The Ambassador Hotel, Milwaukee
Expert reviews
“The Ambassador Hotel is a recently refurbished Art Deco gem from 1927. There’s a restaurant, cafe and cocktail bar — called the Gin Rickey — on site. Liberace was the house pianist in the 1930s. And Kennedy and the Beatles visited in the 1960s.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 Hours in Milwaukee.
“This renovated art deco gem, on the city’s western side, near Marquette University, is an affordable central option. Architecture buffs will love all of those ‘jazz age’ period details, such as the polished marbled flooring in the lobby and the bronze elevator doors.”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Friendly staff
- Free Wifi
- Private parking
All you need to know
The Ambassador Hotel is a recently restored historic hotel located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. The hotel was originally built in 1927 and has since been restored to its original Art Deco splendor, while also incorporating modern hotel amenities.
The Ambassador Hotel features 132 guest rooms and suites, each of which is individually decorated with a blend of vintage and contemporary furnishings. Rooms have been designed with luxury and elegance and offer a calm oasis to retreat from the vibrant city of Milwaukee.
Guest rooms include amenities such as flat-screen TVs with Apple TV options, complimentary Wi-Fi, and plush comfy bedding. Suites at the hotel include an in-room whirlpool and complimentary Bath & Body Works Bath Salts.
One of the impressive features of the Ambassador Hotel is its historic charm and attention to detail. The hotel’s lobby features an original terrazzo floor and a restored ceiling mural, while guest rooms are decorated with vintage artwork and furnishings. The hotel also includes a fitness center, valet parking, and a complimentary shuttle service to the downtown area.
The hotel also has excellent fine dining options at the Gin Rickey restaurant, where American fare is served using seasonal local produce, and the cozy Deco Cafe which serves coffee and pastries.
The Ambassador Hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of many of Milwaukee’s top attractions, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Harley-Davidson Museum, and the Milwaukee Public Market. It is the perfect stay for visitors looking to enjoy the city and then retreat to the comforts of their hotel.
Hotel deals & lowest price guarantee
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Location
Recent guest reviews
9 June 2025
Exceptional
How nice all of the staff was! Rico was very nice upon arrival
The elevators
5 June 2025
Very good
Decor
Rough neighborhood. Lack of good dining in neighborhood
2 June 2025
Comfortable, Relaxing and 5 Star Amenities.
Keep up the GREAT Customer Service.
None
30 May 2025
Stepping back in time not a bad thing
What a good surprise neat place to stay if you want to see how it was done right back in time
One staff member in transport
29 May 2025
Nice older hotel.
Neighborhood is not the greatest.
Hotel itself is old fashioned but very nice. Everyone of the staff was very friendly and helpful. Only issue was the coffee maker in our room. It was filthy so we didn’t use it.
16 May 2025
Very good
Very close to the university campus
3 May 2025
A very cool historical hotel that was comfortable to stay at.
The over all atmosphere of the hotel was great love the art deco feel. The staff was good, we enjoyed the restaurant and bar, very good good.
Mainly the pillows and bathroom sink size in the room.
1 May 2025
Definitely recommend!
Love this place and the people who staff it. Food and drinks were wonderful!
30 April 2025
Fabulous
Connie was great at the front desk . Very hospitable, polite and welcoming
Small toilet area , expensive bottled water
27 April 2025
Had a great time
Shuttle was a great service
27 April 2025
We enjoyed our stay
It was beautiful!
Small bathroom
27 April 2025
Charm and grace everywhere.
Booked a day in advanced based primarily on location and price. We’re totally surprised by the charm of the property. Took advantage of the free shuttle. Kudos to the bar for excellent cocktails. Had coffee in the Starbucks and a great breakfast burrito to go.
All was good.
20 April 2025
Very good
The hotel is beautiful. Amazing views, comfortable bed. I love the elevator.
Our couch was dirty in our room, the breakfast order form was already filled out.
20 April 2025
Very good
The bed,sheets and pillows were comfy. The whirlpool was amazing. Hotel staff was extremely courteous. We had a great time.
The TV wouldn't stay on it would work for bout 10 to 20 mins then lose signal.
15 April 2025
Exceptional
People were super nice
Nothing was bad everything fine
14 April 2025
Beautiful property. Comfy and unique.
The bed was wonderful and bathtub nice and deep. Floor was clean. Bed linens lovely and spotless. Towels soft and thick. The windows opened for fresh air; such a nice thing to be able to do. The decor at this hotel is just so cool. We didn't have time to visit the bar this trip, but it's been great on other visits.
I realize finding staff to clean hotel rooms is a challenge post-covid and with immigrants being threatened (April 2025) so the cleanliness was imperfect, but not awful. Stains on a couch cushion were not nice. Walls had a few marks and some wall-paper was peeling in bath area. The frig had a sign that said removing things would auto-deduct money, but there was actually nothing in the frig (I prefer that anyhow as I am always needing cooling space). TV kept coming back on - very odd. I finally turned off power strip.
12 April 2025
Great stay
Fantastic staff
Cleanliness and amazing staff
10 April 2025
Friendly, friendly, helpful staff. Comfortable and clean.
Having a shuttle is the most excellent service. The beds were clean and comfortable. The staff, above all else, was super friendly, warm, friendly, outgoing, and willing to help
Coffee in room could be more. Hate those single cream packets. Not enough tp in the bathroom, that's a small remedy. The tv wouldn't turn off, and I couldn't understand why.
7 April 2025
We loved it and plan to return!
