The Ambassador
673 Geary St
(between Jones St & Leavenworth St)
San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 563-8192
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 6:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sat 7:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: DJ
- Best Nights: Tue, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
359 Reviews for The Ambassador
One of The Ambassador's Favorite Reviews
I couldn't think of any reason to give it only 4 stars!
This wasn't even the last stop on my birthday bar crawl (classy, I know) but it was too much fun to leave so we didn't! My friends and I spent a lot of money getting toasty at Rye Bar across the street, and journeyed to the Ambassador. This is when the gods parted the clouds, and showered golden starlight on the menu items that make this MORE than a bar on Geary: mac'n'cheese and tater tots. And with the fine drinks, the fantastic DJ, and my fabulous friends, it was a truly tater-tastic evening.
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Once you see the plush leather door, you know the inside has got to look pretty cool. And it doesn't disappoint. There are places way less nice, cool, and fun that the Ambassador that charge cover, so you know it's already a good value. Lots of tables available for bottle service (I'd recommend the corner one on the bottom floor) that come equipped with phones to request service. I really like whoever designed the interior of this place. Wish more bars had a similar vibe.
This place can be fun, if it weren't so damn crowded! The crowd is definitely interesting with the mix of Marina-type princesses and TL "edge" but the bartenders definitely keep the drinks flowing (and helps to be extra friendly with the bartenders at this bar).
I don't really care much for the mash-ups by the DJ, but with the multitude of bars available on the main level and on the upper balcony, the buzz definitely made the mediocre music the farthest thing on my mind.
The location does make it worth the trip though, at the end of the night, just hop across the street to the late-night noodle house for some much needed catching up on all the drunken debauchery a few hours earlier.
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I had a lot of fun here this past Saturday. We came here for a friend's birthday and the experience was an overall positive one. When we got there we had to wait in the obligatory "make this club look like it's the shit, when really it's just like any other club" line. However, the bouncers were at least pretty civil about the situation and apologized for the delay. After about a 15 minute or so wait, we walking into a nicely decored space lined with brick on one side and a shiny bar on the other. One of the more interesting touches were the vintage looking leather booths with the pay phone embedded within the middle of the seat. It's surprising how a pay phone can class up a place.
The crowd was cool and there was some eye candy to be had, though I'll admit my attention was distracted for much of the evening ;c). The bartenders were pretty quick and attentive without being uptight. My biggest complaint with this place is the lack of dance space. It's really better suited to lounging than dancing, but the music was good and the vibe was hot. There was definitely a lot of jockeying for free space with the writhing bodies intermingling with the passersby and the staff. I think I'd definitely head back out here again.
this place does not even deserve zero star ,nothing .It has a nice interior ,when it comes to door guys they are just assholes .I dont see anysign says we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone .They just dont take you in and no explanation .At least tell me why ,is it because very crowd ,or i dont look nice ,or my dress .Or because i have an accent .Is it because im a foreigner .
WTF door guy things he is doing .You are killing this beautiful location .You lost already me and my friends plus their friends ,what did you get ,a fff....k
Fun place to have a party! Great service
This bar is fun- I think. If I'm being honest, I don't remember much. But this usually means that I had a good time, so I think we can safely conclude that this bar is fun.
Of course, if you think about it, this just means that I'm fun. A bar is just a a bar. Having said that, I must give credit where credit is due. The bouncer was very nice. Seriously.
Four stars.
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i love love love the ambassador, I've been here numerous times and always have a great time...BUT....
I came on Friday the 12th, and was having a great time except that the bartender with the dark curly hair is a huge BITCH!
All of my friends who i met up with even warned me, but i thought they were joking.
honestly she was the worst bartender too...just because I'm not a dude, you shouldn't ignore me....and it would hurt to smile.
I def made sure i went to the sweet gentleman on the other side on my next round...and if you know how crowded it is in there, i know you feel me!
IF YOU CAN GET IN, the place rocks. great place to meet some cool people and party. the bartenders are cool and know what they are doing. This place would get 5 stars but the door guys can pull that velvet rope shit and you won't get in. So for some advice, go early before they get there and bam! you're in. Its worth it.
