Alisal Ranch - Solvang, California

Mel D.

Update - weds 19th March….the restaurant staff has definitely got the message. Great pacing….and they added a “special” - Filet Mignon - which was excellent!

Housekeeping however, still needs some work….there was no firewood in the room….when asked, they just told us “go to a fire pit” - hmmmm, no, description quite clearly state wood burning fireplaces…..which require…..wood….

Again, we love this place, and will return, but the general management needs some attention….

The restaurant would give a McDonalds a run for its money! Strongly suggest you order your appetizers….and wait….

Once you order your entrees…2 mins later they arrive!!! Voila! That microwave must be working overtime!

Oh, and that bottle of wine? That arrives during your last mouthful of your entree….

Finally, we are staying here for 5 nights…and just been informed that it’s the same (limited) menu every night…because, get this, the kitchen is being remodeled…..

Now, the food is generally very good.

We love this place….but the restaurant service is awful….

Tracey H.

This was my third time visiting the ranch and the second time visiting with my family. For starters, the grounds are spectacular. The ranch is really the main attraction. Right away, our family was able to actually relax from our hectic schedules. My teens utilized the pool, the hot tub, the basketball court, the air rifles, archery, the game room, and the petting zoo. It was nice to turn them loose and have them enjoy themselves without screens. Dinner and breakfast are included. The breakfast was so large, we didn’t need lunch. Horse rides are extra but well worth the cost. All the staff from the barn to housekeeping are extremely accommodating and welcoming. The property is five mins from the cute shops in Solvang. Our family of five enjoyed our time here and will return.

Tif Y.

We had the best time at Alisal. Very family friendly place and I felt great that the kids could just run around and that there was so much to do. Everyone was so kind and the staff was genuine and service was wonderful. I looked forward to breakfast and dinner everyday, the ingredients are fresh, the cooks are great, and my daughter loved the cookie and generous ice cream portions. Drinks were also AMAZING! On a side note, we enjoyed the weekday dining options as there were a few more special items on the menu than on the weekend. Last, the farm was great, pony was sweet, and next time I’ll time things better to get to the lake!

Gordon G.

My wife and I spent two nights at the Alisal this past weekend. This was our 4th stay with them and the experience was first class. Everyone was very attentive to our smallest of needs. Of special note were our servers, Maria K., and Juan, as well as Veronica V. at Reception. All of them gave us very special attention and made us feel as if we were the only ones at the Ranch. Hats off as well to everyone at the stables. We took our Saturday morning horseback ride up to the original adobe house for breakfast. It's always a special treat and this year we were rewarded with close encounters of flocks of wild turkey and small herds of deer--quite magical. We will certainly be back next year and look forward to seeing everyone. Gordon and Heidi.

Joe D.

Pricey but I was there for a business meeting. The staff is fantastic all around from the restaurant and bar to the people running the excursions. Even the housekeeping and grounds crew made sure to say hi, good morning etc. We're a rowdy bunch and they did an amazing job all around.

Theresa D.

Incredible experience!!! We came here for my husbands milestone birthday with our now grown up kids. We used to come here every Easter break when our kids were growing up. Alisal did not disappoint! The staff were on top of their game! They helped us pull off a few surprises for the birthday boy! Especially Meehan at the front desk who read our minds and tended to our every need! Johnny at the Ranch Golf Course helped us pull off an incredible epic birthday surprise! |The Staff, the wonderful rooms the incredible food were just amazing and will have coming back every year! |Thank You Alisal for some incredible memories!!

Annie H.

This place ought to be ashamed of itself. This has got to be the most irresponsible place I have ever stayed. I am currently staying here and the hotel had a planned power outage without telling any of its' guests. The entire hotel is pitch black, no light up exits paths etc. When you call the hotel's after hours emergency line, the mechanical operator says there is no one this line and hangs up. Not only did they not give us notice, they did not have the wherewithal to realize that some people need CPAPs to sleep. To add even more insult to unjury when I finally got a hold of the person at the front desk, he informed me that the manager on duty is unreachable due to the outage and the director is unreachable. This poor guy at the front desk wasn't told, now he's stuck apologizing to everyone calling, management is throwing him to the wolves. I'm very tempted to call the fire department because this is a fire hazard. You cannot reasonably have a gathering of people of this size without giving them any instruction in case of emergency. This is just beyond irresponsible. I have stayed at a hotel once before where they had a planned power outage. Everyone was given advance notice of when it would occur and flashlights. For those who needed to use a CPAP etc, a mini generator connected. Planned outages are not unprecedented, this place just didn't have a plan. Not nearly as infuriating is that the hotel is not full yet they place our room right next to the construction. It past midnight and I can hear drills and jackhammering. Throughout our stay there have been laughable hiccups that we just laughed off, but enough is enough.

Todd H.

We recently held our third Annual Sales Meeting at Alisal. This is an incredible place whether business, couple or family. The accommodations are amazing as is the food and incredible list of activities. Highly recommend Alisal if you are looking to get away for some r&r, romantic weekend, family outdoor activities or just about any occassion.