Ambassador Wines & Spirits

What a great place. Amazing selection of everything. Went in to browse and see if they carried honey liquor (nobody does). They actually had more than one! Tried one and plan to go back for larger bottle or to try the other.
Nicest people AND meeting Shlomo really made my day. A few blocks out of my way but definitely worth the walk.

My favorite part about this store is the huge mastiff that sits in the corner near the Reislings. The good thing though, is that he will move, if you are looking for a wine that is near where he sits. He is a giant dog, but he is a gentle giant.
As for the people who work here, they are extremely knowledgeable. Everytime I come here, some body will help me find a wine within my price range. I was extremely happy when I was able to find a Reisling that they found for me. They do not carry the Riesling I like but they recommended one that was similar. It was not on the shelf but they checked in another room and found a bottle for me. I opened the party at a party and it was such a hit. Also, they have a really good selection of wines and hard liquor.

This is by far the best liquor store I have ever stumbled upon. I’m not a wine connoisseur, however, I am trying to learn more about wine. The staff at Ambassador Wines & Spirits was extremely knowledgable, friendly and helpful. We were greeted by three separate individuals within minutes of walking in. The selection is quite impressive with two floors divided by region– they even have a sake fridge! Definitely impressed with the personnel and the products. Will make it a point to buy wine from Ambassador and am eager to learn more from their staff about wine!

My parent’s 25^th anniversary was coming up and I had no idea what to get them. until it hit me. A bottle of wine from the year they got married? The only problem was the idea hit me just 3 days before their anniversary. Running on limited time, I went to Ambassador Wine & Spirits to see if they had any bottles from 1989. No such luck. BUT then Andre whipped out an ipad and start researching wines they could order. Most wines were way beyond my budget so I had a feeling I would have to start at square one. Andre wouldn’t give up though and soon enough he found a bottle in my price range and had it delivered the very next day! I was beyond ecstatic and it made for a really special anniversary gift. I definitely recommend this place!!! They’re super knowledgeable and you can tell their really passionate about wine! Couldn’t ask for a better experience.

What a cool liquor/​wine store. On a Friday night, it was like a scene in itself. Great wine selection with an adviser of sorts who really knows his stuff and is glad to talk it over with you. Liquor stores usually aren’t graded on style, but this one had tons of it. Prices slightly high but given the area and the quality of the operation, that’s to be expected.

The prices are a bit exorbitant (cheapest wine is $ 14 — where’s the two buck chuck!?) but they have a blast chiller to cool down any wine you pick in the store. You win some, you lose some.

Usually I only review eateries, but this place warranted a change. I am avid cider drinker and have almost exhausted the supply of new cider in NYC. What I mean is, I have tried them all and have not found new ones… this was until I found Ambassador Wines.
They don’t just have a shelf of cider, they have a walk in refrigerator with cider… yeah, you heard me correctly.
The prices are reasonable for NYC, and even more so for the UES.
I’ll be back as I could only carry out a few today, but they have several more I wish to try.

I’m afraid I’m not exactly a wine connoisseur — I am hopeful to eventually develop into one, but at this point I’m essentially a like/don’t like person. I likely have a very unsophisticated palate, but coming to this particular wine merchant makes we want to work on it.
My initial aquaintance with this shop started with my desperately searching — stat — for a wine giftbag. This area, I had discovered, is miraculously lacking stores that have simple wine gift bags.
I walked in and the Gentlemen had a very tasteful simple black one they were about to give me. For free. They literally refused to accept any payment. I wasn’t in any way pressured to buy anything, but grabbed a bottle of Campari (for my orange juice — trust me, orange juice tastes much better with a dash or twenty of Campari).
So of course once a need for wine arose (I have quite a few medical professionals to thank — long story), this was my source of choice.
Let me start off with the obvious — I’m a girl. I enjoy the company of men. Particularly handsome men who know their craft. This shop is brimming with them. I kid you not. I haven’t seen proper manners and intellectual maturity like this in a very long time. Their communication skills are impeccable, and you are treated as the most important person on earth. Mind you, this was a rush trip for me, so, frankly, had I had a dog, I would very unlikely have been caught dead walking it at 4 a.m. the way I was groomed/​dressed.
I mostly worked with Andre, although all of the Gentlemen were kind enough to participate. I received wonderful recommendations, and had not been taken advantage of — though I walked in with a flexible budget, at no point in time had they steered me to the more costly options, and every recommendation was appropriate to the party intended.
Again, I’m clueless and like pretty bottles. There were a bazillion pretty bottles and yet I was only offered those where the contents were worthwhile.
I’m not sure I qualify to comment on prices. What I will say is that if I paid at a premium, the service, consultation, attention, options, delivery flexibility, and that one bag they gave me for free though I literally walked in off the street and they never saw me before are totally worth it, and then some.
I don’t think they carry boxed bargain wine. But I also don’t think they should.
They gained a customer with a free bag. But they kept that customer with impeccable service, stellar competence and immaculate communication.
I’m sticking with them and I look forward to learning much.
Cheers, with a very delicious Pinot Noir, from a white/​rose wine kinda household. Thank you!