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Went here on Saturday night. The place was packed and I actually had to wait in line bu there was no cover charge. That night they played hip-hop, some old-school and new. Crowd was definitely friendly and attractive. Since I use to be a bartender, I appreciate the fact that bartenders can make good drinks fast, be attentive no matter how busy the crowd is, and multi-task on orders. This place definitely satisfied that expectation. Drinks were a little pricey. As you can see, I'm a little biased when it comes to drinks.
I have to say the DJ has been working it the handful of times I've been here, and the bartenders work their butts off to get your drink to you ask quickly as possible.
But the scene is awkward, bridging a strange gap between east bay hoopz and sf marina. Was there recently on a Friday night... midnight, and there were only about 40 people in the whole place. I just don getit, hunny.
I've only been here for happy hour-and it was a good time-real chill and laid-back atmosphere.....they offer food & drink specials...the mac & cheese & tater tots are greaaaaaaaaat! The draft beers were something like $3 & glasses of wine were $6. The bartenders were super-friendly and chatted with us while we were hanging out for happy hour. I'm definitely coming back.
The Ambassador isn't half bad. Security in the joint didn't give me too much of a hassle, you just can't wear fitted baseball caps (I don't think...). The decor of the spot is quite nice, and the overall vibe is very loungeish. However, the space between the bar and the booths, or the "dance floor" isn't really a dance floor at all. There's probably enough space to dance in a 2 foot box around you without hitting other people moving towards the bar.
The drinks were nice and stiff, but a bit on the pricey side for a SF bar/lounge. And I was kinda confused with the music, because the DJ would go from house to top 40 to all sorts of strange stuff. My internal dancing machine went haywire and eventually got me to sit down because of the confusion. Oh, and add in the cute girls that can't really dance to the mix and you got a decent time.
i love the Ambassador...great music last Saturday....(dont even think about a request-BUT the DJ always gets it right.)
Drinks are strong and arnt too expensive, which suprised me.
All the girls look the same though. Bitchy Rich Marina girls who stand around looking bored or try to get free drinks from poor,drunk dudes who think they're gonna get laid....wish there were more edgy fun girls...but then again this isn't the Mission.....
See you soon Ambassador
Confusion.
Really really good music on the Friday Night i went (hip hop/ top 40). But the place is so narrow and crowded that there isnt really a designated dancing space. So most people just stand around and "semi dance."
Cute lounge booths...but its hard to lounge around and just talk to friends when the music as loud as it would be if it were a club. Most of the booths are taken by people with bottle service...but the club lady is nice enough to let you sit and rest your tootsies on the booths that say "reserved" but arent really taken =)
I would say to try to get bottle service upstairs if you want a more intimate. setting. If you dont have bottle service...and are sober enough (it can become a dangerous situation)...there's a less crowded bar upstairs as well.
Read on to hear how a bar can go from five stars to one in five minutes flat.
Thursday night, 10pm...there's no line to get in and I hand my ID to the bouncer. He waves me in then stops my (brown) friend and says he can't let him in because he has a backpack. We're not talking a "Trekking through Europe" size bag, more like a small backpack that'll hold work clothes because *surprise* my friend wanted to change out of his business attire before heading out to drinks.
As we're talking to the bouncers about this we see two (white) guys leave the bar with a bag bigger than my friend's.
Me -"What about those guys?"
Bouncer #1 "They're friends with the owner"
Bouncer #2 "Yeah, it's all about who you know (snickers)"
I walk in to tell our other friends (who just walked into the bar three minutes before us) that they won't let one of us in because of the bag and one of my (white) friends in the bar points to his big ass bag and says "They let me in" So my friends pound their just ordered drinks and we took our business across the street to Rye.
