Arizona is known for its luxurious resorts — all-inclusive destinations with world-class spas, farm-fresh cuisine, championship golf courses, and expansive menus of outdoor activities. But because they’re meant to be relaxing escapes, many of these accommodations are located outside the state’s urban cores. Enter The Global Ambassador.
Opened in December 2023, the 141-room luxury property is located at the convergence of Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley. Situated on the busy intersection of Camelback Road and 44th Street, it is steps away from shopping, dining, entertainment, and, yes, even hiking.
The much-celebrated hotel is the brainchild of renowned restaurateur and 12-time James Beard Award nominee Sam Fox. And country singer Dierks Bentley, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, and former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald are investors.
Global-Inspired Design
The Global Ambassador’s gleaming white brick facade and black ironwork are the first thing guests notice when they arrive. These design features are a nod to the overall Old World European aesthetic.
While the hotel’s address is on Camelback Road and it faces 44th Street, the entrance with its welcoming porte cochere is tucked away on a small side street. The expansive lobby features multiple comfy seating arrangements. A massive wall of windows that looks out to the green courtyard and fills the space with natural light, highlighting the dark wood furnishings and tin ceiling panels.
Wide hallways lead to the guest rooms, creating a sense of grandeur and openness. The carpeting features scenes of Victorian-era women in elegant gowns surrounded by colorful blooms, butterflies, and birds. According to general manager Geoff Gray, the images are re-creations of paintings by a French artist whom the hotel worked with.
Room sizes range from 460-square-foot king and two-queen layouts, some with balconies or pool views, to the 2,000-square-foot Presidential suite. The palette is soothing, with oak hardwood floors, clean-lined dark wood furnishings, and textiles is calming shades of beige, greige, taupes, and white. Artwork by Phoenix artist Michael Carson adorns the walls. Judith Testani of Scottsdale-based Testani Design Troupe executed the ambiance.
And while many hotels scrimp on bathroom design, the bathrooms at The Global Ambassador are just as stylish as the guest rooms. Mable vanities with rich wood case goods, gold fixtures, and bold wallpaper are just some of the high-end finishes. Suites feature deep freestanding soaking tubs. And bath and body care products by Byredo Bal d’Afrique leave you feeling refreshed with notes of African marigold and bergamot.
Global Dining
Of course, given Fox’s pedigree as a top restaurateur, the culinary options at The Global Ambassador are incredibly strong. Five signature dining venues are found on the property.
Le Market is a casual breakfast spot that offers pastries, coffee, fresh-pressed juices. After 3 p.m., it transitions into the Lobby Bar and serves craft and classic cocktails. Stop by for an after-work drink, or kick off your meal at the lobby-level Le Âme restaurant.
This French bistro serves breakfast and lunch, but at night it morphs into a sexy steakhouse. The menu offers such French classics as oysters, steak tartare, escargot, and short rib bourguignon. A selection of six steaks, including a 34-ounce Tomahawk for two for $185, anchors the menu. Make sure to leave room for the La Grande Crème Brûlée. The vanilla treat topped with berries and mascarpone Chantilly cream is meant to be shared.
Pink Dolphin is the poolside restaurant. It serves Mexican- and Peruvian-inspired dishes. Relax by the pool while snacking on fresh ceviche, fish tacos, or shrimp cocktail, and wash it all down with a pitcher of skinny margaritas.
The must-see dining spot at The Global Ambassador is the rooftop restaurant Théa. The largest rooftop restaurant in Arizona, Théa offers 360-degree views of Phoenix, from Camelback, Mummy and North mountains to the lights of downtown.
The Mediterranean menu, inspired by a trip Fox took to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, includes sharable mezze, seafood, flatbreads and pasta. Don’t miss the Goddess of all Dips, which includes a sampling of all six dips on the menu; the baked feta, which honey and sesame brittle; or the roasted branzino. Drinks also are on the light side, including spritzes, bubbles, and rosés.
Stay at The Global Ambassador
In addition to offering comfortable, luxurious sleeping and dining options, The Global Ambassador also features an expansive two-story spa with seven treatment rooms and cutting-edge therapies; 5,000 square feet of meeting space; a large fitness facility with spin, yoga, and pilates studios as well as group classes; a European-style lawn with outdoor seating and water and fire features; and a chic boutique.
For the ultimate in luxury, check out The Global Ambassador Club. This members-only component offers access to a private restaurant, The Grille, complete with the services of a master sommelier and general manager with Michelin-starred experience, as well as all of the other amenities offered by the hotel. Membership is $90,000 to join and $1,000 month in dues, and the waitlist is extensive.
Rooms at The Global Ambassador start at about $650 per night. A property fee of $40/night is also added to the rate. Small to medium-size dogs are welcome with a one-time nonrefundable $150 fee per pet. And valet parking is available at $35 per night for overnight guests and $8 per vehicle for restaurant guests.
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Drone and front exterior photos courtesy of The Global Ambassador. All others by Rebecca L. Rhoades.
