Alila Ventana Big Sur

EV parking is 1/4 mi away from reception with incline on the main road. No clear walkways from EV parking lot to reception. Lunch is no longer included on day of check in and day of check out. We were seated outside for dinner and breakfast despite cold weather.

Our stay at Alila Ventana We just returned from a night at Alila Ventana in Big Sur. The place is a paradise for nature lovers and those who enjoy a quiet, serene retreat. It is very pricey, but the rate includes food, drinks, in-room refreshments and snacks, as well as valet and self-parking. We found the food at the Sur House to be very good. For breakfast, my favorite dishes were the shakshuka and waffles. For lunch, the pizza was my favorite. For dinner, we loved the carrot soup and the seared tuna. For dessert, we enjoyed the lemon gelato and passion fruit cheesecake. The food was truly excellent. The property radiates wellness and relaxation — greenery, ocean views, and wooded trails everywhere. The room was spacious and fully stocked with all necessities. We loved the Japanese bath facilities — a hot jacuzzi surrounded by wood and nature, open 24 hours. The service was excellent, and I loved communicating with reception via text. This place is a luxurious gem!

My partner and I are Hyatt Globalists and stayed here for our two year anniversary road trip just after Highway One reopened. This hotel made the experience even more special. The hotel wad surrounded by big redwoods and beautiful views of the Pacific sunset, it was incredibly peaceful, we also enjoyed watching stars from the terrace at night. The food was excellent, and the hot pools were so relaxing in the evening. A big thank you to Rubi at the front desk for her warm and thoughtful help. She introduced us all the details for property and activities when check in. And also recommended the big sur wild bee honey and a local coffee shop for us, it was really good! We traveled all over the States in 2025/2026 and this is our favorite hotel so far. Not only because of the beautiful view, great food but more important is the people there who treated as like friends, thank you again Rubi :)

Based on our stay, the overall experience did not meet the standards we expect from a five-star property or from World of Hyatt. Our birthday celebration was not acknowledged in any way—there was no card, cake, drink, or even a small gesture, either in the room or during dinner—which was disappointing given the reputation of the hotel. Service responsiveness also fell short. When the cream bottle in the lobby was empty, I asked a staff member for assistance. After checking, he simply suggested that I go to the poolside area to see if there might be some there. It would have been far more appropriate and service-oriented to contact housekeeping and have the item brought to us, rather than asking a guest to search elsewhere. Additionally, during dinner we were looking to move to another table. Instead of guiding us or following up, the staff member walked away and left us standing there, unsure of what to do next. This lack of attentiveness and follow-through contributed to the overall feeling that the service was not aligned with five-star expectations. While the property itself is beautiful, the service experience significantly impacted our stay. We hope this feedback can be used to improve consistency, attentiveness, and guest recognition moving forward.

Ventana is truly an all time experience. I cannot recommend it enough! The food is exceptional and the staff are above and beyond, particularly for repeat guests as they remember all the things you do and don't like!