I'm not claiming racism but maybe things would have been different if the four of us didn't look like a walking Benetton ad. All I can say is I won't be returning to the Ambassador and I definitely will warn all of my friends about their "policy"
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/18/2007
*update 6/7/2007*
I had a really tasty burger at The Ambassador...a bit pricey at $11 (NOT including… Read more »
If Thursday night had been the first time I had gone to Ambassador I wouldn't be able to tell you a thing about what lays beyond the front doors. The reason? I wasn't allowed in on Thursday night because I was carrying my messenger bag. This was apparently not allowed at Ambassador. Never mind the fact that shortly before I arrived with a few friends a larger group of friends had gone in and there was at least one other messenger bag carrying person in that group. Oh, and please ignore the white dude that stepped out as the bouncers were turning me away that was wearing a backpack prepped for a trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro. I will give them this, they did tell me that if I could find a place to stash my backpack I would be more than welcome in. So obviously it was not me they were trying to keep out, just my nefarious backpack. Obviously it was a troublemaker.
I have actually been inside Ambassador on previous occassions...with my backpack in tow even. Both times my experiences were standard. I ordered drinks, I was given drinks, I paid my tab. I have even eaten at Ambassador, although the only thing that stands out at the moment is the tater tots. I love me some tots, hence the extra star.
Anyway, the next time someone asks me where a good place to move a large party of thirsty liver destroyers would be I will not be recommending Ambassador as I did last week.
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What a beautiful bar. Fantastic plush booth seating, chandeliers, fun drinks, and intra-booth telephones!
It's sad to have a venue this pretty be crippled by door guys who may or may not even let you in, and may just possibly laugh in your face for trying. You may laugh back at their illogical reasoning for why you're being denied entrance, so I suppose that's a plus, but there are better comedy clubs if you're in it for the laughs.
Matt H's tip: Go across the street to Rye, it's not as plush but it's worlds more friendly and comfortable.
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This place has a plush, luxurious decor. The ceiling on the lower floor has a cluster of chandeliers adding elegance to the establishment. There's seating at the bar and leather booths on the opposite site. It's a nice place to just lounge and grab a drink .
Gorgeous bar, sexy chandeliers, pretty venue. I'm hooked. Definitely one of the spots I'd hit up on Geary.
Great place to just hang out with a friend or two.
Good times.
I just love the vibe in this place.
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Good lounge type place to go with a group of friends, but not a place to dance or meet people given the very long set-up. The bartenders were extremely quick and attentive.
Only reason we stumbled into this place was:
A) Because we were already drunk
B) Because it was right across the street from Rye.
The space is huge yet for a late Thursday night the place was kind of empty. So we had ourselves some cerveza's and some bland $5 tater tot's. Then we totally booked it!!! So sorry Ambassador but this dignitary probably wouldn't be visiting you again.
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This place reminds me of Bubble lounge, maybe it's the chandeliars. But the place is way better than bubble lounge. It's very chill and loungey. I saw only 4-5 people dancing, and the music was totally dancable. I didn't make it to the second floor cus all my friends stayed on the first. There're just tables upstairs it looks like. I got there at midnight and it was already overcapacity.
Date & Time: Saturday May 17, 2008 @ 11pm
Company: Christina & Peter, Michael
Crowd: Mixed, Mostly Asians. Young Girls in Skimpy Dresses and Guys in Blazers, Striped Shirts and Seven Jeans
Vibe: Energetic
Decor: This use to be a steakhouse and they kept the red booths for reserved seating. They were nice enough to let me lounge in one complete with a charming old-fashioned silver telephone which I managed to use. Screen on top of the front door showing black & white old movie. The bar is big with am impressive display of alcohol in front of the brick wall. There is also an upstairs for dancing.
Service: Efficient. Make Small Talk.
Imbibe: Greyhound & Raging Bull
Devour: Mac n' Cheese, Tatertots, burgers
Music: DJ is located at the front of the house and spins hip hop mixed with de rigeur Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake
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I've only been here for Happy Hour, but hiiiiiiigh fiiiiive! Me like. All the fancy cocktails were $7, cool atmosphere with CHANDELIERS and comfy booths with telephones! Oh yeah and I think Happy Hour lasted until like 9 p.m.- unheard of!
I didn't have to deal with door guys but the bartender was very nice. And cute! Extra star for being cute :)
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Maybe because it's just a hop skip and a jump from my pad- (that would usually make it a nightly bar experience). But in this case, I have some issues with the place.
** Very Vegas. If I want Vegas, I'll fly there to the actual city, then fly the hell out when I want to escape the plastic materialism debauchery.
