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The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara , 8301 Holllister Avenue (Show on Map)

8.0

Very Good

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Summary of reviewsRoom quality: The rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara are nothing short of luxurious. Guests consistently rave about how clean, spacious and comfortable they are. The decor is beautiful and the in-room amenities are top notch - from the cozy fireplace to the plush bathrobes. Some guests suggest that the rooms are in need of modernization, but overall, the majority agree that they are excellent.

Pool & beach: The pool and beach areas at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara are absolutely stunning. The pool is huge and heated, surrounded by lush gardens and comfortable loungers. The beach is equally beautiful with soft sand and a private entrance for hotel guests. Guests love the views from both areas and appreciate the attentive service provided by staff, who are always there to offer towels or a refreshing drink.

Food & dining: The food at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is exceptional – from the delicious breakfast buffet to the amazing seafood dinners at The Bistro. The restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine to suit all tastes and the cocktails are expertly crafted. Some reviewers do find the prices to be on the high side, but most agree that the quality of the food and service is worth it.

Spa & wellness: The spa at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is a truly indulgent experience. Guests are impressed by the range of treatments on offer and the quality of the services provided. The spa facilities are top notch with steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs available. While some find the spa to be expensive, the majority of reviewers find it to be a highlight of their stay.

Overall, guests consistently rate The Ritz-Carlton Bacara as a truly exceptional hotel. While some may find it pricey, most agree that the level of service, facilities and amenities make it worth the cost. It is a perfect place for a luxurious and comfortable stay in Santa Barbara.
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Luxury Hotel

Immerse in the opulence of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, where a delectable culinary journey awaits. The hotel's six restaurants each offer unique ocean views, paired with a distinctive take on local flavors. From elegant 3-course prix fixe menus paired with vintage wines at Angel Oak to the authentic Latin dishes served with bold cocktails at 'O' Bar Kitchen, dining there becomes an exhibition of the best that Santa Barbara has to offer.

The accommodations at this luxurious hotel blend Mediterranean hospitality with Santa Barbara's laid-back charm, encouraging guests to take the time to savor every moment. Delight in rooms and suites with either ocean or garden views, or choose a fireside room and savor the evening on the patio. Meanwhile, the spa sprawls across 42,000 square feet within the resort's 78 acres, boasting a full selection of amenities, including a swimming pool, redwood sauna, eucalyptus steam room, fireside lounges and a rooftop terrace. With multiple heated outdoor pools, including a children's pool, and a whirlpool area, you're surrounded by ample opportunities to relax, restore and relish the spa resort’s legendary Santa Barbara views.

Beachfront Hotel

Discover the ultimate coastal oasis at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara hotel in Santa Barbara, where opulent luxuries, picturesque ocean vistas and prime location come together to create an unforgettable vacation. Indulge in the breathtaking sights of the Pacific right from your guest room balcony, or unwind with a rejuvenating wellness treatment at the spa. For a unique adventure, embark on a sailing expedition and witness the beauty of California from a different perspective. Sprawled across 78 acres of pristine coastline, this resort boasts an impressive two-mile natural beach, complete with three zero-edge heated saline pools that offer the perfect place to soak up the sun. Take advantage of private cabana rentals and indulge in watersports like surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Plus, with easy access to the region's top vineyards, restaurants, shops, and attractions, guests can create an itinerary that perfectly suits their interests.

What is between the hotel and the beach?

Cliff

What is the type of the beach? Rocks

Are there non-motorized watersports available?

Surfing

Kayaking

Answers last updated by our editors

Hotel with Spa

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara offers a luxurious spa sanctuary that pays tribute to the scenic California landscape. The spa offers locally inspired and luxury spa rituals such as the Citrus Avocado Body Scrub, which uses Himalayan salts and organic avocado oil to exfoliate and revitalize the skin. The spa features a full selection of amenities including a swimming pool, redwood sauna, and eucalyptus steam room, as well as fireside lounges and a rooftop terrace to relax and enjoy the spa resort’s stunning Santa Barbara views. With over 42,000 square feet of space, the spa offers massages, skincare, hair, and nail services. Guests can unwind with a hydrafacial or a Bluff Body Melt, which offers a full-body exfoliation, followed by a relaxing aromatherapy oil massage and a warm thermal wrap. The spa also offers exclusive new treatments such as the East/West Massage, which incorporates Thai and Shiatsu techniques into classic massage. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is the perfect place to find serenity and indulge in luxurious spa treatments.

Dog Friendly Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara welcomes up to two dogs weighing no more than 50 lbs / 23 kg. An additional fee is charged for the stay. Dogs may be left in the room unattended, but housekeeping services will not be provided. Dog bowls, beds, and treats are available. There is a grassy area for pet relief on the property.

