The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

One of the worst hotel experiences we’ve ever had.

Empty minibar with the excuse: “because of Covid.”

We were told a restaurant was within walking distance… it was 7 km away. Luckily, we didn’t follow that advice.

Car not ready despite being requested 10 minutes in advance.

Bike rental: long wait, multiple follow-ups. Eventually we found out the staff member had gone on lunch break.

Luggage still not delivered at 6pm (arrival was at 12pm). Still not there at 7pm despite repeated reminders.

A manager who simply didn’t care.

Room issues:

Upgrade requested and confirmed: never done.

Extremely outdated room.

“Partial Ocean View” is a complete scam. You can barely see a tiny slice of the sea — and only if you know exactly where to look.

Laundry service without any inventory form → clothing lost.

Service failures:

Concierge never answers (12 calls + voicemail).

Reception says “he’s not here” but does nothing to resolve anything.

No massages available after 5pm.

Impossible to book the Italian restaurant despite 3 calls. It took a 4th request by SMS to the manager to make it happen.

In short: chaotic organization, zero service, and constant broken promises.
An absolutely appalling hotel.

Two Octobers ago, we left the Bacara wondering if our family might grow.
This week, we returned with our daughter — laughing on our balcony with the ocean breeze behind her — and experienced a resort that has MEANINGFULLY evolved.
The renovations are not cosmetic. This is not a surface refresh. What once felt slightly dated now feels distinctly California coastal — lighter, cleaner, elevated, and intentional. The updated finishes, lighting, and overall design bring the property firmly into today while preserving its architectural charm. Even the grounds feel sharper and more meticulously maintained than before.
Club Level has noticeably improved. The selection is stronger, more varied, and presented with far more intention. The experience now reflects what Ritz-Carlton Club should feel like. Lacey, the new Club Manager, has clearly elevated the standard — her commitment to making every guest feel more than a VIP is evident. Ana and Martin were consistently warm, polished, and a pleasure to see each day.
Dining is where the transformation becomes unmistakable. The introduction of Marisela and Lulio — the new restaurant concepts replacing Angel Oak and The Bistro — has upgraded the property tremendously. The culinary direction feels modern and confident, and the service execution matches it.
The pool experience is also significantly better. The former metal loungers have been replaced with substantial cushioned beds, immediately elevating comfort and ambiance.
Valet service was excellent. At $75 per day, expectations are high — and they delivered. Water was consistently offered, recommendations were proactively shared, and Jimmy ensured our car was ready whenever we headed out.
As Bonvoy Platinum members, the new complimentary daily coffee benefit was a welcome perk and appreciated touch.
Service points were not missed. This feels like a property operating with renewed pride and clear reinvigorated leadership.
In our view, the Bacara is performing at a level worthy of regaining its 4th Forbes Star and a 5th AAA diamond — and positioning itself for even further recognition.
Most importantly, it still feels personal.
Returning with our daughter to the place where we once quietly hoped our family might grow made this stay unforgettable.
We cannot wait to come back once again

I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara to celebrate a milestone birthday, and, unknown to me at the time, my fiancé also chose this property for our proposal and engagement.

Early in our stay, we returned to find our room flooded. While heavy rain happens, the handling did not meet really any hotel standards much less 5 Star. After essentially being told to “wipe it up,” (off the area rug???) we were moved to a second room that was ALSO flooded, followed by nearly two hours of delays and “I’ll call you back” from the front desk, before being placed in a third room. Only after my partner explained he planned to propose did the situation seem to be taken seriously. And to make matters worse, management essentially accused us of just wanting a different room type and making up the water situation? It was EXTREMELY strange. Nobody ever came into these rooms to inspect the water while we were present.

Later, despite making and reconfirming dinner reservations (in person and in the app) at Marisella to celebrate our engagement, there was literally no acknowledgement of the occasion. Service was disorganized, rushed despite the restaurant being mostly empty, awkward and only towards the end did they realize this was a ENGAGEMENT DINNER when we literally told them again, which was disappointing given this was the only special request made for the trip.

Most concerning, we returned to our room that night to find the water completely shut off due to maintenance, with no advance notice. A note was left during the turndown or housekeeping service, which obviously we were not there for. Cold water did not return until the following morning, long after it was planned and we didn’t see hot water again for the rest of the trip…romantic!