** Drinks are muchos bucks. What's the average price for a Martini in this town? I'd love to see a figure. It's probably $10. Hell, Top of the Mark, $10 for everything, a hole in the wall in the Loin, $5 and up. But, Ambassador is in the double digits and then some. I think I'll go grocery shopping with the money I would spend on that damn Martini!
** The EFFEN people outside do not move a flippin' inch when I walk past there in the evenings. They smoke, flick cigarette butts, and they're like "OH My God Becky- wa wa wa wa" shrieking and smacking their gum- and when I pay taxes to occupy and walk on these flippin' sidewalks, I'd like to just get a square inch where I could squeeze by to walk to my apartment. Thank you very much. No need to walk on Geary and be splattered and smeared by a cab driver.
** The bouncers are kind of Jockish and dumb. I mean yes, I was trying to go back in there (after multiple overpriced Martinis) to get my "briefcase" when I actually had the briefcase strapped to my shoulder, and I kept saying that to the bouncer, and he's like "It's way past your bedtime- you need to go home"- hmmm, at least he didn't get aggressive. I'm a big guy- maybe they didn't want me to rough them up -HaHa.
** Bonus points for the telephones between the booths. That's hot.
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Great for weekday, decent for weekend. The music is hip, the atmosphere is trendy, but the drinks are $$$. I'd use this as a pit stop before hopping to another place (unless you got a table).
Had heard various opinions on this place and I was certainly happy with my first go around.
Great DJ, decently priced drinks, cool atmosphere, and they were playing an old James Bond movie the evening I was there.
Went on a Saturday night
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Very classy~ Was very crowded last night. I really liked how they decorated the place, especially the chandeliers. Very pretty indeed. Very energetic vibe in here. The seats were very comfortable lol The bartender was extremely busy. Everyone was having a blast. A great place to have some fun !! ^ ^
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A few notes:
1) The decor is great! From the bar, to the wallpaper, to the 'old skool' leather booths, they obviously put a lot of thought in presenting a unique product. Oh yeah...The phones in the booths are pretty cool too! Try them out.
2) Bartenders and cocktailers have been pretty quick and efficient every time I have visited. They seem to have a professional staff (including barbacks) and make good drinks (the exception being the one time I ordered kamikaze's and they came in a regular shot glass as opposed to a rocks glass...who does this).
3) Too small for the crowd- This might just be a weekend thing as during the week its great, but the booths are so large that they take up a lot of the real estate. The upstairs is usually dedicated for VIP or private parties, so that takes up more room. The rest are relegated to the bar and "dance floor"-AKA the middle between the booths and the bar. This causes long lines on the weekend...not worth the wait.
4) Some nights get a little ghetto, but the DJ's are pretty good.
5) A little expensive for the Tenderloin (but don't tell Rye that...they didn't get the memo either).
**Overall, I love the ambiance and the staff- Would have been 4 stars if not for the lack of room to maneuver once inside and long line just to get in on weekends.
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The road to drunken farewell single hood presses on!
A close shimmy to Le Colonial at we were set. Great drinks, vibe and music. Very classy and full of cute guys. We defiantly had enough room for dancing and posing. We will be back.
this place is great for private parties and here i was again for another private party. the lush booth settings became table bottle service. the upstairs VIP area was open since at this party it was ONLY vip.
the party was so hot that there was a long line well after the festivities were in full swing. but the scary looking bouncer with a money making smile kept his cool and professionalism.
but even on a regular non private party day, it's a good location and sweet scene.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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05/27/2008
update*
so i came here for a genart afterparty. young mixed crowd - maybe i'll land in the photos.… Read more »
Edit:
Star added for the owner messaging me about the fact I was overcharged for my drinks
*************************************************
I love my birthday. Don't underestimate this statement. I LOVE my birthday. I love the attention, the cake, the fact all of my friends are legally obligated to be civil and in the same room, and the free drinks. My older sister, younger brother, and I all have birthdays in the same week (the 5th, 3rd, and 9th of November respectively) so growing up I never got my own birthday party or huge gifts. I have about 18 years of pent up birthday parties to get out. Last year I threw a successfully debaucherous birthday and have been on the hunt for a Birthday Fest '08 location ever since.