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Room Types

Standard King Room The fireplace is a top feature of this double room. The spacious double room features air conditioning, a coffee machine, a balcony with an inner courtyard view as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower. The unit has 1 bed.

Standard Queen Room Guests will have a special experience as this double room features a fireplace. The spacious double room offers air conditioning, a coffee machine, a balcony with an inner courtyard view as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. The unit offers 1 bed.

King Room with Balcony and Partial Ocean View This double room's standout feature is the fireplace. The spacious double room offers air conditioning, a coffee machine, a balcony with sea views as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath or a shower. The unit has 1 bed.

King Room with Balcony and Ocean View This double room's special feature is the fireplace. The spacious double room provides air conditioning, a coffee machine, a balcony with sea views as well as a private bathroom featuring a bath or a shower. The unit offers 2 beds.

Signiture King Suite with Sofa Bed and Partial Ocean View This suite's standout feature is the fireplace. This spacious suite is comprised of 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 2 bathrooms with a bath or a shower and free toiletries. The air-conditioned suite offers a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a coffee machine, a seating area, a wardrobe as well as sea views. The unit offers 2 beds.

Signature King Suite with Sofa bed and Fireplace - Ocean View Guests will have a special experience as this suite features a fireplace. This spacious suite is comprised of 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 2 bathrooms with a bath or a shower and free toiletries. The air-conditioned suite offers a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a coffee machine, a seating area, a wardrobe as well as sea views. The unit offers 2 beds.

One-Bedroom King Suite with Sofa Bed and Terrace This suite offers a fireplace. This spacious suite comprises 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 2 bathrooms with a bath or a shower and free toiletries. The air-conditioned suite provides a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a coffee machine, a seating area, a wardrobe as well as garden views. The unit offers 2 beds.

Two Bedroom Penthouse Suite with Ocean view, Fireplace and Balcony This suite features a fireplace. This spacious suite features 1 living room, 2 separate bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with a bath or a shower and free toiletries. The air-conditioned suite features a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a coffee machine, a seating area, a dining area as well as sea views. The unit has 2 beds.

Deluxe Queen Room with Two Queen Beds, Balcony and Roll-in Shower - Mobility Accessible This family room's standout feature is the fireplace. A seating area with a flat-screen TV, a desk, a balcony and a private bathroom are offered in this spacious family room. The unit has 2 beds.

King Room with Fireplace and Partial Ocean View Guests will have a special experience as this double room features a fireplace. The spacious double room offers air conditioning, a coffee machine, a balcony with sea views as well as a private bathroom featuring a bath or a shower. The unit offers 1 bed.

About The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

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Guest Reviews

8.0

Very Good

Location

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is situated in a stunning, oceanfront setting, well situated on the cliffs above Goleta beach. With access to a beautiful beach, it's the perfect location for all-around sightseeing. Guests love the amazing views, as it's as close as you can get to the ocean and watch a sunrise and sunset - deeply beautiful. While the location is a bit isolated and requires a golf buggy or a long walk, nothing can beat the feeling of being right on the beach. The location is truly wonderful and the property is stunning as well with individual bungalows providing beautiful views looking over the pool and to the ocean. With its A+ location, guests can relax and immerse themselves in the beauty of the surrounding nature trails and take advantage of its convenient location, just 15-20 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara.

Breakfast

Guests had mixed reviews about the breakfast at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. The buffet breakfast was deemed overpriced at $48 per person with a very limited menu, but the coffee and light breakfast brought to the room was deemed less than adequate. Some guests thought that the breakfast was mediocre and expensive at $40 per person with no alternative meats to pork. However, a majority of the reviews complimented the breakfast, calling it excellent or very good. Guests loved the brunch at the bistro with the staff being wonderful and the food equally amazing. The only downside to the breakfast was some hot food being cold and some finding the food to be blah and inedible, like cheap fast food. Overall, the breakfast experience received mixed reviews.

Dinner

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara offers a variety of dining options, including a delicious menu at the Angel Oak restaurant. Guests who requested a tasting menu were delighted to receive five full-size courses of delicious food. While some guests found the food at other restaurants on the property to be overpriced and disappointing, the restaurant near the pool was very good and the bistro had delicious food and presentation. However, others found the food to be bland, took forever to arrive or not worth the price tag, such as the steak house. Some guests also experienced unfortunate incidents, including a high server who spilled vinaigrette and overpriced drinks like a $30 glass of wine or $9 soda water. Despite these challenges, overall the dining experience at the hotel was pleasant with tasty food and attentive service.

