About Ambi Wine Bar & Desserts
Anoka, Minnesota - Social District & Historic Downtown
Our Story
A quick drive from minneapOlis, Ambi Wine Bar IS located in the heart of the Social District in Historic Anoka, Minnesota!
Ambi WIne Bar is located at the corner of Jackson Street and 2nd in Historic Downtown Anoka
A quick drive from Minneapolis, Ambi Wine Bar (ahm-bee) is a small restaurant that was founded by Anokans who share a vision for Anoka’s future and a commitment to improving their community. As a team, they created a one of a kind wine bar / dessert bar experience in Anoka with a warm, winery meets cafe vibe. Centered around the community, Ambi Wine Bar pairs the world’s greatest wines with local flavors from Anoka’s Main Street businesses including award winning desserts from Truffles & Tortes.
When opening our doors in the Spring of 2019, Ambi Wine Bar aimed to create a concept that maintained the “Classic Anoka” vibe but with a modern twist. More importantly, the wine bar complements Anoka’s existing lineup of local businesses while filling a void in the historic downtown Social District - a destination for you to discover wine and your favorite bites including flatbreads, charcuterie boards, and dessert!
Ambi Wine Bar’s goal is to help cultivate Anoka’s forward progress, bringing more people into the area and ultimately introduce more people to the town we love. For tourists, Ambi Wine Bar provides respite after a day of shopping the city’s many antique and boutique stores or after a night at the theater, Lyric Arts. For locals, Ambi Wine Bar is a meet-up space for friends taking part in the city’s many traditions and a front porch for Anoka’s downtown events,
The bar’s historic ambiance pairs a warm setting with the energy of live music and local art. Ambi Wine Bar’s menu features a strong assortment of wines, craft beer, cider, mocktails, non-alcoholic drinks, as well as a curated assortment of small plates, meats, cheeses, flatbreads, boards, and desserts.
Ambi Wine Bar & Desserts has been recognized by The Star Tribune as Minnesota’s Best Wine Bar (Silver 2023, Bronze 2022) and The Anoka County Shopper as Anoka County’s Best Wine Bar (2023, 2022, 2021),.
Our Team
Jess Pratt, Co-Founder & Operations
As a small business owner with thousands of delighted clients over the years, Jess knows the Anoka community and has a proven track record of operating a business with rigor. At Ambi, Jess leads our operations.
Ythan Pratt, Co-Founder & Marketing
Ythan has spent over a decade working in advertising, supporting some of the world’s most recognizable brands in their marketing efforts. With Ambi, Ythan is able to put his marketing skills to work in his hometown.
Discover Miss Iz Ice Cream in Ramsey
In October 2022, we opened an ice cream shop! Miss Iz Ice Cream & Soda Pop Shop is located in Ramsey Towne Square near the corner of Bunker Lake Blvd and St Francis Blvd in Ramsey, MN.
Take a step back to the 1950’s through our diner inspired retro setting that is fun for everyone. Stop to enjoy ice cream by the cone, cup, or glass with family, friends, or for date night.
We take pride in serving premium ice cream, desserts, and fun flavored soda pop. To learn more, visit MissIzIceCream.com
Photo courtesy of the Anoka County Historical Society
Anoka History: Herr Schmidt
Before Ambi Wine Bar, 2015 2nd Ave Anoka was occupied by the restaurant Herr Schmidt. Known for their legendary hamburgers, Herr Schmidt was a world-famous establishment. Their fame included the following reference on June 15, 1987 in the Washington Post.
If you have stories from Herr Schmidt, we’d love to hear them. Please use our contact page to share your memories!