The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, in California [In-Depth Review]

I recently returned from a trip to Santa Barbara, California, where I visited with a group of people to attend a surprise engagement celebration.

With the couple residing in Los Angeles and the majority of the guests coming in from out of town, we needed a place to stay for a couple of nights. As it turned out, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, fit our needs perfectly, as it provided a stunning location for my friend to pop the question and plenty of amenities for the ensuing celebrations.

Read on to learn about my brief stay and what you can expect if you’re considering this property for yourself.

Booking The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Luckily, I knew about these engagement plans well in advance and was able to allocate — in my mind, at least — Marriott Bonvoy points to this stay because cash rates tend to be pricey year-round.

And sure enough, despite my mid-June stay being in the middle of prime “June Gloom” season in California, cash rates were high. At just over $1,000 per night before taxes and fees, that was definitely out of my budget. However, my 2-night stay was also bookable for 160,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. In fact, I was able to take advantage of a rare “Pointsavers” award rate, which meant the stay was actually discounted from 200,000 points to the 160,000 I paid — score!

We value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents apiece, which means I spent about $1,120 worth of points on the entire stay — not too shabby considering the cash rate was over $1,000 per night.

Hot Tip:

Learn about all the best ways to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for maximum value!

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, Location

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, is located about 14 miles north (about 15 to 20 minutes in the car) of downtown Santa Barbara, California. The resort is just over 6 miles (about 10 minutes by car) from the tiny but incredibly charming Santa Barbara Airport (SBA).

Knowing that I was going to return to Los Angeles with my friends after the proposal, I didn’t want to deal with a car during my brief time in Santa Barbara, as there would be several at the resort.

Thus, I flew from my home in Grand Rapids (GRR) right into Santa Barbara via Detroit (DTW) and Salt Lake City (SLC). Despite needing to make 2 stops to reach the airport, it was worth it, as I didn’t have to contend with the more than 2-hour drive that I would have needed to make had I flown into Los Angeles (LAX).

Santa Barbara Airport attracts commercial service from hubs around the country, though most people coming from further distances will choose to fly into LAX, about 100 miles away, and make the drive, which can be very beautiful and scenic!

However, the itinerary I bought ensured that I arrived around noon, right in Santa Barbara, which is precisely why I chose it. After I touched down, I simply hailed an Uber. Fewer than 15 minutes and about $20 later, I was walking into the lobby at The Ritz-Carlton.

Checking In

I arrived at the hotel in my Uber from Santa Barbara Airport just after noon on a Wednesday. Predictably, there wasn’t a swarm of activity when I arrived, so a bellman approached the car immediately, whisked my bag away, and told me I’d see it in my room as soon as I was given access to it.

I moseyed into the lobby and was immediately struck by the “Mission style” evident in the architecture and the decor.

The walls were predominantly white plaster, while the floors were calming earth-tone tile. In the center of the main lobby, a light fixture hung delicately from the ceiling, and gorgeous wooden beams elsewhere made the property feel like it was built back when California was a Spanish colony.

The space’s aesthetic complemented not only the coastal California location but also the weather. It was smack-dab in the middle of the “June Gloom” season in California, meaning it was cool and gray for at least the first half of each day. The lobby’s rich, warm tones, inviting furniture, and even a gorgeous stone fireplace set the tone for what was to be a very cozy ambiance throughout.

After taking in the lobby, I made my way to the check-in desk, where I was helped by Benjamin, a very helpful, friendly, and accommodating front desk agent.

I explained that I was the first to check in from a large group all arriving the next day. I also explained how my friends would be getting engaged on the property the next day. After hearing this, he asked for the names of everyone who was due to arrive the next day, worked some magic on the computer, and soon the entire group had been placed in the same cluster of rooms (the resort has freestanding “villas” containing several guest rooms in each), and the soon-to-be-engaged couple was placed into a suite!