The room itself overall was obviously poorly maintained, including dust, mildew, broken dispensers, stained towels, and repeated removal of a second robe despite two guests staying there. While a few staff members were kind and thoughtful, overall service across departments was consistently far below expectations.

Overall the experience was deeply disappointing given the name and price point, but what we were there to celebrate. I’ve stayed at random marriotts for 1/3 of the price that were cleaner and kinder. Most shockingly of all, the hotel’s resolution to this host of problems was to offer us additional free nights? Girl I’m gonna need my $5k back. I’m not returning to that mess.

I have been a loyal guest at this property for years, frequently choosing it for both company meetings and personal getaways. Last year, we even came here to escape the fires; despite the hotel being under construction at the time, the service was excellent. Sadly, this year’s experience was the complete opposite. While the Ritz-Carlton brand carries an expectation of excellence, the restaurant service has plummeted to an abysmal level.

The Service Gap: I want to be clear that the 'rest' of the hotel remains world-class. The Front Desk, Concierge, Housekeeping, and Valet teams were all wonderful, attentive, and professional. It is deeply frustrating that the restaurant teams managed to single-handedly kill the experience.

Specific Failures:

L’Olio (Breakfast): We dined here three times, and the pace was unbelievably slow every single morning, but it was the only place to eat for a sit down breakfast. I explicitly told the staff I had a spa appointment in 30 minutes and after 10 minutes the check never came. I eventually had to get up and hunt someone down to pay. Because of this unnecessary delay, I lost my window to use the spa facilities before my massage.

SunBar (The worst offender): The service here was genuinely atrocious. The staff didn't even acknowledge us at the bar because they were too busy watching football on the TVs. The next day, we tried to give them a second chance for lunch. We asked for menus; 10 minutes later, we were still sitting there without menus or even a 'we’ll be right with you.' We finally walked out after speaking to a nearby guest who had been waiting over an hour for a simple flatbread.

Poolside: Even the pool area lacked basic attentiveness. It took 40 minutes for someone to take a drink order after the menu was dropped off, and I again had to chase someone down just to settle the check.

The Verdict: It appears the resort failed to staff appropriately for a long weekend, but the issues felt deeper than just being 'busy'—it felt like a lack of management and basic hospitality standards in the F&B department. As someone who has brought business here for years, I am incredibly disappointed. The rest of your staff is doing a great job, but the restaurants are failing them—and your guests.

Overall, this was a fantastic stay at a truly beautiful property. The grounds, spa, lounge, and most of the staff lived up to the Ritz-Carlton name and made for a memorable experience.

Property & Grounds:
The property itself is gorgeous and exceptionally well maintained. Even though the beach trail near the pool was closed during our stay, it’s still easy to access the beach via the nature trail. Staff throughout the resort were consistently pleasant and welcoming, and the overall atmosphere felt calm and polished.
The rooms have been remodeled and are comfortable, though they still carry a bit of a darker, almost dungeon-like feel. The privacy is great, but additional natural light would go a long way in elevating the room experience.

Spa:
The spa was a highlight. The staff was outstanding, and the spa pool offered a peaceful retreat away from the busier areas of the resort. While the steam room wasn’t working, the sauna and hot tub were both enjoyable. One small miss: more co-ed relaxation space would make it easier to enjoy the spa experience with a partner.

Front Desk:
Unfortunately, the front desk was the weakest part of the stay. Communication and overall attitude were disappointing, with spa messages never being passed along and unnecessary friction when requesting a late checkout. Thankfully, aside from check-in and check-out, we had minimal interaction with them.

Bottom Line:
Despite the front desk shortcomings, the property, spa, lounge, and most of the staff were excellent. It’s a stunning resort and a great place to relax—just be prepared for a less-than-stellar front desk experience.

NOT A 5 STAR HOTEL IN A HUGE WAY! IF YOU CARE ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE ABOUT TO STAY...PLEASE READ;

THE GOOD:
** The valet and bellman were the nicest ever! They were always friendly and willing to answer any questions.