I pass by The Ambassador often as my friend owns 20 goto 10 (shameless plug: http://www.yelp.com/bi...) next door. I finally stepped in here after a gallery showing and was positive I had found my Birthday Fest '08 location. The decor is classy with chandeliers, mood lighting, cool phones in each booth, and plenty of room and high ceilings. I immediately pictured all of my friends dressed to the nines sashaying around with classy cocktails serrendading me with "Happy Birthday" while I stand on the balcony upstairs surrounded by burgundy (my favorite color) wallpaper with crowns, rhinestones, and big A's on it blowing out sparkler candles on a raspberry and chocolate cake.
THEN I discovered a vodka tonic costs over $10, the bottle service is absolutely ridiculously overpriced and more than once I've seen them hold a line outside just to "look cool" and "attract attention" when there are literally 5 people inside. This is not LA. I do not live in LA for a reason. Please take said LA practices and move 'em on South.
Overall review: MEH
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In an attempt to class up our weekend from the debauchery that occurred the night before at the Bamboo Hut we checked out the Ambassador.
Got there around 12 on a Saturday night, club was packed tight as anchovies. The music was pretty good, but nobody was really dancing. Did that stop me....no, but that's besides the point.
If you can make it up the stairs there's supreme people watching. The chandeliers were my favorite thing at this bar for sure.
I attended a party thrown here by 24 Seven (a staffing company that services the fashion, advertising, beauty, and PR industries) and was surprised to see such a swanky bar in the middle of the TL. (I need to start hanging out in the Tenderloin more, for reals.) The space itself is gorgeous - exposed brick walls, tufted leather banquettes, dark wood paneling, pretty chandeliers. The bartenders are friendly and pretty easy on the eyes.
I will definitely be back on a regular night to check out the scene...
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Tots! In my opinion, any bar/restaurant that serves tater tots deserves mention. You'd never guess when walking in to The Ambassador that they serve food let alone great quality food! Aside from the tasty tots their Mac n' Cheese was really yum yum. My friend ordered the burger and fries which looked awesome. I kept staring at her plate longingly, wishing I had my own. I wanted to swipe it right off her plate!
My first drink was the Bellinitini, which sounded like it would be great. Unfortunately it tasted like crap so I switched it out for a glass of champagne, which you can't go wrong with.
They have great comfy booths that seat quite a few people. When we were there it wasn't crowded but we were told it really picks up later on in the evening. We didn't stick around to find out but I'd be curious to go back to see what the crowd is like.
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So very happy my one experience here was a Friday during happy hour and not B&T invasion hours. Though - it was very quiet . Oddly quiet since Rye seemed to have a good crowd. This is a cool spot - love the leather booths and phones to call other booths. Swanky decor. Great space for private events. Bar food is quite good!
I've been to the Ambassador a few times. The first of which I spent most of the night making out with all my friends in the HUGE corner booth. We called multiple people from the phone located in the actual booth, or ... at least we think we did. To me that sounded fun. I do remember not waking up to drive my friend to the airport and a feeling of unfinished business with the Ambassador.
ANYWAY. The next few times I was up the street at Sugar Cafe where my friend bartends. We got WAY to trashed and tried to find the Ambassador, to no avail....
FINALLY I made it, SOBER to the Ambassador. The booths are super comfortable and make it easy to talk to your friends, assuming your friends are easy to talk to. People dance, people talk, people apparently blow lines off the bathroom floor . Overall, if you aren't cool, you MIGHT feel cool in here and they MIGHT not kick you out. . . SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!
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Niiiiiiiice!!! Dark, Sinatra-feel, great drinks, lovely chandeliers, great bartenders, nice decorations! Cannot say much but I can say this, go there and have fun.
ambassador to snobbery?...non-welcoming entrance...entrance hassles...such bureaucracies!... green with greed...hustle of bottle per six...some haste and...final confusion cleared...entrance granted...finding nothing of importance...standard evening crowd...drinking and daze...decent bar interiors...for self...not worth hassle, hustle 'n' haste...
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