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Ambar

3.7 (208 reviews)
Open • 6:00 am - 11:00 pm

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Recommended Reviews - Ambar

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Malinalli L.

Yes, yes , yes and yes- do have additive free tequila cascades extra anejo. Yes it was 56 bucks for a shot but it was great. I got the nopales salad and it delicious, overpriced , yes definitely but the ambience is beautiful, very elegant and great art.

JP P.

If you've been looking for an excuse to get a little dressed up and have an elevated night out in downtown El Paso, AMBAR is that excuse wrapped in gold lighting and Latin rhythm. This place oozes modern sophistication -- think sleek amber tones, warm lighting, and a menu that feels equal parts art and indulgence. They have an entirely separate vegan menu (bless them for that), which instantly won me over. I had a vegan beet tamale that was this unexpected harmony of earthy and elegant -- like a culinary poem about balance. My husband went for the chicken tinga, which he said was "perfection on a plate." I'll also go on record saying their guacamole might just be the best in El Paso -- perfectly seasoned, bright, and unapologetically fresh. Our waitress was phenomenal -- the kind of server who feels like a new friend by the end of the night. She sat with us, chatted about everything from local food culture to the downtown revival, and made the whole evening feel personal. They also have mocktails that are actually crafted -- not just juice in a fancy glass. Every sip, every bite, every moment at AMBAR felt curated with intention. In short, this is the kind of place that gives you a reason to wear something nice, order something new, and remember why dining out can still feel like an experience.

Jenny L.

I finally checked out Ámbar inside the Plaza Hotel downtown and honestly... that burger alone already earned them a return visit. I had just come down from a Tom Lea gallery event upstairs and the restaurant was packed. I figured it was a long shot, but they still found a way to seat me. Service stayed friendly even with the rush, which I always notice. The burger was easily one of the best I've had in El Paso. Clearly handcrafted, cooked right, super juicy, really flavorful. What impressed me most was the bun actually held everything together instead of falling apart halfway through like most gourmet burgers do. At about $20, it felt justified. One thing worth noting, especially if you're into spirits: they have one of the largest tequila and mezcal collections around. Definitely a destination spot if that's your thing. I tried their carajillo but found out they add Baileys, which made it sweeter than I usually prefer. Not bad at all, just more dessert-leaning than my taste. Live music from Jordan Taylor was happening that night too, which made the whole atmosphere feel elevated without being stuffy. Because that first visit stuck with me, I went back recently to try their lunch special with a friend. For $26 you get an appetizer, entrée, sides, guacamole, tostadas, and dessert. It's honestly a great way to try a range of dishes without committing to just one plate. Funny enough, it doesn't look like a huge amount of food at first... but we were completely stuffed by the end, so kudos to them for balancing portions well while still giving variety. Standouts: * The octopus cocktail appetizer was excellent. Bright, fresh, good texture. * Carne asada was cooked exactly right. Tender but still had bite like a proper steak. * Mushroom components in several dishes were surprisingly flavorful. * Desserts were a highlight. The arroz con leche arancini especially. Crispy outside, creamy inside, not overly sweet. Very well done. Some things were more middle-of-the-road: * Salmon dish leaned bland, lots of texture but not much flavor. * Guacamole tasted a bit acidic. * Goat cheese in the enchiladas was subtle to the point of disappearing. * Corn and mashed potatoes were fine but nothing memorable. Timing was reasonable. Food came out in about 20 minutes, but with a full meal you'll want to plan roughly an hour to an hour and a half total if you're not rushing. One practical perk: they validate parking at the Plaza garage next door, which downtown absolutely needs more of. Overall, beautiful space, solid service, some really strong dishes, and a few that could use more punch. Still very much worth checking out, especially if you're downtown already or want a nicer but still relaxed lunch or dinner spot. Definitely recommend giving it a try. 106 W Mills Ave, El Paso, TX 79901

Appetizer with Nopales
Melissa M.

New Year's Eve here was good due to the company. The food was goo. Service on the other hand was a bit slow since there were hardly any people at 5 PM and we struggled to get straws, a purse holder, and basic services. We did love that it was quiet enough to have nice conversations, and the kitchen was beautifully arranged. We left the waitress and 30% tip, even though the service was not very good.

Ino R.

Great experience at Ambar El Paso. We dropped in and took advantage of the lunch specials. We tried the ceviche appetizer. I enjoyed all of it. My lunch specials came with my choices of crema de green Chile (soup), corn, carnitas, guacamole, and a bunuelo tart of chocolate mousse. Their guacamole is super fresh. The chile verde had a little kick to it. Daniel was a superb server and he put up with my shenanigans and tons of questions He got us anything we needed and checked on us regularly. He was great. The place is beautiful. The bar is as reached to the glass backing and is naturally lit. I'd return here to try more of what their menu has to offer. This visit went well.

Spicy Marg

Stopped here after checking into the hotel, ended up having the Ribeye and a few margaritas. Fantastic experience. Great service!

Brunch buffet selection.
Jonathan S.

