The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara - Santa Barbara, California

Introduction

For discerning travelers seeking an unparalleled coastal experience, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara stands as a beacon of luxury and impeccable service. Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, California, this magnificent resort offers a harmonious blend of refined elegance, breathtaking ocean views, and a commitment to personalized guest experiences. It's a destination carefully crafted for those who appreciate the finer things in life and are looking for a truly memorable getaway. The resort’s commitment to excellence is evident in every detail, from its meticulously landscaped grounds to its world-class amenities.

Location and Accessibility

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is strategically situated at 8301 Hollister Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93117. This prime location provides easy access to the city's vibrant culture, renowned wineries, and stunning beaches. Guests can effortlessly explore Santa Barbara’s historic downtown, indulging in fine dining, boutique shopping, and captivating art galleries. The resort is approximately 15 miles from Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), offering convenient transportation options. Driving is also a popular choice, with ample parking available on-site. The beautiful coastal drive to the resort itself is a significant part of the experience, allowing guests to immediately immerse themselves in the area’s natural beauty.

Key Features and Amenities

The resort boasts a remarkable array of features designed to cater to every guest’s needs. Here's a breakdown of some of the highlights:

• Oceanfront Property: The resort’s expansive grounds directly overlook the Pacific Ocean, providing stunning, uninterrupted views.
• Luxurious Accommodations: Guests can choose from a variety of elegantly appointed rooms and suites, each featuring plush bedding, spacious bathrooms, and private balconies or patios.
• World-Class Spa: The Ritz-Carlton Spa offers a comprehensive menu of rejuvenating treatments, utilizing natural ingredients and skilled therapists.
• Multiple Dining Options: The resort features several exceptional restaurants, including a fine-dining establishment, a casual bistro, and a poolside bar.
• Outdoor Activities: Guests can enjoy a range of outdoor activities, such as tennis, golf, kayaking, and beach volleyball.
• Meeting and Event Spaces: The Ritz-Carlton Bacara offers state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces, making it an ideal destination for corporate gatherings and social events.
• Wedding Venue: The resort’s beautiful gardens and stunning ocean views provide the perfect backdrop for a fairytale wedding.

Specialties and Services

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara specializes in providing exceptional hotel services, comprehensive meeting planning, and a premier wedding venue. The hotel’s dedicated concierge team is readily available to assist guests with all their needs, from arranging transportation to securing reservations at local restaurants. The hotel's meeting planning service is renowned for its attention to detail and ability to create seamless and memorable events. For couples planning their dream wedding, the resort's wedding venue offers a variety of customizable packages to suit any style and budget.

Guest Opinions and Reviews

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara consistently receives high praise from its guests. As of today, the hotel has amassed over 2509 reviews on Google My Business, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Guests frequently commend the resort's luxurious accommodations, attentive service, and breathtaking location. Common themes in the reviews include the exceptional quality of the food and beverage, the relaxing atmosphere of the spa, and the friendliness of the staff. While some minor criticisms have been noted, the overwhelming sentiment is one of satisfaction and delight. You can find more detailed reviews on the Ritz-Carlton website.

Other Points of Interest

Beyond the resort’s luxurious offerings, Santa Barbara offers a wealth of attractions and activities. The area is known for its vibrant arts scene, its award-winning wineries, and its beautiful beaches. Furthermore, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is proudly LGBTQ+ friendly, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests. The nearby State Street offers a lively atmosphere with numerous shops, restaurants, and entertainment options.

Contact Information

To book your stay or inquire about event planning services, please contact The Ritz-Carlton Bacara directly:

• Phone: 8059680100
• Website: ritzcarlton.com

In conclusion, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara provides a truly exceptional travel experience, blending luxurious accommodations, world-class amenities, and breathtaking coastal scenery. It’s a destination that promises to create lasting memories for discerning travelers.

👍 Reviews of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Juanita M.

Let me start with the good. The property is gorgeous. We enjoyed walking on the beach and the nature trail, visited the hot tub (great service at the pool - especially for a cloudy and cool day!) ||Alicia at O Bar was WONDERFUL. So personable and friendly. She provided great recommendations for food. The green chile chicken soup was wonderful for a cold rainy day and the ceviche was excellent - very fresh tasting. Valet and bell staff were also excellent. Super friendly and prompt. ||The room was lovely. Very spacious, loved the fireplace in the room and firepit on the patio and used both during our short 2-day stay.||Now, onto the bad. The bed in our room was AWFUL. Literally the worst I've ever slept on, including the Best Western in Palm Desert that I had to stay at with a large group for a family funeral. I could feel every spring, and my limbs kept going numb during the night because of how bad the mattress was. The hotel is currently undergoing renovations so I hope mattresses are included in the updates.||Now for the worst: My husband had the warm crab dip appetizer at The Bistro (which has an odd setup, btw. Why does it feel like a dressed up warehouse? Is it also part of the renovations?) The "warm" crab dip, served in a small skillet, was ice cold in the middle. He sent it back to finish being heated and when they brought it back it was hot all the way through. He enjoyed the dish (I tasted it and it was good, if a bit overly fishy.) Unfortunately, several hours later my husband ended up having a very upset stomach that lasted most of the night. We had also ordered a mushroom pizza, but weren't as hungry as we thought, so had them box it up and took it back to the room. I mention this to point out that my husband hadn't eaten anything else that day since our lunch 8 hours earlier.||All that said, we still enjoyed our stay overall and plan to return. Will steer clear of the crab dip, though.

