An Arizona-based food, beverage and travel writer since 2008, I launched this website in 2015 to document my culinary adventures, beverage escapades, gardening endeavors, and travel in the Phoenix area and beyond. Also find a comprehensive calendar of Phoenix-area food and drink-related events on my Events page.
In the March/April 2023 issue of Tasting Panel magazine, I contributed three articles featuring Herzog Wine, Los Milics winery in Arizona’s Sonoita, AVA (see here), and a spotlight on award-winning chef Lisa Dahl of Dahl Restaurant Group.
Photos courtesy of Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel
Now Booking: Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel, Announces Opening Date
North America’s First Landscape Hotel Ready to Make its Highly Anticipated Debut in Sedona
SEDONA, Ariz. (PRESS RELEASE) – Widely considered one of the most anticipated hotel openings in the country, Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel is ready to make its much-buzzed-about debut as North America’s first landscape hotel when it opens Dec. 26 in Sedona.
The adults-only hotel is now accepting online reservations for stays beginning February 10, 2023 with room rates starting from $1,800 per night. Additional dates prior to February will be available on opening day.
Set on three acres in Red Rock Country overlooking the city’s most iconic monoliths, the majestic red rocks of Sedona are on full display from Ambiente’s unique 40 cubed-shaped, glass-encased Atriums that seemingly float above the rugged terrain. While all Atriums offer the same 576-square foot, king accommodations, the dramatic 360-degree panoramic views vary drastically as each Atrium has been expertly placed to maximize view corridors, whether that is north to the surrounding Coconino National Forest or east and south to the Steamboat, Chimney, Coffee Pot and Snoopy red rock formations.
“This has been a labor of love for our family over the past five years and we have been so overwhelmed by the outpouring of interest and support from future visitors around the world,” said Jennifer May, co-founder of Two Sister Bosses, a Sedona-based family development company. “We’re now ready to pull back the curtain and showcase what we believe is one of the most spectacular settings in all of America.”
Elevated above the ground by steel piers and constructed using floor-to-ceiling, bronze-tinted glass and matte-charcoal and rusted metal, Ambiente’s Atriums are uniquely designed to blend in with the surrounding geography. With a focus on sustainable methods and organic, modern architecture that complement the neighboring topography and minimize the impact on land, the Atriums’ sleek design reflects elegant minimalism, while contemporary, elemental interiors afford the utmost in luxurious, intimate accommodations.
Each Atrium embodies a lavish hideaway with a petite kitchen offering complimentary refreshments, restocked daily, and on-demand wine dispensers where guests can self-serve from a selection of Northern Arizona wines. From bespoke designed wallpaper, live-edge wood furnishings and black soaking tubs to moody lighting, cozy seating and Earth-toned textiles, the Atriums’ various elevations feature fabrics, furnishings and patterns that evoke a tranquil yet chic atmosphere and reflect the rich elements of the captivating natural landscape that surrounds them.
All Atriums have access to their own private rooftop decks with a secure staircase for the ultimate sunbathing and stargazing experience. Lounge seating, a roaring firepit and a daybed, comfortable enough for sleeping alfresco, serve as a remote locale perched between the rugged terrain below and bright, beaming stars above thanks to the city of Sedona’s Dark Sky Association.
The sound of flowing water is ever-present as the site’s natural waterways have been reactivated and snake through the red, iron-oxide rich soil to create a natural eco-system using aquatic plants and the water’s movement to achieve a biological balance without the use of chemicals.
Upon arrival, guests are escorted through the check-in process by a personal valet who guides them into the upstairs level of the two-story biophilic lobby building to check-in, relax in the lounge and enjoy a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. Once check-in is complete, an elevator delivers guests to the ground floor where they tour the property via an electric vehicle before arriving at their own private Atrium.
Inside the main lobby building are meeting spaces and Velvet Spa, an intimate, five-room spa offering a range of restorative treatments that integrate locally sourced ingredients embodying the transformative healing properties for which Sedona is widely revered.
At the center of the property is the hotel’s full-service signature restaurant, Forty1, led by Executive Chef Lindsey Dale who embraces a steadfast commitment to showcasing the Verde Valley’s abundance in her seasonal Modern American cuisine. Serving breakfast, which will be complimentary, and dinner daily, Forty1 is complemented by The Drifter, an adjacent fast-casual culinary destination housed within a custom Airstream serving lunch and poolside fare daily. At multiple intervals throughout the day, guests can also expect an outfitted beverage and snack ETrikeCo electric vehicle to make its way through the property, offering a range of goodies such as coffee, pastries, breakfast burritos, gourmet snacks, pressed juices, craft cocktails and more.