Rooms

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara offers a comfortable and relaxing stay amidst the beauty of its surroundings. While some rooms were slightly dated and in need of renewal, others were perfect for families, clean, spacious and comfortable with nice balconies and fireplaces. The facilities in some rooms were old and the decor drabby, but the rooms had amazing views of the ocean and the architectural landscape was gorgeous. The property is also a maze of stairs and corridors with some buildings nestled farther out. Nonetheless, the staff was very nice and accommodating, upgrading guests to nicer accommodations if possible. The grounds are also gorgeous with a beautiful pool and beach. Overall, the rooms at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara are good, but some may not meet everyone's expectations of a Ritz Carlton.

Cleanliness

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is a beautiful property that offers a great experience to its guests. Although some reviews have mentioned trash on hillsides within view of the patio and dirty tables around the pool bar, the hotel's overall cleanliness is highly praised. The lobby is always clean and open to help with check-in/out and valet service is always available. The landscape and grounds are tidy and the spa is excellent. The hotel has implemented all COVID protocols, making guests feel safe during their stay. However, a few rooms have some cleanliness issues such as stained carpets, broken tiles, moldy cushions and spider webs. Nonetheless, the hotel's exceptional service and overall cleanliness make it a great choice for a luxurious getaway in Santa Barbara.

Staff

The staff at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, received high praise from guests with many describing them as wonderful, friendly and fantastic. Most guests had positive interactions with the staff, who were described as courteous, helpful and professional. Some guests did encounter staff members who were poorly trained, while others noted that the staff was sparse or not up to par. However, the majority of guest reviews emphasized the amazing customer service and attentiveness of the staff, including shoutouts to specific employees like Ruvin and Luis. Guests appreciated the pet-friendly atmosphere and prompt valet service and even when service was affected by COVID-19, some staff members remained exceptionally helpful. Overall, guests felt that the staff were gracious, accommodating and made their stay at this beautiful hotel all the more enjoyable.

Pool

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara offers an amazing pool experience that guests absolutely loved. The pool itself is beautiful and offers incredible views. Even better, there is easy access to the beach, making it the perfect location for those seeking both relaxation and adventure. Cabana service is available and offers a great way to enjoy the pool while still maintaining social distancing. While some guests noted that the pool area was quite busy and that reservations were necessary, others found it to be very pleasant. However, some guests did mention that the pool bathrooms were not usable and that some areas were extremely loud, busy and dirty. Despite these minor setbacks, guests loved the pool overall and appreciated the hotel's efforts to follow COVID guidelines. Additionally, the hotel boasts top-notch hospitality, a sensational beach, gorgeous pools and delicious dining options. If you're planning a stay at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, be sure to make time to enjoy its amazing pool and other amenities for a complete experience.

Beach

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is a beautiful property incredibly well situated on the cliffs above Goleta beach. With access to the beach being one of the best features, guests can enjoy the private beach designated just for them. Although some guests may find the beach dirty due to an oil spill, others love the empty beach and its easy accessibility. However, there are reports of tar on the beach and a lack of amenities such as beach chairs, umbrellas and towels. Additionally, some rooms offer a view of the oil rig and support ship moored off the beach, but regardless, the location and property are loved by many guests. The beach may not be perfect, but the kind hospitality and sensational location are sure to provide an unforgettable stay.

Parking

Guests have had mixed experiences with the parking at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. While some have praised the fast valet service and the abundance of parking attendants, others have been disappointed with the high costs and the lack of communication about parking fees during the booking process. Those who opted for self parking may have found the lot to be too far from their rooms. However, those who did use valet parking found it to be convenient and accessible. Some guests have also been surprised by the $50 daily parking charge, which they feel is excessive considering the price of the hotel room. Overall, guests have had both positive and negative experiences with the parking at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.

5 Star

If you're looking for an exceptional stay in Santa Barbara, look no further than The Ritz-Carlton Bacara. This hotel truly delivers on its reputation for superb facilities and services and guests consistently rate it as exceptional. From the moment you arrive, you can expect 5 star customer service that will make your stay truly wonderful. The property is simply spectacular with everything you could want to make your stay comfortable and luxurious. While some say they were expecting even more from a 5 star hotel, most guests find The Ritz-Carlton Bacara to be truly exceptional.

Luxury

Welcome to The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara - a super luxurious resort hotel nestled in the heart of California. This beautiful hotel and property offer the perfect surprise getaway and is very pet friendly. Guests rave about their wonderful stays at this gorgeous resort where luxury and quiet reign. This is a truly five-star experience with stunning accommodations and exceptional service. Despite the one negative comment, which is unusual for the Ritz, the majority of guests agree that this hotel offers a true 5-star experience. Come and experience the super mooi resort for yourself - you won't be disappointed!

Yes, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Outdoor Pool.

Yes, a spa is available at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.

Yes, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara welcomes dogs.

Yes, parking facilities are available at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.

Yes, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara has a gym.

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