Emily H.

Had an overall pleasant and relaxing weekend getaway. The lobby and valet area is organized and very inviting. Staff were always polite and a few were exceptionally thoughtful. Special thanks to Lina at the front desk for getting us settled earlier, and Galina the tennis pro for re-stringing our racquet within one day! A few areas we felt could be better:|-the rooms are spacious and clean but clearly old (chipped furniture, peeling paint, rip in curtains, bathtub wouldn’t drain). The current condition is not aligned with the $800/night weekend rate at all.|-valet never answered their phone, but if you called front desk sometimes the message didn’t get passed on. We called early but occasionally the car would be retrieved only when we showed up. This is crazy given the valet (your only parking choice) is $70 per night.|-we ate breakfast twice at The Bistro, the hostess team are lovely and the produce quality is excellent! On Saturday they had the buffet, however between sitting down and getting our check we never saw our server, and thus never informed that there were options you could order. We didn’t know pancakes were included until we heard another family order them as we were leaving. Also, the coffee is burnt and very bitter. The buffet for two ($120 after gratuity) would be worth it if those two things were improved.|-the grounds are immaculately maintained with the exception of broken glass along some trails and beach areas. It’s further (toward the golf course) but a hazard if you’re in sandals.||The property is a jewel and we hope to see them at their full potential.

Stephen C.

We checked in quite late in the evening after a long travel day. The entrance and lobby looked promising and the staff both at the time of check in and throughout the 6 day stay were definitely Ritz trained. Our room on that first night was old and tired and we could not wait to get to bed. Unfortunately, after a short while, there was a tremendous banging for about two minutes while the heat kicked on. It continued throughout the night at intervals and in the morning we asked for a change. They credited half the room cost and moved us to a newly painted room with a view, much better!|The rooms are an old design with only one sink and not particularly spacious. They have big tv, fireplace and coffee ad were comfortable enough. |There is no formal dining room but the Bistro and the foyer bar and terrace serve food albeit not fine dining. The Japanese restaurant was not available so I cannot comment on it. There was a good grab and go coffee shop.|The grounds are lovely and the fitness center first class!|Overall you can see how with some upgrading, which they are doing, this will be a far better representation of a Ritz Carlton, but at this stage it is a four star hotel with great staff. In fairness I will end by saying that for a property with the Ritz Carlton name, it is not expensive and overall we had an enjoyable time using it as a base for exploration.

John B.

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara was a dream come true for my wife and me. Luxurious accommodations. Professional staff focused on superb hospitality. Beautiful scenery. Sunsets on the beach. Anniversary celebration! The staff and other guests who we met there were wonderful!!! Benjamin, the assistant rooms operations manager, went above and beyond our expectations to accommodate our preferences for our special occasion. Sam and Mia assisted us with cordial and helpful attitudes at the registration desk. Matt gave us a private tour of the resort in the shuttle vehicle. Rosie, the in-room attendant, maintained our room with perfection. I want to extend a big “thank you” to all of the staff for genuinely treating us so nicely and with kindness. My wife and I really enjoyed ourselves at this beautiful resort. We will always favorably remember our stay and hope to return here on future vacations to Santa Barbara.

Mary L.

4/5

Beautiful property, top-notch customer service & comfortable, clean rooms (albeit outdated). This property, however, falls short of other 5-star or Ritz Carlton experiences, largely as a result of all the “extra fees” and overpriced items. The sauna and steam room were not complimentary, but rather $45 / day (and not covered by the “resort fees”). The breakfast / pool food was below average and pretty ridiculously priced ($38 eggs and hash brown). Since the hotel is quite remote, you also don’t have much of an option than to eat there. The stay would have been more of a 5-star, relaxing experience if it didn’t feel like they were trying to nickel & dime you for everything.

Roxana C.

5/5

I had a fabulous stay at Ritz-Carlton Bacara, it was truly a 5 Star experience! The resort is fantastic, with beautifully maintained grounds, relaxing walking paths around the villas, including a short nature trail and a five minute walk to the beach. The staff goes above and beyond to try and meet your needs from the moment you arrive until you leave. There is a Bistro with casual dining by the pool and a couple of fancy restaurants on site if you don't want to drive into town for dinner. My room was spacious, comfortable and simply beautiful. I can't wait to visit again.

Simon P.

5/5

A fantastic property that hits every mark. The location is simply stunning. Walking out to either the beach or the walking paths around the property is probably the best highlight. The rooms are well appointed, not particularly large but nevertheless a good size. The grounds are very well maintained. Service is excellent throughout with maybe a minor ding at front desk ironically. Bistro was excellent for dinner and the breakfast buffet was well done. Overall this is a fantastic property

Nicholas K.

Absolutely lovely Oasis for a break from the grind. Beautifully maintained facility and gracious staff. I had some concerns from reading the reviews of this hotel -- but I had a great experience -- and I would stay here again if in the area. Staff across the board were gracious and accommodating from check-in to check-out.||I'd recommend opting for a Club Level room. The 5 meal services offered by the Cloud area great -- even if touted as light and appetizers -- we found them more than sufficient. There were lots of extra on Christmas day - Prime Rib, Ham, Salmon -- I wouldn't expect those to be standard fare.||The beach and water area scenic -- but there isn't much to do there and they aren't too accessible.||Overall a truly great place -- which of course comes at a high price -- but worth it for a treat.