Right outside Forty1, guests can enjoy the pond-shaped pool and spa ideal for soaking up the Sedona sunshine on warm days or slipping into the heated water in the cooler months.
A variety of guest programming rotates seasonally and includes morning yoga, sound healing classes, guided stargazing sessions, poolside films projected onto the custom screening wall, craft cocktail classes and chef’s tasting dinners at the outdoor 12-person, custom stone dining table.
With direct access to more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in Sedona as well as premier rock climbing, outdoor adventure and recreational activities, Ambiente saw no need for an onsite fitness center and instead encourages guests to explore the outdoors. The hotel boasts exclusive, on-site access to the Adobe Jack Trail system and offers guided tours of the moderate 1.7-mile hike that connects to an additional seven miles of trails renowned for the picturesque scenery displayed along the way. A small fleet of ETrikes, which are street-safe, are also available on a first-come, first-serve basis for guests to tool around town for the day.
Ambiente is an adults-only hotel welcoming guests 21 years and older. Two Atriums are ADA compliant, making the hotel accessible to guests of all abilities. To book an upcoming stay, visit AmbienteSedona.com.
About Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel: A first of its kind in North America, Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel is uniquely designed to blend in with the mystical red rocks of Sedona, Ariz. and give guests the opportunity to experience and embrace the natural beauty that surrounds them in one of the world’s most stunning locations. The boutique hotel’s 40 cubed-shaped, guest Atriums appear to be floating above the high desert topography as the structures reflect the landscape with the use of bronzed glass and steel piers. With sleek and contemporary design, the hotel embodies elegant minimalism and the utmost in luxurious accommodations. Ambiente is committed to providing a sustainable destination for global travelers that is harmonious with the environment. For more, visit AmbienteSedona.com.
About Two Sister Bosses:: Headquartered in Sedona, Ariz., Two Sister Bosses is a sister-owned and operated luxury hotel development and management company focused on creating one-of-a-kind experiences that are in-harmony with the natural environment. Founded by two Sedona natives, Jennifer May and Colleen Tebrake, the company is committed to the principles of sustainable tourism and bringing new and exciting experiences to the community. Two Sister Bosses is the new generation of a local Sedona family’s development company that has operated in Northern Arizona for close to 35 years. Blending contemporary design with innovative architecture, the company’s first project is Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel, which is the first of its kind in North America.
SEDONA, AZ (PRESS RELEASE) — The Willows Kitchen & Wine Bar has just opened at Poco Diablo Resort, a longtime cornerstone of Sedona hospitality. Part of a $22 million dollar renovation project, Willows offers a superb new dining option for resort guests and promises to become a culinary destination in its own right.
Under the direction of Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage Evan Campbell, the restaurant features eclectic, from-scratch American fare. Curated small plates, large plates and a la carte dishes share the stage with a comprehensive selection of wines. Poco Diablo is located in Arizona’s Verde Valley, a burgeoning wine region that was designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in late 2021. There are many Arizona wines on the list, alongside old and new world wines from all over the globe and the U.S. Inventive craft cocktails and local craft beers round out the beverage offerings.
Several Willows menu items have already emerged as staff favorites.. These include Firecracker Shrimp Wraps and Campbell’s own take on classic meatballs. Signature flatbreads are baked or grilled to order. There is a large variety of meat, poultry, and vegetarian items. Lobster risotto at dinner and lobster roll at lunch are made with the freshest seafood flown in daily, and draw on Campbell’s East Coast roots, always with his own twists. Morning standouts include Lemon Ricotta Pancakes drizzled with house made blueberry syrup and a hearty breakfast version of pork schnitzel.
The restaurant’s name was inspired by the graceful willow trees that shade the expansive grounds of Poco Diablo. Together with the nearby iconic red rock formations, they create the quintessential Sedona backdrop, one that can be enjoyed from almost any table in the house thanks to a floor-to-ceiling glass façade. Guests can also dine outdoors on the patio or gather around outdoor firepits for drinks.
Willows is accessed through a charming library-like space off the hotel lobby that gives way to a long and inviting bar with twelve seats and adjacent high-top tables. The airy, contemporary main dining area features natural wood and stone surfaces along with a color palette of reds, oranges and pinks, echoing Sedona’s red rocks and famous sunsets. Two private dining spaces are surrounded by glass cases that display a sampling of Willows’ wines. One of these rooms offers an intimate chef’s table setting for six to eight guests, while the other features flexible space for larger wine dinners or gatherings.
The Willows Kitchen & Wine Bar is open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Breakfast is served from 7 to 11 a.m., lunch from 11 to 4 p.m.,. and dinner from 4 p.m. until close.
To reserve a table, please visit this link. For additional information and to view menus, please click here.