This was such a nice gesture on Benjamin’s part. I didn’t ask for any special treatment other than giving him a heads-up about the big group that would soon be arriving. Once he learned about the situation, he took it upon himself to make things extra special, and it was very appreciated!

We then returned to the details of my check-in process. He thanked me for my Platinum Elite Marriott Bonvoy status and reminded me that I’d receive a bonus of 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for holding that status. Other than that, though, there’s not much to talk about when it comes to elite benefits at Ritz-Carlton properties.

Elite Benefits

As a Platinum Elite member, I was entitled to a number of things — none of which made much of a material difference to my stay. These include:

• 50% bonus points on stays
• Enhanced room upgrade (subject to availability)
• Choice of a welcome gift (at many Marriott brands, this includes complimentary breakfast, but not at Ritz-Carlton)
• Late checkout at 4 p.m. (subject to availability)
• Free Wi-Fi

I continue to be mystified as to why Marriott cannot improve elite benefits at Ritz-Carlton properties. These are some of the priciest properties in the chain’s entire portfolio, and it seems guests with Marriott Bonvoy elite status who are paying a pretty penny — either in cash or in points — to stay at these properties should be recognized in better ways.

If Marriott can grant complimentary breakfast to Platinum Elite and above guests at similarly priced St. Regis properties, it seems the chain should be able to figure out how to do the same at Ritz-Carlton properties.

After ending my elite-status rant in my head, I handed over my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card to use for incidentals because it earns 6x points per dollar spent at Marriott properties.

After that, I received the keys to my room and was told I’d be taken there via golf cart, which I appreciated. The resort was sprawling, and I didn’t know where I was going quite yet.

The Room

My room — and the rest of the group’s rooms — was in Villa 13, located near the center of the sprawling resort.

For my initial journey to my room, I was taken on a golf cart by Blake, who was happy to whisk me around the property to show me where everything was. I appreciated this because the property really is quite large, and it was nice to have an idea of how I could get to various points.

Each of the “villas” had a courtyard in the center with a small water feature and some attractive greenery. My room was located on the third floor of the villa, which was the uppermost floor in this building. Let’s check it out!

Bedroom

Like the lobby, my room had a “Mission style” look and feel, which I thought was cozy and very appropriate for the location.

Immediately, I was greeted by Spanish tiles on the floor that stretched throughout the entire room.

The closet was on the left side of the entryway, and the bathroom was on the right side. Inside the closet, I found a safe, an iron, an ironing board, a luggage rack, an umbrella, laundry bags, and extra linens.

As I walked into the main part of the bedroom, I found the king-size bed in the center of the room — opposite a sliding door that led outside to the small terrace.

Flanking the bed on one side was a nightstand with built-in power outlets on the side and a lamp on top. I appreciated that it was free of clutter!

The other side of the bed featured a full-size desk with the room’s telephone, a couple of informational QR codes, and a lamp. I didn’t use the desk, as I wasn’t working on this trip, but I found it kind of weird that it doubled as a nightstand.

At the foot of the bed were 2 comfortable chairs separated by a coffee table with a selection of magazines resting on it.

In the corner was one of my favorite features of the room: a fireplace! Blake explained that it wasn’t designed to provide heat necessarily but rather for the ambiance. As someone who runs hot in general, that was more than fine with me, though I could see how people would appreciate the warmth of a fireplace during the area’s cooler months.

Opposite the fireplace was the room’s media console and minibar area, which featured a large flat-screen TV that swiveled out of its position to be viewed from the bed or the chairs in front of it.

Directly below the TV was a coffee maker, to-go cups, a few complimentary pods, water bottles, and more.

Most of the drawers were empty, but one contained a few glasses, an ice bucket, and a bottle opener.

The minifridge was empty, which I always love to see because you never know when you’ll need to store leftovers in your room!

Through the sliding door was a small terrace that had a pair of padded chairs set up around a bistro table. While I didn’t have a view of the ocean from there, it was a peaceful place to spend a couple of minutes each morning while the temperatures were still crisp and cool.