Sorry....that's it. Now please read on as it's important you know this:

THE BAD:
(where do I even begin)

** IF YOU CARE about noise when you are in your room, if you are sensitive to noise when you sleep - this is NOT the property for you. While there during Christmas week, we had 2 rooms - a one bedroom suite and another room with 2 beds. The prices for both were VERY expensive (as one comes to expect with a Ritz Carlton). For some reason, the suites are on the bottom floors so you have people/rooms on top of you which means - YES - you hear stomping ...showers being turned on...and even talking. How do you pay almost thousands of dollars for a suite that you have to deal with this kind of noise??!!! WHAT???? We even had our suite moved after the first night and it only got worse!!! How does a Ritz Carlton have this noise?? They also have fountains (we stayed in the villas) that are in the middle of these stone buildings and they are LOUD...not comforting loud...LOUD!! AND if that wasn't bad enough...our "partial ocean view" was honestly 100% NOT AN OCEAN VIEW AT ALL!!! The only way you could see it was to go outside on your balcony about 20 steps and you could "kind of" see it. The suite stared at a hill...a HILL!! And the other room we got stared at a rooftop of the other building??!!! RITZ CARLTON - HOW DO YOU ALLOW THIS AND CALL YOURSELVES 5 STAR???? We also had an ant issue in the bathroom of the suite and they came in and sprayed with such a strong smelling toxic substance we had to leave and open the doors for hours (and keep in mind it was raining the whole time we were there...so the room was freezing and the carpet got wet)

** DO NOT GET ME STARTED about how pathetic the "Christmas activities" for kids was. OMG!! RITZ...YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED!!! The $30/pp cookie decorating was honestly (I kid you not) 4 almost burnt cookies with 4 small bags of frosting (black????, white, red and green). What the ??? And a small bowl of sprinkles that were not festive at all and it was in this non-decorated ballroom with a few tables/chairs and a couple workers dressed in elf costumes (purchased from Shein by the looks). It was soooooo sad!! Then their "hot chocolate bar" the day after Christmas was a hot chocolate urn (in the same sad ballroom) and a bowl of whipped cream? WHAT THE??? SOMEONE get them a party planner because it was beyond sad!!! The person they had dressed as Santa was wandering around the building on the 24th, 25th and 26th and he was just wandering around the property....not really interacting with others. Discount Santa??!!!

** CHRISTMAS decorations were sad as he**. There was a tree, a gingerbread (I think...maybe foam??) decoration and it was just sad!! RITZ....CALL THE HOTEL DEL CORONADO in San Diego or The FAIRMONT in San Francisco....they will tell you what Christmas is supposed to look like

** The food. Oh the food. It was just so "meh" and "blah" for a lot of $$$. There were 6 of us and everyone kept saying the same thing for the 5 days we were there "how is this a Ritz"?!!

** The property needs some SERIOUS AND I MEAN SERIOUS renovation! It's just outdated, sad and blah. I have no clue how this is considered 5 star (and yes, I stay at 5 star properties so I know what to expect).

** The managers and MOD are about as nice as petting a porcupine. Enough said

Suffice it to say, we will NEVER be returning and I will NOT be recommending it to anyone!! Please take this into consideration and talk to the staff before you book. I promise you this is NOT worth the money at all

Location great food good

Love it

Lobby is nice but rooms are too inconvenient to access from the lobby

I saw some bad reviews but considering it’s the “Ritz” i thought I’ll give it a chance! Was celebrating Christmas with my kids and thought it would be special as our other ritz experiences have been! Boy was i wrong!!
So here’s the deal: if you come expecting a MARRIOTT experience you will be pleasantly surprised. But if you’re expecting a Ritz experience, dont even bother!
With the room tariff of $800 a night this is what we got….
A front desk manager who was clueless on activities around the hotel
No kids welcome kit that all ritz hotels offer! And it’s Christmas time!! After asking the front desk twice finally the second day on being reminded we got 2 bears dropped off that defi were MARRIOTIZED! 😂 really poor!
The room quality is so so and even the amenities and toilet paper are cheap! Not sure where they can charge the tariffs they do!
Do yourself a favor and hop over to the rosewood of luxury is what you are looking for!

A great hotel ruined by a lousy soft product. Went to Ritz Bacara for our 5 year anniversary. I was planning to propose to girlfriend so I worked with Avelino (he was great) at guest relations. While they weren't fastest to respond it seemed they took my simple requests to heart.

The hotel itself is great with tasteful renovations and good food. Easy to walk to beach and romantic. Some areas of renovation appear to have been skipped but I think they made some good trade offs.

While I had low expectations the staff constantly dropped the ball here are a few things that bothered me.