Personalized service at its best. This store is a wine connoiseur’s dream, and still manages not to be intimidating to the amateur (speaking from experience here).
If you have questions, they will answer them — quite thoroughly and, as it turns out after following their advice, accurately. The people who work here are wine enthusiasts who truly know their product and are eager to help you!
I didn’t know much about wine, other than the fact that I enjoy dry whites. This simple statement was what I walked in with on my first visit. Every recommendation they’ve made since has hit the nail on the head. Now, I know that I love dry, unoaked Chardonnays originating from Italy, and to avoid notes of vanilla and crème brûlée!
Now that I’m a regular, I walk in and am greeted like a friend. They make it a point to customize your experience.
They participate in the Belly rewards program. Their prices are shockingly low for an upscale wine store. Their selection is massive! Whether you’re a seasoned wine veteran or a curious entry-​level appreciator of the stuff, Ambassador will never disappoint. Go there!

I can not even begin to tell you how wonderful this place is but I will certainly try.
I contacted Ambassador Wines & Spirits because my company was putting together a wine tasting class. I really didn’t know anything about wines or what goes into a wine tasting class and I did not have a large budget. After speaking with Andre and Chris, they assured me they would take care of all the work and stay within my budget and they did an exceptional job.
The wine tasting class featured 8 different wines that ranged from region, color, taste, and flavor and Chris was able to show my colleagues and I how to taste the wine and what flavor profiles to look for. Everyone was enjoying the different varieties and were able to ask so many questions. The class was relaxed and fun and Chris did a wonderful job of letting us know that enjoying wine should be fun and easy and he recommended so many great alternatives to the expensive brands we are so used to hearing about. By the end of the class, the group was laughing, relaxed and informed and it’s all thanks to the great selection of wines and the amazing presentation by Chris.
The staff at Ambassador Wines helped me host a wonderful event at my company and stay in my budget. I highly recommend you go there if you are completely lost when it comes to wine or even if you are some kind of expert. They are the most knowledgeable and friendly people and they have a wonderful selection.
We will definitely try and host another class and you should consider them for your next event.

I can’t stress enough how amazing this place is for wine shopping! I was pointed in this direction by an employee of the local grocery when seeking wine, and I couldn’t be more excited that I didn’t settle for what little selection I found at the grocery. Super knowledgable employees/​owners who introduced themselves by name and gave me the rundown of the place. French wines and hard ciders in the basement, the rest is up top. I’ve never seen so much wine in my life. They don’t buy the typical brand names you’d see in the grocery store. Every wine is one they’ve tasted and loved. I was so overwhelmed by the selection, and the owner told me that they could help me select, so I went with that option. We walked around and he picked out 6 bottles of wine (10% off) within my price range (~$ 15) and I came home with the most amazing selection. I will be back each and every time I need to restock, they will even deliver for free within 10 blocks!