Bathroom

I found the bathroom to be large and well-appointed. The color scheme and aesthetic from the rest of the room continued in the bathroom with the clay-colored Spanish tile on the floor, dark wood trims, and earth-tone marble used abundantly.

The single vanity offered plenty of counter space, so it likely wouldn’t be an issue with 2 people in the room. A water closet was separated from the rest of the bathroom by a full-length door.

The centerpiece of the bathroom was absolutely the soaking tub, which could be opened to the rest of the room if you kept the dark wood shutters open. Even though I was alone in my room, I closed the shutters right away.

The stand-up shower was a decent size, and the water pressure was adequate, though not fantastic.

As is the standard across Ritz-Carlton properties now, the toiletries were provided by Diptyque, a luxury fragrance brand based in Paris.

Amenities

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, is a full-service, 5-star resort, so you can expect a full range of amenities on offer. Here’s a look at what’s available.

Pools

The pools at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, are undoubtedly one of the resort’s biggest draws. There were 3 pools in total, 2 of which occupy a prime oceanfront location.

We’ll start with the spa pool, available to all adult guests on the property. It was located just outside the spa building and was sparsely used during my stay, though I did see a small water aerobics class one morning. The spa pool was open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It wouldn’t be my first choice of a pool due to the lack of views, but I could see it being a great choice for someone who’s after peace and quiet while lounging.

The other 2 pools were next to each other in the center of the resort. The property was quite hilly, so the pools were located down a few flights of stairs, cascading beautifully toward the Pacific Ocean.

The first pool was an oval, flanked on either side by cabanas (available to rent) spread out across 2 levels.

The overall aesthetic of this pool area definitely gave off old-school California glamour. Had it been warmer, I could imagine that pool area becoming quite a scene.

At the end of the oval pool deck was a circular Jacuzzi tub that saw pretty consistent traffic as it got chilly in the early evenings during my stay. The oval pool was open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., though I noticed people swimming after 5 p.m. with no issue, so I’d guess this isn’t strictly enforced.

Down another set of small stairs was yet another pool deck that featured a larger pool surrounded by plenty of lounge chairs. This main pool was open daily from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I snuck in a few hours by this pool on the first day of my stay and found it to be delightful. It wasn’t too crowded, the temperature was perfect, and the sun even managed to poke out for a couple of hours while I was there.

After my poolside relaxation, I decided to take a dip in another hot tub located to the side of this larger pool. The temperature was perfect, and it was an ideal way to end a leisurely afternoon.

At the end of the larger pool was additional space that served as a dedicated sun deck, and a small area off to the side had a ping-pong table. Our group monopolized the ping-pong table for a few hours after the proposal happened and had a blast playing round after round.

The resort’s general orientation makes these 2 pools the “main act” of the property. They’re framed dramatically by towering palm trees cascading toward the ocean, gradually descending until the mighty Pacific appears on the horizon. It’s really a beautiful spot to behold, and it’s made even more dazzling when the sun is out and the sky is bright blue.

Beach

The beach is another central feature of this resort. Even though it’s not usually appropriate for swimming, it’s a stunning strip of sand in front of the Pacific.

It lies below dramatic, verdant cliffs with the resort perched above and is accessible from a network of walking paths that crisscross the property. I didn’t spend much time out at the beach, but I did a quick walk along it while it was still foggy in the morning — very peaceful.

However, I do have to note that an oil rig is visible in the ocean from the property. It didn’t spoil the views necessarily — it was easy to block out — but it was definitely a small shock to see.

Spa

The spa was located in an entirely separate building and sprawled over 42,000 square feet. It featured the aforementioned adults-only pool, a redwood sauna, eucalyptus steam rooms, a rooftop terrace, and more.

A full range of treatments was available, though appointments were required. The spa was open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Fitness Center

The fitness center, open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, is located on the bottom floor of the spa’s building. Luckily, due to the building’s sloping, it didn’t feel like a dungeon. Plenty of light poured in via the glass doors along one wall that seemed to remain open throughout the day.

