Historic downtown Wichita hotel named second best in Kansas by U.S. News. Here’s why

A Wichita hotel was named the second best hotel in Kansas for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report.

The Ambassador Hotel in downtown Wichita — located on 104 S. Broadway — ranked just below a hotel in Prairie Ridge.

“Recent guests of the Ambassador Hotel Wichita said that reasonable room rates paired with superb service made for a pleasant stay,” the article reads. “This boutique-style hotel in Wichita, Kansas, boasts 117 rooms and suites outfitted in hues of charcoal, ivory and lavender. In-room features include flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi access, minibars, coffee makers and marble showers.”

The website ranked the hotels by looking at awards, hotel class and guest ratings.

The Ambassador Hotel’s building was first opened as Union National Bank in 1926. It was refurbished and opened as a hotel in 2014.

The building was also home to Dockum Drug Store, which was the site of the 1958 Dockum Drug Store Sit-in, a key part of the Civil Rights Movement in Wichita. The eating establishment would only serve white customers, so a group of Black students sat at the lunch counter until closing every day for two weeks until the establishment agreed to serve them and end segregation at the drug store.

The hotel now has a speakeasy bar called Dockum, named after the drug store.

The establishment’s other amenities include a fitness center, in-room dining, valet parking, dry cleaning and laundry services and more. It is home to the upscale dining restaurant Siena Tuscan Steakhouse.

“As Wichita’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel, this recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence,” a recent hotel social media post reads. “A sincere thank you to our dedicated team and valued guests for making this achievement possible. Your continued support inspires us to elevate the art of hospitality every day.”

Prices depend on the room type and the dates, but usually start around $200 and go up to around $900 a night for the most expensive suite.

A Wichita DoubleTree by Hilton location was ranked fourth best in Kansas, as well.

DoubleTree is located at 2098 S. Airport Road at the Eisenhower National Airport. It was built in 1975 and has 172 rooms.

Wichita’s Marriott, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive, and Hyatt Regency at 400 W. Waterman St., also made it on the top 15 list.

U.S. News’ best hotels in Kansas

Here are the five best hotels in Kansas this year, from U.S. World News & Report:

1. The Inn at Meadowbrook in Prairie Village
2. Ambassador Hotel in Wichita
3. Cyrus Hotel in Topeka
4. DoubleTree by Hilton in Wichita
5. The Oread in Lawrence

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.