This is my second time visiting Ambar. I strongly believe that everyone deserves a second chance because everyone could be having an "off day". However, in this case I think the first impression is very indicative of what to expect at Ambar... slow to no service and "mid" to delicious when it comes to taste. The ambience is comforting and welcoming. I love the open kitchen area and oversized seating in the booths. Both visits were made during slow service hours, maybe 2-3 tables with fewer than 8 diners total. And yet, both times we had extremely slow service. I would have expected more attentive staff for it not being so busy. First visit my wife ordered a cocktail, which eventually came out after sitting at the bar for 4 minutes. Yes, I could see the bar from table and was looking at my watch. Her second drink was much like the first, sitting at the bar with melting ice before being delivered. The guacamole tasted boring and I felt like the avocados were wasted, being used as garnish on a taco would have been a better option. We had five different tacos, all of which tasted delicious. I felt like my tastebuds were finally alive after the guacamole. Glad to know I don't have to make an appointment with my doctor to check me for underlying health issues. For the second visit we came specifically for Sunday brunch. This time we brought our daughter and everyone had the buffet. Nice variety of traditional American and Mexican dishes. The Pazole Rojo was delicious, maybe a little heavy on the hominy, but I can forgive that considering it's a buffet and people probably fished out the good stuff. The omelette station was not manned, if we wanted an omelette we had to ask the waiter to get "name of cook withheld". Well... that is if we could find the waiter. Again as our first visit the service was slow. My wife got her Coke... eventually. She didn't receive her requested refill... but that goes back to the slow to no service I mentioned at the beginning. Our waters and black coffees were eventually refilled. The coffee did taste burnt, but was hot so that's a plus. The buffet was well stocked and tasted delicious. The dessert bar was stocked but honestly was hit and miss with flavor. The Mexican pastries were definitely homemade, but some of the other items tasted like they came out of the food service catalog. Overall impressions: don't come if you are in a rush and don't expect too much from the menu. In my opinion Ambar is very much a place you come to when staying downtown for a convention or wedding. Nothing spectacular to set it apart from any other restaurant in the downtown area.

Pork Tomahawk
Andrew P.

Nice upscale restaurant that's attached to the Plaza Hotel. All the wait staff were very friendly and the food was delicious. I had the pork tomahawk and it was surprised at how juicy and thick the cut was.

Chicken Tinga and Duck
Veronica F.

OMG, this restaurant is amazing words are not enough. The food is amazing for first impressions. We had the pleasure of having Chef Andy cooking for us not 1 day but 2 days WOW the food is incredible and and another shout out to Octavia and Alieen the service was excellent. It's a must try

Sierra B.

To start, the atmosphere and ambience is absolutely gorgeous. No complaints here. Upscale, with lots of warmth and cozy places to sit through out, with a beautiful bar. Gorgeous. Service was very good, although a bit slow. Our waiter was attentive, helpful, and polite. We enjoyed his suggestions. It was a two hour long dinner which was fine for us as it was an anniversary dinner, but just know you may there for some time. Price is VERY expensive. The food was decent (would order the guacamole and brussels again, they're huge servings). Would pass on the salmon and the cake we ordered, as the cake although beautiful wasn't particularly good at all. Very dry, old tasting. Drinks were decent, although priced very high at 16. Overall the lower rating is because of the food. I don't mind paying for great food, but to pay for subpar food is a huge bummer especially when it's this expensive. We've been wanting to check this place out for a while, and perhaps ours was a one off experience but I believe this was a one time stop in for us.

porterhouse 40oz steak, asparagus, chipotle potatoes.

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Great food and atmosphere! Service is good as well. Recommend for celebration and holidays but could get busy. Reservations recommended.

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2 years ago

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7 months ago

Cool spot. Pricey for what you get. Burger was 7/10. Good bartenders and tequila selection

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Ambar Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Ambar

Where do you park?

Various parking options around. We parked in a parking structure one block over, but there is also street parking nearby.

Is there an outdoor patio?

No but there is an indoor lounge area by bar.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Hush Hush

Hush Hush

3.7(12 reviews)
0.4 mi

Absolutely did not feel like we were in El Paso. Space is cool, drinks are great, bartender was…read moreawesome. One drink was so good my friend and I spent a chunk of the next day trying to recreate it. I want to give this place a fifth star, but it was just a little too loud - crowd was good, lots of people talking, but the soundtrack drowned us it out - and the parking situation is a little odd. Lots of parking but it's all for the stadium. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Should I have parked there? I don't know, but if you don't tell anyone I won't.

My girlfriend and I stumbled on this place by coincidence. Now I feel like we shouldn't have. It's…read morea Tuesday night so being in the service industry I understand things are slower. But the attitude from the bartender should have been an indicator for us to walk away. I asked for some drinks in which the bartender proceeded to just stare at me. I asked "May I see a menu?" It was as if I was inconveniencing him. We finally ordered our cocktails (a Negroni and their version of a sprit). The bar was so dark that I had to keep pulling my flashlight just to look at the menu and sign my receipt. Then we decided to go upstairs to try to enjoy our drinks and to our surprise, we saw that the wine glass for the spritz isn't even washed. They poured our drink with dirty glassware. When we noticed, we decided to leave right away. Would not recommend this place at all.