There was a large room with everything you’d need for a full workout, including cardio and weight machines, as well as free weights. Outside the main room was a circular space functioning as a spinning studio.

Adjacent to the spinning area was a sitting area that ostensibly served as the gym’s “lobby.”

Tennis

Tennis fans will be delighted to learn that the resort boasts a world-class tennis facility managed by Cliff Drysdale Tennis. Cliff is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and a renowned ESPN commentator for the sport.

The facility was adjacent to the resort and accessible via walking paths or the road. It had 4 green-clay courts and extensive programming, including private and group lessons.

Golf

Golfers will also be pleased with this property. The Sandpiper Golf Club was located directly next to the hotel and along the coast, providing stunning ocean vistas from every hole.

Pets

Pets were allowed at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. In fact, I saw loads of dogs staying at the property while I was there! There’s a non-refundable $250 pet fee per stay and a maximum of 2 pets (up to 50 pounds each) per room.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi was included for all guests, and “premium” Wi-Fi was complimentary for elite members. I had a little bit of trouble maintaining a connection at the further reaches of the main pool but otherwise had no issues at all with the Wi-Fi.

Parking

This property offers valet parking only, which costs a staggering $70 per day. It also has an electric vehicle charging station.

Food and Beverage

One thing is for sure at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara: You won’t go hungry! There were numerous dining options available, so you wouldn’t have to leave the property for even a single meal.

Let’s take a look at what’s available.

The Bistro

The Bistro was located at the “bottom” of the resort.

It offered an expansive alfresco terrace that boasts picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean.

Inside was a spacious, light, and airy dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors that allowed light to pour in from all directions.

It was open for breakfast and lunch — from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and 12 to 3 p.m. daily — though I only visited for breakfast on both mornings of my stay.

As expected, there was a full buffet on offer. It wasn’t the most extensive setup I’ve ever witnessed, but there’s no doubt I could have filled a plate or 2 … or 3 …

In the center of the room were 2 long tables set up with some of the buffet options. The first had an abundant spread of cold options, including fruit, cheese, cold cuts, smoked salmon, and more.

The second table had more fruit and cold items, including all the fixings to make a salad and some toast and mashed avocado for DIY avocado toast.

Behind those tables was a small cereal stand, complete with a variety of milks and toppings.

Over to 1 side of the space was a range of sweet treats — both hot and cold.

At the end of that display was a lovely array of yogurts, chia parfaits, and tasty-looking fresh juices.

On the opposite side of the room were a few hot breakfast staples, such as home fries, bacon, scrambled eggs, and sausage.

Finally, there was a made-to-order eggs station where a staff member was whipping up omelets and other egg dishes.

I decided to forego the buffet and order from the à la carte menu and ended up ordering the same thing both mornings: the breakfast burrito ($30) and an orange juice ($9). The burrito was filled with a chorizo sausage hash, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, and pepper jack cheese. Salsa was served on the side, and I asked for sour cream as well. The burrito was seriously delicious — and felt appropriate for the locale, too!

Haskell’s Poolside Bar

Haskell’s was where I did the most eating and drinking during my stay. It is the resort’s relaxed pool bar, located (predictably) next to the main pool.

There was a small area with counters on all sides where bartenders whipped up delicious and refreshing cocktails. The food came from a kitchen located elsewhere.

Right after my arrival, I settled in at Haskell’s and enjoyed a turkey club sandwich ($26), which was served with lettuce, tomato, bacon, garlic aioli, avocado, and a heaping portion of french fries on the side.

Before my meal came out, I was served a hefty bowl of mixed, spiced nuts. They were very, very tasty and just what I needed to curb my hunger, as I hadn’t eaten a thing up to that point in the day.

To drink, I chose the Pacific Paloma ($24), made with Patron tequila, grapefruit juice, pink-grapefruit soda, and lime and served with a Tajin rim. It was also very delicious but criminally overpriced (such is the case with everything nowadays, though).

