!!
All I can say is … I WANNA GO THERE!!!!!
OMG! OMG! OMG! I NEED to visit this place!!!!
Thanks Amanda for taking awesome pics and sharing with all of us chocoholics ;)
Okay, I LIVE in New Orleans…..HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS!!!! I know what I’m doing this weekend! Thanks, Amanda. :)
holy moly, i needed to be there yesterday. completely licking my lips looking through these pictures. i hope you enjoyed your chocolate coma, it looks like heaven!
OMG!!! My mouth was watering as I scrolled and looked at each pic. I would love to go there but I would be sick for days. LOL
Good god! I think my head just exploded. I have no idea how, but I would want so badly to try everything. I think I’ve have to not eat for two days, then instantly go to bed right afterwards. Amazing!
I just want you to know that the wife of the Hotel GM sent me a link to this blog.
Oh….and she said something about you loving the chocolate…. :-)
Nice article.
I just died.
OMG, this looks amazing! I now want to plan a trip to New Orleans.
A feast for the tummy and the eyes!!!!!!!!
WOW. That’s all I can say. I want to go there.
OMG!!!! I am so ready to board a plane and go stay at this hotel for the chocolate bar.
Dear Heaven above – I need to nap in that place. Then eat chocolate. Then nap some more because oh me oh my would I refuse to leave.
Wow !!!! x’s 100 Plus everything said up above. Ive got to take the morning off after that overload. Thanks : ) lol
I am DYING over all these photos! My stomach is growling :)
automagically??? i LOVE that word! oh, the pictures -they were wonderful- I so wish I was there! YUMMM! How on earth, dear girl, do you not weigh a bazillion pounds? the chefs did a great job with how everything was displayed. think I might need to head down there!
Thank you everyone for your wonderful compliments! We have a special package for those of you with a sweet tooth!
http://tinyurl.com/6o6w5vm
We’d love to welcome you anytime!
Woah! Sugar rush!
I’m headed to New Orleans in a week so I will definitely have to check this out! Thanks for sharing!
That hotel is unbelievable! With each scroll of my mouse, the only thing that popped into my head was OMG, OMG, OMG! That’s just amazeballs! I’m such a chocoholic – we need this in London!
Wow…I think I got a sugar rush just by reading this!
The hotel looks and sounds amazing. It’s definitely going in my list of places to go. Also, the dessert bar has such inspired ideas for parties / weddings, particularly the doughnut bar and hot chocolate spoons.
Another great post, Amanda. Thanks for sharing this great location!
Wow! That was almost overwhelming. Almost, the fact that it was chocolate saved me. Thank you for sharing.
I’m in! When do we leave?
Count me in for that chocoholics weekend!!! I love NOLA & chocolate, especially when they’re combined :)
I can’t think of a more perfect girls’ weekend idea! This looks so amazing!
I love living through your travels. This looks too good to be true!
That is one insane looking series of dessert photos. The hotel sounds awesome!
Oh my! I want to go to that Chocolate Bar. So, count me in on the girls weekend and thanks for posting these wonderfully places.
that is a serious situation.
I need to go to new orleans.
Oh my goodness… I think I am OD’ing on chocolate just from reading your post……………..runs to go start planning a weekend here
OMG….I’m in…are you sure this isn’t heaven ? Hugs, Becky
Oh, god, I’m gonna be dreaming of this place for a long, long time! Thanks, Amanda. You always go to the coolest places, and then you share it with us! Amazing. And as always, your photography is spectacular…
Whoa….chocolate lovers dream. The Four Seasons here in Seattle do a similar chocolate buffet but only during the Holidays. What was your favorite?
I want to go to New Orleans now just to go here!!
Sign me up, I’m ready to go!!!!
You take the best pictures! Fantastic. I so want to go!
I am ready to go on a roadtrip now. Let’s go! :) I would love to have a hot cup of chocolate right now. Even if it is 90 degrees outside! :)
Thanks…craving chocolate now!
Ok seriously, I am ALL in for a chocoholic getaway! It sounds better than fabulous! This looks like heaven!!!!! I would have tried one of everything too for sure. What a beautiful food display and a cool hotel! I love the neon purple :) so fun!!!!
Ok, book me a flight there, ASAP! i’ll put everything in my credit-card and run there! :p
I bet I haven’t seen as much chocolate in one room as in your pictures. (Needless to say in one blog post!:p).
Love it!
I’ve never had a bad stay at a Hyatt and normally they all have fabulous food…and wow, this one takes the cake. Literally :)
We are going to New Orleans this weekend so this was fun to see. I want those donuts now.
Okay. I just want to say that I absolutely LOVE this blog and look forward to every darn post, but Amanda how can you DO that to all of us out here who read your stuff? It’s nothing short of plain cruelty. This post is akin to the proverbial double-edged sword – it would have to be my favourite so far, just because of the most amazing chocolate decadence on display that I have EVER seen. BUT at the same time it has made me insanely jealous of you, and anyone else who has ever set foot (and mouth) in that heavenly world of scrumptiousness. Every photograph (superb photography, by the way) just made me want to cry some more. Travelling half-way around the world from here in Australia just to experience that is now top on my bucket list.