We loved the history and the and accessibility was very good. Food great! Used the shuttle to see a show and worked out perfectly!
Carpeting is older and worn slightly but it is still okay.
6 April 2025
Amazing
The experience was fantastic and amazing. I can’t complain about anything as we were treated with such great enthusiasm and care. The people at the front desk took care of us even though the craziness that was happening around the hotel due to convention and what.
5 April 2025
Very good
Loved the proximity to The Rave! It's just across the street! Worked out great for a concert!
31 March 2025
Great hotel near the concert venue. Would stay here again!
I loved the old time feel of this place. The room as roomy and comfortable with everything we expected! Bonus was being directly across the street from the concert we were attending!
I wish there had been continental breakfast. I am also disappointed that we had to pay for parking. The room was not cheap, and I feel parking should be included.
27 March 2025
Exceptional
Excellent stay! Love the nostalgia but still has chic decor! Comfy rooms and amazing staff ❤️
18 March 2025
Exceptional
I love the mix of modern and retro in this wonderfully unique place. The staff and rooms are fantastic.
I don't love the location and wish parking was included, but having to pay for it is common in a city like this.
15 March 2025
It was exceptional will be staying again real soon this my #1 choice if I choose to stay at any hotel
I loved how clean the room was
I loved everything
5 March 2025
Historic, glamorous, so clean and the bed was comfortable
The history, glamour and cleanliness
Struggled a bit with outlets in range for my CPAP
3 March 2025
Fabulous
Just a nice classic old hotel. Great brunch with good attentive, friendly staff the bar keep was talented friendly and very helpful.
16 February 2025
Very good
The room size, cleanliness, bar, and staff were all really nice.
I didn't like the $150 room deposit, but everything else was nice.
10 February 2025
It was awesome and I will be back!!
I liked the nostalgic feel of the hotel and the staff were all very friendly and accommodating.
Really nothing 😊
10 February 2025
Great place to stay in Milwaukee
Location to everything
7 February 2025
Excellent in every way.
The service was excellent, the staff were attentive and helpful. The complimentary shuttle was also absolutely convenient. The property had everything a traveler may need, from restaurant, bar and parking.
6 February 2025
Fun two night stay over Thanksgiving
Gorgeous hotel, clean, nice bar and friendly staff.
Parking could have been a little nicer/closer but no real complaints.
6 February 2025
Will Stay Again
The hotel is beautiful and the staff is exceptional.
The restaurant was just ok
2 February 2025
Excellent
This is my preferred place to stay when we go to concerts at the Rave!
Customer service should remind guests there is a $50 incidental charge.
2 February 2025
Another great stay at the Ambassador!
This is my second time staying at the Ambassador. We were heading to the Rave to see Steve Aoki, so staying at the Ambassador was a must. This hotel never disappoints. From the staff to the room, excellent! Comfie beds and those pillows .... delightful. Love Gin Rickey, who has the best bartender, hands down!! Can't forget the Deco Cafe! Had breakfast before we left in the morning, delicious! And the staff at Deco Cafe were just a delight. Another great stay!
30 January 2025
Very good
It was quaint and beautiful
27 January 2025
Very good
Shuttle was amazing staff was hands down incredible.
19 January 2025
Beautiful old deco hotel with great comfort.
Have stayed here many times now, always enjoy it every time.
They have started charging for parking.
13 January 2025
Great stay
The room was clean and spacious.
The food and bar is expensive. Don't like the mini fridge in rooms, luckily this time it was a normal fridge.
3 January 2025
Beautiful room and excellent service !!
The room was excellent and worth every penny !! We had an amazing time and the hot tub in the room made it even more fun . Excellent service by the staff and they offer free travel bus within 3 miles to go and do some sightseeing in Milwaukee as well ‘
Loved everything about the hotel, I have no Complaints !
31 December 2024
My favorite hotel when I come into town
I love the old building. I love the elevators. I love the nostalgia.
Not the greatest neighborhood, but you can’t fault the hotel for that
23 December 2024
Overall great stay
Very clean and spacious.
The restroom were a little dated and the draining was very low
11 December 2024
Exceptional
Staff was great
Bar forgot to put out food in so we xancelled order
5 December 2024
You have everything we need in one convenient location !
Everything!
18 November 2024
Exceptional
Clean and friendly staff .
1 of the elevators was out of order
17 November 2024
Exceptional
Looks like hotel in Europe, I love it
5 November 2024
It was a pleasant stay
The history of the building
My window had crack in it
5 November 2024
Exceptional
Connie and the front desk staff!
Nothing.
3 November 2024
All in all it was a great stay except for the elevator glitch.
Location was perfect. The Fitz restaurants food was exceptional!
They were having issues with the elevator when we were there. It a huge fan of lugging my luggage up 3 floors.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Facilities for disabled guests
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Heating
- - Allergy-free room
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Designated smoking area
- - Shuttle service (free)
- - Minimarket on site
- - Pet basket
- - Pet bowls
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Luggage storage
- - ATM/cash machine on site
- - Concierge service
- - Invoice provided
Activities
- - Fitness centre
- - Golf course (within 3 km) (additional charge)
- - Fitness
- - Happy hour (additional charge)
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
Parking
- - Parking garage
- - Accessible parking
Outdoors
- - Outdoor furniture
- - Outdoor fireplace
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key access
- - Key card access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
- - Access to health care professionals
- - Thermometers for guests provided by property
- - Face masks for guests available
15 June 2025
Excellent hotel with a story too tell