Simply the best!
Need I say More?
Mario, French-​Spanish

Love this wine shop! There aren’t as many affordable or great buy types of wine here (a concern for myself since wine is how I survive law school) but they have very nice wines and a very large selection.
They also have a decent liquor selection which seems to be very reasonably priced. The staff are very friendly and more than willing to help you find the perfect wine to match any meal.
I will be back time and again so long as I am living on the same block ;)

This place is awesome. Amazing selection. Super knowledgable and helpful staff happy to spend any amount of time educating you about wine and spirits or giving a suggestion or pairing with special meal. Really nice ppl. Good prices especially for the one on one attention you get.
Cutest monster dog ever that is super gentle named schlomo. We go in a lot just to see the dog and end up walking out an hour later with a new bottle of this or that.
Overall just an absolutely superb neighborhood wine and liquor store. A lot of times theyll let you taste pretty much anything you want if your on the fence about buying it.
Go here for all your wine and spirit needs in midtown east. You won’t regret it. They know theyre stuff. Love these guys. Would give 6 stars if it was possible.

This is, by far, my favorite wine store in all of Manhattan. Leonard is an incredibly gracious, knowledgeable and helpful owner who takes pride in his store and the quality of his merchandise. The wine selection here is nuanced, selective and outstanding. Ambassador stocks bottles that are in many instances exclusive to the US — some of the smaller French wineries may only distribute a handful of cases each year to our country and Leonard gets the majority of them! This is because he actually has traveled around the world to form relationships with the wineries themselves. Amazing. His knowledge of the vine is ridiculously impressive. He also hosts the best private wine tastings I’ve ever experienced in my life. Ambassador is a diamond in the ruff!

I never review wine/​liquor shops but Ambassador definitely deserves one. I come here all the time and the employees are beyond knowledgeable and friendly. They give great recommendations and are never trying to push any products on you.
I’ve gotten great recommendations on wines, tequilas, and even cooking wine! I actually told the guy helping me what I was making and he said «I’m a cook too! This one’s great!» as he handed me a mini bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.
PS– If you’re a dog lover, they have a MASSIVE dog named Schlomo. He may look intimidating but he’s the friendliest pup! Go say hi if he’s hanging there!

To find a decent wine store i NYC was not as easy as I expected. But there’s a really good one in 2^nd avenue.
They’ve lots and lots of wine and liquor. The staff is very friendly and know their stuff.
If you know what you’re looking for they will have it. And if you don’t just ask them. What your price range is and what taste your aiming for and they’ll help you.
As a Unilocaler, make sure to check in, then you’ll get an offer when you purchase for $ 20 or more.
Unilocal makes things better

One of the best wine and spirits store in NYC… if you’re into any type of scotch/​bourbon theres a good chance they have it. If you’re into wine of all regions another good chance they have it or something comparable.
Even though its not the biggest place I can spend a lot of my time here picking the staffs brain for what to try next. I’ve mentioned a few wines I like which they didn’t have but was recommended something comparable and they were right on.
Make sure to use your Unilocal coupon!!!

Is there a friendlier wine shop in Manhattan? You can’t convince me that there is, because the folks at Ambassador were great!
We stopped in after dinner to grab a bottle of wine. The store is well stocked with offerings ranging from $ 15 to «sky’s the limit». No matter what you’re into, they probably have something you’ll really love, and that includes a wide offering of sake.
We were hoping for a reasonably priced sparkler and the gentleman that helped us (Doug?) couldn’t have been more helpful. He took us down to the cellar and explained that they won’t sell anyone who doesn’t actually grow their own grapes — so no VCP or Pommery for you, kids! When I explained what I generally liked, he grabbed a Cremant d’Alscace that fit the bill perfectly — and at $ 20, it was a good deal.
There’s even a store puppy. Alas, he had gone home for the day but as a consolation prize we got to see photos. Overall — great selection, fair prices and an unbelievably helpful and friendly staff. I’m a big fan.

When it comes to wine shops, I am a deer in headlights. My husband wanted a bottle of wine to keep in our hotel room and we stopped in.
Everyone was eager to help, I am beyond that with wine. So I declined the help, checked in on Unilocal,and saved my husband $ 2.
Yup, a friendly, neighborhood wine shop, that had exactly the bottle my husband wanted and $ 2 off. I’m a fan.