- staff delivered flowers EARLY almost ruining my proposal. I had to quickly send them back to front desk. When i brought this up with manager he blamed the florist, even though there was no way the florist would have had my room number. Meaning staff sent them early.
- Never once was I able to flag down a golf cart, but i did almost get hit by them... twice!
- Food at the restaurant Marisella was great but the staff was some of the worst I have experienced. They messed up our order 3 times and the manager had to comp our entire meal (Thanks Amanda! She was great)
- house keeping cleared MULTIPLE bottles of wine including a $150 bottle of champagne that was a keepsake for our anniversary. When asked for a winestopper they took 3 hours before telling me they didn't exist, with no solution. House keeping also took all the corks! So we had to pour out 2 bottles. Ridiculous. Include a winestopper in the room! It will encourage guests to buy wine bottles
- multiple people mention in room dining as counting towards breakfast but yet at checkout no credits were applied
- It felt like everyone here was gaslighting all guests (and after speaking to manager Ben I understand where it comes from), asking for expensive bottles of champagne are met with "we don't have that" only for a manager to find it and give no apology. The dietary restrictions on most menus are incorrect (especially im room dining), leading to scary moments, also no apology. Staff throws away half full bottles and wine corks, no apology.
- they mention for certain marriott offers tiers you get complimentary specialty coffees at mission market but only before 7am, this was repeated multiple times. Until! I went to the mission market and the manager told me this is not true its available all day. Have seen multiple reviews about this!
- staff was mostly unhelpful and low-key bafoons, constantly forgetting checks and pens for in room dining. Not providing silverware and failing to understand simple requests like swapping dining items when they are out of stock. I try my hardest not to judge but this was worse than most holiday inns in this regard.

I can confidently say this is not up to Ritz Carlton standards and at $800-$1000 a night I would look elsewhere (El Encanto, Rosewood Miramar). Also even after requesting "Ritz Carlton Promise" for staff to replace bottles was met with "we will bill to room" so I guess that's dead too. The staff really drag down what would otherwise be a great hotel, and since its a resort away from town, you kinda have to rely on them.

I have photos and receipts of all of this so if someone at staff would like to reach out please tell me how I can contact. Or keep this hotels status as "Worst Ritz Carlton in the world". It kinda has a ring to it!

Perfect stay, very relaxing and quiet off season in October. I wanted to watch a rocket launch and y wife was less excited. So we stayed at the Ritz Carlton, beach front room with club room access. Great views, nice place to have an evening wine and cheese on the balcony. Great club room, particularly breakfast. They even catered to gluten-free.

Overall atracks rated 9.2/10.

We stayed for two nights.

Room: 9.3/10. Clean, well maintained and pretty large. They do a great job of the little things like turn down service and slippers.

Gym: 9.2/10. Very large with enough cardio equipment.

Misc: Valet was a tad slow with the text service. The check in was fast. The staff was friendly.

Cost $75 per day for parking
Cost $750 and up depending on the day of the week and room choice. This is the floor of cost.

Went with my wife for our 10th wedding anniversary. Incredible stay. The property is beautiful - endless things to do, beautiful views. The rooms were very nice and thoughtful - balconies and recently revamped. And the value was great - much cheaper and less stuffy than some of the other “nice” hotels in the area. Finally, the service/staff were very friendly and helpful. 10/10 experience.

The hotel lacks attention to detail period. It is not Ritz Carlton in anyway apart from price. Lack of details - expect your food to have small pieces of stuff you did not order because chef could care less of keeping his food prep clean. Rooms cleaning is poor and not well maintained, expect stains all over, room will lack basic amenities like clean towels or bathrobes. By the way they have 500 rooms so they will just apologize for not getting your room cleaned. There are so much properties around , you can easily skip them, especially if you are traveling with kids.

Average is the best way to describe our stay. Booked for our 15th weeding anniversary and wanted an oceanfront room. Paid for that upgrade, called ahead of tome, asked again at front desk. View was of a burm , with ocean views in the distance. Disappointing considering all the marriott travel I complete each year. Staff did not wow us, and we had to ask for things that should have been included. The facilities are nice overall, it felt standard.

We love the location! Rooms are clean and roomy. Maricella restaurant food was fantastic. Only complaint was we had to wait hours (4) for our room to be cleaned in order to check in. We planned on arriving at 11 and asked for an early checkin. We did not get into our room until 3:04 in the afternoon. Not a great way to start a special birthday getaway.