After snowboarding in Lake Tahoe my husband and I were looking for a relaxing California vacation. We spent 3 days on an amazing Santa Barbara vacation celebrating our anniversary. When choosing where to stay in Santa Barbara, a beachfront hotel was at the top of our list. We chose the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort and couldn’t have been more pleased with our selection. If you are looking for a Santa Barbara luxury hotel, here’s why the Ritz Carlton Bacara should be your first choice.
The Views at the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort
If you are looking for a Santa Barbara Luxury hotel with epic ocean views Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort should be your only choice. Tons of whales migrate through Santa Barbara and there are many days you can see whales and dolphins splashing in the ocean. The sunrises are also gorgeous with orange and purple hues lightening the sky.
The Rooms at the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort
My husband and I were celebrating our 6 year wedding anniversary so it was only right we treated ourselves. We stayed in a one-bedroom suite with an ocean view. Our room had a living room/bedroom combo with a separate living area space, fireplace, soaking tub and two bathrooms. The room also came with a huge balcony overlooking the ocean where you could sometimes see dolphins jumping out of the water!
Ritz Carlton Bacara Spa
The Ritz Carlton Bacara Spa is one of the best spas I have been to. From the moment I arrived everything was perfection. I was handed a glass of champagne while I waited in front of the fire place in the waiting room for my therapist.
I hate going to the spa and the therapist asking you your pain points but then giving you the same rehearsed massage they give everyone. My therapist listened to exactly what I said my problem areas were and focused on them.
The Club Lounge
If you’re staying at the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort and the room you’ve booked doesn’t include the Club Lounge, add it on! The Club Lounge offers a full breakfast, hors d’oeuvres for lunch, and dessert in the evening. You can also enjoy a wide selection of unlimited bottled water, juices, beer, wine, cocktails, and champagne.
Exquisite Dining at the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort
I usually steer clear of hotel restaurants because they are overpriced and lackluster. That was not the case at the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort and Angel Oak Bacara proved to be one of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara. We first visited Angel Oak for brunch and it was actually the first day they opened for brunch. It was exquisite! Whether you order and alcoholic beverage or nonalcoholic the presentation of your drink will be beautiful.
My husband ordered the shrimp and grits which while customary of southern cities like New Orleans and Miami grits aren’t typically heard of in west coast cities in California. Well Angel Oak hit the nail on the head with this dish, it was absolutely perfect. I ordered the Striped Bass with blue crab risotto and it was just as delicious. The only critique I had was that while my piece of Bass was very generous, I can’t say the same for the risotto. I really wish they would have put more on my plate.
After eating brunch at Angel Oak Bacara we tried them for dinner our last night. We started with the crab cake appetizer and I’m pleased to report it was filled with crab and not bread crumbs!
For our main course the Abalone came highly recommended as a local favorite and signature dish but we weren’t 100% sold. Luckily our waiter suggested we could order a half portion as a side dish so we could each get what we really wanted while trying out a new dish.
In addition to this my husband ordered a filet and I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass. Both were just as delicious as our brunch entrees.
We couldn’t end the night without trying out the dessert we’d seen another table order earlier. The plate literally came out on fire! It was a coconut ice cream covered in meringue and then covered with alcohol before being set on fire!
The Pools at the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort
Unfortunately it was rainy the majority of our visit so we were unable to enjoy the pools. However, there are three pools on property and each of them are heated! There is one pool at the spa and then two additional pools where you can enjoy views of the ocean.
Family and Pet Friendly Resort
Even though we weren’t traveling with our kids we always notice if a hotel is kid friendly. From the moment we stepped on the property we knew the Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort was family friendly. At check-in kids have their own check-in desk and are also able to select a toy from the toy wagon.
On site the Bacar has a kids club. Here kids can go on a nature walk with a marine biologists! They can also learn about the local animals while in the kids club through various activities. When looking for alone time with your significant other while traveling with kids their parents night out program is perfect. On weekends for a minimal fee of $50 the kids club staff hosts a special night for the kids. On these Parents Night Outs you can drop your child off from 6:00-9:00PM and enjoy a kid-free evening.
The Ritz Carlton Bacara is also one of the few pet friendly hotels in Santa Barbara. I wouldn’t expect a luxury hotel to be pet friendly but they have dedicated rooms for those who can’t or don’t want to leave their pets at home.
While there is definitely enough to keep you busy at the resort I do suggest you get out a bit and explore the area. Santa Barbara is known for its food and wine and it is in abundance. Check out the best tasting rooms on Santa Barbara’s wine trail or get out and enjoy some of the various things to do in Santa Barbara. Did you find this article helpful? Please share it!