The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Loved this property! The hotel grounds are beautiful, the rooms lovely and super comfortable, with Dyptique toiletries. Very generous with the water bottles for in room tea/coffee. All the staff we encountered were very helpful, polite and friendly. The gym is huge, and so is the spa. Our massages were excellent. The breakfast at Lulio was very good, lunch at O'Bar nice as well. Would definitely come back!

In addition to the price of the room they tack on $75 for resort fee and another $75 for parking. They use golf carts to get around, so many carts that you can’t leisurely stroll without having to constantly move over to let the carts pass. It felt chaotic and was not up to our expectations.

The whole experience we had here was truly amazing. From Marcos at the Front Desk, Dorothy at concierge helping us get set up with Nick at Tennis, to Kai at Lulio with truly outstanding service. Everyone on the team here truly cares about our experience and I cant thank them enough for helping me make this experience perfect for my girlfriend.

The Ritz Bacara is a beautiful resort perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. The Spanish Colonial architecture and expansive, well kept grounds create a very relaxing atmosphere. The property is spread out and feels like a true resort. The staff throughout our stay was consistently friendly, attentive, and eager to help, as you would expect from the Ritz. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable. Ours were very quiet, with large balconies. The large bathroom had plenty of space. The only issue we encountered was that our TV never worked during our stay, despite our reporting it several times. One of the highlights is the natural beach directly in front of the resort. It is ideal for long walks, stretching for more than a mile in either direction. Be aware that this part of the California coast has natural tar deposits, so don't be surprised if you end up with tar on the soles of your feet. It's not a swimming beach, though. The resort also has a nice family pool and a beautiful spa. The spa is excellent, although the facilities are comparable to other luxury resorts and priced accordingly. There are several restaurants on site. We particularly enjoyed the Mediterranean restaurant, Lucca, which offered very good food and service. The Italian restaurant, Marsella, was less impressive. While the setting and ocean views are beautiful, the service felt rushed; our entrées arrived before we had finished our appetizers, and the food was more stylish than memorable. The main consideration is the location. The resort itself is the destination, and that's how it should be approached. There is relatively little to do immediately outside the property. We borrowed the complimentary electric bikes and rode toward the coast near UCSB, but much of the ride passes through fairly unremarkable neighborhoods on busy streets before reaching the beach. If your goal is to spend time exploring shops, restaurants, and attractions, you'll probably be happier staying in Santa Barbara or Montecito. If, instead, you're looking to relax, enjoy beach walks and the pool, and spend most of your time on a beautiful resort property, the Ritz Bacara is an excellent choice.

Dinner served by the amazing Lina was impeccable! The best meal and service I have had in a while! We can't wait to return!