The next day, part of our group gathered for snacks and drinks after the proposal happened and before our dinner reservation in town. We ordered a Margherita pizza ($26), a hummus plate served with pita bread and crudites ($22), and chicken wings ($23). The chicken wings were a standout; they got rave reviews around the table.

I returned to Haskell’s yet again — by way of a pool lounger — and ordered a cocktail while I was relaxing. This time, I chose the Mezcalita ($24), which had tequila, mezcal, blood orange soda, agave, lime, and a Tajin rim once again. This cocktail also hit all the right notes, and I would have ordered a few more had they not cost $24.

O Bar + Kitchen

O Bar + Kitchen is the resort’s lobby bar. It was located in a circular-shaped area at the far end of the lobby, hence its name.

The circular room was beautiful, with light streaming in through the glass doors dotted around the perimeter and a gorgeous circular bar in the center.

After the couple got engaged, the rest of us were waiting in the O Bar to surprise them. While we waited for the question to be popped, I ordered an espresso martini ($24).

After we celebrated for a little while with Champagne, we decided to order some snacks for the group to enjoy. We settled on a trio of fish tacos ($30), a trio of pulled-chicken tacos ($27), an order of loaded yucca fries ($23), and chips and guacamole ($26).

I was too frazzled to try it all, but I had a few of the yucca fries and a chicken taco and found them both to be scrumptious. Oh, and the espresso martini did the trick!

O Bar was open daily from noon to midnight.

Angel Oak

Angel Oak is a steakhouse perched high up in the resort. It was open daily for dinner from 5:30 to 10 p.m. I was told multiple times that reservations were required. If I were planning to dine here, I’d make a reservation for an early-ish dinner to secure a spot in the outdoor portion of the restaurant, which has stunning views of the ocean.

San Setto

San Setto — which translates to “sunset” in English — was located within the same building as Angel Oak, which means it offered the same stunning ocean views from its outdoor space. This restaurant was also open daily for dinner from 5:30 to 10 p.m., and reservations also were required. As for the food, expect Japanese cuisine — think: sushi, sashimi, and nigiri with a “California flare.”

Caffé

Stop into Caffé for your morning coffee. Here, you’ll find coffees, teas, smoothies, and more. Grab-and-go food options were also available throughout the day, including salads, sandwiches, soft drinks, bottles of wine, and more. Caffé was open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Cohiba Experience at Bacara

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, had a purpose-built cigar lounge called The Cohiba Experience at Bacara. I didn’t visit, but the space was entirely outdoors, with fire pits and plenty of open air to help mitigate any lingering cigar smells you may attract. The Cohiba Experience was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but open from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Bacara Wine Tasting Room

Santa Barbara has a strong wine culture, and the resort reflects this with its own dedicated tasting room. It served wines by the bottle or by the glass, bespoke flights, and a menu of small bites. The tasting room was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but was open from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

In-Room Dining

Room service was available Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to midnight and on Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Service

I had an excellent service experience at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. I alluded to this earlier, but Benjamin at the front desk set the tone for a wonderful stay by proactively grouping all our rooms in the same building and offering a suite to the couple who got engaged. He didn’t need to do that, but he went above and beyond — without being asked — to make the occasion extra special.

Everyone else I interacted with was similarly spectacular. The servers at the pool and pool bar were engaging and eager to share their advice on everything from which drink to order to the best sites to see in town.

This property left a very good taste in my mouth when it comes to service, and thanks to that positive experience alone, I’d be inclined to return.

Final Thoughts

I loved my stay at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. It occupied a breathtaking piece of real estate along the “American Riviera” and did it justice with comfortable and luxurious rooms, gorgeous, mature landscaping, stunning pools with jaw-dropping views, all the luxury amenities you’d expect at a 5-star property, and plenty of places to eat and grab a drink.

If I find myself in this beautiful corner of the world again in the future, I will certainly place this Ritz-Carlton at the top of my list of potential accommodations.