Photos
Hush Hush - Sticky stem.

Sticky stem.

Hush Hush - Outdoor Seating Area

Outdoor Seating Area

Hush Hush - Indoor Bar

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Indoor Bar

The Tiki Room El Paso - Island RIbs

The Tiki Room El Paso

4.4(132 reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$

3 visits over a few years that varied in nature - twice with friends, once a date night, parties of…read more2-5 people - Always great service I don't like sweet drinks, and they've always been open to adjusting sweetness of drinks and done a good job of it (the less-sweet cactus cooler and the less-sweet passionfruit daiquiri are the ones I especially recall) Nice balance of attentive enough, but not intrusive. If it's not too busy, the staff are usually very personal / happy to talk to you. - Great vibes - my favorite is usually the main tiki room and its booths, but the outside patio can be really nice as well - Food - portion sizes vary a good bit, so I recommend telling the how hungry you are and/or asking about portions. If you have the right expectations, I think you'll enjoy the food. I've liked all the food I've had, and so did my companions. Because of the area, this spot draws a cross-section of people...Chihuahua game attendees, out of town visitors, businesspeople, tiki bar aficionados and some locals.

The ambiance is dark and mysterious with an island vibe. The staff is welcoming and fun. Good for…read morefriends at the bar seating or the booths for more intimate conversations. The Hawaiian hot dog was decent but I came for the drinks tbh. It's so fresh in there after a chihuahuas game- walking distance !! Try the different drinks bc they're so flavorful and will get you a little tipsy...

Photos
The Tiki Room El Paso - Luau Pork Sliders

Luau Pork Sliders

The Tiki Room El Paso - Mochiko Chicken

Mochiko Chicken

The Tiki Room El Paso - Spicy Tuna Musubi

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Spicy Tuna Musubi

Pearl Divers Oyster Bar - Oysters

Pearl Divers Oyster Bar

4.8(17 reviews)
0.3 mi

Fresh oysters !!! Shipped every 2 days!! They get shucked right in front of you at the bar seating…read moreand they are so yummy!!! NOT grimey !!! Also had the crudo (salmon, tuna, scallops) with the soft delicious bread. The deviled eggs were good too. Truth be told I came for the oysters tho- a variety of easy and west coast options. You would never think downtown El Paso would have a spot like this but I'm glad they do!! It's a great place to pregame before a chihuahuas game!

Happiness is a dozen oysters and good company…read more Pearl Divers is a very spacious, bright and welcoming establishment with some of the best oysters, staff and menu options! Cocktails are uniquely crafted, the ambiance pulls you right in and the bar is probably the best place to be! It's very clean as well! They have a good range of an oyster selection with great pairings, something for everyone at the table! I was so happy to see Crystals hot sauce again! I'm a dirty martini girl and of course I'd recommend blue cheese stuffed olives! The fries were crispy, hot and served as a nice sized portion as a shareable. Customer service is 10/10, very attentive, kind and knowledgeable on the menu items and engagement with guests. I've had the opportunity to visit twice and this will be one of my frequent regular visits while here in El Paso! As they say, the world is your oyster--and this place serves some of the best pearls of the sea I've had."

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Pearl Divers Oyster Bar
Pearl Divers Oyster Bar - Little gem Caesar

Little gem Caesar

Pearl Divers Oyster Bar - Oysters & Martinis!

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Oysters & Martinis!

Tibor's Craft Cocktails - Drinks

Tibor's Craft Cocktails

4.8(14 reviews)
0.3 mi

Great Bourbon Selection & Outstanding Service…read more I've visited Tibor's several times, and I highly recommend it. The service has been spectacular every time--friendly, attentive, and consistently welcoming. If you're a bourbon enthusiast, this place is definitely worth checking out. They have an impressive bourbon selection, including allocated bottles at surprisingly reasonable prices, which can be hard to find. My wife and daughter really enjoy the craft cocktails, so there's something here even if bourbon isn't your thing. Great service, great drinks, and fair prices. Take a look at the bourbon selection--you won't be disappointed.

Two visits - both on nights where I was looking for live music (they do not seem to have a regular…read moreschedule, but they were on the weekends, and I enjoyed what I've caught here.) I've never had food here (I don't actually recall a food menu), but I've enjoyed beer and cocktails here. Nothing super memorable, but all good. The service has always been fine, but also not memorable. My 4 stars are for the overall vibe/ambiance, the varied seating options and good drinks. This is the kind of place that has a happy-to-stumble-into evening cafe kind of vibe. Especially if there's music. p.s. I've read the comment from the owner, but I looked at photos again carefully and I have the right establishment. I am a local and know the area. I've definitely seen live music here (I can add that it's been more than a year.) Perhaps there's been a change of ownership since then? Otherwise, I'd say that there are things occurring at the business of which you're not aware.

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Tibor's Craft Cocktails - Charcuterie board

Charcuterie board

Tibor's Craft Cocktails - Bar area

Bar area

Tibor's Craft Cocktails - Negroni and Paper plane

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Negroni and Paper plane

Ambar - mexican - Updated November 2026

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