TL;DR

Cosmopolitan style: Chic design hotel that avoids clichés of the Southwest.
Prime location: Between Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley.
Trail access: Minutes from Camelback Mountain hikes.
Luxury vibe: Leather lounge, statement wallpaper, and modern finishes.
Check prices here

This one’s for the big hitters, a treasure trove of gourmet eats, air-conditioned comfort, and well, just a world-class boutique hotel, at the intersection of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise City.

Featuring a sleek leather lounge and the hippest of large print wallpaper, The Global Ambassador Hotel eschews go-to stylistic references to the ‘Southwest’.

You’ll go a long way to find adobe, and even further for a hint of kitschy turquoise.

Instead, you’ll find a testament to a cosmopolitan sophistication that has been building in Phoenix for years. The Global Ambassador may be the first of many.

Situated impeccably, it links the area’s tourism powerhouses on the busy street of a restful neighborhood while being five minutes from multiple trailheads.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 141 spacious and stylish rooms.
Design details: Hardwood floors, handmade leather, and coffee table books.
Comfort touches: Matouk linens, Nespresso, Byredo toiletries.
Views available: Camelback Mountain, pool, or private balconies.
Suites: Extra space with patios, tubs, and walk-in closets.
See each room in detail here

The benefit of a brand-new vibe is a fresh outlook on amenities, decor, and design.

Despite the novelty of the space, rooms at The Global Ambassador are very convivial.

It’s the LaCroix chic of your Nonprofit Boss’s second home over Miranda Priestley’s Pellegrino with lime.

You’ll enjoy a Matouk linens, Nespresso machines, writing desks, hardwood floors, handmade leather accents, a Normal Size bar, and coffee table books by Maison Plage you’ll want to take with you (leave them for the next guests, please).

Bathrooms are rich wood, dark marble and floral wall coverings. Vanities offer up Byredo toiletries and some spa-style goodies from Augustus Bader.

Singles feature king beds, doubles with two queens, and some excellent options with balconies and views of Camelback Mountain or the sparkling Pink Dolphin pool.

None are under 450 square feet; and suites offer way more space.

With 650-900 square feet of comfy goodness there you’ll enjoy your choice of patios, soaking tubs, walk-in closets, and some more stunning views.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Five restaurants: Menus inspired by France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Peru.
Signature spots: Le Âme brasserie, Le Market bistro, Thea Mediterranean dining.
Poolside: Pink Dolphin bar serving tacos, bocaditos, and cocktails.
Wellness: Spa, fitness center, hot tub, and Pilates classes.
Shopping: On-site boutique with premium brands.

Here’s where the ‘Global’ comes in. The The Global Ambassador’s five (5!) class restaurants span three continents of inspiration that will make it easy to never leave the premises.

We’ll start in France, with the all-day stylings of Le Âme, mimosa-hawking brunch brasserie by day, steakhouse by night.

Le Market brings the bistro, with scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and a frites menu that will make the deep fryer seem sexy.

If we keep heading around the Mediterranean we’ll get to Thea, with eyes on all things Spanish, Italian, Greek, Turkish or Levantine and generous helpings of seafood.

The wine list is small but, unsurprisingly, packs a serious punch.

Finally, we get a taste of America at Pink Dolphin, a Mexican-Peruvian poolside bar ready for sun-kissed snacks of bocaditos, tacos and other small plates.

Don’t think that eating is all you’ll do at The Global Ambassador however.

The Spa at here is more than ready with treatments, a fitness center, a hot tub and Forma Pilates classes that will meet every definition of relaxation you can come up with.

Just in case you thought you might want to leave to go shopping, the hotel boutique offers the finest of brands at their on-site boutique.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Nature nearby: Close to Echo Canyon and Cholla trailheads at Camelback Mountain.
Downtown Phoenix: 25 minutes for shopping, dining, and nightlife.
Scottsdale: 10 minutes to vibrant restaurants and Southwestern culture.
Cultural highlights: Museum of the West and Museum of Contemporary Art.

As previously mentioned, you’ll be an easy, short drive from both the Echo Canyon and the Cholla Trailhead around Camelback Mountain.

If you’d rather go into the city, it’s 25 minutes to Phoenix ready to welcome you to a day’s shopping, siteseeing or or a fun night out.

Scottsdale, with its lively restaurant scene and all the Southwestern style you could want, is a 10-minute drive.

The smaller city has some excellent cultural offerings like the Museum of the West and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

”Excellent grounds, 5 star service and 10 out of 10 on the room quality. Very elegant and luxury vibe and feel. Service is excellent and staff is very responsive, helpful, and pleasant. Rooms were very clean, bed was soft and comfortable, and bathroom was clean and proportionate to the room….”

”The Global Ambassador has my heart. My whole stay I felt like a celebrity…”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”The pillows were body size, but the feel was subpar for the luxury style hotel I think they were trying to portray. Pillows were too airy and soft. Low quality. Other than that, it was a very very clean and the restaurants are very good. All of the new money singles and couples are in the lobby restaurant and up on the rooftop bar, hence the loud ambience is a little overbearing, but those drinking seem to be enjoying themselves.….”

”The only thing I didn’t like (which isn’t a big deal at all because it was still decent looking) was the pool everything else was extraordinary nice. You just would’ve thought the pool would’ve been spectacular as well….”

Read all the reviews right here