Sedona, Arizona, is known for its striking red rock scenery, spiritual energy, and world-class hiking. Now, it’s also home to Ambiente Sedona—a Landscape Hotel, the first property of its kind in North America. Built to blend into its desert surroundings rather than stand out, this adults-only retreat offers a different kind of luxury—one rooted in nature, architecture, and solitude.
But does this ultra-modern, high-design hotel deliver on its promise of serenity and seclusion, especially with a highway nearby and rooms starting at over $1,000 per night?
We stayed at Ambiente Sedona, and here’s our honest review.
Ambiente: A Landscape Hotel
Opened in spring 2023, Ambiente Sedona is a 40-room boutique hotel made up entirely of freestanding glass “atriums”, elevated on stilts and designed to reflect the surrounding landscape. Located just off Sedona’s Route 89A, the hotel sits on three acres adjacent to the Coconino National Forest and offers easy access to some of the area’s most popular trails.
Each atrium is a cube-shaped structure built from bronze-tinted glass, matte charcoal steel, and rusted metal. The look is ultra-modern, minimal, and intentionally unobtrusive. The idea: let the landscape take center stage.
Ambiente is a member of Leading Hotels of the World, which puts it in good company with luxury properties around the globe.
Location: Near Town, But Not Remote
Ambiente’s location is both a strength and a drawback. The resort is just a few minutes from Uptown Sedona, where you’ll find shops, restaurants, and galleries. It also backs up to the Adobe Jack Trail, giving guests direct access to over 200 miles of hiking and biking routes. In Sedona, parking lots for some of the most popular hikes fill up quickly, so we loved being able to simply walk out of our room and go on a stunning hike.
However, the proximity to Route 89A means traffic noise is worth noting—especially in rooms near the upper edge of the resort or closest to the road. Although efforts have been made to mask the sound with landscaping, water features, and soundproofing, it’s still noticeable in some atriums, especially if you’re on the rooftop deck.
Rooms: Striking Design With Some Privacy Trade-Offs
Ambiente offers just one room type—the atrium—but layout and views vary. All units feature:
- A king bed with desert-facing views
- A bathroom with double vanity, soaking tub, towel warmer, and dual rain shower
- Byredo toiletries
- Spa robes and slippers
- A small kitchenette with free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
- A private rooftop deck with daybed and firepit (most atriums)
The bronze-tinted glass provides one-way visibility during the day, but lights at night turn the effect around, putting anyone inside on display after dark—so curtains are essential for nighttime privacy. Fortunately, you can open and close the privacy and blackout curtains with a remote control. Another fun high-tech feature in the rooms is the flat-screen television which can be lowered from the ceiling with the touch of a button (or retracted for uninterrupted views).
My favorite feature of the atrium, however, was the private rooftop terrace. Climb the spiral stairs and you’ll emerge onto a patio with a comfortable daybed and firepit. Sedona is a Dark Sky Community, so there is minimal light pollution nearby, and the stargazing here will blow you away. We even saw the Milky Way and a few planets during our nighttime sessions on the roof.
It’s also worth noting that the atriums are built relatively close together, and not all have unobstructed views. If you’re looking for the most scenic and private experience, book a Landscape Atrium on the property’s northern edge. These face the forest preserve and surrounding red rock formations.
Dining: Forty1 Restaurant and The Drifter Food Truck
Ambiente’s main dining option is Forty1, an onsite restaurant that serves à la carte breakfast and dinner using seasonal ingredients sourced from the nearby Verde Valley. Breakfast is only for hotel guests, but most guests order room service to enjoy in their atriums. We chose this option, and enjoying coffee and breakfast in bed while watching the sun rise over the red rocks was a favorite moment from our trip. Forty1 is open to non-guests for dinner, and is popular, so make a reservation in advance.
For lunch or snacks, guests can head to The Drifter, a stylish Airstream trailer converted into a casual poolside eatery. Expect sandwiches, salads, and light fare during the day.
Is Ambiente Sedona All-Inclusive?
Despite the high price tag, Ambiente is not all-inclusive. However, all room rates include a $40 per person per day food credit which can only be used at breakfast and can not be used on alcohol or gratuity.
Spa and Wellness
Velvet Spa, located in the main lobby building, offers a compact menu of massages and treatments using locally sourced ingredients. All services start with a personalized scent experience from ZENTS, and guests receive a vial of their custom blend post-treatment.
Two standout wellness features:
- Dark Sky Lounge: A 30-minute guided sound and light therapy experience meant to induce deep relaxation.
- O2 Soaking Lounge: Japanese-style warm baths in a minimalist setting.
There’s no gym, but with miles of trails accessible from the property, you won’t miss it.
Service and Extras
One of my favorite features at Ambiente Sedona is its concierge texting system. After check-in, you can text the staff anytime with requests—from booking hikes to ordering room service. The response time is quick and friendly. We were out on a hike and decided we were hungry, so we asked our concierge to have snacks and drinks waiting for us on the rooftop when we returned, which was a nice perk.
Other included amenities:
- Complimentary minibar with local snacks, pour-over coffee, and non-alcoholic drinks
- Valet parking
- Use of a custom Audi RS e-tron GT for drop-offs around Sedona (subject to availability)
- Wi-Fi
Is Ambiente Sedona Worth the Price?
Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons:
Pros
- Peaceful, adults-only scene
- Stargazing from the atrium rooftops is unbelievable
- Beautifully designed atriums
- Comfortable beds
- Remote-controlled curtains
- Great access to local hiking
- Helpful and friendly staff
Cons
- Some atriums don’t have rooftop decks
- The atriums are fairly close together, so it may not be the remote and private feel some people are hoping
- The resort is right off the highway, and the traffic noise can be loud at times
Price and How to Book
Ambiente Sedona isn’t available on a lot of booking sites. I found available dates on Mr and Mrs Smith, but I ended up booking directly on Ambiente’s website.